Video-on-demand navigational system

• US 7,992,163 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goel, Shashi, Jerding, Dean F., Banker, Robert O., Gutknecht, Valerie Grew
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks; Charles N
• Application Number:
  US09/590,488
• Time in Patent Office: 4,071 Days
• Field of Search: 725/100, 725 95- 97, 725/28, 725/30, 725/87, 725/88
• US Class Current: 725/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A method for providing a video-on-demand (VOD) presentation includes determining whether an active video-on-demand (VOD) session for the VOD presentation exists, providing a selectable option to view the VOD presentation responsive to determining that the active VOD session exists, and providing a list of selectable VOD titles responsive to determining that the active VOD session does not exist.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

responsive to a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) experiencing a reboot condition, determining if at least one video-on-demand (VOD) rental has been purchased and has not expired;

responsive to determining that at least one VOD rental has been purchased and has not expired, determining whether a previously established VOD session for a first VOD presentation is still active;

responsive to determining that the previously established VOD session for the first VOD presentation is still active, providing a VOD current rental screen that includes a selectable option to view the first VOD presentation, the VOD current rental screen having a VOD title of the first VOD presentation, information on the length of time remaining on the VOD title, and information on the rental time duration remaining for viewing the VOD title;

responsive to determining that the at least one VOD rental has been purchased and has not expired and responsive to determining that the previously established VOD session for the first VOD presentation is no longer active, establishing another active VOD session for the first VOD presentation and providing the VOD current rental screen; and

responsive to determining that at least one VOD rental has not been purchased or that previously-purchased VOD rentals have expired, providing a list of selectable VOD titles.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input configured to select the selectable option to view the first VOD presentation; and

responsive to receiving the user input, providing the first VOD presentation to a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein if establishing another active VOD session fails, retrying to establish another active VOD session for the first VOD presentation at various time intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether multiple VOD rentals have been purchased and have not expired; and

setting up a session for a most recently viewed VOD rental.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first user input configured to select a VOD title from the list of selectable VOD titles; and

responsive to receiving the first user input, providing a selectable option for renting a second VOD presentation corresponding to the VOD title selected from the list of selectable VOD titles.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a second user input configured to select the selectable option for renting the second VOD presentation.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the second user input, determining whether the second VOD presentation is blocked.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the second VOD presentation is blocked, prompting a user to provide a third user input identifying a first access code for unblocking the second VOD presentation.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving the third user input identifying the first access code.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the third user input identifying the first access code, prompting the user to provide a fourth user input identifying a second access code.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing the user with the second VOD presentation responsive to receiving the fourth user input.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third user input and the fourth user input are each provided via a plurality of key-strokes.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second access codes each includes a plurality of characters.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the third user input enables the second VOD presentation to be unblocked.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the fourth user input enables the second VOD presentation to be rented.

16. A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) comprising:

memory; and

program code stored in said memory, wherein, when the DHCT experiences a reboot condition, the program code is configured to enable the DHCT to;

determine if at least one video-on-demand (VOD) rental has been purchased and has not expired,

responsive to determining that at least one VOD rental has been purchased and has not expired, determine whether a previously established VOD session for a first VOD presentation is still active,

responsive to determining that the previously established VOD session for the first VOD presentation is still active, provide a VOD current rental screen that includes a selectable option to view the first VOD presentation, the VOD current rental screen having a VOD title of the first VOD presentation, information on the length of time remaining on the VOD title, and information on the rental time duration remaining for viewing the VOD title,

responsive to determining that the at least one VOD rental has been purchased and has not expired and responsive to determining that the previously established VOD session for the first VOD presentation is no longer active, establish another active VOD session for the first VOD presentation and provide the VOD current rental screen, and

responsive to determining that at least one VOD rental has not been purchased or that previously-purchased VOD rentals have expired, provide a list of selectable VOD titles.

17. The DHCT of claim 16, wherein the program code is further configured to provide the first VOD presentation responsive to user input selecting the selectable option to view the first VOD presentation.

18. The DHCT of claim 16, wherein the program code is further configured to retry establishing another active VOD session at various time intervals if a previous attempt to establish another active VOD session fails.

19. The DHCT of claim 16, wherein the program code is further configured to determine whether multiple VOD rentals have been purchased and have not expired and set up a session for a most recently viewed VOD rental.

20. The DHCT of claim 16, wherein the program code is further configured to provide a second VOD presentation identified in the list of selectable VOD titles responsive to receiving a first user input selecting the second VOD presentation, a second user input identifying a first access code, and a third user input identifying a second access code.

21. The DHCT of claim 20, wherein the first access code enables the second VOD presentation to be unblocked.

22. The DHCT of claim 20, wherein the second access code enables the second VOD presentation to be rented.