Method and apparatus for purchasing upgraded media features for programming transmissions
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving a selection to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission;
automatically coordinating purchase of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission; and
automatically coordinating provision of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission by instructing at least one of a plurality of programming transmission sources to provide the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature to a client system that sent the selection, wherein the at least one of the plurality of programming transmission sources does one of modifies transmission of the programming transmission to the client system with the upgraded media feature and provides a token to a server system for modifying reception of the programming transmission at the client system with the upgraded media feature, wherein the server system provides the token to the client system.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for purchasing media features for programming transmissions. A selection is sent to a server system to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission. The server system automatically coordinates purchasing the media feature from a programming transmission source and providing the media feature from the programming transmission source. In one embodiment, an entertainment system includes a user interface from which a viewer selects an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission, wherein the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature is provided to the entertainment system.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a selection to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission; automatically coordinating purchase of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission; and automatically coordinating provision of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission by instructing at least one of a plurality of programming transmission sources to provide the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature to a client system that sent the selection, wherein the at least one of the plurality of programming transmission sources does one of modifies transmission of the programming transmission to the client system with the upgraded media feature and provides a token to a server system for modifying reception of the programming transmission at the client system with the upgraded media feature, wherein the server system provides the token to the client system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A machine readable storage medium having stored thereon machine readable instructions, execution of said machine readable instructions to implement a method comprising:
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receiving a selection to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission; automatically coordinating purchase of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission; and automatically coordinating provision of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission by instructing at least one of a plurality of programming transmission sources to provide the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature to a client system that sent the selection, wherein the at least one of the plurality of programming transmission sources does one of modifies transmission of the programming transmission to the client system with the upgraded media feature and provides a token to a server system for modifying reception of the programming transmission at the client system with the upgraded media feature, wherein the server system provides the token to the client system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a server system to receive a selection to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission, automatically coordinate purchase of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission, and automatically coordinate provision of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission the server system comprising; a processing server to instruct at least one of a plurality of programming transmission sources to provide the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature to a client system that sent the selection, wherein the at least one of the plurality of programming transmission sources does one of modifies transmission of the programming transmission to the client system with the upgraded media feature and provides a token to the processing server for modifying reception of the programming transmission at the client system, wherein the processing server provides the token to the client system; and
a billing processor to coordinate the purchase of the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature.
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a receiver to receive a selection from a client system to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission; a purchasing unit to automatically coordinate purchase of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission by instructing at least one of a plurality of programming transmission sources to provide the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature to the client system, wherein the at least one of the plurality of programming transmission sources does one of modifies transmission of the programming transmission to the client system with the ungraded media feature and provides a token for modifying reception of the programming transmission at the client system with the upgraded media feature; and a provision unit to automatically coordinate provision of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission and the token. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a selection to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission; means for automatically coordinating purchase of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission; and means for automatically coordinating provision of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission by instructing at least one of a plurality of programming transmission sources to provide the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature to a client system that sent the selection, wherein the at least one of the plurality of programming transmission sources does one of modifies transmission of the programming transmission to the client system with the upgraded media feature and provides a token to the server system for modifying reception of the programming transmission at the client system with the upgraded media feature, wherein the server system provides the token to the client system. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for providing an upgraded media feature to a client system from a server system, the system comprising:
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a client system comprising; a sending unit for sending a selection to a server system to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission; and a receiving unit to receive the programming transmission; a server system comprising; a receiver to receive the selection from the client system; a purchasing unit to automatically coordinate purchase of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission by instructing at least one of a plurality of programming transmission sources to provide the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature to the client system, wherein the at least one of the plurality of programming transmission sources does one of modifies transmission of the programming transmission to the client system with the upgraded media feature and provides a token for modifying reception of the programming transmission at the client system with the upgraded media feature; and a provision unit to automatically coordinate provision of the upgraded media feature for the programming transmission and the token. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification