Methods, systems and storage medium for providing content notification based on user communities

• US 7,860,804 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Littrell, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Levine, Adam
• Application Number:
  US10/739,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20050137886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,568 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/319, 725/37
• US Class Current: 705/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A method of notifying consumers of available content in a content distribution system. The method includes determining the existence of a content event related to content. The content event is associated with a community. A consumer who is a member of the community is notified of the content event by sending a notification to the consumer. Access to content related to the content event is provided upon request by the consumer.

Claims

1. A method of notifying consumers of available content in a content distribution system, the method comprising:

providing a community portal for consumers, the community portal allowing consumers to search communities, join a community as a member and end membership in communities;

associating a consumer with a community in response to input from the consumer through the community portal requesting that the consumer be identified as a member of the community;

presenting first content to the consumer for viewing;

determining existence of a content event related to second content;

associating the content event and the second content with the community;

notifying the consumer who is a member of the community of the content event by sending a notification to the consumer, the notification presented to the consumer as a window presented overlaying the first content being viewed by the consumer; and

providing access to the second content related to the content event upon request by the consumer;

wherein the content event is submitted by an other consumer;

wherein associating the second content with the community includes associating a community designated by the other consumer with the second content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the content event is provided from a content provider.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the content event is embedded in the first content.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the content event is automatically detected.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the content event includes a text message from the other consumer to the consumer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

associating the second content with the community occurs prior to distributing the second content.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

associating the second content with the community includes searching communities.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

sending the notification to the consumer is dependent upon the consumer authorizing the notification.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

providing access to the second content is dependent upon whether a consumer is granted authorization to access the second content.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

providing access to the second content includes time shifting the second content, wherein the first content is broadcast television and the second content is time-shifed broadcast television.

11. A system for notifying a consumer of available content in a content distribution system, the system comprising:

a database identifying consumers and their respective community memberships;

a community portal for consumers, the community portal allowing consumers to search communities, join a communities as a member and end membership in communities;

a network element providing first content;

the network element determining the existence of a content event related to second content;

a consumer network in communication with the network element, the consumer network including a display device for displaying content and a controller in communication with the content distribution system, the consumer network being associated with a community in response to input from the consumer through the community portal requesting that the consumer be identified as a member of the community;

the network element accessing the database and associating the content event and the second content with the community;

the network element sending notification of the content event to the consumer network, the notification presented to the display device as a window presented overlaying first content being viewed by the consumer;

the network element providing access to the second content related to the content event upon request from the consumer networks;

wherein the content event is submitted to the network element by an other consumer;

wherein the network element associates the second content with the community by associating a community designated by the other consumer with the second content.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the content event is provided from a content provider.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the content event is embedded in the first content.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the network element automatically detects the content event.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the content event includes a text message from the other consumer to the consumer.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the network element associates the second content with the community prior to distributing the second content.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the network element associates the second content with the community by searching communities.