SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MEDIA CONTENT RECONCILER

• US 20110010431A1
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lafreniere, Gary W., Emerson, David E., Rooks, Kelsyn, Goergen, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,503,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/41 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• 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 65/765 intermediate

Abstract

A system and method for reconciling media content available through a number of service providers. A request is received to identify media content. One or more characteristics of the media content are determined. A determination is made whether the media content is associated with an identifier in response to the one or more characteristics. An identifier is associated with the media content in response to determining there is not an existing identifier associated with the media content. The media content is cross referenced between the number of service providers utilizing the identifier and time zones. A database is updated to include the identifier and the one or more characteristics associated with the media content.

Claims

1. A method for reconciling media content available through a plurality of service providers, said method comprising:

receiving a request to identify media content;

determining one or more characteristics of the media content;

determining if the media content is associated with an identifier in response to the one or more characteristics;

associating an identifier with the media content in response to determining there is not an existing identifier associated with the media content;

cross referencing the media content between the plurality of service providers utilizing the identifier and time zones; and

updating a database to include the identifier and the one or more characteristics associated with the media content.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request is received from a user.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the user is one of the plurality of service providers.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics is information describing the media content.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing the data included within the media content to determine a data signature.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the one or more characteristics are a data signature of the media content.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media content is new media content submitted by a service provider in response to generating the media content.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media content is a television show, movie, presentation, or media content.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

associating the media content with the existing identifier in response to determining the media content has previously been assigned the existing identifier.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising;

displaying an interface reconciling a media guide including a plurality of media content utilizing a plurality of identifiers for the service providers.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a message indicating information for accessing the media content from the plurality of service providers.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining the one or more characteristics of the media content is performed by an administrator with access to review the media content.

13. A media content reconciler comprising:

a network interface operable to receive a plurality of requests to identify a plurality of media content;

reconciler logic in communication with the network interface, the reconciler logic operable to determine one or more characteristics of each the plurality of media content, determine if each of the plurality of media content is associated with an identifier in response to the one or more characteristics, associate an identifier with the media content in response to determining there is not an existing identifier associated with the media content, and cross reference the media content between the plurality of service providers utilizing the identifier and time zones; and

a database in communication with the reconciler logic, the database being operable to store a plurality of identifiers, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of media content.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the database stores the one or more characteristics associated with each of the plurality of media content, and wherein the database updates a social network of a user with a media selection being watched by the user and a channel and time for a secondary user to view the media selection based on a service provider of the secondary user.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the network interface responses to each of the plurality of requests identifying the plurality of media content, the associated identifier, and information for accessing each of the plurality of media content from the plurality of service providers.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the information includes a channel and a time.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the reconciler logic cross references standard definition versions and high definition versions of the media content.

19. The media content reconciler according to claim 16, wherein the media content reconciler communicates with a plurality of service providers and users through one or more communications networks to display an interface that cross references the media content between the plurality of service providers, the interface displaying a channel and time for the media content corresponding to each of the plurality of service providers in response to the media content being available.

20. The media content reconciler according to claim 16, wherein the one or more characteristics are a data signature of the media content, and wherein the media content is a television show, movie, presentation, or media content.

18. A media content reconciler comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are configured to;

receive a request to identify media content, determine one or more characteristics of the media content, determine if the media content is associated with an identifier in response to the one or more characteristics, associate an identifier with the media content in response to determining there is not an existing identifier associated with the media content, cross reference the media content between the plurality of service providers utilizing the identifier and time zones, and update a database to include the identifier and the one or more characteristics associated with the media content.