Video-on-demand (VOD) management system and methods
First Claim
1. A method performed by a processor-based device, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a video-on-demand (“
VOD”
) management system, metadata associated with a multimedia asset data file provided by at least a content provider, the multimedia asset data file having a content element with which the metadata is associated and being delivered to end users upon requested, the metadata comprises information on at least accuracy of delivery of the multimedia asset data file as determined by a catcher appliance receiving the multimedia asset data file from a pitcher appliance, wherein the metadata further comprises a default pricing associated with the multimedia asset data file;
validating, by the VOD management system, the multimedia asset data file and the associated metadata by determining if the multimedia asset data file and the associated metadata comply with business rules provided by a multiple service or systems operator (“
MSO”
), wherein the business rules comprise pricing rules;
determining, by the VOD management system, whether a customized pricing has been assigned to the multimedia asset data file by the MSO,wherein in response to the determining that the customized pricing has been assigned to the multimedia asset data file by the MSO, the assigned customized pricing is used instead of the default pricing, andin response to the determining that the customized pricing has not been assigned to the multimedia asset data file, the default pricing is used if an override price has not been assigned;
coordinating delivering the multimedia asset data file and associated metadata to a VOD server maintained by the MSO, wherein coordinating delivering comprises;
tracking distributing the multimedia asset data file from the content provider to the MSO, andtracking uploading the multimedia asset data file from the MSO to the VOD server; and
providing usage reports relating to usage of multimedia asset data files by end users of the MSO.
49 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for closed loop multimedia content management systems and methods to ensure accurate and timely delivery of VOD content from multiple content providers using multiple distribution systems. The present invention provides for a method of distributing multimedia content using a VOD management system by receiving a multimedia asset data file and associated metadata from a content provider and/or a MSO, tracking the delivery of the multimedia asset data file to a MSO, tracking the upload of the multimedia asset data file to a VOD server maintained by the MSO, and providing usage reports relating to usage of multimedia asset data files by end users of the MSO. Usage reports are prepared by receiving data from the VOD servers regarding the files requested by end users, creating a master reporting database using that data, and generating the usage reports using the data contained in the master reporting database.
89 Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method performed by a processor-based device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a video-on-demand (“
VOD”
) management system, metadata associated with a multimedia asset data file provided by at least a content provider, the multimedia asset data file having a content element with which the metadata is associated and being delivered to end users upon requested, the metadata comprises information on at least accuracy of delivery of the multimedia asset data file as determined by a catcher appliance receiving the multimedia asset data file from a pitcher appliance, wherein the metadata further comprises a default pricing associated with the multimedia asset data file;validating, by the VOD management system, the multimedia asset data file and the associated metadata by determining if the multimedia asset data file and the associated metadata comply with business rules provided by a multiple service or systems operator (“
MSO”
), wherein the business rules comprise pricing rules;determining, by the VOD management system, whether a customized pricing has been assigned to the multimedia asset data file by the MSO, wherein in response to the determining that the customized pricing has been assigned to the multimedia asset data file by the MSO, the assigned customized pricing is used instead of the default pricing, and in response to the determining that the customized pricing has not been assigned to the multimedia asset data file, the default pricing is used if an override price has not been assigned; coordinating delivering the multimedia asset data file and associated metadata to a VOD server maintained by the MSO, wherein coordinating delivering comprises; tracking distributing the multimedia asset data file from the content provider to the MSO, and tracking uploading the multimedia asset data file from the MSO to the VOD server; and providing usage reports relating to usage of multimedia asset data files by end users of the MSO. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method performed by a processor-based device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a video-on-demand (“
VOD”
) management system, a plurality of multimedia asset data files having content elements from a plurality of content providers;receiving, by VOD management system, metadata associated with the content elements in the plurality of multimedia asset data files from at least one of the plurality of content providers, the metadata comprises information on at least accuracy of delivery of the multimedia asset data files as determined by a catcher appliance receiving the multimedia asset data files from a pitcher appliance, wherein the metadata further comprises a default pricing associated with a multimedia asset data file of the multimedia asset data files; receiving business rules provided by a multiple service or systems operator (MSO), the business rules corresponding to the multimedia asset data file and being identified with the MSO, wherein the business rules comprise pricing rules; determining, by the VOD management system, whether a customized pricing has been assigned to the multimedia asset data file by the MSO, wherein in response to the determining that the customized pricing has been assigned to the multimedia asset data file by the MSO, the assigned customized pricing is used instead of the default pricing, and in response to the determining that the customized pricing has not been assigned to the multimedia asset data file, the default pricing is used if an override price has not been assigned; coordinating uploading the multimedia asset data files to VOD servers maintained by the MSO, at the VOD management system, using an asset locator assigned to each multimedia asset data file; tracking distributing the multimedia asset data files from the content provider to the MSO; and tracking uploading the multimedia asset data files from the MSO to the VOD servers. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method performed by a processor-based device, the method comprising:
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ingesting, by a video-on-demand (“
VOD”
) management system, content and metadata associated with the content provided by a content provider, wherein the metadata further comprises a default pricing associated with the content;coordinating, by the VOD management system, distribution of the metadata and the content, the distribution using a pitcher and a catcher, the pitcher transferring the content to a multiple service or systems operator (MSO) and the catcher receiving the content; coordinating uploading the metadata and the content to a server, according to scheduling and business rules provided by the MSO, for delivery to an end user; determining, by the VOD management system, whether a customized pricing has been assigned to the content by a multiple service or systems operator (MSO) based on the business rules provided by the MSO, wherein the business rules comprise pricing rules, wherein in response to the determining that the customized pricing has been assigned to the content by the MSO, the assigned customized pricing is used instead of the default pricing, and in response to the determining that the customized pricing has not been assigned to the content, the default pricing is used if an override price has not been assigned; and tracking distributing the content from the content provider to the MSO; and tracking uploading the content from the MSO to the VOD server; wherein the pitcher and the catcher comprise separately implemented appliances communicating over a network with the processor-based device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A content management system comprising:
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an external layer to interface to an application client; a component programmatic application program interface (API) coupled to the external layer to interface to a plurality of engines comprising; a workflow engine to manage workflows of ingesting a content and metadata associated with the content provided by a content provider, wherein the metadata further comprises a default pricing associated with the content, coordinating distribution of the metadata and the content, coordinating uploading the metadata and the content to a server, according to scheduling and business rules provided by a multiple service or systems operator (MSO), for delivery to an end user, tracking distributing the content from the content provider to the MSO; and tracking uploading the content from the MSO to the VOD server; a relational database to store the metadata; and a business objects engine to managing business rules associated with the content, the business rules being provided by the MSO, wherein the business rules comprise pricing rules, and the business objects engine further determines whether a customized pricing has been assigned to the content by the MSO, wherein in response to the determining that the customized pricing has been assigned to the content by the MSO, the assigned customized pricing is used instead of the default pricing, and in response to the determining that the customized pricing has not been assigned to the content, the business objects engine assigns an override price to the default pricing is used if an override price has not been assigned. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A system comprising:
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a server; a distribution network coupled to the server to distribute a content provided by a content provider; and a content management system coupled to the server and the distribution network, the content management system comprising; an external layer to interface to an application client; a component programmatic application program interface (API) coupled to the external layer to interface to a plurality of engines comprising; a workflow engine to manage workflows of ingesting the content and metadata associated with the content, coordinating distribution of the metadata and the content, and coordinating uploading the metadata and the content to the server, according to scheduling and business rules provided by a multiple service or systems operator (MSO), for delivery to an end user, tracking distributing the content from the content provider to the MSO; and tracking uploading the content from the MSO to the server; a relational database to store the metadata; and a business objects engine to managing business rules associated with the content, the business rules being provided by the MSO, wherein the business rules comprise pricing rules, and the business objects engine further determines whether a customized pricing has been assigned to the content by the MSO, wherein in response to the determining that the customized pricing has been assigned to the content by the MSO, the assigned customized pricing is used instead of the default pricing, and in response to the determining that the customized pricing has not been assigned to the content, the default pricing is used if an override price has not been assigned. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification