# US 10,375,428 B2 · System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider

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- Number: US 10,375,428 B2
- Document ID: US10375428B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/493,409
- Filed: 2017-04-21
- Published: 2017-08-03
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2004-07-30
- Assignees: Broadband iTV, Inc.
- Applicants: Broadband iTV, Inc.
- Inventors: Milton Diaz Perez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375428B2

## CPC

- H04N 21/239: Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client {content} requests (hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60)
- G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests}
- H04N 21/222: Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end {(provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56)}
- H04N 21/2393: {involving handling client requests (scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60)}
- H04N 21/2547: Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
- H04N 21/25875: {involving end-user authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06)}
- H04N 21/25891: {being end-user preferences (retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)}
- H04N 21/26291: {for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client (deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25)}
- H04N 21/2665: Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
- H04N 21/41407: {embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop (constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57)}
- H04N 21/4312: {involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations}
- H04N 21/4345: {Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream}
- H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)}
- H04N 21/47202: {for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand}
- H04N 21/47214: {for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market (stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224)}
- H04N 21/4722: for requesting additional data associated with the content
- H04N 21/4753: {for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password (cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08)}
- H04N 21/4758: {for providing answers, e.g. voting}
- H04N 21/4786: e-mailing {(message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00)}
- H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection
- H04N 21/4821: {using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time}
- H04N 21/4823: {using a channel name}
- H04N 21/4825: {using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists}
- H04N 21/6125: {involving transmission via Internet (transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82)}
- H04N 21/6175: {involving transmission via Internet (broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82)}
- H04N 21/6379: directed to encoder {, e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate}
- H04N 21/64322: {IP}
- H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)}
- H04N 21/8186: {specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control}
- H04N 21/84: Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors {(systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73)}
- H04N 21/85406: {involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format}
- H04N 21/8545: for generating interactive applications
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

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

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for accessing and sharing video-on-demand programs using an interactive electronic program guide in an interactive application comprising:
(a) loading and executing, on a subscriber device, the interactive application;
(b) receiving, via a broadband connection, by the interactive application, for display on a display associated with the subscriber device interactive electronic program guide metadata to access video-on-demand programs previously stored on a video server associated with a television service provider as part of a video-on-demand system,
wherein a first video-on-demand program of the video-on-demand programs was uploaded to a Web-based content management system by a video-on-demand program content provider device associated with a video-on-demand program content provider via the Internet in a digital video format, along with associated metadata including first title information, first category information, and first subcategory information for the first video-on-demand program before being stored on the video server,
wherein the associated metadata specifies a respective hierarchical location of the first title information of the first video-on-demand program within the interactive electronic program guide to be displayed on the display using the first category information and the first subcategory information to hierarchically arrange the first title information within the interactive electronic program guide,
(c) generating, by the interactive application, the hierarchically arranged interactive electronic program guide using the interactive electronic program guide metadata, including the first title information;
(d) presenting, on the display, using the interactive application, the interactive electronic program guide including first title information, so as to allow the subscriber to navigate and select titles of video-on-demand program content including first title information from the hierarchically arranged interactive electronic program guide;
(e) receiving, by the interactive application, a first selection by the subscriber of the first title information from the hierarchically arranged interactive electronic program guide;
(f) presenting, on the display, using the interactive application, interactive electronic program guide information regarding the first selection of the first title information;
(g) receiving, by the interactive application, a second selection;
(h) presenting, on the display using the interactive application, a menu of options, including a first option to send information regarding the first selection to a recipient;
(i) receiving, by the interactive application, a third selection of the first option;
(j) presenting, on the display, using the interactive application, an interface for a subscriber to designate an intended recipient of information regarding the first selection;
(k) receiving, by the interactive application, a fourth selection of the intended recipient;
(l) receiving, by the interactive application, a fifth selection of a request to send the intended recipient the information regarding the first selection; and
(m) sending, via the broadband connection, an electronic message to the intended recipient including the information regarding the first selection.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive application receives digital video packets within an IPTV system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive application accesses one or more templates to display the interactive electronic program guide.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more templates comprise at least three layers including:
(a) a background screen layer,
(b) a display frame layer which defines areas reserved for at least one of text, a display image, or a navigation link, and
(c) a content layer which includes at least one of text, a display image, or a navigation link which are presented in the defined areas as indicated in the display frame layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

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