Abstract:
A method includes sending, from a service delivery system, a service product package indicating a service product offering to a service product ordering subsystem and indicating a service control group. The method further includes receiving, from the service product ordering subsystem, an order for the service product offering and information identifying a subscriber account associated with the order. The method further includes providing delivery data including a video item to a media content distribution system. The media content distribution system is configured to send the video item to an end user device associated with the subscriber account in response to receiving the delivery data.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/604,487, filed on Oct. 23, 2009 and titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROCESSING SERVICE PRODUCT ORDERS,” which claims priority from and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/264,815, filed on Oct. 31, 2005, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,627,501, and titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SERVICE PRODUCT OFFER MANAGEMENT,” the contents of each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a system and method of processing orders for television content related services. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    For years, televisions have been a staple of consumer electronics sales. As such, a large majority of households in the United States owns at least one television. There are numerous types of television content to choose from. For example, viewers can subscribe to digital broadband television networks and digital satellite television networks in order to receive standard digital television content or high definition television content. 
         [0004]    In many cases, a set top box device is required at a customer location in order to receive television content from a content provider and to decode the television content before transmitting the content to a television. Additionally, services can be ordered via the set top box device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a general block diagram that illustrates elements of an Internet protocol television (IPTV) system; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram that illustrates a service delivery platform subsystem; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram that illustrates a service product ordering subsystem, a service delivery platform subsystem, and an IPTV deployment subsystem; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart that illustrates of a method of service product offer management; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a ladder diagram that illustrates operation of a system and a method of service product offer management; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a general computer system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The disclosure is generally directed to a system and method of managing and deploying Internet protocol television (IPTV) services. In a particular embodiment, the method includes a service product offer management and a deployment system. The method further includes a service product ordering subsystem to receive and process a service product order received in response to a service product offer. The service product order may identify a particular communication service subscriber, a service area, a service control group, a service product attribute, a facility deployment component, and a set of permitted end user device types. The method also includes a service delivery platform subsystem coupled to the service product ordering subsystem. Further, the method includes an IPTV deployment subsystem coupled to the service delivery platform. The IPTV deployment subsystem includes a plurality of video content packages. One of the plurality of content packages is selected for transmission and access is granted to protected content for a particular subscriber based on the service product order for the particular communication service subscriber. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , elements of an IPTV system that is generally designated  100  are shown. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the system  100  includes a service product ordering subsystem  102  that is coupled to a service delivery platform subsystem  106  via an integration bus  104 . In a particular embodiment, the service product ordering subsystem  102  and the service delivery platform subsystem  106  communicate using java messaging service (JMS), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), enterprise java beans (EJB), java remote method invocation (RMI), common object request broker architecture (CORBA), or other similar mechanisms. 
         [0013]    The system  100  includes a billing subsystem  108 , an IPTV deployment subsystem  110 , a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) subsystem  112 , and a data subsystem  114  that can be coupled to the service delivery platform subsystem  106 . As indicated in  FIG. 1 , the billing subsystem  108  is also coupled to the IPTV deployment subsystem  110 . 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a representative customer home  120  is coupled to the IPTV deployment subsystem  110 . Specifically, a gateway device  160  is coupled to the IPTV deployment subsystem  110  via a communication link  150 . A first customer premises equipment (CPE)  162 , a second CPE  164 , and a third CPE  166  are coupled to the gateway device  160 . 
         [0015]    In a particular embodiment, the service product ordering subsystem  102  includes an ordering management system (OMS)  130  that can include one or more product catalogs, product definitions, and a workflow. Further, the SDP subsystem  106  includes a subscription management module  170 , a service broker module  171 , a content management module  172 , and one or more adapters  174 . Additionally, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the IPTV deployment subsystem  110  includes a subscriber management system  180  that includes an IPTV platform. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  also indicates that the billing subsystem  108  can include an invoicing module  132 . The billing subsystem  108  can also include a rating module  134  and a mediation module  138 . 
         [0017]    In a particular embodiment, during operation the service product ordering subsystem  102  can receive and process a service product order that identifies a particular communication service subscriber, a service area, a service control group, a service product attribute, a facility deployment component, and a set of permitted end user device types. The service product attribute can identify a product offer, e.g., video; video and data; video, data and VoIP; or video, data, VoIP, and wireless service. Also, the service product attribute can include a video service attribute that identifies a level of content available, where the level of content is selected from a list that at least includes a premium level and a standard level. The level of content can also be selected from a list that includes: a standard level, a silver level, and a gold level. Further, the level can include a genre pack. In an illustrative embodiment, the gold level, but not the silver level or the standard level, can include selected premium content, such as HBO&#39;s Signature package. Also, in an illustrative embodiment, the silver level, but not the standard level, can include other premium content, such as include HBO&#39;s Family package. 
         [0018]    In a particular embodiment, the facility deployment component identified by the service product order can be implemented as fiber to the premises (FTTP), fiber to the node (FTTN), or digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. Moreover, the set of permitted end user devices can include a residential gateway (RGW) device, a set top box, a digital video recorder, an integrated access device (IAD), and a session initiation protocol (SIP) telephone device. 
         [0019]    Further, in another particular embodiment, the IPTV deployment subsystem  110  can include a broadcast channel map that is stored within a computer readable medium within the IPTV deployment subsystem  110 . In a particular embodiment, the standard level includes the channels in the broadcast channel map and the premium level includes the channels in the broadcast channel map and at least one additional channel. 
         [0020]    In yet another particular embodiment, the SDP subsystem  106  receives the service product offer information from the service product offer ordering subsystem  102  and provides one or more data items that identify a subscriber class, a subscriber subclass, and an item category as an input to the IPTV deployment subsystem  110 . Further, the IPTV deployment subsystem  110  can map the subscriber class to a subscriber group and determine a content access grant level based on the subscriber group. In particular, one of a set of content packages can be selected based on the content access grant level and a selected content package can be communicated to a subscriber device, e.g., the gateway  160 , that has access to the IPTV deployment subsystem  110 . The IPTV deployment subsystem  110  can receive data that identifies a set of devices that are associated with a particular subscriber. The set of devices can be evaluated with respect to a particular end user device to receive a selected content package. 
         [0021]    Additionally, in a particular embodiment, the IPTV deployment subsystem includes a plurality of video content packages. At least one of the plurality of video content packages can be selected for permitted transmission and can be granted access to protected content for a particular subscriber based on the service product order for the particular communication service subscriber identified. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , details concerning the service product ordering subsystem  130  and the SDP subsystem  106  are illustrated. As shown, the SDP subsystem  106  includes a first interface  208 , such as a Web Services (WS) interface. In a particular embodiment, the service product ordering subsystem  130  is coupled to the first interface  208  via an account management interface  204  and a service order interface  206 . The subscription management module  170  and the content manager  172  within the SDP subsystem  106  are also coupled to the first interface  208 . As shown, the subscription management module  170  receives provisioning data  212  from the service product ordering subsystem  102  via the first interface  208  and transmits updated coordination data  214  to the service product ordering subsystem  130  via the first interface  208 . In a particular embodiment, the content manager  172  is coupled to the first interface  208  via a WS-CM adapter  218 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  also shows a service broker  210  that is coupled to the first interface  208  via a WS-SB adapter  216 . The service broker  210  can transmit a publish orderable product indication  202  to the service product ordering subsystem  102  via the first interface  208 . As indicated in  FIG. 2 , the service broker  210  can communicate with the content manager  172 . The content manager  172  can transmit a publish content service indication  260  to the service broker  210 . Moreover, the service broker  210  can transmit content and device provisioning data  262  to the content manager  172 . 
         [0024]    As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the service broker  210  and the content manager  172  can be coupled to the IPTV delivery platform  110  via a second interface  230 . In a particular embodiment, the second interface  230  can also be a WS interface. In a particular embodiment, the service broker  210  can transmit IPTV service account and device provisioning data  224  to the second interface  230  and, in turn, the second interface  230  can transmit IPTV service account and device provisioning data  224  to the IPTV delivery platform  110 . Further, the content manager  172  can transmit IPTV service package assignment data  226  to the second interface  230  and the second interface  230 , in turn, can transmit IPTV service package assignment data  234  to the IPTV delivery platform  110 . Moreover, the content manager  172  and the IPTV delivery platform  110  can exchange package creation and management data  228  directly. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  also shows that the subscription management module  170  is coupled to one or more lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) databases  240  and a radius server  250 . Further, the subscription management module  170  exchanges data synchronization information  220 ,  222  with the LDAP databases  240  and the radius server  250 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , further details of the service product ordering subsystem  130 , the SDP subsystem  106 , and the IPTV delivery subsystem  110  are shown. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the service product ordering subsystem  130  includes subscriber data  302 , service area data  304 , product offer data  306 , product data  308 , component data  310 , and component property data  312 . 
         [0027]    Further, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the SDP subsystem  106  includes service control group data  320 , services data  322 , service area data  324 , subscriber data  326 , subscriber class data  330 , sub class item/item catalog association data  332 , item category data  334 , association table data  336 , item data  338 , and device data  340 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  indicates that the IPTV deployment subsystem  110  can include subscriber group data  370 , a first set of grant data  372 , content package data  374 , subscriber data  376 , a second set of grant data  378 , and device data  380 . Additionally, the IPTV deployment subsystem  110  can include a channel map  382  that includes a set of channels associated with a particular service area. The IPTV deployment subsystem  110  can also include a set of call letters  384  associated with the channel map  382 . The set of call letters  384  can include the call letters associated with a group of standard channels and the call letters associated with one or more premium channels or groups of premium channels. In an illustrative embodiment, the premium channels can include HBO signature service and HBO family service. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the IPTV deployment subsystem  110  can also include a first set of services  386  associated with one or more customer accounts and a second set of services  388  associated with one or more customer accounts. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  depicts a method of service product offer management. Commencing at block  402 , an order management system receives a service product package that defines a new service product offering from a service delivery platform. At block  404 , the order management system receives a new order request for the service product package with respect to a subscriber having a subscriber account. Moving to block  406 , the order management system associates a subscriber identity with the service product package and communicates a data item that provides such association to the service delivery platform. At block  408 , a video device object that corresponds to the service product package is added at an IPTV deployment subsystem via the service delivery platform to activate access by the subscriber that has the subscriber account. Proceeding to block  410 , the internet protocol television deployment subsystem communicates a billing activation event to a billing system. The billing system can create or modify a bill that corresponds to the subscriber account. 
         [0031]    In a particular embodiment, the service product package identifies a service area, a service control group, a service product attribute, a facility deployment component, and a set of permitted end user device types. Further, in a particular embodiment, the service product attribute identifies a product offer that is selected from the group consisting of: video only; video and data; video, data and voice over internet protocol; and video, data, voice over internet protocol and wireless. Additionally, in a particular embodiment, the service product attribute includes a video service attribute that identifies a level of available content, the level of available content selected from a premium level and a standard level. Additionally, the service product package can include a video on demand selection or a pay-per-view selection. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a ladder diagram illustrating a particular method of authorizing content at an end user set top box device is shown superimposed over an Internet protocol television (IPTV) system that is generally designated  500 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the system  500  includes a customer location  502  that is coupled to an OSS/BSS server  504 . The OSS/BSS server  504  is coupled to an SDP server  506  and an IPTV server  508 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  indicates that the customer location  502  includes a customer  510 . Also, the OSS/BSS  504  includes a CSR actor module  512 , an order management system (OMS)  514 , and a billing subsystem  516 . The SDP server  506  includes an SDP subsystem  520  and the IPTV server  508  includes a subscriber management system (SMS)  522 . In a particular embodiment, the customer location  502  can include one of the CPE  162 ,  164 ,  166  depicted in  FIG. 1 . Further, in a particular embodiment, the OMS  514  can include one or more of the components of the OMS  130  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Also, in a particular embodiment, the billing subsystem  516  can include one or more of the elements of the billing subsystem  108  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Additionally, the SDP subsystem  520  can include one or more components of the SDP subsystem  106  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
         [0034]    The method shown in  FIG. 5  commences at step  524  and the SDP subsystem  520  transmits a get all packages request to the SMS subsystem  522  within the IPTV server  508 . In a particular embodiment, the get all packages request includes a package name. At step  526 , the SDP subsystem  520  transmits a create package request to the SMS subsystem. The create package request can include a package name and an included package list. In a particular embodiment, the SDP subsystem  520  can create a graphical user interface (GUI) that can enable higher level package definition and publication of the defined package to the IPTV deployment subsystem. 
         [0035]    Moving to step  530 , the SDP subsystem  520  transmits an indication to the OMS subsystem  514  that identifies that the new package, or product, is available. At step  532 , the CSR actor  512  creates a new order that includes a subscriber and product association and sends the new order to the OMS subsystem  514 . In a particular embodiment, the CSR actor can develop a product catalog for a single play. Further, the CSR actor  512  can create a screen and workflow to capture and initiate an order, e.g., received from the customer. An example of a product catalog can include a single play gold package, a silver package, a bronze package, and a plurality of “a la carte” packages. In a particular embodiment, each order request can include a unique customer identification and a unique order identification. 
         [0036]    Continuing to step  534 , the OMS subsystem  514  can add subscriber data to the new order received from the CSR actor  512 . In a particular embodiment, the subscriber data can be added based on a customer identification and a serving area code. At step  536 , the OMS subsystem  514  can associate a new product with the customer. This association can be based on an order identification, a customer identification, one or more product offering identifications, and a product attribute value list. In an illustrative embodiment, this association can be made using extensible markup language (XML). 
         [0037]    At step  538 , the SDP subsystem  520  adds an account identification, e.g., a native identification, to the order. Further, at step  540 , the SDP subsystem  520  assigns a service package to the account. Moving to step  542 , the SDP subsystem  520  adds a device to the order. The device can be added by adding a device identification and a native identification. In a particular embodiment the device is added by the SDP subsystem and sent to an IPTV platform via an application programming interface (API) call. 
         [0038]    Proceeding to step  544 , the OMS subsystem  514  adds one or more video products to a billing account, e.g., a billing account. At step  546 , the SDP subsystem  520  transmits an indication to the OMS subsystem  514  that a video service device is online. At step  548 , the OMS subsystem  514  instructs the billing subsystem  516  to begin billing the customer for the service. Thereafter, at step  550 , the OMS subsystem  514  transmits an order completion notice to the CSR actor subsystem  512 . At step  560 , the CSR actor subsystem  512  transmits an order completion notification to the customer  510  and the method then ends. In a particular embodiment, the package identification that is available from an IPTV platform is established within the SDP subsystem  520 . Further, the configuration of the available packages into orderable products can be mapped by the SDP subsystem  520 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system is shown and is designated  600 . The computer system  600  can include a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computer system  600  to perform any one or more of the methods or computer based functions disclosed herein. The computer system  600  may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices. In a particular embodiment, one or more of the system or subsystem components illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  can include one or more of the elements described in conjunction with the computer system  600  depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0040]    In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in the capacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The computer system  600  can also be implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system  600  can be implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single computer system  600  is illustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions. 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the computer system  600  may include a processor  602 , e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system  600  can include a main memory  604  and a static memory  606  that can communicate with each other via a bus  608 . As shown, the computer system  600  may further include a video display unit  610 , such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT). Additionally, the computer system  600  may include an input device  612 , such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device  614 , such as a mouse. Further, the computer system  600  can include a wireless input device  615 , e.g., a remote control device. The computer system  600  can also include a disk drive unit  616 , a signal generation device  618 , such as a speaker or remote control, and a network interface device  620 . 
         [0042]    In a particular embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , the disk drive unit  616  may include a computer-readable medium  622  in which one or more sets of instructions  624 , e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, the instructions  624  may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions  624  may reside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory  604 , the static memory  606 , and/or within the processor  602  during execution by the computer system  600 . The main memory  604  and the processor  602  also may include computer-readable media. 
         [0043]    In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodiments described herein may implement functions using two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
         [0044]    In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented by software programs executable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations can include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods or functionality as described herein. 
         [0045]    The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium that includes instructions  624  or receives and executes instructions  624  responsive to a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network  626  can communicate voice, video or data over the network  626 . Further, the instructions  624  may be transmitted or received over the network  626  via the network interface device  620 . 
         [0046]    While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein. 
         [0047]    In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be a random access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capture carrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmission medium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives may be considered a distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored. 
         [0048]    Although the present specification describes components and functions that may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same or similar functions as those disclosed herein are considered equivalents thereof. 
         [0049]    The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the devices and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. 
         [0050]    One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description. 
         [0051]    The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter. 
         [0052]    The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.