Method and apparatus to send feedback from clients to a server in a content distribution broadcast system

• US 20030005465A1
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Connelly, Jay H.
• Application Number:
  US09/882,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005465A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/119
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses providing feedback to a server from a client in a content distribution broadcast system. In one aspect, feedback is sent from a client to a server in response to a trigger. In another aspect, feedback is sent after a predetermined amount of time has lapsed. In yet another aspect, feedback is sent after a rankings or ratings have been generated for a predetermined number of pieces of content. In still another aspect, feedback is sent after a predetermined amount of content has been consumed. In yet another aspect, feedback is sent when the amount of unconsumed content is less than a predetermined threshold amount.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

receiving a trigger signal from the server;

sending feedback to the server in response to the trigger signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the feedback to the server in response to the trigger signal from the server comprises establishing a connection to the server.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising utilizing a binary exponential back-off system to establish the connection with the server if the connection to the server cannot be established.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending the feedback to the server comprises establishing the connection the server through a back channel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending the feedback to the server comprises establishing the connection the server through a network connection to the server.

6. A method, comprising:

receiving content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

timing an amount of time lapsed since a previous feedback was sent to the server;

sending a next feedback to the server after the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server is greater than a predetermined amount of time.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein timing the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server comprises maintaining a local timer of the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising resetting a timer of the amount of time lapsed since a previous feedback was sent to the server after sending the next feedback to the server.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein sending the next feedback to the server comprises establishing a connection to the with the server.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

generating demand data related to the content described by the content descriptors;

sending feedback to the server after demand data is generated related to a first amount of content.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the generation of the demand data comprises consuming at least a portion of content locally stored, the generation of demand data responsive to the portion of content that is consumed.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the generation of demand data related to the content described by the content descriptors comprises receiving explicit user input regarding specific pieces of content.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the sending of the feedback to the server comprises sending the feedback to the server after demand data related to a first number of pieces of content have been generated.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the generation of the demand data related to the content comprises ranking the content.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the generation of the demand data related to the content comprises rating the content.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising maintaining a count of a number of pieces of content that have been consumed since a previous feedback was sent to the server.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising resetting the count of the number of pieces of content that have been consumed since the previous feedback was sent to the server after sending the feedback to the server after the first amount of content stored in the storage device has been consumed.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising consuming content that is stored in the storage device.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising maintaining a count of an amount of unconsumed content stored in the storage device.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving additional content from the server after sending the feedback to the server; and

storing the additional content received from the server in the storage device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein when the instructions stored on the machine-readable medium send the feedback to the server in response to the trigger signal from the server, the instructions on the machine-readable medium further establish a connection to the server.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the machine-readable medium further has instructions stored thereon to utilize a binary exponential back-off system to establish the connection with the server if the connection to the server cannot be established.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein when the instructions stored on the machine-readable medium send the feedback to the server, the instructions on the machine-readable medium further establish the connection to the server through a back channel.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein when the instructions stored on the machine-readable medium send the feedback to the server, the instructions on the machine-readable medium further establish the connection to the server through a network connection to the server.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein when the instructions stored on the machine-readable medium time the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server, the machine-readable medium further has instructions to maintain a local timer to time the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the machine-readable medium further has instructions to reset a timer of the amount of time lapsed since a previous feedback was sent to the server after sending the next feedback to the server.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein when the instructions stored on the machine-readable medium send the next feedback to the server, the machine-readable medium further has instructions stored thereon to establish a connection to the with the server.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

receiving content from the server;

storing the content received from the server in a storage device;

sending feedback to the server after a first amount of content stored in the storage device has been consumed.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

receiving content from the server;

storing the content received from the server in a storage device;

sending feedback to the server after a first amount of unconsumed content remains stored in the storage device.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to;

receive content descriptors from a server, the content descriptors to describe content potentially to be sent from the server;

receive a trigger signal from the server;

send feedback to the server in response to the trigger signal.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to;

receive content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

time an amount of time lapsed since a previous feedback was sent to the server;

send a next feedback to the server after the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server is greater than a predetermined amount of time.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to;

receive content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

generate demand data related to the content described by the content descriptors;

send feedback to the server after demand data related to a first amount of content has been generated.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the machine-readable medium further has instructions to consume at least a portion of content locally stored, the demand data generated in responsive to the portion of content that is consumed.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the machine-readable medium further has instructions to receive explicit user input regarding specific pieces of content, the demand data generated in responsive to the explicit user input.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the demand data is generated related to the first amount of content after demand data has been generated in connection with a first number of pieces of content.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 generating the demand data related to the content comprises ranking the content.

37. The apparatus of claim 32 generating the demand data related to the content comprises rating the content.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the machine-readable medium further has instructions to maintain a count of a number of pieces of content that have been consumed since a previous feedback was sent to the server.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the machine-readable medium further has instructions to reset the count of the number of pieces of content that have been consumed since the previous feedback was sent to the server.

38. An apparatus, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to;

receive content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

receive content from the server;

store the content received from the server in a storage device;

send feedback to the server after a first amount of content stored in the storage device has been consumed.

41. An apparatus, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to;

receive content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

receive content from the server;

store the content received from the server in a storage device;

send feedback to the server after a first amount of unconsumed content remains stored in the storage device.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the machine-readable medium further has instructions to consume content that is stored in the storage device.

43. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the machine-readable medium further has instructions to maintain a count of an amount of unconsumed content stored in the storage device.

44. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the machine-readable medium further has instructions to:

receive additional content from the server after sending the feedback to the server; and

store the additional content received from the server in the storage device.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the apparatus is further caused to establish a connection with the server when sending feedback to the server in response to the trigger signal.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the apparatus is further caused to utilize a binary exponential back-off system to establish the connection with the server if the connection to the server cannot be established.

48. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the apparatus is further caused to establish a connection with the server through a back channel when sending feedback to the server in response to the trigger signal.

49. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the apparatus is further caused to establish a connection with the server through a network connection when sending feedback to the server in response to the trigger signal.

45. An apparatus, comprising

a processor having circuitry to execute instructions;

a communications interface coupled to the processor, the communications interface coupled to receive communications from a server;

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

receive content descriptors from a server, the content descriptors to describe content potentially to be sent from the server;

receive a trigger signal from the server;

send feedback to the server in response to the trigger signal.

50. An apparatus, comprising

a processor having circuitry to execute instructions;

a communications interface coupled to the processor, the communications interface coupled to receive communications from a server;

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

receive content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

time an amount of time lapsed since a previous feedback was sent to the server;

send a next feedback to the server after the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server is greater than a predetermined amount of time.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the apparatus is further caused to maintain a local timer to time the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server.

52. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the apparatus is further caused to establish a connection with the server when sending the next feedback to the server.

53. An apparatus, comprising

a processor having circuitry to execute instructions;

a communications interface coupled to the processor, the communications interface coupled to receive communications from a server;

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

receive content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

rank or rate the content described by the content descriptors;

send feedback to the server after demand data related to a first amount of content has been generated.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the apparatus is further caused to consume at least a portion of content locally stored, the demand data generated in responsive to the portion of content that is consumed.

55. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the apparatus is further caused to receive explicit user input regarding specific pieces of content, the demand data generated in responsive to the explicit user input.

56. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the demand data related to the first amount of content is generated after demand data has been generated in connection with a first number of pieces of content.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the apparatus is further caused to maintain a count of a number of pieces of content that have been consumed since a previous feedback was sent to the server.

59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the apparatus is further caused to reset the count of the number of pieces of content that have been consumed since the previous feedback was sent to the server after sending the feedback to the server.

57. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor having circuitry to execute instructions;

a communications interface coupled to the processor, the communications interface coupled to receive communications from a server;

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

receive content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

receive content from the server;

store the content received from the server in a storage device;

send feedback to the server after a first amount of content stored in the storage device has been consumed.

60. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor having circuitry to execute instructions;

a communications interface coupled to the processor, the communications interface coupled to receive communications from a server;

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

receive content descriptors, which describe content, from a server;

receive content from the server;

store the content received from the server in a storage device;

send feedback to the server after a first amount of unconsumed content remains stored in the storage device.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the apparatus is further caused to consume content that is stored in the storage device.

62. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the apparatus is further caused to maintain a count of an amount of unconsumed content stored in the storage device.

63. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive additional content from the server after sending the feedback to the server; and

store the additional content received from the server in the storage device.

64. A method, comprising:

sending content descriptors, which describe content, to one or more clients;

sending a trigger signal to said one or more clients;

receiving feedback from the one or more clients in response to the trigger signal.

65. The method of claim 64 further comprising generating the content descriptors to describe the content prior to sending the content descriptors to the one or more clients.

66. The method of claim 64 further comprising determining an order to send the content in response to the feedback received from the one or more clients.

67. The method of claim 64 further comprising identifying the content to send to the one or more clients in response to the feedback received from the one or more clients.

69. The method of claim 68 further comprising determining an order to send the content in response to the feedback received from the one or more clients.

70. The method of claim 68 further comprising identifying the content to send to the one or more clients in response to the feedback received from the one or more clients.

68. A method, comprising:

generating content descriptors to describe content;

sending the content descriptors to one or more clients;

receiving feedback from the one or more clients without the sending of a trigger signal to the one or more clients.

71. A system, comprising:

a server;

one ore more clients coupled to the server;

wherein the server is coupled to broadcast content descriptors, which describe available content, to the one or more clients;

wherein the server is coupled to broadcast a trigger signal to the one or more clients;

wherein the one or more clients are coupled to send feedback to the server in response to the trigger signal.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein the one or more clients are coupled to utilize a binary exponential back-off system to establish a connection with the server to send the feedback to the server if a connection to the server cannot be established.

73. The system of claim 71 wherein the one or more clients are coupled to establish a connection to the server through a back channel to send the feedback to the server.

74. A system, comprising:

a server;

one ore more clients coupled to the server;

wherein the server is coupled to broadcast content descriptors, which describe available content, to the one or more clients;

wherein each of the one or more clients are coupled to time an amount of time lapsed since a previous feedback was sent to the server;

wherein each of the one or more clients are coupled to send a next feedback to the server after the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server is greater than a predetermined amount of time.

75. The system of claim 74 each of the one or more clients each of the one or more clients include a timer to time the amount of time lapsed since the previous feedback was sent to the server.

76. The system of claim 75 wherein each of the one or more clients each of the one or more clients are coupled to reset the timer of the amount of time lapsed since a previous feedback was sent to the server after the next feedback is sent to the server.

77. A system, comprising:

a server;

one ore more clients coupled to the server;

wherein the server is coupled to broadcast content descriptors, which describe available content, to the one or more clients;

wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to generate demand data related to the content described by the content descriptors;

wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to send feedback to the server after demand data is generated related to a first amount of content on each respective one of the clients.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein each of the one or more clients are each coupled to consume at least a portion of content locally stored, the generation of demand data on each client responsive to the portion of content that is consumed.

79. The system of claim 77 wherein each of the one or more clients are each coupled to receive explicit user input regarding specific pieces of content when generating the demand data.

80. A system, comprising:

a server;

one ore more clients coupled to the server;

wherein the server is coupled to broadcast content descriptors, which describe available content, to the one or more clients;

wherein the server is coupled to broadcast content to the one or more clients;

wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to receive and store the content received from the server;

wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to consume the content;

wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to send feedback to the server after a first amount of content stored in the storage device has been consumed.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to maintain a count of a number of pieces of content that have been consumed since a previous feedback was sent to the server.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to reset the count of the number of pieces of content that have been consumed since the previous feedback was sent to the server after sending the feedback to the server after the first amount of content stored in the storage device has been consumed.

83. A system, comprising:

a server;

one ore more clients coupled to the server;

wherein the server is coupled to broadcast content descriptors, which describe available content, to the one or more clients;

wherein the server is coupled to broadcast content to the one or more clients;

wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to receive and store the content received from the server;

wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to consume the content;

wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to send feedback to the server after a first amount of unconsumed content remains stored at the client.

84. The system of claim 83 wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to maintain a count of an amount of unconsumed content stored at the client.

85. The system of claim 83 wherein the one or more clients are each coupled to receive additional content from the server after sending the feedback to the server and store the additional content received from the server at the client.