Resource data configuration for media content access systems and methods

• US 8,015,581 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Desai, Abhishek, Patel, Laxmi, Ruiz-Velasco, Enrique
• Primary Examiner(s): Shang; Annan Q
• Application Number:
  US11/693,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 61, 725106-122, 709217-223
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• 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 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In one of many possible implementations, a system includes a content delivery subsystem providing online resource data and programming data associated with media content. The system further includes a content processing subsystem configured to communicate with the content delivery subsystem via a network. The content processing subsystem is configured to receive the programming data and to generate a program guide user interface including at least a subset of the programming data. The content processing subsystem is configured to access and utilize the online resource data on demand to generate the program guide user interface when the online resource data is accessible via the network. In certain implementations, the content processing subsystem includes offline resource data and is configured to utilize the offline resource data to generate the program guide user interface when the online resource data is inaccessible via the network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a content delivery subsystem providing online resource data and programming data associated with media content; and

a content processing subsystem configured to communicate with the content delivery subsystem via a network, the content processing subsystem being configured to

receive the programming data associated with the media content, and

generate a program guide user interface including at least a subset of the programming data, wherein;

the content processing subsystem is configured to determine whether the online resource data is accessible via the network,

the content processing subsystem is configured to access and utilize the online resource data to generate a first version of the program guide user interface when the content processing subsystem determines that the online resource data is accessible via the network,

the content processing subsystem includes offline resource data and is configured to utilize at least a subset of the offline resource data instead of the online resource data to generate a second version of the program guide user interface when the content processing subsystem determines that the online resource data is inaccessible via the network for at least a threshold period of time, and

the second version of the program guide user interface is a downgraded version of the first version of the program guide user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the content processing subsystem is configured to provide the program guide user interface to an output device for presentation to a user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second version of the program guide user interface omits at least one feature included in the first version of the program guide user interface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one feature that is omitted from the second version of the program guide user interface comprises a graphic that is included in the first version of the program guide user interface.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one feature that is omitted from the second version of the program guide user interface comprises an image file that is included in the first version of the program guide user interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the content processing subsystem includes a data object, the offline resource data being included in the data object.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the resource data includes at least one resource file, the data object including the at least one resource file and an index indicative of at least one location of the at least one resource file in the data object.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the data object includes a header portion and a body portion, the index being included in the header portion and the at least one resource file being included in the body portion.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the content delivery subsystem is configured to provide at least one resource data management tool configured to enable an operator to remotely manage at least one of the online resource data and the offline resource data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one resource data management tool is configured to enable the operator to select a subset of the online resource data, the content delivery subsystem being configured to provide the selected subset of the online resource data to the content processing subsystem as the offline resource data.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one resource data management tool comprises a hub selection tool that is configured to enable the operator to select at least one video hub from a plurality of video hubs, the content delivery subsystem being configured to provide resource data from the at least one video hub to the content processing subsystem as the offline resource data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the online resource data includes at least one of a configuration file and an image file.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the content processing subsystem includes a set-top box.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive media content, programming data associated with the media content, and resource data from a content delivery subsystem via a network;

at least one processor; and

a memory unit including a program guide application, the program guide application being configured to direct the at least one processor to generate a program guide user interface including at least a subset of the programming data, wherein;

the program guide application is configured to direct the at least one processor to determine whether online resource data is accessible via the network,

the program guide application is configured to direct the at least one processor to access and utilize the online resource data on demand to generate a first version of the program guide user interface when the at least one processor determines that the online resource data is accessible via the network,

the memory unit includes offline resource data, the program guide application being configured to direct the at least one processor to utilize at least a subset of the offline resource data instead of the online resource data to generate a second version of the program guide user interface when the at least one processor determines that the online resource data is inaccessible via the network for at least a threshold period of time, and

the second version of the program guide user interface is a downgraded version of the first version of the program guide user interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the offline resource data includes at least one resource file, and the memory unit includes a data object, the data object including the at least one resource file and an index indicative of at least one location of the at least one resource file in the data object.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the data object includes a header portion and a body portion, the index being included in the header portion and the at least one resource file being included in the body portion.

17. A method comprising:

receiving programming data associated with media content provided over a network by a content delivery subsystem;

maintaining offline resource data;

determining whether online resource data is accessible via the network; and

generating a program guide user interface including the programming data associated with the media content, wherein;

the generating step includes accessing and utilizing online resource data for generating a first version of the program guide user interface when the online resource data is determined to be accessible over the network, the content delivery subsystem maintaining the online resource data,

the generating step includes utilizing at least a subset of the offline resource data instead of the online resource data to generate a second version of the program guide user interface when the online resource data is determined to be inaccessible via the network for at least a threshold period of time, and

the second version of the program guide user interface is a downgraded version of the first version of the program guide user interface.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing the program guide user interface to an output device for presentation to a user.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing at least one resource data management tool to an access device;

receiving user input via the access device, the user input including a user selection of a subset of the online resource data; and

defining the offline resource data based on the selected subset of the online resource data.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

generating a data object, the data object including the selected subset of online resource data; and

providing the data object to at least one content processing subsystem connected to the network.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining whether the online resource data is accessible via the network comprises at least one of:

sending a test transmission directed to the content delivery subsystem; and

monitoring one or more parameters of communications with the content delivery subsystem.