Application programming interface combining asset listings

• US 9,967,636 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Hindle, James, Scheyen, Peter G. N., Vickers, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GEBRESENBET, DINKU W
• Application Number:
  US12/912,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,751 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• 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 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A system, method and API for processing and providing a unified list of the content offerings of multiple content sources.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving, from a database, one or more records that comprise a first set of data fields, wherein the first set of data fields is associated with a record type, and wherein the record type is processed by different classes of devices;

based on determining that the one or more records are associated with a data field extension to the record type, generating, by a computing device, one or more extended records, wherein a record in the one or more extended records comprises;

a first portion that comprises the first set of data fields,

a plurality of second portions that each comprises a second set of data fields, and

a plurality of third portions, wherein each of the plurality of third portions is associated with a respective second portion in the record, wherein each of the plurality of third portions comprises a plurality of separate indicators, and wherein each of the plurality of separate indicators indicates whether a corresponding one of the different classes of devices is to process the second set of data fields of the respective second portion; and

transmitting, to a plurality of devices that comprises each of the different classes of devices, the one or more extended records.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of separate indicators comprises a first indicator that indicates, to a first class of device, that the first class of device is to process the second set of data fields of the respective second portion, and wherein the plurality of separate indicators comprises a second indicator that indicates, to a second class of device, that the second class of device is to store the second set of data fields of the respective second portion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of separate indicators comprises a first indicator that indicates, to a first class of device, that the first class of device is to process the second set of data fields of the respective second portion, and wherein the plurality of separate indicators comprises a second indicator that indicates, to a second class of device, that the second class of device is not to process the second set of data fields of the respective second portion.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of data fields comprises data associated with first remotely stored content, and wherein the second set of data fields comprises promotional content for display, in a program guide, with information associated with the first remotely stored content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of separate indicators comprises a first indicator indicating that a first class of device is to process the second set of data fields of the respective second portion, and wherein the method further comprises:

processing, by a client device in communication with the computing device via a network, the second set of data fields in response to determining that the client device is associated with the first class of device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a client device, a message that indicates a search criterion;

querying, based on the search criterion, a data source;

receiving, from the data source and responsive to the querying, the one or more extended records; and

wherein the transmitting the one or more extended records is performed as a response to the message.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

querying, to obtain one or more locally stored records, a local storage, wherein the one or more locally stored records identify locally stored content and satisfy the search criterion;

merging, to obtain a combination of records that satisfies the search criterion, the one or more locally stored records with the one or more extended records,

causing display of first information, wherein the first information is based on a first record from the combination of records; and

causing, in response to a command, display of second information, wherein the second information is based on a second record from the combination of records.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of data fields is associated with video on demand (VOD) content, and wherein the second set of data fields comprises promotional content for display, in a program guide, with information associated with the VOD content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of data fields is associated with broadcast content, and wherein the second set of data fields comprises promotional content for display, in a program guide, with information associated with the broadcast content.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a search criterion;

querying first storage records, wherein the first storage records are associated with personal video recorder (PVR) content, and wherein the first storage records are associated with a record type;

merging, to obtain a plurality of combined records that satisfies the search criterion, one or more of the first storage records with one or more extended records, wherein a record of the one or more extended records comprises;

one or more first sets of data fields that are associated with the record type, and

one or more second sets of data fields that are associated with a data field extension to the record type;

causing display of first information, wherein the first information is based on a first record from the plurality of combined records; and

causing, in response to a command, display of second information, wherein the second information is based on a second record from the plurality of combined records.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

querying second storage records, wherein the second storage records are associated with video on demand (VOD) content, and wherein the second storage records are associated with the record type; and

wherein merging the one or more of the first storage records with the one or more extended records comprises merging, to obtain the plurality of combined records, the one or more of the first storage records with one or more of the second storage records and with the one or more extended records.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein querying the second storage records is performed by querying a network storage that stores the second storage records.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein querying the first storage records is performed by querying a local storage that stores the first storage records.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more second sets of data fields is a plurality of second sets of data fields, wherein the record type is processed by different classes of devices, and wherein the record comprises:

a first portion that comprises the one or more first set of data fields,

a plurality of second portions that each comprises, from the plurality of second sets of data fields, a second set of data fields, and

a plurality of third portions, wherein each of the plurality of third portions is associated with a respective second portion in the record, and wherein each of the plurality of third portions comprises a plurality of separate indicators, wherein each of the plurality of separate indicators indicates whether a corresponding one of the different classes of devices is to process the second set of data fields of the respective second portion.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, via a network, one or more extended records, wherein a record in the one or more extended records comprises;

one or more first sets of data fields that are associated with a record type, and

one or more second sets of data fields that are associated with a data field extension to the record type;

receiving a search criterion;

querying first storage records, wherein the first storage records are associated with personal video recorder (PVR) content, and wherein the first storage records are associated with the record type;

merging, to obtain a plurality of combined records that satisfies the search criterion, one or more of the first storage records with the one or more extended records;

causing display of first information, wherein the first information is based on a first record from the plurality of combined records; and

causing, in response to a command, display of second information, wherein the second information is based on a second record from the plurality of combined records.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

querying second storage records, wherein the second storage records are associated with video on demand (VOD) content, and wherein the second storage records are associated with the record type; and

wherein merging the one or more of the first storage records with the one or more extended records comprises merging, to obtain the plurality of combined records, the one or more of the first storage records with one or more of the second storage records and with the one or more extended records.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein querying the second storage records is performed by querying a network storage that stores the second storage records.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein querying the first storage records is performed by querying a local storage that stores the first storage records.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more second sets of data fields is a plurality of second sets of data fields, wherein the record type is processed by different classes of devices, and wherein the record comprises:

a first portion that comprises the one or more first set of data fields,

a plurality of second portions that each comprises, from the plurality of second sets of data fields, a second set of data fields, and

a plurality of third portions, wherein each of the plurality of third portions is associated with a respective second portion in the record, and wherein each of the plurality of third portions comprises a plurality of separate indicators, wherein each of the plurality of separate indicators indicates whether a corresponding one of the different classes of devices is to process the second set of data fields of the respective second portion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more first sets of data fields are associated with broadcast content, and wherein the second set of data fields comprises promotional content for display, in a program guide, with information associated with the broadcast content.