VIDEO WAKE-UP CALLS

• US 20150163265A1
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Killick, Ray
• Application Number:
  US14/097,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20150163265A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to scheduled media transmissions which may be implemented in a hospitality setting as wake-up calls. A request for a scheduled media transmission may be received. The request includes a desired time for the scheduled media transmission and a requested content item. The scheduled media transmission is scheduled for a user at the desired time. At the user'"'"'s desired time, a media device associated with the user is activated, and the user'"'"'s requested content item is transmitted to the media device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing media transmissions, comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor, a request for a scheduled media transmission, wherein the request includes a desired time for the scheduled media transmission and a requested content item;

scheduling, by the at least one processor and for a user, the scheduled media transmission for the desired time;

activating, by the at least one processor, a media device associated with the user at the desired time; and

transmitting, by the at least one processor, the requested content item to the media device associated with the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the at least one processor, that the media device associated with the user can successfully receive the scheduled media transmission.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the at least one processor, that the requested content item is not stored in a cache; and

retrieving, by the at least one processor and from a content store, the requested content item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the requested content item to the media device associated with the user further comprises transmitting a uniform resource locator (URL) to the media device associated with the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one processor and from the media device associated with the user, a signal to terminate transmission of the requested content item; and

terminating, by the at least one processor, transmission of the requested content item.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting, by the at least one processor and to a third party, a message indicating termination of the transmission of the requested content item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one processor and from the media device associated with the user, a request to pause transmission of the requested content item for a specified duration of time; and

resuming, by the at least one processor, transmission of the requested content item after the specified duration of time has elapsed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein activating a media device associated with the user at the desired time further comprises activating a display device coupled to the media device associated with the user.

9. A system for managing media transmissions, comprising:

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

receive a request for a scheduled media transmission, wherein the request includes a desired time for the scheduled media transmission and a requested content item;

schedule, for a user, the scheduled media transmission for the desired time;

activate a media device associated with the user at the desired time; and

transmit the requested content item to the media device associated with the user.

10. The system of claim 9, the at least one processor further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine that the media device associated with the user can successfully receive the scheduled media transmission.

11. The system of claim 9, the at least one processor further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that the requested content item is not stored in a cache; and

retrieve, from a content store, the requested content item.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein transmitting the requested content item to the media device associated with the user further comprises transmitting a uniform resource locator (URL) to the media device associated with the user.

13. The system of claim 9, the at least one processor further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive, from the media device associated with the user, a signal to terminate transmission of the requested content item; and

terminate transmission of the requested content item.

14. The system of claim 13, the at least one processor further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to transmit, to a third party, a message indicating termination of the transmission of the requested content item.

15. The system of claim 9, the at least one processor further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive, from the media device associated with the user, a request to pause transmission of the requested content item for a specified duration of time; and

resume transmission of the requested content item after the specified duration of time has elapsed.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions embodied therein, the computer-executable instructions when executed by at least one processor perform the operations comprising:

receiving a request for a scheduled media transmission, wherein the request includes a desired time for the scheduled media transmission and a requested content item;

scheduling, for a user, the scheduled media transmission for the desired time;

activating a media device associated with the user at the desired time; and

transmitting the requested content item to the media device associated with the user.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, the computer-executable instructions when executed by the at least one processor further perform the operations comprising:

determining that the media device associated with the user can successfully receive the scheduled media transmission.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, the computer-executable instructions when executed by the at least one processor further perform the operations comprising:

determining that the requested content item is not stored in a cache; and

retrieving, from a content store, the requested content item.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein transmitting the requested content item to the media device associated with the user further comprises transmitting a uniform resource locator (URL) to the media device associated with the user.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, the computer-executable instructions when executed by the at least one processor further perform the operations comprising:

receiving, from the media device associated with the user, a signal to terminate transmission of the requested content item; and

terminating transmission of the requested content item.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, the computer-executable instructions when executed by the at least one processor further perform the operations comprising transmitting, to a third party, a message indicating termination of the transmission of the requested content item.