Method and system for distributing content using device-specific content delivery networks

• US 10,097,291 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sue, Ranny Q., Riley, Xavier D.
• Primary Examiner(s): RABOVIANSKI, JIVKA A
• Application Number:
  US11/782,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,095 Days
• Field of Search: 725118, 725115, 725 63
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/24 Arrangements for distribution of identical information via broadcast system and non-broadcast system
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/51 specially adapted for satellite broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system 100 includes a first content delivery network 280(1) for a first type of user device, a second content delivery network 280(n) for a second type of user device and a content repository 274 communicating with the first content delivery network 280(1) and the second content delivery network 280(n). The first content is in a first format associated with the first content delivery network 280(1) and a second content associated with the second content delivery network 280(n). A content management system 221 generates a first content list for the first content delivery network 280 and generates a second content list for the second content delivery network 280(n). A content distribution system 260 communicates with the content management system and the first content delivery network and the second content delivery network. The content distribution system 260 transfers content to the first and second content delivery network from the content repository. The first content delivery network 280(1) publishes the content according to a publication start time. The first content delivery network 280(1) communicates the first content list to a first user device. The second content delivery network 280(n) communicates the second content list to a second user device.

Claims

1. A communication system for providing content from a content processing system on a server side of the communication system to a device side of the communication system, the communication system comprising:

on the server side of the communication system,

a content repository storing first content in a first format associated with a first type of device and second content in a second format associated with a second type of device,

a content management system generating a first content list corresponding to the first content and a second content list, different from the first content list, corresponding to the second content, wherein the content management system generates the first content list and the second content list on the server side of the communication system prior to the first content list and the second content list being provided from the server side of the communication system to the device side of the communication system,

a first content delivery network providing the first content list, as generated by the content management system on the server side of the communication system, from the server side of the communication system to a first device on the device side of the communication system, wherein the first device corresponds to the first type of device; and

a second content delivery network providing the second content list, different from the first content list and as generated by the content management system on the server side of the communication system, from the server side of the communication system to a second device on the device side of the communication system, wherein the second device corresponds to the second type of device,

wherein the first content list and the second content list include different content based on which content is available to the first type of device and the second type of device, respectively.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first type of device corresponds to a web based device.

3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the web based device comprises at least one of a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first type of device corresponds to a satellite device.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the satellite device comprises at least one of a set top box and a mobile satellite receiver.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the content management system generates, on the server side of the communication system, the first content list and the second content list different from the first content list based on a set of rules received at the content management system.

7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the set of rules includes rules dependent on which of the first type of device and the second type of device the first content list and the second content list, respectively, will be provided to.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein, to provide the first content list, the first content delivery network transmits the first content list, as generated by the content management system, to the first device via one of a terrestrial wireless system and a broadband wireless system.

9. The communication system of claim 1, wherein, to provide the second content list, the second content delivery network transmits the second content list, as generated by the content management system, to the second device via a satellite communication system.

10. A method of operating a communication system for providing content from a content processing system on a server side of the communication system to a device side of the communication system, the method comprising:

on the server side of the communication system,

storing first content in a first format associated with a first type of device and second content in a second format associated with a second type of device,

generating a first content list corresponding to the first content and a second content list, different from the first content list, corresponding to the second content, wherein the first content list and the second content list different from the first content list are generated on the server side of the communication system prior to the first content list and the second content list being provided from the server side of the communication system to the device side of the communication system;

using a first content delivery network,

providing the first content list, as generated on the server side of the communication system, from the server side of the communication system to a first device on the device side of the communication system, wherein the first device corresponds to the first type of device; and

using a second content delivery network,

providing the second content list, different from the first content list and as generated on the server side of the communication system, from the server side of the communication system to a second device on the device side of the communication system, wherein the second device corresponds to the second type of device,

wherein the first content list and the second content list include different content based on which content is available to the first type of device and the second type of device, respectively.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first type of device corresponds to a web based device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the web based device comprises at least one of a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first type of device corresponds to a satellite device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the satellite device comprises at least one of a set top box and a mobile satellite receiver.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the first content list and the second content list on the server side of the communication system includes generating the first content list and the second content list different from the first content list based on a set of rules received at the server side of the communication system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the set of rules includes rules dependent on which of the first type of device and the second type of device the first content list and the second content list, respectively, will be provided to.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the first content list includes transmitting the first content list, as generated on the server side of the communication system, to the first device via one of a terrestrial wireless system and a broadband wireless system.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the second content list includes transmitting the first content list, as generated on the server side of the communication system, to the second device via a satellite communication system.