System And Method Of Providing Media Content

• US 20100192175A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital CE Patent Holdings SAS (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canal+ Technologies (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Frezal-Hugonet, Claire, Bachet, Franck
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4437 Implementing a Virtual Machine [VM] virtual machines in general G06F9/45533
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system for providing content to a user, comprising a transmitter 502 for transmitting to a user'"'"'s receiver/decoder 2000 guide data relating to a plurality of items of content, and each of said items of content to which said guide data relates. prior to commencement of a period of availability of said items of content to the user; and a receiver/decoder 2100 comprising means 2016 for receiving said guide data and said items of content, means 3120 for generating a display of said guide data to enable a user to select at least one of said items of content for storage, means 2100 for storing the selected at least one item of content upon receipt thereof, and means 3120 for enabling the user to access the stored at least one item of content upon request following commencement of said period.

Claims

1. A receiver/decoder comprising:

means for receiving content prior to commencement of a period of availability of said content to a user;

means for storing said content; and

means for enabling the user to access the stored content upon request following commencement of said period.

2. A receiver/decoder according to claim 1, comprising means for generating a display of guide data associated with forthcoming content to enable a user to select content for storage by the receiver/decoder upon receipt thereof.

3. A receiver/decoder according to claim 2, wherein said guide data comprises a textual display of data associated with said content.

4. A receiver/decoder according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said guide data comprises a plurality of images each associated with a respective item of content.

5. A receiver/decoder according to claim 4, wherein said generating means is arranged to generate a display of said plurality of images in respective windows of a mosaic formation.

6. A receiver/decoder according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said guide data comprises an indication of the period of availability of the content to the user.

7. A receiver/decoder according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said display comprises an advertisement in a dedicated portion thereof.

8. A receiver/decoder according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein said generating means is arranged to generate a cursor for display over said guide data, said cursor being selectively moveable in response to received user inputs to enable user selection of a portion of the displayed guide data.

9. A receiver/decoder according to claim 8, comprising means for controlling storage of an item of content in response to user selection of a portion of the displayed guide data associated with that item.

10. A receiver/decoder according to claim 9, wherein said portion comprises an icon.

11. A receiver/decoder according to claim 9, wherein said portion comprises an image associated with said content.

12. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein said receiving means is arranged to receive a plurality of items of content, said storage means being arranged to identify and store those of the received items which have been selected for storage by the user.

13. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, comprising means for initiating the playback of, or access to, a stored item of content in response to a user request.

14. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, comprising means for charging a user'"'"'s account upon playback of, or access to, said stored item of content.

15. A receiver/decoder according to claim 14, wherein the amount of said charge varies during a period of availability of the stored item to the user.

16. A receiver/decoder according to claim 14, wherein the amount of said charge is dependent upon the number of times of previous user playback of, or access to, said stored item of content.

17. A receiver/decoder according to any of claims 2 to 16, wherein said receiving means is arranged to receive a distribution list including said guide data.

18. A receiver/decoder according to claim 17, wherein said distribution list includes means for identifying to the receiver/decoder whether storage of an item of content received thereby is compulsory.

19. A receiver/decoder according to claim 18, comprising means for using said identifying means to control the compulsory storage of an item of content in the receiver/decoder.

20. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, comprising means for generating a display of content stored in said receiver/decoder.

21. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, comprising means for compiling data relating to content stored in said storage means over a period of time, and for communicating said compiled data to a communications server.

22. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, comprising means for purchasing rights to access a stored item of data.

23. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein the storage means is arranged to delete a stored item of content upon expiry of the period of availability of that stored item to the user.

24. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein the storage means is arranged to delete a stored item of content upon request by the user.

25. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein the storage means is arranged to delete a stored item of content upon user playback of, or access to, said stored item of content.

26. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein said storage means comprises a hard disk.

27. A receiver/decoder according to claim 26, wherein said content is stored in a dedicated portion of said hard disk.

28. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, comprising means for filtering received content according to a user'"'"'s preferences.

29. A receiver/decoder according to claim 28, wherein the storage means is arranged to automatically store filtered content.

30. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, comprising means for generating a display for recommending to a user content for storage according to the user'"'"'s preferences.

31. A receiver/decoder according to any of claims 28 to 30, comprising means for determining a user'"'"'s preferences from content previously selected by the user for storage.

32. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, comprising means for generating an alert if said storage means has insufficient storage capacity for storing received content.

33. A receiver/decoder according to any of claims 2 to 19, wherein the generating means is arranged to generate the display in a format specified by a provider of said content.

34. A receiver/decoder according to claim 33, wherein said format is specified by means received from the content provider for specifying said format.

36. A receiver/decoder according to claim 34 or 35, wherein said means specifying a format comprises a template within which said guide data is arranged in said display.

37. A receiver/decoder according to claim 34 or 35, wherein said means specifying a format comprises an application for arranging said guide data in said display.

38. A receiver/decoder according to any of claims 33 to 37, wherein said display comprises a logo associated with the content provider.

39. A receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim, comprising means for descrambling scrambled content.

40. A system for providing content to a user, said system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting content prior to commencement of a period of availability of said content to a receiver/decoder; and

a receiver/decoder according to any preceding claim for receiving and storing said content, and enabling the user to access the stored content upon request following commencement of said period.

35. A receiver/decoder comprising:

means for receiving from a content provider guide data associated with content provided by said content provider;

means for receiving from said content provider means specifying a display format specific to said content provider; and

means for generating a display signal comprising said guide data arranged in said specified format.

41. A system for providing content to a user, said system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting to a user'"'"'s receiver/decoder guide data relating to/plurality of items of content, and each of said items of content to which said guide data relates, prior to commencement of a period of availability of said items of content to the user; and

a receiver/decoder comprising means for receiving said guide data and said items of content, means for generating a display of said guide data to enable a user to select at least one of said items of content for storage, means for storing the selected at least one item of content upon receipt thereof, and means for enabling the user to access the stored at least one item of content upon request following commencement of said period.

42. Apparatus for transmitting content to a receiver/decoder, said apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting to said receiver/decoder guide data for use by the receiver/decoder in generating a display for a forthcoming plurality of items of content for selected storage in the receiver/decoder, and for transmitting to said receiver/decoder each of said items of content to which said guide data relates for selected storage by the receiver/decoder prior to commencement of a period of availability of said items of content to a user.

43. Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said transmitting means is arranged to transmit to said receiver/decoder at least one item of content for compulsory storage by the receiver/decoder.

44. Apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said guide data includes means for identifying to the receiver/decoder whether storage of an item of content received thereby is compulsory.

45. Apparatus according to any of claims 42 to 44, comprising means for receiving said guide data and said items of content from at least one content provider.

46. Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said guide data is included in a distribution list received from said content provider.

47. Apparatus according to claim 46, comprising means for extracting from the distribution list at least one of an identifier and a version identifier for the distribution list.

48. Apparatus according to any of claims 42 to 47, comprising means for scheduling a time of transmission of an item of content to the receiver/decoder.

60. Apparatus according to any of claims 44, 45 and 59, comprising means for scheduling the time of transmission of the distribution list to the receiver/decoder.

62. Apparatus according to claim 60 or 61, wherein the scheduling means is adapted to add to the distribution list scheduling data indicating the scheduled time of transmission of the item of content, thereby producing a scheduled distribution list.

63. Apparatus according to claim 62, wherein the transmitting means is arranged to transmit the scheduled distribution list to the receiver/decoder.

64. Apparatus according to any of claims 44, 45 and 49 to 63, wherein the distribution list comprises genre information relating to a genre associated with the item of content.

65. Apparatus according to any of claims 44, 45 and 49 to 64, wherein the distribution list comprises promotional data relating to an item of content.

66. Apparatus according to claim 65, wherein the promotional data includes a textual description of the item of content or a location of such a description.

67. Apparatus according to claim 65 or 66, wherein the promotional data includes a pictorial image relating to the item of content or a location of such an image.

68. Apparatus according to any of claims 65 to 67, wherein the promotional data relates to goods and/or services not provided by the content provider.

69. Apparatus according to any of claims 44, 45 and 49 to 68, wherein the distribution list comprises an identifier therefor.

70. Apparatus according to any of claims 44, 45 and 49 to 69, wherein the distribution list comprises means for indicating to a receiver/decoder that the distribution list is to be stored thereon following receipt thereby.

71. Apparatus according to any of claims 44, 45 and 49 to 70, wherein the distribution list comprises means for indicating to a receiver/decoder a frequency of transmission of the item of content as determined by the content provider.

72. Apparatus according to any of claims 44, 45 and 49 to 71, wherein the distribution list comprises means for indicating to a receiver/decoder a frequency of transmission of the distribution list as determined by the content provider.

73. Apparatus according to any of claims 42 to 72, comprising means for providing a user with the rights to access content.

74. A system for providing content to a user, said system comprising:

apparatus according to any of claims 42 to 73; and

a receiver/decoder for receiving content transmitted by said apparatus.

49. Apparatus for transmitting content to a receiver/decoder, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from a content provider a distribution list indicating to the apparatus an item of content to be received from the content provider for subsequent transmission to a receiver/decoder; and

means for scheduling the time of transmission of the item of content to the receiver/decoder.

50. Apparatus according to claim 49, comprising means for extracting from the distribution list information relating to the item of content for use by the scheduling means in scheduling transmission of the item of content.

51. Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the extracting means is adapted to extract from the distribution list an identifier for the item of content.

52. Apparatus according to claim 50 or claim 51, wherein the extracting means is adapted to extract from the distribution list information indicating that the item of content is one of an item of audio/visual matter, a data file, a game and an application.

53. Apparatus according to any of claims 50 to 52, wherein the extracting means is adapted to extract from the distribution list information indicating the size of the item of content.

54. Apparatus according to any of claims 50 to 53, wherein the extracting means is adapted to extract from the distribution list information indicating a time period, specified by the content provider, during which the item of content is to be transmitted to the receiver/decoder.

55. Apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the extracting means is adapted to extract a start time of the period, and one of an end date and a duration of the period.

56. Apparatus according to any of claims 50 to 55, wherein the extracting means is adapted to extract from the distribution list information indicating a frequency with which the content provider requires the content to be transmitted to the receiver/decoder.

57. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 56, comprising means for transmitting to the receiver/decoder guide data associated with the item of content to be transmitted to the receiver/decoder.

58. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 57, comprising means for transmitting scheduling information to the receiver/decoder.

59. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 58, comprising means for transmitting the distribution list to the receiver/decoder.

61. Apparatus according to claim 59 or 60, comprising means for extracting from the distribution list information indicating a frequency with which the content provider requires the distribution list to be transmitted.

75. Apparatus for scheduling transmission of content to a receiver/decoder, comprising means for receiving information representative of bandwidth required for transmitting an item of content, and means for generating a transmission schedule with regard to the required bandwidth.

76. Apparatus according to claim 75, further comprising means for transmitting the transmission schedule to the receiver/decoder.

77. Apparatus for transmitting content to a receiver/decoder, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from a content provider guide data for use by the receiver/decoder in generating a display for a plurality of items of content provided by said content provider, and for receiving from said content provider means specifying a display format for said guide data; and

means for transmitting to said receiver/decoder said guide data and said means specifying a display format for said guide data.

78. A distribution list for indicating to transmission apparatus an item of content to be transmitted by the transmission apparatus to a receiver/decoder at a time to be scheduled by the transmission apparatus, and comprising information for use by the transmission apparatus in scheduling transmission of the item of content.

79. A signal including a distribution list according to claim 78.

83. A method of providing content to a receiver/decoder via a transmission apparatus comprising the step of compiling a distribution list according to claim 78.

84. A method of providing content to a receiver/decoder, comprising transmitting a distribution list as claimed in claim 78 to the receiver/decoder, transmitting an item of content to the receiver/decoder, receiving from the receiver/decoder a request for rights to access the item of content, and transmitting a signal representing the grant of the rights.

80. A method of providing content to a user of a receiver/decoder, said method comprising the steps, at the receiver/decoder, of:

receiving content prior to commencement of a period of availability of said content to a user;

storing said content; and

enabling the user to access the stored content upon request following commencement of said period.

81. A method of transmitting content to a receiver/decoder, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting to said receiver/decoder guide data for use by the receiver/decoder in generating a display for a forthcoming plurality of items of content for selected storage in the receiver/decoder; and

transmitting to said receiver/decoder each of said items of content to which said guide data relates for selected storage by the receiver/decoder prior to commencement of a period of availability of said items of content to a user.

82. A method of providing content to a user, said method comprising the steps, at a transmitter, of:

transmitting to a user'"'"'s receiver/decoder guide data relating to plurality of items of content, and transmitting to said receiver/decoder each of said items of content to which said guide data relates, prior to commencement of a period of availability of said items of content to the user;

and the steps, at a receiver/decoder, of

receiving said guide data and said items of content, generating a display of said guide data to enable a user to select at least one of said items of content for storage, storing the selected at least one item of content upon receipt thereof, and enabling the user to access the stored at least one item of content upon request following commencement of said period.