VIDEO PROMOTIONAL AND ADVERTISING SYSTEMS FOR VIDEO ON DEMAND SYSTEM

• US 20060271973A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goel, Shashi, Jerding, Dean F., Banker, Robert O., Rodriguez, Arturo A., Gutknecht, Valerie Grew
• Application Number:
  US11/460,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271973A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of promotional media to a user through an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. The method includes the step of implementing an interactive media guide and implementing the client device to present the interactive media guide to said user. A system operator of the programmable media services server device is provided with an interface to the programmable media services server that includes control options within the interface to allow said system operator to command which of the plurality of promotional media is displayed in specific areas of said interactive media guide.

Claims

1. A method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of promotional media to a user through an interactive media services client device, said client device coupled to a programmable media services server device, said method comprising steps of:

implementing an interactive media guide;

implementing said client device to present said interactive media guide to said user;

providing a system operator with an interface to said programmable media services server; and

providing control options within said interface to allow said system operator to command which of said plurality of promotional media is to be displayed in specific areas of said interactive media guide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said user can command said interactive media guide to request more information regarding a media title.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said system operator has the ability to configure said programmable media services server to display a specific type of promotional media in association with said request of said user, and to display said specific type of promotional media in a specific format.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said specific type of promotional media comprises a trailer, a preview, and a still image.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said specific format of display comprises a segmented area of a catalog screen and a full screen display of said promotional media.

6-19. -19. (canceled)

6. A method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of preview media to a user through an interactive media services client device, said client device coupled to a programmable media services server device, said method comprising steps of:

providing a system operator with an interface to said programmable media services server; and

providing control options within said interface to allow said system operator to dictate which of said plurality of preview media is available to said user and the functionality available to the user before, during, and after a preview.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said system operator can configure the duration of said preview and whether interactive media system prompts said user to purchase media being previewed.

8. A method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of promotional media to a user through an interactive media services client device, said client device coupled to a programmable media services server device, said method comprising steps of:

implementing an interactive media guide to be presented to said user through said client device;

implementing a broadcast file server (BFS);

providing a system operator with an interface to said programmable media services server; and

prompting said system operator to configure and modify said interactive media guide viewed by said user with said plurality of promotional media.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said plurality of promotional media could contain brand specific promotional media relevant to a plurality of service providers of said media.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said plurality of promotional media could contain advertisement media.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said plurality of promotional media are transmitted over said media services system to said client device from a source location of said broadcast file server.

12. A method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of promotional media to a user through an interactive media services client device, said client device coupled to a programmable media services server device, said method comprising steps of:

implementing an interactive media guide to be presented to said user through said client device;

implementing an external data source;

providing a means by which to access said programmable media services system applications externally; and

providing a means by which to configure and modify said interactive media guide viewed by said user with said plurality of promotional media.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said plurality of promotional media are retrieved by said interactive media services system from said external data source and transmitted over said interactive media services system to said client device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said external data source is a device that exists in the Internet and said plurality of promotional media is accessed by said interactive media services system per a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said means by which to access said media services system applications externally is a set of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) through which control modules existing outside the interactive media services system can configure and modify said plurality of promotional media.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said means by which to configure and modify said interactive media guide viewed by said user with said plurality of promotional media is accessible to an application that provides constantly changing and updated said plurality of promotional media.

22-27. -27. (canceled)