CONVERTING, NAVIGATING AND DISPLAYING VIDEO CONTENT UPLOADED FROM THE INTERNET TO A DIGITAL TV VIDEO-ON-DEMAND PLATFORM

• US 20100138863A1
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Inventors: DIAZ PEREZ, Milton
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• 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 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 : using a channel name
• 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 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6379 : directed to encoder , e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 : specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 : involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many, new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of addressing TV program content on a TV services platform of a discrete digital TV service provider, which is of the type employing a closed system of pre-screened and pre-programmed video content selectable for viewing by TV service subscribers upon request using their TV remote control units to control set-top boxes connected to their TV display equipment, comprising:

(a) listing a title for a host TV program on an electronic program guide for the TV services platform of the discrete digital TV service provider;

(b) upon a TV service subscriber selecting the title of the host TV program from the electronic program guide by input on the TV remote control unit communicated to the set top box for the TV display equipment, delivering the host TV program for running display on the TV display equipment using a templated display that includes video content for the TV host program running along with selectable menu options for viewing subordinate TV programs associated with the host TV program; and

(c) upon a TV service subscriber selecting a menu option from the templated display for the host TV program by input on the TV remote control unit to the set top box to request viewing a corresponding subordinate TV program, delivering the selected subordinate TV program to the TV service subscriber for display on their TV display equipment.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the host TV program is a topmost layer of hierarchically-arranged program viewing layers of respectively subordinate TV program segments, each program viewing layer using a templated display that includes video content for that layer'"'"'s subordinate TV program running along with selectable menu options for viewing further subordinate TV programs in a further viewing layer, whereby successive layers of subordinate TV programs may be viewed in hierarchical order providing the TV service subscriber with a “

drill-down”

TV viewing experience using the host TV program as a topmost program viewing layer.

23. A method of addressing TV program content according to claim 21, wherein said host TV program is associated with one or more revenue-generating services provided by the discrete digital TV service provider.

24. A method of addressing TV program content according to claim 23, wherein said revenue-generating services are one or more of the group consisting of:

TV advertising insertion, premium programming service, TV service subscription, TV program sponsorship, and pay-per-view TV transaction.

25. A method of addressing TV program content on a TV services platform of a discrete digital TV service provider, which is of the type employing a closed system of pre-screened and pre-programmed video content selectable for viewing by TV service subscribers upon request using their TV remote control units to control set-top boxes connected to their TV display equipment, comprising:

(a) automatically uploading a plurality of TV programs via an Internet connection from an external web-based video content management system for pre-screening and converting video content to programmed TV programs for delivery to the TV services platform of the discrete digital TV service provider;

(b) automatically listing titles for the uploaded TV programs on an electronic program guide for the TV services platform of the discrete digital TV service provider; and

(c) upon a TV service subscriber selecting a title of a listed TV program from the electronic program guide by input on the TV remote control unit to the set top box for the TV display equipment, delivering the selected TV program for display on the TV display equipment of the TV service subscriber.

26. A method of addressing TV program content according to claim 25, wherein said automatic uploading of TV programs via Internet connection to the TV services platform of the discrete digital TV service provider is associated with one or more revenue-generating services provided by the discrete digital TV service provider.

27. A method of addressing TV program content according to claim 26, wherein said revenue-generating services are one or more of the group consisting of:

TV advertising insertion, premium programming service, TV service subscription, TV program sponsorship, and pay-per-view TV transaction.

28. A method of addressing TV program content according to claim 25, wherein said automatically uploaded TV programs are one or more of the group consisting of:

user-generated content from Internet users, web-based content from video content websites, digital video from mobile phones, and digital video from Internet-connected portable video devices.

29. A method of addressing TV program content according to claim 26, further comprising the step of tracking selection of automatically uploaded and listed TV programs by TV service subscribers in order to determine their revenue generation value.

30. A method of addressing TV program content according to claim 25, further comprising the step of exporting the listing of TV program titles on the electronic program guide to Internet-connected websites and device platforms in order to provide TV program information of the TV services platform of the discrete digital TV service provider to Internet users.

31. A method of addressing TV program content according to claim 28, wherein said automatically uploaded TV programs are user-generated content from Internet users, and said Internet users are members of a web-based community that contributes video content among the community as a social group on the Internet.

32. A method of addressing TV program content according to claim 25, wherein the automatically uploaded TV programs are associated with metadata representing respective positions of their titles in a hierarchically categorized ordering of program categories and subcategories employed by the discrete digital TV service provider, and said metadata are used for automatically listing the titles in their proper positions in the electronic program guide.