Viewer selection of programs to be subsequently delivered
First Claim
1. A method for allowing a user to receive programs desired by said user, said method comprising:
- accepting from said user information pertaining to a program desired to be viewed by said user;
matching by a first entity, other than said user, said accepted information against a list of known programs currently scheduled to be delivered to users;
upon a non-match condition making said user request available at a location independent from a content provider for discovery at said location, at the initiative of potential content providers, said potential content provider being an entity different from said first entity;
matching, by said potential content provider, information available to said content provider against said user request; and
delivering programs to said user from said potential content provider which match said accepted descriptive material.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Television users may record abstracts of programs that they desire and program providers may access the recorded program abstracts from time to time so as to provide the program content that matches the requested program. In one embodiment, the user may select a TV program (or movie) that is not currently available and then at a time subsequent thereto that program is made available to the user, either privately, or over the public network. In another embodiment, users of the system may record program requests. Program providers may then access these requests from time to time and provide the requested program, even if the program had not been available at the time the request was initially posted.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for allowing a user to receive programs desired by said user, said method comprising:
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accepting from said user information pertaining to a program desired to be viewed by said user; matching by a first entity, other than said user, said accepted information against a list of known programs currently scheduled to be delivered to users; upon a non-match condition making said user request available at a location independent from a content provider for discovery at said location, at the initiative of potential content providers, said potential content provider being an entity different from said first entity; matching, by said potential content provider, information available to said content provider against said user request; and delivering programs to said user from said potential content provider which match said accepted descriptive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for delivering entertainment programs to a user, said system comprising:
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means for allowing said user to input and store desired programs; means independent from said user'"'"'s control for determining which, if any, of said stored desired programs are currently available to said user;
said determining means controlled, at least in part, by a first program provider in communication with said user;means controlled in part by said determining means for informing said user that one or more of said stored desired programs are currently available and for subsequently informing said viewer that desired programs which were determined not to have been currently available to said user have become available; and wherein said determining means includes; means for allowing at least one potential program provider other than said first program provider to review, at a location independent from a content provider, determined unavailable desired programs to determine if said potential program provider can deliver to said user one or more of said unavailable desired stored programs. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for allowing a user to receive programs desired by said user, said method comprising:
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accepting from said user at a site maintained by a first entity other than said user information pertaining to a program desired to be viewed by said user; determining by said first entity, whether said first entity can supply said desired program; upon determination that said entity can not supply said desired program making said user request available for discovery at the initiative of potential content providers, said potential content providers being entities different from said first entity; matching, by a potential content provider, information available to said potential content provider against said user request, said information being made available at a location independent from a content provider, said matching occurring at said first entity maintained site; and delivering programs to said user from said potential content provider which match said accepted user information. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification