SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PROGRAM-RELATED CONTENT IN A MULTI-SERVICES DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• US 20080301741A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stern, Peter, Gillman, Joan
• Granted Patent: US 9,699,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• 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 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43 Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present invention, programming content and program-related content (PRC) cues are delivered to a subscriber via an interactive multi-service distribution network. The PRC cues comprise interactive visual elements that may be used to create a PRC object that is selectable by a subscriber. Upon selection of a PRC object, the subscriber receives PRC through a communication service separate from the video programming delivery service, VOD service, PVR service, and NDVR service.

Claims

1. A system for delivery of program related content (PRC) to a subscriber comprising:

a headend comprising;

a video delivery resource;

a PRC cue system; and

a PRC server;

a distribution network;

a PRC client;

a video termination device (VTD); and

a display device;

wherein the PRC cue system injects a PRC cue into a video program stream, the video program stream is transported over the distribution network to the VTD, the PRC cue comprises an identifier that uniquely identifies the PRC associated with the PRC cue and wherein the PRC client comprises instructions for;

receiving the video program stream;

detecting the PRC cue;

creating a PRC object;

providing the PRC object to the VTD for display on the display device;

generating a PRC request signal in response to a selection of the PRC object; and

transmitting the PRC request signal to the PRC server;

wherein the PRC server comprises instructions for;

receiving the PRC request signal; and

sending the PRC to the subscriber using a communication service distinct from the video delivery resource.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the PRC request signal comprises a VTD identifier;

and the PRC server comprises instructions for detecting the VTD identifier, acquiring subscriber identifying data associated with the VTD identifier, and determining if the subscriber is entitled to receive the PRC based on the subscriber identifying data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the video programming stream is selected from the group consisting of a sporting event, a theatrical event, a movie, a live performance, a commercial, a home shopping program, a news program, and a musical performance.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the PRC object is selectable using a remote control device that is operable to interact with the VTD.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the VTD is selected from the group consisting of a set-top box, a cable-ready television operating with a cable card, and a personal computer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the VTD identifier is the MAC address of the VTD.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication service is selected from the group consisting of an e-mail service, a text-messaging service, and a digital telephone service.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the PRC cue further comprises a communication service identifier, wherein the communication service identifier is indicative of the communication service over which the PRC will be sent to the subscriber.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the PRC cue further comprises view-by data and wherein the PRC client further comprises instructions for:

acquiring the view-by data from the PRC cue;

determining from the view-by data if the PRC is available for delivery to the subscriber;

displaying the PRC object if the PRC is available for delivery to the subscriber; and

disregarding the PRC cue if the PRC is not available for delivery to the subscriber.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the view-by data is selected from the group consisting of an expiration date and time, an elapsed time since the program was first scheduled for viewing by the subscriber, and a link to a status identifier, wherein the status identifier is indicative of whether the PRC is available for delivery to the subscriber.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the PRC client further comprises instructions for receiving configuration data, wherein the configuration data are selected from the group consisting of a PRC object display interval, a PRC object opacity, a PRC object size, and a PRC object display location, and where the PRC client further comprises instructions for operating on the configuration data to create the PRC object.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the configuration data is provided by the subscriber through a user interface to the PRC client.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the configuration data further comprises a disable-PRC-objects function that is selectable by the subscriber, and wherein when the disable-PRC-objects function is selected by the subscriber, the PRC client is disabled.

14. A method for delivering program related content to a subscriber comprising:

injecting a program related content (PRC) cue into a video program stream, wherein the PRC cue comprises an identifier that identifies the PRC associated with the PRC cue;

transporting the video program stream to a PRC client over dedicated video resources;

receiving the video program stream at the PRC client;

detecting the PRC cue;

creating a PRC object, wherein the PRC object is selectable by the subscriber;

displaying the PRC object on a display device;

generating a PRC request signal in response to a selection of the PRC object;

transmitting the PRC request signal to a PRC server; and

sending the PRC to the subscriber using a communication service distinct from the dedicated video.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the PRC request signal comprises a video termination device (VTD) identifier and the method further comprises:

detecting the VTD identifier at the PRC server;

acquiring subscriber identifying data associated with the VTD identifier; and

determining from the subscriber identifying data if the subscriber is entitled to receive the PRC based on the subscriber identifying data.

16. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 14, wherein the video programming stream is selected from the group consisting of a sporting event, a theatrical event, a movie, a live performance, a commercial, a home shopping program, a news program, and a musical performance.

17. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 14, wherein generating a PRC request signal in response to a selection of the PRC object comprises generating a PRC request signal in response to a selection of the PRC object using a remote control device that is operable to interact with the VTD.

18. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 14, wherein the VTD is selected from the group consisting of a set-top box, a cable-ready television operating with a cable card, and a personal computer.

19. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 14, wherein the VTD identifier is the MAC address of the VTD.

20. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 14, wherein the communication service is selected from the group consisting of an e-mail service, a text-messaging service, and a digital telephone service.

21. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 20, wherein the PRC cue further comprises a communication service identifier, wherein the communication service identifier is indicative of the communication service over which the PRC will be sent to the subscriber.

22. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 14, wherein the PRC cue further comprises view-by data and wherein the method further comprises:

acquiring the view-by data from the PRC cue;

determining from the view-by data if the PRC is available for delivery to the subscriber;

displaying the PRC object if the PRC is available for delivery to the subscriber; and

disregarding the PRC cue if the PRC is not available for delivery to the subscriber.

23. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 22, wherein the view-by data is selected from the group consisting of an expiration date and time, an elapsed time since the program was first scheduled for viewing by the subscriber, and a link to a status identifier, wherein the status identifier is indicative of whether the PRC is available for delivery to the subscriber.

24. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving configuration data at the PRC client, wherein the configuration data are selected from the group consisting of a PRC object display interval, a PRC object opacity, a PRC object size, and a PRC object display location; and

operating on the configuration data to create the PRC object.

25. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 24, wherein the configuration data is provided by the subscriber through a user interface to the PRC client.

26. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 25, wherein the configuration data further comprises a disable-PRC-objects function that is selectable by the subscriber, and wherein when the disable-PRC-objects function is selected by the subscriber, the PRC client is disabled.

27. A method for delivering program related content to a subscriber comprising:

agreeing to inject a program related content (PRC) cue into a video program stream for an information provider, wherein the video program stream comprises a program and wherein the PRC cue comprises an identifier that uniquely identifies the PRC and the information provider associated with the PRC cue;

transporting the video program stream to a PRC client over dedicated video resources;

creating an accounting record in a provider database for the information provider, wherein the accounting record comprises the PRC identifier, the video stream into which the video cue was injected, and a measure of a subscriber viewing audience for the video stream; and

billing the information provider based on the transport of the PRC cue and the measure of the subscriber viewing audience.

28. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 27, wherein the video programming stream is selected from the group consisting of a sporting event, a theatrical event, a movie, a live performance, a commercial, a home shopping program, a news program, and a musical performance.

29. The method for providing premium transport to a preferred content provider of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the video program stream at the PRC client;

detecting the PRC cue;

creating a PRC object, wherein the PRC object is selectable by the subscriber;

providing the PRC object to a video termination device (VTD) for display on a display device, wherein the VTD comprises a VTD identifier;

generating a PRC request signal in response to a selection of the PRC object, wherein the PRC request signal comprises the VTD identifier;

transmitting the PRC request signal to the provider database;

acquiring the VTD identifier from the PRC request signal at the provider database;

recording the selection of the PRC object having the VTD identifier in the accounting record; and

billing the information provider based on the selection of the PRC object having the VTD identifier.

30. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 29, wherein generating a PRC request signal in response to a selection of the PRC object comprises generating a PRC request signal in response to a selection of the PRC object using a remote control device that is operable to interact with the VTD.

31. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 29, wherein the VTD is selected from the group consisting of a set-top box, a cable-ready television operating with a cable card, and a personal computer.

32. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 29, wherein the VTD identifier is the MAC address of the VTD.

33. The method for providing premium transport to a preferred content provider of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the PRC request signal at a PRC distribution server,

acquiring the VTD identifier from the PRC request signal;

acquiring subscriber identifying data associated with the VTD identifier;

determining from the subscriber identifying data if the subscriber is entitled to receive a communication service over a high speed data service distinct from the dedicate video resources;

sending the PRC to the subscriber using the communication service if the subscriber is entitled to receive the communication service;

recording the delivery of the PRC to the subscriber in the accounting record; and

billing the information provider based on the deliver of the PRC to the subscriber.

34. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 33, wherein the communication service is selected from the group consisting of an e-mail service, a text-messaging service and a digital telephone service.

35. The method for delivering program related content to a subscriber of claim 33, wherein the PRC cue further comprises a communication service identifier, wherein the communication service identifier is indicative of the communication service over which the PRC will be sent to the subscriber.