Movie studio-based network distribution system and method

• US 8,037,506 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verimatrix Incorporated (Verimatrix SA)
• Original Assignee: Verimatrix Incorporated (Verimatrix SA)
• Inventors: Beatty, Michael R., Munro, Thomas A., Cooper, Robin Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Beliveau; Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alata; Yassin
• Application Number:
  US11/680,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 725 1- 5, 725/25, 725/32, 725 34- 36, 725/63, 725/73, 725 86-104, 725/105, 725/109, 725/110, 725114-120, 725/135, 725/143
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• 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

Digital content files containing entertainment media such as movies, TV shows, and the like are distributed from at least one content source primarily responsible for the original creation of the media to subscribers over a network system. The content source is connected over at least one content source network to a plurality of distribution partners, and each distribution partner is connected with a selected group of subscribers over an access network. A requested digital content file is distributed from the content source to a subscriber in a network distribution path comprising at least the content source network, the distribution partner associated with the subscriber, and the second network. A profile information package containing subscriber preferences is transmitted from the subscriber to the content source by way of a proxy over the network distribution path, and the profile information package is stored at the content source.

Claims

1. A network distribution method of distributing digital video content files from at least first and second movie studios to subscribers, comprising:

storing a plurality of digital video content files at first and second movie studios, the digital video content files comprising video entertainment media in the form of movies or television shows created under the control of the respective movie studio;

receiving digital video content file requests at the movie studios from subscribers associated with at least one distribution partner connected to the associated subscribers through an access network;

transmitting each requested digital video content file from the movie studio which holds the requested digital video content file to the requesting subscriber in a network distribution path comprising at least a first network, the distribution paltrier, and the access network;

creating a unique subscriber identification code (ID) for each subscriber associated with the distribution partner at a proxy module located in the distribution path between the distribution partner and each movie studio, the subscriber ID containing no subscriber-identifying private information;

associating each subscriber ID with subscriber-identifying private information;

creating a subscriber profile package containing subscriber preference data for each subscriber and no subscriber-identifying private information;

associating each subscriber ID with the corresponding subscriber profile package;

storing the associated subscriber IDs, subscriber-identifying private information and subscriber profile packages at the proxy module;

after receipt, of a digital video content file request from a subscriber associated with the distribution partner, transmitting the subscriber profile package of the subscriber requesting the digital video content file along with the subscriber ID associated with each subscriber profile package from the proxy module to the movie studio which holds the requested digital video content file, whereby no subscriber-identifying private information, is transmitted to the movie studio; and

storing the subscriber profile packages and the associated subscriber IDs at the movie studio which holds the requested digital video content file;

connecting the first and second movie studios through an intermediary modulo which controls communications between the movie studios, the intermediary module having a first communication path to the first movie studio and a second communication path to the second movie studio, and comprising part of the network distribution path from each movie studio to the subscribers;

monitoring information received from one of the movie studios at the intermediary module;

communicating subscriber profile packages and subscriber IDs between the movie studios via the intermediary module; and

blocking communication of sensitive movie-studio related information between the movie studios via the intermediary module, the sensitive movie-related information comprising at least information on movie price and release dates;

wherein at least one of the foregoing steps is performed using a processor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the subscriber preference data in the subscriber profile package associated with a selected subscriber to create customized, individualized advertising for the selected subscriber, and inserting the customized, individualized advertising into digital content files requested by at least the selected subscriber prior to delivery to the subscriber.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the customized, individualized advertising is inserted into digital content files at the movie studios.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the customized, individualized advertising is inserted into digital content files at the distribution partner.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting new digital content files from the movie studios to a movie theater over at least one network.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising offering new digital content files received from the movie studios for transmission from the movie theater for viewing by subscribers in a selected subscriber group in their homes simultaneously with showing of the new digital content files to audiences in the movie theater.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising offering digital content files comprising games to subscribers through at least part of the same network distribution path between the movie studios and subscriber.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving requests from subscribers comprises receiving requests from subscribers associated with a plurality of distribution partners, the method further comprising sharing profile packages of subscribers associated with different distribution partners through a platform linkage between proxy modules in the paths from the movie studios to the distribution partners.

9. A network distribution method of distributing digital content files from a plurality of content sources to subscribers, comprising:

storing a plurality of media projects as digital content files at a plurality of content sources, at least some of the content sources comprising movie studios, each movie studio having stored digital content files comprising original movies created under the control of the respective movie studio;

linking the content sources to a plurality of distribution partners through an application service provider;

receiving digital content file requests at the content sources via the application service provider from subscribers associated with the plurality of distribution partners connected to the associated subscribers through respective access networks;

transmitting the requested digital content files from the content sources to the requesting subscribers in a network distribution path comprising at least a first network, the application service provider, the distribution partners; and

the access networks;

creating a unique subscriber identification code (ID) for each subscriber associated with the distribution partners at a proxy module located in the distribution path between the distribution partners and the content sources, the subscriber ID containing no subscriber-identifying private information;

associating each subscriber ID with subscriber-identifying private information;

creating a subscriber profile package containing subscriber preference data for each subscriber and containing no subscriber-identifying private information;

associating each subscriber ID with, the corresponding subscriber profile package;

storing the associated subscriber IDs, the subscriber-identifying private information and the subscriber profile packages at the proxy module;

after receipt of a digital content file request from a subscriber associated with at least one of the distribution partners, transmitting the subscriber profile package along with the subscriber ID of the subscriber requesting the digital content tile from the proxy module to the respective linked content source via the application service provider, and transmitting no subscriber-identifying private information to the respective linked content source;

storing the profile packages and associated subscriber IDs at the respective content sources from which files are requested;

whereby content files from any linked content source are available to a subscriber of any one of the distribution partners;

controlling communications between the movie studies through an intermediary module comprising part of the network distribution path from each movie studio to the subscribers, the intermediary module having a separate communication path to each movie studio;

monitoring information received from one of the movie studios at the intermediary module;

communicating the subscriber profile packages and the subscriber IDs between the movie studios via the intermediary module without sharing any subscriber-identifying private information; and

blocking communication of sensitive movie-studio related information between the movie studios via the intermediary module, the sensitive movie-related information comprising at least information on movie price and release dates;

wherein at least one of the foregoing steps is performed using a processor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one content source comprises a web site.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one content source comprises a peer-to-peer network.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one content source comprises a web-based social network site having a plurality of social network users, each social network user being connected via the social network site to a selected community of other social network users.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each content source shares the subscriber profile packages with the other content sources, and each content source provides meta data for inserting targeted advertisements in content provided from the respective content source to a subscriber.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising creating community groups of subscribers having common interests based on the subscriber preference data in the subscriber profile packages and inserting the same customized advertising in digital content tiles transmitted to all subscribers in a community group.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising linking subscribers in a community group together and allowing communication between subscribers in the same community group.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising using the subscriber profile packages to create subscriber customized content and adding the customized content to content files prior to delivery to the associated subscriber.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising analyzing the subscriber profile packages and creating profile groups of subscribers based on common preferences in the profile packages.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of adding customized content comprises adding the same customized content to content files delivered to all subscribers in a subscriber profile group.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising connecting the plurality of content sources to the distribution partners, distributing digital content files from any of the content source to a requesting subscriber and distributing subscriber profile packages associated with subscribers to each of the content sources.

20. The method of claim 9, further comprising converting a content file to a predetermined digital rights format for a subscriber device before distributing the converted content file to the subscriber device over the communication path.

32. The method of claim 9, further comprising aggregating the billing of a first billing system associated with the application service provider with the billing of a second billing system associated with a respective content source transmitting a requested digital content file to a requesting subscriber and the billing of a third billing system associated with the distribution partner associated with the requesting subscriber, and providing a single aggregated bill to the subscriber which aggregates billing of the respective content source, the application service provider, and the associated distribution partner in connection with the requested content file.

33. The method of claim 9, further comprising linking an auction system to the proxy module, providing at least one subscriber profile package from the proxy module to the auction system, allowing advertisers to bid for insertion of customized advertisements into content files provided to The subscriber associated with the subscriber profile package, determining a winner firm the bids received for a respective subscriber profile package, and placing the advertisement of the winning advertiser into the content file provided to the subscriber.

21. A content distribution network system for distributing movies from movie studios to subscribers, comprising:

at least first and second movie studios each having a library of digital content files comprising original movies created under the control of the respective movie studio;

a plurality of distribution partners linked to the first and second movie studios, each distribution partner associated with a respective group of subscribers and having an access network over which content is distributed to the subscriber group for the distribution partner;

at least one content source network which links the first and second movie studios to each distribution partner;

the access networks, distribution partners, and content source network comprising a two way communication path between the subscribers and each movie studio;

an intermediary module which controls communications between the movie studios, the intermediary module having a first communication path to the first movie studio and a second communication path to the second movie studio, and being located in a first content source network path from the first movie studio to the respective distribution partners and in a second content source network path from the second movie studio to the respective distribution partners, and comprising part of the two way communication path from each movie, studio to the subscribers;

each movie studio having a title request management module which receives subscriber requests for digital content files over the two way communication path and distributes requested digital content files to a requesting subscriber over the two way communication path;

at least one proxy module in the two way communication path between each movie studio and the distribution partners, each proxy module having a proxy management module which creates a unique subscriber identifier (ID) for each subscriber of the respective distribution partner and associates the subscriber ID with an access network location of the subscriber, and which substitutes the corresponding subscriber ID for any subscriber personal information in any communication from a subscriber forwarded from the proxy module to a respective movie studio;

each proxy module having a data base which stores subscriber identifiers and corresponding subscriber-identifying private information including subscriber locations along with subscriber profile packages containing collected preferences for each subscriber, the subscriber profile packages containing no subscriber-identifying private information, and a communication module which forwards subscriber profile packages along with the corresponding subscriber identifiers to the respective movie studio without the subscriber-identifying private information;

each movie studio having a subscriber profile data management module which receives subscriber profile packages from the proxy module, a data base which stores subscriber profile packages along with the associated subscriber IDs, and a targeted advertisement module which uses the subscriber profile packages to select targeted advertisements for insertion in digital content files transmitted to one or more subscribers having the same preferences; and

the intermediary module having a communication monitoring module which monitors information received from one of the movie studios for passing to the other movie studio, the communication monitoring module permitting communication of the subscriber profile packages and the subscriber IDs between the movie studios via the intermediary module and blocking communication of sensitive movie studio-related information between the movie studios via the intermediary module, the sensitive movie studio-related information comprising at least information on movie price and release dates.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each movie studio has a first billing system, the intermediary has a second billing system, and each distribution partner has a third billing system, and the billing systems are linked together, at least one of the billing systems having a bill aggregating system which provides an aggregated bill for supply of content files from the movie studio, and services of the intermediary and a distribution partner for any content files distributed to a subscriber, whereby the subscriber receives only one bill.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising a targeted advertisement insertion module which inserts subscriber-targeted advertisements in digital content files distributed to requesting. subscribers.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising

a movie theater which exhibits movies to audiences, the movie theater being linked to at least the first movie studio, a network which links the movie theater to a selected distribution partner through the proxy module between the selected distribution partner and the first movie studio, the movie theater having a movie distribution module which distributes copies of new movies received from the first movie studio and exhibited at the movie theater to subscribers of the selected distribution partner through the proxy module and selected distribution partner.

25. A network distribution method of distributing digital content files from a plurality of content sources to subscribers, comprising:

offering a catalog of digital content files contained in the libraries of a plurality of associated content sources to subscribers of at least one distribution partner, the content sources comprising at least two movie studios having catalogs of digital content files comprising original movies created under the control of the respective movie studios;

creating a unique subscriber identification code (ID) for each subscriber associated with the distribution partner at a proxy module located in a distribution path between the distribution partner and the content sources, the subscriber ID containing no subscriber-identifying information;

associating each subscriber ID with subscriber-identifying private information;

creating a subscriber profile package containing subscriber preference data for each subscriber, the subscriber profile packages containing no subscriber-identifying private information;

storing the associated subscriber IDs, the subscriber-identifying private information and the subscriber profile packages at the proxy module;

transmitting a requested digital content file from the library of a selected content source which holds the requested file to a requesting subscriber in a network distribution path comprising at least a first network path directly from the library of the selected content source, the distribution partner, and a second network;

after receiving each request for a digital content file from a respective subscriber, transmitting the subscriber profile packages and the associated subscriber IDs from each subscriber requesting files to the content source holding the requested file without any subscriber-identifying private information;

receiving and storing the subscriber profile packages and the associated subscriber IDs of each subscriber requesting files from a respective content source at the respective content source without any subscriber-identifying private information;

controlling communications between the movie studios through an intermediary module comprising part of the network distribution path from each movie studio to the subscribers, the intermediary module having separate communication paths to the movie studios;

monitoring information received from one of the movie studios at the intermediary module;

permitting communication of the subscriber profile packages and the subscriber IDs between the movie studios via the intermediary module without sharing any subscriber-identifying private information;

blocking communication of sensitive movie-studio related information between the movie studios via the intermediary module, the sensitive movie-related information comprising at least information on movie price and release dates;

creating communities of subscribers having similar preferences using the subscriber profile packages collected at each content source; and

using the subscriber preferences of each community of subscribers to create customized information based on the associated subscriber preferences for insertion in digital content files transmitted to the community of subscribers;

wherein at least one of the foregoing steps is performed using a processor.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising offering the catalog of digital content files to subscribers of a plurality of distribution providers, creating unique subscriber identification codes for the subscribers of each distribution provider and associating each subscriber ID of each distribution provider with the subscriber-identifying private information, creating a subscriber profile package for each subscriber which contains subscriber preferences and no subscriber-identifying private information, associating each subscriber ID of each distribution provider with the subscriber profile package containing subscriber preference data for the associated subscriber, linking the billing systems of the content sources and distribution partners, aggregating the billing of each content source and the associated distribution partner for a digital content file received from the content source through the distribution partner, and sending an aggregated bill for the service to the subscriber which requested the digital content file.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising linking, the billing systems of the movie studios and distribution partners with a billing system of the intermediary, the step of aggregating the billing further comprising aggregating the billing of the intermediary with the billing of the respective movie studio and the associated distribution partner for a digital content file transmitted via the respective movie studio, the intermediary, and the associated distribution partner to a subscriber.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the content sources further comprise at least one additional content source selected from the group consisting of television studios, web sites, peer to peer networks, and social networks.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising at least one additional content source which is a record label.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising an additional distribution partner associated with the record label and comprising a radio station.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the radio station is an Internet protocol radio station.