Method of addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) receiving, at a video-on-demand (VOD) services platform comprising one or more computers, first digital video-on-demand program content for a video-on-demand program and hierarchical metadata associated with the first video-on-demand program content, the metadata comprising a title, one or more category terms, and one or more subcategory terms using a hierarchical structure for identifying an electronic program guide location where the title of the received video-on-demand program is to be located following the same hierarchical structure used in said metadata;
(b) storing, by the VOD services platform, the first video-on-demand program content;
(c) updating, by the VOD services platform, an electronic program guide for the VOD services platform to list the title of the received video-on-demand program in the electronic program guide location according to the hierarchical structure of the category and subcategory terms of the associated hierarchical metadata, the updated electronic program guide being accessible by subscribers of the VOD services platform both via subscriber devices connected to the VOD services platform via a closed delivery system through a TV services platform and via subscriber devices connected via an open delivery system through the Internet allowing the subscribers to navigate and select hierarchically-arranged titles of video-on-demand program content listed by category and subcategory terms from the updated electronic program guide;
(d) receiving, at the VOD services platform via the closed delivery system, a selection by a subscriber of a title from the updated electronic program guide, including information associated with the location of the title of the received video-on-demand program, from a first subscriber device;
(e) transmitting, from the VOD services platform to the first subscriber device via the closed delivery system, the first video-on-demand program content for playback on the first subscriber device;
(f) receiving, at the VOD services platform via the open delivery system, a selection by the subscriber of the title from the updated electronic program guide, including information associated with the location of the title of the received video-on-demand program, from a second subscriber device; and
(g) transmitting, from the VOD services platform to the second subscriber device via the open delivery system, the first video-on-demand program content for playback on the second subscriber device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of addressing on-demand TV program content on a TV services platform of a digital TV services provider includes listing a title for a host TV program on an electronic program guide and upon a TV service subscriber selecting the title by input on their TV remote control unit to the set top box for the TV display equipment, delivering the host TV program for display on the TV using a templated display that includes video content for the TV host program running along with selectable menu options for viewing subordinate TV programs associated with the host TV program. Upon the TV service subscriber selecting a menu option, the selected subordinate TV program is displayed. The host TV and/or any subordinate TV programs may be updated by uploading host or subordinate TV programs from an external web-based video content management system for converting video content and delivering formatted on-demand TV programs to the TV services platform.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) receiving, at a video-on-demand (VOD) services platform comprising one or more computers, first digital video-on-demand program content for a video-on-demand program and hierarchical metadata associated with the first video-on-demand program content, the metadata comprising a title, one or more category terms, and one or more subcategory terms using a hierarchical structure for identifying an electronic program guide location where the title of the received video-on-demand program is to be located following the same hierarchical structure used in said metadata; (b) storing, by the VOD services platform, the first video-on-demand program content; (c) updating, by the VOD services platform, an electronic program guide for the VOD services platform to list the title of the received video-on-demand program in the electronic program guide location according to the hierarchical structure of the category and subcategory terms of the associated hierarchical metadata, the updated electronic program guide being accessible by subscribers of the VOD services platform both via subscriber devices connected to the VOD services platform via a closed delivery system through a TV services platform and via subscriber devices connected via an open delivery system through the Internet allowing the subscribers to navigate and select hierarchically-arranged titles of video-on-demand program content listed by category and subcategory terms from the updated electronic program guide; (d) receiving, at the VOD services platform via the closed delivery system, a selection by a subscriber of a title from the updated electronic program guide, including information associated with the location of the title of the received video-on-demand program, from a first subscriber device; (e) transmitting, from the VOD services platform to the first subscriber device via the closed delivery system, the first video-on-demand program content for playback on the first subscriber device; (f) receiving, at the VOD services platform via the open delivery system, a selection by the subscriber of the title from the updated electronic program guide, including information associated with the location of the title of the received video-on-demand program, from a second subscriber device; and (g) transmitting, from the VOD services platform to the second subscriber device via the open delivery system, the first video-on-demand program content for playback on the second subscriber device. - 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 comprising:
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(a) receiving, at a video-on-demand (VOD) services platform comprising one or more computers, first digital video-on-demand program content for a video-on-demand program and hierarchical metadata associated with the first video-on-demand program content, the metadata comprising a title, one or more category terms, and one or more subcategory terms using a hierarchical structure for identifying an electronic program guide location where the title of the received video-on-demand program is to be located following the same hierarchical structure used in said metadata; (b) storing, by the VOD services platform, the first video-on-demand program content; (c) updating, by the VOD services platform, an electronic program guide for the VOD services platform to list the title of the received video-on-demand program in the electronic program guide location according to the hierarchical structure of the category and subcategory terms of the associated hierarchical metadata, the updated electronic program guide being accessible by subscribers of the VOD services platform both via subscriber devices connected to the VOD services platform via a closed delivery system through a TV services platform and via subscriber devices connected via an open delivery system through the Internet allowing the subscribers to navigate and select hierarchically-arranged titles of video-on-demand program content listed by category and subcategory terms from the updated electronic program guide; (d) receiving, at the VOD services platform via the closed delivery system, a selection by a subscriber of a first title from the updated electronic program guide, including information associated with the location of the first title of the received video-on-demand program, from a first subscriber device; (e) transmitting, from the VOD services platform to the first subscriber device via the closed delivery system, the first video-on-demand program content for playback of the first video-on-demand program content on the first subscriber device; (f) receiving, at the VOD services platform via the open delivery system, a selection by the subscriber of a second title from the updated electronic program guide, including information associated with the location of the second title, from a second subscriber device; and (g) transmitting, from the VOD services platform to the second subscriber device via the open delivery system, a second video-on-demand program content for playback on the second subscriber device.
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Specification