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US 10,567,842 B2Granted
Intelligent content management system
AssigneeDISH Technologies L.L.C.
InventorGregory Greene
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods and devices are described to provide a content-focused television receiver that allows viewers to select programming from multiple broadcast, stored media, video on demand or other sources based upon the program content itself rather than the source of the program. A set top box or other television receiver device receives a viewer input that identifies a particular television program for viewing. The television receiver device queries for information that identifies one of the different sources that is able to provide the particular television program for viewing, and obtains the program from the identified source for playback to the viewer.
Claims17
A method executable by a television receiver device that is operated by a viewer to provide television programming selected from any of a plurality of different sources of the television programming, the method comprising:
- initially transmitting a plurality of query messages by the television receiver device, wherein each of the plurality of query messages is sent to a selected one of the different sources of the television programming by the television receiver device, wherein each of the different sources is a source of television programs to be delivered to the television receiver device for presentation of the television programs to the viewer, and wherein one of the different sources is a digital video recorder, one of the different sources is a video-on-demand source, and one of the different sources provides broadcast television programs;
- receiving, by the television receiver device, a plurality of responses from the plurality of different sources in response to the query messages, wherein each of the responses comprises a listing of all of the television programs available from that one of the plurality of different sources;
- in response to the plurality of responses received by the television receiver device, creating, by the television receiver device, a customized database that combines each of the received listings of the television programming available from each of the different sources available to the television receiver device, wherein the creating comprises the television receiver device assigning a source identifier to each program in the customized database that identifies the digital video recorder, the video-on-demand source, or the source of broadcast programs where the program is available, and wherein the customized database is stored by the television receiver device, and wherein the initial transmitting of query messages to the different sources and the creating of the customized database are both performed by the television receiver device on an a priori basis prior to the television receiver device receiving a viewer input that identifies a particular television program;
- after creating and storing the customized database by the television receiver device, the television receiver device subsequently receiving the viewer input that identifies the particular television program for viewing, wherein the particular television program is selected from the previously-created customized database that combines all of the listings of television programming obtained from each of the different sources of the television programming available to the television receiver device;
- in response to the viewer input, the television receiver device querying the customized database previously created and stored by the television receiver device to thereby identify one of the content sources available to the television receiver device that is able to provide the particular television program for viewing by the viewer based upon the source identifier associated with the particular television program in the customized database;
- obtaining, by the television receiver device, the particular television program from the identified one of the digital video recorder, video-on-demand source or source of broadcast television programs;
- and
- outputting, by the television receiver device, the television program obtained from the identified source of the television programming for playback to the viewer.
5 more elements
A television receiver device to provide television programming selected from a plurality of different content sources to a viewer, wherein each of the different content sources is a source of television programs to be delivered to the television receiver device for presentation of the television programs to the viewer, the television receiver device comprising:
- a display interface;
- a network interface to a digital network configured to communicate with a video-on-demand source that is one of the plurality of different content sources;
- a television receiver interface configured to receive broadcast television programs as one of the plurality of different content sources;
- a digital video recorder configured to record at least some of the broadcast television programs received via the television receiver interface as another of the different content sources;
- and
- a controller configured to perform an automated process that comprises:
- initially transmitting a plurality of query messages, wherein each of the plurality of query messages is sent to a selected one of the different sources of the television programming, wherein one of the different sources is the digital video recorder, one of the different sources is the video-on-demand source, and one of the different sources provides the broadcast television programs;
- receiving a plurality of responses from the plurality of different sources in response to the query messages, wherein each of the responses comprises a listing of all of the television programs available from that one of the plurality of different sources;
- in response to the plurality of responses, creating a customized database that combines each of the received listings of the television programming available from each of the different sources, wherein the creating comprises the television receiver device assigning a source identifier to each program in the customized database that identifies the digital video recorder, the video-on-demand source, or the source of broadcast programs where the program is available, and wherein the customized database is stored by the television receiver device, and wherein the initial transmitting of query messages to the different sources and the creating of the customized database are both performed on an a priori basis prior to the television receiver device receiving a viewer input that identifies a particular television program;
- after creating and storing the customized database, subsequently receiving the viewer input that identifies the particular television program for viewing, wherein the particular television program is selected from the previously-created customized database that combines all of the listings of television programming obtained from each of the different sources of the television programming available to the television receiver device;
- in response to the viewer input, querying the customized database previously created and stored by the television receiver device to thereby identify one of the content sources available to the television receiver device that is able to provide the particular television program for viewing by the viewer based upon the source identifier associated with the particular television program in the customized database;
- obtaining the particular television program from the identified one of the digital video recorder, video-on-demand source or source of broadcast television programs;
- and
- outputting the television program obtained from the identified source of the television programming for playback to the viewer.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.