A METHOD AND AN ELECTRONIC DISPLAY DEVICE FOR AUTO SWITCHING CHANNELS BASED ON USER PREFERENCE DURING ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronic display devices, and more specifically to the field of auto switching channels based on user preference during advertisement display.

BACKGROUND

[0001] Currently, electronic devices are widely used for watching content. Examples of the electronic devices include, but are not limited to, television, mobile devices, and computers. However, while watching the content, the user is usually targeted with multiple advertisements in between the content. Such advertisement display is not of interest to the user and the user manually switches to other channels, which is further tiresome.

[0002] In the light of the foregoing discussion there is a need for an efficient method and an electronic display device for auto switching channels based on user preference
during advertisement display.

SUMMARY

[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and an electronic display device for auto switching channels based on user preference during advertisement display.

[0004] An example of a method of auto switching channels based on user preference during advertisement display includes activating an auto channel switching system by a user of an electronic display device. The method also includes enabling the user to select a channel list by launching a channel list selection menu. The method further includes activating advertisement detection. Further, the method includes scanning channels of the channel list selected by the user if advertisement is detected. Moreover, the method includes switching to an advertisement free channel from a current channel.

[0005] An example of an electronic display device for auto switching channels based on user preference during advertisement display includes an auto channel switching system. The electronic display device also includes a communication interface in electronic communication with the electronic display device. The electronic display device includes a memory that stores instructions. Further, the electronic display device includes a processor responsive to the instructions to activate an auto channel switching system by a user of the electronic display device, to enable the user to select a channel list by launching a channel list selection menu, to activate advertisement detection, to scan channels of the channel list selected by the user if advertisement is detected, and to switch to an advertisement free channel from a current channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0006] The accompanying figure, similar reference numerals may refer to identical or functionally similar elements. These reference numerals are used in the detailed description to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various aspects and advantages of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment for an internet protocol television (IPTV), in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic display device, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an auto channel switching system, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of auto switching channels based on user preference during advertisement display, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating management of channel lists, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 6 is an exemplary representation of channels in a grid view during creation of a user defined channel list, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 7 is an exemplary representation of a user interface during selection of a channel list, in accordance with one embodiment; and

[0014] FIG. 8 is an exemplary representation of an electronic display device during scan for an advertisement free channel, in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] It should be observed the method steps and system components have been represented by conventional symbols in the figure, showing only specific details which are relevant for an understanding of the present disclosure. Further, details may be readily apparent to person ordinarily skilled in the art may not have been disclosed. In the present disclosure, relational terms such as first and second, and the like, may be used to distinguish one entity from another entity, without necessarily implying any actual relationship or order between such entities.

[0016] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and an electronic display device for auto switching channels based on user preference during advertisement display.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment 100 for an internet protocol television (IPTV), in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented. The environment 100 includes one or more electronic display devices, for example an electronic display device 105, a network 110, for example network used for the IPTV, and a server 115. The electronic display device 105, hereinafter referred to as display device, is connected to the server through the network 110. Examples of the display device include, but are not limited to, a digital television, a mobile device, a laptop, a tablet device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, and a home theater system. Examples of the network 110 include, but are not limited to, a local area network, a wide area network and a wireless network.

[0018] The display device 105 is controlled by a user.

[0019] The user is enabled to select a channel list by launching a channel list selection menu. The display device 105 activates advertisement detection and if advertisement is detected then it scans channels of the channel list selected by the user. The display device 105 further switches to an advertisement free channel from a current channel.

[0020] The display device 105 including a plurality of elements is explained in detail
in conjunction with FIG. 2.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the display device 105, in accordance with one
embodiment.

[0022] The display device 105 includes a bus 205 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor 210 coupled with the bus 205 for processing information. The display device 105 also includes a memory 215, for example a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus 205 for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor 210. The memory 215 can be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by the processor 210. The display device 105 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 220 or other static storage device coupled to the bus 205 for storing static information and instructions for the processor 210. A storage unit 225, for example a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to the bus 205 for storing information.

[0023] The display device 105 can be coupled via the bus 205 to a display 230, for example a cathode ray tube (CRT), for displaying channels. In some embodiments, the input device 235, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to the bus 205 for communicating information and command selections to the processor 210. In other embodiments, another type of user input device is the cursor control 240, for example a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to the processor 210 and for controlling cursor movement on the display 230.

[0024] Various embodiments are related to the use of the display device 105 for implementing the techniques described herein. In some embodiments, the techniques
are performed by the display device 105 in response to the processor 210 executing instructions included in the memory 215. Such instructions can be read into the memory 215 from another machine-readable medium, for example the storage unit 225. Execution of the instructions included in the memory 215 causes the processor 210 to perform the process steps described herein.

[0025] In some embodiments, the processor 210 can include one or more processing units for performing one or more functions of the processor 210. The processing units are hardware circuitry used in place of or in combination with software instructions to perform specified functions. The processing units are explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 3.

[0026] The term "machine-readable medium" as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to perform a specific function. In an embodiment implemented using the display device 105, various machine-readable media are involved, for example, in providing instructions to the processor 210 for execution. The machine-readable medium can be a storage medium, either volatile or non-volatile. A volatile medium includes, for example, dynamic memory, such as the memory 215. A non-volatile medium includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, for example the storage unit 225. All such media must be tangible to enable the instructions carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the instructions into a machine.

[0027] Common forms of machine-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic media, a CD-ROM, any other optical media, punchcards, papertape, any other physical media with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge.

[0028] In another embodiment, the machine-readable media can be transmission media including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that include the bus 205. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave and infra-red data communications. Examples of machine-readable media may include, but are not limited to, a carrier wave as described hereinafter or any other media from which the display device 105 can read. For example, the instructions can initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to the display device 105 can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infra¬red transmitter to convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector can receive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriate circuitry can place the data on the bus 205. The bus 205 carries the data to the memory 215, from which the processor 210 retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by the memory 215 can optionally be stored on the storage unit 225 either before or after execution by the processor 210. All such media must be tangible to enable the instructions carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the instructions into a machine.

[0029] The display device 105 also includes a communication interface 245 coupled to the bus 205. The communication interface 245 provides a two-way data communication coupling between the display device 105 and the server 115, through the network 110. For example, the communication interface 245 can be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, the communication interface 245 can be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. In any such implementation, the communication interface 245 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

[0030] The display device 105 also includes an auto channel switching system 250. The auto channel switching system 250 including a plurality of elements is explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 3.

[0031] In some embodiments, the auto channel switching system 250 is activated automatically. In other embodiments, the auto channel switching system 250 is activated manually by the user.

[0032] In some embodiments, the auto channel switching system 250 is activated automatically as the display device 105 boots up.

[0033] The auto channel switching system 250 in the display device 105 is operable to be activated by the user of the display device 105. The user is enabled to select a channel list by launching a channel list selection menu. The auto channel switching system 250 activates advertisement detection and if advertisement is detected it scans channels of the channel list selected by the user. The auto channel switching system 250 further switches to an advertisement free channel from a current channel.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the auto channel switching system 250, in accordance with one embodiment. The auto channel switching system 250 includes a channel list manager 305, a user interface manager 310, a detector and switch manager 315, and a deactivation manager 320.

[0035] Upon activation of the auto channel switching system 250, the channel list manager 305 is a first sub system which is invoked. The channel list manager 305 is responsible for management and storage of channel lists. The channel list manager 305 creates and maintains default channel lists. It also facilitates creation and management of user defined channel lists. The channel list manager 305 creates the default channel lists based on genre, when the channel list manager 305 is activated. The default channel lists are maintained for a given session and are destroyed when session is closed. User defined channel list can be created either from existing channel list or the user can create a user defined channel list from all channels. The user can perform operations, for example modify and delete, only on user defined channel list. During creation of the channel list, The channel list manager 305 intakes the channel list name from the user and then lists the channels in various forms, for example a grid form, as illustrated in FIG. 6, which can be browsed by the user to select and add channels in the channel list. The channel list manager 305 can store such channel lists either on the network 110, for example network used for internet protocol television (IPTV), on the display device 105 itself, or on any external device. The channel list manager 305 stores the information of the preferred and alternate channel and in case of any change this information is updated. The channel list manager 305 provides all the channel lists to the user interface (Ul) manager 310, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 7, such that the user can select the channel list and hence scan for an alternate channel. The channel list manager 305 also activates the detector and switch manager 315.

[0036] The Ul manager 310 is responsible for creating various Uls to take an input from the user and hence communicating such a selection to respective sub systems. When the Ul manager 310 is invoked by the channel list manager 305, then the Ul manager 310 takes various channel lists from the channel list manager 305. The Ul manager 310 displays the channel lists to the user for selection. The selected channel list is then communicated to the detector and switch manager 315. The Ul manager 310 is invoked by the detector and switch manager 315 during the channel scan. The Ul manager 310 is then responsible to simultaneously display a current channel and channel under scan. In one example, the Ul manager 310 is responsible to manage a picture in picture (PiP) window, which is created on the display device 105, to show the scanned channel content. During scanning the current channel is rendered on a main window and the channel which is under scan is rendered in the PiP window, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Once an advertisement free channel is located then the PiP window is closed and advertisement
free channel is rendered in full screen mode in place of the current channel.

[0037] The detector and switch manager 315 includes two modules namely advertisement detector 315A and channel switcher 315B. The detector and switch manager 315 is activated by the channel list manager 305 which in turn activates the advertisement detector 315A. The detector and switch manager 315 takes the channel list from Ul manager 310 and provides as it input to the channel switcher 315B.

[0038] Upon activation of the advertisement detector 315A, the current channel needs to be polled continuously to detect advertisement. The advertisement detector 315A activates the channel switcher 315B and signals the detector and switch manager 315 to activate the Ul manager 310. There are various methods to detect the advertisement in the content and any of these methods can be used for this purpose. The advertisement detector 315A detects the advertisement for the current and alternate channel as well.

[0039] The channel switcher 315B takes the selected channel list which was provided by the Ul manager 310. Upon activation from the advertisement detector 315A, the channel switcher 315B starts scanning sequentially or randomly on the channel list. During scan, a first channel, which is detected as an advertisement free channel is rendered and a signal is generated for the Ul manager 310 to close the PiP window. New advertisement detector thread is also associated with currently playing alternate channel to detect the advertisement. Once the channel list is traversed from start till end then again the channel list is scanned from start to end. The preferred channel and currently playing alternate channel are not included during the search. The user is also facilitated to set alternate channel as preferred channel and the channel list manager 305 is updated accordingly. In case the advertisement is detected on the alternate channel then the same process repeats as explained above. To explain the method, below few scenarios are given for sequential
traversing.

[0040] Suppose viewer is watching channel 0 and selected channel list has channel 1, channel 2, channel 3 and channel 4 in sequence. Then the auto channel switching system 250 starts scanning from channel 1 to channel 4. It will stop scanning once it will find an advertisement free channel displaying content. There are various scenarios which can be encountered as follows:

Scenario 1: While alternate channel is rendered and meanwhile advertisement is over on channel 0 then immediately channel 0 is restored.

Scenario 2: Content is not available on any channel in the list when scanned from channel 1 to channel 4 and then the search is again looped to channel 1.

Scenario 3: During scanning content is received on channel 2 and after some time the advertisement starts on channel 2 but advertisement is not yet over on channel 0, then scan for next advertisement free channel is done from channel 3 and again loops back in the list incase could not locate the advertisement free channel.

Scenario 4: The user has developed interest in watching the alternate channel, and now does not want to switch back to channel 0 then the user can temporarily or permanently deactivate the auto channel switching system 250.

[0041] Deactivation of the auto channel switching system 250 can be done temporarily and permanently using the deactivation manager 320. In permanent deactivation the deactivation manager 320 is responsible for releasing all resources which were acquired by the auto channel switching system 250 and normal way of viewing is restored. The temporary deactivation is used when the user has switched to the alternate channel or the advertisement free channel during advertisement on the preferred channel or current channel and now the user started liking the content of the alternate channel. Now the user does not want to switch back for sometime on the preferred channel even if the advertisement is over on the preferred channel. During the temporary deactivation, state of the preferred channel is maintained and at any point of time viewer can go back and activate the auto channel switching system 250 on the preferred channel.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of auto switching channels based on user preference during advertisement display, in accordance with one embodiment. The method starts at step 405.

[0043] At step 410, an auto channel switching system is activated by a user of an
electronic display device, for example the electronic display device 105.

[0044] At step 415, the user is enabled to select a channel list by launching a channel list selection menu.

[0045] At step 420, advertisement detection is activated.

[0046] At step 425, if advertisement is detected, channels of the channel list selected by the user are scanned. The channels can be scanned either sequentially or randomly based on user customization.

[0047] At step 430, a current channel is switched to an advertisement free channel.

[0048] In some embodiments, the current channel is restored once the advertisement is completed.

[0049] The method stops at step 435.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating management of channel lists, in accordance with one embodiment. The method starts at step 505.

[0051] At step 510, a default channel list is created based on genre. Examples of the genre include, but are not limited to, movies and songs.

[0052] At step 515, a user defined channel list is retrieved.

[0053] At step 520, the channel lists are displayed. In some embodiments, the channel lists are retrieved from the display device 105, the network 110, or an external storage device.

[0054] At step 525, it is determined if an existing channel list is to be used. If the existing channel list is to not be used, step 530 is performed else step 545 is performed.

[0055] At step 530, a user defined channel list is created. The user defined channel list can be stored on the display device 105, or the network 110, or the external storage
device.

[0056] At step 535, channel list is opened and displayed.

[0057] At step 540, one or more channels are added to the user defined channel list.

[0058] At step 545, the channel list is selected.

[0059] At step 550, it is determined if the channel list is to be edited. If the channel list is to be edited, step 555 is performed else step 565 is performed.

[0060] At step 555, the channel list can be edited by adding a channel in the channel list, by deleting a channel in the channel list, or by deleting the channel list itself.

[0061] At step 560, the channel list can be saved.

[0062] The method stops at step 565.

[0063] FIG. 6 is an exemplary representation of the channels in a grid view during creation of the user defined channel list, in accordance with one embodiment. The user selects a channel 605 from the channels displayed in the grid view.

[0064] FIG. 7 is an exemplary representation of a user interface during selection of the channel list, in accordance with one embodiment. In one example, a channel list 705 is illustrated on the current channel.

[0065] FIG. 8 is an exemplary representation of an electronic display device, for example the display device 105, during scan for an advertisement free channel, in accordance with one embodiment. During the scan for the advertisement free channel, the current channel, for example a current channel 805, and the advertisement free channel are simultaneously viewed on the electronic display device, for example using PiP mode 810. The current channel is displayed to the user as the scan for the advertisement free channel occurs in a PiP window at bottom of a screen of the display device. The PiP window is launched once the advertisement is detected on the current channel and is closed when the advertisement free channel is detected.

[0066] Advantageously, the embodiments specified in the present disclosure enable auto switching channels based on user preference during advertisement display. A user can hence constantly view content on channels of interest during advertisement display. The user can also deactivate the auto channel switching system as desired. The present disclosure also enables the user to customize the channels which the user would want to watch during the advertisement display.

[0067] In the preceding specification, the present disclosure and its advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative examples of the present disclosure, rather than in restrictive sense. All such possible modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present disclosure.

I/We claim:

1. A method of auto switching channels based on user preference during
advertisement display, the method comprising:

activating an auto channel switching system by a user of an electronic display device;

enabling the user to select a channel list by launching a channel list selection menu;
activating advertisement detection;

scanning channels of the channel list selected by the user if advertisement is detected; and

switching to an advertisement free channel from a current channel.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising remaining on the current channel if the advertisement is undetected.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel list is one of a default channel list based on genre, and a user defined channel list.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the user defined channel list comprises one or more channels selected by the user.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the one or more channels are displayed in one or more views.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising editing the channel list selected by the user.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein editing the channel list further
comprises:

adding a channel in the channel list; deleting the channel in the channel list; and deleting the channel list.

8. An electronic display device for auto switching channels based on user preference during advertisement display, the electronic display device comprising:

an auto channel switching system;

a communication interface in electronic communication with the electronic display device;

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor responsive to the instructions to activate the auto channel switching system by a user of the electronic display device;

enable the user to select a channel list by launching a channel list selection menu;

activate advertisement detection;

scan channels of the channel list selected by the user if advertisement is detected; and

switch to an advertisement free channel from a current channel.

9. The electronic display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the auto channel
switching system further comprises:

a channel list manager that is responsible for management and storage of channel lists;

a user interface manager that displays the channel lists for selection to the user;

a detector and switch manager that scans a plurality of channels present on a selected channel list; and

a deactivation manager that deactivates the auto channel switching system.

10. The electronic display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the deactivation manager performs one of temporary deactivation and permanent deactivation.

11. The electronic display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detector and switch manager comprises an advertisement detector and a channel switcher.