METHOD FOR ADDRESSING ON-DEMAND TV PROGRAM CONTENT ON TV SERVICES PLATFORM OF A DIGITAL TV SERVICES PROVIDER

• US 20150358682A1
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Inventors: Perez, Milton Diaz
• Granted Patent: US 9,420,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 : using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6379 : directed to encoder , e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 : specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 : involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many, new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method, comprising:

(a) receiving, at a television service platform operatively connected to a plurality of subscriber devices, first digital video-on-demand program content for a first video-on-demand program and first hierarchical metadata associated with the first video-on-demand program, the first hierarchical metadata comprising a title, one or more category terms, and one or more subcategory terms using a hierarchical structure for identifying an electronic program guide location where the title of the first video-on-demand program is to be located following the same hierarchical structure used in said metadata, wherein the television service platform is capable of delivering to the plurality of subscriber devices video-on-demand program content and broadcast content;

(b) storing, on non-transitory computer-readable memory operatively connected to the television service platform, the first digital video-on-demand program content;

(c) generating, by the television service platform, an electronic program guide for the television service platform to list the title of the first video-on-demand program in the electronic program guide at a location according to the hierarchical structure of the category and subcategory terms of the first hierarchical metadata, the electronic program guide being accessible by subscribers of the television service platform both via subscriber devices connected to the television service platform via a closed delivery system and via subscriber devices connected via the Internet as a delivery system, allowing the subscribers to navigate and select from the electronic program guide hierarchically arranged titles of video-on-demand programs listed according to respective category and subcategory terms;

(d) receiving, at the television service platform via the closed delivery system from a first set-top box associated with a first subscriber and operatively connected to a display, first video identification information associated with a first selection by the first subscriber of the title of the first video-on-demand program from the electronic program guide;

(e) transmitting, from the television service platform to the first set-top box via the closed delivery system, the first digital video-on-demand program content for playback on the first set-top box;

(f) receiving, at the television service platform via the Internet from a first Internet-connected digital device associated with the first subscriber, second video identification information associated with a second selection by the first subscriber of the title of the first video-on-demand program from the electronic program guide; and

(g) transmitting, from the television service platform to the first Internet-connected digital device via the Internet, the first digital video-on-demand program content for playback on the first Internet-connected digital device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first digital video-on-demand program content was uploaded to an external web-based video content management system operatively connected to the television service platform from a content provider'"'"'s computer connected to the external web-based video content management system via the Internet.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(h) receiving, at the television service platform from the first set-top box, a viewer ID associated with the first subscriber; and

(i) providing, from the television service platform to the first set-top box via the electronic program guide, access to select one or more stored electronic bookmarks associated with the viewer ID.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(h) receiving, at the television service platform from the first Internet-connected digital device, a viewer ID associated with the first subscriber; and

(i) providing, from the television service platform to the first Internet-connected digital device via the electronic program guide, access to select one or more stored electronic bookmarks associated with the viewer ID.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(h) receiving, at the television service platform from the first set-top box via the electronic program guide, a selection by the first subscriber to bookmark the selected title; and

(i) storing an electronic program guide location address for the video-on-demand program associated with the selected title as an electronic bookmark for later viewing.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(h) receiving, at the television service platform from the first Internet-connected digital device via the electronic program guide, a selection by the subscriber to bookmark the selected title; and

(i) storing an electronic program guide location address for the video-on-demand program associated with the selected title as an electronic bookmark for later viewing.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

(j) receiving, from the first set-top box via the electronic program guide, a selection from the first subscriber to send at least one electronic bookmark to another subscriber.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

(j) receiving, from the first Internet-connected digital device via the electronic program guide, a selection from the first subscriber to send at least one electronic bookmark to another subscriber.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

(k) transmitting an email including one or more stored electronic bookmarks to an email address of a user on the Internet.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

(k) transmitting an email including one or more stored electronic bookmarks to an email address of a user on the Internet.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

(j) receiving, via a second electronic program guide from a second subscriber device associated with a second subscriber of the television service platform, an electronic bookmark for a second video-on-demand program.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(j) receiving, via a second electronic program guide from a second subscriber device associated with a second subscriber of the television service platform, an electronic bookmark for a second video-on-demand program.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the television service platform delivers digital video-on-demand program content using a digital cable TV service system.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the television service platform delivers digital video-on-demand program content using an IPTV service system.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein one or more of the subscriber selections received via the electronic program guide are associated with one or more revenue-generating services provided by the television service platform.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said revenue-generating services are one or more of the group consisting of:

TV advertising insertion, premium programming service, TV service subscription, TV program sponsorship, TV commerce transaction, and on-demand TV transaction.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

(h) tracking selections by subscribers of video-on-demand programs in order to determine the revenue generation value of the video-on-demand programs.

38. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(h) receiving, at the television service platform from an external web-based video content management system, respective second video-on-demand program content for one or more second video-on-demand programs that were uploaded to the external web-based video content management system for delivery to the television service platform;

(i) automatically updating the electronic program guide to list respective titles of the one or more second video-on-demand programs.