Platform and service for management and multi-channel delivery of multi-types of contents

• US 8,365,306 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Maes, Stephane H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIMITOSKI, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/138,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,806 Days
• Field of Search: 726/6, 726/27, 726/28, 726/29, 726/30, 713/153, 705/51, 705/52, 705/53, 705/63, 705 77- 79
• US Class Current: 726/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising

Abstract

A platform for managing delivery of content originating from one or more content providers to users is provided. The platform includes a portal that is configured to support access through a plurality of access channels configured to receive requests through one or more access channels. A request for content is received from an access device through an access channel. An identity management module is configured to determine a user associated with the message. A content manager is configured to manage content for delivery through the plurality of access channels and configured to determine eligible content for the user. A billing module is configured to process billing for the user and content provider based on the content provided to the user. The content manager is then configured to deliver the requested content to the user'"'"'s access device through the access channel.

Claims

1. A platform for managing delivery of web and multimedia content originating from one or more content providers to users for one or more of:

browsing, consumption, or purchase, the platform comprising;

one or more processors operatively coupled to at least one memory, the at least one memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, provide;

a portal that supports access to an access device through a plurality of access channels configured to receive requests into the at least one memory through one or more of the access channels, wherein a request for content is received from an access device through an access channel in the plurality of access channels, wherein each of the plurality of access channels comprises an access channel type;

an identity management module configured to determine a user associated with the request, store information about access devices used by the user, provide the information about access devices used by the user to the platform;

a content manager configured to manage content for delivery through the plurality of access channels and configured to determine eligible content for the user using the stored information about the access devices used by the user, wherein the content for delivery through the plurality of access channels comprises one or more of the following;

content included in a catalog, recommended content, sample content, or channel specific content, and wherein the content manager is further configured to upload content and metadata associated with the uploaded content to describe the uploaded content, wherein the access device is configured to receive content through that access device'"'"'s plurality of access channels each having an associated channel type, wherein the content manager is further configured to determine a content type of the requested content, and based on the determined content type of the requested content, deliver the requested content through the access channel of the access device with the access channel type which is compatible with the content type of the requested content; and

a service provider including a billing module configured to process billing for the user and content provider based on the eligible content for the user through the plurality of access channels, to provide server level charging for content purchased by the platform, and to provide for billing and revenue management by the service provider,

wherein the content manager is configured to intercept commands sent between the access device and the service provider, analyze the commands to determine a delivery status at least by comparing the order and timing of the intercepted commands with a pattern of previous commands in the stored information about the access devices used by the user in the identity management module, determine that based on the delivery status that delivery is designated by a degree of success including;

successful, unsuccessful, or partially successful; and

in response to the delivery status, direct the billing module to initiate a billing action which corresponds to the degree of success, determine the eligible content which comprises content which is adapted for the channel being used, wherein the delivery status further includes information about the eligible content which comprises quality of service and success of delivery of the eligible content, and

wherein the billing module is further configured to access the delivery status information to determine a billing amount based on at least quality of service and success of delivery of the eligible content.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the content manager is configured to determine eligible content for the user based on search criteria, the search criteria including price, category of the content, type of subscription for the user, a date uploaded for the content, a relationship to other content downloaded by the user, or purchase and download patterns of other users.

3. The platform of claim 1, wherein the content manager collects statistics of the content provided to the user, wherein the statistics comprise the content usage and/or purchase statistics.

4. The platform of claim 1, wherein content is adapted to the access channel of the access device.

5. The platform of claim 1, wherein the identity management module stores information in the at least one memory comprising previous purchases of the user, subscription information for the user, or purchase patterns to be used to determine the eligible content.

6. The platform of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the content provided to the user'"'"'s access device is hosted or uploaded by the content provider.

7. The platform of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, provide a menu generator in the at least one memory configured to generate a menu for display on the user'"'"'s device, the menu displaying the eligible content for the user, wherein the eligible content comprises a catalog of content that is available for purchase by the user.

8. The platform of claim 7, wherein the content includes a URI, the URI causing the content to be provided to the user'"'"'s access device, wherein the URI is a pointer referencing the content.

9. The platform of claim 8, wherein the URI is encrypted and passed to a proxy from the portal, wherein the URI is decrypted and used to determine the content requested.

10. The platform of claim 7, wherein the menu includes an address, the address when sent to the platform causing the content to be provided to the user'"'"'s access device.

11. The platform of claim 1, wherein the content manager is configured to provide and manage content that is locally stored.

12. The platform of claim 1, wherein the content manager is configured to provide and manage content that is streamed or pushed from a content provider.

13. The platform of claim 1, wherein the billing module is configured to process billing using a prepaid model.

14. The platform of claim 1, wherein the billing module is configured to process billing using a postpaid model.

15. The platform of claim 1, wherein the billing module is configured to access a checking account of the user for payment of an amount of money, reserve an amount of money for the user for debiting for payment, or bill an amount of money for payment.

16. The platform of claim 1, wherein recommendations are provided to the user based on the content requested.

17. The platform of claim 1, wherein successful comprises complete delivery of the content, unsuccessful comprises no delivery of the content, and partially successful comprises at least some portion of the content being delivered.

18. The platform of claim 1, wherein the commands includes one or more of:

set, play, stop, or error command.

19. A method for delivering web and multimedia content originated from one or more content providers to mobile devices communicating through a plurality of channels using a platform for one or more of:

browsing, consumption, and purchase, the method comprising;

determining eligible content for a user based on user preferences and content available through an access channel and stored information about access devices of the user, wherein the eligible content comprises one or more of the following;

content included in a catalog, recommended content, sample content, and channel specific content;

uploading content and metadata associated with the uploaded content to describe the uploaded content;

providing the information about access devices of the user;

sending a list of the eligible content to the user'"'"'s access device through the access channel;

receiving a request for content through an access channel in a plurality of access channels, wherein the content request includes a URI, the URI causing the content to be provided to the user'"'"'s access device, wherein the URI is a pointer referencing the content and the URI is encrypted and passed to a proxy from the portal where the URI is decrypted and used to determine the requested content;

determining a content type of the requested content;

based on the determined content type of the requested content, delivering the requested content through an access channel of the user'"'"'s access device with the access channel type which is compatible with the content type of the requested content, wherein the content type is adapted for the determined channel being;

intercepting commands sent between the access device and the service provider;

analyzing the commands to determine a delivery status at least by comparing the order and timing of the intercepted commands with a pattern of previous commands in the information about the access devices of the user;

determining that based on the delivery status that delivery is designated by a degree of success including;

successful, unsuccessful, or partially successful;

in response to the delivery status, directing the billing module to initiate a billing action which corresponds to the degree of success, wherein the delivery status further includes information about the requested content which comprises quality of service and success of delivery of the requested content;

accessing the delivery status information to determine a billing amount based on at least quality of service and success of delivery of the requested content; and

billing the user based on the content provided to the user and charging the billing amount for content purchased by the platform.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the list comprises a pointer to the eligible content.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the pointer is received from the access device as the request for content and is used to determine the requested content.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the content provided is locally stored or stored at the content provider.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein content provided is streamed or pushed to the access device.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein billing the user comprises billing the user based on a prepaid model or postpaid model.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising crediting the user if the delivery is unsuccessful.

26. A platform for delivering content originated from one or more content providers to mobile devices communicating through a plurality of channels, the platform comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to at least one memory, the at least one memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

determine eligible content for a user based on user preferences and content available through an access channel and stored information about access devices of the user, wherein the eligible content comprises one or more of the following;

content included in a catalog, recommended content, sample content, and channel specific content;

upload content and metadata associated with the uploaded content to describe the uploaded content;

provide the information about access devices of the user;

send a list of the eligible content to the user'"'"'s access device through the access channel;

receive a request for content through an access channel in a plurality of access channels;

determine a content type of the requested content;

based on the determined content type of the requested content, deliver the requested content through an access channel of the user'"'"'s access device with the access channel type which is compatible with the content type of the requested content, wherein the content type is adapted for the determined channel being;

intercept commands sent between the access device and the service provider;

analyze the commands to determine a delivery status at least by comparing the order and timing of the intercepted commands with a pattern of previous commands in the information about the access devices of the user;

determine that based on the delivery status that delivery is designated by a degree of success including;

successful, unsuccessful, or partially successful;

in response to the delivery status, direct the billing module to initiate a billing action which corresponds to the degree of success, wherein the delivery status further includes information about the requested content which comprises quality of service and success of delivery of the requested content;

access the delivery status information to determine a billing amount based on at least quality of service and success of delivery of the requested content;

bill the user based on the content provided to the user and charging the billing amount for content purchased by the platform; and

credit the user if the delivery is unsuccessful.

27. A method for delivering content originated from one or more content providers to devices communicating through a plurality of channels, the method comprising:

determining eligible content for a user based on user preferences and content available through an access channel and stored information about access devices of the user;

providing the information about access devices of the user;

sending a list of the eligible content to the user'"'"'s access device through the access channel;

receiving a request for content through an access channel in a plurality of access channels, wherein the content request includes a URI, the URI causing the content to be provided to the user'"'"'s access device;

determining a content type of the requested content;

based on the determined content type of the requested content, delivering the requested content through an access channel of the user'"'"'s access device with the access channel type which is compatible with the content type of the requested content;

intercepting commands sent between the access device and the service provider;

analyzing the commands to determine a delivery status at least by comparing the order and timing of the intercepted commands with a pattern of previous commands in the information about the access devices of the user;

in response to the delivery status, directing the billing module to initiate a billing action which corresponds to the delivery status, wherein the delivery status comprises a quality of service and a success of delivery of the requested content; and

billing the user based on the content provided to the user and charging a billing amount for content.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the delivery status further includes information about the requested content which comprises quality of service and success of delivery of the requested content.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the eligible content comprises one or more of the following:

content included in a catalog, recommended content, sample content, or channel specific content.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein billing the user is based on a prepaid model or postpaid model, and crediting the user if the delivery is unsuccessful.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

determine eligible content for a user based on user preferences and content available through an access channel and stored information about access devices of the user;

provide the information about access devices of the user;

send a list of the eligible content to the user'"'"'s access device through the access channel;

receive a request for content through an access channel in a plurality of access channels, wherein the content request includes a URI, the URI causing the content to be provided to the user'"'"'s access device;

determine a content type of the requested content;

based on the determined content type of the requested content, deliver the requested content through an access channel of the user'"'"'s access device with the access channel type which is compatible with the content type of the requested content;

intercept commands sent between the access device and the service provider;

analyze the commands to determine a delivery status at least by comparing the order and timing of the intercepted commands with a pattern of previous commands in the information about the access devices of the user;

in response to the delivery status, direct the billing module to initiate a billing action which corresponds to the delivery status, wherein the delivery status comprises a quality of service and a success of delivery of the requested content; and

bill the user based on the content provided to the user and charging a billing amount for content.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the delivery status further includes information about the requested content which comprises quality of service and success of delivery of the requested content.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the eligible content comprises one or more of the following:

content included in a catalog, recommended content, sample content, or channel specific content.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein billing the user is based on a prepaid model or postpaid model, and crediting the user if the delivery is unsuccessful.