JP2002525756A - Customized upgrade of internet-enabled devices based on user profile - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] The server system maintains a database of user profiles of individual users of networked devices of consumer electronic devices and new technical features of such devices. If there is a match between the user profile and the new technical features, and the user instructs to receive information about updates or offers to sell, the option to get the features is provided via the network. Notify the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

【Technical field】

The present invention relates to a method for providing Internet services to end users, especially end users of consumer electronic devices.

[0002]

[Background Art]

The Internet has created several important market trends. They are,
1998 includes a phenomenal and continuing growth in Internet usage, with 30% of the US online population, an increase of 75% compared to the previous year. As more users emerge, their profiles have changed significantly. The average user today has a lower income and education level than the average user two years ago.
Access devices are also changing, and International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts that within seven years, non-PC Internet-enabled devices will likely outnumber PC Internet-enabled devices. I have. Dataquest now and 20
In 2001, the growth rate of all classes of non-PC Internet-enabled devices was PC
Forecasts will exceed sales growth. In addition, Internet-enabled devices have come to rely on new exciting services of the network.

[0003] Philips-Magnavox's Web-TV is an example of a device that supports a very exciting synergy between one conventional TV and the other Internet. Philips-Magnav
ox's Web-TV Plus Receiver provides WebPIP (picture-in-picture) features. Users can watch television programs at the same time while maintaining a connection to the web, even if their television set does not have PIP capabilities. This allows, for example, to simultaneously watch a TV show and retrieve your email without having to leave the living room couch at all. The receiver is equipped with an electronic program guide (EPG) that allows the user to receive text and video information about all programs available on their TV system. EPG
Is updated daily from the web. Users can continue to use the EPG while offline. Further extending the user's online capabilities, the integrated WebTV crossover link feature provides immediate access to a website when the user clicks on a link embedded in a television program or commercial. For example, while watching a TV documentary on a space program, you can connect to the NASA website for additional information on a particular topic.
Alternatively, consumers buying a new car can click on a website link in the advertiser's TV commercial to get more information about availability, options and local dealers instantly. Flash memory storage devices incorporate on-touch field upgrades of embedded software and new applications from the Internet to ensure consistent compatibility with continuously evolving technology. Enable download.

[0004] The value is shifting from devices to networks and network applications. The growth of the Internet into a widespread medium has been linked to the convergence of PCs and TVs and has not only the functions of both PCs and CEs, but also "connected functions."
This will result in a new product that also has a third component called “actionality”.
Networked or interconnected products will replace the idea of a stand-alone product. This will have two important implications.
The first is that the value for consumers will shift from "device-centric" to "functional-centric" or "task-centric". Voicemail is a good example of this. The access device is not important, but the value of the message system lies within the network. The second significance is that the focus on sales market initiatives to win consumer preferences will change. Believing that the new focus of corporate efforts is on interfacing with consumers, as all devices are connected or interconnected, increasing bandwidth to the home and making large amounts of data easily accessible. Have been.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to further enhance Internet services in consideration of the spread of Internet-capable devices and the widespread connectivity. Another object is to allow consumers of consumer electronic devices to benefit from the Internet in new ways.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the present invention provides a method that allows the technical features of an end-user network-enabled device (eg, an Internet-enabled device) to be customized. According to this method, information about the end user's profile and technical features for the equipment is stored in the server system. It is determined whether the user should be notified about the availability of this feature based on the user profile. If it is determined that there is a match between the stored user profile and information about this feature, the end user will be given the option to get the feature to be added to his / her equipment, network Notify via In the case of features relating to new software, the features may be downloaded over a network, preferably for automatic installation on the device. For features having hardware components, the features may be shipped to the end user upon accepting the offer. Preferably, a help desk is provided over the network to help the end user introduce the features.

[0007] The present invention is directed to a flexible storage space where network-enabled equipment can be installed by the end user at any time depending on the needs or needs of the user, the context of use, technological advances, etc. Is based on the realization that it will be. Not all end users are always interested in all possible features that result in an extension of the functionality of the device. Thus, a user profile is established when a user registers his device with the notification service, dynamically as a result of the user's interaction with the server system, or a combination thereof.
This profile is used to select technical features that are likely to be of interest to the user. In this way, the user keeps up with the latest trends in his / her interests. The present invention implicitly supports virtual recycling, as the equipment needs to be designed for upgrade purposes. A modular approach to adding or removing technical software or hardware features as needed will thus allow the product to be moved fairly quickly without interrupting the continuity of the operation of the manufacturer or aftermarket sales organization. Help slow down the tendency to become obsolete.

[0008] The invention particularly relates to a vertical market. Vertical markets are areas of commercial activity where similar products or services are involved. Examples of vertical markets are education, offices, hotels, consumers, hospitals, etc. Each of these segments has specific requirements for hardware devices or their functions. Hardware manufacturers can combine their devices with particular vertical market segments by combining related sets of applications and services. For the sake of perfection, US Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 785,459, filed January 17, 1997 (Applicant's Reference Number PHA23,217), "A METHOD FOR PERSONALIZING HOSPITAL INTERNET WE
B SITES ", which describes a method for personalizing communications over an intranet based on declared concerns, the user's environment, and the technical constraints of the receiving device. It is the data content or service that is adapted to the user profile.In the present invention, an upgrade or change of the technical function of the device under the control of the user profile.

The present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 Throughout the figures, same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing system 100 according to the present invention. System 10
0 is a set-top box 102 (eg, Philips Electronics WebTV),
TV receiver 104, home entertainment subsystem 106 (eg, Philips Electronics
DVX8000) and PDA108 (eg Philips Electronics with wireless transceiver)
Nino) and other end users. Set top box 102
Has a device that allows the television set 104 to be a user interface to the Internet. The set-top box 102 includes a web browser (that is, a client of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and TCP / IP, which is the main program of the Internet. The set-top box 102 is, for example, We
The bTV is connected to the service 110 via a telephone line, for example. TV receiver 104
Is a data and video distribution service 1 as considered by TiVo, for example.
12 is connected. The new company will enable digital recordings from TV scans of programs based on user preferences and will allow customization of advertising distribution
We are developing data and video distribution services for VCR. DVX8000 subsystem 106 is connected to ISP or ISDN network 114. PDA 108 communicates with other PDAs (not shown), laptops (not shown), and the like via wireless network 116. Each of the devices 102-108 can communicate via the Internet 118.

The system 100 further includes a registration server 12 as a back-end architecture.
0, a user profile database 122, a feature database 124, and a feature management server 126. The server 120 includes the devices 102 to 10
No. 8 user preferences are registered. The preferences may be explicitly supplied by the end user to be registered with the server 120 and / or implicitly from a user profile that is gradually accumulated, for example, through a relationship with hardware and / or service providers. May be derived. The user preferences relate, for example, to context of use (eg, occupation, hobby, home, office, hotel, school, university, airport, shopping mall), device characteristics, and user needs. The registration server 120 communicates information about each registered individual end user to the user profile database 122. The feature database 124 contains information about new features, services and devices, and includes information about service providers, such as the device 102.
~ 108 manufacturers keep it up to date. For each registered individual end-user, the feature management server 126 may provide the end-user with sales of items, such as new features, devices or services, that may be of interest to the end-user given his / her profile. Associates the user profile stored in database 122 with features, devices and services for which information is available through feature database 124. For example, the server 126 may notify end-users of a new release of software included in one or more of the devices 102-108, for example, via the Internet, to upgrade these devices if desired. Information about the end-user devices 102-108 and their structure is available through a user profile database 122. As another example, server 126 notifies end users of new functionality regarding software applications and / or hardware components that may be added as an upgrade to one or more of devices 102-108. For example, assume that a new speech recognition software program and a speech input / output module will be made available to one or more of the devices 102-108. Since the end user is registered as owning the devices 102-108, the server 126 notifies the end user of the possibility of having his / her equipment upgraded. Users may order software and hardware modules via the Internet. He / she automatically downloads the software when requested via the Internet. The hardware module is shipped to the end user with clear instructions on how to add this module to his / her equipment 102-108. Alternatively or additionally, server 126 also provides an online help desk to assist end users in introducing new components. In this way, the end-user device becomes a flexible storage space where consumers / end-users can install new exciting features at any time. Notification is controlled by the user profile, thus allowing the end user to customize his / her equipment to be guided.
As another example, the end user specifies a certain log-in shield when activating an individual device or service, for example, a PDA 108. For example, 1998 9
See US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 151,578, filed 11/11 (Applicant's Reference Number: PHA23,496), Bart de Greef's "CONTEXT SENSITIVE LOG-IN SHIELD", which is hereby incorporated by reference. . This reference relates to a login shield that controls access to a computer, network system or other information processing system. This login shield is provided for selection of context and application options. At login, the user has the option of identifying a context, and the login shield identifies an initial workspace or set of workspaces from the context. The login shield requests the user for identification information and compares the identification information to a set of legitimate users. If a match is found, the login shield establishes an initial workspace and launches the selected application. The user is also provided with a means to create and define alternative contexts for selection at login. Minimizing the overhead associated with the login process to the amount required for each individual user context by allowing the user to define and select among alternative contexts at the beginning of the login process Can be done. Once this login shield is designated for device 108, the user can designate other devices 104-106 to be provided with a similar login shield via server 126 as well. Thus and in general, the user preference
The transfer can be made to the end user's other network-enabled devices and future network-connected devices when the user connects these devices to the network.

Preferably, the devices 102-108 are provided with a display or remote control of the one or more devices 102-108, eg, a high resolution sufficient for this application.
Philips Electronics' programmable general-purpose remote controller with LCD
Pronto), allowing access to the back-end architecture (servers 120 and 126) via a consistent UI, such as a standardized GUI. Preferably, it simplifies user interaction and allows the user to The UI provides a single, standardized key to initiate communication with the back-end architecture with a single touch, to motivate you to explore what is available.2 or more users for devices 102-108 If so, further information processing may be necessary for selective personalization.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram 200 illustrating various features of the method according to the present invention.

In step 202, the user profile or possibly its updates are registered with the registration server 120. For example, registration is made explicitly by the user by providing information about context of use, characteristics of the device, personal interests, and the like. Alternatively or additionally, registration is performed automatically when a user connects the device to the network 118 for the first time or after some time. In the latter case, registration is limited to the characteristics of the device and the site, if any, via the identifier of the device and the identifier of the site. In step 204, the server 120 stores the profile or its update in the database 122. In step 206, feature server 126 determines whether feature database 126 should notify registered user of new features compatible with his / her registered equipment as provided by his / her profile.
Query 4 Upon finding such a match in step 208, the feature server in step 212 when the user logs into the server system 120-126, for example, by a particular one-button action on his / her device 102-108 in step 210 126 notifies the user of this feature. If at step 214 the user decides not to use this offer, the process returns to step 202 to update the user's profile in database 122 with information that this particular user is not interested in the feature found. . If at step 214 the user decides to utilize the offer, he / she causes the feature to be downloaded over the network 118 at step 216 if the feature is a software controlled feature. If the feature has hardware, get a notification that the feature will be shipped. The process returns to step 202 to update the user's profile with information that he / she is interested in the features found.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 102 Set Top Box 104 TV Receiver 106 Home Entertainment Equipment Subsystem 108 PDA 120 Registration Server 122 User Profile Database 124 Feature Database 126 Feature Management Server

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/30 170 G06F 17/30 170Z 340 340A H04N 5/44 H04N 5/44 Z (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), JP, KR (71) Applicant Groenewoodsweg 1, 5621 BA Eindhoven, The Netherlands (72) Inventor Eyes David A. Netherlands 5656 Ahr Eindorn Fenprof Holster 6 (72) Inventor Tims Alan Aarland Netherlands 5656 Aer Eindhoven Fenhof Lustrane 6 F term (reference) 5B075 KK07 KK33 ND20 ND23 PQ02 PQ05 PR08 UU34 5C025 BA30 DA05 DA10

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method which enables the functionality of an end-user network-enabled device to be customized, comprising: storing the end-user profile; and information about technical features for the device. -Determining whether the feature is relevant to the end user based on the information of the feature and the profile of the user;-setting an option to select the feature to be added to the device through the network. Notifying the end user via the method. 2. The apparatus comprises a first and a second network-capable device, the method comprising the steps of: providing the first and second devices via the network when the user selects the feature; The method of claim 1, comprising providing the feature. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the features comprise software modules downloadable over the network. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said features comprise hardware modules.