System and method for providing integrated media

• US 10,257,551 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Grandy, Leslie L., Ehrlich, Scott H., Meyerson, Randy A., Mahlum, Edward T., Chasen, Jeffrey M., Kowalik, Olaf W., Meghji, Karim
• Primary Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US15/376,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20170094333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Methods and system deliver media to users of media presentation systems. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a media server communicates with a media presentation system, such as a media player for streaming video and audio, to present subscription and non-subscription media to the user of the media presentation system. Subscription media may include multi-tiered media packages and individual media offerings as selected by the user. The media may be presented in various formats, including video, a graphical display, an audio presentation, a graphical and audio presentation, URL links, and interactive windows. Information about the user, the user'"'"'s subscription status, the user'"'"'s media presentation system and information about the media providers and the media offered by the media providers are maintained by the media server. The media server updates the foregoing information in accordance with the interaction between the media server, the users of media presentation systems, and the media providers.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for providing electronic access to electronic media content, the method comprising:

a computer receiving over a network from a user computing device a subscription fee for a subscription plan allowing a level of access to media content for a period of time, the access corresponding to user designation to include one or more media content providers from a plurality of media content providers in the subscription plan, a plurality of devices of the plurality of media content providers in communication with the computer, wherein the media content is media content made available by the one or more media content providers;

the computer receiving a designation from the user computing device, over the network, to include a given media content provider in the subscription plan, wherein the one or more media content providers includes the given media content provider, and wherein the designation to include the given media content provider thereby allows access under the subscription plan to a plurality of media offerings of the given media content provider;

the computer providing to the user computing device the access over the network to the media content via an application of the user computing device, the computer configured to provide network support to the application to enable the user computing device to access media content of each of the plurality of media content providers through the application if designated by the user;

the computer activating a plurality of features of the application based on the level of access to the media content; and

the computer providing the given media content provider a portion of the subscription fee, wherein the computer determines the portion based on a number of users who have included the given media content provider in their subscription plan.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content comprises audio and video content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content is streamed over the internet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer receiving over the network from a second user computing device a second subscription fee for a subscription plan allowing the second user access to media content from the given media content provider; and

the computer providing the given media content provider a portion of the second subscription fee from the second user.

5. An apparatus to provide electronic access to electronic media, comprising:

one or more communication interfaces configured to enable communication with a user computing device of a user and a plurality of media provider devices of a plurality of media content providers;

electronic memory to store a designation from the user;

one or more processors configured to;

receive, through the one or more communication interfaces, the designation from the user to include a media content provider, from the plurality of media content providers, in a subscription plan;

receive over a network through the one or more communication interfaces from the user computing device a subscription fee for the subscription plan allowing the user computing device access to media content from the media content provider, the access for a period of time and corresponding to the designation of the media content provider as included in the subscription plan, the media content from the media content provider comprising a plurality of media offerings;

provide to the user computing device the access over the network to the media content for the period of time via an application running on the user computing device;

provide network support to the application to enable the user computing device to access media content of each of the plurality of media content providers through the application if designated by the user;

activate a plurality of features of the application based on the user'"'"'s access to the media content corresponding to the media content provider; and

provide the media content provider a portion of the subscription fee, wherein the computer determines the portion based on a number of users who have included the media content provider in their subscription plan.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive from the user a request for additional media content.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine that the user qualifies to receive the additional media content.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user is qualified to receive the additional media content if the additional media content is included in the media content available under the subscription plan.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to provide to the user the access over the network to the additional media content for the period of time.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine that the user does not qualify to receive the additional media content.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user is not qualified to receive the additional media content if the additional media content is not included in the media content available under the subscription plan.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to send the user an opportunity to increase the subscription fee to qualify the user to receive the additional media content.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when implemented by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

receive a designation from a user computing device of a user to include two or more media content providers, from a plurality of media content providers corresponding to a plurality of media provider devices in electrical communication with the computing device, in a subscription plan;

receive over a network from the user computing device a subscription fee for the subscription plan allowing the user access to media content from the two or more media content providers, the access for a period of time and corresponding to the designation of the two or more media content providers as included in the subscription plan, the media content from the two or media content providers comprising a plurality of media offerings from each of the two or more media content providers;

provide to the user the access over the network to the media content for the period of time via an application of the user computing device;

provide network support to the application to enable the user computing device to access media content of each of the plurality of media content providers through the application if designated by the user;

the computer activating a plurality of features of the application based on the user'"'"'s access to the media content corresponding to the two or more media content providers; and

provide each of the two or more media content providers a portion of the subscription fee, wherein the portion is based on a number of users who have included the two or more media content providers in their subscription plan.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions to enable the user to select additional media content providers.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions to enable the user to deselect one or more of the two or more media content providers.