Content customization portal for media content distribution systems and methods

• US 8,752,111 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Roberts, Brian, Stallings, Heath, Relyea, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): SALCE, JASON P
• Application Number:
  US11/779,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,519 Days
• Field of Search: 725 74- 85, 725/114, 725/116, 725/138, 725/144, 725/146
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An exemplary system includes a content delivery subsystem configured to receive media content from a content provider and transmit the media content over a network to a content processing subsystem configured to process and provide the media content for presentation to an end user. The content delivery subsystem is further configured to maintain resource data associated with at least one of the media content and the content provider, make at least a subset of the resource data available to the content processing subsystem for inclusion in an end user interface, provide a content customization portal for access by the content provider, authenticate the content provider accessing the content customization portal, receive custom content from the authenticated content provider via the content customization portal, validate the custom content, and provide the custom content to the content processing subsystem for inclusion in the end user interface.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a television content delivery subsystem configured to receive television media content from a television content provider and transmit the television media content over a network to a television content processing subsystem configured to process and provide the television media content for presentation to an end user, wherein the television content provider and the end user are different entities;

wherein the television content delivery subsystem is further configured to

maintain resource data associated with at least one of the television media content and the television content provider,

make at least a subset of the resource data available to the television content processing subsystem for inclusion in an end user interface for presentation to the end user,

provide a content customization portal for backend access by the television content provider to the television content delivery subsystem, the content customization portal including at least one template provided to the television content provider, the template visually representing a layout of the end user interface and configured to allow the television content provider to associate custom content with a spatial position in the template and the end user interface, the custom content including at least a title for a media program and a description of the media program provided by the television content provider through the content customization portal,

authenticate the television content provider accessing the content customization portal,

receive the custom content from the authenticated television content provider via the content customization portal, and

provide the custom content to the television content processing subsystem for inclusion in the end user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the television content delivery subsystem is configured to provide the custom content to the television content processing subsystem for inclusion in the end user interface in substitution of the resource data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the television content delivery subsystem is configured to provide the custom content to the television content processing subsystem for inclusion in the end user interface in association with the resource data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource data includes program guide data received from a program guide data provider, the end user interface comprising a program guide user interface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource data includes at least one of media content metadata, program guide data, and user interface graphics.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the television content delivery subsystem is configured to receive input from the television content provider via the content customization portal and to create an association between the custom content and the resource data based on the television content provider input.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one template includes at least one of a program guide template corresponding with a program guide end user interface, a control menu template corresponding with a control menu end user interface, and a media content recording template corresponding with a media content recording end user interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one template provided to the television content provider in the content customization portal includes a placeholder displayed within the template.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the placeholder visually indicates a recommended or maximum allowable spatial size for the element of the custom content in the end user interface.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the television content delivery subsystem is configured to maintain a library of television media content programs received from the television content provider, the content customization portal including at least one tool enabling the television content provider to select a television media content program from the library of the television media content programs and to provide input associating the custom content with the resource data associated with the selected television media content program.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the custom content further comprises at least one custom image.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one custom image is a logo for the television content provider.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the television content provider comprises at least one of a television network, a media production entity, and a studio.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the custom content further comprises at least one of a channel ID and a call sign.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the custom content is substituted for default content in the end user interface.

16. A system comprising:

a head end configured to receive television media content from a television content provider and to maintain the television media content, the head end being further configured to maintain resource data associated with at least one of the television media content and the television content provider;

a video hub office configured to receive the television media content from the head end and to provide the television media content over a network to at least one television content processing subsystem configured to process and provide the television media content for presentation to an end user, wherein the television content provider and the end user are different entities; and

a publisher configured to

provide a content customization portal for backend access by the television content provider to the publisher, the content customization portal including at least one template provided to the television content provider, the template visually representing a layout of an end user interface and configured to allow the television content provider to associate custom content with a spatial position in the template and the end user interface, the custom content including at least a title for a media program and a description of the media program provided by the television content provider through the content customization portal,

authenticate the television content provider accessing the content customization portal,

receive the custom content from the authenticated television content provider via the content customization portal,

create at least one association between the custom content and the resource data based on the television content provider input, and

provide the custom content to the video hub office, the video hub office being configured to provide the custom content to the television content processing subsystem for inclusion in the end user interface based on the at least one association.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the network comprises a subscriber television network.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the television content processing subsystem comprises a set-top box connected to the subscriber television network.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the resource data includes program guide data received from a third party program guide data provider, the end user interface comprising a program guide user interface including the custom content and at least a subset of the program guide data.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the television content processing subsystem is configured to record the television media content received from the video hub office and to generate the end user interface to include an indication of the recorded television media content and the custom content, based on the at least one association.

21. A method comprising:

receiving, by a television content delivery subsystem, television media content from a television content provider;

maintaining, by the television content delivery subsystem, the television media content;

maintaining, by the television content delivery subsystem, resource data associated with at least one of the television media content and the television content provider;

providing, by the television content delivery subsystem, at least a subset of the resource data to a television content processing subsystem over a network, the provided resource data being configured for inclusion in a user interface for presentation to an end user, wherein the television content provider and the end user are different entities;

providing, by the television content delivery subsystem, a content customization portal for backend access by the television content provider to the television content delivery subsystem, the content customization portal including at least one template provided to the content provider, the template visually representing a layout of the user interface and configured to allow the television content provider to associate custom content with a spatial position in the template and the user interface, the custom content including at least a title for a media program and a description of the media program provided by the television content provider through the content customization portal;

authenticating, by the television content delivery subsystem, the television content provider accessing the content customization portal;

receiving, by the television content delivery subsystem, the custom content from the authenticated television content provider via the content customization portal; and

providing, by the television content delivery subsystem, the custom content to the television content processing subsystem for inclusion in the user interface for presentation to the end user.

22. The method of claim 21, the step of providing the custom content including providing the custom content to the television content processing subsystem for inclusion in the user interface in substitution of the resource data.

23. The method of claim 21, the step of providing the custom content including providing the custom content to the television content processing subsystem for inclusion in the user interface in association with the resource data.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving, by the television content delivery subsystem, program guide data from a third party program guide data provider, the resource data including the received program guide data.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing, by the television content delivery subsystem, the user interface to an output device for presentation to the end user, the user interface including a program guide user interface.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving, by the television content delivery subsystem, input from the television content provider via the content customization portal; and

creating, by the television content delivery subsystem, an association between the custom content and the resource data based on the television content provider input.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing, by the television content delivery subsystem, at least one placeholder in the template.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

maintaining, by the television content delivery subsystem, a library of television media content received from the television content provider;

receiving, by the television content delivery subsystem, input from the television content provider, the input including a selection of a television media content program included in the library of television media content; and

creating, by the television content delivery subsystem, an association between the custom content and the resource data associated with the selected television media content program.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating, by the television content delivery subsystem, the user interface, the generated user interface including the custom content either in association with or in place of the resource data; and

providing, by the television content delivery subsystem, the generated user interface for presentation to the end user.