Video delivery workflow

• US 20050050218A1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sheldon, Andrew K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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

Each transmission received from a video asset owner includes information regarding a video asset that is available for real time distribution during a future time period to third parties. Following a selection from among the video assets, the corresponding video asset owners receive transmissions requesting the selected video assets and one or more initial templates. The video asset owners transmit final templates that conform to the initial templates and contain information descriptive of the video assets. Each final template, and the corresponding video asset, is transmitted to predetermined network resource, such as a headend, at a predetermined time corresponding to the future time period of availability. The predetermined network resource can then distribute video assets to viewers that were requested from the corresponding video storefront by viewers.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from one or more content providers, one or more transmissions each including information regarding a multimedia content program available for real time distribution during a future time period to third parties;

receiving input selecting at least one said multimedia content program;

transmitting to one or more of the content providers;

a request for the selected at least one said multimedia content program; and

one or more initial templates;

receiving from the one or more content providers, in one or more transmissions, one or more final templates each conforming to a corresponding said initial template and containing information descriptive of the selected at least one said multimedia content program; and

transmitting, to a predetermined network resource at a predetermined time corresponding to the time period of availability, each said final template and the multimedia content program corresponding thereto for real time distribution during the future time period from the predetermined network resource to third parties.

2. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from one said third party for a real time distribution of one said multimedia content program; and

initiating the real time distribution of the one said multimedia content program to said third party from the corresponding said network resource.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein each said receiving of the information regarding the multimedia content program, each said transmitting of the request and the one or more initial templates, and each said receiving of the one or more final templates are performed through the internet.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein each said multimedia content program is either a pay per view or a video on demand.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the information regarding the multimedia content program is selected from the group consisting of:

a title of the multimedia content program;

the future time period;

a genre;

the name of the content provider;

a studio corresponding to the multimedia content program;

a preview of a storefront corresponding to the multimedia content program;

the run time for the multimedia content program;

the type of the multimedia content program;

a value for the box office revenue generated by the multimedia content program during its theatrical release;

a rating value; and

a combination of the foregoing.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein each said multimedia content program comprises:

a preview of a multimedia presentation; and

the multimedia presentation.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

each said initial template is one or more storefront web pages; and

each said final template is a storefront web page.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein each said final template comprises a title, a textual description, and an image associated with the multimedia content program corresponding thereto.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein each said final template comprises one or more markup language pages.

10. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the transmitting to the predetermined network resource further comprises an interactive scheduling routine for the predetermined network resource that corresponds to the time period of availability of the multimedia content program.

11. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the predetermined network resource is selected from the group consisting of:

a carousel;

a headend;

a plurality of headends;

a server;

a production server;

a staging and preview server; and

a combination of the foregoing.

12. A method as described in claim 1, wherein each said third party is selected from the group consisting of:

a client device;

a set top box for receiving a communication service; and

a personal computer.

13. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the method of claim 1.

14. A method comprising:

sending, to a network operator, one or more transmissions each including information regarding a multimedia content program available for real time distribution during a future time period to third parties;

receiving from the network operator;

a request for one or more said multimedia content programs; and

one or more initial templates;

associating information descriptive of one said requested multimedia content program with one said initial template to form a final template for each said requested multimedia content program; and

transmitting, to the network operator, each said final template and the multimedia content program corresponding thereto for real time distribution by the network operator during the future time period to third parties.

15. The method as described in claim 14, wherein the sending, the receiving, the associating, and the transmitting are performed by interactive operation of an internet browser application.

16. A method as described in claim 14, wherein each said multimedia content program is a video on demand.

17. A method as described in claim 14, wherein the information regarding the multimedia content program is selected from the group consisting of:

a title of the multimedia content program;

the future time period;

a genre;

the name of the content provider;

a studio corresponding to the multimedia content program;

a preview availability for the multimedia content program;

the run time for the multimedia content program;

the type of the multimedia content program;

a value for the box office revenue generated by the multimedia content program during its theatrical release;

a rating value; and

a combination of the foregoing.

18. A method as described in claim 14, wherein:

each said initial template is one or more video on demand storefront web pages; and

each said final template is one or more video on demand storefront web pages.

19. A method as described in claim 14, wherein each said final template comprises one or more markup language pages.

20. A method as described in claim 14, the associating information descriptive of one said requested multimedia content program with one said initial template to form a final template for each said requested multimedia content program further comprises, for each said final template, an input process selected from the group consisting of:

interactive retrieval of text and an image for addition to the initial template to form the final template;

an automatic retrieval of text and an image for addition to the initial template to form the final template; and

a combination of the forgoing.

21. A method as described in claim 14, wherein the information descriptive of one said requested multimedia content program that is associated with one said initial template to form the final template comprises a title, a textual description, and an image associated with the multimedia content program corresponding to the final template.

22. A method as described in claim 14, wherein each said third party is selected from the group consisting of:

a client device;

a set top box for receiving a communication service; and

a personal computer.

23. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the method of claim 14.

24. A system comprising:

means for assessing a data store to request one or more content assets that are available during a corresponding licensing period, wherein the data store stores data regarding content assets availability for video delivery services to third parties during respective licensing periods;

means for receiving additional data through the network connection regarding each said content asset corresponding to each said request; and

means for receiving each said requested content asset, and the additional information regarding the same, to a network resource for the provision of a video delivery service of the requested content asset to third parties during the corresponding licensing period.

25. A system as described in claim 24, wherein the data regarding content assets availability for video delivery services to third parties during respective licensing periods is selected from the group consisting of:

a title of the content asset;

the future time period;

a genre;

the name of a content provider;

a studio corresponding to the content asset;

a preview availability for the content asset;

the run time for the content asset;

the type of the content asset;

a value for the box office revenue generated by the content asset during its theatrical release;

a rating value of the content asset; and

a combination of the foregoing.

26. A system as described in claim 24, wherein each said content asset comprises:

a preview of a content asset; and

the content of the content asset.

27. A system as described in claim 24, wherein the additional data comprises a video on demand storefront web page.

28. A system as described in claim 24, wherein the additional data comprises a title, a textual description, and an image associated with the content asset.

29. A system as described in claim 24, wherein the additional data comprises one or more markup language pages.

30. A system as described in claim 24, further comprising means for receiving input of an interactive scheduling routine for the predetermined network resource that corresponds to the time period of availability of the content asset.

31. A system as described in claim 24, wherein the predetermined network resource is selected from the group consisting of:

a carousel;

a headend;

a plurality of headends;

a server;

a production server;

a staging and preview server; and

a combination of the foregoing.

32. The system as described in claim 24, further comprising:

means for receiving a request through the network connection from one said third party for a real time distribution of one said multimedia content program; and

means for initiating the real time distribution of the one said multimedia content program to said third party from the corresponding said network resource.

33. The system as described in claim 24, wherein the assessing is performed interactively by a video delivery service provider.

34. The system as described in claim 24, wherein the data regarding content assets availability for video delivery services to third parties during respective licensing periods is received by a means for receiving one or more transmissions through the network connection from a content provider.

35. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving one or more transmissions each including information regarding a multimedia content program available for real time distribution during a future time period to third parties;

means for receiving input, interactively, to select one or more said multimedia content programs;

means for transmitting;

a request for the one or more said multimedia content programs; and

one or more initial templates;

means for receiving, in one or more transmissions, one or more final templates each conforming to a corresponding said initial template and containing information descriptive of one said requested multimedia content program including the future time period of availability for real time distribution to third parties; and

means for deploying, to a predetermined distribution network at a predetermined time corresponding to the time period of availability, each said final template and the multimedia content program corresponding thereto.

36. A user interface comprising a panel depicted on a display screen to depict a video on demand (VOD) storefront that:

corresponds to a VOD that is available for distribution to each of a plurality of subscribing viewers from an associated headend during a calendar period;

has an advertising space into which an ad element of corresponding size may be placed, wherein the ad element can be distributed to the plurality of subscribing viewers for display in the advertising space during a predetermined time period of a day; and

makes the ad element selectable by input received from each subscribing viewer so as to initiate a real time distribution of one or more video images corresponding to the ad element when the subscribing viewer provide input to make a selection of the ad element.

37. A user interface comprising a video storefront display screen to depict one or more ad elements each having a corresponding navigational link to a real time distribution of one or more video images corresponding to the ad element that is available for distribution to each subscribing viewer from an associated headend during a predetermined time period of a day of a calendar period, wherein each said ad element:

is distributed by the associated headend to each subscribing viewer for display on the video storefront display screen only during the predetermined time period of the day of the calendar period; and

is selectable by each subscribing viewer to initiate a linking from the video storefront display screen via the corresponding navigational link to the corresponding real time distribution of the one or more video images corresponding to the ad element from the associated headend, wherein the video storefront display screen includes a navigational link selectable by each subscribing viewer to initiate the corresponding real time distribution to the subscribing viewer making the selection of the one or more video images corresponding to the ad element.

38. The user interface as defined in claim 37, wherein the video storefront display screen comprises a video storefront for the corresponding VOD that is navigated to when the subscribing viewer selects a VOD ad.

39. A user interface for a video storefront comprising a display including one or more ad elements each having a corresponding navigational link to a real time distribution of the one or more video images corresponding to the ad element that is available for distribution to viewers from an associated network resource during a specified day during a specific time period therein, wherein each said ad element:

is coordinated by the network resource to be in the display only during the specific time period of the specified day that corresponds to a time period of availability of the corresponding multimedia program; and

is viewer selectable to initiate a linking from the ad element via the corresponding navigational link to the corresponding real time distribution of the one or more video images corresponding to the ad element from the associated network resource.

40. A video on demand (VOD) system comprising:

means for executing a browser application to display;

a video storefront depicting;

a VOD ad that;

has a corresponding navigational link to a real time distribution request page for a corresponding VOD that is available for distribution to a subscribing viewer from an associated headend during any day of a calendar period; and

has an ad element, displayed with the VOD ad, only during a predetermined time period of a day within the calendar period;

a real time distribution request page for the corresponding VOD that is available for distribution from the associated headend to the subscribing viewer upon selection of the corresponding VOD ad;

means for receiving input from the subscribing viewer to the means for executing the browser application;

means for interpreting the input as a selection from the subscribing viewer; and

means for applying each said selection, via the use of the means for receiving input, to initiate;

upon the subscribing viewer upon selection of the ad element, a real time distribution of the one or more video images corresponding to the ad element from the associated headend; and

the real time distribution of the corresponding VOD to the subscribing viewer making input to select the VOD from the real time distribution request page for the corresponding VOD.

41. A video on demand (VOD) system, comprising:

a set top box having memory, a processor, and an input device; and

a browser application stored in the memory and executed on the processor to;

display a video storefront depicted on a display screen to depict;

a VOD; and

a plurality of ad elements each corresponding one navigational link to a corresponding real time distribution of the one or more video images corresponding to the ad element from an associated headend;

facilitate a selection, via use of the input device by a subscribing viewer, the VOD, wherein;

the VOD is available for distribution to the subscribing viewer from the associated headend during a calendar period;

each said ad element is available for distribution to the subscribing viewer from the associated headend;

each said ad element is displayed on the video storefront only during a predetermined time period of one day within the calendar period;

the VOD is selectable by the subscribing viewer to initiate the real time distribution of the corresponding VOD to the subscribing viewer from the associated headend; and

each said ad element is selectable by the subscribing viewer to initiate the real time distribution of the one or more video images corresponding to the ad element from the associated headend.

42. The VOD system as defined in claim 41, wherein the browser application is executed on the processor to receive and to display:

the real time distribution of the corresponding VOD to the subscribing viewer from the associated headend upon a requesting input received via the input device during the display of the video storefront; and

the real time distribution of the one or more video images corresponding to the ad element from the associated headend upon a requesting input received via the input device during the display of the video storefront.

43. The VOD system as defined in claim 41, wherein each said ad element is selected from the group consisting of:

a static image; and

moving images

44. The VOD system as defined in claim 43, wherein:

the ad element comprises moving images;

the set top box includes a component selected from the group consisting of;

means for tuning to more than channel; and

means for receiving different media streams that includes both static ads as

well as moving video and/or sound; and

a combination of the foregoing.