End of show handling

• US 8,732,776 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Over The Top Networks International, Inc. (UUX Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kuautli Media Investments ZRT
• Inventors: Youssefmir, Michael, Wiser, Philip R., Burmeister, James Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US13/163,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20120005705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/40, 725/32, 725/25, 725/95, 709/231, 709/221
• US Class Current: 725/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6371 directed to network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A content delivery system that works in a broadcast and linear content environment causing real time display of received linear content. The system limits the display of the linear content by determining a time to automatically change the display of the linear content based upon program guide information and other factors, unless a signal is or has been received from a user indicating further interest in the content.

Claims

1. A method implemented on a computer system to display a linear content, comprising:

receiving program guide information associated with the linear content, the program guide information including program boundary information for the linear content;

determining a program end time for the linear content based on the program boundary information;

receiving the linear content via IP streaming;

causing display of the received linear content, in real time with respect to the receiving, on a display in communication with the computer system; and

determining if a specific transition time has been reached, and if reached, automatically stopping the display of linear content unless a signal is or has been received from a user by the computer system within a set time period of the program end time, wherein the signal is received from the user without the computer system transmitting any notice that user input is necessary to avoid stoppage of the display; and

displaying an interactive menu on the display after stopping the display of the linear content, wherein the interactive menu enables the user to select from continuing to display the selected linear content, and displaying other linear content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific transition time is the program end time.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific transition time is a defined time after the program end time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer system buffers the IP stream for a defined time after displaying the interactive menu.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the set time period is adaptable based on the identity of a user, and further comprising the steps of identifying a user, storing user activity in the computer system per user, setting the set time period for the user based on the user activity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the program guide information comprises information about the type of program being streamed, and the method further comprising extending the specific transition time when the program is a live event.

7. A computer system configured to display a linear content, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive program guide information associated with the linear content and to receive the linear content via IP streaming;

the program guide information comprising program boundary information for the linear content,

the computer system being configured to determine a program end time for the linear content based on the program boundary information for the linear content and to cause display of the received linear content in real time with respect to the receiving, on a display in communication with the computer system; and

further comprising,

an end of show handler module configured to determine if a specific transition time has been reached, and if reached, to automatically cause the display of linear content to stop unless a signal is or has been received from a user by the computer system within a set time period of the program end time, wherein the computer system is configured so that the signal is received from the user without the computer system transmitting any notice that user input is necessary to avoid stoppage of the display,

wherein the end of show handler is further configured to display an interactive menu on the display after stopping the streaming of the linear content, the interactive menu enabling the user to select from continuing to display the selected linear content, and displaying other linear content.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the specific transition time is the program end time.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the specific transition time is a defined time after the program end time.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the computer system is further configured to buffer the IP stream for a defined time after displaying the interactive menu.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the set time period is adaptable based on an identity of a user, wherein the computer system identifies a user, stores user activity information per user, and sets the set time period for the user based on the user activity.

12. A method of end of show handling comprising:

(a) receiving and displaying content consisting of at least one program on a customer premises equipment having an end of show handler and a display screen;

(b) determining a specific transition time;

(c) commencing a set time period before the specific transition time;

(d) changing the display of the content on the customer premises equipment at the specific transition time if the customer premises equipment does not receive a user signal within the set time period, wherein the user signal is received without the customer premises equipment transmitting any notice that user input is necessary to avoid changing the display; and

(e) setting a system cap limit on all set time periods stored in the customer premises equipment.

13. A method of end of show handling of claim 12 wherein the content is an IP stream of linear content and the changing of the display of the content constitutes switching the display to a broadcast content.

14. A method of end of show handling of claim 12 further comprising storing user activity information in the customer premises equipment, identifying a user of the customer premises equipment and determining the set time period based on the user habit information for the identified user.

15. A method of end of show handling of claim 14 wherein the user habit information comprises the frequency that the user uses an input device for communicating with the customer premises equipment.

16. A method of end of show handling of claim 12 further comprising buffering the stream of linear content on the customer premises equipment for a buffering period and then terminating the stream at the end of the buffering period.

17. A method of end of show handling of claim 12 further comprising receiving program guide information for the content at the customer premises equipment and determining the specific transition time based on the program guide information.

18. A method of end of show handling of claim 17 wherein the program guide information includes at least a program end time and an indication of whether the program is a live event, and the method further comprising extending the specific transition time a set time value beyond the program end time when the program is a live event.

19. A method of end of show handling of claim 12 wherein the specific transition time is the end of the program.

20. A method of end of show handling of claim 12 wherein changing the display of the content on the customer premises equipment constitutes terminating the receiving and displaying content of the content.