Media content distribution system and method

• US 8,014,717 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hotel Digital Network Inc. (On Command Corporation)
• Inventors: DiLorenzo, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAN, RAYMOND S
• Application Number:
  US11/454,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 455 301- 306, 725 63- 64, 725 74- 82, 725/105, 725/135
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/51 specially adapted for satellite broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• 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: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method of distributing content from multiple media content providers comprises combining the content into one or more composite data streams, and conveying the composite data streams to a plurality of receiver systems, each of which has a user interface that displays content provider information and allows for the selection of one of the providers for playing of the selected provider'"'"'s media content. The media content is preferably provided to a computer server system via a data communications network. One or more composite data streams can be upconverted and uplinked to a satellite system for reception by satellite radio receivers. Intermediary service providers might also be used to receive the composite data streams, either via satellite or land-based communications lines, and format the data as needed for use by one or more associated end-user devices.

Claims

1. A method of distributing content from multiple media content providers, said method comprising:

providing an interface which receives media content from a plurality of media content providers;

forming one or more composite data streams from the media content received from said plurality of content providers;

providing a means of conveying said composite data streams to a plurality of receiver systems;

providing a user interface for said receiver systems, said user interface displaying content provider information and allowing for the selection of one of the content providers for playing of the selected provider'"'"'s media content;

wherein a provider'"'"'s content emanates from a source having an over-the-air coverage area and comprises primary content that is independent of the coverage area and secondary content that is specific to said coverage area, said method further comprising;

extracting the secondary content from said provider'"'"'s content for content being conveyed to receiver systems outside of said coverage area;

storing alternate secondary content; and

inserting alternate secondary content in place of the extracted secondary content for content being conveyed to receiver systems outside of said coverage area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternate secondary content is independent of any coverage area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternate secondary content is specific to a coverage area different than said over-the-air coverage area.