METHODS, APPARATUS AND USER INTERFACE FOR PROVIDING CONTENT ON DEMAND

• US 20080155613A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hardin, Glen, Kasanin, James, Benya, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/89
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2183 Cache memory caches in web servers or browsers G06F16/9574; intermediate storage and caching in data networks H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23103 using load balancing strategies, e.g. by placing or distributing content on different disks, different memories or different servers storage management G06F3/0604; allocation of resources considering the load in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/505; techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system G06F9/5083; access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. load balancing, in data networks H04L67/1001
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23116 involving data replication, e.g. over plural servers synchronization of replicated data G06F11/1658; error detection or correction by means of data replication G06F11/2053; replication in distributed file systems G06F16/10; replication in distributed file systems G06F16/27; replication or mirroring of data in data networks H04L67/1095
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for supporting content delivery service are described. In accordance with the invention content can be supplied to temporary storage of a regional or local server used to supply the content to a customer'"'"'s premises when the requested content is not already available in the regional or local server. A content server hierarchy may be implemented with servers higher up in the hierarchy including more content, e.g., titles, than the number of titles stored in the lower level servers. By storing less frequently accessed content in servers higher in the hierarchy and frequently requested titles lower in the hierarchy, a vast number of titles can be supported without overburdening the storage available at local and regional servers. In addition, a national or other server high in the hierarchy can be used to store, move, and distribute local or other content as part of an on demand service.

Claims

1. A method of providing on demand access to content stored in a network, the method comprising:

communicating a content selection page to a web browser application corresponding to a user and being executed on a first customer premise device;

receiving content selection information from the web browser application;

updating a play list corresponding to the user to add to the play list content selected by the user; and

transmitting selected content added to the play list to a second customer premise device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first customer premise device is computer apparatus including a computer monitor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second customer premise device is a set top box device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the play list includes indica used to distinguish titles included from the play list which are ready for delivery to the customer premises corresponding to the user from titles which are not yet ready for delivery to the customer premises.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

updating the play list to indicate the availability of a title previously included in the play list but indicated as not yet being ready for delivery when the title becomes available for delivery.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

sending a notification to the user indicating when a title on the user'"'"'s play list becomes availably for delivery.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said content selection page includes:

a search window in which the user can enter a search query; and

a content on demand play list.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said content selection page further includes:

a search result window; and

wherein the user can signal selection of an item in the search result window by dragging the item from the search result window to the content on demand play list.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the content on demand play list is a video on demand play list which lists titles that are available to be delivered to a set top box device corresponding to the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said content selection page further includes a window showing new video content which is available for ordering, local content which is available for ordering and a window showing different video categories from which video can be ordered.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said content selection page includes a play list send option which allows the user to initiate the sending of an updated play list to a server which provided the content selection page.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said content selection page includes in a set of VOD play list information, a list of show titles indicating the shows in the VOD play list, information indicating the provider of at least some shows in the VOD play list, runtime information indicating the runtime of shows in the VOD play list and price information indicating the cost for at least some titles listed in the VOD play list.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said content selection page includes a share option for allowing the user to send the user'"'"'s playlist to another user.

14. A content request and display system for use with an on demand content provider system, the content request and display system comprising:

a computer device including a web application and computer display device for interacting with said on demand content provider system to provide a user of the computer device an opportunity to select, through use of a web interface, content to be delivered; and

a set top box device including a set top box interface application for initiating delivery of content requested using said web application.

15. The content request and display system of claim 14, further comprising:

a television display for displaying content delivered to said set top box in response to a selection made through said web interface.

16. The content request and display system of claim 15, wherein said computer device includes an interface for communicating with said on demand content provider system using IP packets.

17. The content request and display system of claim 16, wherein said set top box device includes an interface for communicating with said on demand content provider system using signaling in compliance with at least one ISA protocol.

18. The content request and display system of claim 16, wherein the computer device includes an E-mail application for displaying E-mail notifications indicating that content selected using the web application is available for delivery to the set top box.

19. The content request and display system of claim 16, wherein said set top box includes a pop up notification module for displaying notifications indicating that content selected using the web application is available for delivery to the set top box.

20. A video on demand method, the method comprising:

storing customer service subscription information customer records, the customer records indicating to which services at least some customers subscribe;

providing video content to a device corresponding to a first user ordering said content; and

determining the amount to bill said first user for the provided content as a function of stored customer subscription information, said amount to bill being a function of which services the user subscribes to.

21. The video on demand method of claim 20, wherein the first user subscribes to at least one service for which there is a monthly fee, the method further comprising:

providing video content to a device corresponding to a second user ordering said content, said second user being a user which does not subscribe to at least one service for which a monthly subscription fee is billed; and

determining the amount to bill said second user at a rate which is higher than the rate charged the first user.

22. The video on demand method of claim 21, wherein the amount billed the second user is higher than the amount billed the first user.

23. The video on demand method of claim 20, wherein the rate at which the first user is billed is a function of the number of services to which the first user subscribes.

24. The video on demand method of claim 23, wherein users who subscribe to video and voice services are billed at a rate which is higher than the rate at which users who subscribe to video, voice and data services are billed.

25. The video on demand method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing promotional specials to users who subscribe to services for which periodic service charges are billed which are not provided to users who do not subscribe to services for which periodic service charges are billed.

26. The video on demand method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing users who subscribe to a service with periodic service charges customizable user interface features which are not provided to users who do not subscribe to a service with periodic service charges, said customizable features include the ability to maintain a play list accessible from both the Internet and a set top box device.

27. The video on demand method of claim 20, wherein the customizable features include the ability to set a language preference.

28. A video content delivery method, the method comprising:

receiving content selection information from a user, the content selection information indicating content to be delivered to the user, said content being in one of a plurality of languages;

determining the language of the content selected by the user;

selecting at least one advertisement based on the determined language of the content selected by the user; and

delivering the selected advertisement to a device corresponding to the user.

29. The video content delivery method of claim 28, further comprising:

delivering the selected content with said selected advertisement, said selected advertisement being delivered for presentation during the playback of the selected content.

30. The video content delivery method of claim 29, further comprising:

storing information indicating the language of the selected content; and

using the stored language information to determine the language of additional advertisements to be selected and sent to the device corresponding to the user.

31. The video content delivery method of claim 30, wherein said additional advertisements are sent after delivery of the selected content.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said video content delivery method is a video on demand method, said step of receiving content selection information including receiving information from the user sent over the Internet;

and

wherein said steps of delivering the selected content and said selected advertisement includes sending the content to a set top box device over a cable TV cable connection.