Methods and Apparatus for Selecting and Delivering Content

• US 20110154499A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Colley, Andrew, Rohan, Charles G.V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• 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 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and techniques for selecting and delivering entertainment content. User preference information for entertainment content to accompany user activities is collected and associated with a user. Upon indication by a user of a desire to receive content and designation of an activity to be accompanied by the content, content items are selected and assembled into a package so that the content items may be played in sequence using a user device. The content items comprising the package are delivered to the user device.

Claims

1. A server for packaging and delivery of entertainment content, comprising:

memory for storing user preference information relating to packaging and delivery of entertainment content, the stored user preference information including information relating to user activities accompanied by the use of entertainment content, including the types and expected duration of different activities and preferences relating to entertainment content accompanying various types and durations of activities; and

a processor for receiving user identification information identifying a user and activity information identifying an activity for which entertainment content is desired, the processor being operative to examine the stored customer preference information and assemble a package of content for the identified activity based on the nature and duration of the activity and the customer preferences relating to the activity.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to select between audio and video content based on the nature of the activity.

3. The server of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to select between content requiring a higher power consumption and content requiring a lower power consumption based on the expected availability of external electric power during the activity.

4. The server of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to select a package of exclusively audio content for an activity requiring focused attention on the activity.

5. The server of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to direct delivery of content comprising the package from a stored content repository to a user device.

6. The server of claim 5, wherein the processor is operative to assemble and deliver a playlist directing playback of the content items delivered to the user device.

7. The server of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to conduct a transaction for payment by a user and to deliver of content comprising the package from a stored content repository to a user device upon payment authorization from the user.

8. The server of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to conduct a transaction authorizing delivery of advertising content accompanying entertainment content and to deliver a package comprising the advertising content and the entertainment content upon acceptance of advertising content by a user.

9. The server of claim 5, wherein the processor is operative to deliver content protected using digital rights management information to a user device and to transfer digital rights management information needed to play the content upon subsequent payment by the user for the protected content.

10. A method of entertainment content selection and delivery, comprising the steps of:

storing user preference information relating to entertainment content accompanying user activities, the user preference information including information identifying the nature and expected duration of one or more user activities and preferences relating to entertainment content to accompany the activities; and

controlling a processor to receive user information including user identification information and information identifying an activity to be engaged in by the user;

controlling the processor to examine the stored user preference information to identify user preference information for the one or more activities; and

controlling the processor to select content items comprising a package to be played sequentially in accompaniment to the activity, selection of the content items being based on the stored user preference information including preference information relating to the nature and duration of the activity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information relating to the nature of an activity includes information indicating the degree of attention required by the activity and the preferences relating to the activities include a preference for audio to accompany activities requiring a higher degree of attention.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the information relating to the nature of an activity includes information indicating whether external power will be available during the activity and the preferences relating to the activities include a preference for lower power consumption content to accompany activities for which external power will not be available.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of retrieving the selected content from a storage medium and delivering the content to a user device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of assembling a playlist including a listing of the selected content and delivering the playlist to the user device along with the content.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of retrieving the selected content from the storage medium and delivering the content to a user device comprises protecting the content using digital rights management (DRM) information.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising conducting a payment transaction and retrieving the content from a storage medium and delivering the content to a user device upon payment authorization.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising conducting a transaction for the acceptance of advertising content and delivering a package comprising the entertainment content and accompanying advertising content upon acceptance of the advertising content.