Notification system and method for media queue
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method of electronically notifying a subscriber to a content provider of activity in a subscriber rental queue associated with the subscriber, including the steps of:
- a. defining a set of notification rules for the subscriber rental queue, which notification rules are authorized by the subscriber;
b. monitoring the subscriber rental queue with a computer in accordance with said set of notification rules and a separate set of queue replenishment control rules authorized by the subscriber so that said computer can determine if a composition should be altered through additions of playable media titles and/or ordering of playable media titles in the subscriber rental queue should be altered;
c. sending an electronic notification to the subscriber with said computer in response to an affirmative determination under step (b) that such notification is necessary based on said set of notification rules;
wherein said set of notification rules and/or set of queue replenishment control rules include a user configurable option with a first choice to automatically trigger a modification of the subscriber rental queue, and a second choice which does not trigger a modification of the subscriber rental queue;
further comprising said subscriber selecting one of said first choice or second choice to automatically trigger or not trigger a modification to said subscriber rental queue.
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Abstract
A notification system method is disclosed for alerting subscribers to a status of their rental queues. The system includes a number of components that interoperate to improve a subscriber'"'"'s experience, including an intelligent queue monitor which works on his/her behalf to ensure that an adequate and interesting list of titles are brought to the attention of subscribers.
89 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of electronically notifying a subscriber to a content provider of activity in a subscriber rental queue associated with the subscriber, including the steps of:
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a. defining a set of notification rules for the subscriber rental queue, which notification rules are authorized by the subscriber; b. monitoring the subscriber rental queue with a computer in accordance with said set of notification rules and a separate set of queue replenishment control rules authorized by the subscriber so that said computer can determine if a composition should be altered through additions of playable media titles and/or ordering of playable media titles in the subscriber rental queue should be altered; c. sending an electronic notification to the subscriber with said computer in response to an affirmative determination under step (b) that such notification is necessary based on said set of notification rules; wherein said set of notification rules and/or set of queue replenishment control rules include a user configurable option with a first choice to automatically trigger a modification of the subscriber rental queue, and a second choice which does not trigger a modification of the subscriber rental queue; further comprising said subscriber selecting one of said first choice or second choice to automatically trigger or not trigger a modification to said subscriber rental queue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of electronically notifying a subscriber to a content provider of activity in a subscriber rental queue associated with the subscriber, including the steps of:
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a. defining a set of notification rules for the subscriber rental queue, which notification rules are authorized by the subscriber; b. monitoring the subscriber rental queue with a computer in accordance with said set of notification rules and a separate set of queue replenishment control rules authorized by the subscriber so that said computer can determine if a composition of such rental queue should be altered through additions of playable media titles and/or ordering of playable media titles in the subscriber rental queue should be altered; wherein said queue replenishment control rules include a trigger event to be used in determining when said subscriber rental queue should be modified, and said trigger event is based on a quantity of playable media items remaining in the subscriber rental queue; c. providing a recommender system configured to provide recommendations for playable media titles; d. sending an electronic notification to the subscriber with said computer in response to an affirmative determination under step (b) that such notification is necessary based on said set of notification rules; e. causing said recommender system to interact with the subscriber and provide a playable media title recommendation in response to user input provided within a response to said electronic notification; f. adding a playable media title recommendation to said subscriber rental queue in response to subscriber input to said recommender system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of electronically notifying a subscriber to a content provider of activity in a subscriber rental queue associated with the subscriber, including the steps of:
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a) defining a set of notification rules for the subscriber rental queue, which notification rules are authorized by the subscriber; b) monitoring the subscriber rental queue with a computer in accordance with said set of notification rules and a separate set of queue replenishment control rules authorized by the subscriber so that said computer can determine if a composition and/or ordering of playable media titles in the subscriber rental queue should be altered; c) sending an electronic notification to the subscriber with said computer in response to an affirmative determination under step (b) that such notification is necessary based on said set of notification rules; wherein said notification provides directions for the subscriber to accept and/or modify any proposed alterations of the subscriber rental queue; further comprising said subscriber accepting and/or modifying said proposed alteration based on said directions. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of electronically notifying a subscriber to a content provider of activity in a subscriber rental queue associated with the subscriber, including the steps of:
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a) defining a set of notification rules for the subscriber rental queue, which notification rules are authorized by the subscriber; b) monitoring the subscriber rental queue with a computer in accordance with said set of notification rules and a separate set of queue replenishment control rules authorized by the subscriber so that said computer can determine if a composition and/or ordering of playable media titles in the subscriber rental queue should be altered; c) sending an electronic notification to the subscriber with said computer in response to an affirmative determination under step (b) that such notification is necessary based on said set of notification rules; wherein said notification includes both an identification of an additional playable media item which is being proposed to be added to the subscriber rental queue at the end of a first time period as well as selectable feedback options adapted to respond to such proposed addition; d) further comprising;
1) adding said additional playable media item to said subscriber rental queue when said subscriber does not elect to cancel such proposed addition with said selectable feedback options within said time period specified in said notification; and
2) not adding said additional playable media item to said subscriber rental queue when an election is made to cancel by the subscriber to cancel such proposed addition with said selectable feedback options within said time period specified in said notification. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification