Interactive entertainment network system and method for customizing operation thereof according to viewer preferences
First Claim
1. In an interactive entertainment network system in which a content provider serves video content programs to one or more user interface units over a distribution network, a system comprising:
- a storage medium, resident at the content provider, containing a list of video content programs correlated with a list of viewers so that an individual viewer has an associated customized list of preferred video content programs that is a subset of all video content programs listed in the storage medium, the customized list of preferred video content programs being configured by the associated viewer;
a server, at the content provider, to receive a message from a particular user interface unit which identifies a particular viewer, the server accessing the storage medium to retrieve the viewer-configured customized list of preferred video content programs that corresponds to the viewer identified in the message and transmitting the customized list of preferred video content programs to the particular user interface unit that sent the message so that the viewer can review their customized list as possible suggestions for ordering one or more of the video content programs on the customized list.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive entertainment network system has a video-on-demand (VOD) application which allows viewers to create their own customized lists of preferred video content programs, such as movies, games, TV shows, and so forth. Viewers are permitted to select criteria for grouping various video content programs into manageable sets. Lists of programs are provided in one or more scrollable lists, the scrolling rates of which are programmable. Once grouped, previews for the set of programs are displayed. The VOD application allows the viewers to browse the previews at their own rate, skipping forward to the next preview or backward to the previous preview. During this automated browsing, the VOD application enables the viewer to add any of the programs of interest to a customized list. The viewer can retrieve the customized list at any time. If the viewer orders a program from the customized list, the program remains available to the viewer for a rental period (which is adjustable). Upon expiration of the rental period, however, the program is no longer readily accessible until ordered again.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. In an interactive entertainment network system in which a content provider serves video content programs to one or more user interface units over a distribution network, a system comprising:
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a storage medium, resident at the content provider, containing a list of video content programs correlated with a list of viewers so that an individual viewer has an associated customized list of preferred video content programs that is a subset of all video content programs listed in the storage medium, the customized list of preferred video content programs being configured by the associated viewer; a server, at the content provider, to receive a message from a particular user interface unit which identifies a particular viewer, the server accessing the storage medium to retrieve the viewer-configured customized list of preferred video content programs that corresponds to the viewer identified in the message and transmitting the customized list of preferred video content programs to the particular user interface unit that sent the message so that the viewer can review their customized list as possible suggestions for ordering one or more of the video content programs on the customized list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for customizing operation of an interactive entertainment system according to preferences of individual viewers, the interactive entertainment system having a content provider to serve video content programs to user interface units, the method comprising the following steps:
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storing a list of viewers at the content provider; storing a list of video content programs at the content provider; enabling the viewers to construct their own customized list of preferred video content programs from their user interface units; correlating the list of viewers with the list of video content programs to maintain the customized lists of preferred video content programs on behalf of the viewers; sending an identification of one of the viewers from a user interface unit to the content provider; identifying a particular customized list of preferred video content programs that correlates to the identified viewer; and sending the particular customized list of preferred video content programs from the content provider to the user interface unit so that the viewer can review their customized list as possible suggestions for ordering one or more of the video content programs on the customized list. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In an interactive entertainment system in which a content provider serves video content programs to user interface units over a network, a computer-readable medium resident at the content provider having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:
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storing a list of viewers; storing a list of video content programs; enabling the viewers to construct their own customized list of preferred video content programs; correlating the list of viewers with the list of video content programs to maintain the customized lists of preferred video content programs on behalf of the viewers; receiving an identification of one of the viewers from a user interface unit; identifying a customized list of preferred video content programs that correlates to the identified viewer; and sending the customized list of preferred video content programs from the content provider to the user interface unit.
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Specification