Method and system for content selection, delivery and payment

• US 10,366,449 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Currivan, Bruce, Ma, Kenneth, Diab, Wael William, Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Kim, Yongbum, Johas Teener, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le H
• Application Number:
  US15/831,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20180096419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/489 using time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/70 of video data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5029 Service quality level-based billing, e.g. dependent on measured service level customer is charged more or less
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/20 Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for content selection, delivery and payment may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to select one or more parameters associated with a particular content type from the management entity. The particular content type may specify a type of media content that is handled by the one or more endpoint devices. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to receive configuration information from the management entity based on the selected one or more parameters associated with the particular content type. The one or more endpoint devices may be configured utilizing the received configuration information. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to pay for the received configuration information.

Claims

1. A communication system for delivering content, the communication system comprising:

a network management entity comprising;

a memory configured to store a plurality of entries, each respective entry of the plurality of entries corresponding to a respective content type of a plurality of content types of content and each respective entry indicating parameters associated with the respective content type of the plurality of content types; and

at least one processor configured to;

provide, for selection by an endpoint device, the parameters associated with at least one of the plurality of content types of the content;

receive, from the endpoint device, a selection of one or more of the parameters associated with the at least one of the plurality of content types of the content;

determine, based on the one or more of the parameters selected by the endpoint device, configuration information for the at least one of the plurality of content types of the content; and

provide, to the endpoint device, the configuration information for the at least one of the plurality of content types.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive authentication information from the endpoint device; and

verify the authentication information before providing the parameters to the endpoint device.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the endpoint device is configured to use the configuration information to access the content having the at least one of the plurality of content types from a content provider.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein at least one of a service provider or the content provider comprises the network management entity.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the service provider comprises the content provider.

6. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the service provider is separate from the content provider.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the parameters comprises at least one of a bandwidth, a data rate, or a processing power.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the endpoint device comprises a wireless communication interface.

9. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store the configuration information in association with the one or more of the parameters.

10. A network management entity comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of entries, each respective entry of the plurality of entries corresponding to a respective content type of a plurality of content types of content associated with a content provider, each respective entry indicating one or more parameters associated with the respective content type;

at least one processor configured to;

provide, to an endpoint device of a plurality of endpoint devices, information corresponding to a plurality of parameters related to content, the content having a particular content type of the plurality of content types, and the content being available from the content provider;

receive from the endpoint device, a selection of one or more parameters of the plurality of parameters, the selected one or more parameters related to the content having the particular content type of the plurality of content types that is to be accessed by the endpoint device from the content provider;

determine, based on the one or more parameters, configuration information for the particular content type of the plurality of content types for the content to be accessed by the endpoint device from the content provider; and

communicate the determined configuration information for the particular content type of the plurality of content types to the endpoint device.

11. The network management entity of claim 10, wherein the memory is further configured to store the configuration information in association with the one or more parameters.

12. The network management entity of claim 10, wherein the configuration information is communicated to the endpoint device for use by the endpoint device to access the content from the content provider.

13. The network management entity of claim 10, wherein at least one of a service provider or the content provider comprises the network management entity.

14. The network management entity of claim 13, wherein the service provider comprises the content provider.

15. The network management entity of claim 13, wherein the service provider is separate from the content provider.

16. The network management entity of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive authentication information from the endpoint device; and

verify the authentication information before providing the information corresponding to the plurality of parameters to the endpoint device.

17. A method performed by a network management entity of a service provider, the method comprising:

providing, to an endpoint device of a plurality of endpoint devices, information corresponding to a plurality of parameters related to content available from a content provider, the content having a particular content type of a plurality of content types;

receiving, from the endpoint device, a selection of one or more parameters of the plurality of parameters, the selected one or more parameters related to the content having the particular content type of the plurality of content types that is to be accessed by the endpoint device from the content provider;

determining, based on the one or more parameters, configuration information for the particular content type of the plurality of content types for the content to be accessed by the endpoint device from the content provider; and

communicating the determined configuration information for the particular content type of the plurality of content types to the endpoint device for accessing the content from the content provider.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving authentication information from the endpoint device; and

verifying the authentication information before providing the information corresponding to the plurality of parameters to the endpoint device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises at least one of a bandwidth, a data rate, or a processing power.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the content provider comprises the service provider.