Self-service channel marketplace

• US 10,863,244 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Patterson, James, Walk, Hunter Everett, Yong, Kuan Loong
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US15/863,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20180184172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/739 in form of a video summary, e.g. the video summary being a video sequence, a composite still image or having synthesized frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/251 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 : for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A content hosting system allows content providers to create channels of video content and make them available to users in a marketplace. Users can search or browse for channels of interest, and selectively subscribe to channels. Users can also pay for the right to view premium videos in each channel. The system ranks channels according to the value provided. Generally, users will seek out and subscribe to the highest ranked channels that provide the greatest value. The ranking function allows different providers to compete for the subscriptions of users. Providers can observe their channel'"'"'s reception in the market by analyzing rankings and usage statistics to adjust channels to maximize channel performance. The system operator can also create bundled channels containing videos from multiple providers, and the resulting subscription revenue can be distributed to the various providers of the videos in the channel.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing, via a server, a user interface of a content platform to a client device, wherein the user interface comprises an option to enable a content provider to add one or more channels to the content platform and an option to provide configuration data related to the one or more channels;

receiving, at the server, a request to add a channel to the content platform, wherein the channel comprises a plurality of content items provided by the content provider;

receiving, at the server, input comprising the configuration data related to the channel, wherein the configuration data comprises a first keyword that represents the plurality of content items associated with the channel;

adding, by the server, the channel to the content platform to enable end users of the content platform to access the channel;

receiving a search request including a user search query comprising a second keyword;

generating, based on the second keyword, search results comprising a plurality of channels that include the channel with the first keyword matching the second keyword, wherein the plurality of channels in the search results are ordered based on a degree of match between respective keywords of the plurality of channels and the second keyword;

determining a quality of a subscription offering for a subset of channels in the search results, wherein the quality of the subscription offering is associated with at least subscriber churn data associated with the subset of channels;

generating, based on the search, improved search results by modifying an ordering of the subset of channels in the search results to appear higher in the improved search results based on one or more criteria comprising the determined quality of the subscription offering; and

providing the improved search results to the client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more criteria further comprise a channel ranking for each of the subset of channels.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the channel ranking for each of the subset of channels based on usage data for each of the subset of channels associated with a respective content provider.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, via the server, a respective channel ranking and a respective content provider associated with each of the plurality of channels for presentation via the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, via the server for presentation in the user interface, aggregate information about at least one of the channel in the improved search results, the content associated with the channel, or the content provider associated with the channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the aggregate information comprises at least one of a total number of users that receive content from the channel or data related to comments associated with the channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a first channel that has a low degree of match between a keyword of the first channel and the second keyword appears higher in the improved search results, based on a channel rank of the first channel, than a second channel that has a high degree of match between a keyword of the second channel and the second keyword.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processing device to:

provide a user interface of a content platform to a client device, wherein the user interface comprises an option to enable a content provider to add one or more channels to the content platform and an option to provide configuration data related to the one or more channels;

receive a request to add a channel to the content platform, wherein the channel comprises a plurality of content items provided by the content provider;

receive input comprising the configuration data related to the channel, wherein the configuration data comprises a first keyword that represents the plurality of content items associated with the channel;

add the channel to the content platform to enable end users of the content platform to access the channel;

receive a search request including a user search query comprising a second keyword;

generate, based on the second keyword, search results comprising a plurality of channels that include the channel with the first keyword matching the second keyword, wherein the plurality of channels in the search results are ordered based on a degree of match between respective keywords of the plurality of channels and the second keyword;

determine a quality of a subscription offering for a subset of channels in the search results, wherein the quality of the subscription offering is associated with at least subscriber churn data associated with the subset of channels;

generate, based on the search results, improved search results by modifying an ordering of the subset of channels in the search results to appear higher in the improved search results based on one or more criteria comprising the determined quality of the subscription offering; and

provide the improved search results to the client device.

9. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the one or more criteria further comprise a channel ranking for each of the subset of channels.

10. The computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the processing device is further to determine the channel ranking for each of the subset of channels based on usage data for each of the subset of channels associated with a respective content provider.

11. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the processing device is further to provide a respective channel ranking and a respective content provider associated with each of the plurality of channels for presentation via the user interface.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the processing device is further to provide, for presentation in the user interface, aggregate information about at least one of the channel in the improved search results, the content associated with the channel, or the content provider associated with the channel.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the aggregate information comprises at least one of a total number of users that receive content from the channel or data related to comments associated with the channel.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein a first channel that has a low degree of match between a keyword of the first channel and the second keyword appears higher in the improved search results, based on a channel rank of the first channel, than a second channel that has a high degree of match between a keyword of the second channel and the second keyword.

15. A system comprising:

a memory device;

a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device, wherein the processing device is to;

provide a user interface of a content platform to a client device, wherein the user interface comprises an option to enable a content provider to add one or more channels to the content platform and an option to provide configuration data related to the one or more channels;

receive a request to add a channel to the content platform, wherein the channel comprises a plurality of content items provided by the content provider;

receive input comprising the configuration data related to the channel, wherein the configuration data comprises a first keyword that represents the plurality of content items associated with the channel;

add the channel to the content platform to enable end users of the content platform to access the channel;

receive a search request including a user search query comprising a second keyword;

generate, based on the second keyword, search results comprising a plurality of channels that include the channel with the first keyword matching the second keyword, wherein the plurality of channels in the search results are ordered based on a degree of match between respective keywords of the plurality of channels and the second keyword;

determine a quality of a subscription offering for a subset of channels in the search results, wherein the quality of the subscription offering is associated with at least subscriber churn data associated with the subset of channels;

generate, based on the search results, improved search results by modifying ordering of the subset of channels in the search results to appear higher in the improved search results based on one or more criteria comprising the determined quality of the subscription offering; and

provide the improved search results to the client device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more criteria further comprise a channel ranking for each of the subset of channels.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing device is further to determine the channel ranking for each of the subset of channels based on usage data for each of the subset of channels associated with a respective content provider.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing device is further to provide a respective channel ranking and a respective content provider associated with each of the plurality of channels for presentation via the user interface.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing device is further to provide, for presentation in the user interface, aggregate information about at least one of the channel in the improved search results, the content associated with the channel, or the content provider associated with the channel.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein a first channel that has a low degree of match between a keyword of the first channel and the second keyword appears higher in the improved search results, based on a channel rank of the first channel, than a second channel that has a high degree of match between a keyword of the second channel and the second keyword.