Apparatus and method for a dynamic electronic program guide enabling billing broadcast services per EPG line item

• US 20020144269A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Connelly, Jay H.
• Application Number:
  US09/823,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20020144269A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/49
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a dynamic electronic program guide enabling billing broadcast services per EPG line items are described. The method includes the receipt of content information from one or more cached content service providers for each content item stored on a client system. Once the content information is received, line items are allocated, from the electronic program guide, to the one or more cached content service providers. Next, the content information is merged for display in the electronic program guide. Finally, the one or more cached content service providers are charged a predetermined amount for each allocated line item. The allocation of line items includes allocation of a line item for each stored content item, for each genre grouping of stored content and a line item for each cached content service provider. As such, the present invention enables an EPG owner to derive additional revenue by charging caching services for access via the EPG.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving content information from one or more cached content service providers for each stored content data file;

allocating line items in an electronic program guide to the one or more cached content service providers;

merging the content information for display in the electronic program guide; and

charging each of the one or more cached content service providers a predetermined amount for each allocated line item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the allocating the line items further comprises:

assigning a line item for each stored content data file; and

generating an electronic program guide line item for each stored content data file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the allocating the line items further comprises:

grouping the stored content data file into one or more categories; and

generating a line item in the electronic program guide for each of the one or more categories.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the allocating the line items further comprises:

assigning one line item to each of the one or more cached content service providers; and

generating an electronic program guide line item for each of the one or more cached content service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored content data files are one of a movie, a music file, a video game and computer media.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

negotiating a predetermined amount to charge a cached content service provider per electronic program guide line item; and

repeating the negotiating the predetermined amount for each of the one or more cached content service providers.

7. A computer readable storage medium including program instructions that direct a computer to function in the specified manner when executed by a processor, the program instructions comprise:

receiving content information from one or more cached content service providers for each stored content data file;

allocating line items in an electronic program guide to the one or more cached content service providers;

merging the content information for display in the electronic program guide; and

charging each of the one or more cached content service providers a predetermined amount for each allocated line item.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the program instruction of allocating the line items further comprises:

assigning a line item for each stored content data file; and

generating an electronic program guide line item for each stored content data file.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the program instructions of allocating the line items further comprises:

grouping the stored content data files into one or more categories; and

generating a line item in the electronic program guide for each of the one or more categories.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the program instructions of allocating the line items further comprises:

assigning one line item to each of the one or more cached content service providers; and

generating an electronic program guide line item for each of the one or more cached content service provider.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the stored content data files are one of a movie, a music file, a video game and computer media.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the program instructions further comprise:

negotiating a predetermined amount to charge a cached content service provider per electronic program guide line item; and

repeating the negotiating the predetermined amount for each of the one or more cached content service providers.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the instruction to allocate the line item further causes the processor to:

assign a line item for each stored content data file; and

generate an electronic program guide line item for each stored content data file.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the instruction to allocate the line item further causes the processor to:

group the stored content data files into one or more categories; and

generate a line item in the electronic program guide for each of the one or more categories.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the instruction to allocation the line item further causes the processor to:

assign one line item to each of the one or more cached content service providers; and

generate an electronic program guide line item for each of the one or more cached content service providers.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the stored content data files are one of a movie, a music file, a video game and computer media.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further caused to:

negotiate a predetermined amount to charge a cached content service provider per electronic program guide line item; and

repeat the negotiating the predetermined amount for each of the one or more cached content service providers.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor having circuitry to execute instructions;

a communications interface coupled to the processor, the communications interface to broadcast data to one or more client systems, and to receive data from the one or more client systems;

a display device;

a storage device coupled to the processor, having sequences of instructions stored therein, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

receive content information from one or more cached content service providers for each stored content data file,

allocate line items in an electronic program guide to the one or more cached content service providers,

merge the content information for display in the electronic program guide via the display device, and

charge each of the one or more cached content service providers a predetermined amount for each allocated line item.