# US 8,544,043 B2 · Methods and apparatus for providing content information to content servers

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- Number: US 8,544,043 B2
- Document ID: US8544043B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/186,161
- Filed: 2005-07-19
- Published: 2007-02-22
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2004-07-21
- Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Applicants: Nileshkumar J. Parekh; Ravinder Paul (Rob) Chandhok; Michael O'Keefe; An Mei Chen; Gordon Kent Walker
- Inventors: Nileshkumar J. Parekh; Ravinder Paul (Rob) Chandhok; Michael O'Keefe; An Mei Chen; Gordon Kent Walker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8544043B2

## CPC

- 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 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests}
- H04N 21/4586: {Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally (deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25)}
- H04N 21/6131: {involving transmission via a mobile phone network (wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006)}
- H04N 21/6181: {involving transmission via a mobile phone network (arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004)}
- 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: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Methods and apparatus for maintaining program-guide records comprises the steps of requesting a program-guide index, receiving the program-guide index, and determining whether there exists any new program-guide record based on the received program-guide index. The method further comprises requesting a new program-guide record and receiving the program-guide record. In one aspect, a method for maintaining program-guide records comprises the steps of receiving a program-guide update indication, and determining any new program-guide record based on the received program-guide update indication. The method further comprises requesting an updated program-guide record, receiving the updated program-guide record, and updating the program-guide records.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for maintaining program-guide records on a content server, the method comprising:
storing a set of program-guide records on the content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program guide and being collectively used to generate a program guide;
requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;
receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;
using the requested program-guide index, which was received from the content provider, to identify new program-guide records;
requesting the identified new program-guide records, which were identified using the requested program-guide index, from the content provider;
receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and
updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program guide presentation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein said program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

### Claim 8

A method for maintaining content records on a content server, the method comprising:
storing, on the content server, a set of content records, each content record describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;
requesting a content index from a content provider;
receiving the requested content index on the content server;
using the requested content index to identify new content records;
requesting the identified new content records, which were identified using the requested content index, from the content provider;
receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;
updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and
requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein said content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein said presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein said program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein said content record comprises a presentation record.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein said presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records further comprises:
requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein said presentation record comprises a program record.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein said program record comprises at least one of program rating, program duration, or program content information.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein said program rating comprises at least one of MPAA rating or TV rating.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein said program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and
receiving the requested program from the content provider.

### Claim 20 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein requesting the content index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 21 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein requesting the content index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

### Claim 22

An apparatus for maintaining program-guide records on a content server, the apparatus comprising:
means for storing, in a cache, a set of program-guide records on the content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program guide and being collectively used to generate a program guide;
means for requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;
means for receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;
means for using the requested program-guide index, which was received from the content provider, to identify new program-guide records;
means for requesting the identified new program-guide records, which were identified using the requested program-guide index, from the content provider;
means for receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and
means for updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program guide presentation.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

### Claim 27 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 28 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

### Claim 29

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
storing a set of program-guide records on a content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program guide and being collectively used to generate a program guide;
requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;
receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;
using the requested program-guide index, which was received from the content provider, to identify new program-guide records;
requesting the identified new program-guide records, which were identified using the requested program-guide index, from the content provider;
receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and
updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein said program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein said program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein said program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program guide presentation.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein said program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

### Claim 34 (depends on 29)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein said requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 35 (depends on 29)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein said requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

### Claim 36

An apparatus for maintaining program-guide records on a content server, comprising:
logic for storing a set of program-guide records on the content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program guide and being collectively used to generate a program guide;
logic for requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;
logic for receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;
logic for using the requested program-guide index, which was received from the content provider, to identify new program-guide records;
logic for requesting the identified new program-guide records, which were identified using the requested program-guide index, from the content provider;
logic for receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and
logic for updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

### Claim 39 (depends on 36)

The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program guide presentation.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

### Claim 41 (depends on 36)

The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said logic for requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 42 (depends on 36)

The apparatus of claim 36, wherein logic for requesting the program-guide index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

### Claim 43

An apparatus for maintaining content records on a content server, the apparatus comprising:
means for storing, on the content server, a set of content records, each content record describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;
means for requesting a content index from a content provider;
means for receiving the requested content index on the content server;
means for using the requested content index to identify new content records;
means for requesting the identified new content records, which were identified using the requested content index, from the content provider;
means for receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;
means for updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and
means for requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

### Claim 46 (depends on 44)

The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

### Claim 47 (depends on 43)

The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said content record comprises a presentation record.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

### Claim 49 (depends on 47)

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said means for requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records further comprises:
means for requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and
means for receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

### Claim 50 (depends on 47)

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said presentation record comprises a program record.

### Claim 51 (depends on 50)

The apparatus of claim 50, wherein said program record comprises at least one of program rating, program duration, or program content information.

### Claim 52 (depends on 51)

The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said program rating comprises at least one of MPAA rating or TV rating.

### Claim 53 (depends on 51)

The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

### Claim 54 (depends on 50)

The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:
means for requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and
means for receiving the requested program from the content provider.

### Claim 55 (depends on 43)

The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for requesting the content index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 56 (depends on 43)

The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for requesting the content index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

### Claim 57

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
storing, on a content server, a set of content records, each content record describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;
requesting a content index from a content provider;
receiving the requested content index on the content server;
using the requested content index to identify new content records;
requesting the identified new content records, which were identified using the requested content index, from the content provider;
receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;
updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and
requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

### Claim 58 (depends on 57)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein said content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

### Claim 59 (depends on 58)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein said presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

### Claim 60 (depends on 58)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein said program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

### Claim 61 (depends on 57)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein said content record comprises a presentation record.

### Claim 62 (depends on 61)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein said presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

### Claim 63 (depends on 61)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein said requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records further comprises:
requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

### Claim 64 (depends on 61)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein said presentation record comprises a program record.

### Claim 65 (depends on 64)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 64, wherein said program record comprises at least one of program rating, program duration, or program content information.

### Claim 66 (depends on 65)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 65, wherein said program rating comprises at least one of MPAA rating or TV rating.

### Claim 67 (depends on 65)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 65, wherein said program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

### Claim 68 (depends on 64)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 64, the instructions further comprising:
requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and
receiving the requested program from the content provider.

### Claim 69 (depends on 57)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein requesting the content index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 70 (depends on 57)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein requesting the content index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

### Claim 71

An apparatus for maintaining content records on a content server, comprising:
logic for storing, on the content server, a set of content records, each content record describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;
logic for requesting a content index from a content provider;
logic for receiving the requested content index on the content server;
logic for using the requested content index to identify new content records;
logic for requesting the identified new content records, which were identified using the requested content index, from the content provider;
logic for receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;
logic for updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and
logic for requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

### Claim 72 (depends on 71)

The apparatus of claim 71, wherein said content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

### Claim 73 (depends on 72)

The apparatus of claim 72, wherein said presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

### Claim 74 (depends on 72)

The apparatus of claim 72, wherein said program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

### Claim 75 (depends on 71)

The apparatus of claim 71, wherein said content record comprises a presentation record.

### Claim 76 (depends on 75)

The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

### Claim 77 (depends on 75)

The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said logic for requesting content comprises:
logic for requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and
logic for receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

### Claim 78 (depends on 75)

The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said presentation record comprises a program record.

### Claim 79 (depends on 78)

The apparatus of claim 78, wherein said program record comprises at least one of program rating, program duration, or program content information.

### Claim 80 (depends on 79)

The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said program rating comprises at least one of MPAA rating or TV rating.

### Claim 81 (depends on 79)

The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

### Claim 82 (depends on 78)

The apparatus of claim 78, further comprising:
logic for requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and
logic for receiving the requested program from the content provider.

### Claim 83 (depends on 71)

The apparatus of claim 71, wherein said logic for requesting the content index from the content provider is triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 84 (depends on 71)

The apparatus of claim 71, wherein said logic for requesting the content index from the content provider is based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

### Claim 85

A device, comprising:
a network interface; and
a processor coupled to the network interface and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
storing a set of program-guide records on a content server, each program-guide record describing a section of a program-guide and being collectively used to generate a program-guide;
requesting a program-guide index from a content provider;
receiving the requested program-guide index from the content provider;
using the requested program-guide index received from the content provider to identify new program-guide records;
requesting from the content provider new program-guide records identified using the requested program-guide index;
receiving the identified new program-guide records from the content provider; and
updating the stored program-guide records on the content server using the received new program-guide records.

### Claim 86 (depends on 85)

The device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program-guide index comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp or a program-guide reference.

### Claim 87 (depends on 86)

The device of claim 86, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program-guide reference comprises at least one of a content provider service ID, a program-guide time stamp, or a program-guide location.

### Claim 88 (depends on 85)

The device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program-guide record comprises at least one of a content-provider service ID, a program-guide start time, a program-guide end time, or a program-guide presentation.

### Claim 89 (depends on 88)

The device of claim 88, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program-guide presentation comprises at least one of presentation title, a presentation sub-title, a presentation description, a presentation genre, a presentation rating, a presentation rating modifier, a presentation start time, or a presentation duration.

### Claim 90 (depends on 85)

The device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting the program-guide index from the content provider comprises requesting the program-guide index from the content provider triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 91 (depends on 85)

The device of claim 85, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting the program-guide index from the content provider comprises requesting the program-guide index from the content provider based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.

### Claim 92

A device, comprising:
a network interface; and
a processor coupled to the network interface, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
storing, on a content server, a set of content records each describing a piece of content and collectively describing the content available from a content provider;
requesting a content index from a content provider;
receiving the requested content index on the content server;
using the requested content index to identify new content records;
requesting from the content provider new content records identified using the requested content index;
receiving the identified new content records from the content provider;
updating the set of content records on the content server using the received new content records; and
requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records.

### Claim 93 (depends on 92)

The device of claim 92, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the content index comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp, a presentation reference, or a program reference.

### Claim 94 (depends on 93)

The device of claim 93, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the presentation reference comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp or a presentation location.

### Claim 95 (depends on 93)

The device of claim 93, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program reference comprises at least one of a program time stamp or a program location.

### Claim 96 (depends on 92)

The device of claim 92, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the content record comprises a presentation record.

### Claim 97 (depends on 96)

The device of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the presentation record comprises at least one of content-provider program ID or presentation location.

### Claim 98 (depends on 96)

The device of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting content for distribution to users based on the content records further comprises:
requesting at least one presentation from the content provider; and receiving the requested presentation on the content server.

### Claim 99 (depends on 96)

The device of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the presentation record comprises a program record.

### Claim 100 (depends on 99)

The device of claim 99, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program record comprises at least one of a program rating, program duration, or program content information.

### Claim 101 (depends on 100)

The device of claim 100, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program rating comprises at least one of a Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating or TV rating.

### Claim 102 (depends on 100)

The device of claim 100, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the program content information comprises at least one of program content encoding information or program content location information.

### Claim 103 (depends on 99)

The device of claim 99, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
requesting, from the content provider, at least one program identified in a stored program record; and
receiving the requested program from the content provider.

### Claim 104 (depends on 92)

The device of claim 92, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting the content index from the content provider comprises requesting the content index from the content provide triggered by a polling interval.

### Claim 105 (depends on 92)

The device of claim 92, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that requesting the content index from the content provider comprises requesting the content index from the content provide based on need as determined by the content server or another entity.