Systems and methods for providing a shared folder via television

• US 8,713,615 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Angiolillo, Joel S., Zhang, Xi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chung, Jason J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US11/356,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20070199025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,993 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot

Abstract

An enhanced television service provides a shared folder over a television network, such as a fiber optic network. Users, the service provider, or trusted sources, share use of a program folder via television. A user recommends content, such as a program listing, to other geographically dispersed subscribers, by sending the content to the subscribers'"'"' shared folder. Users may create a personal content guide for use instead of a standard program guide that contains identical listings for all subscribers. The shared folder may consist of programs from a variety of channels as well as other content and may be populated by trusted sources in remote locations. Users may search for content that matches search criteria and may delete or edit listings from the shared folder. The contents of the folder may not only include program listings, but also other content such as movies, television shows, web sites, photos, home videos, etc.

Claims

1. A method for providing enhanced television services, comprising the following steps, performed by one or more processors, of:

receiving, over a network, from a network terminal of a first subscriber, a first subscriber identifier associated with the first subscriber, the network comprising a bi-directional video-capable network;

receiving a first request to create a shared folder from a network terminal of a second subscriber over the network, the first request comprising a second subscriber identifier associated with the second subscriber;

determining whether the second subscriber is authorized to create the shared folder based on the second subscriber identifier;

creating the shared folder in a database when the second subscriber is authorized;

receiving, from the network terminal of the first subscriber, a second request to store content information within the shared folder;

determining, based on the second request, whether the first subscriber is authorized to access the shared folder, wherein the determining comprises;

comparing the first subscriber identifier to an access control list associated with the second subscriber, the access control list being stored in the database;

determining whether the content information satisfies at least one content restriction associated with the shared folder, the at least one content restriction comprising a restriction on a type of content stored in the shared folder;

transmitting, to the second subscriber network terminal, a notification identifying the first subscriber and the content information, when the first subscriber is authorized and the content information satisfies the at least one content restriction;

receiving a response to the notification from the second subscriber network terminal;

determining whether the second subscriber authorizes storage of the content information in the shared folder, based on at least the response to the notification; and

storing the content information in the shared folder in response to the second request, when, the second subscriber has authorized the storage of the content information in the shared folder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content information includes at least one item of video content, a program guide listing associated with at least one item of video content, information identifying at least one item of video content, or information identifying the program guide listing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a fiber optic network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network terminal of the first subscriber includes a set-top box and a television.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subscriber identifier is received from one of the first subscriber and a subscriber database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the access control list includes indications of whether the first subscriber is authorized to store, view, or delete content information in the shared folder.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is located remote from the second subscriber.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is located at the second subscriber.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein creating comprises:

receiving shared folder information associated with the shared folder from the network terminal of second subscriber; and

storing the shared folder information in the database if the second subscriber is authorized.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the shared folder information includes at least one of a folder name, the access control list, the at least one content restriction, or a parental control.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a search request from the first subscriber, the search request including content criteria;

determining content matching the content criteria, the content including the item of video content; and

providing an identifier of the content to the first subscriber.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the second subscriber to view the item of video content associated with the content information; and

providing the item of video content to the second subscriber.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the item of video content includes scheduling a recording of the item of video content if the item of video content is a broadcast television program that is to be broadcast in the future.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

limiting access by the second subscriber to the network based on the contents of the shared folder.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is provided only when the content information is marked as recommended by the first subscriber.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification enables further interaction.

17. A system for providing bi-directional communications and video content to network terminals of first and second subscribers, the network terminals being attached to an access network, the system comprising:

a shared folder store storing a shared folder of the second subscriber, the shared folder including shared folder information, the shared folder information including a shared folder name and an access control list associated with the second subscriber, and

a control system communicatively coupled to the shared folder store and the access network, the control system being configured to;

receive a first request to create the shared folder from a network terminal of the second subscriber over the access network, the first request comprising a second subscriber identifier associated with the second subscriber;

determine, based on the second subscriber identifier, whether the second subscriber is authorized to create the shared folder;

create the shared folder in the shared folder store when the second subscriber is authorized;

receive, from a network terminal of the first subscriber over the access network, a second request to store content information within the shared folder;

determine, based on the second request, whether the first subscriber is authorized to access the shared folder, the control system being further configured to compare the first subscriber identifier to the access control list;

determine whether the content information satisfies at least one content restriction associated with the shared folder, the at least one content restriction comprising a restriction on a type of content stored in the shared folder;

transmit a notification identifying the first subscriber and the content information to the second subscriber network terminal, when the first subscriber is authorized and the content information satisfies the at least one content restriction;

receive a response to the notification from the second subscriber network terminal;

determine whether the second subscriber authorizes storage of the content information in the shared folder, based on at least the response to the notification; and

store the content information in the shared folder in response to the second request, when the second subscriber has authorized the storage of the content information in the shared folder.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the content information includes at least one item of video content, a program guide listing associated with at least one item of video content, information identifying at least one item of video content, or information identifying the program guide listing.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the control system is further configured to receive a request from the network terminal of the second subscriber to view at least one item of video content associated with the content information and provide the at least one item of video content to the second subscriber.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the control system provides the item of video content by scheduling a recording of the at least one item of video content if the at least one item of video content is a broadcast television program that is to be broadcast in the future.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the notification is provided only when the content information is marked as recommended by the first subscriber.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the notification enables further interaction with the control system.

23. A system, comprising:

an access network, the access network configured to provide bidirectional communications and video content to network terminals of first and second subscribers, the network terminals being attached to the access network; and

an enhanced television system in communication with the access network, the enhanced television system including;

a shared folder store storing a shared folder of the second subscriber, the shared folder including shared folder information, the shared folder information including a shared folder name, at least one content restriction identified by the second subscriber and an access control list associated with the second subscriber, the at least one content restriction comprising a restriction on a type of content stored in the shared folder; and

a control system communicatively coupled to the shared folder store and the access network, the control system being configured to;

receive a first request to create the shared folder from the network terminal of the second subscriber over the access network, the first request comprising a second subscriber identifier associated with the second subscriber;

determine, based on the second subscriber identifier, whether the second subscriber is authorized to create the shared folder;

create the shared folder in the shared folder store when the second subscriber is authorized;

receive, from the network terminal of the first subscriber, a second request to store content information associated with an item of video content within the shared folder;

receive a first subscriber identifier associated with the first subscriber;

determine, based on the second request, whether the first subscriber is authorized

to access the shared folder, the control system being further configured to compare the first subscriber identifier to the access control list;

determine whether the content information meets the at least one content restriction;

transmit, to the second subscriber network terminal, a notification identifying the first subscriber and the content information, when the first subscriber is authorized and the content information satisfies the at least one content restriction;

receive a response to the notification from the second subscriber network terminal;

determine whether the second subscriber authorizes storage of the content information in the shared folder, based on at least the response to the notification; and

store the content information in the shared folder in response to the second request, when the second subscriber has authorized the storage of the content information in the shared folder.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the notification is provided only when the content information is marked as recommended by the first subscriber.