System and method for providing integrated media
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for delivering media content, the method comprising:
- a computer maintaining a record comprising information about a user and a media subscription level obtained by the user, wherein the record includes indications of a plurality of media offerings included in the user'"'"'s media subscription level;
the computer receiving from the user a request for media content;
the computer determining whether the user qualifies to receive the media content;
in response to the determination that the user does qualify to receive the media content, the computer sending the media content to a device of the user that includes a media player to play the media content;
the computer receiving a request to allow access to a feature of the media player that enhances playback of the media content by operating on the received media content;
the computer determining whether the user qualifies to access the feature based on the media subscription level currently possessed by the user;
in response to the determination that the user does qualify to access the feature, the computer sending an indication to the media player that indicates access to the feature should be allowed;
the computer receiving from the user a request to change one or more media offerings included in the user'"'"'s current media subscription level;
the computer determining whether the user'"'"'s current media subscription level allows the requested change; and
in response to the determination that the user'"'"'s current media subscription level does allow the requested change, the computer changing the media content included in the user'"'"'s current media subscription level by substituting one or more new media offerings into the user'"'"'s current media subscription level for the one or more media offerings for which the change is requested.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and system deliver media to users of media presentation systems. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a media server communicates with a media presentation system, such as a media player for streaming video and audio, to present subscription and non-subscription media to the user of the media presentation system. Subscription media may include multi-tiered media packages and individual media offerings as selected by the user. The media may be presented in various formats, including video, a graphical display, an audio presentation, a graphical and audio presentation, URL links, and interactive windows. Information about the user, the user'"'"'s subscription status, the user'"'"'s media presentation system and information about the media providers and the media offered by the media providers are maintained by the media server. The media server updates the foregoing information in accordance with the interaction between the media server, the users of media presentation systems, and the media providers.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for delivering media content, the method comprising:
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a computer maintaining a record comprising information about a user and a media subscription level obtained by the user, wherein the record includes indications of a plurality of media offerings included in the user'"'"'s media subscription level; the computer receiving from the user a request for media content; the computer determining whether the user qualifies to receive the media content; in response to the determination that the user does qualify to receive the media content, the computer sending the media content to a device of the user that includes a media player to play the media content; the computer receiving a request to allow access to a feature of the media player that enhances playback of the media content by operating on the received media content; the computer determining whether the user qualifies to access the feature based on the media subscription level currently possessed by the user; in response to the determination that the user does qualify to access the feature, the computer sending an indication to the media player that indicates access to the feature should be allowed; the computer receiving from the user a request to change one or more media offerings included in the user'"'"'s current media subscription level; the computer determining whether the user'"'"'s current media subscription level allows the requested change; and in response to the determination that the user'"'"'s current media subscription level does allow the requested change, the computer changing the media content included in the user'"'"'s current media subscription level by substituting one or more new media offerings into the user'"'"'s current media subscription level for the one or more media offerings for which the change is requested. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer system for delivering media content, the computer system comprising:
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a database module configured to store a record comprising information about a user and a media subscription level obtained by the user, wherein the record includes indications of a plurality of media offerings included in the media subscription level; a communication module configured to receive from a user a request for media content; and a control module configured to; determine whether the user qualifies to receive the requested mediacontent according to the media subscription level, and, in response to the determination that the user does qualify to receive the media content, send the media content to a device of the user that includes a media player to play the media content, wherein the communication module is further configured to receive a request to allow access to a feature of the media player that enhances playback of the media content by operating on the received media content, wherein the control module is further configured to determine whether the user qualifies to access the feature based on the media subscription level currently possessed by the user, and in response to the determination that the user does qualify to access the feature, send an indication to the media player that indicates access to the feature should be allowed; wherein the communication module is further configured to receive from the user a request to change one or more media offerings included in the user'"'"'s current media subscription level, and wherein the control module is further configured to; determine whether the user'"'"'s current media subscription level allows the requested change, and in response to the determination that the user'"'"'s current media subscription level does allow the requested change, change the media content included in the user'"'"'s current media subscription level by substituting one or more new media offerings into the user'"'"'s current media subscription level for the one or more media offerings for which the change is requested. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to:
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store a record comprising information about a user and a media subscription level obtained by the user, wherein the record includes indications of a plurality of media offerings included in the media subscription level; determine whether the user qualifies to receive pre-recorded media content that the user has requested from the computer; in response to the determination that the user does qualify to receive the pre-recorded media content, send the media content to a device of the user that includes a media player to play the media content; determine whether the user qualifies to access a feature of the media player that enhances the playback of the pre-recorded media content based on the media subscription level currently possessed by the user; in response to the determination that the user does qualify to access the feature, send an indication to the media player that indicates access to the feature should be allowed; determine whether the user'"'"'s current media subscription level allows a user requested change to one or more media offerings included in the user'"'"'s current media subscription level; and in response to the determination that the user'"'"'s current media subscription level does allow the requested change, change the media content included in the user'"'"'s current media subscription level by substituting one or more new media offerings into the user'"'"'s current media subscription level for the one or more media offerings for which the change is requested. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer system for receiving media content, the computer system comprising:
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a control module configured to; request pre-recorded media content from a provider; receive the pre-recorded media content from the provider, provided that the reception of the content is included in a media subscription level obtained from the provider, wherein the media subscription level includes a plurality of media offerings; request access to a feature of a media player that enhances playback of the pre-recorded media content; receive an indication to the media player that indicates access to the feature should be allowed, provided that access to the feature is included in the media subscription level; request a change to one or more media offerings included in the current media subscription level; and receive media content associated with one or more new media offerings from the provider, provided that the current media subscription level allows the one or more new media offerings to be substituted into the current media subscription level for the one or more media offerings for which the change is requested. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer implemented method for receiving media content, the method comprising:
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a computer requesting pre-recorded media content from a provider; the computer receiving the pre-recorded media content from the provider, provided that the reception of the content is included in a media subscription level obtained from the provider, wherein the media subscription level includes a plurality of media offerings; the computer requesting access to a feature of a media player that enhances playback of the pre-recorded media content; the computer receiving an indication to the media player that indicates access to the feature should be allowed, provided that access to the feature is included in the media subscription level; the computer playing the pre-recorded media content; the computer requesting a change to one or more media offerings included in the current media subscription level; and the computer receiving media content associated with one or more new media offerings from the provider, provided that the current media subscription level allows the one or more new media offerings to be substituted into the current media subscription level for the one or more media offerings for which the change is requested. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer causes the computer to:
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receive media content requested from a provider, provided that the reception of the content is included in a media subscription level obtained from the provider, wherein the media subscription level includes a plurality of media offerings; receive an indication to the media player that indicates access to a feature of a media player that enhances the playback of the received media content should be allowed, provided that access to the feature is included in the media subscription level; receive media content associated with one or more new media offerings from the provider, provided that the current media subscription level allows the one or more new media offerings to be substituted into the current media subscription level for one or more media offerings for which a change is requested. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification