Client terminal for providing a subscription to a bundle of channels from a program guide

• US 7,596,797 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keen Personal Media, Inc. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Keen Personal Media, Inc. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Hefner, George B., Kapner, III, L. Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US09/920,583
• Time in Patent Office: 2,982 Days
• Field of Search: 725 44- 46, 725 50- 51, 725/61
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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

Abstract

A client terminal connectable to a video distribution system (VDS) and a display device. The VDS provides program guide information to create a program guide that includes program guide entries for subscribed channels and non-subscribed channels which is displayed on the display device. The client terminal includes a terminal controller responsive to a subscription control program that selects a program guide entry in response to user input. If the selected program guide entry is for a non-subscribed channel, the terminal controller responsive to the subscription control program selects a bundle of channels based upon a subscription matrix for the user, the selected program guide entry, and the available bundles of channels for subscription, and transmits the subscription request for the selected bundle of channels to the VDS.

Claims

1. A client terminal connectable to a video distribution system and a display device, the video distribution system provides program guide information to create a program guide that includes program guide entries for subscribed channels and non-subscribed channels, the client terminal comprising:

a video distribution system interface to receive the program guide information;

a display interface to display the program guide on the display device;

a user interface to receive user input; and

a terminal controller responsive to a subscription control program for;

a. in response to user input, selecting a program guide entry from the program guide; and

b. upon selection of a program guide entry that is for a non-subscribed channel,

i. recommending at least one bundle of channels for subscription by the user based upon a subscription matrix for the user that is stored locally at the client terminal, the currently selected program guide entry for the non-subscribed channel displayed in the program guide, and available bundles of channels for subscription, wherein the subscription matrix includes channels subscribed to by the client terminal and available channels not subscribed to by the client terminal;

ii. accepting user input to select a bundle of channels for subscription by the user; and

iii. transmitting a subscription request for the selected bundle of channels to the video distribution system.

2. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein, the video distribution system after receipt of the subscription request for the selected bundle of channels verifies a user'"'"'s credit with a billing system to determine whether the user'"'"'s credit is approved or disapproved for the selected bundle of channels, the terminal controller responsive to the subscription control program for:

a. receiving the approval or disapproval from the video distribution system; and

b. if the user'"'"'s credit is approved,

i. updating the subscription matrix to reflect that the client terminal is now subscribed to the selected bundle of channels; and

ii. authorizing access to the selected bundle of channels.

3. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein, the selected bundle of channels is the most cost effective bundle of channels having a subscription cost that is less than the subscription cost of individually subscribing to the non-subscribed channel.

4. The client terminal of claim 1, further comprising a preference engine, wherein the preference engine selects program guide entries for non-subscribed channels for display in the program guide based upon a user'"'"'s viewing patterns.

5. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein, the client terminal is coupled to the video distribution system by a link that provides a persistent connection.

6. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein, a channel includes a tier of channels.

7. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein, a channel includes a computer network channel.

8. The client terminal of claim 1, further comprising, selecting only a program of the program guide entry of a non-subscribed channel for subscription in selecting the bundle of channels.

9. The client terminal of claim 1, wherein, the video distribution system is a cable head end.

10. A computer program embodied in a computer readable storage medium for use in a client terminal connectable to a video distribution system and a display device, the video distribution system provides program guide information to create a program guide that includes program guide entries for subscribed channels and non-subscribed channels, the computer program comprising code segments for:

a. in response to user input, selecting a program guide entry from the program guide; and

b. upon selection of a program guide entry that is for a non-subscribed channel,

i. recommending at least one bundle of channels for subscription by the user based upon a subscription matrix for the user that is stored locally at the client terminal, the currently selected program guide entry for the non-subscribed channel displayed in the program guide, and available bundles of channels for subscription, wherein the subscription matrix includes channels subscribed to by the client terminal and available channels not subscribed to by the client terminal;

ii. accepting user input to select a bundle of channels for subscription by the user; and

iii. transmitting a subscription request for the selected bundle of channels to the video distribution system.

11. The computer program of claim 10, wherein, the video distribution system after receipt of the subscription request for the selected bundle of channels verifies a user'"'"'s credit with a billing system to determine whether the user'"'"'s credit is approved or disapproved for the selected bundle of channels, further comprising code segments for:

a. receiving the approval or disapproval from the video distribution system; and

b. if the user'"'"'s credit is approved,

i. updating the subscription matrix to reflect that the client terminal is now subscribed to the selected bundle of channels; and

ii. authorizing access to the selected bundle of channels.

12. The computer program of claim 10, wherein, the selected bundle of channels is the most cost effective bundle of channels having a subscription cost that is less than the subscription cost of individually subscribing to the non-subscribed channel.

13. The computer program of claim 10, further comprising code segments for:

a. displaying a promotion display for a bundle of channels

b. in response to user input, selecting the promotion display; and

c. transmitting a subscription request for the bundle of channels to the video distribution system.

14. The computer program of claim 10, further comprising code segments for selecting program guide entries for non-subscribed channels for display in the program guide based upon a user'"'"'s viewing patterns.

15. The computer program of claim 10, wherein, the client terminal is coupled to the video distribution system by a link that provides a persistent connection.

16. The computer program of claim 10, wherein, a channel includes a tier of channels.

17. The computer program of claim 10, wherein, a channel includes a computer network channel.

18. The computer program of claim 10, further comprising code segments for selecting only a program of the program guide entry on a non-subscribed channel for subscription in selecting the bundle of channels.

19. The computer program of claim 10, wherein, the video distribution system is a cable head end.

20. A method for selecting a bundle of channels utilizing a program guide, the program guide including program guide entries for subscribed channels and non-subscribed channels, the method comprising the steps of:

a. in response to user input received at a client terminal, selecting a program guide entry from the program guide;

b. upon selection of a program guide entry that is for a non-subscribed channel,

1. performing processing at the client terminal to recommend at least one bundle of channels for subscription by the user based upon a subscription matrix for the user that is stored locally at the client terminal, the currently selected program guide entry for the non-subscribed channel displayed in the program guide, and available bundles of channels for subscription, wherein the subscription matrix includes channels subscribed to by the client terminal and available channels not subscribed to by the client terminal;

2. accepting user input to select a bundle of channels for subscription by the user; and

3. transmitting a subscription request for the selected bundle of channels from the client terminal to a video distribution system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, the video distribution system after receipt of the subscription request for the selected bundle of channels verifies a user'"'"'s credit with a billing system to determine whether the user'"'"'s credit is approved or disapproved for the selected bundle of channels, further comprising steps for:

a. receiving the approval or disapproval from the video distribution system; and

b. if the user'"'"'s credit is approved,

i. updating the subscription matrix to reflect that the client terminal is now subscribed to the selected bundle of channels; and

ii. authorizing access to the selected bundle of channels.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein, the selected bundle of channels is the most cost effective bundle of channels having a subscription cost that is less than the subscription cost of individually subscribing to the non-subscribed channel.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising steps for:

a. displaying a promotion for a bundle of channels

b. in response to user input, selecting the promotion display; and

c. transmitting a subscription request for the bundle of channels to the video distribution system.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of selecting program guide entries for non-subscribed channels for display in the program guide based upon a user'"'"'s viewing patterns.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein, the client terminal is coupled to the video distribution system by a link that provides a persistent connection.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein, a channel includes a tier of channels.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein, a channel includes a computer network channel.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of selecting only a program of the program guide entry on a non-subscribed channel for subscription in selecting the bundle of channels.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein, the video distribution system is a cable head end.