Representing video client in social media

• US 9,578,116 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nijim, Yousef Wasef, Strothmann, James Alan, Langa, Jay Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thu Ha
• Application Number:
  US14/455,567
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/206, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44226 on social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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

Video client social media account creation and linking of the video client social media account creation to a video services subscription account is provided. A user may create a video client social media account in one of various social media services, wherein the video client social media account is linked to the user'"'"'s video service subscriber account. The user and the user'"'"'s social media contacts may follow and/or be followed by the video client social media account. Information associated with video content may be electronically communicated with the video client social media account. A search for available or upcoming video content matching the received information may be performed, and one or more functionalities may be automatically performed when the content is available.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication from a video client application of a selection to link a social media account with a subscription account associated with a service provider system that provides television services;

linking the social media account with the subscription account such that communications via the social media account are communicated to the video client application and communications via the video client application are communicated to the social media account;

receiving an electronic communication comprising video content information;

identifying at least one video content item associated with the received video content information;

performing a search across content sources associated with the subscription account for the at least one video content item including upcoming video content based on the received video content information;

determining an availability of the at least one video content item including the upcoming video content; and

providing a notification of the determined availability of the at least one video content item including referencing the determined availability of the upcoming video content on the social media account.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving settings information, wherein the settings information is utilized for determining one or more functionalities associated with the at least one video content item to perform.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if a video content item of the at least one video content item is currently available, performing one or more functionalities associated with the video content item, the one or more functionalities comprising:

recording the video content item;

placing the video content item in a folder;

posting a notification of the current availability of the video content item on a profile page of the social media account; and

providing a microblogging message to the social media account.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein if a video content item of the at least one video content item is not currently available but is scheduled to be available, performing one or more functionalities associated with the video content item when the video content item is available, the one or more functionalities comprising:

recording the video content item;

placing the video content item in a folder;

posting a notification of the current availability of the video content item on a profile page of the social media account; and

providing a microblogging message to the social media account.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an electronic communication comprising video content information comprises receiving one of:

an indication of following a video content item via the social media account;

an indication of liking a video content item via the social media account;

an indication of a search for a video content item via the social media account;

an indication of a posting of an image, audio clip, or a video clip of a video content item to the social media account;

or

a text message, email, or microblog comprising a video content item title, video content item image, video content item audio clip, video content item video clip, or video content item metadata.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a notification of the determined availability of the at least one video content item comprises providing at least one of:

a text message;

an email message;

a microblog; and

a social media account posting.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting video content interaction and viewing data; and

analyzing the collected data for determining user preferences and from where a user is finding information about what the user likes to watch.

8. A system comprising:

a memory storage; and

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

receive an indication from a video client application of a selection to link a social media account with a subscription account associated with a service provider system that provides television services;

link the social media account with the subscription account such that communications via the social media account are communicated to the video client application and communications via the video client application are communicated to the social media account;

receive an electronic communication comprising video content information;

identify at least one video content item associated with the received video content information;

perform a search across content sources associated with the subscription account for the at least one video content item including upcoming video content based on the received video content information;

determine an availability of the at least one video content item including the upcoming video content; and

provide a notification of the determined availability of the at least one video content item including referencing the determined availability of the upcoming video content on the social media account.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further operable to receive settings information, wherein the settings information is utilized for determining one or more functionalities associated with the at least one video content item to perform.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein if a video content item of the at least one video content item is currently available, the one or more processors are further operable to perform one or more functionalities associated with the video content item, the one or more functionalities comprising:

recording the video content item;

placing the video content item in a folder;

posting a notification of the current availability of the video content item on a profile page of the social media account; and

providing a microblogging message to the social media account.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein if a video content item of the at least one video content item is not currently available but is scheduled to be available, the one or more processors are further operable to perform one or more functionalities associated with the video content item when the video content item is available, the one or more functionalities comprising:

recording the video content item;

placing the video content item in a folder;

posting a notification of the current availability of the video content item on a profile page of the social media account; and

providing a microblogging message to the social media account.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein in receiving an electronic communication comprising video content information, the one or more processors are operable to receive one of:

an indication of following a video content item via the social media account;

an indication of liking a video content item via the social media account;

an indication of a search for a video content item via the social media account;

an indication of a posting of an image, audio clip, or a video clip of a video content item to the social media account;

or

a text message, email, or microblog comprising a video content item title, video content item image, video content item audio clip, video content item video clip, or video content item metadata.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein in providing a notification of the determined availability of the at least one video content item, the one or more processors are operable to provide at least one of:

a text message;

an email message;

a microblog; and

a social media account posting.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further operable to:

collect video content interaction and viewing data; and

analyze the collected data for determining user preferences and from where a user is finding information about what the user likes to watch.

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

receiving an indication from a video client application of a selection to link a social media account with a subscription account associated with a service provider system that provides television services;

linking the social media account with the subscription account such that communications via the social media account are communicated to the video client application and communications via the video client application are communicated to the social media account;

receiving an electronic communication comprising video content information;

identifying at least one video content item associated with the received video content information;

performing a search across content sources associated with the subscription account for the at least one video content item including upcoming video content based on the received video content information;

determining an availability of the at least one video content item including the upcoming video content; and

providing a notification of the determined availability of the at least one video content item including referencing the determined availability of the upcoming video content on the social media account.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising receiving settings information, wherein the settings information is utilized for determining one or more functionalities associated with the at least one video content item to perform, the one or more functionalities comprising:

recording the video content item;

placing the video content item in a folder;

posting a notification of the current availability of the video content item on a profile page of the social media account; and

providing a microblogging message to the social media account.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein if a video content item of the at least one video content item is not available but is scheduled to be available, providing a notification when the video content item is available, the notification comprising one or more of:

a text message;

an email message;

a microblog; and

a social media account posting.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein receiving an electronic communication comprising video content information comprises receiving one of:

an indication of following a video content item via the social media account;

an indication of liking a video content item via the social media account;

an indication of a search for a video content item via the social media account;

an indication of a posting of an image, audio clip, or a video clip of a video content item to the social media account;

or

a text message, email, or microblog comprising a video content item title, video content item image, video content item audio clip, video content item video clip, or video content item metadata.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein providing a notification of the determined availability of the at least one video content item comprises providing at least one of:

a text message;

an email message;

a microblog; and

a social media account posting.

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

collecting video content interaction and viewing data; and

analyzing the collected data for determining user preferences and from where a user is finding information about what the user likes to watch.