Method and system for providing and controlling delivery of content on-demand over a cable television network and a data network

• US 7,305,357 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SHAW Cablesystems GP (Rogers Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SHAW Cablesystems GP (Rogers Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Robert Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer; Andrew J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINTER, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US10/055,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,140 Days
• Field of Search: 705/27, 705/26, 705/1, 707/10, 709/217, 725/109, 725/114, 725/127
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• 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 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A system and method for delivering content on-demand by way of a cable network are disclosed. Provision of such content is controlled over a data network. Advantageously, a user interface at a conventional computing device may be used to order content and to control its delivery and playing. Commands from the computing device may be provided by way of data network to a network interconnected server. The server under software control causes a media receiver at the customer premises to be properly tuned to receive content on-demand, and content on-demand to be played, as requested by the computing device. The media receiver may include a conventional set-top box that may be tuned remotely in response to a customer placing an on-demand order.

Claims

1. A method for providing multimedia content to a customer comprising:

connecting a computing device to a first server via a data communication network, the computing device including a display screen, communicating first data from the first server to the computing device via the data communication network, the first data implementing a first graphical user interface that provides for user selection of multimedia content;

displaying the first graphical user interface on the display screen of the computing device;

in response to user interaction with the first graphical user interface whereby the user selects particular multimedia content, communicating second data identifying the particular multimedia content from the computing device to the first server over the data communications network;

connecting a second server to a media receiver at the customer'"'"'s premises via a distribution network, the distribution network employing a plurality of RF channels for delivery of multimedia content from the second server to the media receiver, the media receiver separate and distinct from the computing device;

communicating a command to the media receiver via the distribution network, the command providing third data that enables the media receiver to tune to at least one particular RF channel of said plurality of RF channels of the distribution network and receive the particular media content over said at least one particular RF channel, wherein the command is communicated to the media receiver upon a determination that sufficient bandwidth is available over said at least one particular RF channel;

upon receipt of the command at the media receiver, tuning the media receiver to said at least one particular RF channel; and

communicating the particular media content from the second server to the media receiver over said at least one particular RF channel of the distribution network where it is received at the media receiver for output therefrom.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the command is communicated from a controller to the media receiver over the distribution network, the controller operably coupled to the first server.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the command identifies a communication channel assigned for communication of the particular multimedia content to the media receiver, and

upon receipt of the command at the media receiver, the media receiver is controlled to receive the particular media content over the assigned communication channel.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein:

the assigned communication channel comprises a particular RF frequency and a particular MPEG stream.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first graphical user interface includes at least one web page that is displayed by a web browser execution on the computing device.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the data communication network comprises the Internet.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a database storing status information associated with delivery of the particular media content from the second server to the first server over the distribution network, the database operably coupled to first server; and

communicating fourth data from the first server to the computing device via the data communication network, the fourth data defining a second graphical user interface that provides for user access to the status information.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the status information represents at least one of the following:

title of the particular media content,

a type associated with the particular media content,

a rating associated with the particular media content,

current position of playback of the particular media content at the media receiver,

remainder of a predetermined time period allocated for playback of the particular media content at the media receiver,

an expiration time and date upon which playback of the particular media content at the media receiver will be prevented,

status of playback of the particular media content at the media receiver, and

an order identifier associated with the particular media content.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

preventing playback of the particular media content at the media receiver upon expiration of the predetermined time period allocated for playback of the particular media content at the media receiver.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

preventing playback of the particular media content at the media receiver when the expiration time and date has passed.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

the database stores information associated with the distribution network.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein:

the information stored in the database includes a node table that includes a plurality of records corresponding to distribution nodes of the distribution network for delivering media content to customers, wherein each record of the node table includes an identifier that identifies a particular distribution node.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

the information stored in the database includes an RF channel group table that includes a plurality of records corresponding to distribution nodes of the distribution network, wherein each record of the RF channel group table includes an identifier for a given RF channel group for delivering media content to customers via a particular distribution node.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the information stored in the database includes an RF channel table that includes a plurality of records each corresponding to a given RF channel group for a particular distribution node, wherein each record of the RF channel table includes an identifier for a particular RF channel, maximum capacity of the particular RF channel, available capacity of the particular RF channel, a channel type of the particular RF channel, and a frequency of the particular RF channel.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein:

the information stored in the database includes an MPEG channel table that includes a plurality of records each corresponding to a given RF channel of an RF channel group for a particular distribution node, wherein each record of the MPEG channel table includes an identifier for a particular MPEG channel, a transmission bit rate for the particular MPEG channel, and a status of the particular MPEG channel.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein:

the information stored in the database is accessed to identify a particular RF channel and MPEG channel with sufficient available bandwidth to communicate the particular media content over the distribution network from the distribution node to the media receiver.

17. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

communicating fifth data from the first server to the computing device via the data communication network, the fifth data defining a third graphical user interface that provides for user control over re-communication of the command to the media receiver; and

wherein, upon receipt of the re-communicated command at the media receiver, the media receiver is enabled to receive the particular media content communicated from the second server to the media receiver over the distribution network.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first data communicated from the first server to the computing device defines a graphical user interface that provides for user selection of a particular media receiver from a plurality of media receivers located at the customer'"'"'s premises, wherein the command is communicated to the particular media receiver over the distribution network, and wherein the particular media content is communicated to the particular media receiver over said at least one particular RF channel of the distribution network.