SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAPPING CUSTOMER PREMISE EQUIPMENT IN A VOD SYSTEM OF A CABLE SERVICE PROVIDER
First Claim
1. A method of enabling a television viewer to utilize an Internet device to request a Video-On-Demand (VOD) server to stream a selected video to a customer premises equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) connection between the Internet device and an application executing at a web site, the application being in communication with the VOD server to obtain a listing of available videos, wherein the step of establishing the IP connection includes providing an Internet device identifier to the application;
providing the Internet device with access to the listing of available videos through the IP connection;
receiving at the application from the Internet device, an indication of the selected video;
accessing by the application, an equipment-mapping table associating the Internet device identifier with an identifier of the customer premise equipment; and
sending a request for the selected video from the application to the VOD server, the request including the identifier of the customer premise equipment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and web-based application platform enabling a television viewer to utilize an Internet device to request a Video-On-Demand (VOD) server to stream a selected video to the viewer'"'"'s Set Top Box (STB). An Internet Protocol (IP) connection is established between the Internet device and an application executing at a web site, and an Internet device identifier is passed to the application. The application communicates with the VOD server to obtain a listing of available videos, and provides the listing to the Internet device. When the viewer selects a video, the application accesses an equipment-mapping table, which associates the Internet device identifier with an STB identifier. The application then sends the STB identifier and a request for the selected video to the VOD server, which delivers the video to the STB over a television delivery system.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of enabling a television viewer to utilize an Internet device to request a Video-On-Demand (VOD) server to stream a selected video to a customer premises equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) connection between the Internet device and an application executing at a web site, the application being in communication with the VOD server to obtain a listing of available videos, wherein the step of establishing the IP connection includes providing an Internet device identifier to the application; providing the Internet device with access to the listing of available videos through the IP connection; receiving at the application from the Internet device, an indication of the selected video; accessing by the application, an equipment-mapping table associating the Internet device identifier with an identifier of the customer premise equipment; and sending a request for the selected video from the application to the VOD server, the request including the identifier of the customer premise equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An application platform at a web site for enabling a television viewer to utilize an Internet device to request a Video-On-Demand (VOD) server to stream a selected video to a customer premises equipment, the application platform comprising:
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a processor and a memory; an equipment-mapping table associating an identifier of the Internet device with an identifier of the customer premises equipment; and an application stored in the memory, wherein when the application is executed by the processor, the application platform performs the steps of; establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) connection with the Internet device and obtaining the Internet device identifier; obtaining from the VOD server, a listing of available videos; providing the Internet device with access to the listing of available videos through the IP connection; receiving at the application from the Internet device, an indication of the selected video; and sending a request for the selected video from the application to the VOD server, the request including the identifier of the customer premises equipment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for enabling a television viewer to request over the Internet, a selected video to be delivered over a television delivery system, the system comprising:
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a Set Top Box (STB) at the viewer'"'"'s premises for receiving the selected video over the television delivery system; an Internet device connected to the Internet at the viewer'"'"'s premises, the Internet device including an Internet device identifier; an application executing on a processor at a web site, the application in communication with the Internet device through an Internet Protocol (IP) connection; an equipment-mapping table in communication with the application, the equipment-mapping table associating the Internet device identifier with an identifier of the STB at the viewer'"'"'s premises; and a Video-On-Demand (VOD) server in communication with the application; wherein the Internet device includes means for sending indications of viewer inputs to the application; wherein the application includes; means for obtaining the Internet device identifier through the IP connection; means for obtaining a listing of available videos from the VOD server and providing the listing to the Internet device; means for receiving from the Internet device, an indication of the selected video; means for accessing the equipment-mapping table with the Internet device identifier to obtain the STB identifier; and means for sending the indication of the selected video and the STB identifier to the VOD server; wherein the VOD server includes means for sending the selected video to the STB over the television delivery system. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification