Digital content delivery system transaction engine

• US 7,272,842 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 10TH Avenue Media LLC
• Original Assignee: Marger Johnson P.C.
• Inventors: Kay, Rick, Temkin, Gregory B., Olson, Matthew L., Hendrickson, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC K
• Application Number:
  US09/823,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20020144275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,364 Days
• Field of Search: 725/1, 725/28, 725 34- 35, 725/42, 725/46, 725/86, 725/87, 725 91- 93, 725100-103, 725/4, 725/74, 725/78, 725/82, 705/1, 705/34, 705/400, 705/402, 705/20, 705/27, 705/40
• US Class Current: 725/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A system for delivering digital content on demand in a multiple unit environment includes a server local to the multiple unit environment. The server stores, in its memory, the digital content, and is capable of supporting multiple simultaneous asynchronous accesses to the digital content. A billing system tracks the bill for each unit in the multiple unit environment, based on the accessed digital content. Within each unit that supports access to the digital content, an access system (preferably a set-top box) allows a user to access the digital content.

Claims

1. A system for delivering digital content on demand in a multiple unit environment, the system comprising:

a server local to the multiple unit environment, the server including a memory storing the digital content and content metadata about the digital content stored in the memory of the server, and capable of supporting multiple simultaneous asynchronous accesses to the digital content;

a billing system for billing each individual unit based on use of the digital content, the billing system coupled to the server and the content metadata including a plurality of default rates for the digital content, a plurality of custom rates for the digital content, and a plurality of rate keys, each rate key associated with at least one of the custom rates;

at least one access system in a plurality of units in the multiple unit environment, the access system designed to access the digital content stored in the memory on the server; and

a user profile including user metadata including at least one of the rate keys;

wherein the billing system is configured to;

access a default product rate of the default rates for the digital content;

access a default category rate of the default rates for the digital content;

provide the default product rate or the default category rate as a selected default rate based on an existence of the default product rate; and

select a rate for the digital content from among the default rates and the custom rates in response to the rate key of the user metadata.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the access system includes a set-top box designed to enable access to the digital content, the set-top box coupled to the server and to a display in the unit.

3. A system according to claim 1, the system further comprising:

user profile including user metadata; and

means for conditionally accessing the digital content based on an interaction between the content metadata and the user metadata.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the system further comprises a user profile including a rate key; and

the billing system is designed to use the custom rate when the rate key identifies the custom rate.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the system further comprises;

a user profile including user metadata; and

an advertisement; and

the server is designed to display the advertisement to the unit when the advertisement matches the user metadata.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the user profile is stored in a memory on a second server and is accessible from the server.

7. A system according to claim 1, the system further comprising a digital content selection apparatus, including:

a profile tracker designed to track an access to a user profile, the user profile including user metadata;

a profile analyzer designed to analyze the user metadata; and

a digital content delivery apparatus designed to offer digital content satisfying the user metadata.

8. A system according to claim 1, the system further comprising a second server offsite from the multiple unit environment, the second server coupled to the server to provide digital content to the server.

9. A method for delivering digital content, the method comprising:

receiving a request for the digital content from a unit in a multiple unit environment at a server;

accessing the digital content from a memory on the server;

delivering the digital content to the unit, the delivery of the digital content being independent of an asynchronous delivery of a second digital content to a second unit in the multiple unit environment;

accessing a default rate for the digital content including;

accessing a default product rate for the digital content;

accessing a default category rate for the digital content; and

providing the default product rate or the default category rate as the default rate based on an existence of the default product rate;

accessing a custom rate for the digital content;

accessing a rate key in a user profile;

selecting the default rate or the custom rate for the digital content, based on the rate key; and

presenting the digital content in the unit.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein delivering the digital content includes enabling the unit to access an internetwork, wherein the digital content is digital video content.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein delivering the digital content includes delivering video to the unit.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein receiving a request includes receiving a request for the digital content from a set-top box in the unit.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein delivering the digital content includes:

accessing content metadata about the digital content;

accessing a filter in a user profile; and

delivering the digital content to the unit if the content metadata satisfies the filter.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein delivering the digital content further includes denying the digital content if the content metadata does not satisfies the filter.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein accessing a filter includes accessing the filter in the user profile stored in a memory on a second server.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

delivering the digital content includes delivering a video to the unit;

accessing content metadata includes accessing a rating for the video;

accessing a filter includes accessing a maximum allowable rating in the user profile; and

delivering the digital content includes delivering the video to the unit if the rating is below the maximum allowable rating.

17. A method according to claim 9, wherein delivering the digital content includes:

accessing content metadata about the digital content;

accessing user metadata in a user profile; and

conditionally delivering the digital content to the unit based on an interaction between the content metadata and the user metadata.

18. A method according to claim 9, wherein accessing a rate key further comprises:

transferring the user profile to the server from a second server outside of the multiple unit environment.

19. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

accessing a discount rate key in the user profile; and

applying a discount to the selected rate based on the discount rate key;

wherein the discount rate key indicates a plurality of discounts for the digital content.

20. A method according to claim 9, the method further comprising:

accessing user metadata in a user profile; and

selecting an advertisement that matches the user metadata; and

sending the advertisement to the unit.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein accessing user metadata includes accessing the user metadata in the user profile stored in a memory on a second server.

22. A method according to claim 9, the method further comprising sending the digital content from a second server to the server for storage until requested by the unit.

23. A method according to claim 9, the method further comprising:

accessing a bill for the digital content; and

displaying the bill in the unit.

24. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a signal to pause the delivery of the digital content; and

pausing the access and delivery of the digital content to the unit.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving the signal to pause the delivery of the digital content from a remote control.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein receiving the signal to pause the delivery of the digital content from a remote control includes receiving a wireless signal to pause the delivery of the digital content from the remote control.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein pausing the access and delivery includes suspending the access of the digital content from the memory on the server.

28. A method according to claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a signal to resume the delivery of the digital content; and

resuming the access and delivery of the digital content to the unit.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving the signal to resume the delivery of the digital content from a remote control.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein receiving the signal to resume the delivery of the digital content from a remote control includes receiving a wireless signal to resume the delivery of the digital content from the remote control.

31. A method according to claim 28, wherein resuming the access and delivery includes:

determining a point in the memory on the server the digital content was last accessed; and

accessing the digital content from the memory on the server, starting at the point in the memory on the server.

32. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a signal to rewind the digital content;

rewinding a part of the digital content; and

continuing delivery of the digital content to the unit from a start of the rewound part of the digital content.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving the signal to rewind the digital content from a remote control.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein receiving the signal to rewind the digital content from a remote control includes receiving a wireless signal to rewind the digital content from the remote control.

35. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving at the set-top box a signal to pause the delivery of the digital content; and

pausing the access and delivery of the digital content to the unit.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein receiving at the set-top box a signal includes receiving at the set-top box the signal to pause the delivery of the digital content from a remote control.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein receiving at the set-top box the signal to pause the delivery of the digital content from a remote control includes receiving at the set-top box a wireless signal to pause the delivery of the digital content from the remote control.

38. A method according to claim 35, further comprising:

receiving at the set-top box a signal to resume the delivery of the digital content; and

resuming the access and delivery of the digital content to the unit.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein receiving at the set-top box a signal includes receiving at the set-top box the signal to resume the delivery of the digital content from a remote control.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein receiving at the set-top box the signal to resume the delivery of the digital content from a remote control includes receiving at the set-top box a wireless signal to resume the delivery of the digital content from the remote control.

41. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving at the set-top box a signal to rewind the digital content; and

rewinding the digital content to the unit.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein receiving at the set-top box a signal includes receiving at the set-top box the signal to rewind the digital content from a remote control.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein receiving at the set-top box the signal to rewind the digital content from a remote control includes receiving at the set-top box a wireless signal to rewind the digital content from the remote control.

44. The method of claim 9, wherein accessing the default rate further comprises:

accessing a custom product rate for the digital content;

accessing a custom category rate for the digital content;

providing the custom product rate or the custom category rate as the custom rate based on an existence of the custom product rate.

45. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the default rate or the custom rate for the digital content further comprises:

comparing the rate key in the user profile with rate keys in a product billing rate table, the product billing rate table indicating an association of rate keys and custom rates;

selecting the default rate if the rate key in the user profile is not in the product billing rate table; and

selecting the custom rate associated with the rate key in the user profile if the rate key in the user profile is in the product billing rate table.

46. The method of claim 19, wherein applying a discount to the selected rate further comprises:

comparing the discount rate key in the user profile with discount rate keys in a product discount table, the product discount table indicating an association of discount rate keys and discounts; and

applying a discount associated with the discount rate key if the discount rate key is in the product discount table.

47. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

identifying a user of the unit, wherein the user profile is associated with the user;

requesting the user profile from a different multiple unit environment; and

receiving the user profile.

48. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing a plurality of user profiles;

monitoring accesses to the user profiles;

identifying common characteristics of accessed user profiles;

adjusting availability of the digitized content in response to the identified common characteristics.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein identifying the common characteristics of accessed user profiles further comprises:

monitoring a percentage of the accessed user profiles that include a particular characteristic; and

identifying the particular characteristic as an identified common characteristic if the percentage is greater than a threshold.

50. A computer readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method of claim 9.

51. A method for delivering digital content, the method comprising:

receiving a request for the digital content from a unit in a multiple unit environment at a server;

accessing the digital content from a memory on the server;

delivering the digital content to the unit, the delivery of the digital content being independent of an asynchronous delivery of a second digital content to a second unit in the multiple unit environment;

accessing a default rate for the digital content;

accessing a custom product rate for the digital content;

accessing a custom category rate for the digital content;

providing the custom product rate or the custom category rate as a custom rate based on an existence of the custom product rate;

accessing a rate key in a user profile;

selecting the default rate or the custom rate for the digital content, based on the rate key; and

presenting the digital content in the unit.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein delivering the digital content includes:

accessing content metadata about the digital content;

accessing a filter from a user profile; and

delivering the digital content to the unit if the content metadata satisfies the filter.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein accessing a filter includes accessing the filter from the user profile stored in a memory on a second server.

54. A method according to claim 51, wherein delivering the digital content includes:

accessing content metadata about the digital content;

accessing user metadata in a user profile; and

conditionally delivering the digital content to the unit based on an interaction between the content metadata and the user metadata.

55. A method according to claim 51, wherein accessing a rate key further comprises:

transferring the user profile to the server from a second server outside of the multiple unit environment.

56. A method according to claim 51, further comprising:

accessing a discount rate key in the user profile; and

applying a discount to the selected rate based on the discount rate key;

wherein the discount rate key indicates a plurality of discounts for the digital content.

57. A method according to claim 51, the method further comprising:

accessing user metadata about a user profile; and

selecting an advertisement that matches the user metadata; and

sending the advertisement to the unit.

58. A method according to claim 51, further comprising:

receiving a signal to rewind the digital content;

rewinding a part of the digital content; and

continuing delivery of the digital content to the unit from a start of the rewound part of the digital content.

59. The method of claim 51, wherein accessing the default rate further comprises:

accessing a default product rate for the digital content;

accessing a default category rate for the digital content;

providing the default product rate or the default category rate as the default rate based on an existence of the default product rate.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein selecting the default rate or the custom rate for the digital content further comprises:

comparing the rate key in the user profile with rate keys in a product billing rate table, the product billing rate table indicating an association of rate keys and custom rates;

selecting the default rate if the rate key in the user profile is not in the product billing rate table; and

selecting the custom rate associated with the rate key in the user profile if the rate key in the user profile is in the product billing rate table.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein applying a discount to the selected rate further comprises:

comparing the discount rate key in the user profile with discount rate keys in a product discount table, the product discount table indicating an association of discount rate keys and discounts; and

applying a discount associated with the discount rate key if the discount rate key is in the product discount table.

62. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

identifying a user of the unit, wherein the user profile is associated with the user;

requesting the user profile from a different multiple unit environment; and

receiving the user profile.

63. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

storing a plurality of user profiles;

monitoring accesses to the user profiles;

identifying common characteristics of accessed user profiles;

adjusting availability of the digitized content in response to the identified common characteristics.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein identifying the common characteristics of accessed user profiles further comprises:

monitoring a percentage of the accessed user profiles that include a particular characteristic; and

identifying the particular characteristic as an identified common characteristic if the percentage is greater than a threshold.

65. A computer readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions that when execute by a computer cause the computer to perform the method of claim 51.

66. A method for delivering digital content, the method comprising:

receiving a request for the digital content from a unit in a multiple unit environment at a server;

accessing the digital content from a memory on the server;

delivering the digital content to the unit, the delivery of the digital content being independent of an asynchronous delivery of a second digital content to a second unit in the multiple unit environment;

accessing a default rate for the digital content;

accessing a custom rate for the digital content;

accessing a rate key in a user profile; and

comparing the rate key in the user profile with rate keys in a product billing rate table, the product billing rate table indicating an association of rate keys and custom rates;

selecting the default rate if the rate key in the user profile is not in the product billing rate table;

selecting the custom rate associated with the rate key in the user profile if the rate key in the user profile is in the product billing rate table; and

presenting the digital content in the unit.

67. A method according to claim 66, wherein delivering the digital content includes:

accessing content metadata about the digital content;

accessing a filter in a user profile; and

delivering the digital content to the unit if the content metadata satisfies the filter.

68. A method according to claim 67, wherein accessing a filter includes accessing a filter in the user profile stored in a memory on a second server.

69. A method according to claim 66, wherein delivering the digital content includes:

accessing content metadata about the digital content;

accessing user metadata in a user profile; and

conditionally delivering the digital content to the unit based on an interaction between the content metadata and the user metadata.

70. A method according to claim 66, wherein accessing a rate key further comprises:

transferring the user profile to the server from a second server outside of the multiple unit environment.

71. A method according to claim 66, further comprising:

accessing a discount rate key in the user profile; and

applying a discount to the selected rate based on the discount rate key;

wherein the discount rate key indicates a plurality of discounts for the digital content.

72. A method according to claim 66, the method further comprising:

accessing user metadata in a user profile; and

selecting an advertisement that matches the user metadata; and

sending the advertisement to the unit.

73. A method according to claim 66, further comprising:

receiving a signal to rewind the digital content;

rewinding a part of the digital content; and

continuing delivery of the digital content to the unit from a start of the rewound part of the digital content.

74. The method of claim 66, wherein accessing the default rate further comprises:

accessing a default product rate for the digital content;

accessing a default category rate for the digital content;

providing the default product rate or the default category rate as the default rate based on an existence of the default product rate.

75. The method of claim 66, wherein accessing the default rate further comprises:

accessing a custom product rate for the digital content;

accessing a custom category rate for the digital content;

providing the custom product rate or the custom category rate as the custom rate based on an existence of the custom product rate.

76. The method of claim 71, wherein applying a discount to the selected rate further comprises:

comparing the discount rate key in the user profile with discount rate keys in a product discount table, the product discount table indicating an association of discount rate keys and discounts; and

applying a discount associated with the discount rate key if the discount rate key is in the product discount table.

77. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

identifying a user of the unit, wherein the user profile is associated with the user;

requesting the user profile from a different multiple unit environment; and

receiving the user profile.

78. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

storing a plurality of user profiles;

monitoring accesses to the user profiles;

identifying common characteristics of accessed user profiles;

adjusting availability of the digitized content in response to the identified common characteristics.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein identifying the common characteristics of accessed user profiles further comprises:

monitoring a percentage of the accessed user profiles that include a particular characteristic; and

identifying the particular characteristic as an identified common characteristic if the percentage is greater than a threshold.

80. A computer readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method of claim 66.

81. A method for delivering digital content, the method comprising:

receiving a request for the digital content from a unit in a multiple unit environment at a server;

accessing the digital content from a memory on the server;

delivering the digital content to the unit, the delivery of the digital content being independent of an asynchronous delivery of a second digital content to a second unit in the multiple unit environment;

accessing a default rate for the digital content;

accessing a custom rate for the digital content;

accessing a rate key in a user profile;

selecting the default rate or the custom rate for the digital content, based on the rate key;

accessing a discount rate key in the user profile; and

comparing the discount rate key in the user profile with discount rate keys in a product discount table, the product discount table indicating an association of discount rate keys and discounts;

applying a discount associated with the discount rate key if the discount rate key is in the product discount table;

wherein the discount rate key indicates a plurality of discounts for the digital content; and

presenting the digital content in the unit.

82. A method according to claim 81, wherein delivering the digital content includes:

accessing content metadata about the digital content;

accessing a filter in a user profile; and

delivering the digital content to the unit if the content metadata satisfies the filter.

83. A method according to claim 82, wherein accessing a filter includes accessing the filter in the user profile stored in a memory on a second server.

84. A method according to claim 81, wherein delivering the digital content includes:

accessing content metadata about the digital content;

accessing user metadata in a user profile; and

conditionally delivering the digital content to the unit based on an interaction between the content metadata and the user metadata.

85. A method according to claim 81, wherein accessing a rate key further comprises:

transferring the user profile to the server from a second server outside of the multiple unit environment.

86. A method according to claim 81, the method further comprising:

accessing user metadata in a user profile; and

selecting an advertisement that matches the user metadata; and

sending the advertisement to the unit.

87. A method according to claim 81, further comprising:

receiving a signal to rewind the digital content;

rewinding a part of the digital content; and

continuing delivery of the digital content to the unit from a start of the rewound part of the digital content.

88. The method of claim 81, wherein accessing the default rate further comprises:

accessing a default product rate for the digital content;

accessing a default category rate for the digital content;

providing the default product rate or the default category rate as the default rate based on an existence of the default product rate.

89. The method of claim 81, wherein accessing the default rate further comprises:

accessing a custom product rate for the digital content;

accessing a custom category rate for the digital content;

providing the custom product rate or the custom category rate as the custom rate based on an existence of the custom product rate.

90. The method of claim 81, wherein selecting the default rate or the custom rate for the digital content further comprises:

comparing the rate key in the user profile with rate keys in a product billing rate table, the product billing rate table indicating an association of rate keys and custom rates;

selecting the default rate if the rate key in the user profile is not in the product billing rate table; and

selecting the custom rate associated with the rate key in the user profile if the rate key in the user profile is in the product billing rate table.

91. The method of claim 85, further comprising:

identifying a user of the unit, wherein the user profile is associated with the user;

requesting the user profile from a different multiple unit environment; and

receiving the user profile.

92. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

storing a plurality of user profiles;

monitoring accesses to the user profiles;

identifying common characteristics of accessed user profiles;

adjusting availability of the digitized content in response to the identified common characteristics.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein identifying the common characteristics of accessed user profiles further comprises:

monitoring a percentage of the accessed user profiles that include a particular characteristic; and

identifying the particular characteristic as an identified common characteristic if the percentage is greater than a threshold.

94. A computer readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method of claim 81.