Message delivery management method and system

• US 8,595,851 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne
• Primary Examiner(s): Dada, Beemnet
• Assistant Examiner(s): GYORFI, THOMAS A
• Application Number:
  US12/154,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20080295139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: 726/27, 726/26, 705/14.4, 705/14.45, 705/14.73, 725/122
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23605 Creation or processing of packetized elementary streams [PES]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system 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 21/26616 for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 21/41407 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64315 : DVB-H
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

System and method for managing distribution of content such as television programs to portable multi-media devices which are capable of using such content and communicating includes a broadcast management system arranged to manage delivery of content from content sources to the devices, an account management system arranged to manage requests for use of the content from the devices and manage communications to and from the devices, and a processing system coupled to the account management system and arranged to analyze requests to use content relative to information about users of the devices in order to determine whether delivery of the content to the users can be offset against a preallocated amount of resource usage. If so, a message is delivered to that user'"'"'s device and the device presents the message to the user as a condition for use of the content.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, from a user device, a request to use content on the user device, wherein the content was delivered to the user device via a broadcast network and use of the content is associated with a usage charge;

analyzing, by the processor, data relating to a user of the user device and the requested content to determine whether rules set by a content provider are satisfied, wherein the rules dictate conditions upon which the content provider will sponsor the usage charge and the user receives an advertisement from the content provider;

upon a determination that the rules set by the content provider are satisfied by the user of the user device, sending, by the processor, the advertisement to the user device via a cellular network and debiting the usage charge from an account associated with the content provider, wherein the cellular network is different than the broadcast network;

enabling use of the requested content by the user device; and

initiating, upon enablement of the requested content, a scheduling process that dictates parameters for sending the advertisement to the user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content requires a digital rights management key to enable use thereof and the enabling comprises sending the digital rights management key to the user device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling process dictates that the advertisement be sent while the content is being used by the user device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the scheduling process dictates a time interval between the advertisement and a second advertisement being sent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling process dictates that the advertisement be sent immediately after enabling the content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the user device, a response to the advertisement, wherein the analyzing further comprises analyzing the response to determine whether the rules set by the content provider are satisfied.

7. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory containing instruction that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive, from a user device, a request to use content on the user device, wherein the content was delivered to the user device via a broadcast network and use of the content is associated with a usage charge;

analyze data relating to a user of the user device and the requested content to determine whether rules set by a content provider are satisfied, wherein the rules dictate conditions upon which the content provider will sponsor the usage charge and the user receives an advertisement from the content provider;

upon a determination that the rules set by the content provider are satisfied by the user of the user device, send the advertisement to the user device via a second cellular network and debit the usage charge from an account associated with the content provider, wherein the second cellular network is different than the broadcast network;

enable use of the requested content by the user device; and

initiate, upon enablement of the requested content, a scheduling process that dictates parameters for sending the advertisement to the user device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the content requires a digital rights management key to enable use thereof and the enabling comprises sending the digital rights management key to the user device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the scheduling process dictates that the advertisement be sent while the content is being used by the user device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the scheduling process dictates a time interval between the advertisement and a second advertisement being sent.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the scheduling process dictates that the advertisement be sent immediately after enabling the content.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

receive, from the user device, a response to the advertisement, wherein the analyzing further comprises analyzing the response to determine whether the rules set by the content provider are satisfied.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

receive, from a user device, a request to use content on the user device, wherein the content was delivered to the user device via a broadcast network and use of the content is associated with a usage charge;

analyze data relating to a user of the user device and the requested content to determine whether rules set by a content provider are satisfied, wherein the rules dictate conditions upon which the content provider will sponsor the usage charge and the user receives an advertisement from the content provider;

upon a determination that the rules set by the content provider are satisfied by the user of the user device, send the advertisement to the user device via a second cellular network and debit the usage charge from an account associated with the content provider, wherein the second cellular network is different than the broadcast network;

enable use of the requested content by the user device; and

initiate, upon enablement of the requested content, a scheduling process that dictates parameters for sending the advertisement to the user device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the content requires a digital rights management key to enable use thereof and the enabling comprises sending the digital rights management key to the user device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the scheduling process dictates that the advertisement be sent while the content is being used by the user device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the scheduling process dictates a time interval between the advertisement and a second advertisement being sent.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the scheduling process dictates that the advertisement be sent immediately after enabling the content.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to:

receive, from the user device, a response to the advertisement, wherein the analyzing further comprises analyzing the response to determine whether the rules set by the content provider are satisfied.