# US 11,445,257 B1 · Managing and delivering user-provided content that is linked to on-demand media content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,445,257 B1 - Document ID: US11445257B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/451,555 - Filed: 2021-10-20 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-20 - Assignees: DISH Network Technologies India Private Limited - Applicants: Sling Media Pvt Ltd - Inventors: Rashmi Ranjan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445257B1 ## CPC - H04N 21/2743: Video hosting of uploaded data from client - H04N 21/47217: {for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks (specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312)} - H04N 21/2365: Multiplexing of several video streams - H04N 21/252: {Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data} - H04N 21/2668: Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles {(information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063)} - H04N 21/41265: {having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device (unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204)} - H04N 21/4227: {Providing} Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work - H04N 21/4363: Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network - H04N 21/44016: {involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip} - H04N 21/47202: {for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand} - H04N 21/4722: for requesting additional data associated with the content - H04N 21/8133: {specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video programme} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A media content storage and delivery system, and related operating methods are presented here. A disclosed method of delivering user-provided content that is linked to on-demand media content involves: causing playback of on-demand media content at a first presentation device; receiving uploaded media content, wherein uploading of the uploaded media content is initiated during playback of the on-demand media content at the first presentation device; and linking the uploaded media content with the on-demand media content. After performing the linking, the method causes playback of the on-demand media content at a second presentation device, and causes playback of the uploaded media content after playback of the on-demand media content at the second presentation device, or after pausing playback of the on-demand media content at the second presentation device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of delivering user-provided content that is linked to on-demand media content, the method comprising: causing playback of on-demand media content at a first presentation device, wherein the on-demand media content is an episode of a video program series; receiving uploaded media content, wherein uploading of the uploaded media content is initiated during playback of the on-demand media content at the first presentation device; linking the uploaded media content with the on-demand media content; after the linking, causing playback of the on-demand media content at a second presentation device; and causing playback of the uploaded media content after playback of the on-demand media content at the second presentation device and before playback of a next episode of the video program series. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein uploading of the uploaded media content is initiated by the first presentation device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein uploading of the uploaded media content is initiated by a remote control device that is linked to the first presentation device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein uploading of the uploaded media content is initiated by an ancillary device that is associated with the first presentation device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the causing step causes playback of the uploaded media content to automatically begin immediately after playback of the on-demand media content. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: screening the uploaded media content for contextual relevance to the on-demand media content. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: receiving a skip command during playback of the uploaded media content; and in response to receiving the skip command, terminating playback of the uploaded media content. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing additional uploaded media content linked to the on-demand media content, wherein the causing step causes playback of the uploaded media content and at least some of the additional uploaded media content. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the causing step causes playback of the uploaded media content and at least some of the additional uploaded media content in a designated order that is determined based on playback statistics of the uploaded media content and playback statistics of the additional uploaded media content. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the causing step causes playback of the uploaded media content and at least some of the additional uploaded media content in a designated order that is determined based on temporal information corresponding to the uploaded media content and temporal information corresponding to the additional uploaded media content. ### Claim 11 A media content storage and delivery system comprising: a network interface to communicate data between the system and at least one client device, via at least one network data communication link; an input interface to receive media content for handling by the system; a storage architecture to store on-demand media content for on-demand playback via the at least one network data communication link, and to store user-provided content for distribution via the at least one network data communication link; at least one processor; and at least one processor-readable medium associated with the at least one processor, the at least one processor-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions configurable to be executed by the at least one processor to perform a method comprising: causing playback of on-demand media content at a first presentation device, wherein the on-demand media content is an episode of a video program series; receiving uploaded media content, wherein uploading of the uploaded media content is initiated during playback of the on-demand media content at the first presentation device; linking the uploaded media content with the on-demand media content; after the linking, causing playback of the on-demand media content at a second presentation device; and causing playback of the uploaded media content after playback of the on-demand media content at the second presentation device and before playback of a next episode of the video program series. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the receiving step receives the uploaded media content from the first presentation device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the receiving step receives the uploaded media content from an ancillary device that is associated with the first presentation device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises: screening the uploaded media content for contextual relevance to the on-demand media content. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises: receiving a skip command during playback of the uploaded media content; and in response to receiving the skip command, terminating playback of the uploaded media content. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises the step of storing additional uploaded media content linked to the on-demand media content; and the causing step causes playback of the uploaded media content and at least some of the additional uploaded media content in a designated order that is determined based on playback statistics of the uploaded media content and playback statistics of the additional uploaded media content. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises the step of storing additional uploaded media content linked to the on-demand media content; and the causing step causes playback of the uploaded media content and at least some of the additional uploaded media content in a designated order that is determined based on temporal information corresponding to the uploaded media content and temporal information corresponding to the additional uploaded media content. ### Claim 18 At least one non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon, the instructions configurable to cause at least one processor to perform operations comprising: causing playback of on-demand media content at a first presentation device, wherein the on-demand media content is an episode of a video program series; receiving uploaded media content, wherein uploading of the uploaded media content is initiated during playback of the on-demand media content at the first presentation device; linking the uploaded media content with the on-demand media content; after the linking, causing playback of the on-demand media content at a second presentation device; and causing playback of the uploaded media content after playback of the on-demand media content at the second presentation device and before playback of a next episode of the video program series.