US 7,774,384 B2Granted

Obtaining user feedback for unavailable content

AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.

InventorsPhilip Ted Kortum, Marc Andrew Sullivan

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A content provider has an associated database. The database is indexed with a plurality of content items available in a domain. The database includes a field to indicate an availability of each of the content items from the content provider. The database is searched based on a search query entered by a user to generate a search result list. The search result list may include a content item that is identified as being unavailable from the content provider based on the field. If so, the search result list is provided to the user to indicate the content item and to indicate that the content item is unavailable from the content provider. A user feedback control associated with the content item is also provided to the user. The user feedback control is to provide feedback from the user if the user desires the content provider to make the content item available.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method comprising:

querying a database associated with a content provider based on a search query received at a set-top box device, wherein the database includes a plurality of entries, each entry corresponding to a content item and each entry having an associated field to indicate an availability of the content item from the content provider;
providing a list of content items, wherein the list of content items includes a first entry associated with a first content item;
when the first content item is unavailable from the content provider:
providing a media preview of the first content item in response to a selection of the first entry;
including a first user feedback control in the list of content items, wherein the first user feedback control is associated with the first content item and wherein the first user feedback control is configured to receive a request that the content provider make the first content item available;
and
prompting a user to submit the request via the first user feedback control;
automatically determining to acquire rights to provide access to the first content item based at least in part on a frequency of inclusion of the first content item in search queries and feedback obtained from the first user feedback control and associated with the first content item;
and
automatically making the first content item available based on the determining.

7 more elements

A set-top box device comprising:

a processor;
and
a memory, wherein the memory comprises instructions, that when executed, cause the processor to:
query a database associated with a content provider based on a search query, the database comprising a plurality of entries, each entry corresponding to a content item and each entry having an associated field to indicate an availability of the content item from the content provider;
provide a list of content items, wherein the search of content items includes a first entry associated with a first content item;
when the first content item is unavailable from the content provider:
provide a media preview of the first content item in response to a selection of the first entry;
include a first user feedback control in the list of content items, wherein the first user feedback control is associated with the first content item and wherein the first user feedback control is configured to receive a request that the content provider make the first content item available;
and
prompt a user to submit the request via the first user feedback control;
and
indicate that the first content item is made available by the content provider;
wherein a frequency of inclusion of the first content item in search queries and feedback obtained from the first user feedback control and associated with the first content item are used in part by the content provider to determine to make the first content item available.

10 more elements

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code to cause a computer system to:

store a plurality of entries in a database, each entry corresponding to a content item and each entry having an associated field to indicate an availability of the content item from a content provider;
query the database base on a search query received at a set-top box device;
provide a list of content items, wherein the list of content items includes a first entry associated with a first content item;
when the first content item is unavailable:
provide a media preview of the first content item in response to a selection of the first entry;
include a first user feedback control in the list of content items, wherein the first user feedback control is associated with the first content item and wherein the first user feedback control is configured to receive a request that the first content item be made available;
and
prompt a user to submit the request that via the first user feedback control;
automatically determine to initiate a request to acquire rights to provide access to the first content item based at least in part on a frequency of inclusion of the first content item in search queries and feedback obtained from the first user feedback control and associated with the first content item;
and
automatically make the first content available based on the determining.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.