Systems and Methods for Communicating and Enforcing Viewing and Recording Limits for Media-On-Demand

• US 20110126246A1
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Baumgartner, Joseph P., Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,197,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating and enforcing viewing and recording limits for media-on-demand are provided. The system may provide a guidance application that allows users to select on-demand media offerings. The delivery of the on-demand media offerings may be managed based on the length of program, the bandwidth required, the available bandwidth, the time of delivery, pricing and other factors. The system may manage the delivery of on-demand offerings by assigning a number of different types of viewing rights to a user when an on-demand offering is selected. The system may warn a user of insufficient rights and enforce selected viewing rights.

Claims

1. A method for providing on-demand media comprising:

selecting a media event to be delivered on user demand to a user via a delivery stream;

displaying a plurality of viewing rights that includes a streaming time limit; and

streaming the media event via the delivery stream if a total accumulated streaming time of the media event does not exceed the streaming time limit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an off-peak viewing window option and a peak viewing window option.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a warning indicating that one or more of the viewing rights are insufficient to finish streaming the media event.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising providing an option to extend the one or more viewing rights.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a warning indicating that one or more of the viewing rights are reaching their associated access limits.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an option to record at least a portion of the media event using a media recording device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the providing comprises providing the media to a recording device located local to the user.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the providing comprises providing the media to a recording device located remotely from the user.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the providing comprises limiting playback of the media event from the media recording device based on one or more of the viewing rights.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein displaying comprises displaying a playback limit for the media event.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a warning indicating that one or more of the viewing rights are insufficient to finish playback of the media event.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising extending the one or more viewing rights.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a warning indicating that one or more of the viewing rights are nearing their associated access limits.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of viewing rights to includes a plurality of viewing windows for on-demand delivery of the media event.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying how much time remains in a current viewing window.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying an additional option to extend the current viewing window.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying how much time remains in the streaming time limit for the media event.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an option to extend the streaming time limit.

19. A system that includes user equipment on which an interactive television application has been implemented for providing on-demand media, the system comprising:

user equipment configured to allow a user to select a media event to be delivered on user demand to the user via a delivery stream and to display a plurality of viewing rights that includes a streaming time limit; and

a processor configured to stream the media event via the delivery stream if a total accumulated streaming time of the media event does not exceed the streaming time limit.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the user equipment is configured to display an off-peak viewing window option and a peak viewing window option.

21-110. -110. (canceled)