Systems and methods for providing an on-demand entertainment service

• US 9,414,121 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Music Choice
• Original Assignee: Music Choice
• Inventors: Farber, Stuart H., Yurman, Ronald M., Rosenberg, Jeremy C., Steinberg, Robert M., Feras, John J. Jr., McGonigal, Daniel L., O'Neill, Donna M., Tancredi, Christina B., Delbeccaro, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqi, Mohammad A
• Application Number:
  US14/163,554
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/217, 725/37, 725/46, 725/86, 725/87, 725/105, 725/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/17372 the upstream transmission being initiated or timed by a signal from upstream of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• 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 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 : involving special video data, e.g 3D video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for, in some cases, supplementing a broadcast media service with an on-demand service.

Claims

1. A system for providing an on-demand, personalized media service and a broadcast service to a set-top-box, comprising:

a distribution network, wherein the set-top-box is connected to the distribution network; and

a distribution system including a transmission system operable to transmit via the distribution network a media channel comprising a stream of audio and video data, wherein

the set-top-box is operable to;

(1) receive the media channel via the distribution network,

(2) reproduce the stream of audio data included in the received media channel for a user of the client system to hear,

(3) display video corresponding to the stream of video data included in the received media channel on a display device for the user to see,

(4) receive via the distribution network video identifier information comprising an identifier for identifying an available on-demand video while displaying on the display device the video corresponding to the stream of video data included in the received media channel,

(5) display a user selectable element for requesting the available on-demand video on the display device so that the user selectable element is displayed on the display device together with at least a portion of the video corresponding to the stream of video data as a result of receiving the video identifier information transmitted to the set-top-box using the distribution network, the user selectable element being associated with the available on-demand video, and

(6) in response to the user of the set-top-box selecting the user selectable element, causing an on-demand video system to transmit to the set-top-box the available on-demand video by transmitting to the on-demand video system an on-demand request message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the on-demand request message includes information identifying the on-demand video.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio data is associated with an artist and music format, and the meta information comprises information for identifying the artist and/or music format.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user selectable element is a distinct button.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the on-demand system is configured such that, in response to receiving the on-demand request message, the on-demand system transmits not only the on-demand video, but also transmits another video to the set-top-box.

6. A method for providing an on-demand service to a user of a set-top-box, comprising:

receiving at the set-top-box via a cable connected to a network a media channel comprising a stream of audio and video data;

the set-top-box displaying on a display device video corresponding to the video data stream;

while displaying said video, the set-top-box receiving video identifier information transmitted via the cable connected to the network, said video identifier information comprising an identifier for identifying an available on-demand video;

the set top box displaying on the display device, as a result of receiving said video identifier information, a user selectable element for requesting the available on-demand video while also displaying video corresponding to the video data stream so that the user can see the user selectable element while also seeing the displayed video corresponding to the video data stream, the user selectable element being associated with the available on-demand video;

the set-top-box detecting that the user has selected the selectable element for requesting the available on-demand video; and

in response detecting that the user has selected the selectable element, the set-top-box causing an on-demand video system to transmit to the set-top-box the available on-demand video, wherein causing the on-demand video system to transmit to the set-top-box the available on-demand video comprises the set-top-box transmitting to the on-demand video system an on-demand request message configured to cause the on-demand video system to transmit to the set-top-box the available on-demand video.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the media channel is a digital music channel.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the audio data is associated with an artist and music format, and the meta information comprises information for identifying the artist and/or music format.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

selecting another video; and

transmitting the another video to the client system as part of the on-demand session in response to receiving the message transmitted from the client system, wherein

the step of selecting the another video comprises interpreting one or more scripts, and

the another selected video is selected based, at least in part, on a profile associated with the user.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

causing the client system to display a second selectable element;

providing information to the client system that causes the client system to transmit to the on-demand system information indicating that the second element was selected in response to the user selecting the second element; and

after the on-demand system receives the information indicating that the second element was selected, transmitting from the on-demand system to the client system information identifying a set of videos, wherein

each video in said set is associated with a format associated with the broadcast media channel isolated by the client system when the user selected the second element.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

causing the client system to display a second selectable element;

providing information to the client system that causes the client system to transmit to the on-demand system information indicating that the second element was selected in response to the user selecting the second element; and

after the on-demand system receives the information indicating that the second element was selected, transmitting from the on-demand system to the client system information identifying a set of popular music videos within an area in which the client system is located.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

causing the client system to display a second selectable element;

providing information to the client system that causes the client system to transmit to the on-demand system information indicating that the second element was selected in response to the user selecting the second element; and

after the on-demand system receives the information indicating that the second element was selected, transmitting from the on-demand system to the client system information identifying a set of sub-categories associated with a format associated with the broadcast media channel isolated by the client system when the user selected the second element.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

providing information to the client system that causes the client system to transmit to the on-demand system information identifying the user and/or the client system in response to the user selecting the user selectable element; and

after receiving the information identifying the user and/or the client system, determining whether there is included in a set of channel profiles one or more channel profiles associated with the user and/or the client system.

14. A method for providing an on-demand service to a user of a set-top-box, comprising:

receiving at the set-top-box via a cable connected to a network a media channel comprising a stream of audio and video data;

the set-top-box displaying on a display device video corresponding to the video data stream;

while displaying said video, the set-top-box receiving on-demand video information transmitted via the cable connected to the network;

the set top box displaying on the display device, as a result of receiving the on-demand video information, a user selectable element for requesting information identifying a set of available on-demand videos while also displaying the video corresponding to the video data stream so that the user can see the user selectable element while also seeing the displayed video corresponding to the video data stream, the user selectable element being associated with the set of available on-demand videos;

in response to the user of the client system selecting the user selectable element, the set-top-box transmitting to an on-demand system an on-demand request message for causing the on-demand system to transmit to the set-top-box the information identifying the set of available on-demand videos;

the set-top-box receiving displaying a menu of the available on-demand videos as a result of receiving the information.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

in response to the user selecting one of the available on-demand videos identified in the menu, the set-top-box transmitting to an on-demand video system a second on-demand request message for causing the on-demand video system to transmit to the set-top-box the selected available on-demand video.