System and method for provisioning audiovisual works

• US 20060015352A1
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blockbuster LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Blockbuster LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Doherty, Michael J., Williams, Philip M., Wynn, Dominic C., Groves, David M., Simons, Malachi G., Dufty, Nigel A., Wilkins, Nicholas F., Macrow, Alistair, Eng, Alvin
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/307
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols

Abstract

A method for provisioning audiovisual works to a client includes maintaining categorization information specifying, for each of multiple audiovisual works, one or more of multiple categories. One or more of the categories are associated with each of multiple delivery slots in response to input from a client. For each of the delivery slots, a first audiovisual work from one of the categories associated with the respective delivery slot is provisioned for delivery to a location associated with the client.

Claims

1. A method for provisioning audiovisual works to a client, comprising:

maintaining categorization information specifying, for each of a plurality of audiovisual works, one or more of a plurality of categories;

associating one or more of the categories with each of a plurality of delivery slots in response to input from a client; and

for each of the delivery slots, provisioning an audiovisual work from one of the categories associated with the respective delivery slot for delivery to a location associated with the client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the categories indicates a genre of audiovisual works.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the categories indicates a rating of audiovisual works, the rating specifying a particular one of a plurality of ratings established by a standardized content rating system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a first one of the categories comprises characteristics specified by a first user associated with the client, and wherein a second one of the categories comprises characteristics specified by a second user associated with the client.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the categories indicates audiovisual works having specified characteristics.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information related to return of an audiovisual work;

identifying at least one characteristic of the returned audiovisual work;

identifying one of the delivery slots based on the identified characteristic; and

provisioning a second audiovisual work from one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot for delivery to the location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving preference information specifying characteristics for a selected one of the categories associated with a selected one of the delivery slots; and

generating a list of audiovisual works using the preference information;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying an audiovisual work in the generated list for delivery to the location.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving from the client an ordering of audiovisual works in the categories associated with the identified delivery slot;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying a next audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot, based on the ordering, for delivery to the location.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining availability information for audiovisual works in the categories associated with the identified delivery slot;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying an available audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot, using the availability information, for delivery to the location.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining popularity information for audiovisual works in the categories associated with the identified delivery slot;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying a popular audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot, using the popularity information, for delivery to the location.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining inventory history for the client;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying an audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot that is absent from the inventory history for delivery to the location.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the identified characteristic indicates that the returned audiovisual work is in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the client preference information regarding genres of audiovisual works;

generating a recommended list of audiovisual works using the preference information;

presenting to the client the recommended list;

receiving from the client a selection of audiovisual works from the recommended list; and

adding the selected audiovisual works to a selected one of the categories.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining availability information and popularity information for audiovisual works in an audiovisual library; and

determining inventory history for the client;

wherein generating a recommended list of audiovisual works using the preference information comprises identifying recommended audiovisual works using the availability information, the popularity information, and the inventory history.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the audiovisual works are movies.

16. An apparatus for provisioning audiovisual works to a client, comprising:

a memory operable to maintain categorization information specifying, for each of a plurality of audiovisual works, one or more of a plurality of categories; and

a controller operable to associate one or more of the categories with each of a plurality of delivery slots in response to input from a client, and, for each of the delivery slots, provision an audiovisual work from one of the categories associated with the respective delivery slot for delivery to a location associated with the client.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein one or more of the categories indicates a genre of audiovisual works.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein one or more of the categories indicates a rating of audiovisual works, the rating specifying a particular one of a plurality of ratings established by a standardized content rating system.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a first one of the categories comprises characteristics specified by a first user associated with the client, and wherein a second one of the categories comprises characteristics specified by a second user associated with the client.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the categories indicates audiovisual works having specified characteristics.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is further operable to:

receive information related to return of an audiovisual work;

identify at least one characteristic of the returned audiovisual work;

identify one of the delivery slots based on the identified characteristic; and

provision a second audiovisual work from one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot for delivery to the location.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller is further operable to:

receive preference information specifying characteristics for a selected one of the categories associated with a selected one of the delivery slots; and

generate a list of audiovisual works using the preference information;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying an audiovisual work in the generated list for delivery to the location.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller is further operable to:

receive from the client an ordering of audiovisual works in the categories associated with the identified delivery slot;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying a next audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot, based on the ordering, for delivery to the location.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller is further operable to:

determine availability information for audiovisual works in the categories associated with the identified delivery slot;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying an available audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot, using the availability information, for delivery to the location.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller is further operable to:

determine popularity information for audiovisual works in the categories associated with the identified delivery slot;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying a popular audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot, using the popularity information, for delivery to the location.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller is further operable to:

determine inventory history for the client;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying an audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot that is absent from the inventory history for delivery to the location.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identified characteristic indicates that the returned audiovisual work is in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot.

28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is further operable to:

receive from the client preference information regarding genres of audiovisual works;

generate a recommended list of audiovisual works using the preference information;

present to the client the recommended list;

receive from the client a selection of audiovisual works from the recommended list; and

add the selected audiovisual works to a selected one of the categories.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the controller is further operable to:

determine availability information and popularity information for audiovisual works in an audiovisual library; and

determine inventory history for the client;

wherein generating a recommended list of audiovisual works using the preference information comprises identifying recommended audiovisual works using the availability information, the popularity information, and the inventory history.

30. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the audiovisual works are movies.

31. Logic for provisioning audiovisual works to a client, the logic encoded in media and operable when executed to:

maintain categorization information specifying, for each of a plurality of audiovisual works, one or more of a plurality of categories;

associate one or more of the categories with each of a plurality of delivery slots in response to input from a client; and

for each of the delivery slots, provision an audiovisual work from one of the categories associated with the respective delivery slot for delivery to a location associated with the client.

32. The logic of claim 31, wherein one or more of the categories indicates a genre of audiovisual works.

33. The logic of claim 31, wherein one or more of the categories indicates a rating of audiovisual works, the rating specifying a particular one of a plurality of ratings established by a standardized content rating system.

34. The logic of claim 31, wherein a first one of the categories comprises characteristics specified by a first user associated with the client, and wherein a second one of the categories comprises characteristics specified by a second user associated with the client.

35. The logic of claim 31, wherein each of the categories indicates audiovisual works having specified characteristics.

36. The logic of claim 31, further operable when executed to:

receive information related to return of an audiovisual work;

identify at least one characteristic of the returned audiovisual work;

identify one of the delivery slots based on the identified characteristic; and

provision a second audiovisual work from one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot for delivery to the location.

37. The logic of claim 36, further operable when executed to:

receive preference information specifying characteristics for a selected one of the categories associated with a selected one of the delivery slots; and

generate a list of audiovisual works using the preference information;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying an audiovisual work in the generated list for delivery to the location.

38. The logic of claim 36, further operable when executed to:

receive from the client an ordering of audiovisual works in the categories associated with the identified delivery slot;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying a next audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot, based on the ordering, for delivery to the location.

39. The logic of claim 36, further operable when executed to:

determine availability information for audiovisual works in the categories associated with the identified delivery slot;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying an available audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot, using the availability information, for delivery to the location.

40. The logic of claim 36, further operable when executed to:

determine popularity information for audiovisual works in the categories associated with the identified delivery slot;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying a popular audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot, using the popularity information, for delivery to the location.

41. The logic of claim 36, further operable when executed to:

determine inventory history for the client;

wherein provisioning the second audiovisual work comprises identifying an audiovisual work in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot that is absent from the inventory history for delivery to the location.

42. The logic of claim 36, wherein the identified characteristic indicates that the returned audiovisual work is in one of the categories associated with the identified delivery slot.

43. The logic of claim 31, further operable when executed to:

receive from the client preference information regarding genres of audiovisual works;

generate a recommended list of audiovisual works using the preference information;

present to the client the recommended list;

receive from the client a selection of audiovisual works from the recommended list; and

add the selected audiovisual works to a selected one of the categories.

44. The logic of claim 43, further operable when executed to:

determine availability information and popularity information for audiovisual works in an audiovisual library; and

determine inventory history for the client;

wherein generating a recommended list of audiovisual works using the preference information comprises identifying recommended audiovisual works using the availability information, the popularity information, and the inventory history.

45. The logic of claim 31, wherein the audiovisual works are movies.

46. An apparatus for provisioning audiovisual works to a client, comprising:

means for maintaining categorization information specifying, for each of a plurality of audiovisual works, one or more of a plurality of categories;

means for associating one or more of the categories with each of a plurality of delivery slots in response to input from a client; and

means for, for each of the delivery slots, provisioning an audiovisual work from one of the categories associated with the respective delivery slot for delivery to a location associated with the client.