WO2011059614A1 - Gestion d'accès au contenu sur un dispositif de lecture multimédia portable - Google Patents

Gestion d'accès au contenu sur un dispositif de lecture multimédia portable Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2011059614A1
WO2011059614A1 PCT/US2010/052012 US2010052012W WO2011059614A1 WO 2011059614 A1 WO2011059614 A1 WO 2011059614A1 US 2010052012 W US2010052012 W US 2010052012W WO 2011059614 A1 WO2011059614 A1 WO 2011059614A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
mcdn
content
pmp
multimedia
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2010/052012
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David J. Piepenbrink
Lee M. Chow
James T. Sofos
Original Assignee
At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. filed Critical At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
Publication of WO2011059614A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011059614A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/435Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01Protocols
    • H04L67/06Protocols specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/235Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/238Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams
    • H04N21/2389Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
    • H04N21/23892Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/239Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests
    • H04N21/2393Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests involving handling client requests
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/254Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
    • H04N21/2541Rights Management
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/254Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
    • H04N21/2542Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server for selling goods, e.g. TV shopping
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/254Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
    • H04N21/2543Billing, e.g. for subscription services
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/258Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H04N21/25808Management of client data
    • H04N21/25816Management of client data involving client authentication
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/258Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H04N21/25866Management of end-user data
    • H04N21/25875Management of end-user data involving end-user authentication
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/414Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
    • H04N21/41407Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/418External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
    • H04N21/4184External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/437Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4627Rights management associated to the content
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • H04N21/472End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/4722End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • H04N21/478Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/47815Electronic shopping
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6106Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6125Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6156Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6175Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/83Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/835Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates
    • H04N21/8355Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/16Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to presenting assets related to multimedia content and, more particularly, to managing portable media players.
  • MCDNs Modern multimedia content distribution networks
  • Portable media players provide the option to download multimedia content for mobile viewing.
  • a disclosed method for distributing multimedia content in an MCDN may include making a multimedia asset accessible to a user via an Internet-protocol television (IPTV) portal provided by the MCDN, and enabling downloading of the multimedia asset to a portable media player (PMP).
  • IPTV Internet-protocol television
  • PMP portable media player
  • the user may be associated with an MCDN account.
  • the method may further include displaying to the user information indicative of multimedia content stored in a memory device included with the PMP.
  • the method may still further include uploading multimedia content stored in a memory device included with the PMP.
  • the multimedia content may be uploaded to an MCDN server.
  • a disclosed service for distributing multimedia content in an MCDN may include enabling a user to access a multimedia asset via a web access portal and an IPTV access portal provided by the MCDN, and enabling the user to download the multimedia asset to a PMP associated with the user.
  • the user may be associated with an MCDN account.
  • the PMP may be registered with the MCDN.
  • the service may further include charging the user for the multimedia asset using the MCDN account.
  • the service may further include downloading the multimedia asset to the PMP, and uploading to an MCDN server directory information describing multimedia content stored in a memory device coupled to the PMP.
  • the service may still further include uploading to an MCDN server multimedia content stored in a memory device coupled to the PMP.
  • the downloading and the uploading may be performed using a different access portal.
  • the service may yet further include authorizing the PMP to replay the multimedia asset.
  • disclosed computer-readable memory media include executable instructions for implementing an MCDN according to the operations described herein.
  • the instructions may be executable to enable a user to obtain access rights to an obtainable multimedia asset via a web access portal and an IPTV access portal provided by the MCDN.
  • the instructions may also be executable to send the multimedia asset to a PMP associated with the user.
  • the instructions may be further executable to receive confirmation that the user has obtained access rights for the multimedia asset.
  • the instructions may still further be executable to notify the PMP that the user is authorized to replay the multimedia asset.
  • the user may be associated with an MCDN account.
  • the instructions may be executable to charge the MCDN account for the access rights to the multimedia asset.
  • the access rights may entitle the user to unrestricted access to the multimedia asset.
  • the access rights may be limited to a predetermined time period.
  • the access rights may be limited by a number of devices used for replaying the multimedia asset.
  • the instructions may still further be executable to register the PMP with the MCDN.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of system 100 to present assets related to media content.
  • System 100 includes content source 102 that communicates with customer premises equipment (CPE) 104 (which may include, for example, a set-top box (STB) device) via network 106.
  • Content source 102 includes a memory to store media content 114.
  • CPE 104 can receive input from remote control device 110 and can communicate audio and video to display device 112.
  • network 106 may be a public network, such as the Internet, or a private access network, such as an MCDN.
  • Content source 102 and CPE 104 can communicate with electronic store server 108 via network 106.
  • Electronic store server 108 includes data related to one or more assets 116, which may be related to media content 114.
  • server system 118 can include both content source 102 and electronic store server 108, providing a single interface for media content distribution and for presenting assets related to the media content.
  • server system 118 receives a request for an electronic storefront from a destination device, such as CPE 104.
  • Server system 118 can identify media content received at CPE 104 based on the request or based on data from content source 102.
  • Server system 118 (or electronic store server 108) can generate an electronic storefront that includes selectable indicators related to assets selected from assets 116 based on the media content.
  • assets 116 can include data related to physical assets and electronic assets that are related to the media content.
  • the physical assets may include articles of clothing (hats, shirts, jackets, other articles of clothing, or any combination thereof), posters (movie posters, actor photographs, other images, or any combination thereof), soundtracks (e.g., compact discs (CDs)), other physical products, or any combination thereof.
  • the electronic assets can include digital wallpaper (movie images, actor images, other images, or any combination thereof), ring tones (audio clips from media content, soundtrack clips, other audio clips, or any combination thereof), downloadable soundtracks, Video on Demand (VOD) content, video clips, other electronic assets, or any combination thereof.
  • each of the assets may have different associated access rights.
  • a ring tone electronic asset may allow unrestricted use of the ring tone after purchase, while a movie download may allow a limited number of viewings or unlimited access for a period of time.
  • server system 118 generates an electronic storefront including a graphical user interface (GUI).
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • the GUI includes multiple selectable indicators related to assets that are associated with media content that is received at CPE 104.
  • Server system 118 can target specific assets to CPE 104 based on media content received at CPE 104.
  • the GUI may include information describing selected assets 116 or describing a plurality of purchase options related to the selected assets.
  • the information may be personalized to a user or subscriber of CPE 104.
  • the information describing the asset or the information describing the plurality of purchase options may be personalized to an account associated with CPE 104.
  • server system 118 may provide a plurality of purchase options, including non-exclusive offers and exclusive customized offers.
  • the exclusive customized offers may be based on past purchase history, viewing history, geographic location, length of service with a service provider, time of day, an account status, a type of account, or any combination thereof.
  • the non-exclusive offers or the exclusive offers may be based on a sponsorship setting of a particular television program, a sponsorship of a particular television channel, or a sponsorship of the television program service.
  • the sponsorship setting may include information about television advertisers that have certain interactive features associated with their advertising content or with other television content.
  • advertisers may associate with this advertising content interactive features such as: information gathering interactive features (e.g., polls); entertainment interactive features (e.g., games); informative interactive features (e.g., product information queries); product request interactive features (e.g., order forms); or any combination thereof.
  • information gathering interactive features e.g., polls
  • entertainment interactive features e.g., games
  • informative interactive features e.g., product information queries
  • product request interactive features e.g., order forms
  • the information describing an asset may include information related to a promotion.
  • server system 118 may be adapted to cross-sell products for a particular promotion.
  • the promotion may be directed to a particular movie, such as "King Kong", where particular regions may be targeted for the promotion.
  • Subscribers in San Antonio, Texas, for example, may receive discounted pricing for accessing the movie "King Kong.”
  • pricing promotions may be used to entice viewers to access such services.
  • the promotion may have specific assets associated with it, such as a particular movie.
  • the particular promotion may include multiple related assets, such as a movie (and products related to the movie), t-shirts, baseball hats, coffee cups, shot glasses, CDs, other paraphernalia, or any combination thereof.
  • the promotion may include multiple related electronic assets, such as video clips, computer desktop wallpaper, a downloadable soundtrack, ring tones for a mobile phone, other electronic assets, or any combination thereof.
  • the promotion may include a discounted subscription service, such as an option to modify a subscription associated with the destination device to add a movie channel package, to subscribe to a number of VOD movies per month, another service, or any combination thereof.
  • More than one promotion may be associated with a particular asset.
  • multiple promotions from more than one asset provider may be included in assets 116, and multiple purchase options may be provided for accessing selected assets.
  • server system 118 may provide an interactive feature to direct a customer to an asset that is associated with a particular promotion. For example, if destination CPE 104 is associated with a subscriber in the San Antonio, Texas area, server system 118 may provide a GUI that includes multiple promotional offers that are available to a particular subscriber. Server system 118 may provide a feature that allows CPE 104 to provide a display of a best promotional offer (e.g.
  • server system 118 may recommend a particular payment option from multiple available payment options. The recommendation may be based on the subscriber account associated with CPE 104, based on an active promotion, based on payment option expiration (such as an expiration date associated with a payment coupon or credit), or any combination thereof.
  • CPE 104 may receive data that can be executed by a processor to generate a GUI, which may be provided to display device 112.
  • the GUI can include multiple purchasable assets of different types and multiple related purchase options.
  • CPE 104 may receive an input related to one or more of the multiple purchasable assets and an associated purchase option via remote control device 110.
  • CPE 104 can send a request to server system 118 that is related to the input.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of MCDN system 200 that may be used to present assets related to multimedia content.
  • multimedia content is not limited to TV, VOD, or pay-per-view (PPV) programs
  • the depicted embodiments of MCDN system 200 and its capabilities are primarily described herein with reference to these types of multimedia content, which are interchangeably referred to herein as "multimedia content”, “multimedia content programs”, “multimedia programs” or, simply, “programs.”
  • MCDN system 200 depict network embodiments with functionality for delivering multimedia content to a set of one or more users. It is noted that different embodiments of MCDN system 200 may include additional elements or systems (not shown in FIG. 2 for clarity) as desired for additional functionality, such as data processing systems for billing, content management, customer support, operational support, or other business applications. It is further noted that elements of system 200 may be included within the analogous elements of system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • system 200 can include client-facing tier 202, application tier 204, acquisition tier 206, and operations and management tier 208.
  • Each tier 202, 204, 206, 208 is coupled to private network 210; to public network 212, such as the Internet; or to both private network 210 and public network 212.
  • client-facing tier 202 can be coupled to private network 210.
  • application tier 204 can be coupled to private network 210 and to public network 212.
  • Acquisition tier 206 can also be coupled to private network 210 and to public network 212.
  • operations and management tier 208 can be coupled to public network 212.
  • the various tiers 202, 204, 206, 208 communicate with each other via private network 210 and public network 212.
  • client-facing tier 202 can communicate with application tier 204 and acquisition tier 206 via private network 210.
  • Application tier 204 can communicate with acquisition tier 206 via private network 210.
  • application tier 204 can communicate with acquisition tier 206 and operations and management tier 208 via public network 212.
  • acquisition tier 206 can communicate with operations and management tier 208 via public network 212.
  • elements of application tier 204 including, but not limited to, client gateway 250, can communicate directly with client-facing tier 202.
  • Client-facing tier 202 can communicate with user equipment via access network 266.
  • CPE clients 214, 222 can be coupled to a local switch, router, or other device of the access network 266.
  • Client-facing tier 202 may communicate with a first representative STB device via first CPE client 214 and with a second representative STB device via second CPE client 222 (STB devices not explicitly shown in FIG. 2).
  • first CPE client 214 can be located at a first customer premise
  • second CPE client 222 can be located at a second customer premise.
  • first representative STB device and the second representative STB device can be located at a single customer premise, both coupled to one of CPE clients 214, 222.
  • CPE clients 214, 222 can include routers, local area network devices, modems, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) modems, any other suitable devices for facilitating communication between an STB device and access network 266, or any combination thereof.
  • DSL digital subscriber line
  • client-facing tier 202 can be coupled to CPE clients 214, 222 via fiber optic cables.
  • CPE clients 214, 222 can include DSL modems that are coupled to one or more network nodes via twisted pairs, and client-facing tier 202 can be coupled to the network nodes via fiber-optic cables.
  • CPE clients 214, 222 may be configured to process data received via the access network 266, such as multimedia content provided by elements of MCDN system 200.
  • CPE clients 214, 222 can include MCDN STB devices; video gaming devices or consoles that are adapted to receive MCDN content; personal computers or other computing devices that are adapted to emulate STB device functionalities; any other device adapted to receive MCDN content and transmit data to an MCDN system via an access network; or any combination thereof.
  • CPE clients 214, 222 can receive data, video, or any combination thereof, from client-facing tier 202 via access network 266 and render or display the data, video, or any combination thereof, at a display device, to which it is coupled.
  • CPE clients 214, 222 can include tuners that receive and decode television programming signals or packet streams for transmission to display devices, such as TV monitors.
  • CPE clients 214, 222 may include a processor and a memory device (not shown in FIG. 2) that is accessible to the processor.
  • the memory device may store executable instructions, such as embodied by a computer program.
  • client-facing tier 202 may include a means for communicating between client-facing tier 202 and access network 266 and between client-facing tier 202 and private network 210.
  • the communication means in client-facing tier 202 may be a network switch or sub-system (not shown in FIG. 2) that is coupled to one or more data servers, such as D-servers 232, that store, format, encode, replicate, or otherwise manipulate or prepare video content for communication from client-facing tier 202 to CPE clients 214, 222.
  • the communication means in client-facing tier 202 can also be coupled to terminal server 234 that provides terminal devices with a point of connection to MCDN system 200 via client-facing tier 202.
  • communication means in client-facing tier 202 can be coupled to VOD server 236 that stores or provides VOD content imported by MCDN system 200. Further, the communication means in client-facing tier 202 may be coupled to one or more video servers 280 that receive video content and transmit the content to CPE clients 214, 222 via access network 266. The communication means in client-facing tier 202 can also be coupled to electronic store server 282 that stores and provides data related to purchasable assets to user devices, such as CPE clients 214, 222.
  • client-facing tier 202 can communicate with a large number of clients, such as representative CPE clients 214, 222, over a wide geographic area, such as a metropolitan area, a viewing area, a s nationwide area, a regional area, a nationwide area or any other suitable geographic area, market area, or subscriber or customer group that can be supported by networking client-facing tier 202 to numerous CPE clients.
  • the communication means in client-facing tier 202, or any portion thereof can include a multicast router or switch that communicates with multiple CPE clients via a multicast- enabled network.
  • application tier 204 can communicate with both private network 210 and public network 212.
  • Application tier 204 can include a means for communicating that can be coupled to application server 242 and to operations systems and support / billing systems and support (OSS/BSS) gateway 244.
  • application server 242 can provide applications to CPE clients 214, 222 via access network 266, which enable CPE clients 214, 222 to provide functions, such as interactive program guides, video gaming, display, messaging, processing of VOD material and other MCDN multimedia content, etc.
  • application server 242 can provide location information to CPE clients 214, 222.
  • OSS/BSS gateway 244 includes OSS data, as well as BSS data.
  • OSS/BSS gateway 244 can provide or restrict access to OSS/BSS server 264 that stores operations and billing systems data.
  • the means for communicating in application tier 204 can be coupled to domain controller 246 that provides Internet access, for example, to users at their computers 268 via public network 212.
  • domain controller 246 can provide remote Internet access to IPTV account information, e-mail, personalized Internet services, or other online services via public network 212.
  • the means for communicating in application tier 204 can be coupled to subscriber and system store 248 that includes account information, such as account information that is associated with users who access MCDN system 200 via private network 210 or public network 212.
  • subscriber and system store 248 can store subscriber or customer data and create subscriber or customer profiles that are associated with IP addresses, stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers, other identifiers, or any combination thereof, of corresponding CPE clients 214, 222.
  • the subscriber and system store can store data associated with capabilities of STB devices associated with particular customers.
  • application tier 204 can include client gateway 250 that communicates data directly to client-facing tier 202.
  • client gateway 250 can be coupled directly to client-facing tier 202.
  • Client gateway 250 can provide user access to private network 210 and other tiers coupled thereto.
  • CPE clients 214, 222 can access MCDN system 200 via access network 266, using information received from client gateway 250.
  • User devices can access client gateway 250 via access network 266, and client gateway 250 can allow such devices to access private network 210 once the devices are authenticated or verified.
  • client gateway 250 can prevent unauthorized devices, such as hacker computers or stolen CPE from accessing private network 210, by denying access to these devices beyond access network 266.
  • client gateway 250 can verify subscriber information by communicating with subscriber and system store 248 via private network 210. Further, client gateway 250 can verify billing information and status by communicating with OSS/BSS gateway 244 via private network 210. In one embodiment, OSS/BSS gateway 244 can transmit a query via public network 212 to OSS/BSS server 264. After client gateway 250 confirms subscriber and/or billing information, client gateway 250 can allow CPE client 214 to access MCDN content and VOD content at client-facing tier 202. If client gateway 250 cannot verify subscriber information for CPE client 214, e.g., because it is connected to an unauthorized twisted pair, client gateway 250 can block transmissions to and from CPE client 214 beyond access network 266.
  • acquisition tier 206 may include a means for communication (not shown in FIG. 2) with private network 210, that can also communicate with operations and management tier 208 via public network 212.
  • the communication means in acquisition tier 206 can be coupled to live acquisition server 254 that receives or acquires television content, movie content, advertisement content, other video content, or any combination thereof, from broadcast service 256, such as a satellite acquisition system or satellite head-end office.
  • live acquisition server 254 can transmit content to the communication means in acquisition tier 206, which can transmit the content to client-facing tier 202 via private network 210.
  • multimedia content can be transmitted to D- servers 232, where it can be encoded, formatted, stored, replicated, or otherwise manipulated and prepared for communication from video server(s) 280 to CPE clients 214, 222.
  • Client-facing tier 202 can receive content from video server(s) 280 and communicate the content to CPE 214, 222 via access network 266.
  • STB devices can receive the content via CPE 214, 222, and can transmit multimedia content to television monitors (not shown in FIG. 2).
  • video or audio portions of the multimedia content can be streamed to CPE clients 214, 222.
  • acquisition tier 206 can be coupled to a VOD importer server 258 that receives and stores television or movie content received at acquisition tier 206 and communicates the stored content to VOD server 236 at client-facing tier 202 via private network 210.
  • VOD importer server 258 can receive content from one or more VOD sources outside MCDN system 200, such as movie studios and programmers of non-live content.
  • VOD importer server 258 can transmit the VOD content to acquisition tier 206, which can communicate the material to client-facing tier 202 via private network 210.
  • the VOD content can be stored at one or more servers, such as VOD server 236.
  • VOD server 236 can retrieve the requested VOD content and transmit the content to CPE clients 214, 222 across access network 266.
  • video or audio portions of VOD content can be streamed to CPE clients 214, 222.
  • operations and management tier 208 can include a means for communication (not shown in FIG. 2) that conducts communication between operations and management tier 208 and public network 212.
  • the communication means in operations and management tier 208 may be coupled to TV2 server 262.
  • communication means in operations and management tier 208 can be coupled to OSS/BSS server 264 and to simple network management protocol (SNMP) monitor 286 that monitors network devices within or coupled to MCDN system 200.
  • SNMP simple network management protocol
  • the communication means in operations and management tier 208 can communicate with acquisition tier 206 via public network 212.
  • live acquisition server 254 can transmit content to acquisition tier 206, which can transmit the content to operations and management tier 208 via public network 212.
  • the operations and management tier 208 can transmit the content to TV2 server 262 for display to users accessing the user interface at TV2 server 262.
  • a user can access TV2 server 262 using personal computer 268 coupled to public network 212.
  • client-facing tier 202 can provide media content, such as video content, to CPE client 214.
  • the media content can include a selectable trigger, which may be provided by CPE client 214 to a display device as a popup within a video display.
  • Client-facing tier 202 may receive data related to selection of the selectable trigger.
  • electronic store server 282 may provide a GUI including an electronic storefront to CPE client 214 for display at a display device, such as a TV monitor (not shown in FIG. 2).
  • the electronic storefront can include data related to multiple purchasable assets as well as multiple options for purchasing one or more of the assets.
  • CPE client 214 receives media content including an embedded trigger.
  • CPE client 214 identifies the embedded trigger and provides a popup to a TV monitor that is related to the embedded trigger.
  • the popup can include information related to a particular promotion and an invitation to access an electronic storefront.
  • a user may utilize a remote control device to request the electronic storefront.
  • CPE client 214 may receive an input from the remote control device and transmit a request to client-facing tier 202 for the electronic storefront.
  • the request may include an identifier related to the selected media content, an identifier related to CPE client 214, an account identifier associated with CPE client 214, an identifier associated with the electronic storefront, or any combination thereof.
  • CPE client 214 may receive a GUI that includes an electronic storefront that has multiple purchasable assets and multiple selectable payment options.
  • CPE client 214 may provides the GUI to TV monitor, not depicted.
  • CPE client 214 can receive data that can be executed by a processor to generate a GUI that includes an electronic storefront that has multiple purchasable assets and multiple selectable payment options.
  • CPE client 214 can provide the generated GUI to a display device for display.
  • a user may utilize a remote control device to purchase one or more assets and to select a payment option related to the purchase.
  • CPE client 214 may send an asset identifier and purchase information to E- store server 282 for fulfillment.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a third particular illustrative embodiment of system 300 to present assets related to media content. It is noted that elements of system 300 may be included within analogous elements of system 100 and of system 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 and 2, respectively.
  • System 300 includes server system 302 that communicates with CPE at a client system, represented in FIG. 3 by STB device 304, via network 306, which may be the public Internet or an MCDN.
  • Server system 302 includes interface 316 to network 306, processing logic 314 and memory 312 that is accessible to processing logic 314.
  • memory 312 includes media content identification module 318 that can be executed by processing logic 314 to identify media content received at STB device 304.
  • Media content identification module 318 may also be used to transmit media content to STB device 304.
  • the media content may include an embedded selectable trigger, which can be executed at STB device 304 to generate a popup within the video at display device 310.
  • Memory 312 may also include electronic store (e-store) identification module 320 that can be executed by processing logic 314 to identify assets.
  • E-store identification module 320 may also be executed by processing logic 314 to generate an electronic storefront, including a GUI presenting the identified assets.
  • Memory 312 may also include STB communication module 322 that can be executed by processing logic 314 to communicate with STB device 304 to receive requests for an electronic storefront related to media content and to communicate the generated electronic storefront to STB device 304.
  • STB communication module 322 may also receive data related to purchase orders and payment option selections from STB device 304.
  • STB device 304 may include interface 324 to network 306.
  • STB device 304 may also include processor 326 coupled to interface 324 and memory 328 that is accessible to processor 326.
  • STB device 304 may also include remote control interface 330 that communicates with remote control device 308 and display device interface 332 that communicates with display device 310.
  • memory 328 includes media content module 334 that is executable by processor 326 to receive media content from server system 302 (or from another content source) via network 306.
  • Memory 328 may include trigger selection module 336 that is executable by processor 326 to identify an embedded selectable trigger within the media content and to generate a selectable popup within the video at the display device based on the embedded trigger.
  • Trigger selection module 336 may also be executed by processor 326 to receive a selection related to the selectable popup via remote control device 308 and to communicate data related to the selection to server system 302 via the network.
  • Memory 328 may also include GUI module 338 that is executable by processor 326 to receive instructions related to an electronic storefront and to generate a GUI that can be provided to display device 310 that includes one or more selectable indicators related to purchasable assets.
  • e- store identification module 320 may be executed to select an electronic storefront from a plurality of stored electronic storefronts based on media content received at STB device 304.
  • e- store identification module 320 can be executed to generate the electronic storefront dynamically, such that the GUI includes an electronic storefront having a first selectable element related to a first asset and a second selectable element related to a second asset (both selected based on the media content).
  • the GUI can also include multiple payment options that are related to a first selectable element and a second selectable element.
  • the multiple payment options can include an electronic coupon payment option, account billing option to bill a subscriber account associated with the destination device (i.e., the STB device), a credit card option, a debit card option, other payment options, or any combination thereof.
  • the STB device 304 receives media content including an embedded trigger from server system 302.
  • STB device 304 identifies the embedded trigger and provides the media content and a popup based on the embedded trigger to display device 310.
  • STB device 304 receives an input from remote control device 308 that is related to the popup.
  • STB device 304 sends a request to server system 302 based on the input.
  • the request may include an identifier related to the media content, an identifier associated with STB device
  • STB device 304 receives data related to an electronic storefront based on the request, and provides a user interface to display device 310 that includes the electronic storefront.
  • the electronic storefront includes one or more selectable indicators related to purchasable assets.
  • the electronic storefront also includes one or more payment options for purchasing selected assets.
  • STB device 304 receives a selection of at least one indicator and a selected payment option and sends data related to the selection and the selected payment option to server system 302 to complete a purchase transaction.
  • server system 302 may provide instructions for downloading the asset, may send the purchased asset, may perform other actions, or any combination thereof. If the purchased asset is a tangible object, server system 302 may transmit a purchase order fulfillment request to a fulfillment center (not shown) to complete the packaging and shipping of the purchased asset. Server system 302 may also notify an inventory system (not shown) to update inventory data based on the purchase.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of system 400 to present assets related to media content.
  • System 400 may include single sign on (SSO) interface 408 to communicate with one or more of a plurality of access points at access portal module 402.
  • the access points may include representative access points, such as IPTV portal 410, web portal 412, and mobile portal 414.
  • Access portal module 402 also includes portal agnostic storefront application 416.
  • Portal agnostic storefront application also referred to herein as "unified storefront application” or "USF application”
  • 416 may send data related to a storefront display via the various access portals 410, 412, 414 to a user device that is signed on via SSO interface 408.
  • System 400 also includes content management and aggregation module 404 having content manager 430, offer engine 440 and administration device 490.
  • Administration device 490 may communicate with content management and aggregation module 404, fulfillment and delivery module 406, and access portal module 402 to allow administrative configuration of each module.
  • administration device 490 may be used to establish offer management rules stored at rules and conditions database 442.
  • administration device 490 may be used to configure a storefront display provided via access portal module 402.
  • administration device 490 may be used to configure fulfillment and delivery module 406.
  • content manager 430 includes content catalog and publication module 432, which may identify assets that are available to be offered for sale.
  • content delivery and management module 434 may query content providers, such as content providers 476, to identify assets that are available for purchase.
  • Catalog and publication module 432 may process data received from content providers 476 to identify metadata related to available assets, such as a description of the content of an asset, a format of the asset, a type of the asset, a cost of the asset, other information about the asset, or any combination thereof.
  • Catalog and publication module 432 may provide catalog publication output 420 to portal agnostic storefront application 416 identifying the available assets.
  • Catalog and publication module 432 may also provide information identifying the available assets to offer engine 440 to allow offer rules related to the assets to be configured.
  • content manager 430 may also include content delivery and management module 434.
  • Content delivery and management module 434 may manage delivery of purchased assets to user devices. For example, content delivery and management module 434 may receive payment information for the purchase of an asset via portal agnostic storefront application 416. Content delivery and management module 434 may send an access grant message to a content provider after payment for an asset has been received and approved. The grant message may authorize the content provider to send the content of the purchased asset to the purchasing user device or another user device.
  • content manager 430 may also include user database 436.
  • User database 436 may include user data, such as demographic information and geographic information.
  • User database 436 may be utilized to establish promotional offers, to identify subscribers to which promotional offers should be made, to implement offer rules, and so forth.
  • offer engine 440 may access user database 436 in order to determine whether a particular offer applies to a particular subscriber based on the subscriber data.
  • content manager 430 may also include license rights module 438.
  • License rights module 438 may implement rules to ensure the license rights associated with digital assets are complied with. For example, license rights module 438 may ensure that royalties associated with digital assets are paid. In another example, license rights module 438 may determine an amount owed to a content provider or third party resulting from the purchase of a digital asset.
  • fulfillment and delivery module 406 may include a variety of fulfillment modules including mobile module 470, third party content module 472, web module 474, dedicated content provider module 476 and IPTV module 478. Fulfillment modules 470, 472, 474, 476 and 478 provide data identifying assets available for purchase to content manager 430. In a particular embodiment, fulfillment modules 470, 472, 474, 476 and 478 may also send data including the content of a purchased asset to a user device.
  • fulfillment and delivery module 406 may include one or more transaction application modules, such as billing mediation module 480, billing applications module 482, partner settlement module 484, and payment suggestion system 486.
  • Billing mediation module 480 may receive data related to the purchase of assets, e.g., billing events data, from content manager 430 and may determine a charge for the purchase based on the data.
  • Billing mediation module 480 may pass data related to the purchase to billing applications module 482.
  • Billing applications module 482 may prepare a bill to charge a subscriber for the purchase of an asset. For example, billing applications module 482 may add the charge to a unified subscriber bill for communication services, such as wireless telephone service, telephone service, television service (e.g., IPTV service), Internet access service, other communication services, or any combination thereof.
  • communication services such as wireless telephone service, telephone service, television service (e.g., IPTV service), Internet access service, other communication services, or any combination thereof.
  • partner settlement module 484 may receive information associated with the purchase of an asset from content manager 430. Partner settlement module 484 may process the purchase information to determine an amount owed to another party, such as a content provider, license rights holder, fulfillment agent, or other party as a result of the purchase. Partner settlement module 484 may execute payment of the owed amount or pass information related to the owed amount to a payment system.
  • payment suggestion system 486 may also receive data from content manager 430 related to the purchase of an asset.
  • the purchase information may include a purchase price and information about the user.
  • Payment suggestion system 486 may determine available payment options for the user, such as a charge to the user's account (e.g., a communication services account), payment by credit card, payment by electronic funds transfer, other payment options, or any combination thereof.
  • Content management and aggregation module 404 may communicate with fulfillment and delivery module 406 via a plurality of communication links. Representative examples of the communication links may include delivery, dispatch and tracking communication links 450, 452, 454, content discovery communication link 456, video content discovery link 458, and IPTV access grant communication link 460. In addition, content management and aggregation module 404 may communicate with the transaction application modules of fulfillment and delivery module 406 via billing event communication link 462, partner settlement communication link 464 and credit check and payment authorization communication link 466.
  • Content manager 430 may communicate with portal agnostic storefront application 416 via a plurality of communication links 420, 422, 424, 426 and 428.
  • Representative examples of the communication links may include catalog publication communication link 420 to provide information about available assets, purchase request/confirmation communication link 422 to communicate purchase and purchase confirmation information, grant access communication link 426 to communicate access grants, and payment request confirmation communication link 424 to communicate payment request and confirmation information.
  • offer engine 440 may communicate with portal agnostic storefront application 416, for example, via advice of change (AOC) communication link 428.
  • AOC advice of change
  • content manager 430 may prepare a catalog of assets available for purchase and provide the catalog of assets to administration device 490 for configuration of offer rules and conditions related to the assets.
  • Offer engine 440 may implement the offer rules and conditions to promote the assets in the catalog via a storefront display sent to user devices via portal agnostic storefront application 416.
  • Content manager 430 may receive requests for purchase of such assets via portal agnostic (i.e., unified) storefront application 416.
  • Offer engine 440 may provide an AOC to the subscriber associated with the purchase via portal agnostic storefront application 416. If the subscriber approves the charge, content manager 430 may send payment information to transaction application modules 480, 482, 484, 486 and may communicate with fulfillment and delivery module 406 in order to fulfill the purchase.
  • portal agnostic storefront application 416 may provide the content of the electronic asset via a suitable interface based on the asset type.
  • an IPTV -related asset may be provided via IPTV portal 410
  • an Internet asset may be available via web portal 412
  • a mobile asset may be available via mobile portal 414.
  • electronic assets may be offered and/or made available by at least one of IPTV portal 410, web portal 412, and mobile portal 414. That is, the same electronic asset may be made available via different portals 410, 412, 414.
  • content manager 430 may interact with fulfillment and delivery module 406 to provide billing information necessary to bill the subscriber for the asset purchase and to pay content providers or other third parties for the transaction.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of method 500 for presenting assets related to media content.
  • a content stream may be received at an STB device (operation 502).
  • the STB device may intercept an embedded trigger (operation 504).
  • the STB device may prompt a user to navigate to an electronic storefront, also known as triggered shopping (operation 506). If the user does not respond (i.e., a time out occurs) or if the user rejects the prompt, the method may return to operation 502. If the user accepts the prompt, the STB device may retrieve a list of assets associated with the trigger (operation 508).
  • the STB device may provide a browse page (GUI) including the associated assets to a display device (operation 510).
  • GUI browse page
  • the STB device may monitor the shopping experience (operation 512). A decision may be made by the STB device if the user is done shopping (operation 514). If the result of the decision is NO, the method may return to operation 512 and the STB device may continue to monitor the shopping experience. If the result of the decision is YES, the customer is done shopping, the method may advance to operation 502.
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of system 600 to distribute assets related to media content.
  • System 600 may include access points module 602, content management and aggregation module 604, fulfillment and delivery module 606, and data warehousing systems 608, as will be described in detail below. It is noted that certain elements depicted in system 600 are similar to corresponding elements in system 400 (see FIG. 4).
  • System 600 may include one or more of a plurality of access points in access points module 602, which may include IPTV access point 610, web access point 612, and mobile access point 614.
  • Access points module 602 may also include USF application 616.
  • USF application 616 may send data related to a storefront display via access points 610, 612, 614 to a user device that is signed on, for example with a registered account for an MCDN.
  • Access points module 602 may further include media agent 618, which can communicate with USF application 616 and PMP 619. Since media agent 618 provides connectivity between PMP 619 and unified storefront (USF) application 616, a user may transfer multimedia content, such as multimedia assets, between any one or more of access points 610, 612, 614 and PMP 619. For example, a user may download a multimedia asset from IPTV access point 610 to PMP 619. The user may also use web access point 612 to download a multimedia asset to PMP 619.
  • media agent 618 can communicate with USF application 616 and PMP 619. Since media agent 618 provides connectivity between PMP 619 and unified storefront (USF) application 616, a user may transfer multimedia content, such as multimedia assets, between any one or more of access points 610, 612, 614 and PMP 619. For example, a user may download a multimedia asset from IPTV access point 610 to PMP 619. The user may also use web access point 612 to download a
  • PMP 619 may represent one or more PMP devices associated with the user. PMP 619 may further be registered with the MCDN, such that access rights to obtainable multimedia assets may be transferred to PMP 619, from where the multimedia assets may be replayed. It is further noted that in certain embodiments the access rights may be unrestricted, i.e., without limits on replay, time duration, number of copies, etc. In some instances, the access rights may be limited to a certain time duration, a given number of replays, or other restrictions.
  • Access points module 602 may communicate with content management and aggregation module 604 and other modules via a number of communication links.
  • access points module 602 may transfer user input along with corresponding displayed information for browsing, searching and transacting content, represented in FIG. 6 as 622, with content management and aggregation module 604.
  • 622 may represent information exchanged via a user interface provided by USF application 616.
  • user demographic survey information along with consumption information for a user of USF application 616, may be communicated between modules 602 and 604.
  • Access points module 602 may further communicate with fulfillment and delivery module 606 for streaming content and for downloaded content, represented by 624.
  • USF application 616 may enable content to be streamed or downloaded to PMP 619 from fulfillment and delivery module 606.
  • System 600 may also include content management and aggregation module 604 having commerce engine 630, among other features (not shown in FIG. 6).
  • An administration device may communicate with content management and aggregation module 604, fulfillment and delivery module 606, and access points module 602 to allow administrative configuration of each module.
  • the administrative device may be used to provision demographic surveys for obtaining consumption information.
  • the administrative device may be used to configure a storefront display, such as a USF display, provided via access points module 602.
  • the administrative device may be used to configure fulfillment and delivery module 606.
  • commerce engine 630 includes content catalog and publication module 632, which may identify assets that are available to be offered for sale.
  • Commerce engine 630 may also include content delivery and management module 634.
  • content delivery and management module 634 may query content providers, such as content provider 676, to identify assets that are available for purchase.
  • Content catalog and publication module 632 may also provide information identifying the available assets to offer management 640 to allow offer rules related to the assets to be configured.
  • Content delivery and management module 634 may manage delivery of purchased assets to user devices.
  • Content delivery and management module 634 may send an access grant message to a content provider after payment for an asset has been received and approved by payment management 636. The grant message may authorize the content provider to send the content of the purchased asset to the purchasing user device or another user device.
  • Commerce engine 630 may also include licensed rights module 638.
  • Licensed rights module 638 may implement rules to ensure the license rights associated with digital assets are complied with.
  • Licensed rights module 638 may obtain licenses from third-parties via licensing module 674.
  • fulfillment and delivery module 606 may include a variety of fulfillment modules including content provider and delivery module 676, and licensing module 674. Further, fulfillment and delivery module 606 may include one or more transaction application modules, such as billing systems module 672.
  • Billing systems module 672 may receive data related to the purchase of assets, e.g., billing events data, and may determine a charge for the purchase based on the data.
  • Billing systems module 672 may prepare a bill to charge a subscriber for the purchase of an asset.
  • billing systems module 672 may add the charge to a unified subscriber bill for communication services, such as wireless telephone service, telephone service, television service (e.g., IPTV service), Internet access service, other communication services, or any combination thereof.
  • Licensing module 674 may enforce licenses and encode content to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Content management and aggregation module 604 may communicate with fulfillment and delivery module 606 via a plurality of communication links.
  • Representative examples of the communication links may include content discovery communication link 652 and rights management communication link 654.
  • commerce engine 630 may prepare a catalog of assets available for purchase. Collections of multimedia content, including at least one obtainable multimedia asset, may be presented to the user via USF application 616. The presentation may be in the form of a GUI, configured to allow selection and purchase of rights to multimedia assets.
  • "obtainable” describes multimedia assets for which certain rights are available, or may be offered for purchase, to a user (e.g., a consumer or subscriber). The rights that may be purchased, i.e., obtained, may include rental or ownership rights to multimedia assets.
  • the rights may include digital rights that may be restricted by user, duration, number of playbacks, time/date of playback, playback location, playback device, playback quality, copy or forward ability, or other limitations.
  • a "purchase”, a "purchase transaction”, or a "purchase request” for an asset refers to obtaining certain rights to the asset, also referred to as "access rights,” which may or may not be unrestricted ownership rights.
  • the user may select and provide user input indicating a desire to purchase the selected asset using USF application 616.
  • USF application 616 may then initiate a purchase transaction, by obtaining billing information, and forward a purchase request, as described in detail above.
  • USF application 616 may provide the content of the electronic asset to the user via at least one of IPTV access point 610, web access point 612, and mobile access point 614.
  • USF application 616 provides access via a suitable interface based on the asset type.
  • IPTV-related assets may be provided via IPTV access point 610
  • an Internet asset may be available via web access point 612
  • a mobile asset may be available via mobile access point 614.
  • electronic assets may be offered and/or made available by at least two of IPTV access point 610, web access point 612, and mobile access point 614.
  • Content management and aggregation module 604 may communicate with data warehousing systems 608 via a plurality of communication links.
  • Data warehousing systems 608 may receive user data and content metadata, represented in FIG. 6 by 656.
  • the user data may include demographic data and purchase/consumption data.
  • Data warehousing systems 608 may provide user data 658, including content metadata or user data indexed to individual users.
  • data warehousing systems 608 may include various data stores, or databases, including content metadata 680, user purchase/consumption data 682, and user demographic data 684.
  • Content metadata 680 may include information on multimedia content or assets consumed by subscribers or consumers, and may be indexed or categorized for various criteria, as described above.
  • User purchase/consumption data 682 may reflect purchase or consumption histories for users.
  • User demographic data 684 may include user data, such as demographic information and geographic information.
  • Databases 680, 682, 684 may be utilized to establish promotional offers, to identify users to which promotional offers should be made, to implement offer rules, identify collections of multimedia content to recommend to users, or identify subscriber groups for recommendations, among other uses.
  • PMP 700 may be a handheld device with functionality for storing and playing back media content, such as multimedia assets obtained from an MCDN.
  • the playback on PMP 700 may be audio, images, video or any combination thereof.
  • PMP 700 may also be used to playback media content on an external device (not shown in FIG. 7), such as headphones, an external monitor, external loudspeakers, etc.
  • PMP 700 may include processor 710, video display unit 712, memory device 714, audio output device 716, battery 718, wireless interface 720, interface port 722, and user control(s) 724.
  • Processor 710 may be a microprocessor with signal processing features for receiving, storing and playing back multimedia content, and may further interface to an internal data bus (not shown in FIG. 7) to communicate between submodules of PMP 700, such as those depicted in FIG. 7.
  • processor 710 includes digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities.
  • DSP digital signal processing
  • Video display unit 712 may be an embedded display for PMP 700, capable of displaying images and videos.
  • Video display unit 712 may be an active or passive display, and may include an integrated light source.
  • video display unit 712 is configured to execute a GUI and may be operable with a touch screen interface.
  • the video display signal for video display unit 712 may be generated by processor 710 using content stored on memory device 714.
  • Memory device 714 may include persistent and volatile media, fixed and removable media, and magnetic and semiconductor media.
  • Memory device 714 is operable to store instructions, data, or both.
  • the data stored using memory device 714 may include multimedia content for playback as well as directory information about the multimedia content.
  • memory device 714 is configured as a partitioned storage device including a file system.
  • Audio output device 716 may include an embedded loudspeaker and/or a signal jack for outputting an audio signal.
  • the audio signal may be generated by processor 710 using content stored on memory device 714.
  • Battery 718 may represent an energy source, such as an electrolytic cell, supercapacitor, etc., for powering PMP 700 or elements thereof.
  • Battery 718 may include a power management system (not shown in FIG. 7) for extending battery life, and may be removable and/or replaceable. Battery 718 may further include an external power connector for powering PMP 700 from an external power source or for recharging stored power capacity.
  • Wireless interface 720 may represent a wireless communications transceiver for communicating with a wireless interface, such as a wireless network.
  • Wireless interface 720 may include a signal amplifier and an antenna.
  • Interface port 722 may represent a communications transceiver, including a physical connector, for communicating with a wired interface, such as a computer network.
  • Interface port 722 may be used for a point-to-point connection, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or similar interface.
  • Interface port 722 may server as a host, server, or as a client interface.
  • PMP 700 may further include user control(s) 724, which may represent buttons, knobs, dials, touch screen elements, or other controls.
  • User control(s) 724 may be operated by a user for controlling PMP 700, such as to configure interfaces or ports, download multimedia content, or playback multimedia content.
  • User control(s) 724 may further be virtual controls, such as software elements or voice-responsive algorithms, operating in conjunction with other submodules of PMP 700.
  • MHD 825 multimedia handling device 825
  • FIG. 8 a block diagram illustrating selected elements of an embodiment of multimedia handling device (MHD) 825 is presented. It is noted that elements depicted in FIG. 8 may be included within analogous elements of systems 100, 200, and 300 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
  • MHD 825 is shown as a functional component of CPE 822 along with gateway (GW) 823 and display 826, independent of any physical implementation.
  • CPE 822 may be any combination of GW 823, MHD 825 and display 826.
  • MHD 825 represents an embodiment of an STB device.
  • MHD 825 includes processor 801 coupled via shared bus 802 to storage media collectively identified as storage 810.
  • MHD 825 as depicted in FIG. 8, further includes network adapter 820 that interfaces MHD 825 to local area network (LAN) 824 and through which MHD 825 receives multimedia content 860.
  • LAN local area network
  • GW 823 is shown providing a bridge between access network 830 and LAN 824, and receiving multimedia content 860 from access network 830.
  • MHD 825 may include transport unit 831 that assembles the payloads from a sequence or set of network packets into a stream of multimedia content.
  • content may be delivered as a stream that is not packet based and it may not be necessary in these embodiments to include transport unit 831.
  • clients such as CPE 822, may utilize tuning resources (not explicitly depicted in FIG. 8) to "filter" desired content from other content that is delivered over the coaxial medium simultaneously and these tuners may be provided in MHDs 825.
  • the stream of multimedia content received by transport unit 831 may include audio information and video information and transport unit 831 may parse or segregate the two to generate video stream 832 and audio stream 834 as shown.
  • Video and audio streams 832 and 834 may include audio or video information that is compressed, encrypted, or both.
  • a decoder unit 840 is shown as receiving video and audio streams 832 and 834 and generating native format video and audio streams 842 and 844.
  • Decoder 840 may employ any of various widely distributed video decoding algorithms including any of the Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) standards, or Windows Media Video (WMV) standards including WMV 9, which has been standardized as Video Codec- 1 (VC-1) by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
  • MPEG Motion Pictures Expert Group
  • WMV Windows Media Video
  • decoder 840 may employ any of various audio decoding algorithms including Dolby® Digital, Digital Theatre System (DTS) Coherent Acoustics, and Windows Media Audio (WMA).
  • DTS Digital Theatre System
  • WMA Windows Media Audio
  • the native format video and audio streams 842 and 844 as shown in FIG. 8 may be processed by encoders/digital-to-analog converters (encoders/DACs) 850 and 870 respectively to produce analog video and audio signals 852 and 854 in a format compliant with display 826, which itself may not be a part of MHD 825.
  • Display 826 may comply with National Television System Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternating Line (PAL) or any other suitable television standard.
  • NTSC National Television System Committee
  • PAL Phase Alternating Line
  • Storage 810 encompasses persistent and volatile media, fixed and removable media, and magnetic and semiconductor media. Storage 810 is operable to store instructions, data, or both. Storage 810 as shown may include sets or sequences of instructions, namely, an operating system 812, a remote control (RC) application program identified as RC module 814, an electronic programming guide (EPG) 816, and USF 818.
  • Operating system 812 may be a UNIX or UNIX-like operating system, a Windows® family operating system, or another suitable operating system.
  • EPG 816 represents a guide to the multimedia content provided to CPE 822 via MCDN system 200 (see FIG. 2), and may be shown to the user as an element of the user interface.
  • the user interface may include a plurality of menu items arranged according to one or more menu layouts, which enable a user to operate MHD 825.
  • the user may operate the user interface, including EPG 816, using a remote control device (not shown in FIG. 8) in conjunction with RC module 814.
  • method 900 for accessing multimedia content is shown in flowchart form.
  • method 900 may be performed by USF application 616 (see FIG. 6).
  • operations depicted in method 900 may be rearranged or omitted, or may be optional.
  • a user may be enabled to obtain access rights to, and/or access, an obtainable multimedia asset using access points provided by a USF application (operation 902).
  • the access points may include an IPTV access point, a web access point, and a mobile access point.
  • the user may then obtain the access rights to the multimedia asset, and then may access the multimedia asset (not shown in FIG. 9).
  • a decision may then be made if confirmation has been received that the user has obtained access rights (operation 904).
  • the access rights may be specific to a PMP associated with the user. If the result of the decision is NO, then method 900 loops back to operation 904. If the result of the decision is YES, then a PMP associated with the user may be notified that the user is authorized to replay the multimedia asset (operation 906).
  • the PMP may be notified using a wireless network.
  • the multimedia asset may be sent to the PMP (operation 908).
  • the multimedia asset may be streamed (i.e., downloaded portionwise for continuous playback in real-time) or completely downloaded to a memory device included with the PMP.
  • the user may playback the multimedia asset downloaded to the PMP.
  • directory information and/or information indicative of multimedia content stored using a memory device coupled to the PMP may be uploaded (operation 910).
  • the information may be uploaded using any of the access points provided by the USF application.
  • the directory information and/or the multimedia content information of the memory device coupled to the PMP may be displayed (operation 912).
  • the USF application may be used to display the information to the user.
  • the contents of the memory coupled to the PMP may be managed by operating the USF application.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Computer Graphics (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un procédé et un système de distribution de contenu multimédia, le système comprenant une application de vitrine unifiée (USF) fournissant des portails d'accès à un réseau de distribution de contenu multimédia, comprenant un portail d'accès à la télévision sous protocole Internet (410), un portail d'accès web (412) et un portail d'accès mobile (414). L'application USF peut en outre communiquer avec un agent multimédia pour accéder à un lecteur multimédia portable (PMP), permettant d'envoyer du contenu multimédia au PMP à partir de n'importe lequel des portails d'accès.
PCT/US2010/052012 2009-11-13 2010-10-08 Gestion d'accès au contenu sur un dispositif de lecture multimédia portable WO2011059614A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US61818509A 2009-11-13 2009-11-13
US12/618,185 2009-11-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011059614A1 true WO2011059614A1 (fr) 2011-05-19

Family

ID=43242895

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2010/052012 WO2011059614A1 (fr) 2009-11-13 2010-10-08 Gestion d'accès au contenu sur un dispositif de lecture multimédia portable

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2011059614A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140081837A1 (en) * 2012-09-14 2014-03-20 Vuier, Inc. Payment transaction gateway for a media player
WO2014068485A1 (fr) * 2012-10-31 2014-05-08 Ericsson Television Inc. Fourniture de contenu à la demande

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050210526A1 (en) * 2004-03-18 2005-09-22 Levy Kenneth L Synchronizing broadcast content with corresponding network content
US20070101351A1 (en) * 2005-10-31 2007-05-03 Sbc Knowledge Ventures,L.P. System and method of service product offer management
US20070157251A1 (en) * 2006-01-04 2007-07-05 Mptv, Llc Methods and Systems For Distributing Assets Associated With Television Program
US20070288967A1 (en) * 2005-09-07 2007-12-13 Candelore Brant L Method and system for downloading content to a content downloader
EP1936984A1 (fr) * 2006-12-22 2008-06-25 Alcatel Lucent Système de TV interactif, dispositif de filtration de métadonnées associé, dispositif de routage de service Web associé et dispositif de génération d'applications associé
US20080178230A1 (en) * 2006-12-05 2008-07-24 Crackle, Inc. Video sharing platform providing for public and private sharing and distributed downloads of videos
US20080235278A1 (en) * 2007-03-23 2008-09-25 At&T Knowledge Ventures, Lp System and method of presenting assets related to media content
US20090158316A1 (en) * 2007-12-12 2009-06-18 Backchannelmedia Inc. Systems and methods for providing a token registry and encoder

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050210526A1 (en) * 2004-03-18 2005-09-22 Levy Kenneth L Synchronizing broadcast content with corresponding network content
US20070288967A1 (en) * 2005-09-07 2007-12-13 Candelore Brant L Method and system for downloading content to a content downloader
US20070101351A1 (en) * 2005-10-31 2007-05-03 Sbc Knowledge Ventures,L.P. System and method of service product offer management
US20070157251A1 (en) * 2006-01-04 2007-07-05 Mptv, Llc Methods and Systems For Distributing Assets Associated With Television Program
US20080178230A1 (en) * 2006-12-05 2008-07-24 Crackle, Inc. Video sharing platform providing for public and private sharing and distributed downloads of videos
EP1936984A1 (fr) * 2006-12-22 2008-06-25 Alcatel Lucent Système de TV interactif, dispositif de filtration de métadonnées associé, dispositif de routage de service Web associé et dispositif de génération d'applications associé
US20080235278A1 (en) * 2007-03-23 2008-09-25 At&T Knowledge Ventures, Lp System and method of presenting assets related to media content
US20090158316A1 (en) * 2007-12-12 2009-06-18 Backchannelmedia Inc. Systems and methods for providing a token registry and encoder

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140081837A1 (en) * 2012-09-14 2014-03-20 Vuier, Inc. Payment transaction gateway for a media player
WO2014068485A1 (fr) * 2012-10-31 2014-05-08 Ericsson Television Inc. Fourniture de contenu à la demande

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10769704B2 (en) Content recommendations
US20200267450A1 (en) Streaming Video
US9736537B2 (en) Content recommendations based on communal preferences
US9967608B2 (en) Portable media player device management
US8290827B2 (en) Method, medium, and system of presenting assets related to media content
US11068956B2 (en) Methods, systems, and products for ordering items
US10740833B2 (en) Method for controlling electronic storefronts in a multimedia content distribution network
US20080235101A1 (en) System and method of presenting assets related to media content
US20110119696A1 (en) Gifting multimedia content using an electronic address book
US20110066652A1 (en) Conditional access to user-generated multimedia content
US20080222685A1 (en) Karaoke system provided through an internet protocol television system
CN105163143A (zh) 一种在线点播和下载档期电影的在线电影运营系统及播放的方法
EP2622553A1 (fr) Procédé et appareil de diffusion en flux de contenus à droits gérés directement à un dispositif cible ou dans un réseau
WO2011059614A1 (fr) Gestion d'accès au contenu sur un dispositif de lecture multimédia portable

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 10766460

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 10766460

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1