Apparatus and methods for enabling media options in a content delivery network

• US 9,078,040 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tidwell, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): HANCE, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US13/445,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20130276022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• 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 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/458 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 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• 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 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 by creating hot-spots

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing media options over a network. In one embodiment, the media options are presented in conjunction with a promotion or advertisement for particular content. The precise ones of a plurality of disclosed options that will be presented may be determined based at least in part on a campaign established by a content management entity and a current availability of the content. For example, certain media options may only be made available for content that is currently available, while other options may be only available for content available at a future date/time, or during a particular time window. Rules for determining which options are to be provided in conjunction with which content and/or advertisements are established and by a content management entity, such as an entity of a multiple systems operator (MSO).

Claims

1. A method for providing media functionality to a plurality of devices in communication with a content delivery network, said method comprising:

determining one or more media functionality options for delivery to a user as respective one or more embedded triggers within a promotion, said one or more media functionality options comprising options to be taken with respect to a promoted event;

delivering a promotion to said user, said promotion comprising at least said one or more embedded triggers;

receiving a selection of a first one of said one or more media functionality options from said user via selection of a respective first one of said one or more embedded triggers; and

based at least in part on said user selection, determining whether to;

implement said selected first one of said one or more media functionality options;

or

deliver a message indicating a previous selection of said first one of said one or more media functionality options; and

deliver to said user one or more second media functionality options;

wherein said implementation comprises maintaining continuity of said implemented first one of said one or more media functionality options during at least one of;

(i) a modification of a service name, and (ii) a modification of a source identifier within said network, and alerting said user when said continuity cannot be maintained.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of determining said one or more media functionality options comprises identification thereof from among a group of available media functionality options.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said identification is based at least in part on capabilities of one or more devices associated with said user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said content delivery network comprises a managed network, and said identification is based at least in part one or more rules established by an operator of said managed network.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said identification is based at least in part on at least one of:

(i) an evaluation of a current time, (ii) a time of availability of said promoted event, and/or (iii) a time threshold entered by a network operator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said media functionality options are selected from among:

an option for immediately tuning to said promoted event;

an option for recording said promoted event; and

an option for scheduling a reminder regarding said promoted event.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said media functionality options further comprise an option to schedule tuning, recording, and/or reminders for content related to said promoted event.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said relation of said content to said promoted event comprises at least one of:

a subsequent episode of a series to which said promoted event belongs; and

content having one or more actors, genre, or context similar to that of said promoted event.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said implementation of said selected first one of said one or more media functionality options comprises implementation on one or more portable devices associated with said user.

10. A server apparatus configured to provide a plurality of media functions to a plurality client devices in communication therewith, said apparatus comprising:

at least one first interface for communication with said plurality of client devices;

a storage device; and

a processor, said processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed;

determine one or more media functionality options for delivery to a user as respective one or more embedded triggers within a promotion, said one or more media functionality options comprising options to be taken with respect to a promoted event;

deliver a promotion to said user, said promotion comprising at least said one or more embedded triggers;

receive a selection of a first one of said one or more media functionality options from said user via selection of a respective first one of said one or more embedded triggers; and

based at least in part on said user selection, determine whether to;

implement said selected first one of said one or more media functionality options;

or

deliver a message that indicates a previous selection of said first one of said one or more media functionality options; and

deliver to said user one or more second media functionality options;

wherein said implementation comprises a maintenance of continuity of said implemented first one of said one or more media functionality options during at least one of;

(i) a modification of a service name, and (ii) a modification of a source identifier within said network, and alert said user when said continuity cannot be maintained.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said determination of said one or more media functionality options comprises identification thereof from among a group of available media functionality options.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said identification is based at least in part on capabilities of one or more devices associated with said user.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said content delivery network comprises a managed network, and said identification is based at least in part one or more rules established by an operator of said managed network.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said identification is based at least in part on at least one of:

(i) an evaluation of a current time, (ii) a time of availability of said promoted event, and/or (iii) a time threshold entered by a network operator.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said implementation of said selected first one of said one or more media functionality options comprises implementation on one or more portable devices associated with said user.

16. A non-transitory computer readable apparatus comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by a processor:

deliver a promotion to said user, said promotion comprising one or more media functionality options as embedded triggers within said promotion, said one or more media functionality options comprising options which may be taken with respect to a promoted event;

receive a selection of a first one of said one or more media functionality options from said user via selection of a respective first one of said one or more embedded triggers; and

based at least in part on said user selection, determine whether to;

implement said selected first one of said one or more media functionality options;

or

deliver to said user a message that indicates a previous selection of said first one of said one or more media functionality options and one or more second media functionality options;

wherein said implementation comprises maintenance of continuity of said implemented first one of said one or more media functionality options during at least one of;

(i) a modification of a service name, and (ii) a modification of a source identifier within said network, and alert said user when said continuity cannot be maintained.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said media functionality options are selected from among:

an option for immediately tuning to said promoted event;

an option for recording said promoted event; and

an option for scheduling a reminder regarding said promoted event.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said media functionality options further comprise an option to schedule tuning, recording, and/or reminders for content related to said promoted event.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said relation of said content to said promoted event comprises at least one of:

a subsequent episode of a series to which said promoted event belongs; and

content having one or more actors, genre, or context similar to that of said promoted event.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said implementation of said selected first one of said one or more media functionality options comprises implementation on one or more portable devices associated with said user.