Allocating computer resources within a video distribution system

• US 7,000,243 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: On Command Corporation
• Inventors: Barnett, Brian G., Fenwick, Richard C. Jr., Miner, John T., Power, Donald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc K.
• Application Number:
  US09/224,409
• Time in Patent Office: 2,602 Days
• Field of Search: 725/78, 725/80, 725 85- 87, 725 91- 94, 725/103, 725/104, 725/74, 725/83, 725/114, 725/82
• US Class Current: 725/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A method and system for video distribution among a plurality of users uses a host computing device that allocates tasks among a number of audiovisual serving devices. A user can select between traditional video program material, such as scheduled special events and on-demand feature length films, as well as Internet access, video games and computer applications. Assignable Computing Devices (ACDs), one type of audiovisual serving device within the system, are used for a number of functions including providing Internet access to users, controlling the menu-driven process of selecting program material and providing computer applications to users. Other types of audiovisial serving devices provide program material such as on-demand feature length films and video games. The user communicates with the ACDs through an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) while selecting program material to view through a series of menus, which may be customized according to the preferences of an individual user.

Claims

1. A method for presenting program material from a plurality of program sources to users using a host computing device and allocating tasks among a plurality of audiovisual serving devices, said method comprising:

responding to a user request to order program material by selecting one of a plurality of Assignable Computing Devices, said selected Assignable Computing Device being used to generate a menu listing available program material;

presenting the user with said menu over a Room Communication Subsystem;

receiving a selection of program material from the user over the Room Communication Subsystem;

responding to said selection of program material by selecting one of a plurality of audiovisual serving devices to present the program material;

creating a set of user data, said set of user data listing stated user preferences, and

presenting the program material to the user over the Room Communication Subsystem;

wherein said menu listing available program material is generated for display in a web browser and is customized based on said user preferences.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said menu is modified to reflect said set of user data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the menu generated is automatically customized based on information related to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the menu generated is customized upon the request of the user.

5. A method for presenting program material from a plurality of program sources to users using a host computing device and allocating tasks among a plurality of audiovisual serving devices, said method comprising:

responding to a user request to order program material by selecting one of a plurality of Assignable Computing Devices, said selected Assignable Computing Device being used to generate a menu listing available program material;

presenting the user with a broadcast channel;

presenting the user with said menu over a Room Communication Subsystem;

receiving a selection of program material from the user over the Room Communication Subsystem;

responding to said selection of program material by selecting one of a plurality of audiovisual serving devices to present the program material; and

creating a set of user data, said set of user data listing stated user preferences, and

presenting the program material to the user over the Room Communication Subsystem;

wherein said menu listing available program material is generated for display in a web browser and is customized based on said user preferences.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said broadcast channel is modified to reflect said set of user preferences.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the menu generated is automatically customized based on information related to the user.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the menu generated is customized upon the request of the user.

9. A method for presenting program material from a plurality of program sources to users using a host computing device and allocating tasks among a plurality of audiovisual serving devices, said method comprising:

responding to a user request to order program material by selecting one of a plurality of Assignable Computing Devices, said selected Assignable Computing Device being used to generate a menu listing available program material;

presenting the user with said menu over a Room Communication Subsystem;

receiving a selection of program material from the user over the Room Communication Subsystem;

responding to said selection of program material by selecting one of a plurality of audiovisual serving devices to present the program material creating a set of user data, said set of user data listing stated user preferences;

presenting the program material to the user over the Room Communication Subsystem; and

polling the audiovisual serving device for status after a first defined interval of time;

wherein said menu listing available program material is generated for display in a web browser and is customized based on said user preferences.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the audiovisual serving device is restarted in response to instructions from the host after a second defined interval of time.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the menu generated is automatically customized based on information related to the user.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the menu generated is customized upon the request of the user.

13. An apparatus for presenting program material from a plurality of program sources to users using a host computing device and a plurality of audiovisual serving devices, comprising:

a programming subsystem, said programming subsystem including a plurality of audiovisual serving devices;

a Room Communication Subsystem, said Room Communication Subsystem connecting a plurality of user terminals to the system;

a Site Management Subsystem; and

a plurality of Assignable Computing Device audiovisual serving devices;

wherein said audiovisual serving devices communicate with the user terminals over said Room Communication Subsystem, said Site Management Subsystem can assign at least one Assignable Computing Device to communicate with a user terminal in response to an initial communication from a user terminal;

a set of user data is stored, said user data listing stated user preferences, and further wherein a menu responsive to a list of currently available program material may be generated by said assigned Assignable Computing Device, said menu including at least HTML code, and wherein said menu is customized based on user preferences.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the menu generated is automatically customized based on information related to the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the menu generated is customized upon the request of the user.

16. An apparatus for presenting program material from a plurality of program sources to users using a host computing device and a plurality of audiovisual serving devices, comprising:

a programming subsystem, said programming subsystem including a plurality of audiovisual serving devices;

a Room Communication Subsystem, said Room Communication Subsystem connecting a plurality of user terminals to the system;

a Site Management Subsystem;

a plurality of Assignable Computing Device audiovisual serving devices; and

a broadcast channel;

wherein said audiovisual serving devices communicate with the user terminals over said Room Communication Subsystem, said Site Management Subsystem can assign at least one Assignable Computing Device to communicate with a user terminal in response to an initial communication from a user terminal, a menu is generated using said assigned Assignable Computing Device, said menu including at least HTML code, and a set of user data is stored, said user data listing stated user preferences, and wherein said menu is customized based on said user preferences.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said broadcast channel is responsive to said set of user data.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the menu generated is automatically customized based on information related to the user.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the menu generated is customized upon the request of the user.