Methods and apparatus for providing content information to content servers

• US 8,544,043 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Parekh, Nileshkumar J., Chandhok, Ravinder Paul (Rob), Chen, An Mei, Walker, Gordon Kent, O'Keefe, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bantamoi, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/186,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20070044121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,989 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/50, 725/48, 725/110
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for maintaining program-guide records comprises the steps of requesting a program-guide index, receiving the program-guide index, and determining whether there exists any new program-guide record based on the received program-guide index. The method further comprises requesting a new program-guide record and receiving the program-guide record. In one aspect, a method for maintaining program-guide records comprises the steps of receiving a program-guide update indication, and determining any new program-guide record based on the received program-guide update indication. The method further comprises requesting an updated program-guide record, receiving the updated program-guide record, and updating the program-guide records.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining program-guide records on a content server, the method comprising:

storing a set of program-guide records on the content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program guide and being collectively used to generate a program guide;

requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;

receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;

using the requested program-guide index, which was received from the content provider, to identify new program-guide records;

requesting the identified new program-guide records, which were identified using the requested program-guide index, from the content provider;

receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and

updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program guide presentation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

8. A method for maintaining content records on a content server, the method comprising:

storing, on the content server, a set of content records, each content record describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;

requesting a content index from a content provider;

receiving the requested content index on the content server;

using the requested content index to identify new content records;

requesting the identified new content records, which were identified using the requested content index, from the content provider;

receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;

updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and

requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said content record comprises a presentation record.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records further comprises:

requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and

receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said presentation record comprises a program record.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said program record comprises at least one of program rating, program duration, or program content information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said program rating comprises at least one of MPAA rating or TV rating.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and

receiving the requested program from the content provider.

20. The method of claim 8, wherein requesting the content index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

21. The method of claim 8, wherein requesting the content index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

22. An apparatus for maintaining program-guide records on a content server, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing, in a cache, a set of program-guide records on the content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program guide and being collectively used to generate a program guide;

means for requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;

means for receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;

means for using the requested program-guide index, which was received from the content provider, to identify new program-guide records;

means for requesting the identified new program-guide records, which were identified using the requested program-guide index, from the content provider;

means for receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and

means for updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program guide presentation.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

storing a set of program-guide records on a content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program guide and being collectively used to generate a program guide;

requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;

receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;

using the requested program-guide index, which was received from the content provider, to identify new program-guide records;

requesting the identified new program-guide records, which were identified using the requested program-guide index, from the content provider;

receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and

updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein said program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein said program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein said program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program guide presentation.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein said program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein said requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein said requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

36. An apparatus for maintaining program-guide records on a content server, comprising:

logic for storing a set of program-guide records on the content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program guide and being collectively used to generate a program guide;

logic for requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;

logic for receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;

logic for using the requested program-guide index, which was received from the content provider, to identify new program-guide records;

logic for requesting the identified new program-guide records, which were identified using the requested program-guide index, from the content provider;

logic for receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and

logic for updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program guide presentation.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

41. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said logic for requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

42. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein logic for requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

43. An apparatus for maintaining content records on a content server, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing, on the content server, a set of content records, each content record describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;

means for requesting a content index from a content provider;

means for receiving the requested content index on the content server;

means for using the requested content index to identify new content records;

means for requesting the identified new content records, which were identified using the requested content index, from the content provider;

means for receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;

means for updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and

means for requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said content record comprises a presentation record.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said means for requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records further comprises:

means for requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and

means for receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said presentation record comprises a program record.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein said program record comprises at least one of program rating, program duration, or program content information.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said program rating comprises at least one of MPAA rating or TV rating.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

54. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:

means for requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and

means for receiving the requested program from the content provider.

55. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for requesting the content index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

56. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for requesting the content index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

57. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

storing, on a content server, a set of content records, each content record describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;

requesting a content index from a content provider;

receiving the requested content index on the content server;

using the requested content index to identify new content records;

requesting the identified new content records, which were identified using the requested content index, from the content provider;

receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;

updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and

requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

58. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein said content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

59. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein said presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

60. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein said program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

61. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein said content record comprises a presentation record.

62. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein said presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

63. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein said requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records further comprises:

requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and

receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

64. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein said presentation record comprises a program record.

65. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 64, wherein said program record comprises at least one of program rating, program duration, or program content information.

66. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 65, wherein said program rating comprises at least one of MPAA rating or TV rating.

67. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 65, wherein said program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

68. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 64, the instructions further comprising:

requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and

receiving the requested program from the content provider.

69. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein requesting the content index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

70. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein requesting the content index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

71. An apparatus for maintaining content records on a content server, comprising:

logic for storing, on the content server, a set of content records, each content record describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;

logic for requesting a content index from a content provider;

logic for receiving the requested content index on the content server;

logic for using the requested content index to identify new content records;

logic for requesting the identified new content records, which were identified using the requested content index, from the content provider;

logic for receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;

logic for updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and

logic for requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein said content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein said presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

74. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein said program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

75. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein said content record comprises a presentation record.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said logic for requesting content comprises:

logic for requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and

logic for receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

78. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said presentation record comprises a program record.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein said program record comprises at least one of program rating, program duration, or program content information.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said program rating comprises at least one of MPAA rating or TV rating.

81. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

82. The apparatus of claim 78, further comprising:

logic for requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and

logic for receiving the requested program from the content provider.

83. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein said logic for requesting the content index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

84. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein said logic for requesting the content index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

85. A device, comprising:

a network interface; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

storing a set of program-guide records on a content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program-guide and being collectively used to generate a program-guide;

requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;

receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;

using the requested program-guide index received from the content provider to identify new program-guide records;

requesting from the content provider new program-guide records identified using the requested program-guide index;

receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and

updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

86. The device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

87. The device of claim 86, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

88. The device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program-guide presentation.

89. The device of claim 88, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

90. The device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting the program-guide index from the content provider comprises requesting the program-guide index from the content provider triggered by a polling interval.

91. The device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting the program-guide index from the content provider comprises requesting the program-guide index from the content provider based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

92. A device, comprising:

a network interface; and

a processor coupled to the network interface, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

storing, on a content server, a set of content records each describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;

requesting a content index from a content provider;

receiving the requested content index on the content server;

using the requested content index to identify new content records;

requesting from the content provider new content records identified using the requested content index;

receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;

updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and

requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

93. The device of claim 92, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

94. The device of claim 93, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

95. The device of claim 93, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

96. The device of claim 92, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the content record comprises a presentation record.

97. The device of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

98. The device of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records further comprises:

requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and

receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

99. The device of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the presentation record comprises a program record.

100. The device of claim 99, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program record comprises at least one of a program rating, program duration, or program content information.

101. The device of claim 100, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program rating comprises at least one of a Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating or TV rating.

102. The device of claim 100, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

103. The device of claim 99, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and

receiving the requested program from the content provider.

104. The device of claim 92, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting the content index from the content provider comprises requesting the content index from the content provide triggered by a polling interval.

105. The device of claim 92, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting the content index from the content provider comprises requesting the content index from the content provide based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.