Media content device and system

• US 8,090,768 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avintaquin Capital LLC
• Inventors: Tanzella, Fred, Toops, Eric A., Johnson, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tammy
• Application Number:
  US12/244,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/203, 709/219, 455/186.1, 715/719
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• 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 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A device for obtaining media content from a source and storing the media content for subsequent playback. A response mechanism enables a listener to generate response information associated with particular media content that is being rendered by the device. This response information can be delivered to a third party system for triggering the performance of specific actions related to the media content. A content system interfaces to the device and to the Internet. The content system obtains media content from one or more sources via the Internet and delivers the content to the device.

Claims

1. A device that can present broadcast media content and receive response information, the device comprising:

a memory storage unit;

a content interface including a receiver for receiving broadcast media content;

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage unit and the receiver, the processing unit, in response to instructions stored in the memory storage unit, being configured to;

render broadcast media content in real-time;

receive response information while the broadcast media content is being rendered and without interrupting the delivery of the broadcast media content;

associate the response information with the particular broadcast media content being rendered at the time the response information was received by creating an identifier that includes the response type and the content identifier; and

provide the information identifier to an external system for the purpose of triggering an action that is based at least in part on the response information and the particular broadcast media content that is being rendered in real-time;

further comprising a response actuator, and wherein the processor is configured to receive response information by an actuation of the response actuator by a user and, without any further action from the user, automatically performing the remaining actions of associating the response information with the particular broadcast media content, creating an identifier and providing the identifier to an external system for the purpose of triggering an action.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the content interface comprises a tunable receiver configured to receive wirelessly broadcast content.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is operable to by create the identifier by including an identification of the information that identifies the particular broadcast media content that was being rendered when the response signal was received and the type of the response.

4. A device that can render broadcast media content in real-time, the device comprising:

a memory storage unit;

a content system interface;

a response generator;

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage unit and the response generator, the processing unit, in response to instructions stored in the memory storage unit, being operative to;

receive broadcast media content via the content system interface;

render the media content in real-time;

detect an actuation of the response generator;

identify the media content being rendered in real-time at the time of the actuation without interrupting the rendering of the media content in real-time;

create an identifier that includes the identity of the media content being rendered and the type of response associated with the actuation of the response indicator; and

initiate a purchase transaction based on the identified media content without interrupting the rendering of the media content in real-time by providing the identifier to an external system; and

wherein the processor is configured to receive response information by an actuation of the response actuator by a user and, without any further action from the user, automatically performing the remaining actions of associating the response information with the particular broadcast media content, creating an identifier and providing the identifier to an external system for the purpose of triggering an action.

5. A system for obtaining, delivering, storing and rendering media content, the system comprising:

a device comprising;

a memory storage unit;

a content system interface;

a user interface including a response actuator;

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage unit, the processing unit, in response to instructions stored in the memory storage unit, being operative to;

receive media content via the content system interface;

render the media content in real-time; and

without interrupting the rendering of the media content in real-time, receive an actuation of the response actuator and creating a record indicating that the response actuator was actuated during the playback of media content, such record identifying the media content that was actively being rendered and the type of response;

provide the record to an external system for triggering an action based at least in part on the record; and

wherein the processor is configured to receive an actuation of the response actuator by receiving response information by an actuation of the response actuator by a user and, without any further action from the user, automatically performing the remaining actions of associating the response information with the particular broadcast media content, creating an identifier and providing the identifier to an external system for the purpose of triggering an action; and

a content system comprising;

a device interface;

an interface to the Internet; and

the content system being operable to;

receive media content from sources accessible via the Internet interface; and

deliver the media content to the device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the content system is further operable to:

receive identification information for particular content;

access a source via the Internet to obtain particular content associated with the identification information; and

store the particular content for delivery to the device.