Apparatus, method and computer programming product for cable TV service portability
First Claim
1. A method for providing TV services to a subscriber, wherein the services are selectively transportable, the method comprising:
- a) receiving, by a first TV services provider, a first request from the subscriber, wherein the subscriber subscribes to a list of predefined channels included in the services, the predefined channels being delivered to a first location, and wherein the first request identifies a selected set of ones of the predefined channels and a selected converter located at a second location to which the selected set is to be redirected, wherein the selected converter is identified by a tag;
b) identifying a second TV services provider serving the selected converter;
c) sending a second request to the second provider, the second request identifying the selected channels to be redirected to the selected converter; and
d) receiving a response from the second provider identifying which ones of the channels of the selected set are available for delivery by the second provider to the converter, wherein a comparison of the available channels to the channels of the selected set indicates whether all of the selected channels are available for delivery by the second provider.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to one aspect of the present invention a method for selectively transportable TV services to a subscriber includes a first TV services provider receiving a request from the subscriber. The request identifies a selected set of predefined channels and a selected converter located at a location to which the selected set is to be redirected. Responsive to the request, or as part of the request, a second TV services provider serving the selected converter is identified. A second request is sent to the second provider identifying the selected channels to be redirected to the converter. The second provider responsively identifies which ones of the channels of the selected set are available for delivery by the second provider to the converter. A comparison of these available channels to the selected channels indicates whether all of the selected channels are available for delivery by the second provider.
58 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing TV services to a subscriber, wherein the services are selectively transportable, the method comprising:
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a) receiving, by a first TV services provider, a first request from the subscriber, wherein the subscriber subscribes to a list of predefined channels included in the services, the predefined channels being delivered to a first location, and wherein the first request identifies a selected set of ones of the predefined channels and a selected converter located at a second location to which the selected set is to be redirected, wherein the selected converter is identified by a tag;
b) identifying a second TV services provider serving the selected converter;
c) sending a second request to the second provider, the second request identifying the selected channels to be redirected to the selected converter; and
d) receiving a response from the second provider identifying which ones of the channels of the selected set are available for delivery by the second provider to the converter, wherein a comparison of the available channels to the channels of the selected set indicates whether all of the selected channels are available for delivery by the second provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product for providing TV services to a subscriber, wherein the services are selectively transportable, the computer program product comprising:
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first instructions for receiving, by a first TV services provider, a first request from the subscriber, wherein the subscriber subscribes to a list of predefined channels included in the services, the predefined channels being delivered to a first location, and wherein the first request identifies a selected set of ones of the predefined channels and a selected converter located at a second location to which the selected set is to be redirected, wherein the selected converter is identified by a tag;
second instructions for identifying a second TV services provider serving the selected converter;
third instructions for sending a second request to the second provider, the second request identifying the selected channels to be redirected to the selected converter;
fourth instructions for receiving a response from the second provider identifying which ones of the channels of the selected set are available for delivery by the second provider to the converter, wherein a comparison of the available channels to the channels of the selected set indicates whether all of the selected channels are available for delivery by the second provider. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for providing TV services to a subscriber, wherein the services are selectively transportable, the system comprising:
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a first converter at a first location operable to receive a first TV signal that includes TV programs or other content arranged by channels from a first TV services provider via a first communications link and to convert the signal to a format for a first TV set coupled to the converter;
a second converter at a second location operable to receive a second TV signal that includes TV programs or other content arranged by channels from a second TV services provider via a second communications link and to convert the second signal to a format for a second TV set coupled to the second converter, wherein the selected converter is identified by a tag;
a subscriber computer system located at at least one of the first and second locations and coupled to a network, the computer system being operable via the network for the subscriber to communicate with at least the first provider, wherein the subscriber subscribes to a list of predefined channels included in the services, the predefined channels being delivered to the first location;
a computer system for the first provider, coupled to the network, operable to communicate with the subscriber and a number of other TV service providers, including the second provider, and being programmed to perform the steps of;
a) receiving a first request from the subscriber, wherein the first request identifies a selected set of ones of the predefined channels and identifies the second converter, to which the selected set is to be redirected;
b) identifying the second TV services provider serving the selected converter;
c) sending a second request to the second provider, the second request identifying the selected channels to be redirected to the selected converter; and
d) receiving a response from the second provider identifying which ones of the channels of the selected set are available for delivery by the second provider to the converter, wherein a comparison of the available channels to the channels of the selected set indicates whether all of the selected channels are available for delivery by the second provider. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification