Method for converting, navigating and displaying video content uploaded from the internet to a digital TV video-on-demand platform

• US 7,631,336 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Inventors: DIAZ PEREZ, Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): OKEKE, ONYEDIKA C
• Application Number:
  US11/685,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 725 86-104
• US Class Current: 725/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• 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 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 : using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• 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 21/6379 : directed to encoder , e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 : specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 : involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many, new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Claims

1. A method for automatically enabling the converting, navigating and displaying of video content from a video content provider on an open online network to a discrete digital TV service provider network which is of the type employing a closed system of pre-screened and pre-programmed video content selectable for viewing by TV service subscribers inputting keypresses on their TV remote control units to set-top boxes connected to their TV equipment, which predetermined video content is listed by title for selection from an electronic program guide for a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a the discrete digital TV service provider comprising:

(a) enabling the uploading of video content in a digital video format via an online network to a Web-based content management server that is connected to the VOD platform of the discrete digital TV service provider network, along with a title and a hierarchical address of hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories as metadata for categorizing a hierarchical ordering for the title for the video content;

(b) converting the content uploaded to the Web-based content management server into a standard TV digital format used by the discrete digital TV service provider network and storing a “

local instance”

thereof at a video ID (VID) address in a video content database of the VOD platform, wherein the VID address is linked to the title for the video content;

(c) listing the title of the video content in an electronic program guide for the VOD platform of the discrete digital TV service provider using the same hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories as used in the uploaded metadata for the hierarchical address for the video content in the electronic program guide of the VOD platform;

(d) providing a TV service subscriber, having a TV-equipment-connected set-top box connected to the VOD platform of the discrete digital TV service provider network, with access to the electronic program guide for the VOD platform for navigating through the hierarchically-arranged titles of video content by categories and subcategories therein in order to find the title of the video content desired for viewing on their TV equipment; and

(e) upon the TV service subscriber selecting, via their TV remote control unit in communication with the set-top box, the title for the video content from the hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories of the electronic program guide, and the set-top box transmitting a request for the selected title to the VOD platform, then enabling retrieval of the selected video content stored at the VID address in the video content database of the VOD platform linked thereto, and transmission of the selected video content to the TV service subscriber'"'"'s set-top box for display on the TV service subscriber'"'"'s TV equipment.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the video content is uploaded to the Web-based content management server connected to the VOD platform of the discrete digital TV service provider network from a computer user'"'"'s computer connected to the online network.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the video content is uploaded to the Web-based content management server connected to the VOD platform of the discrete digital TV service provider network from a URL link to a website address from which the video content is accessible.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchical address used in the uploaded metadata for the video content comprises a string of category and subcategory terms and the title delimited by standard delimiters that uniquely identifies the video content and its location for listing in the hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories of the electronic program guide.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the video content is a hosted type of TV program presented by a “

host”

figure which displays program viewing options to TV service subscribers for viewing hosted video program segments arranged in hierarchical ordering with the hosted TV program.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the hosted TV program is layered in hierarchical layers of video segments, each layer being linked by option linkages from a previous layer, for successive viewing of layers in order to provide viewers with a “

drill-down”

TV viewing experience of the hosted TV program.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic program guide enables the TV service subscriber to store the hierarchical address for a TV program listed in the electronic program guide as a “

bookmark”

for again viewing the TV program.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the electronic program guide provides the TV service subscriber with a bookmark storing function accessable upon entry of a viewer ID.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the bookmark storing function enables the TV service subscriber to send a bookmark to the bookmark storing function of another TV service subscriber to the discrete digital TV service provider network.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the bookmark storing function enables the TV service subscriber to send a request to the VOD platform of the discrete digital TV service provider network to have a bookmark sent by the Web-based content management server as email to the email address of a contact addressable on the online network.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the bookmark storing function enables the viewer to receive and store a bookmark received by the Web-based content management server from email sent by a contact on the online network.