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Video-on-demand content delivery method for providing video-on-demand services to TV service subscribers

DC CAFC
  • US 9,998,791 B2
  • Filed: 01/05/2017
  • Issued: 06/12/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for video-on-demand content delivery for providing video-on-demand services to a plurality of television service subscribers via a television service provider system that comprises a video-on-demand content delivery system having one or more computers, the method comprising:

  • (a) receiving, at the one or more computers of the video-on-demand content delivery system of the television service provider system from a Web-based content management system,at least the following digital content;

    (i) a first video content, along with(ii) first metadata, associated with the first video content and usable in a video-on-demand content menu, the first metadata comprising;

    (1) first title information comprising a first title,(2) first content provider designated hierarchically arranged category information and subcategory information to specify a location of the first title information for the video content in a predetermined video-on-demand application, the first content provider designated category information and subcategory information associated with the first title information of the first video content using a same hierarchical structure of categories and subcategories as is to be used for placement of the first title information in the predetermined video-on-demand application; and

    (3) first time information for availability of the first video content for scheduling of viewing of the first video content through the predetermined video-on-demand application;

    wherein the first video content was uploaded to the Web-based content management system by a content provider device associated with a first video content provider via the Internet in a digital video format, along with the associated first metadata including first title information, and first content provider designated hierarchically arranged category information and subcategory information designated by the first video content provider, to specify a hierarchical location of the first title of the first video content within the video-on-demand content menu using the first category information and first subcategory information associated with the first title information;

    (b) storing, at a video server comprising one or more computers and computer-readable memory operatively connected to the one or more computers of the video server, respective video content, including the first video content, wherein the video server is associated with the video-on-demand content delivery system and is configured to supply the respective video content, upon request, for transmission to a set top box operatively connected to TV equipment of a television service subscriber;

    (c) providing a respective set top box operatively connected to respective TV equipment of a respective television service subscriber with access to the video-on-demand content menu for navigating through titles, including the first title of the first video content, by hierarchically-arranged category information and subcategory information including at least the first category information and the first subcategory information in order to locate a respective one of the titles whose associated video content is desired for viewing on the respective TV equipment,wherein the video-on-demand content menu lists the titles using the same hierarchical structure of category information and subcategory information as was designated by one or more video content providers, including the first video content provider, in the uploaded metadata for the respective video content, wherein a plurality of different video display templates, including a first video display template, are accessible to the set top box, and wherein the predetermined video-on-demand application accesses the first video display template for generating and displaying the video-on-demand content menu at the respective TV equipment of the respective television service subscriber;

    (d) determining, at the predetermined video-on-demand application, which titles are available for selection from the video-on-demand content menu at a respective time based at least in part on respective time information during which the respective video content associated with the respective time information can be accessed through the predetermined video-on-demand application; and

    (e) in response to (i) the respective television service subscriber selecting, via a control unit in communication with the respective set top box, the first title associated with the first video content from the hierarchically-arranged category information and subcategory information of the video-on-demand content menu, and (ii) the respective set top box transmitting an electronic request for the first video content associated with the selected first title, retrieving the first video content from the video server, and transmitting the first video content to the respective set top box for display of the first video content on the respective TV equipment of the respective television service subscriber.

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