| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20080216106 | Content Distribution System - A content distribution system, including: a registration module for receiving registration data for a digital item accessible, on a communications network such as a peer to peer (P2P) network, using a digital item client, such as a P2P client, on a first device; an activity module for receiving a request for content of the digital item from the client on a second device; and a transaction module for registering download of the content to the second device, for processing payment transactions with the second device, and for processing remuneration transactions with at least the first device. The system also has a search module for receiving queries for digital items and ranking results based on a user selected ranking criteria including at least one of: review of said digital items; use of said digital items; and purchase of said digital items. The digital item and a declaration for the item may comply with MPEG-21. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080313664 | Method to record, save, and send otherwise non-recordable and copyrighted material - An apparatus in one example has: at least one media source operatively coupled to a controller, the controller selecting at least one media event from the at least one media source; the controller operatively coupled to a telecommunications system having at least one application server; a storage associated with the application server, the at least one media event saved to at least one media event file, an origin of a file content of the at least one media event file, and at least one destination associated with the at least one media event stored on the storage; at least one charge for a sending of the copy of the at least one media event file to the at least one destination; and a royalty fee based on the origin of the at least one media event file. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090031335 | DIGITAL BROADCAST PROGRAM ORDERING - A method and a system for selecting and ordering broadcast programs uses an electronic program guide that may be broadcast to subscribers or posted on an Internet web site. The system allows national broadcasters to provide one or more channels of pay-per-view or subscription programming and to establish a mechanism for billing subscribers who access the programs. Subscribers may access the Internet and send a program request to a web site. An authorization is then forwarded to a billing center and to a local broadcaster. The billing center debits the subscriber's account, or prepares a bill. The local broadcaster sends the authorization to the subscriber. The authorization includes a program code and a terminal identifier that permit the subscriber's television or set top terminal to decrypt and display the program. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090049464 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO PURCHASE CONTENTS BY USING PORTABLE STORAGE MEDIUM OR VIA NETWORK - Users of a method and apparatus to purchase (e.g., rent or buy) contents using a portable storage medium, via a network or the like. Contents purchased using embodiments of a method and apparatus may be developed to be automatically deleted or to be non-reproducible after being reproduced one time or after a predetermined period. Accordingly, users do not need to return borrowed or purchased contents. Also an owner of a contents rental shop may prevent contents from being unfairly reproduced. Further, user inconvenience due to the conventional manner in which users have to memorize information related to the contents and visit a rental shop to obtain desired contents may be avoided or decreased. Portable storage mediums or network resources of exemplary methods and apparatuses may be repeatedly used (e.g., without limitation), and thus may contribute to the saving of resources. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090070796 | Method And System For Back Channel Communication Utilizing DTMF For Set Top Box Devices - Data may be encoded into dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) digits within a set top box (STB). The STB may be a satellite STB. The STB may establish connection to a networked entity such as a billing center or satellite headend via voice call over cellular network and communicate data encoded by DTMF digits. A wireless transceiver integrated within the STB and/or an external wireless transceiver such as cellular phone may be utilized to establish a call and transmit the DTMF digits. The external wireless transceiver may be coupled to the STB via a wired connection or a wireless connection such as WiFi or Bluetooth. The data communicated via DTMF digits may comprise billing data. The STB may receive an acknowledgement for receipt of the transmitted data. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090144764 | BILLING ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM FOR MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - A system and method is disclosed for processing refund requests. For IPTV broadcast programs, refund requests initiated by users may be for pay-per-view or on-demand programs. After accepting the refund request, user information and historical event information for the provider network are collected and analyzed using a set of rules. The refund request may be granted or denied, either in whole or in part, based on the user information and the historical event information. In addition, detection of network outages and service interruptions is correlated to the refund requests, whereby remediation service may be initiated for network components determined to be in a fault condition. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090144765 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PRODUCTS FOR PERIODIC-FEE LIMITED ACCESS TO VIDEOS - Systems, methods and computer products for providing periodic fee limited access to videos via Internet Protocol Television. Exemplary embodiments include a method for providing video, the method including receiving a request to download a video to a communications device via an Internet-Protocol-enabled connection,, determining whether the download is permitted based on a periodic fee arrangement for providing the video to the communications device and providing the video to the communications device in response to a determination that the download is permitted. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090276800 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF CHANGING A RECEIVER BETWEEN A HIGH DEFINITION AND STANDARD DEFINITION MODE - A system and method for controlling a receiving unit to switch services includes a network operation center communicating a service signal to the receiving unit and an evaluate signal to the receiving unit. The receiving unit changes a service of the receiving unit in response to the evaluate signal. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20100023958 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A VIRTUAL BROADCASTER NETWORK - A system and method for operating a virtual broadcast network may include using, by a virtual broadcaster, a network server remotely located from the virtual broadcaster and managed by a communications service provider to host a virtual broadcast network. A selection, via a control panel, of at least one broadcast content feed from a plurality of different content service providers may be performed. The selected broadcast content feeds may be broadcast to users who access the virtual broadcast network. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100023959 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A CONTENT SERVER TO BE USED BY A CONTENT PROVIDER TO DISTRIBUTE CONTENT TO SUBSCRIBERS OF A COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER - A system and method for a content provider to distribute content may include configuring a webserver to be in communication with the Internet and be accessible to subscribers of a communication service provider without accessing the Internet. The content provider may be enabled to store content in at least one data storage bin at the webserver, where the webserver may further be configured to provide digital rights management for the content provider and guaranteed QoS to the subscribers when downloading the content. The content may be communicated from the webserver with guaranteed QoS to the subscribers. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100031281 | METHOD FOR REALIZING A PPV PURCHASE MECHANISM AND A SYSTEM FOR THE SAME - Disclosed is a method and a system for realizing a Pay Per View (PPV) purchasing mechanism. The system includes: a broadcasting center for setting system information including an available purchase time, an available purchase cancellation time, and a time point for transfer of PPV details regarding each PPV broadcast program, for broadcasting the PPV broadcast programs and the system information to a broadcasting network, and for performing charging of a price and a management of a viewing right through provided PPV details information on each PPV broadcast program; and a broadcast viewing terminal for booting a previously set PPV purchase application on the basis of the PPV broadcast programs and the system information, for receiving PPV broadcast programs and system information provided through a broadcasting network, for purchasing or canceling the purchase of a prescribed PPV broadcast program at the available purchase time or at the available purchase cancellation time on the basis of PPV details information previously stored in the broadcast viewing terminal, for forming PPV details information updated according to a result of processing a broadcast viewing right by discriminating if the PPV broadcast program is rebroadcasted, and for delivering the updated PPV details information to the broadcasting center via a mobile communication network or an internet. Hence, details information formed by purchase and purchase cancellation regarding the PPV broadcasting programs can be flexibly employed, and by discriminating if a PPV broadcast program received through a broadcast viewing terminal is rebroadcasted, setting a discriminative broadcast viewing right and handling the charging of price can be performed. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100037248 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC PRICING OF MOBILE TV CONTENT - Methods and systems enable mobile TV broadcast service providers to allow dynamic pricing for access to broadcast programs. A server within a mobile TV broadcast network may negotiate the price for accessing a broadcast program with individual users via their mobile devices. The server may receive requests to access broadcast programs with price offers from mobile devices. The server may respond to price offers by accepting the price offer or by making a counter offer until a mutually agreeable price is identified. Alternatively, the server may implement any of a number of types of auctions for access rights to broadcast programs. Similar to negotiable dynamic pricing methods, once purchase requests for viewing access to broadcast content programs at current asking prices are accepted, the mobile TV broadcast service provider may transmit the appropriate decryption keys to the users who made accepted offers or bids. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100043020 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FINE GRAIN PAYMENT FOR MEDIA SERVICES - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for recommending media content, the method comprising generating a playlist representing one or more media segments, receiving comments describing the one or more media segments, transmitting the playlist and received comments to one or more viewers, and charging a fee for displaying the media segment represented by the playlist. In one aspect, the fee charged is paid in full or in part by one or more of a recommending party, a third party, one or more viewer, and an advertiser in exchange for inserting advertising content in one or more of the playlist and the comments. Referral credit can be granted recursively when the viewer recommends the playlist to a second viewer and a second fee is charged. In one aspect, received comments are generated based on one or more of media segment metadata, text or audio comments from a recommending party, and previously generated comments describing the media segment. Statistics representing viewing habits of and personal information about the viewer may be collected for use with an election based on the collected statistics. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100050198 | METHOD OF RECORDING AND PLAYING BASEBALL GAME SHOWING EACH BATTER'S PITCH - A recorded complete baseball game is condensed into about fifteen minutes of action. All of the at-bat appearances of the players, in turn, are recorded, and then the recorded game is edited to leave only the last pitch thrown to each player, plus any action ensuing after that pitch and any attempts of runners to advance to another base and any other outs, such a runner as being picked off base. Then the recorded edited game is presented to viewers as a condensed game. The condensed game can be presented to subscribers over the Internet, or may be presented on film or as a video recording. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100100896 | System for simultaneous delivery of digital television and interactive broadband service - A method and apparatus is provided for the delivery of digital television and interactive broadband service in a manner that maximizes the useage of the digital broadcast spectrum. A digital television signal is transmitted to a given broadcast area in a relatively small part (for example, a 1 MHz band) of one or more licensed portions of the digital broadcast spectrum. Interactive broadband service is delivered within at least a portion of the same broadcast area covered by the broadcast digital television signal, in the remainder (for example, a 5 MHz band) of an unused part of the same licensed portion of the digital broadcast spectrum as is occupied by the digital television signal, or within an unlicensed (unused) portion of the digital broadcast spectrum. The broadcasting of the digital television and delivery the interactive broadband service occur simultaneously. In one embodiment, digital television and broadband service are delivered by the same equipment within the same bandwidth. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100115540 | System and Method to Enable Access to Broadband Services - A provisioning system includes a services management system operable to enable a set-top box device configured to receive broadband services at a first network location to access one or more of the broadband services at a second network location. The first network location is associated with a subscriber account and the second network location is not associated with the subscriber account. The broadband services include a voice service, a data service, and a video service. The provisioning system includes a subscriber authentication system operable to evaluate a request that includes subscriber authorization data, to selectively authorize access to the one or more broadband services at the second network location based on the subscriber authorization data, and to enable the set-top box device to access the one or more broadband services when the set-top box device is at the second network location. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100192170 | Device assisted service profile management with user preference, adaptive policy, network neutrality, and user privacy - Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a communications device implements a service profile for assisting control of the communications device use of a service on a network, in which the service profile includes service policy settings; monitors use of the service based on the service profile; and modifies a service policy setting to achieve a service usage goal. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100223637 | System and method for optimizing the pricing of multimedia content delivery - A system for setting a price for delivering multimedia content to subscribers' devices. The novel system includes a first sub-system for obtaining data on subscribers' actions on their devices and a second sub-system for determining a price to charge a content provider to deliver multimedia content to the devices based on this data. In an illustrative embodiment, the first sub-system includes an applet stored in and executed by each device adapted to record the subscriber's actions on the device, including the subscriber's responses to content previously delivered to the device. The second sub-system includes a neural network artificial intelligence engine adapted to determine a responsiveness of each subscriber based on their responses to previously delivered content and adjust the price based on the responsiveness of the subscribers selected to receive new content. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100293564 | METHOD TO BLOCK UNAUTHORIZED NETWORK TRAFFIC IN A CABLE DATA NETWORK - The present invention teaches methods and systems for subscriber blocking of unauthorized network traffic in a cable data network. The cable modem termination system (CMTS) incorporates a data gateway agent that filters unauthorized traffic thereby eliminating consumption based subscribers from being responsible for related service charges. Embodiments incorporate the use of packet filtering, hybrid stateful packet filtering, content filtering, application layer filtering and time based filtering. Greater acceptance of consumption based billing is achieved by having the filter settings directed by the subscriber. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20110055859 | Systems and Methods for Providing Content To A Subscriber Through a Foreign Service Provider and For Facilitating The Subscriber Incurring a Fee For Viewing The Content - Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for providing content to a subscriber of a first video service provider through a second video service provider and for facilitating the subscriber incurring a fee for viewing the content. In particular embodiments, the systems and methods authenticate a subscriber of a first video service provider and allow the subscriber to view content through a second video service provider and incur the fee for viewing such content. Various embodiments may make use of a content brokerage provider to facilitate the brokerage of content between video servicer providers. Further, in various embodiments, the first video service provider (and/or content brokerage provider) bills the subscriber for the fee incurred for viewing the content through the second video service provider and, in particular embodiments, a portion of the fee is paid to the second video service provider. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110099567 | METHOD FOR THE ALLOCATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE RECEPTION OF BROADCAST PRODUCTS - A method to reduce bandwidth necessary for renewal of subscriptions for reception of broadcast services including: defining a plurality of sets of subscriber identification numbers, each set being associated with a product; splitting a set of subscriber identification numbers into groups of subscribers; searching for an available subscriber identification number related to the desired product at the time of initialization of a new subscriber; confirming that an inhibit duration has elapsed between the end of the previous subscription and the start of the new subscription; sending an initialization message to the new subscriber addressed with his unique identification address and containing the subscriber identification number of, and rights to, his product; preparing a group rights renewal message for the product to the group containing the subscriber identification number, this message comprising the group header containing this subscriber and a compressed bitmap allowing to individually address each of the group members. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110113438 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DISPLAYING INFORMATION OF SPECIFIC INTEREST TO A USER ON A TELEVISION - A system and method of displaying information of specific interest to a user includes: rendering content on a television for a user and displaying first information on the television about the content, in response to a request from the user. In response to an additional request from the user, second information is displayed on the television about the first information, wherein the second information is acquired from a real time server conducted search. Purchase information is displayed on the television for products associated with the second information. In response to the user selecting the purchase information, a purchase transaction is initiated on the television. In some embodiments, a server records the purchase transactions and delivers targeted advertising to the television. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110113439 | METHOD OF ELECTRONIC VOTING, DECODER FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS METHOD, AND NETWORK COMPRISING A VOTING SERVER FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD - Method of electronic voting in a questionnaire, comprising:
| 05-12-2011 |
| 20110154381 | WIRELESS ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM - An entertainment delivery system including a delivery station configured for receiving an order for entertainment content from a telephone, the telephone being configured to receive entertainment content over a wireless network, the telephone also having a display device adapted to display said entertainment content, an entertainment database coupled to the delivery station, wherein the delivery station is configured for retrieving the entertainment content from the entertainment database when the order is received, the entertainment content including video content for display, and a billing database coupled to the delivery station, wherein the delivery station is configured for sending a billing record corresponding to a user account associated with the telephone to the billing database when the order is received. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110179434 | SELECTION AND PERSONALISATION SYSTEM FOR MEDIA - Disclosed is a method and system through which films can be discovered and film packages that are tailored to the individual can be put together and purchased. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110202945 | Personalizing TV Content - Storing information associated with content may be provided. First, information associated with available content may be presented to a user via a user device. Next, a user selection for an item of content may be received. In a dedicated memory location for the user, identifying information for the selected item of content may then be stored. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110252437 | ENTERTAINMENT APPARATUS - A video pod comprises side wails and a roof; a first display device inside the video pod; a second display outside and above en opening to the pod; a payment device; an input device; and a memory storing a plurality of video programs. The first display device is arranged to display a selected one of said video programs upon payment via the payment device and selection via the input device by a user, and the second display device is arranged to display a promotional video different to the video programs. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110258654 | PURCHASE TRANSACTION METHOD FOR IPTV PRODUCT AND IPTV RECEIVER THEREOF - A purchase transaction method for IPTV product and IPTV receiver thereof using the same are provided. The purchase transaction method for IPTV product includes requesting to make a purchase for a offering by using a identifier of the offering, wherein the offering is a combination of one or more products to be purchased and purchase terms for the products; and obtaining a response returned from the request to indicate success or failure of the requested purchase. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110271293 | Enhanced Television Services - Back-End Core Software - A method and system to permit TV viewers to interact with program content broadcast over a subscriber network, such as cable, satellite, interne, or cellular telephone. The details of the ability for the viewer to interact is embedded as data in the program signal. The subscription provider broadcasts a visual indicator as a small icon during programming that informs the viewer that interaction is permitted. The viewer then uses a remote control to purchase products, vote on events, respond to polls, download files, request information, and request callback actions. The TV viewer uses the remote control to send information to a set-top box front-end application, and to iteratively create transactions that are batched and then sent to a back-end core application and database which then handles fulfillment. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110283303 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SHARING SERVICE GUIDE OR SERVICE GUIDE FRAGMENTS IN MOBILE BROADCAST SYSTEM - A method and system is provided for sharing a service guide or a service guide fragment in a mobile broadcast system supporting a mobile broadcast service. A Broadcast Service Provisioning Client Function (BSP-C) sends a request for the service guide or service guide fragment to a Broadcast Service Provisioning Management Function (BSP-M). The BSP-M transmits the service guide or service guide fragment to the BSP-C if the BSP-M has the service guide or service guide fragment. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110289522 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF BUILDING A WANTED LIST QUEUE FOR A USER IN A CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates metadata for a plurality of content including the content titles. The system also includes the user device that generates a screen display comprising the plurality of content titles from the metadata and generates a selection corresponding to a first content title from a user interface, the user device adds metadata for the first content title to a queue and displays the queue in a priority order on the screen display. The user device is tuned to receive content corresponding to the first content title and stores the content in a storage device. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20120042331 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTENT INITIATION - Methods and systems for content initiation are described. In one embodiment, a content initiation request is received from an initiator device associated with an initiator. The content initiation request is associated with initiated content. The initiator associated with the content initiation request is verified as an authorized initiator. The broadcast request is transmitted to a broadcaster device based on verification of the initiator. The broadcast request is associated with the initiated content. Additional methods and systems are disclosed. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120072932 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND MANAGING THE DELIVERY OF DIGITAL MEDIA TO DEVICES ON HOME NETWORKS - A system and method for controlling and managing delivery of digital media to devices on a home network is presented. The system comprises an application server executed by a physical or virtual CPU, the application server notified by each device when each device initializes, a plurality of plug-ins, each device corresponding to at least one plug-in, and a control plane, wherein the control plane receives notice of an event from one device and sends the notice of the event to the application server, which sends the notice of the event to the plug-in corresponding to the one device having the event, and the plug-in performs the event. The plug-in can perform the event by streaming content data to a desired device. The application server can maintain user information and when the plug-in performs the event, the plug-in updates the user information. The application server can have an interactive program guide. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072933 | System for Subscriber-Specific TV and Multimedia Content Distribution Over High Speed Broadcast Mediums - Systems, management and distribution methodologies (including both hardware and software components) for the delivery of subscriber-specific TV and multimedia broadcasts. The system delivers multimedia files, regardless of compression or format, to subscribers; instead of normal linear broadcasts or content streaming. Delayed Negative Acknowledgment allows the client application to request any missing packets via a low speed return path to the TV Aggregation Servers. These negative acknowledgments are aggregated over a long delay period based on the initial broadcasts' time to live. Once a considerable threshold has been reached the missing content is rebroadcast, clients receive any missing packets and mark the initial broadcast as complete thus making it available for viewing. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120102512 | Grouping Advertisement Subavails - Method and system for creating one or more advertising avail sections (subavails) and thereupon aggregating the subavails to form one or more groups of subavails. The advertisement opportunities (avails) may be divided into sections (subavails) with each section being directed at a particular target audience (group). The subavails are then aggregated into one or more groups of subavails so that the groups of subavails can be sold to the advertisers. The grouping of subavails is generally based on a correlation wherein the subavails are characterized based on one or more characteristics. The groups of subavails are formed based on one or more shared characteristics. The advertiser has an option to buy a group of subavails (rather than an avail in prior art), whereby the advertiser may reach a targeted group of an audience. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120131601 | ADAPTIVE VIDEO QUALITY SUBSTITUTION - A computing device, in a video content delivery network, intercepts requested video content prior to delivery of the requested video content to a customer premise device of the network, and receives subscription and authentication information of a customer associated with the customer premise device. The computing device receives video content provider information, and validates the requested video content based on the subscription and authentication information and the video content provider information. The computing device receives capability information associated with the customer premise device, and receives bandwidth information associated with the network. The computing device determines a quality of video content, to provide to the customer premise device, based on the customer premise device capability information and the network bandwidth information, and provides, to the customer premise device, video content with the determined quality. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120174141 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR AUTHENTICATING A USER OF AN ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE USING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for remotely controlling an entertainment device using a mobile communication device. A user utilizes a mobile communication device to input information that requests manipulation of playback of content outputted for presentation by an entertainment device. The mobile communication device transmits the user input to the entertainment device and furthers transmits identifying data regarding the user. Responsive to receiving the user input and the identifying data, the mobile communication device authenticates the user and outputs the content for presentation to a user based on the user input. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120192213 | Delivering an Audio Video Asset - A method of delivering an audio video asset is described. The method includes: receiving an order specifying an audio video asset to be delivered and a delivery destination for the audio video asset, wherein a delivery destination represents one or more physical delivery recipients; determining delivery paths representing different delivery technologies that could be used to deliver the audio video asset to the delivery destination; retrieving a set of path capacity timelines for the delivery paths, wherein path capacity timelines in the set of path capacity timelines each model a quantity of available capacity varying over time; processing the path capacity timelines to yield delivery path capacities; applying an allocation algorithm to the delivery path capacities to yield candidate delivery allocations, wherein candidate delivery allocations each includes one or more time periods during which one or more time periods a defined quantity of capacity can be allocated for delivery of the audio video asset; applying a cost function to the candidate delivery allocations to yield cost values, wherein the cost values each represent a cost of delivering the audio video asset according to the candidate delivery allocations; calculating scores for the candidate delivery allocations in dependence on a cost value for that candidate delivery allocation and one or more other objectives; selecting a candidate delivery allocation having a lowest score to yield a selected candidate delivery allocation; and delivering the audio video asset according to the selected candidate delivery allocation. Related apparatus and methods are also described. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120222054 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURELY TRANSMITTING DATA USING VIDEO VALIDATION - Secure transmission of electronic information is provided between two parties. Included is a first data communication session between a first computing device and a second computing device, wherein the first data communication session is via a first communication protocol. Further, first information is transmitted via the first communication protocol that is received via the first communication protocol. During the first communication session, a second data communication session is provided between the first computing device and the second computing device. The second communication session is via a second communication protocol, which is more secure than the first communication protocol. Second information is transmitted via the second communication protocol that is received via the second communication protocol. The second information relates at least partially to the first information. Moreover, the second communication session appears to a user of the first computing device to be the first communication session. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120233631 | Processes and systems for creating and delivering granular idiomorphic media suitable for interstitial channels - Creation or modification of various media to a form that is suitable for delivery (e.g., display) during gaps (generally temporal) in an information display to, or interaction with, a human user. Media is prepared to be granular in nature; consisting of relatively many, relatively small, cognitively separable or stand-alone segments; and, is optionally also customized to user preferences. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120240137 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING OFFERS USING A BILLING STATEMENT - A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, a telephone number or a hyperlink is provided adjacent to a total amount owed listed on a statement (e.g., an electronically-displayed billing statement). The offers reviewed may be customized, for example, based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120246667 | System and Method of Using Symbology to Purchase Broadcast Media - A method, controller and system in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure facilitate automatic acquisition of broadcast content for a user. Within the method, controller and system, a user device having a digital imaging device, a controller, and at least one network interface is configured to scan a visual code overlaid on visual broadcast content displayed on a display device. The user device interprets the scanned visual code to identify the visual broadcast content, and retrieves user preferences stored on the user device to facilitate acquisition of the stored content by the user. The user preferences identify a user-preferred site for acquiring the broadcast content, and may identify other parameters as well. The user device then establishes a transaction between the user device and the user-preferred site to acquire the broadcast content. In an embodiment, mere acceptance of the transaction by the user completes the transaction. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120304204 | CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, CONTENT DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS, CONTENT DISTRIBUTION METHOD, CONTENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, AND CONTENT PLAYBACK APPARATUS - A content distribution system that is supplied with power from a plurality of power sources having different environmental loads and that distributes content to a content playback apparatus connected via a communication circuit, the content distribution system distributing content with respect to a content distribution request from the content playback apparatus with a service quality that is determined so as to suppress the environmental load by the power supplied from the plurality of power sources to a predetermined environmental load. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120324488 | Configuration of Presentations of Selectable TV Services According to Usage - The present invention provides a method and system for accessing services in a television system. In one implementation, a DHCT presents a user a menu containing a plurality of selectable link representations corresponding to separate services or applications offered by the cable television system. The user navigates the menu with a remote device and selects a desired service by choosing the selectable link representation corresponding to the desired service or application. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selectable link command into an executable call, and activates the service or application corresponding to the selected link representation from the menu chosen by the user. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130055299 | System and Method of Processing Service Product Orders - A method includes sending, from a service delivery system, a service product package indicating a service product offering to a service product ordering subsystem and indicating a service control group. The method further includes receiving, from the service product ordering subsystem, an order for the service product offering and information identifying a subscriber account associated with the order. The method further includes providing delivery data including a video item to a media content distribution system. The media content distribution system is configured to send the video item to an end user device associated with the subscriber account in response to receiving the delivery data. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130074105 | USAGE BASED BILLING FOR VIDEO PROGRAMS - A method includes identifying a current time that at least one video program is viewed by at least one device associated with at least one user account. An initial billing time that the at least one video program is to be billed associated with the at least one user account may be identified. The method may include determining whether the current time is equal to the initial billing time. At least one coefficient associated with the at least one video program at the current time may be identified in response to a determination that the current time is equal to the initial billing time. The method may include determining a usage based billing for the at least one user account based on the current time that the at least one video program is viewed and the at least one coefficient associated with the at least one video program. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130074106 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CUSTOMIZING VIDEO SERVICES PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS IN HOTELS - Methods and apparatus facilitating sharing of customer information known to a video service provider which services a customer's home, with a hotel chain at which the customer is staying as a guest, are described. Disclosure of information about the customer's home service may, and in some embodiments is, limited to information directly related to providing the customer personalized video service. Information known about a guest by the guest's home video service provider is extended to the hotel by allowing that guest's home channel-watching preferences to be retrieved and stored within the hotel system. Based on the information retrieved from the cable operator or other service provider, when a guest is checked into a room, the STB (or other video-delivery/rendering device) used at the hotel is customized so that, channels are made available on the TV for channel surfing in the manner normally seen at the guest's home. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130081070 | DIGITAL MEDIA DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method employs an online site for making stored digital video recordings available for selection and download to a wireless communications device. Upon receipt of a selection for a digital video recording, the system and method causes the selected digital video recording to be wirelessly transmitted to the wireless communications device. The selected digital video recording is also made available to a personal computer associated with the user who made the selection. At least a title of the selected digital video recording is stored in a personal storage account of the user. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130086601 | MESSAGE DELIVERY MECHANISM - A method may include receiving a video stream, wherein the video stream is divided into video segments, and wherein the video stream is being sent to a customer device and receiving a request to insert a message into the video stream. The method may further include determining a particular video segment after which to insert the message into the video stream; inserting the message into video stream after the particular video segment; and sending the video stream to the customer device, wherein the video stream includes the inserted message. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130125152 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO COMMUNICATE RECEIVED COMMANDS FROM A RECEIVING DEVICE TO A MOBILE DEVICE - A receiving device embodiment receives a user command from an external source. The user command is directed to a remote target destination. A first interactive programming command communicator embodiment generates a mobile device command from the received user command, and communicates the mobile device command to a mobile device. A second interactive programming command communicator embodiment receives the mobile device command from the receiving device. A target destination is identified from information in the mobile device command, and information from the mobile device command is communicated to the target destination. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130139191 | CONTENT RECOMMENDATION FOR A UNIFIED CATALOG - A method includes identifying a unified catalog of content. The unified catalog of content includes digital content available to order and physical content available to order. The method includes identifying a digital content identifier for each asset of the digital content available to order from the unified catalog. The method also includes identifying a physical content identifier for each asset of the physical content available to order from the unified catalog. An indication of user activity from a user device is received. The method further includes determining one or more content recommendations based on the unified catalog and the indication of user activity. The one or more content recommendations are provided to the user device. A content selection based on the one or more content recommendations is received. The method also includes routing an order for the selected content based on an identifier associated with the selected content. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130145383 | MULTI-SCREEN VIDEO - One or more network devices receive, from a third-party system, catalog metadata for physical media assets available to order and combine the catalog metadata with catalog entries for digital content to form a unified catalog file. The one or more devices receive, from a user device, a request to view a directory of available video content and send, to the user device, the unified catalog file for presentation to a user. The one or more devices receive, from the user device, a selection of an item in the unified catalog file. The one or more devices provide, to the user device, video content corresponding to the selection when the selection corresponds to one of the catalog entries for digital content and provide, to the third-party system and via a billing gateway, user payment information when the selection corresponds to the catalog metadata for one of the physical media assets. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130185743 | TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT FOR RACING ENTERTAINMENT - A system and method are provided to perform operations for racing entertainment, including providing each of multiple racers with devices to capture images and sounds as perceived by the racer during a race, obtaining information pertaining to each of multiple users such as account information and selection of a racer whom the user wants to get connection with, managing transactions, processing the images and sounds, and transmitting the processed images and sounds from the racer to a client terminal of the user who selected the racer. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130247077 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM FOR RECORDING TELEVISION PROGRAMS - An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20140053171 | On-Demand Language Translation for Television Programs - A method, a system and a machine-readable medium are provided for an on demand translation service. A translation module including at least one language pair module for translating a source language to a target language may be made available for use by a subscriber. The subscriber may be charged a fee for use of the requested on demand translation service or may be provided use of the on demand translation service for free in exchange for displaying commercial messages to the subscriber. A video signal may be received including information in the source language, which may be obtained as text from the video signal and may be translated from the source language to the target language by use of the translation module. Translated information, based on the translated text, may be added into the received video signal. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140059575 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER UTILIZING NETWORK-BASED DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT - An approach provides for recording and editing digital media. A digital media stream is generated from an input signal (such as a live broadcast feed). The digital media stream is transmitted to a browser application configured to concurrently record and edit the digital media stream. | 02-27-2014 |
| 20140082643 | Targeted Video Advertising - A computer-implemented method of providing targeted video promotional material includes transmitting a promotional item for display on a video terminal, determining whether the promotional item was skipped, and updating a profile corresponding to the promotional item or a viewer of the promotional item based on whether or not the promotional item was skipped. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140089953 | System and Method for Recommending Media Programs and Notifying a User before Programs Start - A system and method for searching and/or subscribing to media programs and notifying the user before a recommended program starts in response to a user's request for recommendation. A server receives a user request for a media program event recommendation from a client device. The user request comprises user media program recommendation setting. The server generates a search query in accordance with the user request. The server runs the search query against one or more databases to generate a recommendation containing one or more media program events. At least one of the databases consists of scheduled media program events. The server sends automatically, without user interaction, to one or more user-designated calendar programs, a calendar event corresponding to a recommended media program event. The calendar event includes a respective date, time and duration. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140123159 | Providing Content On Demand - A method of providing content on demand is provided. Content corresponding to multiple video assets having multiple content owners is received. Content metadata definitions that are associated with the video assets is received. The content metadata definitions including billing data corresponding to an access fee for accessing ones of the video assets. The video assets are encrypted and the encrypted video assets are published. Metadata corresponding to each of the video assets is published. The metadata includes payment delivery data corresponding to the access fee for accessing respective ones of the video assets. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140165081 | AUDIO/VIDEO AND DATA SIGNAL REDISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A system and method for routing an output signal comprising at least one channel carrying a selected program to the user selecting the selected program. Based on information relating to the user, a server inserts or substitutes, or both, remotely from the user's premises, programming other than the selected program into the channel carrying the selected program. The system transmits the other programming to the user, in addition to or in place of the selected program, for the duration of the other programming. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140196062 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SETTING PRICES IN DATA DRIVEN MEDIA PLACEMENT - System and methods are presented for setting pricing in an advertising campaign with an audience management module. In some embodiments, a plurality of data structures is stored in a memory, each data structure representing one of a plurality of advertising slots. The audience management module stores in each of the plurality of data structures a price value associated with a respective advertising slot. A user input of a fixed value is received and stored as the price value of a first data structure of the plurality of data structures. The audience management module automatically updates the price value of each of the plurality of data structures without changing the price value of the first data structure. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140237492 | Systems and Methods for Automated Media Programming (AMP) - Automated media programming (AMP) systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment of an AMP system, a computer server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and provides a website for enabling uploading of media content, sorting the media content, and downloading the media content. Independent users are permitted to submit, edit, rate, and consume media content over a broadcast media channel or network. In some embodiments of the AMP system, content on the Internet is automatically searched and topics from the searched content are automatically identified. The topics are preferably indicative of currently relevant news or events and are indicative of a type of media content that will be requested for uploading from producers. The AMP system publishes the topics to the producers, receives and stores media content uploaded from the producers that relate to the respective topics, and enable users to select and download the media content. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140282632 | USING AUDIO DATA TO IDENTIFY AND RECORD VIDEO CONTENT - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for identifying audiovisual content, such as a movie or television show, based on audio data of the show and then presenting options to a user for the identified content, including recording that content on the user's digital video recorder for later viewing. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140282633 | Broadcast Network Platform System - A commercial search engine for searchmercials. The system manages and searches advertising media video and audio files and associating the media with one or more calls to action. The system contains Metadata utilized for various queries including search, channels of distribution and account information. The system uses a manually data entry interlace or a custom retrieval system to selectively update media files and Metadata from Meta tags or feeds on a scheduled basis automatically without having to manually update this data in the system. The system spiders these custom Meta tags or feeds for new Metadata on a scheduled basis to automate the submission and programming of the searchmercials content over the search engine. The system provides videos tailored for search in the results list in order to better inform users as to the contents of a link URL. The system can also provide users with other call to action options such as click to call, literature, order forms, etc. The system can schedule searchmercials to target users by time of day, location, device, and other parameters to offer a call to action to different audiences. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140282634 | AUDITED PIPELINED DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM FOR VIDEO ADVERTISEMENT EXCHANGES - Techniques and systems for operating a video ad exchange includes controlling an ad server to receive ad requests from viewer devices, provide ad responses to viewer devices, generate an ad delivery data file that includes information about delivery of ads to the viewer devices, and transfer the ad delivery data file to a distributed computing cloud. The technique further includes controlling an ad data infrastructure mechanism to download the cloud-based ad delivery data file into a local memory, and process the copied ad delivery data file to generate billing data. An ad data infrastructure mechanism receives a configuration file from the ad server, verifies that all items in the configuration file from the ad server were used in the generation of the first billing data, and removes non-verifiable items from the first billing data to generate a final billing data. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140282635 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERNET TV AND BROADCAST ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method for providing targeted advertising messages to a user, in particular users viewing Internal TV or broadcast programs. Advertising data files from one or more advertising entities are stored in a centralized location, such as a server or similar platform. Data relating to the user is acquired from the user's device settings and/or identification, so that a targeted advertising message may be selected from one of the stored advertising data files. The content data is transmitted to the user, the data having a cue for insertion of the selected targeted advertising message prior to or after the content file has been transferred. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140282636 | Mobile Content Delivery System with Recommendation-Based Pre-Fetching - This invention relates to the prefetching of content items, for example, prefetching of videos, to make the content items accessible from a local data store ( | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140298363 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY CONSTRUCTING PERSONALIZED CONTEXTUAL VIDEO PROGRAMS - Systems, methods, and computer readable-media for dynamically constructing personalized contextual video programs include extracting video metadata from a video program, extracting component metadata from video components stored in a media object library, extracting viewer preferences, receiving synchronization information about the video program, identifying a video program segment susceptible to inserting a video component, and transmitting the video component to a playback device and instructions detailing how to insert the video component in the video program segment. Video metadata can be extracted in real time. A viewer profile can be based on demographic information and user behavior. The video program and the video component can be combined before transmitting the video component and instructions to the playback device. A video component can be selected based on which advertiser offers to pay the most. The transmitted video component and set of instructions can be stored as a construction list for future use. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140310735 | FLAT RATE BILLING OF CONTENT DISTRIBUTION - The invention relates to flat rate billing schemes and ways of improving the cost-efficiency in the broadcasting of e.g. streaming media. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140351834 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEO-ON-DEMAND (VOD) - Providing video-on-demand (VOD) content to a subscriber may be disclosed. First, a request for a VOD session may be received from a companion device. Next, in response to the received request for the VOD session, a catalog of VOD content may be sent to the companion device. A selection of VOD content listed in the catalog of VOD content may then be received. A digital transport adaptor (DTA) corresponding to the received request for the VOD session may be identified. Next, the VOD session may be setup with the identified DTA and the selected VOD content may be streamed to the identified DTA. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20150040147 | PRESENTATION OF AN AVATAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH A MERCHANT SYSTEM - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to retrieve a user profile, cause a presentation device to present a user an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, detect one or more responses of the user, identify from the one or more responses a need to communicate with a merchant system, establish a communication session with the merchant system, receive a notification from the merchant system of a merchant avatar engine, establish communication with the merchant avatar engine, adapt the characteristics of the avatar at least in part according to instructions supplied by the merchant avatar engine, and cause the presentation device to present the user the adapted avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150074693 | CONTENT VIEWING SYSTEM AND DEVICE - A control device acquires from the content server options for purchasable video contents to display the options, accepts from an input unit a manipulation for determination of a video content to be purchased out of the options, and sends the viewing device a control event. A viewing device executes purchase processing for the video content, which is determined to be purchased, on the basis of the control event received from the control device, acquires the purchased video content from the content server, and plays the video content on the output unit. The control device further causes a control event to control the play of the video content by the viewing device, and sends the viewing device the control event. The viewing device controls the play of the video content on the basis of the control event received from the control device. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150095925 | CONTENT SUPPLY SYSTEM AND CONTENT SUPPLY METHOD THEREOF AND DISPLAY DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A content supply system and a content supply method thereof, and a display device and a control method thereof which supplies content to the display apparatus, are disclosed. A content supply system, including a user terminal which is used to purchase content; a content supply server which stores therein purchase description information of the first content purchased through the user terminal, and supplies second content based on the purchase description information of the purchased first content; and a display device which transmits usage authorization information to the content supply server corresponding to the purchase description information of the purchased first content, and receives the second content from the content supply server. The present invention supplies content which is purchased by a user through a user terminal and enables a user to use the content without double payment for the content. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150296267 | AUDIO/VIDEO AND DATA SIGNAL REDISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A system and method for routing an output signal comprising at least one channel carrying a selected program to the user selecting the selected program. Based on information relating to the user, a server inserts or substitutes, or both, remotely from the user's premises, programming other than the selected program into the channel carrying the selected program. The system transmits the other programming to the user, in addition to or in place of the selected program, for the duration of the other programming. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150358657 | BROADCAST CONDITIONAL ACCESS SYSTEM WITH IMPULSE PURCHASE CAPABILITY IN A TWO-WAY NETWORK - The invention relates generally to an apparatus and a method for securing impulse program purchases from conditional access network broadcast systems. The invention include providing entitlement codes to a set top boxe having security modules, located at a customer's corresponding program listening and viewing system. A customer desiring to makes an impulse purchase communicates the request to a broadcast system. In one embodiment of the invention, a message from the customer's access device transmits to a broadcast system's headend to indicate the desired purchase. In response to receiving an impulse purchase signal, the headend creates and sends an authorization code that thereafter authorizes the set top box to decode the impulse purchased program when it is received. The authorization code for a given impulse purchased program is only transmitted to set top boxes that actually purchase the program in contrast to the prior art system, where the decryption codes for impulse purchases are pre loaded into the security module before the event is purchased. The invention also generates data required for a billing record and transmits this data to a billing center. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150365723 | SYSTEM FOR CAPTURING AND MONITORING THE AMOUNT OF USERS WATCHING A MEDIA DEVICE - A system for detecting how many users are watching a given media device, including audio/visual output means such as a television or computer monitor, a monitoring device such as a television or computer monitor, a video capturing device, server means, and a programmable database that registers the users watching a given media content during a predetermined time in a given space. Monitoring means continuously scans the given space for new, unregistered users to charge them for viewing the media content. Once users have registered and paid for the media content, the content is released from the system's servers or a third party's servers and displayed on the audio/visual output means. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150373425 | Multi-Channel Signal Transmission Management System - The present invention relates to a system for organizing a plurality of signals to be transmitted to a plurality of subscriber receivers. At least one client computer having an interface towards a central management server. The client computer is configured to produce administrative instructions for organizing signals to be transmitted over at least one of a number of transmission resources. The administrative instructions produced by each computer specifies, for each signal to be transmitted, at least one particular transmission resource of a number of transmission resources available to each client computer. The administrative instructions for at least one signal determines which signal that will be transmitted through which transmission resource. The central management server adapted to receive, from the at least one computer, the administrative instructions pertaining to the transmission of the signals. In response to the administrative instructions, the central management server organizes and synchronizes signals originating from one or more signal sources before these signals are transmitted to the subscriber receivers. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20160029049 | COST REDUCTION THROUGH BIDDING AND ADVERTISING - Various techniques for enhancing wireless networks and/or devices that can receive wireless signals are disclosed. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160050462 | MEDIA CENTER PANELS FOR AN INTELLIGENT TELEVISION - An Intelligent TV can organize metadata about media items for display in a variety of contextual panels. The panels may be interactive or informational and may provide recommendations of other media items to the user. The Intelligent TV can receive a request to activate a panel through the reception of signals from a remote control or a user interface. Based on the request, the Intelligent TV can determine the type of panel requested by the user. The layout, information, and content of a panel may depend on the context and content of the media item with focus when a user activates the panel. The Intelligent TV can retrieve metadata for the requested panel and can then transition to the desired panel and provide the retrieved metadata. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160127760 | System and Method of Ad Delivery - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller programmed to store a subscriber selectable preference for advertisements used for selecting advertisements to send to a set top box and receive a signal from a broadcast stream indicating the location for insertion of an advertisement based on the subscriber selectable preference. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160150259 | CREATING AND BROADCASTING A CHANNEL TO ONE OR MORE DEVICES - Channels are created and broadcasted to devices utilizing a platform. Disclosed is a system that can comprise: a customization component that facilitates creation of a channel comprising video content, a brand, a graphic identity, and at least one feature of the channel, wherein the channel is represented by a channel card displayable from a channel store storing channels representing channel cards; a management component that facilitates management of operations of the channel comprising a channel broadcast operation, a channel editing operation, and a channel consumption operation; a reporting component that collects channel financial information comprising payment information for payment from a first party to a second party, or billing information for billing the first party; and an analytical component that generates channel analytics information regarding the consumption of the channel or a behavior of an identity associated with the consumption of the channel. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160191975 | AN APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING, EDITING AND PLAYING VIDEO CONTENTS AND THE METHOD THEREOF - The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing, editing, and playing video contents and the method thereof, which provide an application program allowing a user to produce contents made by one's own producing and editing and also playing the video contents; a video contents provision platform for selling and purchasing the video contents based on social network services; and a device of controlling the playback of the original video content file and the method thereof, being capable of storing the video content editing information as an additional data file while keeping the original video content stream intact. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20170238033 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO CONFIRM CO-LOCATION OF MULTIPLE DEVICES WITHIN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA | 08-17-2017 |
