MEDIA CONTENT MODIFICATION AND ACCESS SYSTEM FOR INTERACTIVE ACCESS OF MEDIA CONTENT ACROSS DISPARATE NETWORK PLATFORMS

• US 20100107201A1
• Filed: 01/06/2010
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheedy, Peter, Bradley, Bruce R., Hannum, Sandi, Albrecht, James R., Wong, Matt, Swartz, Terri L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,563,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/99
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/71 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/735 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• 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 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A media content playlist generation and access system for a video entertainment network is herein disclosed whereby a plurality of media content emanating from various disparate networks may be conglomerated into a customized list. The list may contain stored media content, which are customarily stored in the head end portion of a CATV network, media content accessible via the Internet, or yet to be aired media content. The system also provides for manipulation of the playlist from various consumer electronic display devices that are interconnected to the Internet, or the PSTN, thereby allowing further customization of the playlist at the user'"'"'s convenience. Additionally, a multiple user account system is provided wherein multiple user accounts may be configured in order to allow a corresponding multiple individualized playlists, which are each customized to suit each user'"'"'s tastes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for modifying a playlist comprising:

storing a playlist on a storage device, the playlist comprising a plurality of media content pointers configured to be interactively modified by a user from an interactive device, wherein each of the plurality of media content pointers is associated with a corresponding media content offering of a plurality of media content offerings; and

receiving a user input transmitted from said interactive device, said input comprising information to add or delete said media content pointers from said playlist.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the interactive device comprises a telephone, the method further comprising:

transmitting information to the telephone to display information regarding the media content on a display associated with the telephone.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user input transmitted from the interactive device comprises information that is indicative that the user responded positively to a media content offering;

and

in response to the user input, adding to the playlist at least one or more media content pointers associated with one or more corresponding media content offerings of the plurality of media content offerings.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user input received from the interactive device comprises information that is indicative that the user did not respond positively to said media content;

and

in response to the user input, deleting from the playlist one or more of the plurality of media content pointers.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting one of the plurality of media content offerings in a format being operable to play on a display associated with the interactive device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting at least one of the media content offerings to the interactive device.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the user input comprises a request to add one or more of the plurality of media content;

and

in response to the input, adding to the playlist at least one or more media content pointers associated with one or more corresponding media content offerings of the plurality of media content offerings.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving as a portion of the input from the user of the first user account a request to review another media content offering which is similar to the media content offering transmitted to the interactive device; and

transmitting to the interactive device another media content offering which is similar to the media content offering transmitted to the interactive device.

5. The computer-implemented method of 2, wherein the user input transmitted from the telephone is transmitted through at least a portion of the public switched telephone network.

6. The computer-implemented method of 2, wherein at least a portion of the information transmitted to the telephone is transmitted through the public switched telephone network.

9. One or more computer-readable mediums comprising computer-readable instructions, that when executed, cause a processor to perform:

configuring a plurality of user accounts, wherein an administrative account is enabled to configure at least one of the plurality of user accounts;

storing a playlist on a storage device, the playlist comprising a plurality of media content pointers configured to be modified by a user from an interactive device, wherein each of the plurality of media content pointers is associated with a corresponding media content offering of a plurality of media content offerings;

implementing an authentication scheme which limits modification of the playlist to a user of a first user account;

transmitting electronic signals comprising a media content offering configured to be received by the interactive device; and

receiving an input from the user of the first user account including a request to add or delete at least one of the media content pointers from the playlist.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the user input comprises a request to delete one or more of the plurality of media content offerings corresponding to the one or more of the plurality of media content pointers;

in response to the user input, deleting from the playlist one or more of the plurality of media content pointers associated with one or more corresponding media content offerings of the plurality of media content offerings.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the interactive device is selected from the group consisting of:

automated teller machine, personal computer, personal digital assistant, telephone, Internet-enabled telephone, smart watch, video telephone, portable media device, gaming station, laptop computers, and combinations thereof.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the interactive device comprises a telephone that is interconnected to a disparate network platform.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

in the event that said user desires to not view other media content which is similar to said media content transmitted for display on the display device, no longer displaying other media content which is similar to said media content for view by said user.

16. A computer-implemented method for modifying a playlist comprising:

storing a playlist on a storage device on a first network, the playlist comprising a plurality of media content pointers configured to be modified by a user from an interactive device, wherein each of the plurality of media content pointers is associated with corresponding stored media content offerings;

transmitting a stored media content offering to an interactive device, wherein the interactive device is connected to the first network;

receiving an input from a user to add or delete at least one of the media content pointers from the playlist; and

adding or deleting the media content pointers from the playlist pursuant to the received input from the user.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the user input received from the user comprises information that is indicative that the user responded positively to the media content;

and

in response to the user input, adding one of the media content pointers corresponding to the media content offering in the playlist.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the user input received from the user comprises information that is indicative that the user did not respond positively to the media content;

and

in response to the user input, deleting from the playlist one or more of the plurality of media content pointers.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the electronic signals operable to add or delete the media content pointers from the playlist are transmitted from a controller on the first network, wherein the controller is also configured to transmit electronic signals configured to allow one of the media content offerings to be played on the interactive device in response to a request by the user to play one of the media content offerings.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the interactive device is interconnected to a disparate network platform.