Systems and methods for providing a personal channel via television

• US 20070199019A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Xi, Angiolillo, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 9,143,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Preferred systems and methods provide a personal channel for broadcasting personal content to televisions over a network, such as a fiber optic access network. A service provider assigns a personal channel identifier to a broadcaster. This identifier allows viewers to tune to the personal channel. The broadcaster sends personal content to the service provider together with a list of authorized viewers for that personal content. The service provider stores the personal content and makes it available as specified by the subscriber for viewing. When requested, the service provider sends the personal content to the specified set top boxes on the assigned personal channel identifier. By tuning the set top box to the broadcaster'"'"'s channel, viewers may view the personal content on television as though it were broadcast from any network television station.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from a first network terminal attached to a bi-directional access network a request to create a personal channel;

assigning a channel identifier to the personal channel;

receiving personal channel information associated with the personal channel;

receiving content-specific information associated with the personal channel, the content-specific information including at least one item of personal content; and

transmitting the at least one item of personal content over the bi-directional access network to a second network terminal connected to the bi-directional access network tuned to the channel identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network terminal is a set top box.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting at least one user interface to the first network terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal channel information includes at least one of the channel identifier, a channel name, and a template applicable to the channel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the content-specific data to the second network terminal; and

receiving from the second network terminal a selection of the at least one item of personal content;

wherein transmitting the at least one item of personal content comprises transmitting the selected one of the at least one item of personal content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content-specific information includes at least one of:

a date and time for broadcasting of the at least one item of personal content, an indication whether the at least one item of personal content can be recorded, and a rating.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item of personal content includes at least one of photographs, music, video, slides, educational material, and artwork.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content-specific information includes a list of authorized viewers of the at least one item of personal content, and wherein the method further includes

determining whether the second network terminal is authorized to receive the at least one item of personal content based on the list of authorized viewers.

9. A processor-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor and configured to cause the processor to perform the method of claim 1.

10. A system comprising:

a network interface connected to a bi-directional access network, the bi-directional access network connected to a first network terminal and a second network terminal;

a broadcaster data store including personal channel information and content-specific information; and

a control system connected to the network interface and the broadcaster data store, wherein the control system is configured to receive from the first network terminal a request to create a personal channel, assign a channel identifier to the personal channel, receive personal channel information associated with the personal channel from the first network terminal, receive content-specific information associated with the personal channel, the content-specific information including at least one item of personal content, and transmit the at least one item of personal content over the bi-directional access network to the second network terminal when the second network terminal is tuned to the channel identifier.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first network terminal and second network terminal is a set top box.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the personal channel information includes at least one of the channel identifier, a channel name, and a template applicable to the channel.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the content-specific information includes at least one of:

a date and time for broadcasting of the at least one item of personal content, an indication whether the at least one item of personal content can be recorded, and a rating.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the content-specific information includes a list of authorized viewers of the at least one item of personal content, and wherein the control system is further configured to determine whether the second network terminal is authorized to receive the at least one item of personal content based on the list of authorized viewers.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured to transmit the content-specific data to the second network terminal, and receive from the second network terminal a selection of the at least one item of personal content,

wherein transmitting the at least one item of personal content comprises transmitting the selected one of the at least one item of personal content.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the second network terminal includes recording facilities and is configured to record the at least one item of personal content.

17. A method comprising:

receiving a viewer request over an access network, via a channel identifier, to view personal content associated with the channel identifier;

receiving security information from a viewer over the access network;

authenticating the security information received from the viewer; and

transmitting the personal content via the access network and according to the channel identifier, to a device capable of displaying the transmitted personal content.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

enabling the viewer to select personal content for transmission from a list of available personal content; and

receiving a selection of content from the viewer.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the security information includes at least one of a unique identifier associated with a network terminal, a username, and a password.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the access network is a fiber optic network.