Content check-in

• US 9,292,174 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nijim, Yousef Wasef, Langa, Jay Paul, Strothmann, James Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Titcomb, William
• Application Number:
  US14/067,094
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 715/719
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

Content check-in may be provided. Users may be able to check-in a video content item that he/she may be currently viewing or that he/she may view later such that the checked-in content item may be shared with one or more contacts. The user may provide information for one or more contacts to allow for an analysis of available viewing options for the checked-in content item that may be offered to selected contacts based on the viewing location and service provider(s) associated with the selected contacts.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a video content item for display via a client application;

receiving an indication to check in the video content item via a selectable option displayed via the client application;

receiving an identification of social network contact via the client application with whom the video content item is to be shared;

analyzing viewing options for the checked-in video content item for the social network contact based on a location and a service provider of the social network contact; and

providing a notification to a social networking application of the social network contact indicating the viewing options for the checked-in video content item according to the location and the service provider of the social network contact.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication to check in the video content item comprises receiving the indication via one or more of:

a voice activation command;

a gesture input;

a button on a remote;

a menu option;

a selection of a banner;

or

an alternate device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the viewing options based on receiving via the social networking application one or more of:

the location of the social network contact;

or

the service provider of the social network contact.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to providing the notification to the social networking application of the social network contact with the viewing options, providing an option to the social network contact to share additional information via the social networking application on one or more of:

the location of the social network contact; and

the service provider of the social network contact.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to receiving the identification of social network contact with whom the video content item is to be shared, further comprising:

receiving a selection to share the social networks contacts;

providing a list of one or more social network contacts; and

receiving a selection of a social network contact from the list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication to check in the video content item comprises receiving an indication to check in one or more of:

a DVR content item;

a VOD content item;

a linear video content item;

or

an Internet video content item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the notification to the social network contact with the viewing options comprises providing an indication of one or more of:

times at which the checked-in content item is available for viewing according to the location and the service provider of the social network contact; and

channels on which the checked-in content item is available for viewing according to the location and the service provider of the social network contact.

8. A system comprising:

a memory storage; and

one or more processing units coupled to the memory storage, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to;

provide a video content item for display via a client application;

receive an indication to check in the video content item via a selectable option displayed via the client application;

provide a list of social network contacts;

receive an identification of social network contact to notify via the client application;

analyze viewing options for the checked-in video content item for the social network contact based on a location and a service provider of the social network contact; and

provide a notification to a social networking application of the social network contact indicating the viewing options for the checked-in video content item according to the location and the service provider of the social network contact.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein in receiving the indication to check in the video content item, the one or more processing units are operable to receive the indication via one or more of:

a voice activation command;

a gesture input;

a button on a remote;

a menu option;

a selection of a banner;

or

an alternate device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to analyze the viewing options based on receiving via the social networking application of the social network contact one or more of:

the location of the social network contact;

or

the service provider of the social network contact.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein prior to providing the notification to the social networking application of the social network contact with the viewing options, the one or more processing units are operable to provide an option to the social network contact to share additional information via the social networking application on one or more of:

the location of the social network contact; and

the service provider of the social network contact.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein prior to providing the list of social network contacts, the one or more processing units are operable to receive a selection to share the social networks contacts via the client application.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein in receiving the indication to check in the video content item, the one or more processing units are operable to receive an indication to check in one or more of:

a DVR content item;

a VOD content item;

a linear video content item;

or

an Internet video content item.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to provide an indication of one or more of:

times at which the checked in content item is available for viewing according to the location and the service provider of the social network contact; and

channels on which the checked in content item is available for viewing according to the location and the service provider of the social network contact.

15. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed, perform a method comprising:

providing a video content item for display via a client application;

receiving an indication to check in the video content item via a selectable option displayed via the client application;

providing a list of social network contacts;

receiving an identification of social network contact to notify via the client application;

analyzing viewing options for the checked-in video content item based on a location and a service provider of the social network contact of the social network contact; and

providing a notification to a social networking application of the social network contact indicating the viewing options for the checked-in video content item according to the location and the service provider of the social network contact.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein receiving the indication to check in the video content item comprises receiving the indication via one or more of:

a voice activation command;

a gesture input;

a button on a remote;

a menu option;

a selection of a banner;

or

an alternate device.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising receiving via the social networking application one or more of:

the location of the social network contact;

or

the service provider of the social network contact.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein prior to providing the notification to the social networking application of the social network contact with the viewing options, providing an option to the selected social network contact to share additional information via the social networking application on one or more of:

the location of the social network contact; and

the service provider of the social network contact.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein prior to providing the list of social network contacts, further comprising receiving a selection to share the social networks contacts via the client application.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising providing an indication of:

times at which the checked in content item is available for viewing according to the location and the service provider of the social network contact; and

channels on which the checked in content item is available for viewing according to the location and the service provider of the social network contact.