SYSTEM FOR ADDING OR UPDATING VIDEO CONTENT FROM INTERNET SOURCES TO EXISTING VIDEO-ON-DEMAND APPLICATION OF A DIGITAL TV SERVICES PROVIDER SYSTEM

• US 20100319040A1
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• 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 9,078,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 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 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25858 involving client software characteristics, e.g. OS identifier
• 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 21/26225 involving billing parameters, e.g. priority for subscribers of premium services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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 21/6118 : 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 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• 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 21/84 : 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 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A video-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system has a VOD Application Server which manages a database of templates ordered in a hierarchy for presentation of video content elements of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order. The templates include those for higher-order displays which have one or more links to lower-order displays of specific content. The VOD Application Server, in response to viewer request, displays a high-order templatized display, and in response to viewer selection of a link, displays the lower-order display of specific content. The hierarchical templatized displays enable viewers to navigate to an end subject of interest while having a unique visual experience of moving through a series of displays to the end subject of interest. For example, the higher-order display may be a product ad and the lower-order display may be an ad for a local retailer of the product. Similarly, a viewer can navigate from national product to local product ad, or classified ad category to specific classified ad, or bulletin board topic category to specific posting. In another embodiment, the VOD content delivery system is used to deliver consumer-generated classified ads on TV. A web-based Content Management System receives consumer-generated content uploaded online in industry-standard file formats with metadata for title and topical area, and automatically converts it into video data format compatible with the VOD content delivery system indexed by title and topical area. A User Interface for the system delivers listings data to the viewer'"'"'s TV indexed by title and topical area, and displays a requested classified ad in response to viewer selection.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A system for receiving uploads of, processing, and transmitting externally generated video content from an Internet source to a digital television (TV) services provider system which is of the type employing a closed system of video content selectable by TV service subscribers inputting keypresses on TV remote control units for their TV equipment in order to select video content by request sent on-demand to a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a digital TV services provider system for viewing TV video content on their TV equipment comprising:

(a) a Web-based Content Management System for enabling uploading from an Internet source of a new or updated video content item to be employed in an existing VOD application offered by the digital television (TV) services provider system, and providing metadata to be associated with said new or updated video content item in order to specify its title, location, or manner of presentation in an existing VOD application offered by the digital television (TV) services provider system;

(b) said Web-based Content Management System being operable for automatically processing said new or updated video content item for delivery to an existing VOD application offered by the digital television (TV) services provider system, and

(c) said Web-based Content Management System being operable for enabling the transmission of said new or updated video content item and associated metadata to a VOD application server handling an existing VOD application offered by the digital television (TV) services provider system in which said new or updated video content item is to be employed based upon the title, location, or manner of presentation specified by said associated metadata.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing video classified ads.

23. A system according to claim 21, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing local community video content.

24. A system according to claim 21, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing video content linked in drill-down fashion.

25. A system according to claim 21, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing advertising content linked in drill-down fashion.

26. A system according to claim 21, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing movies.

27. A system according to claim 21, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing video advertising for products.

28. A system according to claim 21, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing TV game programs.

29. A system according to claim 21, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing content from Internet websites.

30. A system according to claim 21, wherein said Web-based Content Management System includes:

(i) a Content Screening Component for screening the externally generated video content to ensure the absence of objectionable content, and for rejecting said video content if it may contain objectionable content;

(ii) a Content Feed Component for automatically transferring the video content screened by the Content Screening Component to a Content Conversion Component; and

(iii) a Content Conversion Component for automatically converting the transferred video content supplied from the Content Feed Component into a video data format compatible with a video data format handled by said VOD application server of the digital TV services provider system.

31. A system according to claim 21, wherein the VOD application server of the digital TV services provider system manages a database of templates ordered in a hierarchy for presentation of video content of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order, wherein a template for display of a video content category on a higher level of the hierarchy includes a link to one or more video content on a lower level of the hierarchy, and wherein said VOD application server, in response to viewer request for a selected video content category on a higher order in the hierarchy, retrieves the corresponding template to provide a templated VOD content display on the viewer'"'"'s TV equipment which includes one or more links to templates for video content on a lower order of hierarchy, and upon viewer request selecting a link displayed in the templated VOD content to video content in the lower order of hierarchy, retrieves the corresponding video content for display on the viewer'"'"'s TV equipment, thereby enabling the viewer to use drill-down navigation through video content displays on TV.

32. A system according to claim 21, wherein the VOD application server of the digital TV services provider system for operation of the existing VOD application receives the new or updated video content item and associated metadata from said Web-based Content Management System and enables a title indicated by the associated metadata of the new or updated video content item to be automatically added or updated on a user interface display of titles for the existing VOD application.

33. A method for receiving uploads of, processing, and transmitting externally generated video content from an Internet source to a digital television (TV) services provider system which is of the type employing a closed system of video content selectable by TV service subscribers inputting keypresses on TV remote control units for their TV equipment in order to select video content by request sent on-demand to a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a digital TV services provider system for viewing TV video content on their TV equipment comprising:

(a) enabling uploading from an Internet source of a new or updated video content item to a Web-based Content Management System to be employed in an existing VOD application offered by the digital television (TV) services provider system, and providing metadata to be associated with said new or updated video content item in order to specify its title, location, or manner of presentation in an existing VOD application offered by the digital television (TV) services provider system;

(b) operating said Web-based Content Management System for automatically processing said new or updated video content item for delivery to an existing VOD application offered by the digital television (TV) services provider system, and

(c) operating said Web-based Content Management System for enabling the transmission of said new or updated video content item and associated metadata to a VOD application server handling an existing VOD application offered by the digital television (TV) services provider system in which said new or updated video content item is to be employed based upon the title, location, or manner of presentation specified by said associated metadata.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing video classified ads.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing local community video content.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing video content linked in drill-down fashion.

37. A method according to claim 33, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing advertising content linked in drill-down fashion.

38. A method according to claim 33, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing movies.

39. A method according to claim 33, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing video advertising for products.

40. A method according to claim 33, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing TV game programs.

41. A method according to claim 33, wherein the existing VOD application is an on-demand application for viewing content from Internet websites.