Systems and methods for multi-provider content-on-demand retrieval

• US 8,005,721 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Azor, Frank Christopher, Kaminski, Darek
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOPP, COURTNEY L
• Application Number:
  US11/899,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods for retrieving multi-provider on-demand content through a common portal device are disclosed. The techniques described herein allow for multi-provider media content to be made available for retrieval to a user through a streamlined process thereby enhancing the user experience and likelihood of ordering on-demand content.

Claims

1. A method for providing multi-provider media content to a user, comprising:

displaying on a local display device a search interface to a user;

receiving search terms from the user;

accessing a media content provider website having a media content databases through an Internet connection using a local portal device;

initiating a search of the media content databases through the media content provider website using the search terms;

obtaining search results from the media content provider website through the Internet connection concerning orderable media content items related to the search terms;

repeating the accessing, initiating and obtaining steps for one or more additional media content provider websites to obtain a plurality of sets of search results related to the search terms from a plurality of different media content provider websites;

aggregating the plurality of sets of search results to form aggregated search results;

displaying through the local display device at least one selectable option representing one or more orderable media content items associated with the aggregated search results;

receiving a user selection of a selectable option for an orderable media content item;

downloading media content through the Internet connection from one of the media content provider websites based upon the user selection; and

displaying on a local display device playback for the downloaded media content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to control playback of the downloaded media content.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing an order transaction associated with a selected media content item without requiring the user to interact directly with a content provider for the selected media content item.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising forwarding user information to a content provider for the content provider to use in processing an order transaction associated with a selected media content item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to determine how the search results are organized when displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing step comprises having the local portal device communicate with a portal device server system that in turn accesses the media content databases through connections to provider websites.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying on a television and wherein the receiving step comprises receiving search terms through a television remote.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one selectable option identifies a content provider that is a source of the orderable media content item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one selectable option does not identify a content provider that is a source of the orderable media content item.

10. A portal system for providing multi-provider media content to a user, comprising:

a user interface module configured to output viewable information to a local display device and configured to receive user input;

a search module configured to access a plurality of different media content provider websites to search media content databases associated with the plurality of media content provider websites through an Internet connection using user entered search terms, configured to obtain a plurality of different sets of search results from the plurality of different media content provider websites through the Internet connection, configured to aggregate the plurality of different sets of search results from the media content databases to form aggregated search results, and configured to generate at least one user selectable option representing one or more orderable media content items associated with the aggregated search results from the plurality of media content provider websites; and

a content delivery module configured to download media content through the Internet connection from one of the media content provider websites based upon a user selection of an orderable media content item and configured to display downloaded media content on the a local display device.

11. The portal system of claim 10, further comprising a transaction module configured to process transactions for orders from the user for media content items without requiring the user to interact directly with a content provider.

12. The portal system of claim 10, further comprising a transaction module configured to send information to a content provider related to the user selected content ordered by the user.

13. The portal system of claim 10, further comprising a portal device server configured to communicate with the search module such that the search module accesses the media content databases through the portal device server.

14. The portal system of claim 10, wherein the user interface module is configured to allow the user to determine how the search results are organized when displayed.

15. The portal system of claim 10, further comprising a user input device configured to communicate with the portal system.

16. The portal system of claim 10, wherein the displayed media content items include information about content providers that are sources of the media content.

17. The portal system of claim 10, wherein the displayed media content items do not include information about content providers that is are sources of the media content.