Subscriber information maintenance system and methods
First Claim
1. A subscriber information maintenance system for use in an interactive video entertainment distribution network, comprising:
- a subscriber interface device at the premises of an individual subscriber;
a service provider headend connected for video and bi-directional data communications with the subscriber interface device, the service provider headend providing enhanced services and traditional video programming to the subscriber through the subscriber interface device;
a billing and subscriber management system that maintains a first set of information with billing information regarding individual subscribers and with information regarding traditional video programming provided to such subscribers;
an interactive subscriber services program that maintains a second set of information regarding enhanced services provided to individual subscribers, wherein the second set of information is different than the first set of information;
an interactive application program executing on the subscriber interface device, the interactive application program communicating with the interactive subscriber services program to access and modify specific information items from the first and second sets of information without specifying whether the specific information items are maintained by the billing and subscriber management system or by the interactive subscriber services program;
in response to a request by the interactive application program to reference a specific information item, the interactive subscriber services program referencing the first set of information if the specific information item is part of the first set of information maintained by the billing and subscriber management system, the interactive subscriber services program referencing the second set of information if the specific information item is part of the second set of information maintained by the interactive subscriber services program.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive video entertainment distribution network utilizing a subscriber information maintenance system wherein the subscriber information maintenance system comprises a set-top box (STB) at the premises of an individual subscriber. A service provider headend is connected for video and bi-directional data communications with the STB, and to provide enhanced services and traditional video programming to the subscriber through the STB. A billing and subscriber management system (BSMS) maintains a BSMS database with billing information regarding individual subscribers and with information regarding traditional video programming provided to such subscribers. An interactive subscriber services program (ISS) maintains an ISS database with additional information related to enhanced services provided to individual subscribers that is not included in the BSMS database. An interactive application program executes on the STB. The interactive application program communicates with the ISS to access and modify information from the two databases. The BSMS has a program interface that allows the ISS to access and modify information from the BSMS database. The ISS has data handling routines that execute in response to requests by the interactive application program to access or modify subscriber and service information, The data handling routines use the program interface of the BSMS to reference the information if it is part of the first database. The data handling routines and the program interface of the BSMS allow the service provider to utilize an existing billing and subscriber management system in conjunction with enhanced services.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A subscriber information maintenance system for use in an interactive video entertainment distribution network, comprising:
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a subscriber interface device at the premises of an individual subscriber; a service provider headend connected for video and bi-directional data communications with the subscriber interface device, the service provider headend providing enhanced services and traditional video programming to the subscriber through the subscriber interface device; a billing and subscriber management system that maintains a first set of information with billing information regarding individual subscribers and with information regarding traditional video programming provided to such subscribers; an interactive subscriber services program that maintains a second set of information regarding enhanced services provided to individual subscribers, wherein the second set of information is different than the first set of information; an interactive application program executing on the subscriber interface device, the interactive application program communicating with the interactive subscriber services program to access and modify specific information items from the first and second sets of information without specifying whether the specific information items are maintained by the billing and subscriber management system or by the interactive subscriber services program; in response to a request by the interactive application program to reference a specific information item, the interactive subscriber services program referencing the first set of information if the specific information item is part of the first set of information maintained by the billing and subscriber management system, the interactive subscriber services program referencing the second set of information if the specific information item is part of the second set of information maintained by the interactive subscriber services program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A subscriber information maintenance system for use in an interactive video entertainment distribution network, comprising:
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a subscriber interface device at the premises of an individual subscriber; a service provider headend connected for video and bi-directional data communications with the subscriber interface device, the service provider headend providing enhanced services and traditional video programming to the subscriber through the subscriber interface device; a billing and subscriber management system that maintains a first database with billing information regarding individual subscribers and with information regarding traditional video programming provided to such subscribers; an operator terminal for use in conjunction with the billing and subscriber management system to access and modify the first database; an interactive subscriber services program that maintains a second database with additional information related to enhanced services provided to individual subscribers that is not included in the first database; an interactive application program executing on the subscriber interface device, the interactive application program communicating with the interactive subscriber services program to access and modify information from the first and second databases; the billing and subscriber management system having a program interface that allows the interactive subscriber services program to access and modify information from the first database; the interactive subscriber services program having data handling routines that execute in response to requests by the interactive application program to access or modify specific subscriber and service information, the data handling routines using the program interface of the billing and subscriber management system to reference the specific information if said information is part of the first database, said data handling routines and the program interface of the billing and subscriber management system allowing the service provider to utilize an existing billing and subscriber management system in conjunction with enhanced services. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of maintaining subscriber-related information in an interactive video entertainment distribution network comprising the following steps:
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providing enhanced services and traditional video programming to subscribers through a subscriber interface device at the premises of an individual subscriber; utilizing an existing billing and subscriber management system to maintain a first database with billing information regarding individual subscribers and with information regarding traditional video programming provided to such subscribers; running an interactive subscriber services program in addition to the existing billing and subscriber management system to maintain a second database with information regarding enhanced services provided to individual subscribers, wherein the second database contains information not contained in the first database; running an interactive application program on the subscriber interface unit of the individual subscriber, the interactive application program requesting references to information items through the interactive subscriber services program; in response to a request by the interactive application program to reference a specific information item, the interactive subscriber services program referencing the first database if the specific information is in the first database maintained by the billing and subscriber management system, the interactive subscriber services program referencing the second database if the specific information item is in the second database maintained by the interactive subscriber services program. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification