System and method for providing integrated media

• US 9,538,241 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Grandy, Leslie L., Ehrlich, Scott H., Meyerson, Randy A., Mahlum, Edward T., Chasen, Jeffrey M., Kowalik, Olaf W., Meghji, Karim
• Primary Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US14/705,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20150237399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Methods and system deliver media to users of media presentation systems. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a media server communicates with a media presentation system, such as a media player for streaming video and audio, to present subscription and non-subscription media to the user of the media presentation system. Subscription media may include multi-tiered media packages and individual media offerings as selected by the user. The media may be presented in various formats, including video, a graphical display, an audio presentation, a graphical and audio presentation, URL links, and interactive windows. Information about the user, the user'"'"'s subscription status, the user'"'"'s media presentation system and information about the media providers and the media offered by the media providers are maintained by the media server. The media server updates the foregoing information in accordance with the interaction between the media server, the users of media presentation systems, and the media providers.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of electronically delivering media content and allocating subscription fees for electronically delivered media content, the method comprising:

a computer maintaining a plurality of media subscription level records;

the computer receiving over a network from a first user computing device a first subscription fee corresponding to a first media subscription level record of the plurality of media subscription level records, the first subscription fee for allowing the first user access over the network to a plurality of media content offerings from a plurality of media content providers, the access for a period of time;

the computer providing to the first user the access over the network to the plurality of media content offerings for the period of time;

the computer receiving media requests from the first user computing device requesting media content offerings;

the computer determining whether the first user qualifies to receive the media content offerings, based on the first media subscription level record;

the computer delivering the media content offerings over the network to the first user computing device if the first user qualifies to receive the media content offering;

the computer tracking a number of times the first user accesses media content offerings from the plurality of media content offerings over the network during the period of time;

the computer providing a given media content provider included in the plurality of content providers a portion of the first subscription fee, wherein the computer calculates the portion based on a number of times the first user accesses a first set of one or more media content offerings from the given media content provider during the period of time, the first set of one or more media content offerings included in the plurality of media content offerings;

the computer receiving from a second user computing device a second subscription fee corresponding to a second media subscription level record of the plurality of media subscription level records, the second subscription fee for allowing the second user access over the network to the plurality of media content offerings during the period of time;

the computer providing to the second user the access over the network to the plurality of media content offerings for the period of time;

the computer receiving a media requests from the second user computing device requesting media content offerings;

the computer determining whether the second user qualifies to receive the media content offerings, based on the second media subscription level record;

the computer delivering the media content offerings over the network to the second user computing device if the second user qualifies to receive the media content offering;

the computer tracking a number of times the second user accesses media content offerings from the plurality of media content offerings over the network during the period of time; and

the computer providing the given media content provider a portion of the second subscription fee, wherein the computer calculates the portion of the second subscription fee based on a number of times the second user accesses a second set of one or more media content offerings from the given media content provider during the period of time, the second set of one or more media content offerings different from the first set of one or more media content offerings and included in the plurality of media content offerings, and wherein the portion of the second subscription fee is different than the portion of the first subscription fee based on type and duration of accessed media content offerings of the first set of one or more media content offerings compared to accessed media content offerings of the second set of one or more media content offerings.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the access to the media content offerings is provided via the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein accessed media content offerings are transmitted in a packet format to the first and second user computing devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portions of the first and second subscription fees are provided to the given media content provider electronically.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media content offerings comprises audio and video content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessed media content offerings are streamed over the internet.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform operations for electronically delivering media content and allocating subscription fees for electronically delivered media content, the operation comprising:

maintaining a plurality of media subscription level records;

receiving, from a first user computing device over a network, a first subscription fee corresponding to a first media subscription level record of the plurality of media subscription level records, the first subscription fee to allow a first user access to a plurality of media content offerings from a plurality of media content providers over the network, the access for a period of time;

providing to the first user the access over the network to the plurality of media content offerings for the period of time;

receiving a media requests from the first user computing device requesting media content offerings;

determining whether the first user qualifies to receive the media content offerings, based on the first media subscription level record;

delivering the media content offerings over the network to the first user computing device if the first user qualifies to receive the media content offering;

tracking a number of times the first user accesses media content offerings from the plurality of media content offerings over the network during the period of time;

providing a media content provider included in the plurality of content providers a portion of the first subscription fee, wherein the portion is determined by the computing device based on a number of times the first user accesses media content offerings from the media content provider;

receiving from a second user computing device a second subscription fee corresponding to a second media subscription level record of the plurality of media subscription level records, the second subscription fee for allowing the second user access to the plurality of media content offerings during the period of time;

providing to the second user the access over the network to the plurality of media content offerings for the period of time;

receiving a media requests from the second user computing device requesting media content offerings;

determining whether the second user qualifies to receive the media content offerings, based on the second media subscription level record;

delivering the media content offerings over the network to the second user computing device if the second user qualifies to receive the media content offering;

tracking a number of times the second user accesses media content offerings from the plurality of media content offerings over the network during the period of time; and

providing the media content provider a portion of the second subscription fee, wherein the portion of the second subscription fee based on a number of times the second user accesses a second set of one or more media content offerings from the given media content provider during the period of time, the second set of one or more media content offerings different from the first set of one or more media content offerings and included in the plurality of media content offerings, and wherein the portion of the second subscription fee is different than the portion of the first subscription fee based on type and duration of accessed media content offerings of the first set of one or more media content offerings compared to accessed media content offerings of the second set of one or more media content offerings.

8. A computer implemented method for electronically delivering media content and allocating subscription fees for electronically delivered media content, the method comprising:

a computer maintaining a plurality of media subscription level records;

the a computer receiving over a network from a user computing device a subscription fee corresponding to a first media subscription level record of the plurality of media subscription level records, the first subscription fee for allowing the first user access over the network to a plurality of media content offerings from a plurality of media content providers, the access for a period of time;

the computer providing to the user the access over the network to the plurality of media content offerings for the period of time;

the computer receiving media requests from the first user computing device requesting media content offerings;

the computer determining whether the first user qualifies to receive the media content offerings, based on the first media subscription level record;

the computer delivering the media content offerings over the network to the first user computing device if the first user qualifies to receive the media content offering;

the computer tracking a number of times the user accesses media content offerings from the plurality of media content offerings over the network during the period of time;

the computer tracking a type of each media content offering provided by each of the plurality of media content providers; and

the computer providing a media content provider included in the plurality of content providers a portion of the subscription fee, wherein the computer calculates the portion based on a number of times the first user accesses media content offerings from the media content provider and the type of media content provided by the media content provider.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the portion of the subscription fee provided to a media content provider for a weather report is less than the portion provided to a media content provider for a television show.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the media content comprises audio and video content.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the media content is streamed over the internet.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

the computer receiving from a second user a subscription fee to allow the second user to access media content from the media content provider; and

the computer providing the media content provider a portion of the subscription fee from the second user.