Extending Data Records for Dynamic Data and Selective Acceptance Based on Hardware Profile

• US 20110134323A1
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TVWorks LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Scheyen, Peter G.N., Vickers, Mark A., Hindle, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/563
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• 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

Abstract

A system, method and data structure for processing basic client application data types to add thereto extension types and priority levels adapted for use by each of a plurality of set top box classes.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a client device, a data structure for a content item, the data structure comprising a base portion, an extension portion and a priority portion, wherein the base portion includes base data of the content item and said extension portion includes extended data supplemental to the base data, wherein said priority portion stores a plurality of priority indicators including a first priority indicator and a second priority indicator, wherein the first priority indicator is assigned to a first class of device and the second priority indicator is assigned to a second class of device;

extracting, by the client device, the first priority indicator corresponding to the first class of device from the priority portion;

determining, by the client device, a manner in which to process the extended data based on the first priority indicator; and

processing, by the client device, said extended data in the determined manner.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said first priority indicator corresponds to one of;

always store and never store; and

,

storing said extended data when said first priority indicator corresponds to an always store indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first priority indicator is different from the second priority indicator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said client device conforms to the first class of device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first class of device includes one of:

a low end class, a mid range class and a high end class.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said extension portion includes a pointer to said extended data, said method further comprising:

transmitting, to a server, a request for the extended data indicated using said pointer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said data structure comprises a plurality of extension portions, each of said extension portions associated with respective extended data accessible to a respective class of device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data structure includes receiving video on-demand content in the base portion and wherein the data structure corresponds to a data record in a video-on-demand database comprising a plurality of records corresponding to a plurality of video-on-demand content items.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data structure includes receiving video on-demand content in the base portion and wherein the data structure corresponds to a data record in a video-on-demand database comprising a plurality of records corresponding to a plurality of video-on-demand content items.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of priority indicators includes a third priority indicator corresponding to a third class of device and wherein the data structure further includes a type identifier specifying a type of extension data stored in the extension portion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is a set-top box.

12. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:

receive a data structure for a content item, the data structure comprising a base portion, an extension portion and a priority portion, wherein the base portion includes base data of the content item and said extension portion includes extended data supplemental to the base data, wherein said priority portion stores a plurality of priority indicators including a first priority indicator and a second priority indicator, wherein the first priority indicator is assigned to a first class of device and the second priority indicator is assigned to a second class of device;

extract the first priority indicator corresponding to the first class of device from the priority portion;

determine a manner in which to process the extended data based on the first priority indicator; and

process said extended data in the determined manner.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the data structure includes a plurality of extension portions, each extension portion being associated with a different priority indicator.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the first priority indicator is different from the second priority indicator.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12, wherein said extension portion includes a pointer to said extended data, and wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to transmit, to a server, a request for the extended data indicated by said pointer within said extension portion.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is a set-top box.

17. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and storing computer readable instructions that when executed cause the apparatus to;

receive a data structure for a content item, the data structure comprising a base portion, an extension portion and a priority portion, wherein the base portion includes base data of the content item and said extension portion includes extended data supplemental to the base data, wherein said priority portion stores a plurality of priority indicators including a first priority indicator and a second priority indicator, wherein the first priority indicator is assigned to a first class of device and the second priority indicator is assigned to a second class of device;

extract the first priority indicator corresponding to the first class of device from the priority portion;

determine a manner in which to process the extended data based on the first priority indicator; and

process said extended data in the determined manner.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is a set-top box.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said extension portion includes a pointer to said extended data, and wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to transmit, to a server, a request for the extended data indicated by said pointer within said extension portion.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data structure includes a plurality of extension portions, each extension portion being associated with a different priority indicator.