Mechanism for Distributing Content Data
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Accused Products
Abstract
The current invention provides a system for distributing content data to user locations. The content data preferably includes digital video data that is available on demand from a requesting location. A system server stores user accounts and generated customized program schedules for the user account based on user criteria which includes user preferences. Authorized users access their accounts to modify user criteria and to select program transmissions. Preferably, a computer and a television set receive program transmissions from a system network, wherein the computer provides a logical interface between the television set and content data transmitted over the system network.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1-29. -29. (canceled)
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30. A method for distributing one or more digital content items to at least one receiver, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a content distribution computer, user preference data comprising one or more user preferred content types, user billing information and a device indicator; generating, by the content distribution computer, a customized content listing comprising a plurality of the digital content items selected based on the user preferred content types and the device indicator; receiving, by the content distribution computer, a selection signal for selecting one of the plurality of digital content items included in the customized content listing; attempting to bill, by the content distribution computer, a user account for the selected digital content item using a cost associated with the selected digital content item and user billing information; and transmitting, by the content distribution computer, the selected digital content item to a receiver corresponding to the device indicator if the user account was successfully billed for the selected digital content item. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method using one or more computers to select and receive one or more digital content items, the method comprising:
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transmitting, by the one or more computers, user preference data comprising one or more user preferred content types, user billing information and a device indicator; receiving, by the one or more computers, a customized content listing comprising a plurality of the digital content items selected based on the user preferred content types and the device indicator; transmitting, by the one or more computers, a selection signal for selecting one of the plurality of digital content items included in the customized content listing; receiving, by the one or more computers, confirmation that a user account was billed for the selected digital content item using a cost associated with the selected digital content item and user billing information; and receiving, by the one or more computers, the selected digital content item following the confirmation that the user account was successfully billed for the selected digital content item. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A system for distributing one or more digital content items to at least one receiver, the system comprising:
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a catalog interface component configured to receive user preference data comprising one or more user preferred content types, user billing information and a device indicator, generate a customized content listing comprising a plurality of the digital content items selected based on the user preferred content types and the device indicator, and receive a selection signal for selecting one of the plurality of digital content items included in the customized content listing; a billing component configured to bill, by the content distribution computer, a user account for the selected digital content item using a cost associated with the selected digital content item and user billing information; and a media transport component configured to transmit the selected digital content item to a receiver corresponding to the device indicator if the user account was successfully billed for the selected digital content item. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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Specification