System and method of delivering video content

• US 20090007216A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ku, Bernard, Khan, Arshad, Sheth, Niral
• Granted Patent: US 8,904,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/142
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• 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 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method of delivering video content is disclosed that includes receiving a request at a video content gifting server from a first set-top box device. The request indicates a selection to purchase video content for a second subscriber associated with a second set-top box device. The method also includes sending notification information to the second set-top box device. The notification information indicates that the video content has been purchased for the second subscriber. Further, the method includes receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device. The viewing preferences data indicates a particular time that the second subscriber is to receive the video content. Additionally, the method includes sending video content download data to a particular network entity. The video content download data includes instructions to send the video content to the second set-top box device at the particular time.

Claims

1. A method of delivering video content, the method comprising:

receiving a request at a video content gifting server from a first set-top box device, the request indicating a selection to purchase video content for a second subscriber associated with a second set-top box device;

sending notification information from the video content gifting server to the second set-top box device, the notification information indicating that the video content has been purchased for the second subscriber by a first subscriber associated with the first set-top box device;

receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device, the viewing preferences data indicating a time that the second subscriber is to receive the video content; and

sending video content download data from the video content gifting server to a particular network entity based on the viewing preferences data, wherein the video content download data includes instructions to send the video content to the second set-top box device at the time that the second subscriber is to receive the video content.

2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the video content download data is sent from the video content gifting server to a media library when the viewing preferences data includes a selection to view the video content at a current time.

3. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the video content download data is sent from the video content gifting server to a digital video recorder (DVR) scheduling server when the viewing preferences data includes a selection to view the video content at a particular time specified by the second subscriber.

4. The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending video content purchase data from the video content gifting server to a billing server, the video content purchase data indicating the request received from the first set-top box device to purchase the video content.

5. The method, as recited in claim 4, further comprising receiving purchase confirmation data at the video content gifting server from the billing server confirming the purchase of the video content by the first subscriber.

6. The method, as recited in claim 5, further comprising sending a video content purchase notification from the video content gifting server to the first set-top box device, the video content purchase notification indicating that the video content has been purchased for the second subscriber.

7. A method of delivering video content, the method comprising:

receiving notification information from a video content gifting server at a set-top box device indicating that a subscriber associated with the set-top box device has received a video content gift;

receiving video content related to the video content gift at the set-top box device from a video content provider server; and

storing the video content at a data storage device associated with the set-top box device.

8. The method, as recited in claim 7, wherein the notification information includes data related to a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of viewing preference selections.

9. The method, as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of viewing preference selections include a selection to view the video at a current time, a selection to view the video content at a time specified by a video content provider, a selection to view the video content at a time specified by the subscriber associated with the set-top box device, or any combination thereof.

10. The method, as recited in claim 7, wherein the set-top box device provides the notification information to a display device coupled to the set-top box device in response to receiving a login identification of the subscriber associated with the set-top box device.

11. The method, as recited in claim 10, wherein the set-top box device provides the video content to the display device in response to a command received at the set-top box device from a remote control device.

12. The method, as recited in claim 10, wherein the notification information includes data corresponding to a pop-up window, an email message, an icon, an audio message, or any combination thereof.

13. A system to deliver video content, the system comprising:

processing logic and a memory accessible to the processing logic, the memory including;

a video content control module executable by the processing logic to receive data corresponding to a video content request from a first set-top box device, wherein the video content request indicates a video content selection entered via the first set-top box device; and

a video content gift module executable by the processing logic to;

identify that the selected video content is associated with a gifting option, wherein the gifting option allows the selected video content to be purchased as a gift;

send video content gifting information to the first set-top box device after the completion of the video content, the video content gifting information indicating that the video content is associated with the gifting option; and

receive a request from the first set-top box device to purchase the video content as a gift for a second subscriber associated with a second set-top box device.

14. The system, as recited in claim 13, wherein the video content gifting information includes data corresponding to a graphical user interface that includes a video content gift selection icon.

15. The system, as recited in claim 14, wherein the graphical user interface includes a recommendation icon, a video content comment icon, or any combination thereof.

16. The system, as recited in claim 13, wherein the video content gift module is executable by the processing logic to receive an identification of the subscriber associated with the second set-top box device submitted via the first set-top box device.

17. The system, as recited in claim 13, wherein the video content gift module is executable by the processing logic to send the video content gifting information to the first set-top box device after the end credits of the video content, in response to receiving data corresponding to an input entered via the first set-top box device to stop playing the video content, in response to receiving data corresponding to a selection entered via the first set-top box device to view a video content gifting graphical user interface, or any combination thereof.

18. The system, as recited in claim 17, wherein the video content gift module is executable by the processing logic to send the video content gifting information to the first set-top box device in response to receiving data corresponding to a stop input entered via the first set-top box device after a certain amount of the video content has been played.

19. A set-top box device, comprising:

a processor and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including;

instructions executable by the processor to receive video content from a video content provider;

instructions executable by the processor to receive video content gifting information from a video content gifting server, the video content gifting information relating to an option to purchase the video content for a subscriber associated with an additional set-top box device; and

instructions executable by the processor to send a request to the video content gifting server to purchase the video content for the subscriber associated with the additional set-top box device.

20. The set-top box device, as recited in claim 19, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to receive an indication from a billing server that an account associated with the set-top box device has been debited according to an amount associated with the video content.

21. The set-top box device, as recited in claim 19, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to receive additional video content gifting information related to the purchase of additional video content for the subscriber associated with the additional set-top box device.

22. The set-top box device, as recited in claim 21, wherein the additional video content gifting information includes a list of video content items available to be purchased as gifts.

23. The set-top box device, as recited in claim 22, wherein the list of video content items includes at least one upcoming live event.

24. The set-top box device, as recited in claim 19, wherein the subscriber associated with the additional set-top box device is selected from a list of subscribers selected by a subscriber of the set-top box device.

25. The set-top box device, as recited in claim 24, wherein the list of subscribers includes friends, family, or any combination thereof of the subscriber associated with the set-top box device.

26. The set-top box device, as recited in claim 19, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to send data to the video content gifting server corresponding to a message submitted via the set-top box device for the subscriber associated with the additional set-top box device.

27. A computer-readable medium having instructions to cause a processor to execute a method comprising:

receiving a request at a video content gifting server from a first set-top box device, the request indicating a selection to purchase video content for a second subscriber associated with a second set-top box device;

sending notification information from the video content gifting server to the second set-top box device, the notification information indicating that the video content has been purchased for the second subscriber by a first subscriber associated with the first set-top box device;

receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device, the viewing preferences data indicating a time that the second subscriber is to receive the video content; and

sending video content download data from the video content gifting server to a particular network entity based on the viewing preferences data, wherein the video content download data includes instructions to send the video content to the second set-top box device at the time that the second subscriber is to receive the video content.

28. The computer-readable medium, as recited in claim 27, further comprising instructions to cause a processor to execute a method comprising sending video content gift incentive information to the first set-top box device, the video content gift incentive information relating to incentives to purchase the video content as a gift.