Interactive entertainment network system and method for customizing operation thereof according to viewer preferences

#This invention relates to interactive entertainment network systems, such as interactive television (ITV) systems, and to methods for operating such interactive entertainment network systems.

#Movie audiences are familiar with browsing for video movies in video rental stores. These stores offer hundreds to thousands of videos that are conveniently arranged in racks throughout a physical building space. Typically, the videos are grouped according to different categories. For instance, videos are grouped by kind, such as new releases, oldies, westerns, foreign films, family films, video games, and so forth. Other groupings might be by actor/actress name, alphabetical order of title, or topic. The movie groups assist shoppers in locating a video section of the store that interests them. The shopper can then limit his/her search for a suitable video to that section.

#Newer, interactive television (ITV) systems are now bringing the video store to peoples' homes. ITV systems have a single computerized control center, known as the “headend”, which interactively communicates with multiple distributed television units located in subscriber homes. The headend provides traditional forms of programming, such as the familiar cable and broadcast programs, as well as newer forms of programming, such as video-on-demand. In the video-on-demand (VOD) mode of operation, a viewer can order video movies directly from his/her own television set. Indeed, in a full interactive entertainment network system like this invention, it is contemplated that a viewer will be able to order “on demand” movies, video games, television shows, and other video content programs from their home.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a interactive entertainment network system according to this invention.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a user interface unit according to this invention.

#FIG. 3 is an exemplary screen illustration of a video-on-demand application, and particularly, of an initial screen in a preview browse user interface.

#FIG. 1 shows an interactive entertainment network system 20 in the form of an interactive television (ITV) system. System 20 includes a centralized headend or headend server 22 which is configured to provide video content programs to multiple subscriber homes. Representative homes 24a-24d are shown. The video content programs provided by headend 22 might include traditional broadcast TV shows, cable programs, on-demand movies, video games, and other services such as those commonly provided in the past by on-line computer services. A single headend might service 250,000 or more homes.

#Each home has a user interface unit 26a-26d, commonly referred to as a set-top box (STB), coupled to a television set (TV) or video display device 28a-28d. The user interface units receive digital video signals from headend 22 and control which programs are displayed on the associated TVs. Instead of separate STBs, a user interface unit can be incorporated in the TV itself in other implementations.

#Headend 22 is interconnected to the subscribers' homes 24a-24d via a multi-tier network or distribution structure 30. In the illustrated embodiment, distribution structure 30 includes a high-speed, high-bandwidth fiber optic cable network 32 coupled to regional distribution nodes (represented by distribution node 34). The speed and bandwidth of the fiber optic cable affords the desired performance for supporting a fully interactive system. Each distribution node 34 is connected to multiple user interface units 26a-26d via conventional home entry lines 36, such as twisted-pair lines or coaxial cable. As an example, each distribution node 34 supports approximately 1200 homes. As technology continues to improve, it is believed that parts of the distribution structure can be replaced with wireless forms of communication, such as RF communication or satellite communication.