Bookmarking media programs for subsequent viewing

• US 8,693,844 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Wei, Eugene Chuan-Huai, Sargent, Peter E., Zheng, Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): Topgyal, Gelek W
• Application Number:
  US13/074,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20120093482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 386239-241, 705/14.4
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/237 Communication with additional data server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44226 on social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product provide the ability to bookmark a media program for subsequent viewing. A first interface is displayed and identifies a first media program. Via the first interface, a user requests that the first media program be recorded as a bookmark in a list of maintained bookmarks. The list of bookmarks is displayed. A user selects one of the bookmarks from the list and in response, the first media program is displayed to the first viewer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for bookmarking a first media program for subsequent viewing, comprising:

playing a second media program offered by a media program provider, the media program provider offering media programs for playing, wherein advertisements are played during playing of the media programs in advertisement slots;

during an advertisement slot of playing the second media program, displaying, in a first interface, a recommended media program advertisement trailer that recommends the first media program when it is determined that the first media program should be recommended to a first viewer for subsequent viewing instead of an advertisement using a priority assigned to the media program advertisement trailer and the advertisement based on expected revenue, wherein expected revenue for the advertisement is based on payment received from an advertiser and expected revenue for the media program advertisement trailer is based on advertisements served if the first viewer watches the first media program;

accepting, via the first interface, input from the first viewer requesting that the first media program be recorded as a bookmark in a list of one or more maintained bookmarks, wherein the list of one or more maintained bookmarks identifies corresponding one or more media programs offered by the media program provider for subsequent viewing by the first viewer;

recording a reference to the first media program with the bookmark, wherein the first media program is different from the recommended media program advertisement trailer;

displaying the list of the one or more maintained bookmarks;

accepting input from the first viewer selecting the bookmark in the list; and

in response to the selecting, displaying the first media program to the first viewer using the reference.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a determination that the first media program should be recommended for subsequent viewing is based on information regarding the first viewer.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the list of one or more maintained bookmarks comprises one or more bookmarks that have been added to the list by the first viewer.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises a search result interface that displays results for a search of media programs.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first interface is displayed on a cellular phone.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first interface is displayed via a social networking application.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the list of the one or more maintained bookmarks is sorted based on a profile of the first viewer.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the list is maintained on a server across a network from a media program player application.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining recommended media program advertisement trailers that recommend first media programs;

sending the recommended media program advertisement trailers to a service for determining when one of the recommended media program advertisement trailers should be played over the advertisement during the advertisement slot of playing of the second media program based on analyzing of the recommended media program advertisement trailers and the advertisement, wherein the advertisement does not recommend first media programs; and

receiving the one of the recommended media program advertisement trailers for display in the first interface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the expected revenue for presenting a media program advertisement trailer in place of the advertisement is analyzed to determine when one of the media program advertisement trailers should be played over the advertisement.

11. A system for bookmarking a first media program for subsequent viewing in a computer system comprising:

a computer having a memory; and

a media program player executing on the computer, wherein the media program player is configured to;

play a second media program offered by a media program provider, the media program provider offering media programs for playing, wherein advertisements are played during playing of the media programs in advertisement slots;

during an advertisement slot of playing the second media program, display, in a first interface, a recommended media program advertisement trailer that recommends the first media program when it is determined that the first media program should be recommended to a first viewer instead of an advertisement using a priority assigned to the media program advertisement trailer and the advertisement based on expected revenue, wherein expected revenue for the advertisement is based on payment received from an advertiser and expected revenue for the media program advertisement trailer is based on advertisements served if the first viewer watches the first media program;

accept, via the first interface, input from the first viewer requesting that the first media program be recorded as a bookmark in a list of one or more maintained bookmarks, wherein the list of one or more maintained bookmarks identifies corresponding one or more media programs offered by the media program provider for subsequent viewing by the first viewer;

record a reference to the first media program with the bookmark, wherein the first media program is different from the recommended media program advertisement trailer;

display the list of the one or more maintained bookmarks;

accept input from the first viewer selecting the bookmark in the list; and

in response to the selecting, display the first media program to the first viewer using the reference.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a determination that the first media program should be recommended for subsequent viewing is based on information regarding the first viewer.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the list of one or more maintained bookmarks comprises one or more bookmarks that have been added to the list by the first viewer.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first interface comprises a search result interface that displays results for a search of media programs.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first interface is displayed via a social networking application.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the list of the one or more maintained bookmarks is sorted based on a profile of the first viewer.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the list is maintained on a server across a network from the media program player.

18. A computer-implemented method for bookmarking a first media program for subsequent viewing, comprising:

maintaining a list of one or more maintained bookmarks, wherein the list of one or more maintained bookmarks identifies corresponding one or more media programs for subsequent viewing by a first viewer;

during an advertisement slot of playing a second media program offered by a media program provider, receiving request input from the first viewer requesting that the first media program be recorded as a bookmark in the list of one or more maintained bookmarks, wherein the request input is received based on viewing a recommended media program advertisement trailer that recommends the first media program when it is determined that the first media program should be recommended to the first viewer for subsequent viewing instead of an advertisement using a priority assigned to the media program advertisement trailer and the advertisement based on expected revenue, wherein expected revenue for the advertisement is based on payment received from an advertiser and expected revenue for the media program advertisement trailer is based on advertisements served if the first viewer watches the first media program;

transmitting the list of the one or more maintained bookmarks for display;

receiving select input from the first viewer selecting the bookmark in the list; and

in response to the selecting, enabling the first media program to be displayed to the first viewer.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting the recommended media program advertisement trailer, wherein the request input requesting that the first media program be recorded as the bookmark is received via an interface that displayed with the recommended media program advertisement trailer.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the determination of the first media program is based on information regarding the first viewer.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the list of one or more bookmarks comprises one or more maintained bookmarks that have been added to the list by the first viewer.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a search request from the first viewer for media programs; and

in response to the search request, transmitting a search result that is displayed to the first viewer, wherein the search result includes an identification of the first media program.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the request input and select input are received from a cellular phone.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the request input and select input are received via a social networking application.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the list of the one or more maintained bookmarks is sorted based on a profile of the first viewer.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the list is maintained on a server across a network from a media program player application.

27. A system for bookmarking a media program for subsequent viewing in a computer system comprising:

a computer having a memory; and

a bookmark maintenance engine executing on the computer, wherein the bookmark maintenance engine is configured to;

maintain a list of one or more maintained bookmarks, wherein the list of one or more maintained bookmarks identifies corresponding one or more media programs for subsequent viewing by a first viewer;

during an advertisement slot of playing a second media program offered by a media program provider, receive request input from the first viewer requesting that a first media program be recorded as a bookmark in the list of one or more maintained bookmarks, wherein the request input is received based on viewing a recommended media program advertisement trailer that recommends the first media program when it is determined that the first media program should be recommended to the first viewer for subsequent viewing instead of an advertisement using a priority assigned to the media program advertisement trailer and the advertisement based on expected revenue, wherein expected revenue for the advertisement is based on payment received from an advertiser and expected revenue for the media program advertisement trailer is based on advertisements served if the first viewer watches the first media program;

transmit the list of the one or more maintained bookmarks for display;

receive select input from the first viewer selecting the bookmark in the list; and

in response to the receipt of the select input, enable the first media program to be displayed to the first viewer.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the bookmark maintenance engine is further configured to:

transmit the recommended media program advertisement trailer, wherein the request input requesting that the first media program be recorded as the bookmark is received via an interface that displayed with the recommended media program advertisement trailer.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the determination of the first media program is based on information regarding the first viewer.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the list of one or more maintained bookmarks comprises one or more bookmarks that have been added to the list by the first viewer.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the bookmark maintenance engine is further configured to:

receive a search request from the first viewer for media programs; and

in response to the search request, transmit a search result that is displayed to the first viewer, wherein the search result includes an identification of the first media program.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the request input and select input are received from a cellular phone.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the request input and select input are received via a social networking application.

34. The system of claim 27 wherein the list of the one or more maintained bookmarks is sorted based on a profile of the first viewer.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the list is maintained on a server across a network from a media program player application.

36. A method comprising:

determining a set of first media programs to recommend for subsequent viewing for a first viewer;

determining recommended media program advertisements that recommend the set of first media programs;

determining when one of the recommended media program advertisements should be played over second advertisements during an advertisement slot of playing of a second media program based on using a priority assigned to the recommended media program advertisements and the second advertisements based on expected revenue, wherein expected revenue for the second advertisements is based on payment received from an advertiser and expected revenue for a recommended media program advertisement is based on advertisements served if the first viewer watches a first media program; and

sending the one of the recommended media program advertisements for display in a first interface during the advertisement slot of playing of the second media program;

receiving a reference to the first media program for a bookmark based on an input from the first viewer requesting that the first media program be recorded as a bookmark in a list of one or more maintained bookmarks; and

storing the reference in association with the list of one or more maintained bookmarks, wherein the list of one or more maintained bookmarks identifies corresponding one or more media programs for subsequent viewing by the first viewer.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

receiving input from the first viewer selecting the bookmark in the list;

determining the first media program using the reference; and

sending the first media program to the first viewer.