Method and system for communicating and displaying broadband content availability using information received through a satellite

• US 10,063,813 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharkey, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc K
• Application Number:
  US11/828,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20090031356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,051 Days
• Field of Search: 725 39, 725 40, 725 41, 725 92, 725 93, 725 95, 725 96, 725109, 725110, 725114, 725116, 370238, 709226, 709227, 709203, 709246
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26603 for automatically generating descriptors from content, e.g. when it is not made available by its provider, using content analysis techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A communication system 100 includes a content management system 221 determining broadband content availability, and a transport processing system 250 dividing the broadband content availability into broadband content availability packets. The transport processing system 250 communicates the broadband availability packets to a user device through a satellite 106 or 108.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating broadband content availability data for content available to a user device through a broadband network and generating satellite content data for content available to the user device through a satellite;

dividing the broadband content availability data into broadband content availability packets, each of the broadband content availability packets comprising a header comprising an identification portion identifying a delivery type of the broadband content availability packet as a broadband packet and a data portion comprising a content location identifying a server of a content delivery network from which the content is available;

communicating the broadband content availability packets and satellite content data to the user device through a satellite;

selecting broadband content at the user device from the broadband content availability packets to form a selection; and

communicating content corresponding to the selection to the user device through the broadband network and the server of the content delivery network corresponding to the content location.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a screen display associated with a user device in response to the broadband availability packets prior to selecting.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein selecting broadband content comprises selecting broadband content from the screen display to form the selection.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising communicating the selection to a content processing system through a terrestrial network.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising communicating content corresponding to the selection to the user device through a terrestrial broadband network.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising communicating content corresponding to the selection to the user device through a wireless broadband network.

7. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising communicating content corresponding to the selection to the user device through a cable connection.

8. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising communicating content corresponding to the selection to the user device through a broadband connection.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user device comprises a digital video recorder.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user device comprises a satellite television set top box.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the broadband content availability data comprises metadata.

12. A method comprising:

generating metadata corresponding to broadband content for content available to a user device through a broadband network, said metadata comprising a header portion comprising a delivery type identification portion identifying a delivery type of a broadband content availability packet as a broadband packet and a data portion comprising a content location corresponding to a server of a content delivery network from which the broadband content is available;

generating satellite content data for content available to the user device through a satellite;

communicating the metadata comprising the delivery type identification portion to a user device through the satellite;

selecting a selection at the user device corresponding to a first broadband content in response to the metadata;

communicating the selection to a content source; and

communicating the first broadband content to the user device through a broadband communication network and the server of the content delivery network corresponding to the content location.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the metadata comprises a broadband content description.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the metadata comprises broadband content graphics.

15. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the metadata comprises a decryption key.

16. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the metadata comprises a video preview for the broadband content.

17. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the metadata comprises a broadband content description, broadband content graphics, decryption key, video preview for the broadband content and the network descriptor.

18. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising generating a screen display in response to the metadata.

19. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising prior to generating a screen display, determining subscription data.

20. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising when the user device is not subscription enabled, generating a display not including the metadata.

21. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein communicating the selection comprises communicating the selection through a terrestrial network.

22. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein communicating the first broadband content comprises communicating the first broadband content through a terrestrial network.

23. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein communicating the first broadband content comprises communicating the first broadband content through a wireless broadband network.

24. A communication system comprising:

a satellite;

a user device;

a content management system generating broadband content availability data corresponding to content available through a broadband network and satellite content data for content available to the user device through a satellite;

a transport processing system communicating the broadband content availability data comprising a header comprising a delivery device type network descriptor to the user device through the satellite, said broadband content availability data comprising a data portion comprising a network descriptor corresponding to a content location identifying a server of a content delivery network from which the content is available;

the user device selecting a selection corresponding to a first broadband content from a screen display associated with the user device corresponding to the broadband content availability data; and

a content processing system receiving the selection and communicating the first broadband content to the user device through the broadband network and the server of the content delivery network.

25. A communication system as recited in claim 24 wherein the user device forms a selection corresponding to a first broadband content in response to the metadata.

26. A communication system as recited in claim 24 further comprising a terrestrial network communicating the selection to a content source.

27. A communication system as recited in claim 26 wherein the terrestrial network communicates the first broadband content to a terrestrial wireless network.

28. A communication system as recited in claim 24 wherein a terrestrial broadband network communicates the first broadband content to the user device.

29. A system as recited in claim 24 further comprising a cable connection communicating the first broadband content corresponding to the selection to the user device through the cable connection.

30. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the user device comprises a digital video recorder.

31. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein the user device comprises a satellite television set top box.