System and method of delivering video content

• US 8,904,414 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ku, Bernard, Khan, Arshad, Sheth, Niral
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US11/823,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20090007216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,716 Days
• Field of Search: 725/1, 725 60- 61
• US Class Current: 725/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method of delivering video content is disclosed that includes receiving a request at a video content gifting server from a first set-top box device. The request indicates a selection to purchase video content for a second subscriber associated with a second set-top box device. The method also includes sending notification information to the second set-top box device. The notification information indicates that the video content has been purchased for the second subscriber. Further, the method includes receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device. The viewing preferences data indicates a particular time that the second subscriber is to receive the video content. Additionally, the method includes sending video content download data to a particular network entity. The video content download data includes instructions to send the video content to the second set-top box device at the particular time.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data at a video content gifting server, wherein the data indicates that a first set-top box device received a first request to stop playing video content;

sending, from the video content gifting server to the first set-top box device, an option to gift the video content in response to receipt of the data when an elapsed viewing time exceeds a viewing time threshold and when the video content is identified as being associated with a gifting option that allows the video content to be purchased as a gift, wherein the elapsed viewing time is a time period from a first time corresponding to selection of the video content at the first set-top box device to a second time corresponding to receipt of the first request at the first set-top box device;

receiving a second request at the video content gifting server from the first set-top box device, the second request indicating a selection to purchase the video content for a subscriber associated with a second set-top box device based on the option;

sending notification information from the video content gifting server to the second set-top box device, the notification information indicating that the video content has been purchased for the subscriber via the first set-top box device;

receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device, the viewing preferences data indicating a time that the second set-top box device is to begin receiving the video content; and

sending video content download data from the video content gifting server to a media library server based on the viewing preferences data, wherein the video content download data includes instructions to the media library server to begin sending the video content to the second set-top box device at the time that the second set-top box device is to begin receiving the video content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the video content download data includes an instruction to send the video content immediately.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the video content download data is sent from the video content gifting server to a digital video recorder scheduling server when the viewing preferences data includes a selection to view the video content at a particular time specified via the second set-top box.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending video content purchase data from the video content gifting server to a billing server, the video content purchase data indicating the second request received from the first set-top box device to purchase the video content.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving purchase confirmation data at the video content gifting server from the billing server confirming the purchase of the video content.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising sending a video content purchase notification from the video content gifting server to the first set-top box device, the video content purchase notification indicating that the video content has been purchased for the subscriber.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the video content comprises a movie, a television program, a pay-per-view program, or any combination thereof.

8. A system to deliver video content, the system comprising:

processing logic; and

a memory accessible to the processing logic, the memory including;

a video content control module executable by the processing logic to receive first data corresponding to a video content request from a first set-top box device, wherein the video content request indicates a selection of video content entered via the first set-top box device; and

a video content gift module executable by the processing logic to;

identify that the selected video content is associated with a gifting option, wherein the gifting option allows the selected video content to be purchased as a gift;

receiving second data that indicates the first set-top box device received a first request to stop playing the selected video content;

send video content gifting information to the first set-top box device in response to receipt of the second data when an elapsed viewing time exceeds a viewing time threshold and when the selected video content is identified as being associated with the gifting option, wherein the elapsed viewing time is a time period from a first time corresponding to selection of the selected video content at the first set-top box device to a second time corresponding to the receipt of the first request at the first set-top box device; and

receive a second request from the first set-top box device to purchase the video content as a gift for a subscriber associated with a second set-top box device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the video content gifting information includes data corresponding to a graphical user interface that includes a video content gift selection icon.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the graphical user interface includes a recommendation icon, a video content comment icon, or any combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the video content gift module is executable by the processing logic to receive an identification of the subscriber associated with the second set-top box device submitted via the first set-top box device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the video content gift module is executable by the processing logic to send the video content gifting information to the first set-top box device in response to receiving data corresponding to a selection entered via the first set-top box device to view a video content gifting graphical user interface.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory further includes a gift notification module executable by the processing logic to send notification of the gift to the second set-top box device.

14. A set-top box device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving video content from a video content provider;

sending data to a video content gifting server that indicates a request to stop playing the video content has been received;

receiving video content gifting information from the video content gifting server, wherein the video content gifting information is sent by the video content gifting server in response to receipt of the data when the video content is identified as being associated with a gifting option that allows the video content to be purchased as a gift and when an elapsed viewing time exceeds a viewing threshold, wherein the elapsed viewing time is a time period from a first time corresponding to selection of the video content at the set-top box device to a second time corresponding to receipt of the request to stop playing the video content, the video content gifting information relating to an option to purchase the video content for a subscriber associated with an additional set-top box device; and

sending a request to the video content gifting server to purchase the video content for the subscriber associated with the additional set-top box device.

15. The set-top box device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise receiving an indication from a billing server that an account has been debited according to an amount associated with the video content.

16. The set-top box device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise receiving additional video content gifting information related to purchase of additional video content for the subscriber associated with the additional set-top box device.

17. The set-top box device of claim 16, wherein the additional video content gifting information includes a list of video content items available to be purchased as gifts.

18. The set-top box device of claim 17, wherein the list of video content items includes an upcoming live event.

19. The set-top box device of claim 14, wherein the subscriber associated with the additional set-top box device is selected from a list of subscribers identified in a buddy list.

20. The set-top box device of claim 19, wherein the buddy list is stored in the memory.

21. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, comprising operational instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving data that indicates a first set-top box device received a first request to stop playing video content;

sending to the first set-top box device an option to purchase the video content as a gift in response to receipt of the data when an elapsed viewing time exceeds a viewing time threshold and when the video content is identified as being associated with a gifting option that allows the video content to be purchased as a gift, wherein the elapsed viewing time is a time period from a first time corresponding to selection of the video content at the first set-top box device to a second time corresponding to receipt of the first request at the first set-top box device;

receiving a second request from the first set-top box device, the second request indicating a selection to purchase the video content for a second subscriber associated with a second set-top box device based on the option;

sending notification information to the second set-top box device, the notification information indicating that the video content has been purchased for the second subscriber;

receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device, the viewing preferences data indicating a time that the second set-top box device is to begin receiving the video content; and

sending video content download data from the video content gifting server to a media library server based on the viewing preferences data, wherein the video content download data includes instructions to the media library server to begin sending the video content to the second set-top box device at the time that the second set-top box device is to begin receiving the video content.

22. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise sending video content gift incentive information to the first set-top box device, the video content gift incentive information relating to an incentive to purchase the video content as a gift.

23. A method comprising:

receiving data at a video content gifting server, wherein the data indicates that a first set-top box device received a first request to stop playing video content;

sending, from the video content gifting server to the first set-top box device, an option to gift the video content in response to receipt of the data when an elapsed viewing time exceeds a viewing time threshold and when the video content is identified as being associated with a gifting option that allows the video content to be purchased as a gift, wherein the elapsed viewing time is a time period from a first time corresponding to selection of the video content at the first set-top box device to a second time corresponding to receipt of the first request at the first set-top box device;

receiving a second request at the video content gifting server from the first set-top box device, the second request indicating a selection to purchase the video content for a subscriber associated with a second set-top box device based on the option; and

sending notification information from the video content gifting server to the second set-top box device, the notification information indicating that the video content has been purchased.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the notification information includes a message selected from a list of messages.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving an indication of the selection of the message at the video content gifting server from the first set-top box device.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device, the viewing preferences data indicating a time that the second set-top box device is to begin receiving the video content; and

sending video content download data from the video content gifting server to one of a media library server and a scheduling server based on the time.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the viewing preference data includes a selection to begin receiving the video content at a time specified at the second set-top box device, and wherein the first set-top box device is associated with a first subscriber and the second set-top box device is associated with a second subscriber.