System and method for a media content reconciler

• US 9,503,496 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rooks, Kelsyn, Emerson, David E., Lafreniere, Gary W., Goergen, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BIAGINI, CHRISTOPHER D
• Application Number:
  US12/499,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,694 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/41 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate

Abstract

A system and method for reconciling media content available through a number of service providers. A request is received to identify media content. One or more characteristics of the media content are determined. A determination is made whether the media content is associated with an identifier in response to the one or more characteristics. An identifier is associated with the media content in response to determining there is not an existing identifier associated with the media content. The media content is cross referenced between the number of service providers utilizing the identifier and time zones. A database is updated to include the identifier and the one or more characteristics associated with the media content.

Claims

1. A method for reconciling media content available through a plurality of service providers, the method comprising:

receiving a request to identify media content from one of the plurality of service providers, wherein the request is received by a server;

determining one or more characteristics of the media content;

determining if the media content is associated with an identifier in response to the one or more characteristics;

automatically associating an identifier recognizable by the plurality of service providers with the media content in response to determining there is not an existing identifier associated with the media content;

automatically cross referencing the media content between the plurality of service providers in a database of the server, utilizing the identifier and time zones;

automatically updating the database of the server accessible to the plurality of service providers to include the identifier and the one or more characteristics associated with the media content;

receiving a request from a particular user of a plurality of users to invite one or more contacts associated with the particular user to view the media content;

based on the automatic cross referencing of the media content between the plurality of service providers, determining for each of the one or more contacts whether the media content is available to that particular contact based on profiles for each of the one or more contacts;

identifying at least one contact of the one or more contacts for whom the media content is available, based on the determination as to whether the media content is available for each of the one or more contacts;

sending an invitation to each of the at least one contact to view the media content together with the particular user, the invitation establishing a calendar entry indicating information for viewing the media content that is customized for the channel, date, time, and times zones that the media content is available for that particular contact of the at least one contact; and

filtering discussion of the media content on one or more social networks for the particular user and the at least one contact, until each of the particular user and the at least one contact has had an opportunity to view the media content.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request is received from one of the plurality of users.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the one of the plurality of users is one of the plurality of service providers in communication with the server.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics is information describing the media content.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing the data included within the media content to determine a data signature.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the one or more characteristics include the data signature of the media content.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media content is new media content submitted by a service provider in response to generating the media content.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media content is a television show, movie, presentation, or media content.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

associating the media content with the existing identifier in response to determining the media content has previously been assigned the existing identifier.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media guide reconciles a plurality of media content utilizing a plurality of identifiers associated with the plurality of media content for the plurality of service providers.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a message utilizing a social network indicating information for accessing the media content from the plurality of service providers.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining the one or more characteristics of the media content is performed by an administrator with access to review the media content.

13. A media content reconciler system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a network interface operable to receive a plurality of requests to identify a plurality of media content from a plurality of service providers;

reconciler logic in communication with the network interface and executable by the processor, the reconciler logic operable to determine one or more characteristics of each of the plurality of media content, determine if each of the plurality of media content is associated with an existing identifier in response to the one or more characteristics, associate an identifier recognizable by the plurality of service providers with the media content in response to determining there is no existing identifier associated with the media content, and cross reference the media content between the plurality of service providers in a database utilizing the identifier and time zones; and

a database in communication with the reconciler logic, the database is accessible by each of the plurality of service providers, the database is to store a plurality of identifiers, each of the plurality of identifiers is associated with one of a plurality of media content,

wherein the reconciler logic is operable to receive a request from a particular user of a plurality of users to invite one or more contacts associated with the particular user to view the media content, determine for each of the one or more contacts whether the media content is available to that particular contact based on profiles for each of the one or more contacts based on the automatic cross referencing of the media content between the plurality of service providers, identify at least one contact of the one or more contacts for whom the media content is available based on the determination as to whether the media content is available for each of the one or more contacts, and send an invitation to each of the at least one contact to view the media content together with the particular user, the invitation establishing a calendar entry indicating information for viewing the media content that is customized for the channel, date, time, and times zones that the media content is available for that particular contact of the at least one contact; and

wherein the media content reconciler system is configured to filter discussion of the media content for the particular user and the at least one contact on one or more social networks until each of the particular user and the at least one contact has had an opportunity to view the media content.

14. The media content reconciler system according to claim 13, wherein the database stores the one or more characteristics associated with each of the plurality of media content, and wherein the database updates a social network of a user with a media selection being watched by the user and a channel and time for a secondary user to view the media selection based on a service provider and a time zone of the secondary user.

15. The media content reconciler system according to claim 13, wherein the network interface responds to each of the plurality of requests identifying the plurality of media content, the associated identifier, and information for accessing each of the plurality of media content from the plurality of service providers.

16. The media content reconciler system according to claim 15, wherein the information includes a channel and a time.

17. The media content reconciler system according to claim 13, wherein the reconciler logic cross references standard definition versions and high definition versions of the media content.

18. A media content reconciler comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed to;

receive a request to identify media content from one of a plurality of service providers, determine one or more characteristics of the media content, determine if the media content is associated with an existing identifier in response to the one or more characteristics, associate an identifier recognizable by the plurality of service providers with the media content in response to determining there is no existing identifier associated with the media content, cross reference the media content between the plurality of service providers in a database utilizing the identifier and time zones, update the database accessible to the plurality of service providers to include the identifier and the one or more characteristics associated with the media content, receive a request from a particular user of a plurality of users to invite one or more contacts associated with the particular user to view the media content, determine for each of the one or more contacts whether the media content is available to that particular contact based on profiles for each of the one or more contacts based on the automatic cross referencing of the media content between the plurality of service providers, identify at least one contact of the one or more contacts for whom the media content is available based on the determination as to whether the media content is available for each of the one or more contacts, send an invitation to each of the at least one contact to view the media content together with the particular user, the invitation establishing a calendar entry indicating information for viewing the media content that is customized for the channel, date, time, and times zones that the media content is available for that particular contact of the at least one contact, and filter discussion of the media content for the particular user and the at least one contact on one or more social networks until each of the particular user and the at least one contact has had an opportunity to view the media content.

19. The media content reconciler according to claim 18, wherein the media content reconciler communicates with a plurality of service providers and the plurality of users through one or more communications networks to display the guide that cross references the media content between the plurality of service providers, and wherein the media guide displaying a channel and time for the media content corresponding to each of the plurality of service providers and the time zones in response to the media content being available.

20. The media content reconciler according to claim 18, wherein the one or more characteristics are a data signature of the media content, and wherein the media content is a television show, movie, presentation, or media content.