| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080235104 | System and method to promote electronic assets - A system and method of promoting electronic assets is provided. The method may include promoting a plurality of heterogeneous digital assets via a common electronic system. Each of the digital assets may have one of a plurality of asset types. The common electronic system may be accessible via a plurality of different types of access points. The different types of access points may include a wireless access point and an interactive television access point. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20090119696 | System and Method of Restricting Access to Media Content - A method of restricting access to content delivered via a video distribution network is disclosed and includes receiving a control stream at a service delivery platform. The control stream is related to media content delivered via a video distribution network. The method also includes parsing the control stream and determining, from the parsed control stream, at least one geographical area in which access to programming associated with the video content channel is to be restricted. The method also includes automatically scheduling a conditional access event associated with the media content at least one video head-end of the video distribution network, the at least one video head-end serving the at least one geographical area. In a particular embodiment, the video distribution network can be an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090119703 | Mosaic of Alternate Programming During a Blackout - In response to a user requesting content that has been blacked out, a mosaic is presented having images or data indicative of alternate programming. The mosaic may contain a plurality of viewports that each includes streaming video of currently available content. In conjunction with or in addition to the viewports, the mosaic may present metadata having statistics, cast information, program duration, time remaining, or other data associated with the alternate programming. In some embodiments, a set-top box employs a web-based template to present a mosaic that accesses multimedia content for display using at least one uniform resource locator. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090132383 | PURCHASING A GIFT USING A SERVICE PROVIDER NETWORK - A system facilitates a first user providing a second user with a gift through a service provider network. A first user may provide an asset such as a ring tone for use on the second user's mobile device. Alternatively, the first user may provide a monetary credit to the second user. Embodied systems are enabled for charging or billing an account associated with the first user and notifying the first user of a successful transaction including receipt or use of the gift. In some embodiments, a service delivery platform communicates with a unified storefront and a payment module for receiving and processing gift requests and payments. Gifts may be requested through an interface associated with the first user's IPTV set-top box. In addition, gifts may be presented to the second user by an interface associated with the second user's set-top box. The unified storefront allows access to gifting through mobile devices and other networked data processing systems in addition to set-top boxes. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090164316 | System and Method for Search, Recommendation, and Advertisement Through a Unified Storefront - A system includes an asset database, a search engine, a recommendation engine, and an advertisement module. The search engine is adapted to search for a first asset, stored in the asset database, based on a metadata search inquiry received from one of a plurality of access devices. The recommendation engine is adapted to recommend a second asset based on the metadata search inquiry, adapted to recommend a third asset based on customer usage information, and adapted to recommend the second asset and the third asset also based on an access device in communication with the recommendation engine. The advertisement module is adapted to provide an asset advertisement based upon the customer usage information and one of the asset categories being searched. Methods for searching, recommending, advertising assets to the plurality of access devices are also disclosed. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090222335 | Coupons, Multiple Payments, and Recommendations in a Unified Storefront System - A unified storefront system includes a recommendation module, a coupon module, and a payment module. The recommendation module is adapted to recommend and cross promote a first plurality of assets based on a user context and based on an access device. The coupon management module is coupled to the recommendation module, and the coupon management module adapted to store a coupon associated with a user account. The payment module is coupled to the recommendation module, and the payment module is adapted to provide an ability to purchase a first asset with a plurality of payment methods during a single transaction. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20100115627 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING MEDIA CONTENT RIGHTS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100122280 | System and Method for Monitoring and Alarming IP-Based Video Blackout Events - Systems and methods for selecting a video transmission event to be blacked out and storing a data record with instructions to color code an element within a graphical user interface based on the blackout are disclosed. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100138855 | Video Service Blackout Events - A method is disclosed that includes receiving a command to blackout a full screen version of content at a component of a multimedia content distribution system. The method includes updating a first entry within a control matrix to reflect that the full screen version of the content is to be blacked out. The method also includes automatically updating a second entry within the control matrix to reflect that a picture-in-picture (PIP) version of the content is to be blacked out. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100146607 | System and Method for Managing Multiple Sub Accounts Within A Subcriber Main Account In A Data Distribution System - A computer readable storage medium is disclosed having a computer program stored therein, which in a particular embodiment, the computer program includes but is not limited to machine readable instructions that when executed by a computer manage a plurality of sub accounts under a main account in a data distribution system, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to assign the plurality of sub accounts under the main account in a main account data structure at a server in the data distribution system; instructions to assign a plurality of end user devices to each one of the plurality of sub accounts; and instructions to receive end user device attribute data from at least one of the end user devices to the main account data structure after the attribute data is created at the at least one end user device. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100150521 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTENT PLAYBACK CONTROL ACROSS MULTIPLE ACCESS MEDIUMS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to enable trick mode bookmarking of media content presented at one of multiple access mediums including at least an interactive television system, a mobile communication device, and a computer, and receive a transfer of a state of presentation of the media content from one of the multiple access mediums according to a trick mode bookmark. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100162319 | Navigation Method and System to Provide a Navigation Interface - A set-top box device includes a processor and memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) at a television coupled to the set-top box device. The GUI includes a bread crumb trail having a selectable category. The memory also includes instructions executable by the processor to receive a signal from a remote control device associated with the set-top box device, the television, or a combination thereof, the signal indicating a selection of the selectable category of the bread crumb trail. Further, the memory includes instructions executable by the processor to cause the GUI to display, in response to the signal, a menu including the selectable category and a peer category related to the selectable category. The menu automatically becomes navigable via directional keys at the remote control device when the menu is displayed. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20110153856 | Method and System for Selecting a Delivery Method for Media on Demand - Computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and systems are disclosed. A computer implemented method includes accessing a digital image including a plurality of faces including a first face and a second face. a computer-implemented method includes determining, from a receiving device, a connection speed between the receiving device and a host. The computer implemented method selects a method of delivery for specified media content based on the connection speed. The method of delivery is streaming when the connection speed satisfies a speed threshold. The method of delivery is downloading when the connection speed does not satisfy the speed threshold. The computer implemented method requests delivery of the specified media content from the host using the method of delivery. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110154382 | Processing and Distribution of Video-On-Demand Content Items - Systems, methods, and computer-readable media including instructions for processing and distributing video-on-demand (VOD) content items are disclosed. A particular method selects a group of electronic devices to receive a VOD content item. The selection is based on group-level information associated with the group of electronic devices and based on user-level information associated with individual electronic devices of the group of electronic devices. The VOD content item is transmitted to each electronic device of the group via multicast. The VOD content item has an associated validity time period, and the encrypted VOD content item is automatically made unplayable at each electronic device in the group when the validity time period has elapsed. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110154401 | Systems and Methods to Generate an Electronic Program Guide - Systems and methods to generate an electronic program guide (EPG) are provided. A particular method includes accessing, at a set-top box device, data descriptive of over-the-air (OTA) television content items. The OTA television content items are available to the set-top box device via one or more television broadcast transmissions. The method includes accessing, at the set-top box device, data descriptive of on-demand media content items that are accessible by the set-top box device via a public network. The method includes generating an EPG that concurrently displays information related to the data descriptive of on-demand media content items and the data descriptive of the OTA television content items. The method also includes sending the EPG to a display device associated with the set-top box device. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110154404 | Systems and Methods to Provide Data Services for Concurrent Display with Media Content Items - Systems and methods to provide data services for concurrent display with media content items are provided. The media content items may include an on-demand media content item or an over-the-air (OTA) television content item. A particular method includes receiving a program identifier associated with an OTA television content item from a set-top box device. The method includes identifying one or more supplemental content items associated with the OTA television content item based on the program identifier. The method also includes transmitting a notification to the set-top box device indicating an availability of the one or more supplemental content items. | 06-23-2011 |
