INTERACTIVE DELIVERY OF MEDIA USING DYNAMIC PLAYLIST GENERATION SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIVE CRITERIA

• US 20100241701A1
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Inventors: Kirk, Alexander J., Lester, James P.
• Application Number:
  US12/749,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241701A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; 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 21/26258 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612

Abstract

A media delivery scheme distributes a stream of media files to a group of users while allowing individual users to request specific media files. In one embodiment, a media server maintains a playlist of media files to broadcast, and requests for media must satisfy certain restrictive criteria to be added to the playlist. In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, the media server schedules requested media so as to comply with provisions of the DMCA.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of interactively delivering media over a computer network from a media server to a plurality of clients, the method comprising:

generating a playlist that defines a plurality of media files in an order, the playlist satisfying a set of restrictive criteria;

sequentially transmitting the media files as defined by the playlist over the computer network to the clients;

receiving a request for a media file from a client; and

scheduling the requested media file into the playlist if the updated playlist would satisfy the restrictive criteria, whereby the media files are transmitted to the clients according to the updated playlist.

2. A computer implemented method of delivering media over a computer network to multiple users comprising:

broadcasting streaming media on a channel according to a broadcasting schedule, wherein multiple users can access the channel and the media broadcasted thereon;

receiving a plurality of requests for media from one or more users; and

incorporating the requested media into the streaming media if doing so would satisfy a set of restrictive criteria.

3. A computer implemented method of delivering media over a computer network from a media provider to multiple users, the method comprising:

broadcasting a specific program of media on each of a plurality of channels, wherein multiple users can access each channel and thereby receive the program broadcasted thereon;

receiving from a user a request for media corresponding to one of the channels; and

incorporating the requested media into the corresponding channel'"'"'s program if the modified program would satisfy a set of restrictive criteria, the restrictive criteria including a set of channel preferences unique between at least two channels.