Extending data records for dynamic data and selective acceptance based on hardware profile

• US 8,788,534 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TVWorks LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Hindle, James, Scheyen, Peter G. N., Vickers, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen, Syling
• Application Number:
  US13/019,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20110134323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706, 707/713, 707/722, 707/736, 707/758, 707/781, 707/791, 707/792, 707/797, 707/798, 707/799, 707/800, 707/801, 707/802, 707/822, 707/828, 707/999.101, 707/999.103, 707/999.107, 725/132, 725/139, 725/115, 725/135, 725/90, 709/250, 715/717, 715/760, 715/762, 348/569, 348/563, 348/564
• US Class Current: 707/793
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• 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

Abstract

A system, method and data structure for processing basic client application data types to add thereto extension types and priority levels adapted for use by each of a plurality of set top box classes.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a client device, a data record from a server, the data record comprising a base portion, an extension portion and a priority portion, the base portion comprising service data for providing a service of the client device, the extension portion comprising extended data supplemental to the service, the priority portion comprising a plurality of separate priority indicators dedicated to defining priority levels for the extension portion, and the plurality of separate priority indicators comprising a first priority comprising that is assigned to a first class of device and a second priority indicator that is assigned to a second class of device;

extracting, by the client device, the first priority indicator corresponding to the first class of device from the priority portion;

determining whether to process the extension portion based on an examination of the first priority indicator;

upon determining to process the extension portion, processing the extended data supplemental to the service; and

providing, by the client device, the service based on the service data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first priority indicator corresponds to one of;

always store or never store; and

,

storing the extended data when the first priority indicator corresponds to an always store indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first priority indicator is different from the second priority indicator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device conforms to the first class of device, wherein the extended data supplemental to the service is for providing an enhancement to the service, and wherein the enhancement is supported by the first class of device and is not supported by the second class of device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first class of device comprises one of:

a low-end class, a mid-range class or a high-end class.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the extended data supplemental to the service comprises a pointer, the method further comprising:

transmitting, to the server, a request for data indicated by the pointer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data record comprises a plurality of extension portions, each of the extension portions associated with respective extended data that is for providing a service enhancement specific to a respective class of device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the service data comprises video on-demand content, wherein the service is a video-on-demand service, wherein providing the service is further based on the extended data supplemental to the service, and wherein the data record corresponds to a data record in a video-on-demand database comprising a plurality of records corresponding to a plurality of video-on-demand content items.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of priority indicators comprises a third priority indicator corresponding to a third class of device and wherein the data record further comprises a type identifier specifying a type of extension data stored in the extension portion.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the extended data supplemental to the service comprises promotional content;

and wherein providing the service based on the service data comprises displaying the promotional content.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is a set-top box.

12. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:

receive a data record from a server, the data record comprising a base portion, an extension portion and a priority portion, the base portion comprising service data for providing a service of the client device, the extension portion comprising extended data supplemental to the service data, the priority portion comprising a plurality of separate priority indicators dedicated to defining priority levels for the extension portion, the plurality of separate priority indicators comprising a first priority indicator that is assigned to a first class of device and a second priority indicator that is assigned to a second class of device;

extract the first priority indicator corresponding to the first class of device from the priority portion;

determine whether to process the extension portion based on an examination of the first priority indicator;

upon determining to process the extension portion, processing the extended data supplemental to the service; and

provide the service based on the service data.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the data record comprises a plurality of extension portions, each extension portion corresponding to a different plurality of priority indicators included in the priority portion.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the first priority indicator is different from the second priority indicator.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the extended data supplemental to the service comprises a pointer, and wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to transmit a request for data indicated by the pointer to the server.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is a set-top box.

17. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

receive a data record from a server, the data record comprising a base portion, an extension portion and a priority portion, the base portion comprising service data for providing a service of the client device, the extension portion comprising extended data supplemental to the service data, the priority portion comprising a plurality of separate priority indicators dedicated to defining priority levels for the extension portion, the plurality of separate priority indicators comprising a first priority indicator that is assigned to a first class of device and a second priority indicator that is assigned to a second class of device;

extract the first priority indicator corresponding to the first class of device from the priority portion;

determine whether to process the extension portion based on an examination of the first priority indicator;

upon determining to process the extension portion, processing the extended data supplemental to the service; and

provide the service based on the service data.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is a set-top box.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the extended data supplemental to the service comprises a pointer, and wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to transmit a request for data indicated by the pointer to the server.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data record comprises a plurality of extension portions, each extension portion corresponding to a different plurality of priority indicators included in the priority portion.