System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider

• US 9,338,487 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Inventors: Perez, Milton Diaz
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mushfikh
• Application Number:
  US14/724,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20150264440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 725 74-104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• 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 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• 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 21/4823 : using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6379 : directed to encoder , e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 : specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• 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 21/85406 : involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many, new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Claims

1. A video-on-demand system for providing video-on-demand services to a plurality of subscriber devices, the system comprising:

a video-on-demand services platform, comprising one or more computers and a first non-transitory computer-readable memory operatively connected to the one or more computers of the video-on-demand services platform and operatively connected to the plurality of subscriber devices, programmed to perform the steps of;

(a) receiving, at the video-on-demand services platform, first video-on-demand program content for a video-on-demand program and hierarchical metadata associated with the first video-on-demand program content, the hierarchical 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 hierarchical metadata;

(b) storing, on a second non-transitory computer-readable memory operatively connected to the one or more computers of the video-on-demand services platform, the first video-on-demand program content;

(c) updating, by the video-on-demand services platform, an electronic program guide for the video-on-demand 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 video-on-demand services platform both via subscriber devices connected to the video-on-demand 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 video-on-demand services platform via the closed delivery system, a first 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 second non-transitory computer-readable memory 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 video-on-demand services platform via the open delivery system, a second 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 second non-transitory computer-readable memory to the second subscriber device via the open delivery system, the first video-on-demand program content for playback on the second subscriber device.

2. The video-on-demand system of claim 1, wherein the video-on-demand program content was uploaded to an external web-based video content management system from a content provider'"'"'s computer connected thereto via the Internet,

wherein the external web-based video content management system is operatively connected to the video-on-demand services platform.

3. The video-on-demand system of claim 2, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed to perform the steps of:

(h) receiving, at the video-on-demand services platform, a viewer ID associated with the subscriber from the first or second subscriber device; and

(i) providing, from the video-on-demand services platform to the respective subscriber device, via the updated electronic program guide, access to select one or more stored bookmarks associated with the viewer ID.

4. The video-on-demand system of claim 1, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed to perform the steps of:

(h) receiving, at the video-on-demand services platform from the first subscriber device or the second subscriber device, a selection by the subscriber to bookmark the selected title from the electronic program guide; and

(i) storing, on a third non-transitory computer-readable memory operatively connected to the one or more computers of the video-on-demand services platform, an electronic program guide location address for the video-on-demand program associated with the selected title as a bookmark for later viewing.

5. The video-on-demand system of claim 4, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed to perform the step of:

(j) receiving, at the video-on-demand services platform from the first or second subscriber device via the electronic program guide, a selection from the subscriber to send at least one bookmark to another subscriber.

6. The video-on-demand system of claim 5, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed to perform the step of:

(k) transmitting, by the video-on-demand services platform, an email including one or more stored bookmarks to an email address of a user on the Internet.

7. The video-on-demand system of claim 4, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed to perform the step of:

(j) receiving, at the video-on-demand services platform via the electronic program guide from another subscriber to the video-on-demand services platform, a bookmark for a video-on-demand program.

8. The video-on-demand system of claim 1, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed to perform the step of:

(h) obtaining, at the video-on-demand services platform via the electronic program guide, a bookmark for a video-on-demand program on the video-on-demand services platform included in an email sent to the video-on-demand services platform.

9. The video-on-demand system of claim 1, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is provided in a digital TV service system.

10. The video-on-demand system of claim 1, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is provided in an IPTV service system.

11. The video-on-demand system of claim 1, wherein the first video-on-demand program content comprises at least a first part and a second part different from the first part, and the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed such that

step (e) of transmitting the received video-on-demand content comprises transmitting the received video-on-demand content for playback of a first part of the first video-on-demand program content on the first subscriber device, and

step (g) of transmitting the received video-on-demand program content comprises transmitting the received video-on-demand content for playback of a second part of the first video-on-demand program content on the second subscriber device.

12. The video-on-demand system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the subscriber selections received via the updated electronic program guide are associated with one or more revenue-generating services provided by the video-on-demand services platform.

13. The video-on-demand system of claim 12, wherein said revenue-generating services are one or more of the group consisting of:

TV advertising insertion, premium programming service, TV service subscription, TV program sponsorship, TV product sales, and pay-per-view TV transaction.

14. The video-on-demand system of claim 1, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed to perform the steps of:

(h) receiving, at the video-on-demand services platform, uploaded video-on-demand program content from an external web-based video content management system;

(i) automatically updating the electronic program guide by listing updated titles for the uploaded video-on-demand program content for the video-on-demand services platform.

15. The video-on-demand system of claim 14, wherein said uploaded video-on-demand program content is associated with one or more revenue-generating services provided by the video-on-demand services platform.

16. The video-on-demand system of claim 15, wherein said revenue-generating services are one or more of the group consisting of:

TV advertising insertion, premium programming service, TV service subscription, TV program sponsorship, TV product sales, and pay-per-view TV transaction.

17. The video-on-demand system of claim 15, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed to perform the step of:

(j) tracking selections of the uploaded video-on-demand program content by subscribers in order to determine the revenue generation value of the uploaded video-on-demand program content.

18. The video-on-demand system of claim 14, wherein the uploaded video-on-demand program content comprises one or more of the group consisting of:

user-generated content from Internet users, web-based content from video content websites, digital video from mobile phones, and digital video from Internet-connected portable video devices.

19. The video-on-demand system of claim 14, wherein the video-on-demand services platform is further programmed to perform the step of:

(j) listing the updated video-on-demand program content titles on Internet-connected websites and device platforms in order to provide program information via the video-on-demand services platform to Internet users.

20. A video-on-demand system for providing video-on-demand services to a plurality of subscriber devices, the system comprising:

a video-on-demand services platform, comprising one or more computers and a first non-transitory computer-readable memory operatively connected to the one or more computers of the video-on-demand services platform and operatively connected to the plurality of subscriber devices, programmed to perform the steps of;

(a) receiving, at a video-on-demand services platform, first video-on-demand program content for a video-on-demand program and hierarchical metadata associated with the first video-on-demand program content, the hierarchical 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 hierarchical metadata;

(b) storing, on a second non-transitory computer-readable memory operatively connected to the one or more computers of the video-on-demand services platform, the first video-on-demand program content;

(c) updating, by the video-on-demand services platform, an electronic program guide for the video-on-demand services platform to list the title of the received video-on-demand program in the electronic program guide at a 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 video-on-demand services platform both via subscriber devices connected to the video-on-demand 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 video-on-demand 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 second non-transitory computer-readable memory 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 video-on-demand 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 second non-transitory computer-readable memory to the second subscriber device via the open delivery system, a second video-on-demand program content for playback on the second subscriber device.