The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 02, 2004

Filed:

Mar. 24, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:

Craig A. Finseth, St. Paul, MN (US);

Jeffrey A. Brown, Roseville, MN (US);

Philip E. Hsiao, Eden Prairie, MN (US);

Robert G. Arsenault, Redondo Beach, CA (US);

Assignee:

The DirecTV Group, Inc., El Segundo, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/445 ; H04N 7/16 ; H04N 7/025 ; H04N 7/10 ; G06F 3/00 ; G06F 1/300 ; H04H 9/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/445 ; H04N 7/16 ; H04N 7/025 ; H04N 7/10 ; G06F 3/00 ; G06F 1/300 ; H04H 9/00 ;
Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for sharing viewer preference information between a first user and a second user is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of storing first user viewer preference information characterizing media programs selected by the first user in a memory of a first user device, and transmitting at least a portion of the first viewer preference information to a second user for storage in a memory of a second user device. The article of manufacture comprises a data storage device tangibly embodying instructions to perform these method steps. The apparatus comprises a first user device which includes at least one receiver for receiving media programs and second user viewer preferences, a processor, a memory for storing viewer preference information characterizing the media programs selected by the first user, and a transmitter, for transmitting viewer preferences information to a second user device.


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