FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for building social networks through IPTV by
providing social viewing experiences in the IPTV.
The invention provides the following social viewing experiences as specific services for IPTV
viewers allow viewers to build social network through IPTV and then do the IPTV watching
operations based on the social network.
It invites peers to watch specific programs through chat / voice messaging service to discuss
about the program with peers through chat messages. It creates a list of peers tagged with
peer's nickname and IP address. The invention can populate the list of programs / channels
one's peers are watching on television. It can switch to the specific program by selecting from
the list of programs peers are watching. The invention is capable of assigning favorite peers
and switch to the peer's program on switching the IPTV on. It can automatically mine the
watch pattern of the viewer based on two parameters, time of watch and channel watch and
generate the automatic peer's list. It creates peer alert by automatically identifying the most
favorite peer from peer's list and generating alert for the program peer is watching while user is
watching other programs. It can browse the ratings given by peers on various programs /
channels. Finally it can tune to the programs / channels rated above or below certain ratings
by one's peers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention works on a combination of method steps and some basic data mining
procedures working on the IPTV for the above mentioned social viewing experiences. All the
services are available through IPTV and algorithms built inside the IPTV for rendering these
services. These services may be freely available to these IPTV users, while revenue generating
business model can be built around these services for other IPTV users with specific service
providers.
These social viewing experiences allow users to build social networks through IPTV and then do
the mentioned IPTV watching operations based on the social network.
In a preferred embodiment the present invention provides a method for building social
networks through IPTV by providing social viewing experiences in IPTV, comprising the steps
of: creating a list of peers tagged with peers nickname and IP address; inviting peers to watch
specific programs through chat / voice messaging service; discussing with peers about program
through chat messages; populating the list of programs / channels one's peers are watching on
television; switching to the specific program by selecting from the list of programs peers are
watching; assigning favourite peers and switching to the peers program by switching the IPTV
on; automatically mining the watch pattern of the viewers based on two parameters time of
watch and channel watch and generate the automatic peers list; creating peer alert by
automatically identifying the most favourite peer from peers list and generating alert for the

program peer is watching while user is watching for other programs; browsing the ratings given
by peers on various programs / channels; and tuning to the programs / channels rated above or
below certain ratings by one's peers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention of building a social network to provide the social viewing experiences can
now be explained in detail.
In the first two steps of creating a list of peers tagged with peer's nick name and IP addresses
and inviting peers to watch specific programs through chat / voice messaging service, the user
can search peers by entering name, straightaway IP addresses, or other details like geographic
location, age, profession etc.
User can assign nick name against each peer's main name and IP addresses and store a list of
peers inside IPTV main memory.
Once the peers have been selected, user can send a predefined program / channel
recommendation message to the one or more peers simultaneously for viewing particular
program(s) or channel(s). The message appears on the small chat window of invited peer's
IPTV. Sender has to simply select the program / channel to be recommended from the list and
press a specific remote button to send a recommendation message.

This message will contain link of the program / channel sender has mentioned in the message
and if peers receiving this message wants to switch directly to the recommended program /
channel, they can do so by clicking or selecting the link through specific remote key.
If receiving peers do not want to switch to the recommended channel / program permanently,
receiving peers will have an option to choose to switch to program over a PIP window with
main program running in the main window.
Receiving peers can issue a command to record the recommended program if recommended
program is running currently and peers do not want to watch now but in future.
If recommended program is coming in near future (say after few hours, days, week, or month)
receiving peers can set a record alert. This facility will record the recommended program when
it comes and peers can watch the program as per their convenience.
Users can extract caption / teletext running for the news channels and can send the same as an
alert message along with the predefined chat message to invite peers to watch the particular
news channel.
Users can extract the movie genre, cast, and other metadata information from the Electronic
program guide and send along with the predefined chat message to invite peers to watch the
particular movie on a particular channel.

By the same way users can extract all the information available in the Electronic program guide
in the form of text metadata and attach it to the predefined invite messages for inviting peers
to watch the particular program on a particular channel.
Multiple chat windows are possible over the peer's screen in case peer is in peers list of multiple
clients and multiple clients are sending the program invites to the peers.
If peers are receiving chat messages from multiple clients, a portion of chat message from all
the clients will appear as tickers on the IPTV screen.
In the step of discussing about the program with peers through chat messages, the facility
allows users to send customized chat messages over IPTV network.
Peers can discuss about programs or any general matters say over IPTV network, through chat
messages.
Peers can customize the location of chat message appearance on IPTV screen, e.g., top right,
bottom left etc.
The chat window can be minimized.
The next step is populating the list of programs / channels one's peers are watching on
selection a MENU item from remote control unit. In this service the facility of a specific

submenu item will be assigned to remote control MENU.
On selecting the submenu item assigned to the service, a list will be populated on users' IPTV
screen containing the information of what user's peers are watching.
The list will be populated in a tabular fashion containing peer's nick name, main name (unique
to entire IPTV network), IP address, and program / channel which he is watching currently.
The table is dynamic in nature, such that if a new peer switch on the television, a list will be
immediately updated on users screen incrementing the new peer's information.
By the same way, if any peer logs off or switches off the IPTV, a list will be updated by
removing the information on that particular peer from the table on users IPTV screen.
In the step of switching to the particular program by selecting from the list of programs peers
are watching, the user can select a particular peer (and associated information, obviously) by
scrolling up-down through remote control.
On pressing ENTER through remote control, users will be switched automatically to the program
which has been watched by the particular peer.
Services of inviting peers, discussing with them and populating the list of programs are all
available to users once they switch to the particular peer' program.

In the service of assigning favorite peer(s) and switch to the peers program on switching the
IPTV on, users can create a list of favorite peers. If users want to add more than one peer in
the list of favorite peers, users should assign names in the decreasing order of importance. For
this purpose users simply use submenu item within remote control MENU items and select the
'CREATE FAVORITE LIST' option.
List of peers appear on users' IPTV screen. Users can scroll the list up-down through remote
control and pressing the ENTER button, a particular peer will be added into users Favorite list in
the order selected by the user.
Users can access the favorite peers list by selecting submenu item from main MENU options.
This list will show program / channel currently watched by favorite peers and again the
information is dynamic in nature as explained above in the last paragraph of page 6.
Users can update the order of importance of favorite peers by scrolling through the list,
selecting the peer whose importance needs to be changed, and then pressing up or down key
through remote control.
Users can now opt for the option to switch directly to the program watched by the most favorite
peer (top most peer with highest importance in the list of peers) whenever users switch on the
IPTV.

If most favorite peer is not watching IPTV while user switches on the IPTV, automatically
control will go to the peer of next importance and so on. If none of the peers are logged in
(i.e., watching the IPTV) users' IPTV will start with the program where users' have switched the
IPTV off.
In the service of automatically mining the watch pattern of the viewers based on two
parameters time of watch and channel watch and generate the automatic peer's list, a software
program running on users' IPTV will create a log of total time spent on each channel by users'
peers and will match with the total time spent by users on each channel. Based on this match,
automatic list favorite peers in the decreasing order of importance will be created by the
software application. This automatic list of favorites will be used to recommend program(s) to
users once favorite peers are watching. If user opts for the automatic favorite list creation and
updating through remote control MENU and submenu items, all the services of assigning
favorite peers will be automated through mining of peer's IPTV watch pattern. This automation
will carry option to automatically update the list of peers and their importance on weekly and
monthly basis. For this purpose, program watch patterns will be mined on the weekly and
monthly basis by doing cumulative statistical analysis over daily watch patterns. If user opts for
the automatic list of peers (list of favorite peers and list of peers are different) they can also do
so by this particular service.
In the service of creating peer alert by automatically identifying the most favorite peer from
peer's list and generating alert for the program peer is watching while user is watching for other
programs, users can opt for the peer alert by selecting 'Create Peer Alert submenu item
through the main MENU.

This alert will aLert the user what the most favorite peer is watching by generating a message in
the pop-up window. User can switch to the peer watched program through the pop-up window
instructions.
The alert can also be generated by running the peers watched program in the PIP window
without disturbing the main program and if user wants to create PIP window program a main
program, they can do so.
In the service of browsing the ratings given by peers for various programs / channels and
tuning to the programs / channels rated above or below certain ratings by one's peers, users
can browse ratings given by their for various programs / channels.
Users can browse ratings given only by favorite peers.
Users can switch to the program rated above or below certain ratings given by their peers.
User can set the auto switch to particular program / channel rated highest by the most favorite
peers.
User can set the auto switch to particular program / channel rated highest within the list of all
programs rated by their peers.
The advantages of the invention are evident from the description given above, particularly in
inviting peers to watch specific programs through chat / voice message service, in populating
the list of programs and in switching to the particular program by selecting from the list of
programs peers are watching.

WE CLAIM
1. A method for building social networks through IPTV by providing social viewing
experiences in IPTV, comprising the steps of:
- creating a list of peers tagged with peers nickname and IP address;
- inviting peers to watch specific programs through chat / voice messaging service;
- discussing with peers about program through chat messages;
- populating the list of programs / channels one's peers are watching on television;
- switching to the specific program by selecting from the list of programs peers are
watching;
- assigning favourite peers and switching to the peers program by switching the
IPTV on;
- automatically mining the watch pattern of the viewers based on two parameters
time of watch and channel watch and generate the automatic peers list;
- creating peer alert by automatically identifying the most favourite peer from peers
list and generating alert for the program peer is watching while user is watching
for other programs;
- browsing the ratings given by peers on various programs / channels; and
- tuning to the programs / channels rated above or below certain ratings by one's
peers.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps of creating a list of peers tagged
with peer's nick names and IP addresses and inviting them to watch specific programs
through chat / voice message service comprises the step of searching by entering name,
straightaway IP address, or other details like geographic location, age and profession.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps of creating a list of peers tagged
with peer's nick names and IP addresses and inviting them to watch specific programs
through chat / voice message service comprises the step of service further comprises the
step of assigning nick name against each peer's main names and IP addresses and
storing a list of peers IPTV main memory.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises the step of sending a predefined
program / channel recommendation message to one or more viewers simultaneously for
viewing particular programs / channels after the peers have been selected.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said message contains link of the program /
channel and the peers receiving the message can switch directly to the program /
channel by selecting the link.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein if the receiving peers do not want to switch
to the recommended programs / channels permanently they can switch to programs over
a PIP window with the main program running in main windows.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receiving peers can record the currently
running program for future viewing.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the receiving peers can set a record alert
when the recommended program is coming in say after few hours, days, weeks or
months, for recording when the program comes and viewing the program according to
the peers convenience.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps of creating a list of peers tagged
with peer's nick names and IP addresses and inviting them to watch specific programs
through chat / voice message service comprises the step service further comprises the
step of extracting caption / teletext running for news channels and sending this as an
alert message with the chat message inviting peers to view the particular news channel.
10. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprises the step of extracting movie genre,
cast and other metadata information from the electronic information guide and sending it
with the chat message inviting peers to watch the movie on the designated channel.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein information in the form of text metadata
available in the electronic program guide can be extracted in a similar manner and
attached with the message for inviting peers to view a program on a designated channel.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps of creating a list of peers tagged
with peer's nick names and IP addresses and inviting them to watch specific programs
through chat / voice message service comprises the step service further comprises
providing multiple chat windows when multiple clients are sending program invites to the
peer.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a portion of the chat message from all
clients appear as tickers on IPTV screen when the peer receives chat messages from
multiple clients.
14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of discussing with peers through
chat messages comprise the step of sending customized chat messages over IPTV
network.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein peers can discuss programs or any general
matters through the chat messages.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the location of the chat message
appearance on IPTV screen can be customized by the peers.
17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the chat window can be minimized.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of populating the list of programs /
channels peers are watching comprises the step of assigning the submenu item to a
remote control MENU.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein a list is populated on the user's screen
containing information on what the peers are watching.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said list is populated in a tabular fashion
containing the peers' nick name, main name, IP address and program / channel being
viewed currently.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said populated list is automatically updated
on the users screen when the television is switched on by a new peer.
22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the list is updated automatically when any
peer logs off or switches the IPTV off.
23.The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of switching to a particular program
comprises the step of selecting a particular peer by scrolling with the help of a remote
control.
24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein by pressing ENTER of the remote control
users are automatically switched to the program being watched by a peer.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein upon switching to a particular peer
program, the services of inviting peers, discussing with them and populating the list of
programs are available to the user.
26. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of assigning favorite peers and
switching to the peers' program comprises creation of a list of favorite peers in a
decreasing order of importance.
27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the name of a particular peer can be added
to the list of favorite peers in the selected order, by pressing ENTER button of the
remote control,
28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said favorite peer list can be accessed by
selecting submenu items from main MENU options.
29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the order of importance of favorite peers
can be updated with the help of a remote control.
30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the program wanted by the most favorite
peer can be switched on directly whenever the IPTV is switched on.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the control automatically goes to the peer of
next importance when the most favorite peer is not watching the program when the
IPTV is switched on.
32. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of automatically mining the watch
pattern comprises creation of a log of total time spent on each channel by peers by an
application (program running on IPTV), which will watch with the total time spent by
users on each channel.
33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein based on said watch an automatic list of
favorite peers can be created in a decreasing order of importance.
34. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said list of favorites can be used for
recommending programs.
35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein all the services associated with assigning
favorite peers will be automated through mining of peers' IPTV watch pattern when the
user opts for creation and updating of automatic favorite list.
36. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the automatic updating of the list of peers
and their importance is carried out on weekly or monthly basis.

37. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein creation of an automatic list of peers can
also be done with the help of the step of automatically mining the watch pattern.
38. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein for creating alert by identifying most favorite
peer from the list of peers the user can opt for creating peer alert submenu item through
the main MENU.
39. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein said creation of peer alert generates a
message in the pop-up window for alerting user about the program most favorite peer is
watching.
40. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein said alert can be generated by running the
program watched by peer in PIP window without disturbing the main program.
41. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps of browsing the ratings given by
peers on programs / channels and timing to the related programs channels comprise
browsing by the user the ratings given by their peers for various programs / channels.
42. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the user browses ratings given only by
favorite peers.
43. The method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the users can switch to the program /
channel rated above or below ratings given by their peers.

44. The method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the users can set an auto switch to a
program / channel rated highest by most favorite peers.
45. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the users can set the auto switch to
program / channel rated highest within the list of all programs rated by their peers.
46. A method for building social networks through IPTV by providing social viewing
experiences in IPTV, substantially as herein described.

The present invention works on a combination of method steps and some basic data mining
procedures working on the IPTV for the above mentioned social viewing experiences. All the
services are available through IPTV and algorithms built inside the IPTV for rendering these services. These services may be freely available to these IPTV users, while revenue generating business model can be built around these services for other IPTV users with specific service providers.
These social viewing experiences allow users to build social networks through IPTV and then do
the mentioned IPTV watching operations based on the social network. In a preferred embodiment the present invention provides a method for building social networks through IPTV by providing social viewing experiences in IPTV, comprising the steps of: creating a list of peers tagged with peers nickname and IP address; inviting peers to watch specific programs through chat / voice messaging service; discussing with peers about program through chat messages; populating the list of programs / channels one's peers are watching on television; switching to the specific program by selecting from the list of programs peers are watching; assigning favourite peers and switching to the peers program by switching the IPTV on; automatically mining the watch pattern of the viewers based on two parameters time of
watch and channel watch and generate the automatic peers list; creating peer alert by
automatically identifying the most favourite peer from peers list and generating alert for the
program peer is watching while user is watching for other programs; browsing the ratings given
by peers on various programs / channels; and tuning to the programs / channels rated above or
below certain ratings by one's peers.