Method and system for ordering video content from a mobile device

• US 8,561,114 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2007
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jeffs, Alistair E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUNG, JASON
• Application Number:
  US11/871,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20090100477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,194 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method and system for ordering content includes a mobile device having an ordering interactive interface having available content including linear content and on-demand content. The interactive interface receives a content selection corresponding to the on-demand content from the interactive interface and communicates the selection to a content processing system. The content processing system communicates a control word to the user device. A user device receives the on-demand content corresponding to the selection in response to the control word.

Claims

1. A method of ordering content using a mobile device comprising:

accessing, from the mobile device, an ordering interactive interface having available content including on-demand content using a wireless protocol;

selecting a content selection corresponding to the on-demand content from the ordering interactive interface;

communicating the content selection corresponding to the on-demand content to a content processing system;

generating an unencrypted control word comprising instructions for locating the on-demand content at a content delivery device located remotely from a user device;

communicating the unencrypted control word based on the content selection from the content processing system to the user device disposed remotely from the mobile device; and

after communicating the unencrypted control word, enabling the user device to retrieve the content corresponding to the content selection from the content delivery device in response to the instructions for locating the on-demand content contained in the unencrypted control word.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising in response to communicating the unencrypted control word, sending an email indicating the unencrypted control word was sent to the user device.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein after receiving, storing the content in a memory of the user device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein accessing an ordering interactive interface comprises entering a customer identifier and password.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting a content selection comprises selecting the content selection from a menu.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting a content selection comprises selecting the content from a search result.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein prior to selecting the content from a search result, performing a title search and generating the search result from the title search.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein prior to selecting the content from a search result, performing a channel name search and generating the search result from the channel name search.

9. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein prior to selecting the content from a search result, performing a channel number search and generating the search result from the channel number search.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the unencrypted control word comprises communicating the unencrypted control word through a satellite.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the unencrypted control word comprises communicating the unencrypted control word through a broadband communication system.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the unencrypted control word comprises communicating the unencrypted control word through a terrestrial system.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving the content through a satellite.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving the content through a broadband communication system.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving the content through a terrestrial system.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the unencrypted control word comprises communicating the unencrypted control word through a satellite and wherein receiving the content comprises receiving the content through a satellite.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the unencrypted control word comprises communicating the unencrypted control word through a satellite and wherein receiving the content comprises receiving the content through a broadband communication system.

18. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user device comprises a satellite television set top box.

19. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising storing the content in a content repository at the content processing system prior to enabling the user device to retrieve the content.

20. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an unencrypted control word comprises generating an unencrypted control word comprising instructions for locating content at a satellite transponder.

21. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an unencrypted control word comprises generating an unencrypted control word comprising instructions for locating content at a content delivery device.

22. A system comprising:

a mobile device having an ordering interactive interface having available content including on-demand content, said mobile device forming a content selection corresponding to the on-demand content from the ordering interactive interface and communicating the content selection to a content processing system;

said content processing system generating an unencrypted control word comprising instructions for locating the on-demand content at a content delivery device located remotely from a user device and communicating the unencrypted control word to the user device; and

the user device receiving the unencrypted control word to enable retrieving the on-demand content from the content delivery device corresponding to the content selection in response to the instructions for locating the on-demand content contained in the unencrypted control word and storing the content in a storage device of the user device.

23. A system as recited in claim 22 further comprising a satellite in communication with the content processing system communicating the unencrypted control word therethrough.

24. A system as recited in claim 22 further comprising a broadband communication system communication with the content processing system communicating the unencrypted control word therethrough.

25. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the content processing system comprises a content repository storing the on-demand content therein, and a content delivery network delivering content to the user device.

26. A system as recited in claim 25 wherein the content delivery device comprises a content delivery network and wherein the system further comprises a broadband communication system in communication with the content delivery device that communicates the on-demand content therethrough.

27. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the content delivery device comprises a satellite transponder and wherein the instructions locate the satellite transponder.