Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ORDERING VIDEO CONTENT USING A LINK
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a content processing and delivery
system
and, more specifically, to a system for ordering content using a hyperlink
that is, for
example, in an e-mail or on a webpage.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The statements in this section merely provide background information
related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
[0003] Satellite television has become increasingly popular due to the wide
variety of content and the quality of content available. A satellite
television system typically
includes a set top box that is used to receive the satellite signals and
decode the satellite
signals for use on a television. The set top box typically has a memory
associated therewith.
The memory may include a digital video recorder or the like as well as the
operating code for
the set top box.
[0004] Satellite television systems typically broadcast content to a number of
users simultaneously in a system. Satellite television systems also offer
subscription or pay-
per-view access to broadcast content. Access is provided using signals
broadcast over the
satellite. Once access is provided the user can access the particular content.
[0005] Content providers are increasingly trying to determine additional ways
to
provide content to users. Often times, a user may not be located where the
recording device
associated with their television is located. At other times users may not be
informed as to
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new offerings for programming that are available. Therefore, opportunities for
recording
content of interest may be missed.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure allows users to order content through a
hyperlink or
link. The link may be provided in an e-mail or through posted on a website
such as a social
networking website. The content is then transferred to and recorded at a user
device. The
teachings herein may be provided for live content and on-demand content stored
within a
content processing system.
[0007] In one aspect of the disclosure, a method including forming a link
corresponding to content, accessing a content ordering system by selecting the
link, logging a
user into a content ordering system, enabling a content recording request,
receiving the
content associated with the link at a user device in response to the content
recording request
and storing the content in a memory of the user device.
[0008] In a further aspect of the disclosure, a system includes a content
processing system and a device in communication with the content ordering
system. The
device displays a link corresponding to content and accessing a content
ordering system by
selecting the link. The content processing system enables a content recording
request. A
user receiving device receives the content associated with the link at a user
device in
response to the content recording request and stores the content in a memory.
[0009] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description
provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific
examples are
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intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the
scope of the
present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
[0010] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and
are
not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a communication system according
to
the disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagrammatic view of the content processing
system of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagrammatic view of the fixed user device
of
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for linking content and
content-
associated information.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for browsing selected titles on an
interactive interface.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for searching titles on an
interactive
interface.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a method for viewing programming information on an
interactive
interface.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a method for viewing trailer video on an interactive
interface.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a flowchart for a method for ordering titles on an
interactive
interface.
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[0020] FIG. 10 is a method for providing parental locks on an interactive
interface.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a web page for browsing various video-on-demand titles.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a more detailed menu display for browsing various video-on-
demand titles.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a screen display of a programmer-specific content page for
browsing various titles available through the programmer.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a screen display of a search results page.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a screen display for determining the position of the queue.
[0026] FIG. 16 is a screen display for prioritizing a requested video-on-
demand
title.
[0027] FIG. 17 is a tabular view of a customer queue.
[0028] FIG. 18 is a simplified block diagrammatic view of a mobile device in
communication with a website.
[0029] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a method for a mobile device accessing a
service
website.
[0030] FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a method for operating and interacting with a
website for ordering mobile content.
[0031] FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a method for searching for content using a
mobile device.
[0032] FIG. 22 is a flowchart for quick recording of content from a mobile
device.
[0033] FIG. 23 is a screen display for scheduling the recording of a DVR.
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[0034] FIG. 24 is a screen display illustrating a first login page for a DVR
scheduler.
[0035] FIG. 25 is a screen display of a DVR scheduler when the e-mail entered
in
FIG. 24 is not found.
[0036] FIG. 26 is a screen display illustrating lack of support for phone
registration.
[0037] FIG. 27 is a screen display of a DVR scheduler where the user name or
identification is remembered.
[0038] FIG. 28 is a screen display for a DVR scheduler used when the user name
has been forgotten.
[0039] FIG. 29 is a screen display illustrating the DVR scheduler requires an
HD
DVR.
[0040] FIG. 30 is a screen display of an interface for the DVR scheduler for
performing various functions.
[0041] FIG. 31 is a screen display for searching using the DVR scheduler.
[0042] FIG. 32 is a screen display for search results for a particular search
item.
[0043] FIG. 33 is a screen display for performing a search with time
constraints.
[0044] FIG. 34 is a screen display of search results returned from a search.
[0045] FIG. 35 is a screen display of search results with a pair of
selections.
[0046] FIG. 36 is a screen search display illustrating further episodes of a
search.
[0047] FIG. 37 is a screen display for scheduling recording of search results.
[0048] FIG. 38 is a screen display of search results with queue selections.
[0049] FIG. 39 is a screen display for selecting recording types.
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[0050] FIG. 40 is a screen display for confirming a request.
[0051] FIG. 41 is a screen display confirming a recording request.
[0052] FIG. 42 is a screen display illustrating search results for searching a
search
string within a title.
[0053] FIG. 43 is a screen display illustrating search results for a channel
search.
[0054] FIG. 44 is a screen display illustrating a quick recording for a DVR
scheduler.
[0055] FIG. 45 is a screen display for selecting a recording device associated
with
the account.
[0056] FIG. 46 is a screen display illustrating logging out of the DVR
scheduler
system.
[0057] FIG. 47 is simplified block diagrammatic view of a secure ordering
system.
[0058] FIG. 48 is a sequence chart illustrating a process for operating the
secure
ordering system.
[0059] FIG. 49 is simplified block diagrammatic view of an ordering system
using a link.
[0060] FIG. 50 is flow chart of a method of requesting e-mails for ordering
content using a link.
[0061] FIG. 51 is flow chart of a method of generating a webpage link for
ordering content.
[0062] FIG. 52 is screen display of a program guide for ordering content.
[0063] FIG. 53 is a flowchart of a method of using a link to order content.
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[0064] FIG. 54A is a screen display of an e-mail with a link for ordering
content.
[0065] FIG. 54B is a screen display of a website having a link for ordering
content.
[0066] FIG. 55 is a simplified block diagrammatic view of a voice menu system
for ordering content.
[0067] FIG. 56 is a flowchart of a method of ordering content using the voice
menu system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0068] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not
intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. For purposes
of clarity, the
same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar
elements. As used
herein, the term module refers to an Application Specific Integrated Circuit
(ASIC), an
electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that
execute one or
more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or
other suitable
components that provide the described functionality. As used herein, the
phrase at least one
of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a
non-exclusive
logical OR. It should be understood that steps within a method may be executed
in different
order without altering the principles of the present disclosure.
[0069] The following system is described with respect to a satellite system
and a
broadband system. The broadband distribution system may be implemented in a
terrestrial
system such as cable or telephone-type system. An optical fiber may also be
used in the
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broadband system. Wireless distribution may also be used in the broadband
distribution
system.
[0070] While the following disclosure is made with respect to example
DIRECTV broadcast services and systems, it should be understood that many
other delivery
systems are readily applicable to disclosed systems and methods. Such systems
include other
wireless distribution systems, wired or cable distribution systems, cable
television
distribution systems, Ultra High Frequency (UHF)Nery High Frequency (VHF)
radio
frequency systems or other terrestrial broadcast systems (e.g., Multi-channel
Multi-point
Distribution System (MMDS), Local Multi-point Distribution System (LMDS),
etc.),
Internet-based distribution systems, cellular distribution systems, power-line
broadcast
systems, any point-to-point and/or multicast Internet Protocol (IP) delivery
network, and
fiber optic networks. Further, the different functions collectively allocated
among a head end
(HE), integrated receiver/decoders (IRDs) and a content delivery network (CDN)
as
described below can be reallocated as desired without departing from the
intended scope of
the present patent.
[0071] Further, while the following disclosure is made with respect to the
delivery of video (e.g., television (TV), movies, music videos, etc.), it
should be understood
that the systems and methods disclosed herein could also be used for delivery
of any media
content type, for example, audio, music, data files, web pages, etc.
Additionally, throughout
this disclosure reference is made to data, information, programs, movies,
assets, video data,
etc., however, it will be readily apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the
art that these terms
are substantially equivalent in reference to the example systems and/or
methods disclosed
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herein. As used herein, the term title will be used to refer to, for example,
a movie itself and
not the name of the movie.
[0072] Referring now to FIG. 1, a communication system 100 includes a content
processing system 102 that is used as a processing and transmission source, a
plurality of
content providers, one of which is shown at reference numeral 104 and a first
satellite 106.
A second satellite 108 may also be incorporated into the system. The
satellites 106, 108 may
be used to communicate different types of information or different portions of
various
contents from the content processing system 102. The system 100 also includes
a plurality of
fixed user devices 110 such as integrated receiver/decoders (IRDs) or set-top
box. Wireless
communications are exchanged between the content processing system 102 and the
fixed
user devices 110 through one or more of the satellites 106, 108. The wireless
communications may take place at any suitable frequency, such as, for example,
Ka band
and/or Ku-band frequencies.
[0073] A mobile user device 112 may also be incorporated into the system. The
mobile user device 112 may include, but is not limited to, a cell phone 114, a
personal digital
assistant 116, a portable media player 118, a laptop computer 120, or a
vehicle-based device
122. It should be noted that several mobile devices 112 and several fixed user
devices 110
may be used in the communication system 100. The mobile devices 112 may each
have a
separate antenna generally represented by antenna 124.
[0074] In addition to communication via the satellites 106, 108, various types
of
information such as security information, encryption-decryption information,
content, or
content portions may be communicated terrestrially. A communication network
132 such as
the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a terrestrial wireless system,
stratospheric
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platform, an optical fiber, or the like may be used to terrestrially
communicate with the fixed
user device 110 or the mobile user device 112. To illustrate the terrestrial
wireless capability
an antenna 134 is illustrated for wireless terrestrial communication to the
mobile user device
112.
[0075] Information or content provided to content processing system 102 from
the media source 104 may be transmitted, for example, via an uplink antenna
138 to the
satellite(s) 106,108, one or more of which may be a geosynchronous or geo-
stationary
satellite, that, in turn, rebroadcast the information over broad geographical
areas on the earth
that include the user devices 110, 112. The satellites may have inter-
satellite links as well.
Among other things, the example content processing system 102 of FIG. 1
provides program
material to the user devices 110, 112 and coordinates with the user devices
110, 112 to offer
subscribers pay-per-view (PPV) program services and broadband services,
including billing
and associated decryption of video programs. Non-PPV (e.g. free or
subscription)
programming may also be received. To receive the information rebroadcast by
satellites 106,
108, each for user device 110 is communicatively coupled to a receiver or
downlink antenna
140.
[0076] Security of assets broadcast via the satellites 106, 108 may be
established
by applying encryption and decryption to assets or content during content
processing and/or
during broadcast (i.e., broadcast encryption). For example, an asset can be
encrypted based
upon a control word (CW) known to the content processing system 102 and known
to the
user devices 110, 112 authorized to view and/or playback the asset. In the
illustrated
example communication system 100, for each asset the content processing system
102
generates a control word packet (CWP) that includes, among other things, a
time stamp,
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authorization requirements, assignments, recording instructions including
channel
assignments start times and durations, and an input value and then determines
the control
word (CW) for the asset by computing a cryptographic hash of the contents of
the CWP. The
CWP is also broadcast to the user devices 110, 112 via the satellites 106,
108. The user
devices authorized to view and/or playback the broadcast encrypted asset will
be able to
correctly determine the CW by computing a cryptographic hash of the contents
of the
received CWP. If the user device 110 is not authorized, the IRD 110 will not
be able to
determine the correct CW that enables decryption of the received broadcast
encrypted asset.
The CW may be changed periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds) by generating and
broadcasting a new CWP. In an example, a new CWP is generated by updating the
timestamp included in each CWP. Alternatively, a CWP could directly convey a
CW either
in encrypted or unencrypted form. Other examples of coordinated encryption and
decryption
abound, including for example, public/private key encryption and decryption.
[0077] Referring now to FIG. 2, the content processing system 102 of FIG. I is
illustrated in further detail. The content provider 104 may include various
types of content
providers, including those that provide content by way of a satellite 200, DVD
202, via a
network as a file in 204, by way of tapes and other means. The content
provider 104 may
also provide graphics, content description, and other metadata 208 to the
system.
[0078] The content providers 104 may be various types of content providers and
provide various types of content including advertising content such as row
advertising (ads).
The content providers may provide various types of information including
advertising
information. Advertising providers may provide information on various products
or various
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available or future content. It should be noted that the advertising provider
and the content
provider may be one in the same.
[0079] Content providers may also have a home page within the present system.
Briefly, the home page is a portion of the program guide for selecting content
to be
downloaded to the user device. The system operator may also have its own home
page that
has various categories of content. The categories and types of home pages will
be described
below. The home page provides a listing of on-demand content for the
particular subscriber.
[0080] The home page may be formed in various configurations including a menu
structure. The content providers may also provide various metadata for the
menu structure or
program guide.
[0081] Another area of the content processing system 102 is an input server
212
that receives the various content and converts the format in a format
conversion system 214.
A house format asset storage server 216 may be used to store the content asset
in a house
format. Still image files, trailers, and other information may also be stored
in the house
format asset storage server. A workflow management system 220 is used to
control the
format conversion system 214 and the server 212. Also, the workflow management
system
220 is coupled to the house format asset storage server 216 and performs
ingest control. The
house format asset storage server 216 provides still images to a content
management system
221 and house format file, video and audio files to the video transport
processing system 223.
[0082] The VTPS 223 may encode the packet. The encoder may encode the data
according to the CableLabs Video-on-Demand (VoD) encoding specification MD-SP-
VOD-
CEP-101-040107 (i.e., performs asset encoding). The encoded data is then
packetized into a
stream of data packets by a packetizer 270 that also attaches a header to each
data packet to
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facilitate identification of the contents of the data packet such as, for
example, a sequence
number that identifies each data packet's location within the stream of data
packets (i.e., a
bitstream). The header also includes a program identifier (PID) (e.g., a
service channel
identifier (SCID)) that identifies the program to which the data packet
belongs.
[0083] The stream of data packets (i.e., a bitstream) is then broadcast
encrypted
by, for example, the well-known Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) or the well-
known
Data Encryption Standard (DES). In an example, only the payload portion of the
data
packets are encrypted thereby allowing a user device 110 to filter, route
and/or sort received
broadcast encrypted data packets without having to first decrypt the encrypted
data packets.
[0084] The content management system 221 generally controls the overall
movement and distribution of contents through the content processing system
102. The
content management 221 may also assign material identifications to the various
received
content. The material identification may utilize the asset identifier (ID) in
the metadata as
well as the provider ID. Content, posters and other received information may
be assigned
related material identifications to make them easier to associate and
retrieve. For example,
different suffixes may be used to identify related content with the remainder
of the material
identification being the same.
[0085] A licensing and contract information 222 and ads from ad sales 224 may
be provided to the content management system 221. That is, licensing
information, tier
assignments, pricing and availability may be provided to the content
management system.
Asset information, file names and durations may be exchanged between the
content
management system 221 and the workflow management system 220. The asset
information,
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such as file names and durations, may be determined at the server 212 that is
coupled to the
workflow management system 220.
[0086] A traffic and scheduling system 228 is used to provide the requested
channel, program associated data (PAD), channel information and program
information
packets (PIPs). The traffic and scheduling system 228 may schedule content
processing for a
plurality of received assets based on a desired program lineup to be offered
by the
communication system 100. This may include both on-demand programming and
linear
programming 286. For example, a live TV program for which a high demand for
reruns
might be expected could be assigned a high priority for content processing.
The linear
programming 786 provides live broadcasts through the satellite.
[0087] A schedule PAD server (SPS) 230 may be coupled to the workflow system
and is used to generate a broadband video PAD that is communicated to a
conditional access
system for broadband video 232. The conditional access system for broadband
video 232
may be used to generate control words and control word packet in pairs and
provide those to
the video transport processing system 223.
[0088] In the illustrated example of FIG. 2, users of the user devices 110 are
charged for subscription services and/or asset downloads (e.g., PPV TV) and,
thus, the
content processing system 102 includes a billing system 234 to track and/or
bill subscribers
for services provided by the system 100. For example, the billing system 234
records that a
user has been authorized to download a movie and once the movie has been
successfully
downloaded the user is billed for the movie. Alternatively, the user may not
be billed unless
the movie has been viewed.
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[0089] A billing system 234 receives pricing and availability information from
the content management system 221. A conditional access system 236 receives
callback
information from the communication network 132. The conditional access system
may be
used to generate authorizations, pay-per-view billing data, and callback data
from the billing
system 234. Record requests may also be provided from the conditional access
transaction
system 238. A conditional access system BCC 240 may be used to generate a
conditional
access packet from the information from the conditional access system 236.
[0090] The billing system 234 may generate purchase data that is provided to
the
enterprise integration (EI) block 242. The enterprise integration block 242
may generate
record requests to the conditional access transaction system 238. Record
requests may be
generated through a web interface such as DIRECTV.com, a voice response system
or other
methods in block 244. Various ordering information, such as ordering broadband
(on-
demand) video, pay-per-view, and various services may be received at the web
interface 244.
Various trailers may also be accessed by the users through the web interface
244 provided
from the house format asset storage server 216. Enterprise integration block
242 may also
receive guide information and metadata from the content management system 221.
[0091] Titles, description, various categories and metadata from the content
management system 221 may be provided to the advanced program guide system
248. The
program guide system 248 may be coupled to a satellite broadcasting system
such as a
broadcast transport processing system 250 that broadcasts linear and on-demand
content to
the users through the satellite 106, 108.
[0092] The program guide data generated by the program guide system 248 may
include information that is used to generate a display of guide information to
the user,
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wherein the program guide may be a grid guide and informs the user of
particular programs
that are broadcast on particular channels at particular times. A program guide
may also
include information that a user device uses to assemble programming for
display to a user.
For example, the program guide may be used to tune to a channel on which a
particular
program is offered. The program guide may also contain information for tuning,
demodulating, demultiplexing, decrypting, depacketizing, or decoding selected
programs.
[0093] Titles, descriptions and categories may also be provided from the
content
management system 221 to the content distribution system 260. Content files
and metadata
may be controlled by the content distribution system 260.
[0094] Referring back to the video transport processing system 227, the video
transport processing system 223 includes a transport packaging system 270. The
transport
packaging system 270 creates pre-packetized unencrypted files that are stored
in the content
repository 274. An encryption module 272 receives the output of the transport
packaging
system and encrypts the packets. Fully packaged and encrypted files may also
be stored in
the content repository 274. Encryption may take place in the data portion of a
packet and not
the header portion. Metadata may also be stored within the content repository
to identify
features of the programs or files. The metadata may include, but is not
limited to, data about
the content such as time, duration, actors, title, descriptions, and whether
the content is part
of a series.
[0095] One or more content delivery networks 280a-n may be used to provide
content files such as encrypted or unencrypted and packetized files to the
communication
network 132 for distribution to the user devices 110, 112. The content
distribution system
260 may make requests for delivery of the various content files and assets
through the
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communication network 132. The content distribution system 260 also generates
satellite
requests and broadcasts various content and assets through the broadcast
transport processing
system 250.
[0096] The communication network 132 may be the Internet 122 which is a
multiple-point-to-multiple-point communication network. However, persons of
ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate that point-to-point communications may also
be provided
through the communication network 132. For example, downloads of a particular
content
file from a content delivery network may be communicated to a particular user
device. Such
file transfers and/or file transfer protocols are widely recognized as point-
to-point
communications or point-to-point communication signals and/or create point-to-
point
communication paths, even if transported via a multi-point-to-multi-point
communication
network such as the Internet. It will be further recognized that the
communication network
132 may be used to implement any variety of broadcast system where a broadcast
transmitter
may transmit any variety of data or data packets to any number of or a variety
of clients or
receivers simultaneously. Moreover, the communication network 132 may be used
to
simultaneously provide broadcast and point-to-point communications and/or
point-to-point
communication signals from a number of broadcast transmitters or content
delivery networks
280.
[0097] The content delivery network 280 may be implemented using a variety of
techniques or devices. For instance, a plurality of Linux-based servers with
fiber optic
connections may be used. Each of the content delivery networks 280 may include
servers
that are connected to the Internet or the communication network 132. This
allows the user
devices to download information or content (example, a movie) from the content
delivery
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network 280. The content delivery network 280 may act as a cache for the
information
provided from the content repository 274. A particular user device may be
directed to a
particular content delivery network (CDN) 280 depending on the specific
content to be
retrieved. An Internet uniform resource locator (URL) may be assigned to a
movie or other
content. Further, should one of the content delivery networks 280 have heavy
traffic, the
content delivery network may be changed to provide faster service. In the
interest of clarity
and ease of understanding, throughout this disclosure reference will be made
to delivering,
downloading, transferring and/or receiving information, video, data, etc. by
way of the
content delivery network 280. However, persons of ordinary skill in the art
will readily
appreciate that information is actually delivered, downloaded, transferred, or
received by one
of the Internet-based servers in or associated with the content delivery
network 280.
[0098] It should be appreciated that the content delivery network 280 may be
operated by an external vendor. That is, the operator of the content delivery
network 280
may not be the same as the operator of the remaining portions of the content
processing
system 102. To download files from the content delivery network 280, user
devices 110, 112
may implement an Internet protocol stack with a defined application layer and
possibly a
download application provided by a content delivery network provider. In the
illustrated
example, file transfers are implemented using standard Internet protocols
(file transfer
protocol FTP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc. Each file received by
the user device
may be checked for completeness and integrity and if a file is not intact,
missing, and/or
damaged portions of the files may be delivered or downloaded again.
Alternatively, the
entire file may be purged from the IRD and delivered or downloaded again.
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[0099] Security of assets available by way of the content delivery network may
also be established. Control word packets for each broadcast-encrypted asset
or content file
may be provided to the content delivery network (CDN) 280. Encryption may also
be
provided.
[00100] The broadcast transport processing system 250 may provide various
functions, including encoding, packetizing, encrypting, multiplexing and
modulating, and
uplink frequency conversion. RF amplification may also be provided in the
broadcast
transport processing system 250.
[00101] Wireless delivery via the satellites 106, 108 may simultaneously
include
both files (e.g., movies, pre-recorded TV shows, games, software updates,
program guide
information or assets asset files, menus structures etc.) and/or live (linear)
content, data,
programs and/or information. Wireless delivery via the satellites 106, 108
offers the
opportunity to deliver, for example, a number of titles (e.g., movies, pre-
recorded TV shows,
etc.) to virtually any number of customers with a single broadcast. However,
because of the
limited channel capacity of the satellites 106, 108, the number of titles
(i.e., assets) that can
be provided during a particular time period is restricted.
[00102] In contrast, Internet-based delivery via the CDN 280 can support a
large
number of titles, each of which may have a narrower target audience. Further,
Internet-based
delivery is point-to-point (e.g., from an Internet-based content server to a
user device 110,
112) thereby allowing each user of the user device 110, 112 to individually
select titles.
Allocation of a title to satellite and/or Internet-based delivery or content
depends upon a
target audience size and may be adjusted over time. For instance, a title
having high demand
(i.e., large initial audience) may initially be broadcast via the satellites
106, 108, then, over
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time, the title may be made available for download via the CDN 280 when the
size of the
target audience or the demand for the title is smaller. A title may
simultaneously be
broadcast via the satellites 106, 108 and be made available for download from
the CDN 280
via the communication network 132.
[00103] In the example communication system 100, each asset (e.g., program,
title,
content, game, TV program, etc.) is pre-packetized and, optionally, pre-
encrypted and then
stored as a data file (i.e., an asset file). Subsequently, the asset file may
be broadcast via the
satellites 106, 108 and/or sent to the CDN 280 for download via the CDN 280
(i.e., Internet-
based delivery). In particular, if the data file is broadcast via the
satellites 106, 108, the data
file forms at least one payload of a resultant satellite signal. Likewise, if
the data file is
available for download via the CDN 280, the data file forms at least one
payload of a
resultant Internet signal.
[00104] It will be readily apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art
that even
though the at least one payload of a resultant signal includes the data file
regardless of
broadcast technique (e.g., satellite or Internet), how the file is physically
transmitted may
differ. In particular, transmission of data via a transmission medium (e.g.,
satellite, Internet,
etc.) comprises operations that are: (a) transmission medium independent and
b) transmission
medium dependent. For example, transmission protocols (e.g., transmission
control
protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), user datagram protocol (UDP),
encapsulation, etc.)
and/or modulation techniques (e.g., quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM),
forward error
correction (FEC), etc.) used to transmit a file via Internet signals (e.g.,
over the Internet 122)
may differ from those used via satellite (e.g., the satellites 106, 108). In
other words,
transmission protocols and/or modulation techniques are specific to physical
communication
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paths, that is, they are dependent upon the physical media and/or transmission
medium used
to communicate the data. However, the content (e.g., a file representing a
title) transported
by any given transmission protocol and/or modulation is agnostic of the
transmission
protocol and/or modulation, that is, the content is transmission medium
independent.
[00105] The same pre-packetized and, optionally, pre-encrypted, content data
file
that is broadcast via satellite may be available for download via Internet,
and how the asset is
stored, decoded and/or played back by the user devices 110 is independent of
whether the
program was received by the user devices 110 via satellite or Internet.
Further, because the
example content processing system 102 of FIG. 1 broadcasts a live program and
a non-live
program (e.g., a movie) by applying the same encoding, packetization,
encryption, etc., how
a program (live or non-live) is stored, decoded and/or played back by the user
devices 110 is
also independent of whether the program is live or not. Thus, user devices
110, 112 may
handle the processing of content, programs and/or titles independent of the
source(s) and/or
type(s) of the content, programs and/or titles. In particular, example
delivery configurations
and signal processing for the example content delivery system of FIG. 2 are
discussed in
detail below.
[00106] Referring now to FIG. 3, the user device 110 maybe one of any variety
of
devices, for example, a set-top box, a home media server, a home media center
(HMC), a
personal computer (PC) having a receiver card installed therein, etc. A
display device 300
such as a television set, a computer monitor, a portable media player or the
like may be
coupled to the user device. The user device 110 may be an integrated receiver
decoder, a
satellite television receiver or the like for displaying and/or playback of
received
programming.
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[00107] The receive antenna 140 (124 on a mobile device) receives signals
conveying a modulated multiplexed bitstream from the satellites 106, 108.
Within the
receive antenna 140, the signals are coupled from a reflector and feed to a
low-noise block
(LNB) 302, which amplifies and frequency downconverts the received signals.
The LNB
302 output is then provided to a receiver 304, which receives, demodulates,
depacketizes,
demultiplexes, decrypts and decodes the received signal to provide audio and
video signals to
the display device 300 or a memory device 306, or both. The memory device 306
may be
implemented separately from or within the user device 110. The receiver 304 is
responsive
to user inputs to, for example, tune to a particular program.
[00108] To store received and/or recorded programs and/or assets, the memory
device 306 may include any of a variety of or combination of storage devices
such as a hard
disk drive, DVR, flash memory or other types of memory devices. The memory
device 306
may be used to store the content, information, metadata, program guide objects
and
information and/or programs received via the satellites 106, 108 and/or the
CDN 280. In
particular, the packets stored on memory device 306 may be the same encoded
and,
optionally, encrypted packets created by the content processing system 102 and
transmitted
via the satellites 106, 108 and/or made available for download via the CDN
280.
[00109] The memory device 306 may also be a device capable of recording
information on, for instance, analog media such as videotape or computer
readable digital
media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a
compact disc (CD)
and/or any other suitable media.
[00110] To communicate with any of a variety of clients, media players, etc.,
the
illustrated example the user device 110 includes one or more connection
interface modules
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308 (e.g., USB, serial port, Firewire, etc.). The connection interface module
306 may act as a
network interface that implements, for example, an Ethernet interface.
[00111] Each user device 110 may connect to the communication network such as
the Internet 122 via any of a variety of technologies, for instance, a voice-
band and/or
integrated services digital network (ISDN) modem connected to a conventional
PSTN, a
wireless broadband connection (e.g., IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, WiMax etc.), a
broadband
wired connection (e.g., ADSL, cable modems, etc.), a wired Ethernet connection
(e.g., local
area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), etc.), a cellular connection a
leased
transmission facility (e.g., a digital signal level 1 circuit (a.k.a. a DS1),
a fractional-DS1,
etc.), etc.
[00112] The user device 110 may also include a control module 310 that is used
to
control the operation of the various components within the user device.
[00113] A user interface 312 may, for example, be a set of push buttons or a
remote control interface. The user interface 312 is used to make selections,
input various
data, and change the parameters of the user device 110. The user interface 312
may be used
together with a graphical user interface displayed on the display device
associated with the
user device.
[00114] It should also be noted that the user devices 114 (device 110) may be
configured in a similar manner to those illustrated in FIG. 3 through
reference number 110.
Such devices may include an internal antenna rather than an external dish-type
antenna that is
illustrated in the fixed device as 140. Also, external antennas are possible
such as a phased
array antenna.
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[00115] The recording device 306 may also be partitioned into a network
partition
320 and a user partition 322. Different types of content or assets may be
stored in the
network partition 320 or the user partition 322. The content stored in the
different partitions
may relate to the tier of the content. This will be further described below.
[00116] Referring now to FIG. 4, a method of assigning material
identifications to
various content and content-associated information is set forth. In step 410,
content is
received from various content providers. The providers may provide a provider
or asset
identification (ID) for the content provided. Posters, trailers, graphics,
metadata may also be
received from content providers. The content and the other content-associated
information
may be received in different ways or the same way. When received in different
ways, they
may be associated together in the content processing system. In step 412, the
content
providers may also provide a home page package having the home page graphics,
posters,
links and metadata from the content provider. The types of metadata that may
be received
from the content providers was described above in FIG. 1.
[00117] In step 414, the material identification is assigned to the content
and to the
content-associated information. This step may be performed in the content
management
system of FIG. 2. Preferably the material ID and the associated content
information are
linked together. As mentioned above, one way to link the content with the
content-associated
information is to provide a common material identification with various
suffixes to identify
the various information.
[00118] Referring now to FIG. 5, a method for browsing and searching titles on
an
interactive interface is illustrated. In the following figure the steps are
broken into the user
steps 510, the DIRECTV.com or interactive interface steps 512, and external
interface steps
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514. The interactive interface may be a website or interactive voice response
system. It
should be noted that the interactive interface may be available through many
types of device
including a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a smart device, a
stand alone kiosk or
in-flight entertainment systems. The process is started in step 520. In step
522, the
interactive interface is entered. The interactive interface may be entered by
providing a
customer identifier and password. If one does not exist, an account may be set-
up with a
customer identifier and password associated with a particular account. In step
523, the user
navigates to a program guide. The display in step 524 may display all channels
including
broadband channels (on-demand) if the users subscribe to the broadband
service. That is,
both broadband content and linear channels may be displayed. Linear channels
are channels
that are displayed and communicated in real time to the users such as normal
network
programming. Broadband service and broadband channels are available for
communication
to the user device only upon selection. The channels and selections are
communicated to the
interactive interface from the program guide system of the content processing
system in step
526.
[00119] After step 524, a broadband selection filter may be applied to the
channels
so that only broadband channels may be displayed in step 526. In step 528, the
interactive
interface may turn on or off broadband channel listings. By default the
broadband channel
listings may be turned on for subscribers and off for non-subscribers. In the
ON position in
step 530, the broadband titles are displayed in the program guide listing. In
the OFF position
in step 532, the broadband titles are hidden in the program guide listing. It
should be noted
that the program guide listing may be received from the content processing
system. The
format of the programming guide and the contents of the programming guide may
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received from the advanced program guide system 248, or the enterprise
integration block
242 which provides the metadata from the content management system 221 of FIG.
2.
[00120] Referring back to step 526, a broadband channel may be selected from
the
program guide via a direct link on the screen in step 540. The interactive
interface in step
542 displays all primary broadband channels, displays broadband lists while
secondary
channels display only listings for a secondary channel. In step 544, the main
broadband page
may be displayed or a secondary broadband programmer page may be displayed in
step 546
which originates from step 542. The primary or main broadband page may be
linked to a
secondary broadband page as indicated by arrow 548.
[00121] After step 540, step 550 may be performed. Instep 550, a broadband
title
may be selected from the primary or secondary page or via a direct link. The
interactive
interface in step 552, in response to step 550, may allow the user to view
program
information in step 554, view video trailers in step 556, or order a title in
step 558. Steps
554, 556 and 558 are achieved by requesting programming information,
requesting preview
information, or requesting download information, respectively.
[00122] Referring now to FIG. 6, a search for a broadband title may be
performed
by entering a search string in step 610. By entering a search string, step 620
in the interactive
interface may perform a search based upon the scope chosen by the user. A
global search
may be performed on every page. The search may also be entered in step 620 by
browsing
selected titles in step 500 or searching for titles in step 600. The search in
step 620 may be
performed using the product information received from the content processing
system. This
may be in the form of metadata, or the like. After step 620, if a global
search was performed,
step 622 displays the results for the entire site including frequently-asked
questions, extended
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programming guide, site pages, pay-per-view sites, broadband video-on-demand
sites. In
step 620, if only the program guide was searched, step 624 displays the
results for the
extended program guide listings only meaning that TV, movies, pay-per-view and
broadband
video-on-demand results may be displayed. In step 620, if broadband-only video
was
requested for searching, only the results for broadband video-on-demand
listings may be
displayed.
[00123] Referring back to step 610, after step 610, step 630 may be performed.
Step 630 may specify additional filters to narrow down the search. After step
630, the
interactive interface in step 632 performs a search based on the additional
filters chosen by
the user. Examples of narrowing searches may provide key words in the title,
the genre, the
specific actor, the director, a description channel, etc. The information
searched upon is
received from the content processing system in step 634.
[00124] Referring back to step 630, step 636 requests a view of the program
information for a title selected from the search results. Various information
including the
actors, running time and various other types of metadata may be illustrated at
this point.
[00125] Referring now to FIG. 7, step 554 relating to viewing programming
information is described in further detail. In step 710, a direct link to a
broadband title may
be provided. In step 712, the interactive interface may retrieve and display
programming
information for a selected broadband title. The broadband information may
include the full
title, the price, the rating, the category, or other available information
such as actors,
directors, duration, language and other special features. The product
information may be
received from the content processing system in step 514. Inputs to step 712
include browsing
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selected titles in step 500 and searching for titles in step 600. After step
710, step 720
requests to view the trailer. In step 722, the trailer is viewed.
[00126] After step 720, step 730 requests a download of the title. After step
730,
the interactive interface orders a title in step 732. The details of step 722
and step 732 will be
provided below in FIGs. 8 and 9, respectively.
[00127] Referring now to FIG. 8, step 722 of FIG. 7 is described in further
detail.
In step 810, a direct link to a video preview may be provided. In step 812,
the video trailer is
received and displayed through an external link for the selected broadband
title. This may
include the playback controls for pausing audio and resolution. This step may
be entered
from step 500 and step 554 described above. The trailers may be obtained from
external
interface 514 from a feed room or other metadata in box 814.
[00128] After the trailer is retrieved in step 812, step 820 requests to view
the
program information. Viewing the program information was set forth in step 554
above.
After step 820, a download of the title may be requested through the
interactive interface in
step 830. After step 830, step 732 may be performed which includes ordering a
title.
[00129] Referring now to FIG. 9, the details of ordering a title of step 732
is
described in further detail. The web page 512 may receive a request to browse
selected titles
500, view program information 554 or view trailer information 722. These
requests for
download are provided to the build-a-request-for-downloading-the-title step of
900. In step
920, parental locks may be provided which may provide a failure and end the
process in step
922. If parental locks have not been enabled, step 926 may be performed. If
the user has
more than one broadband-capable box, a query may be performed to ask the user
for a
specific box for downloading in step 926. The user may change the default
settings in the
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advanced settings. After the box is selected in step 926, step 928 may allow
the user to
perform a priority for the default download setting. The add-to-queue
selection may be
performed to allow the user to add the title to the end of the download queue
or to specify
download now which pauses any current downloads and adds it to the front of
the queue so
that download starts immediately.
[00130] The program may be part of a series in which a number of episodes are
available. The user may be queried as to whether all the programs in a series
are desired. If
so, multiple record requests for each piece of content in the series may be
performed in step
929.
[00131] In step 930, the download request for a title is communicated to the
user
device 932. Download requests for a title may, for example, be communicated in
a control
word packet (CWP) or a conditional access packet (CAP) that is communicated to
the user
device. Communication of the CAP or control word may take place over the
satellite,
terrestrial system or a broadband system. The CAP provides information as to
when the
content may be broadcast through the satellite. If the content is a broadband-
based title and
will be received through a broadband connection, the particular content
delivery network
may be indicated in the CAP. In such a case, the Internet address for the
particular content
delivery network may be provided at that time.
[00132] A message informing the user that their request was accepted may be
generated. This may be provided by way of an e-mail or other confirmation to
the user in
step 936.
[00133] It should be noted that the menu for the various types of content
available
may include programming that is already started, future programming, linear
programming
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or linear content. Broadband titles are on-demand, while other types of
programming, such
as linear programming, may also be provided in the menu.
[00134] Referring now to FIG. 10, step 920 is illustrated in further detail.
In step
1010, the user requests to view the parental lock setting for the account. In
step 1012, a
display is retrieved and the parental lock setting for the account is
illustrated. A single lock
for all of the user devices may be provided. This may be read but not updated
online for one
configuration. The parental lock information may be received from the billing
system in step
1014.
[00135] After ordering a title in step 732, further details are provided with
reference to the parental locks. In step 1020, the parental lock setting for
the account is
retrieved and compared to the rating of the title requested. If the title's
rating does not
exceed the parental lock, step 1022 sends a success status to continue the
ordering request.
In step 1020, if the parental lock setting is exceeded, meaning the content
should be locked,
step 1024 sends a failure request to cancel the order status. Thereafter, step
1026 displays a
message indicating the request is denied due to the parental lock setting and
instructions on
changing the lock. Thereafter, the parental lock system ends and the process
may be
terminated at this point.
[00136] Referring now to FIG. 11, a screen display 1110 is illustrated. A
browse
title box 1112 may be provided for browsing various genres, the latest added
content, various
ratings and various programmers. Searching of titles may also be performed in
box 1114.
Certain categories may be directly linked by clicking the highlighted areas of
1116. Various
other information, including links 1118, billing information 1120, the top
down loads 1122
and related links regarding program and package availability may be set forth
in box 1124.
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[00137] Referring now to FIG. 12, a screen display 1210 is illustrated for the
content processing system browser page. In this example, the DIRECTV on-
demand which
provides content from various on-demand sources is set forth. As is
illustrated, the browsing
title box 1212 is illustrated for searching various genres 1214, searching
various ratings
1216, searching various programs in box 1218 and various programmers in box
1220. The
type of view may be selected as a condensed view as illustrated by 1222 or an
expanded view
in 1224. A menu 1230 displays various program titles, genres, ratings, prices
when added
and when the content will no longer be available. Searching may also be
performed by
typing various search words or search parameters in the search box 1240. From
the menu,
action may be taken by mouse-clicking or entering certain information.
[00138] Referring now to FIG. 13, a programmer screen display 1310 is
illustrated.
In this example, the menu 1320 illustrates various program titles, ratings and
the like, such as
those described above in FIG. 12 except that titles available only on the Home
Box Office
video-on-demand site are provided. Again, a browse title box 1326 and a search
1328 may
be provided for searching the titles within the particular programmer's page.
[00139] Referring now to FIG. 14, a search result menu page 1410 is
illustrated.
The results may be sorted in various manners, including by television programs
1412, by
movies 1414 or by pay-per-view programs 1416. By selecting one of these, only
the
programming in that category will be displayed in the menu 1410. The menu
display may be
scrolled through with arrow keys and a download may be selected by selecting
the download
select indicator 1420. The price and end date of the availability of the
content may also be
provided in boxes 1422 and 1424, respectively.
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[00140] Referring now to FIG. 15, an order download pop-up window 1510 is
illustrated. The pop-up window corresponds to steps 926 and 928 above. In this
embodiment, a receiver box 1520 may be used to select the particular receiver
for which to
download the information. An add-to-queue indicator may be selected for
downloading to
the receiver in the order it was requested. Another indicator 1524 may be
provided for
adding the particular selection to the top of the queue.
[00141] Referring now to FIG. 16, a menu display 1610 is illustrated for
determining the priority of the request for download. A normal request
indicator 1612 may
be selected for normal, meaning that the program will record unless there is
not enough
storage capacity on the receiver. However, if a previously scheduled program
is recorded
during the same time slot, that program may be given priority. A high priority
indicator 1614
may also be selected which records the program regardless of the storage
capacity or
previously scheduled programs. Also, saved programs may be overwritten.
Preferably,
programs to be overwritten may be the oldest programs in the user device. When
requesting
a linear content title, the request may be made high priority. Linear content
refers to
regularly broadcast content. The content may be requested even after the
content has started.
[00142] If the program is part of a series, all the programs in the series may
be
requested at a single time by selecting the check box 1530.
[00143] Referring now to FIG. 17, a customer queue 1710 is illustrated. The
customer queue includes a title or plurality of titles in a title column 1712
and a status
column 1714. By way of example, the titles may include rows of titles
including title Q, title
R, title S and title T. Although various titles are illustrated, various
numbers of titles may be
set forth in the title column 1712. As will be described below, various titles
may be added or
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deleted based upon selections from the menus. The menus may be accessed
through a
website or the set top box as described above. The queue 1710 may also be
added to in
response to selections made from a mobile device as will be described below.
The customer
queue 1710 may reside in the content processing system 102. Within the content
processing
system 102, the queue may reside in various locations such as within the
billing system or
transaction system 234.
[00144] Referring now to FIG. 18, a simplified block diagrammatic view
illustrating a mobile device 1810 that includes a browser 1812 therein that
communicates
through an antenna 1814 with a cell tower 1820. The mobile device 1810 may be
various
types of devices including a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant or
other type of
wireless device.
[00145] The browser 1812 is a browser suitable for wireless communication. The
mobile device 1810 may communicate using a wireless application protocol and
thus the
mobile device may be described as a WAP-enabled device. As will be described
below, the
wireless device may include a display 1818 suitable for displaying a
simplified menu
structure compared to that described above. The simplified menu structure may
include
functions specifically for a mobile device and other functions available both
from a mobile
device and from DIRECTV.com through the internet of a regular computer.
[00146] The cell tower 1820 transmits and receives signals from the mobile
device
and communicates the received signals to a gateway 1826 such as a wireless
application
protocol gateway. The wireless application protocol gateway may allow the
communications
to and from the cell tower 1820 and thus to and from the mobile device 1810 to
communicate
with or through the internet 1830. The internet provides information to the
DIRECTV.com
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web interface 224 which is also illustrated in FIG. 2. The DIRECTV.com
interface for
wireless application protocol may include a mobile web interface such as
m.DIRECTV.com.
(00147] Referring now to FIG. 19, a method for a mobile device to access the
service website such as DIRECTV.com is set forth. In step 1910, the mobile
device is turned
on. In step 1912, a search for service through various types of wireless
connections may be
established. In step 1914, a connection is established with the cell tower
1820 of FIG. 18.
[00148] In step 1916, a request is sent to the gateway server 1826. A request
may
include various types of requests such as a request to access a particular
website. The request
is sent using a wireless application protocol (WAP). In step 1918, the gateway
encodes the
signal transmitted through the wireless application protocol. The wireless
application
protocol signal may include signals in a wireless mark-up language (WML). In
response to
the HTTP signal sent from the gateway, the website responds with a signal. In
step 1920, the
gateway receives the HTTP signal and, in step 1922 the gateway server encodes
the HTTP
signal as a wireless markup language signal in step 1922. After step 1922,
step 1924
communicates the wireless markup language signal to the mobile device. As will
be
described below, various types of ordering confirmations and the like may be
transmitted
through the gateway using a wireless device.
[00149] Referring now to FIG. 20, a method for operating a mobile device is
set
forth. In step 2010, the mobile device logs into the system such as
DIRECTV.com for
scheduling content to be communicated to a set top box or the like. In step
2010, the steps
illustrated in FIG. 19 may be performed to allow the mobile device to access a
particular
website.
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[00150] Instep 2012, an identifier such as an account identifier may be
provided to
the system. The identifier may include a user name or e-mail that is
identified with a
particular account. The identifier may also include a particular account. It
should also be
noted that the identifier may automatically be remembered by the system after
an initial log-
in. This may be done by remembering the device has logged in, in a cookie-like
manner. In
step 2014, if the password for the account associated with the identifier is
not known, a
request for a password may be transmitted in step 2016. Thereafter, the
password may be
sent to the customer by way of an e-mail in step 2018. After steps 2018 and
step 2014, the
password may be entered into the system in step 2020. After step 2020, the
user may be
validated in step 2022. If the password is incorrect, the user is not
validated and the method
ends in step 2024. If the user is validated in step 2022, step 2026 is
performed.
[00151] In step 2026, a screen display or user interface is provided to the
mobile
device whereby different selections may be selected. The selections may
include a search or
a quick record function. Both the searching and the quick recording functions
will be
described below in other figures. In step 2028, the searching function is
chosen. In step
2030, a quick recording is chosen. The signals that are generated in response
to the search
request or the quick recording request are communicated to the content
processing system in
step 2032. A request may be communicated through the gateway 1826 of FIG. 18.
[00152] In step 2034, a conditional access packet or control word is generated
in
response to the request signal. The request may be provided from the web
interface 224
through the enterprise integration module 242 through the conditional access
transaction
system 238 all of FIG. 2. The CAP or control word may include various
information such as
the particular content delivery network or the particular transponder on the
satellite that will
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correspond to the content. In step 2036, the CAP is communicated to the
specified device
through the satellite. The CAP may also be communicated through a broadband
network to
the specified device. The specified device may be a set top box suitable for
receiving both
broadband communications and satellite communications.
[00153] In step 2038, a confirmation e-mail may be sent to the e-mail
associated
with the account that a CAP was successfully sent to the device. The e-mail
step is, of
course, an optional step. The e-mail is generated in the content processing
system through a
web interface such as DIRECTV.com.
[00154] In step 2040, the content is communicated to the device in response to
the
CAP or control word. The CAP may contain information as to the specific
content delivery
network 280 of FIG. 2 that includes the content. The CAP may instruct the set
top box to
retrieve the content from the content delivery device. If the content is
communicated by way
of satellite, the CAP will tune the set top box to receive communications from
a particular
transponder of a particular satellite within the satellite system.
[00155] In step 2042, the content is stored in the recording device within the
set
top box. The recording device, as mentioned above, may be a digital video
recorder. In step
2044, once the entire content is communicated to the set top box and stored in
the recording
device, an e-mail may be generated that describes that the recording has been
completed in
step 2044. In step 2046, playing back the content may then be performed. It
should also be
noted that after step 2042, step 2046 may be completed without the performing
step 2044.
[00156] Step 2044 may generate the e-mail in various manners. For example, the
set top box itself may generate an e-mail through a broadband connection and
communicate
the e-mail or direct the e-mail to the e-mail associated with the account. The
e-mail may also
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be communicated or initiated at the content delivery network. A "successful"
or
confirmation signal may be generated at the set top box when a broadband
content is
delivered successfully. The confirmation signal may be used by the content
delivery network
and to communicate the signal to the content distribution system and that
through the billing
system or the like. The content processing system may then generate an e-mail
to the
specified e-mail of the account.
[00157] It should be noted that the process of FIG. 20 may be used to select
both
linear content, meaning regularly broadcasted live channels or on-demand
content that is
provided through the content repository or the like.
[00158] Referring now to FIG. 21, a method of searching corresponding to box
2028 is set forth. In step 2110, a search screen interface is provided to the
mobile device.
The search screen may include various types of searches such as a title
search, a channel
name search or a channel number search. A box for entering the particular
search terms may
be provided. Partial or whole words in searching. Searching may be provided
for on-
demand content or live (linear) content, or both.
[00159] In step 2112, a search term is entered. As mentioned above, a whole or
partial search term may be entered. The search term alone may be searched.
However, time
restrictions may also be provided. In step 2114, a search time identifier may
be set forth by a
selection on a user interface. For example, the search term identifier may
include boxes that
include a time limitation of searching today, tomorrow, or the next 14 days. A
default of up
to 14 days may be established by the content provider.
[00160] In step 2116 the content is searched. The content from the program
guide
is searched. This may include on-demand and live or linear programming, or
both.
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[00161] In step 2118, the search results of various content selections may be
displayed on the screen. If several search results are retrieved, a search
display may be
scrolled to view the various titles. In step 2120, an entry may be selected.
More information
may be provided such as more show times, various related programs, more
episodes of a
particular program or the like. After a selection is suitable, a confirmation
of the entry is
provided in step 2122.
[00162] In step 2124, a DVR location to record to is provided. The digital
video
recorder (DVR) location may be various locations throughout a household
associated with
the account. The locations may include a living room, family room, kitchen,
bedroom or the
like.
[00163] In step 2126, a recording priority status may also be provided. A
recording priority status may be high priority meaning record this particular
programming
even if another programming is currently being recorded. The lower priority
program may
be resumed after recording of the higher priority programming. Another
priority may be
recorded if possible. This may allow the recording to be placed in the queue
directly after the
currently recording content.
[00164] In step 2127, an optional step for creating multiple recordings may be
provided. If the content is part of a series, all the titles in the series may
be recorded by
making a series selection at a selector. The selector may be a textual
selector box.
[00165] In step 2128, the queue is updated in response to the priority status.
As
mentioned above, a recording request may be placed at the top of the queue and
all other
recording stopped or at the bottom of a queue or if no other recordings are on
the schedule.
In step 2130, the recording of the content is begun. In step 2132, a recording
instruction such
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as the request to record title A on channel 501 at 10:30 a.m. on December 19th
has been
received. In step 2134, the user may confirm this by selecting an OK button or
other type of
user interface. In step 2136, a confirmation e-mail may be sent confirming
that the CAP or
control word has been sent to the set top box. A second e-mail may be
generated confirming
that a recording is completed such as that illustrated in step 2044 above.
[00166] Referring now to FIG. 22, a method corresponding to step 2030 of FIG.
20
is illustrated in further detail. In step 2210, a quick recording selection at
the user interface is
selected from the mobile device. A quick recording menu will be further
described below.
However, a quick record may include, but is not limited to, a channel, a
particular time, a
duration and a date.
[00167] In step 2212, the boxes within the quick record menu are automatically
filled in for the current date, a default time such as one hour and the
current time. This will
allow the quick record function to be used very quickly. Should other times be
desirable, the
default times may be overridden. In step 2214, the various recording terms may
be provided
in the various boxes. These may be override default terms as mentioned above.
In step
2216, a recording command may be generated in response to the recording terms.
In step
2218, the quick recording command may be communicated to the content
processing system
2218. The content processing system may receive the command through the web
interface
244 FIG. 2.
[00168] In step 2220, optional steps of retrieving the locations of the DVRs
associated with the accounts may be performed. In step 2222, the location of
the DVRs may
be selected by the user. The location may be selected so that the particular
content may be
recorded on a particular DVR associated with the account. Selecting the
location may be
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performed on the mobile user device by selecting a piece of graphics from the
user interface.
In step 2224, a control word is formed in response to the recording command
and possibly
from the DVR location. In step 2226, the control word is communicated to the
user device.
Steps 2126-2136 may also be performed, that is, the priorities adding to the
queue and
confirmation e-mails may be also be performed by this aspect of the system.
[00169] Referring now to FIG. 23, a welcome screen display 2310 is illustrated
welcoming the user to mobile DVR scheduler. The introductory screen display
2310 may
include a continue button 2312 that may be activated through the user
interface by moving
the arrow keys and the like on the mobile device. After the continue display
is set forth, the
user may be asked to sign in.
[00170] Referring now to FIG. 24, a sign-in display 2410 is illustrated having
an
identifier box 2412 and a password box 2414. The identifier box 2412 may
include a user
name or e-mail associated with the account. This may automatically be
remembered by
selecting the "remember me" box 2416. To sign in, the user may perform
keystrokes on the
mobile device and the sign-in box 2420 may be activated.
[00171] Referring now to FIG. 25, screen display 2510 illustrates that the
identifier
such as the e-mail address could not be found. A try-again button 2512 may be
provided to
the user to try the display of FIG. 24 again.
[00172] Referring now to FIG. 26, after logging on to the system, a message
may
be displayed on the screen display 2610 communicating that registration via
the mobile
phone may not be provided. FIG. 26 illustrates an example of eliminating or
providing a
message 2612 to a user illustrating that registration by way of a mobile phone
is now set
forth.
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[00173] Referring now to FIG. 27, a user may be remembered as described above
and as illustrated in the screen display 2710. A password box 2712 may be
provided. Only a
password may be provided since the user identification has been remembered by
the system.
The screen display 2710 may also include a sign-in box 2714 and a switch user
box 2716.
The sign-in box 2714 may be used to sign in after a password has been
selected. A switch
user box 2716 may be provided if a different user besides the default user is
desired for
signing in using the particular mobile device.
[00174] Referring now to FIG. 28, a screen display 2810 is illustrated for the
situation where a user has forgotten their particular user name. The user name
may be sent to
the e-mail address that is entered in the e-mail box 2812 by the mobile device
user. Box
2814 may be activated to send the e-mail address to the system so that a
response may be
provided.
[00175] Referring now to FIG. 29, a screen display 2910 is provided to the
user
when a high definition DVR receiver is not associated with the account. The
system may
work when certain equipment such as the set top box has a high definition DVR
receiver. Of
course, other warning messages associated with various user equipment
requirements may be
set forth. An "ok" box 2912 may be selected to exit the scheduler. The system
may also
work with other types of DVRs. The system could be tailored for just specific
types like
High Definition types as mentioned above.
[00176] Referring now to FIG. 30, a screen display 3010 corresponding to
various
options that may be performed by the scheduler. The display 3010 may include a
search box
3012 that is used for performing various types of searches as will be
described below. A
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quick record box 3014 may also be selected so that quick recording of a
particular channel
may be provided.
[00177] A help button 3016 and a sign-out button 3018 may also be provided on
the display 3010.
[00178] Referring now to FIG. 31, if the search button 3012 of FIG. 30 is
selected,
the display 3110 may be set for searching for various content. A search box
3112 may be
provided for entering various text from a keypad or the like on the mobile
device. A search
qualifier such as a title box 3114, a channel name 3116 and a channel number
3118 may also
be set forth. Thus, a search identifier may be provided as well as a qualifier
such as a title,
channel name or channel number. The title or portions of titles may be
searched for using the
terms entered in the search box 3112. The channel name or partial channel name
may also be
searched in 3116. A channel number or partial channel number may also be
searched.
[00179] Referring now to FIG. 32, a screen display 3210 is illustrated when
"hb"
was searched for using the channel name or channel number. Various types of
messages
3212 such as that of 3210 may be provided if no results are found.
[00180] Referring now to FIG. 33, as illustrated in screen display 3310, after
entering a search term such as "arrested" in the search box 3112 of FIG. 31,
time qualifiers
may be entered. The searching may also be qualified by time qualifiers such as
a today box
3312, a tomorrow box 3314, or a next 14-day box 3316. By selecting one of the
boxes,
3312-3316, the search term may be searched for only a limited period. Once the
time
qualifier has been selected in the "ok" box, 3318 may be selected to proceed
with the
searching.
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[00181] The results provided from doing a word search may be provided in a
tabular form or if only one result is provided, a detailed display 3410 such
as that illustrated
in FIG. 34. If "Arrested Development" is the particular title, a recording may
be scheduled
by selecting the schedule recording box 3412 for illustrating more show times
by selecting
box 3414. Oftentimes, a particular show has various show times associated
therewith. Thus,
another show time may be selected for recording. A brief description 3416 may
also be
provided in the system describing the particular content. During the search,
it should be
noted that both on-demand and linear programming may be searched.
[00182] Referring now to FIG. 35, an alternative screen display 3510 may be
set
for when "arrested" was searched. An "add-to-queue" box 3512 may be used to
add the
particular show to the user's queue. A "more episodes" box 3514 may also be
provided so
that more episodes of a particular program may be set forth.
[00183] Referring now to FIG. 36, a screen display 3610 illustrates various
episodes that may be provided by selecting the "more episodes" box 3514 of
FIG. 35. By
selecting the "more episodes" box, various episodes of the same program may be
set forth so
that they may be selected by a user.
[00184] Referring now to FIG. 37, a display 3710 is illustrated for providing
one
option in response to a search. No other episodes or programming related to
the particular
search has been provided. Only a schedule recording box 3712 may be provided
along with
various information 3714 regarding a particular program.
[00185] Referring now to FIG. 38, an alternate display 3810 may also be formed
when a particular title is searched. When title is found, an add-to queue box
3812 may be
displayed on the user interface. An add-to the top of the queue box 3814 may
also be
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provided. When the add-to the queue box 3812 is performed, recording priority
may be set
and communicated to add the program to the bottom of the queue. The add-to the
top of the
queue box 3814 will be used to add to the top of the queue. The selection may
be
communicated to the content processing system to add to the particular user's
queue.
[00186] Referring now to FIG. 39, a screen display 3910 used to set the
priority is
illustrated. Display 3912 may correspond to the add-to the top of the queue
selection 3814 or
may be an independent display after the desirability of recording is selected.
A record-if-
possible box 3912 and a definitely-record-this box 3914 may be provided in the
display
3910. The record-if-possible box, when selected, may initiate a recording
request that
records only if other recordings are not scheduled. The definitely record this
box 3914 may
be selected to have priority over recordings even a recording is currently
being performed. If
recording is currently being performed, the recording may be paused and
permanently
eliminated or ended or may be resumed after the selected recording is
performed.
[00187] Referring now to FIG. 40, a screen display 4010 illustrates a
confirmation
request to record a particular title such as "arrested development" on a
channel and then a
specific time on a specific date. An "ok button" 4012 may be used to confirm
the quest and
send a confirmation signal to the content processing system.
[00188] Referring now to FIG. 41, a screen display 4110 illustrating that a
request
has been confirmed is illustrated. The request may indicate in text 4112 that
an e-mail has
been sent to the e-mail associated with the account. The request may be
confirmed in
response to selecting the ok box 4012 of FIG. 40. An "ok" box 4114 may also be
provided
on the display 4110 to continue with the process.
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[00189] Referring now to FIG. 42, a screen display 4210 illustrating a search
for a
particular phrase such as "arr" is illustrated. A search term indicated 4212
may be set forth
along with the number of pages and the particular page in a page indicator
4214. Various
titles associated with the word search may be illustrated at 4216. Navigation
buttons such as
4218 and 4220 may be provided. Navigation button 4218 provides a back function
to scroll
backwards in pages. Button 4220 illustrates a next button for navigating
forward in various
buttons.
[00190] Referring now to FIG. 43, a screen display 4310 is illustrated for a
search
in the channel searching area for "hb". As is illustrated, a channel listing
4312 has been
provided for the channels associated with hb. There are several Home Box
Office channels
displayed. From this, a selection may be made to a particular channel and a
particular time
period to search within. Searching may take place in a particular time window
such as that
illustrated in FIG. 33 above.
[00191] Referring now to FIG. 44, a quick record screen display 4410 is
illustrated. The quick record screen display may be displayed after the quick
record button
3014 illustrated in FIG. 30 is selected. The quick record display may include
a channel box
4412, a time box or boxes 4414, a duration time 4416 and a date box or boxes
4418. The
channel number may be inserted by the user of the mobile device in the channel
box 4412.
The time may be pre-filled in the time boxes 4414. A pre-filled time or
another time may be
input over the time in boxes 4414.
[00192] The duration boxes 4416 may include an hour and a minute time. The
date boxes may include day, dates and year.
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[00193] Referring now to FIG. 45, a display 4510 illustrating a plurality of
user
devices associated with the account is illustrated. This step is optional and
thus downloading
may be performed to only one of the devices associated with an account.
However, various
numbers of set top boxes are associated with an account. A selection may be
made for the
particular set top box or device to which the content should be stored.
[00194] Display 4510 includes lines 4512 that correspond to different set top
boxes. In this example, a living room, a family room and a master bedroom are
illustrated as
the selection. By moving a cursor or the like within the user interface of the
display 4510, a
selection may be made with the mobile device.
[00195] A series selector 4514 may also be provided if the program is part of
a
series. The selector 4514 may appear in various menus and is shown here by way
of
example. By selecting the series selector 4514 multiple programs may be
selected. A
separate screen may be provided for the series selector having the series
selector choice. The
series selector may also be part of one of the screens above.
[00196] Referring now to FIG. 46, once the user has selected a device the user
may
sign out of the website. A display 4610 may be used to indicate that the user
has signed out
of the system. In this example, "you have signed out of the DIRECTV DVR
scheduler" is
set forth. This is intent of the user, an "ok box" 4612 may be selected to end
the connection
to the service.
[00197] Referring now to FIG. 47, a simplified block diagrammatic view of the
content processing system 102 is illustrated. The same reference numerals are
used for the
same components illustrated in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the web interface
224 is in
communication with the enterprise integration system 242. The enterprise
integration system
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242 may include or be regarded as a web service client as will be described
below. The
enterprise integration module 242 is in communication with the remote booking
web service
4710. The remote booking web service 4710 is in communication with a
conditional access
management center 236 through the conditional access transaction system 238.
The
conditional access management center 236 is in communication with a broadcast
TPS 250
that is used to broadcast signals through a satellite and a content delivery
network 280 that
communicates content through a network to the user device 110. The user device
110 may
also be in communication with the web interface 224 as will be described
below.
[00198] In general, broadband video titles or on-demand titles and linear
titles may
be requested for download by a device such as a mobile device as described
above or at an
interface such as the web interface 224. A conditional access packet (CAP) is
created by the
CAMC 236 to instruct a set top box or other type of user device 110 to perform
an action
such as recording particular content. The request may come from a device
capable of using a
web service. The requests are routed through the enterprise integration module
242 which in
turn communicates with a remote booking web service 4710. The conditional
access
transaction system 238 generates a CAP and provides it to the user device 110
through the
conditional access management center 236. A response may be generated as to
the success
or failure of information.
[00199] In the above example, internal and external devices may be used as the
web service. For example, DIRECTV.com or a third party may be used.
[00200] Referring now to FIG. 48, a first web services client, such as the
enterprise
integration module 242 of Figs. 2 and 47, is illustrated. A remote booking web
service 4710
is also illustrated in addition to the conditional access management center
236. The sequence
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diagram of FIG. 48 illustrates the sequence to provide security between the
various devices.
The first web service client may be located within the enterprise integration
block 242. This
may also be a standalone component. Likewise, the remote booking web service
4710 may
be physically part of various components illustrated in Figs. 2 and 47.
[00201] Prior to the process in FIG. 48, DIRECTV.com calls the enterprise
integration block or first web service. The second web service is called from
the first web
service. This is performed in step 4810 which is illustrated as a SOAP message
to download
material. In the following SOAP is used. SOAP refers to a service-oriented
architecture
protocol. However, other types of protocols may be used. The SOAP message may
be
referred to as a first message and may include a first security portion or
value. The security
value may include various types of information including conditional access
module
identification. The conditional access module card identification may
correspond to a
conditional access card at a particular user device. This may be used to
provide security
measures. The first security value may also include a time stamp that denotes
the time of
creation of the request. The time may be represented in various forms in
coordinated
universe time (UTC).
[00202] The first security value may also include a service such as the remote
booking web service 4710 and a method such as remote booking.
[00203] The first security value may also include an MD5 signature. MD5 refers
to message digest algorithm 5 formatting. A symmetric key may be used to
produce the
signature. The symmetric secret key may be distributed by an operations group
operating the
content processing system. The data for the signature may include all or some
of the portions
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of the security value described above. For example, the CAM ID, the timestamp,
the service
and method may be used together or partially.
[00204] In step 4812, the remote booking web service validates the signature.
The
signature may be validated by calculating a new signature using the secret key
and verifying
that the received signature and the calculated signature are the same.
[00205] A SOAP response signed is generated in step 4814. The SOAP response
may generate a response indicative that the signature is not valid and thus
the request will not
be processed. An identification of a valid request may also be generated in
the SOAP
response in step 4814. An invalid response may also indicate that a duplicate
message such
as that illustrated as reference numeral 4810 has been submitted.
[00206] Once validated, a request is communicated between the remote booking
web service 4710 and the conditional access management center 236. This may
include
interaction with the conditional access transaction system 238 illustrated in
Figs. 2 and 47.
The request in step 4816 may include a header or other identifier that
includes information
derived from the message 4810. The message may include the service type, the
method
performed, the time stamp, a transaction identifier and the CAMC identifier
for the CAM
card of the user device.
[00207] In response to the request from the remote booking web service, the
CAMC 236 generates a CAP (conditional access packet) or control word in step
4818. The
conditional access packet may include various types of information including
the
manufacturer identification that uniquely identifies each set top box. A
command code may
also be provided within the CAP. The command code may identify a command type.
For
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example, remote recording may be a specific code. The code may be various
numbers of bits
depending on the various types of functions provided.
[00208] The remote booking web service may also provide a serial number to the
CAMC 236. The serial number may be an unsigned 32 bit value that increments
sequentially
for each remote recording request sent across the population of all requests
being issued. The
requests may have various numbers of bits and may wrap around to zero when the
counter
has been exhausted.
[00209] The CAP may also include a method type specifying the method for which
the material may be downloaded. The method type may include various numbers of
bits. A
method type corresponding to a remote recording using a material ID may be one
method,
while remote recording using a content identifier may be another method. Yet
another
method is remote recording using channel-time-duration and remote recording
using a
content reference identifier (CRID). Various other types of recording may be
provided.
[00210] The CAP may also specify a date and time that the request expires.
This
may consist of a 32 bit value that represents the number of seconds elapsed
since a particular
date such as January 1, 1970, coordinated universal time (UTC). A priority may
also be
assigned to a bit or number of bits within the CAP. A priority may be assigned
to each
recording. A normal priority status may mean the recording will follow a
normal recording
schedule built into the receiver conflict resolution logic. A high priority
means that the
recording may override anything else scheduled by the user, but not system-
operator
mandatory use of the receiver's resources. The resolution between multiple and
competing
uses of high priority remote recording CAP against the receiver's finite
resources may be
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determined by comparing the serial numbers of the CAP. The lower serial number
may have
priority over higher serial numbers until the receiver's resources are fully
utilized.
[00211] A verify caller bit or bits may also be included in the CAP. This may
correspond to providing an identifier for reporting back progress of
scheduling and receiving
the requested recording. The verify callback bit may be used to initiate an e-
mail from the
content processing system 102 as described above.
[00212] A material ID that uniquely identifies the material that is being
requested
for download to the user device or set top box is set forth. The material ID
may be a 12-byte
ASCII. A series string indicator may also be provided that identifies whether
a single
episode or a series of episodes may be downloaded.
[00213] The system may also be used to communicate content from both a
satellite
source and a broadband source. A satellite source allowed bit and a broadband
source
allowed bit may also be provided. A channel constraint bit may also be
provided that allows
the system to ignore the satellite source allowed bit and the broadband source
allowed bit.
For duration recordings, a duration field may also be provided in the CAP. The
channel
number for the TV URL may also be provided in the CAP. The duration and length
may be
used to identify the time duration channel configuration. A major channel
field and a minor
channel field may also be provided.
[00214] If a CRID is used in the recording, the CRID length or the CRID
characters may also be provided in the CAP. The CRID field is a variable
length ASCII text
string that consists of a service name used in the program guide transmission.
[00215] After the CAP is transmitted, a status signal may be generated by the
CAMC 236 and communicated to the remote booking web service 4710. In response
to the
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status, a SOAP response signal may be generated in step 4824. The SOAP
response may
generate a success or failure message corresponding to the status signal 4820.
[00216] Referring now to FIG. 49, ordering content may be initiated through a
web-based hyperlink or link, for short. As will be described below, the links
may be
associated with a website or an e-mail to allow quick access to allow
particular content to be
quickly and conveniently recorded on the user's recording device. The link is
formed using a
content identifier corresponding to a particular content that may be ordered.
[00217] A link-based ordering system using some of the components of FIG. 2
above is set forth. In such a system a first network computer 4920 and a
second network
computer 4922 are in communication with the Internet 4924. Of course, many
computers
may be associated with the system 4910. A web server 4926 may also be in
communication
with the Internet. As well, the content processing system 102 may be in
communication with
the Internet 4924 through a web interface 224 such as DIRECTV.com. The network
computers 4920 and 4922 may include a web browser, an e-mail system or both.
Each
computer may access the web server 4926 or the web interface 224 through the
Internet
4924. The web server 4926 may be associated with a social networking website
such as
MYSPACE or FACEBOOK . The web server 4926 may have a link or hyperlink that
is
formulated as will be described below by a user of one of the network
computers 4920, 4922
for quickly recording content associated with the content processing system
102.
[00218] The web interface 224 may be used to communicate preferences between
the network computers 4920, 4922 for generating e-mails to the network
computers 4920,
4922. As will be described below, the e-mails may contain various descriptions
for
programs, movies or events. The e-mails may be generated in an e-mail alert-
type service.
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The users may receive an e-mail with a number of titles that are available for
recording and
possibly a description that accompanies each title. Also as will be described
below, the alerts
may be setup so that the frequency of the e-mails may be changed. Certain
customers may
want daily, weekly, twice weekly e-mails. The a-mails may be created on a
regular basis.
The criteria used for generating the a-mails may be established by the users
of the network
computers 4920, 4922 by interacting with the web interface 224. Details of the
operation of
the system will be described further below.
[00219] Referring now to FIG. 50, a method for generating an e-mail with a
link is
set forth. In step 5010, a user of the system logs onto the web interface such
as
DIRECTV.com. A menu system may be established for providing various services
such as
technical services, billing and other functions. This may be performed by
entering an
identifier, such as a password that is associated with a particular account.
The web interface
may interface with the billing system and other modules within the content
processing
system to make sure the account is a current account of an existing customer.
[00220] In step 5012, a selection of an e-mail alert service may be chosen.
This
may be performed through various prompts on a web page, or the like. By
selecting an e-
mail alert service, the users of the system may be provided with one or many
different
options for the generation of the e-mail alerts. Four examples are set forth
after step 5012.
[00221] After step 5012, a "WHAT'S HOT" service may be used to select content
for inclusion into an e-mail. The selection in the "WHAT'S HOT" service may be
performed
in step 5014. Feeding into step 5014 is step 5016. The "WHAT'S HOT" list may
be
compiled in step 5016. The "WHAT'S HOT" list is a list of content that is the
most popular
associated with the system, such as DIRECTV . The "WHAT'S HOT" list may
generate an
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ever-changing list of the hottest programming recorded or requested within a
predetermined
period of time. Thus, in step 5014, a list of the most popular titles that
appear in the
"WHAT'S HOT" list may be used to generate the e-mail.
[00222] After step 5012, another type of service, a recommendation service,
may
be selected in step 5018. In this service, a recommendation from a person or
group may be
chosen. For example, a particular author, reviewer, fan group or the like may
be selected.
For example, someone like Martin Scorsese may recommend a particular group of
films or
programming.
[00223] Another choice after selecting an e-mail service in step 5012 is
selecting a
personalized service in step 5020. The personalized service may be established
by the user
entering various terms in step 5022 to identify particular words in titles or
descriptions. For
example, films or programming mentioning The Detroit Tigers may be selected.
[00224] After step 5012, another type of service such as genre or type may
also be
selected. General categories such as genre or type of movie may be selected by
the user. For
example, black and white horror films may be selected.
[00225] After the type of selection criteria is established in steps 5014
through
5024, the frequency of e-mail may also optionally be selected. The selection
of e-mail
frequency or time interval may be performed in step 5026. The e-mail frequency
may be
daily, twice weekly, or weekly, for example. Of course, other types of
frequencies may be
set forth. The e-mail frequency may also depend upon the service selected. For
example,
when selecting box 5018 above, the recommendations may only take place one or
twice a
month. Of course, more than one service may be selected by a user.
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[00226] In step 5028, data for the e-mail is retrieved. The data may be
retrieved
from the content processing system 102. Various locations within the content
processing
system 102 may be used for retrieving the data for the e-mail. The e-mail may
include a link
and also include descriptions of the material and other types of information.
The descriptions
of the material, programming or content may be retrieved from the program
guide, the
content management system or other locations within the content processing
system.
[00227] In step 5030, once the data for the e-mails is retrieved, the e-mail
is
formulated with the recommended programs, movies, events of interest and
various links
associated therewith. The e-mails may be communicated to a variety of user
devices.
[00228] Referring now to FIG. 51, a method for generating a link to specific
programming is set forth for a webpage. In step 5110, the user desiring a link
may logon to a
web interface such as DIRECTV.com. Once a specific program, movie, or event of
interest
is located within a schedule located on DIRECTV.com in step 5112, a hyperlink
or link to
the programming is formed in step 5114. The hyperlink created in step 5114 may
link to
various locations as will be described below. In step 5116, the link is then
associated or
saved within a website or a social networking page. Thus, by clicking the link
the process to
begin recording the particular content may be provided. The process described
above with
respect to the web interface may then be performed.
[00229] Referring now to FIG. 52, an example of TV listings from a program
guide 5210 is illustrated. In this example, a particular box 5212 having "The
Simpson's
Movie" has been selected. A link may be created by selecting the "CREATE" link
selection
5214. The selection 5214 may be used by a user of another website and a link
may be
created on the website so that other people may quickly link to the content.
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[00230] The program guide 5210 may also be used to create a destination for
one
of the links created in FIGs. 50 and 51. In this example, a selection such as
"RECORD TO
RECEIVER" 5216 may be provided on the program guide. The selection 5216 may
initiate
the recording function for the particular program or event. This may be
performed after
logging into the system. As illustrated in the program guide 5210, other
program guide data
may also be presented at the same time as illustrated by reference numeral
5220.
[00231] Referring now to FIG. 53, a method is illustrated for following a link
presented either in an e-mail or through a web page. In step 5310, an e-mail
is received by
one of the network computers 4290 or 4292 illustrated in FIG. 49. In step
5312, an e-mail or
a web page is entered using a web browser through one of the network computers
5920, 5922
described above in FIG. 49.
[00232] Both steps 5310 and 5312 proceed to step 5314 in which a selection or
link that is associated with the e-mail or web page in step 5314. Once the
link is selected, the
selection information associated with the link is communicated to a web
interface such as
DIRECTV.com as illustrated above. In step 5318, the link may link the user
computer to the
program guide page illustrated in FIG. 52 above. As illustrated above, the
program guide
page may have a "RECORD TO RECEIVER" selection thereon. The "RECORD TO
RECEIVER" selection may be selected in step 5320. This process may be entered
by first
logging in or by selecting the "RECORD TO RECEIVER" function, then logging in.
Logging in is illustrated in step 5322.
[00233] Other parameters may also be selected when choosing to record a
request.
In step 5324, a room location or access card corresponding to a room location
may be set
forth. This is illustrated as box 1520 in FIG. 5.
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[00234] A prioritization may also take place when choosing the recording
function
in step 5326. Prioritization is also illustrated in FIG. 15 as boxes 1522 and
1524.
Prioritization may take place as set forth in FIG. 15 by adding a title to the
queue or adding to
the top of the queue for immediate downloading. Once a confirmation of the
selection has
taken place, the content may be communicated to and stored within a recording
device. A
series link may be set to record all the programs in a series in step 5327. In
step 5328, a
request for recording is communicated to the content processing system.
[00235] In step 5330, a conditional access packet or control word is generated
in
response to the request signal. The request may be provided from the web
interface 224
through the enterprise integration module 242 through the conditional access
transaction
system 238 all of FIG. 2. The CAP or control word may include various
information such as
the particular content delivery network or the particular transponder on the
satellite that will
correspond to the content. Content time, duration channel, location may be
information
provided in the CAP. In step 5332, the CAP is communicated to the specified
device through
the satellite. The CAP may also be communicated through a broadband network to
the
specified device. The specified device may be a set top box suitable for
receiving both
broadband communications and satellite communications.
[00236] In step 5334, a confirmation e-mail may be sent to the e-mail
associated
with the account that a CAP was successfully sent to the device. The e-mail
step is, of
course, an optional step. The e-mail is generated in the content processing
system through a
web interface such as DIRECTV.com.
[00237] In step 5336, the content is communicated to the device in response to
the
CAP or control word. The CAP may contain information as to the specific
content delivery
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network 280 of FIG. 2 that includes the content. The CAP may instruct the set
top box to
retrieve the content from the content delivery device. If the content is
communicated by way
of satellite, the CAP will tune the set top box to receive communications from
a particular
transponder of a particular satellite within the satellite system.
[00238] In step 5338, the content is stored in the recording device within the
set
top box. The recording device, as mentioned above, may be a digital video
recorder (DVR).
In step 5340, once the entire content is communicated to the set top box and
stored in the
recording device, an e-mail may be generated that describes that the recording
has been
completed in step 5340. In step 5342, playing back the content may then be
performed. It
should also be noted that after step 5338, step 5342 may be completed without
the
performing step 5340.
[00239] Step 5340 may generate the e-mail in various manners. For example, the
set top box itself may generate an e-mail through a broadband connection and
communicate
the e-mail or direct the e-mail to the e-mail associated with the account. The
e-mail may also
be communicated or initiated at the content delivery network. A "successful"
or
confirmation signal may be generated at the set top box when a broadband
content is
delivered successfully. The confirmation signal may be used by the content
delivery network
and to communicate the signal to the content distribution system and that
through the billing
system or the like. The content processing system may then generate an e-mail
to the
specified e-mail of the account.
[00240] Referring now to FIG. 54A, an example of an e-mail from DIRECTV.com
providing new movies according to various criteria is set forth. In the
following example,
two movies, one having the title "The Water Boy" starring Alexander Mierzwa
having the
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description "Boy helps a thirsty dad" is set forth. The type of movie is
provided as a drama.
The channel such as 1-IBO-15, the time such as 8:00 p.m. and the date is also
provided. The
title is set forth at 5410, the actors are set forth at 5412, a type of movie
is set forth at 5413, a
brief description is set forth at 5414, the channel is set forth at 5416 and
the time and date are
provided at 5418. Another title such as "Web Children" is provided at 5420,
another actor
such as Charles Mierzwa is provided at location 5422, a brief description at
5426 and a
channel at 5428. A date and time are also provided at 5430. Of course, the
various titles at
5410 and 5420 are underlined to illustrate that they may be links or
hyperlinks to
DIRECTV.com or another program guide. By following the link, the user may
select and
initiate the recording of the selection on the recording device.
[00241] Referring now to FIG. 54B, an example of a social networking website
is
provided at 5450. An example of a third-party social networking site may
include a name
location 5452, such as Benjamin Mierzwa. The third-party site may be an
outside company,
i.e., beyond ownership or control of the content processor. In this example,
interests may be
provided at 5454 and a recommended show, movie or other content of interest
may be
provided at 5456 as a link. The title of the show is underlined to illustrate
that the title may
be a hyperlink in a similar manner to that described above in FIG. 54A. The
time and date
may be provided at 5460 and the channel may be provided at 5462.
[00242] Referring now to FIG. 55, another method for generating recording
requests includes the user of a voice menu system 5510. The voice menu system
5510 may
generate voice prompts and issue menu selections. The prompts may be responded
to by
button pushes or voice commands. Thus, the voice menu system may be a voice
recognition
system. The voice menu system may be in communication with a communication
network
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5512. Also, the communication network may be in communication with the content
processing system 102 and a web interface 244. The voice menu system may also
be in
communication with the caller identification module 5420. The caller
identification module
5520 may be used to identify a caller on a phone line due to the included
information therein.
[00243] A phone device, such as a wired phone, wireless phone or cellular
phone
5522, is also in communication with the communication network 5512. The phone
5522 is in
communication with the DIRECTV voice menu system 5510 through the network
5512. As
will be described below, a caller or user of the phone 5522 may initiate a
recording request
using voice prompts provided by the voice recognition system 5510 through the
communication network 5512.
[00244] Referring now to FIG. 56, a method for generating a recording request
for
the system illustrated in FIG. 55 is set forth.
[00245] To use the voice recognition system or telephone-based system set
forth, a
phone number is associated with an account in step 5610. In step 5612, a call
into a central
business location or the voice menu system 5510 of FIG. 55 is performed using
a phone
signal from a telephone or other type of voice device. In step 5614, the
caller identification
associated with the phone signal is obtained. In step 5616, if the number
associated with the
phone signal is not recognized, that user may be prompted to associate the
number with an
account. Further, the user may be prompted to enter his home phone number or
another
number associated with the particular account.
[00246] In step 5616, if the number is recognized, step 5618 prompts for
various
selections. The prompts may be provided in voice in a voice menu system. The
system may
be also part of a larger system that includes billing information or other
technical assistance.
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A voice prompt for recording may be generated and a response may be provided
in step
5620. In step 5620, if a "record selection" option is not provided, other
functions are
executed in step 5622. In step 5620, if a record selection option is selected,
various menu
functions may be activated. The type of record selection functions may
initiate search
options or other functions that depend upon the various systems in step 5624.
A category-
type selection may be presented to the user by way of voice. Voice commands
may thus be
generated by the user to pick various types of categories such as mysteries,
sports
programming, or the like. Both stored and live television may be recorded
through the
system. Another option for recording or search. for material may be set forth.
A channel
number may be voiced or a channel name may be voiced. It should be noted that
instead of
voice, key pad entries may also be used to make selections in the voice menu.
Another type
of search may be a program title search. Certain search terms may be voiced
into the system
and search results provided. A number, name or category type in step 5624 may
bring up
various other choices for which other options may take place.
[002471 In step 5628, a number of titles "X" may be provided by way of voice.
In
one example, four titles corresponding to current programming with a
particular category
type in step 5624 or the current channel number or name may be set forth. If
more titles are
required, a "more titles" voice prompt may be provided in which step 5628
generates more
titles. If more titles are not selected in step 5620, step 5632 may request
more information.
More information may be provided for one of the titles generated. The voice
data for more
information in step 5634 may provide various information such as the director,
the actor, a
brief description of the content, or the like. Providing more titles and more
information are
optional steps. In step 5636, if a particular title of a program or an event
of interest is
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desired, a "record title" prompt may be provided. The option of recording an
entire series
may be provided in step 5637. Multiple record requests, one for each program
of a series,
may be provided.
[00248] In step 5658, an eligible receiver may be selected in a similar manner
to
step 5324 above. One or multiple receivers could potentially be chosen. In
step 5660,
prioritization of the recording may also be selected. Prioritization may take
place by adding
the recorded request to the top of the queue or place it at the bottom of the
queue, for
example. In step 5662, a confirmation of the record request may be provided to
the user. A
summary describing the priority, the eligible receiver and the title to be
recorded, as well as
the time, may be provided to the user. A confirmation request may also take
place by
sending an e-mail, or the like. In step 5664, another program may also be
chosen by
repeating step 5624. If another recording is not desired, the system ends in
step 5666 by
ending the call.
[00249] After step 5666, steps 5328 through 5342 may be performed in step 5568
in which a CAP is generated and communicated to the specified receiving device
to authorize
recording. A recording may take place in response to the CAP.
[00250] Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing
description
that the broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of
forms.
Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope
of the disclosure
should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the
skilled
practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification and the following
claims.
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