Importance

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Abstract

Methods and systems for monitoring and budgeting television viewing in order to influence and manage television-viewing habits in a manner that promotes self-monitoring. Example embodiments provide a Content Viewer Control System (“CVCS”), which enables devices and systems connected to a head-end, such as through a standard set-top box or a media center, to track and potentially control differing aspects of television viewing according to a viewing budget. For example, the CVCS can allow tracking and control over what content is viewed according to a variety of criteria, during which time periods, and for what duration on an individual or on a per-location basis, and/or based upon other configurable parameters. In summary, the CVCS receives notification of content as potential viewing events, compares a potential viewing event to stored viewing budget “allocations,” and reconciles the potential viewing event against the viewing budget. In one example embodiment, the CVCS comprises an interface to the content display and control components, a viewing event tracker component, and a viewing event reconciler engine. The viewing event tracker receives notification of content to be viewed (a potential viewing event), extracts pertinent information, and forwards the extracted information to the viewing event reconciler engine. The viewing event reconciler engine reconciles the forwarded information against budget data and/or rules and sends content control instructions to the interface. The CVCS optionally contains a data repository with the viewing budget or interfaces to an external data repository.

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First Claim