Content syndication to set top box through IP network
AssigneeQwest Communications International Inc.
InventorsSteven M. Casey, Kurt Campbell, Gnanasegeran Selvadurai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tools are provided for supporting content syndication to a set top box. The set top box requests a syndicated feed at regularly scheduled times, and receives the syndicated feed through an Internet Protocol (“IP”) network. Hence, a syndicated feed is distributed to the set top box that subscribes to the syndicated feed. Additionally, the set top box converts the syndicated feed for use by the set top box, and causes at least one image based at least in part on the syndicated feed to be displayed on a display device for a user.
Claims24
A method of supporting content syndication to a set top box, wherein a syndicated feed is distributed to the set top box that subscribes to the syndicated feed, the method comprising:
- requesting, at the set top box, the syndicated feed at scheduled times;
- receiving, at the set top box, the syndicated feed through an Internet Protocol (“IP”) network;
- converting, at the set top box, the syndicated feed for use by the set top box;
- displaying at least one image on a display device for a user, wherein the at least one image is based at least in part on the syndicated feed;
- wherein the syndicated feed is formatted as an XML document;
- wherein the set top box comprises the user's list of syndicated feeds;
- wherein the set top box is pre-configured to subscribe to at least one syndicated feed, the at least one syndicated feed being the syndicated feed in the user's list of syndicated feeds;
- wherein the user's list of syndicated feeds comprises, for at least one of the syndicated feeds, a primary location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested and an alternate location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested if the at least one syndicated feed is not available at the primary location;
- providing a user interface for the user to select the syndicated feed from the user's list of syndicated feeds, the user's list of syndicated feeds comprising:
- a first syndicated feed that comprises a billing statement;
- a second syndicated feed that comprises an Internet based web feed and is distributed publicly;
- a third syndicated feed that comprises an Electronic Programming Guide;
- a fourth syndicated feed that comprises a video feed;
- a fifth syndicated feed that comprises an audio feed;
- a sixth syndicated feed that comprises a video feed and an audio feed;
- and
- a seventh syndicated feed that comprises an alert;
- and
- providing an indicator, on a remote control device, indicating that the at least one syndicated feed in the user's list of syndicated feeds has been updated.
A method of supporting content syndication to a set top box, wherein a syndicated feed is distributed to the set top box that subscribes to the syndicated feed, the method comprising:
- maintaining a list of syndicated feeds, the list comprising the syndicated feeds of a video and audio feed, a billing statement feed and an alert feed, the list of syndicated feeds comprises, for at least one of the syndicated feeds, a primary location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested and an alternate location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested if the at least one syndicated feed is not available at the primary location;
- requesting, at the set top box, the at least one syndicated feed at scheduled times;
- receiving, at the set top box, the at least one syndicated feed through an Internet Protocol (“IP”) network;
- providing an indicator, on a remote control device, indicating that the at least one syndicated feed has been updated;
- converting, at the set top box, the at least one syndicated feed for use by the set top box;
- and
- causing at least one image to be displayed on a display device for a user, wherein the at least one image is based at least in part on the at least one syndicated feed.
A device for receiving a syndicated feed, the device comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the device to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising:
- instructions for maintaining a list of syndicated feeds, the list comprising the syndicated feeds of a video and audio feed, a billing statement feed and an alert feed, the list of syndicated feeds comprises, for at least one of the syndicated feeds, a primary location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested and an alternate location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested if the at least one syndicated feed is not available at the primary location;
- instructions for requesting the at least one syndicated feed at scheduled times;
- instructions for receiving, at the device, the at least one syndicated feed through an Internet Protocol (“IP”) network;
- instructions for providing an indicator, on a remote control device, indicating that the at least one syndicated feed has been updated;
- instructions for converting, at the device, the at least one syndicated feed for use by the device;
- and
- instructions for causing at least one image to be displayed on a display device for a user, wherein the at least one image is based at least in part on the at least one syndicated feed.
A system for supporting content syndication to a set top box, wherein a syndicated feed is distributed to the set top box that subscribes to the syndicated feed, the system comprising:
- a display device;
- a master controller;
- and
- the set top box configured to:
- maintain list of syndicated feeds, the list comprising the syndicated feeds of a video and audio feed, a billing statement feed and an alert feed, the list of syndicated feeds comprises, for at least one of the syndicated feeds, a primary location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested and an alternate location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested if the at least one syndicated feed is not available at the primary location;
- request the at least one syndicated feed at scheduled times;
- receive the at least one syndicated feed through an Internet Protocol (“IP”) network;
- provide an indicator, on a remote control device, indicating that the at least one syndicated feed has been updated;
- convert the at least one syndicated feed for use by the set top box;
- and
- cause at least one image to be displayed on a display device for a user, wherein the at least one image is based at least in part on the at least one syndicated feed.
A non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon a computer program comprising a set of instructions that are executable by a computer system to perform one or more operations to support content syndication to a set top box, wherein a syndicated feed is distributed to the set top box that subscribes to the syndicated feed, the set of instructions comprising:
- instructions for maintaining a list of syndicated feeds, the list comprising the syndicated feeds of a video and audio feed, a billing statement feed and an alert feed, the list of syndicated feeds comprises, for at least one of the syndicated feeds, a primary location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested and an alternate location from which the at least one syndicated feed can be requested if the at least one syndicated feed is not available at the primary location;
- instructions for requesting, at the set top box, the at least one syndicated feed at scheduled times;
- instructions for receiving, at the set top box, the at least one syndicated feed through an Internet Protocol (“IP”) network;
- instructions for providing an indicator, on a remote control device, indicating that the at least one syndicated feed has been updated;
- instructions for converting, at the set top box, the at least one syndicated feed for use by the set top box;
- and
- instructions for causing at least one image to be displayed on a display device for a user, wherein the at least one image is based at least in part on the at least one syndicated feed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.