Systems and methods for caching data in media-on-demand systems

• US 9,282,362 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US14/483,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20150033261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 725 87-116, 725 37- 61, 709217-232
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2183 Cache memory caches in web servers or browsers G06F16/9574; intermediate storage and caching in data networks H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• 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 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4508 : Management of client data or end-user data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 : for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

Systems and methods may be provided for retrieving non-on-demand media data and on-demand media data that is provided by separate data sources. On-demand media data may be cached to reduce system latencies and the burden on the distribution network.

Claims

1. A method for caching a video preview, the method comprising:

receiving, with an interactive media application, a user request to view a program information screen for a media program; and

in response to receiving the user request;

generating, for display, the program information screen including a preview option; and

caching a video preview of the media program,

wherein the video preview is accessible by selecting the preview option, and

wherein the video preview is cached prior to any user selection of the preview option.

2. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising displaying the cached video preview of the media program in response to selecting the preview option.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the video preview is cached in a memory of the user equipment.

4. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user indication to access the media program associated with the video preview;

determining whether the video program is cached in the memory of the user equipment;

in response to determining the media program is cached, display the cached video program; and

in response to determining the media program is not cached, retrieving the media program from a media data source and displaying the retrieved media program.

5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the video preview is cached by automatically and periodically caching video previews associated with media programs.

6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the video preview is cached by automatically and periodically caching selected video previews based on a user history.

7. The method defined in claim 6, further comprising monitoring user activity on the user equipment, and generating the user history based on the monitored user activity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the media program originates from an on-demand media data source.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the program information screen includes at least one of a title, rating, cost, run-time, release date, rental period, viewing period, movie summary, actor/actress names, producer names, and production studio name.

10. A system for caching a video preview, comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

receive, with an interactive media application, a user request to view a program information screen for a media program; and

in response to receiving the user request;

generate, for display, the program information screen including a preview option; and

cache a video preview of the video program,

wherein the video preview is accessible by selecting the preview option, and

wherein the video preview is cached prior to any user selection of the preview option.

11. The system defined in claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display the cached video preview of the media program in response to selecting the preview option.

12. The system defined in claim 10, wherein the video preview is cached in a memory of the user equipment.

13. The system defined in claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user indication to access the media program associated with the video preview;

determine whether the media program is cached in the memory of the user equipment;

in response to determining the media program is cached, display the cached video program; and

in response to determining the media program is not cached, retrieve the media program from a media data source and display the retrieved media program.

14. The system defined in claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically and periodically cache video previews associated with media programs.

15. The system defined in claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically and periodically cache selected video previews based on a user history.

16. The system defined in claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor user activity on the user equipment, and generate the user history based on the monitored user activity.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the media program originates from an on-demand media data source.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the program information screen includes at least one of a title, rating, cost, run-time, release date, rental period, viewing period, movie summary, actor/actress names, producer names, and production studio name.