System for network and local content access

• US 8,875,196 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Showfer Media LLC
• Original Assignee: WebTuner Corp.
• Inventors: Vaysman, Arthur, Zaslavsky, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Featherstone, Mark D
• Application Number:
  US11/503,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20070044127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,000 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Unique content identifiers allow users to find and select desired network or locally stored content or applications, solving a problem of user content search and selection in systems that provide access to large libraries of content. A method of selecting digital media content according to the invention includes the steps of providing a database of content ID codes, wherein each code uniquely and permanently identifies different, specific digital media content. One or more of the content ID codes are entered using an input device, which causes the immediate or scheduled viewing of the content associated with the input ID code. The content ID code may be numerical, alphanumerical, or may comprise some form of uniform resource identifier. The digital media content is a broadcast video program, an on-demand video program, an on-demand application program, or a game. The database, or portions thereof, may be electronically stored at the location of the display or at a location remote from the display. Alternatively or in combination with an electronic database, printed catalogs or program guides may be used. The display may form part of a television receiver, media center, computer, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, or other portable telecommunications device. In the preferred embodiment, a set-top box interfaced to the display receives commands from a input device in the form of a hand-held remote control unit.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining a selection of a digital content from digital media containing a variety of digital content, comprising the steps of, on a processor:

compiling a database of codes, wherein a unique code is assigned to each of the digital content of the digital media and the unique code comprises;

a content identifier resolution type;

one of a plurality of common content type indicators, wherein there is a common content type indicator to identify the digital content of each of a broadcast video program, an on-demand video program, an on-demand application program, and a game;

a content provider identifier;

an asset identifier; and

at least one check digit;

obtaining a selection of at least one digital content; and

displaying a list of available options based on the common indicator contained within the selected digital content, wherein the options include at least one of displaying, playing, executing or scheduling the digital content associated with the selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is numerical.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is alphanumerical.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is a uniform resource identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media is provided over the Internet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the digital content is stored at the location of the processor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the digital content is stored at a location remote from the processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one available option is a tuner changing to a channel for immediate viewing of the content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one available option is a video recorder recording the content for later viewing.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital content is an on-demand application or game; and

at least one available option is the execution of the on-demand application or game.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital content is an on-demand application program or game; and

at least one available option is the downloading of the on-demand application program or the game.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the available options of displaying, playing, executing or scheduling the digital content is implemented using a set-top box, causing the code of the selected digital content to be viewable on a display.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the database of codes is electronic.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection is made by a user inputting a complete shortcut identifier to the code.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a picture representative of the selected digital content.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a description of the selected digital content.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying one or more channels and times associated with the broadcast of the selected digital content.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection is obtained from a hand-held remote control.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common indicators further comprise indicating whether the digital content is international or local.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code further comprises a shortcut identifier.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common indicators further comprises indicating the genre of the digital content.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the display is coupled to a television receiver, media center, or computer.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the display is coupled to a cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, or other portable telecommunications device.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein:

a user downloads one or more of the codes from the database of codes prior to inputting the code.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the database of codes is provided in a printed catalog.

26. The method of claim 13, wherein the database of codes is electronically stored on a media asset management system.

27. A system for obtaining a selection of a digital content from digital media containing a variety of digital content, comprising:

a database of content codes, wherein each content code is a unique code assigned to each of the digital content of the digital media and each unique code comprises;

a content identifier resolution type;

one of a plurality of common content type indicators, wherein there is a common content type indicator to identify the digital content of each of a broadcast video program, an on-demand video program, an on-demand application program, and a game;

a content provider identifier;

an asset identifier; and

at least one check digit;

an input device for entering the content codes; and

a display device; and

a processor causing the display device to show a list of available options based on the common indicator contained within a selected digital content, wherein the options include at least one of displaying, playing, executing or scheduling the digital content associated with the selection.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the unique code is numerical, alphanumerical, or a uniform resource identifier.

29. The system of claim 27, further including a tuner for accessing a channel carrying the digital media.

30. The system of claim 27, further including a video recorder for recording one or more of the digital content of the digital media for later viewing.

31. The system of claim 27, further including a set-top box interfaced to the display which receives commands from the input device.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the display device is coupled to a television receiver, media center, or computer.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the display device is coupled to a cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, or other portable telecommunications device.

34. The system of claim 27, further comprising a memory for storing the database of content codes in electronic form.

35. The system of claim 27, further comprising a media asset management system that provides access to the database of content codes in electronic form.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the input device is a hand-held remote control.

37. The system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of common indicators further comprises indicating whether the digital content is international or local.

38. The system of claim 27, wherein the unique code further comprises a shortcut identifier.

39. The system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of common indicators further comprises indicating the genre of the digital.