System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider

• US 9,635,395 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.
• Inventors: Perez, Milton Diaz
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MUSHFIKH I
• Application Number:
  US15/148,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20160255404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 725 74-104
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/47214 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 : using a channel name
• 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 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6379 : directed to encoder , e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 : specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• 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 21/85406 : involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Claims

1. A method for providing video-on-demand content to a subscriber device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, at a web-based content management system, comprising one or more computers, from at least one of a plurality of content provider devices associated with respective content providers, via an Internet connection, at least the following digital content;

(i) first video-on-demand program content for a video-on-demand program;

along with

(ii) content classifying metadata associated with the first video-on-demand program content, the content classifying metadata comprising a title, one or more category terms, and one or more subcategory terms for identifying at least one hierarchically arranged location in a hierarchically arranged electronic program guide where the title of the first video-on-demand program content is to be located according to a hierarchical structure specified by the one or more category terms and the one or more subcategory terms, wherein the content classifying metadata is designated by the respective content provider of the first video-on-demand program content;

(b) encoding, at the one or more computers of the web-based content management system, the first video-on-demand program content to an encoded video-on-demand content file in a format capable of display by a subscriber device;

(c) generating, at the one or more computers of the web-based content management system, video-on-demand application-readable metadata for the encoded video-on-demand content file by converting at least a portion of the first content classifying metadata into a format readable by a video-on-demand application so that the application-readable metadata can be used with the encoded video-on-demand content file in order to specify the at least one hierarchically arranged location of the title in the hierarchically arranged electronic program guide so that the first video-on-demand program content is locatable by a subscriber using the one or more category terms and the one or more subcategory terms when using the video-on-demand application;

(d) storing, on a first non-transitory computer-readable memory operatively connected to the one or more computers of the web-based content management system, the encoded video-on-demand content file;

(e) updating, by the video-on-demand application, the hierarchically arranged electronic program guide to list the title of the first video-on-demand program content in the at least one hierarchically arranged location in the hierarchically arranged electronic program guide based at least in part on the one or more category terms and the one or more subcategory terms of the associated content classifying metadata, the updated hierarchically arranged electronic program guide being accessible by a subscriber using a respective subscriber device connected via a broadband connection allowing the subscriber to navigate and select titles of video-on-demand program content including the first video-on-demand program content from the updated hierarchically arranged electronic program guide;

(f) receiving, via the broadband connection, a first selection by the subscriber of the title from the updated hierarchically arranged electronic program guide; and

(g) transmitting, from the first non-transitory computer-readable memory to the respective subscriber device via the broadband connection, the encoded video-on-demand content file for playback on the subscriber device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to transmitting the encoded video-on-demand content file for playback on the subscriber device, transmitting to the respective subscriber device via the broadband connection a digital advertisement for playback on the subscriber device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more category terms or the one or more subcategory terms associated with the first video-on-demand program content correspond to one or more topics that pertain to video-on-demand program content from more than one content provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more category terms or the one or more subcategory terms associated with the first video-on-demand program content corresponds to one or more content providers and wherein the hierarchically arranged electronic program guide is organized according to the content provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective subscriber device is a set top box.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective subscriber device is a digital phone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective subscriber device is a media player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective subscriber device is a game console.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadband connection comprises a telephone line.

10. The method of claim 1, where the broadband connection comprises a local area broadband network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadband connection comprises a wireless area broadband network.