Systems and methods for providing storage of data on servers in an on-demand media delivery system

• US 9,294,799 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, William L., Ellis, Michael D., Easterbrook, Kevin B., Reichardt, M. Scott, Knee, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter B
• Application Number:
  US14/926,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20160057476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 145 Days
• Field of Search: 725/30, 725/87, 725/91, 725/97
• 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: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/26283 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 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• 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 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• 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

A system and method may be provided that allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate on-demand media content and data stored on a remote server network in an on-demand media delivery system. More particularly, the system may allow a user to access his or her on-demand media account from user equipment in different locations as long as the current user equipment can communicate with a remote server that stores user-specific information. The system upon user selection may freeze the delivery of on-demand media at a particular point and allow the user to resume the media at a later time from some other network location in system. Users may upload personal images or files to an on-demand delivery server for later retrieval and display. Users may be permitted to assign access rights to the uploaded files.

Claims

1. A first user equipment configured to:

receive, using control circuitry, a selection of a media asset identifier corresponding to media content, wherein the media content was previously accessed by second user equipment, wherein a request to pause access to the media content was received by the second user equipment when the media content was previously accessed by the second user equipment, and wherein a position, in the media content, that corresponds to a pause point, was stored in a data structure of a profile of a user in a storage device remote from the first user equipment when the request to pause access to the media content was received by the second user equipment;

access the data structure of the profile of the user;

access, from the data structure, the position that corresponds to the pause point;

retrieve the position that corresponds to the pause point from the data structure;

determine, based on information in the data structure, that the media content was previously accessed by the second user equipment;

based on the receiving;

cause to be simultaneously displayed a first option and a second option;

determine whether the first option or the second option is selected by the user; and

when it is determined that the first option is selected by the user;

generate a request including a position identifier that identifies the retrieved position that corresponds to the pause point,

transmit the request, and

receive, from the position that corresponds to the pause point, based on the position identifier included in the request, the media content; and

when it is determined that the second option is selected by the user;

access the media content starting from a second point in the media content which is prior to the position.

2. The first user equipment of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment is further configured to generate an instruction to display the media content from the first point in the media content when it is determined that the first option was selected.

3. The first user equipment of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment is further configured to generate an instruction to display the media content from the second point in the media content when it is determined that the second option was selected.

4. The first user equipment of claim 1, wherein the second point is selected by the user using the first user equipment.

5. The first user equipment of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment is further configured, when accessing the data structure of the profile of the user, to:

generate a login option to be displayed to the user using the first user equipment;

receive a communication including login identification and associated password information from the user;

generate a request for authorization;

transmit the request for authorization; and

receive, based on a determination that the login identification and associated password information are valid, authorization to access the data structure of the profile of the user.

6. The first user equipment of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment is further configured to generate for display a third option that causes, responsive to user selection, the first user equipment to display the media content from a point in the media content that is after the position.

7. The first user equipment of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment is further configured to receive, either (1) an indication of program type, or (2) a text string;

and in response to the receiving of either the indication of program type or the text string, receive search results including the previously accessed media content.

8. The first user equipment of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of the media asset identifier corresponding to media content comprises:

receiving user input that identifies the user; and

in response to receiving the user input, automatically configuring the first user equipment to generate for display the first option and the second option.

9. The first user equipment of claim 1, wherein the position is associated with an account associated with the user of the second user equipment, the second user equipment, or user-specific data.

10. A system comprising:

a first user equipment configured to;

receive a request to pause access to a media content;

cause to be stored, in a data structure of a profile of a user in a storage device remote from the first user equipment, when the request to pause access to the media content is received, a position, in the media content, that corresponds to a pause point; and

a second user equipment configured to;

access the data structure of the profile of the user;

access, from the data structure, the position that corresponds to the pause point;

retrieve the position that corresponds to the pause point from the data structure;

receive a selection of a media asset identifier corresponding to the media content;

determine, based on information in the data structure, that the media content was previously accessed by the first user equipment;

based on the receiving of the selection of the media asset identifier corresponding to the media content;

cause to be simultaneously displayed at the second user equipment a first option and a second option;

determine whether the first option or the second option is selected by the user; and

when it is determined that the first option is selected by the user;

generate a request including a position identifier that identifies the position that corresponds to the pause point,

transmit the request, and

receive, from the position that corresponds to the pause point, based on the position identifier included in the request, the media content; and

when it is determined that the second option is selected by the user;

access the media content starting from a second point in the media content which is prior to the position.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second user equipment is further configured to generate an instruction to display the media content at the second user equipment from the first point in the media content when it is determined that the first option was selected.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the second user equipment is further configured to generate an instruction to display the media content at the second user equipment from the second point in the media content when it is determined that the second option was selected.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the second point is selected by the user using the second equipment.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the second user equipment is further configured, when accessing the data structure of the profile of the user, to:

generate a login option to be displayed to the user at the second user equipment;

receive a communication including login identification and associated password information from the user;

generate a request for authorization;

transmit the request for authorization; and

receive, based on a determination that the login identification and associated password information are valid, authorization to access the data structure of the profile of the user.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the second user equipment is further configured to display a third option that causes, responsive to user selection, the second user equipment to display the media content from a point in the media content that is after the position.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the second user equipment is further configured to:

receive either (1) an indication of program type, or (2) a text string; and

in response to the receiving of either the indication of program type or the text string, receive search results including the previously accessed media content.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein receiving the selection of the media asset identifier corresponding to media content comprises:

receiving user input that identifies the user; and

in response to receiving the user input, automatically configuring the second user equipment to generate for display the first option and the second option.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the position is associated with an account associated with the user of the first user equipment, the first user equipment, or user-specific data.

19. A system comprising a server configured to:

receive, with circuitry, a first communication from first user equipment requesting that delivery of media content to the first user equipment be paused;

based on receiving the first communication, cause a position, in the media content, that corresponds to a pause point, to be stored in a data structure of a profile of a user in a storage device remote from the first user equipment;

determine, based on information in the data structure, that the media content was previously accessed by the first user equipment;

cause to be simultaneously displayed on second user equipment a first option and a second option;

cause the second user equipment to;

access the data structure of the profile of the user;

access, from the data structure stored on the storage device remote from the first user equipment, the position that corresponds to the pause point;

retrieve the position that corresponds to the pause point from the data structure;

determine whether the first option or the second option is selected by the user; and

when it is determined that the first option is selected by the user;

generate a request including a position identifier that identifies the position that corresponds to the pause point;

transmit the request; and

cause delivery of the media content to the second user equipment starting from the position that corresponds to the pause point, based on the position identifier included in the request; and

when it is determined that the second option is selected by the user;

cause delivery of the media content to the second user equipment starting from a second point in the media content which is prior to the position.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the server is further configured to generate an instruction to display the media content at the second user equipment from the first point in the media content when it is determined that the first option was selected at the second user equipment.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the server is further configured to generate an instruction to display the media content at the second user equipment from the second point in the media content when it is determined that the second option was selected at the second user equipment.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the second point is selected by the user using the second equipment.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the server is further configured, when accessing the data structure of the profile of the user, to:

generate a login option to be displayed to the user using the second user equipment;

receive a communication including login identification and associated password information from the user;

generate a request for authorization;

transmit the request for authorization; and

receive, based on a determination that the login identification and associated password information are valid, authorization to access the data structure of the profile of the user.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the server is further configured to generate for display, on the second user equipment, a third option that causes, responsive to user selection, the second user equipment to display the media content from a point in the media content that is after the position.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the server is further configured to:

receive, at the second user equipment, either (1) an indication of program type, or (2) a text string; and

in response to the receiving of either the indication of program type or the text string, receive at the second user equipment, search results including the previously accessed media content.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein receiving the first communication from the first user equipment comprises:

receiving user input that identifies the user; and

in response to receiving the user input, automatically configuring the second user equipment to generate for display the first option and the second option.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the position is associated with an account associated with the user of the first user equipment, the first user equipment, or user-specific data.

28. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first user equipment, a request to pause access to media content;

causing to be stored, in a data structure of a profile of a user in a storage device remote from the first user equipment, when the request to pause access to the media content is received, a position, in the media content, that corresponds to a pause point;

accessing the data structure of the profile of the user;

accessing, from the data structure, the position that corresponds to the pause point;

retrieving the position that corresponds to the pause point from the data structure;

determining, based on information in the data structure, that the media content was previously accessed by the first user equipment;

receiving at a second user equipment a selection of a media asset identifier corresponding to the media content;

causing to be simultaneously displayed at the second user equipment, based on the receiving, a first option and a second option;

determining whether the first option or the second option is selected by the user; and

when it is determined that the first option is selected by the user;

generating a request including a position identifier that identifies the position that corresponds to the pause point,

transmitting the request, and

receiving, from the position that corresponds to the pause point, based on the position identifier included in the request, the media content; and

when it is determined that the second option is selected by the user;

accessing the media content starting from a second point in the media content which is prior to the position.