Abstract:
A method of providing offerings to a consumer includes accumulating consumer activity associated with a device on a consumer network. A determination is made whether the consumer activity establishes a pattern corresponding to an offering including a component deliverable to the consumer network over a content distribution network. The consumer is presented with a notification of the offering on a device on the consumer network. The offering is provided to the consumer in response to the consumer requesting the offering using a device on the consumer network.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present disclosure relates to delivering offerings to consumers and in particular, to delivering offerings based on consumer activity.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Systems exist for distributing content to users such as broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, etc. In such systems, the content provider dictates when content is available and the user may view the content at the scheduled time. Devices such as video cassette recorders (VCRs) and digital video recorders (DVRs), such as the TiVo® system provided by TiVo Inc. of Alviso, Calif., allow users to time-shift content and view the content at a time different from the broadcast time.  
         [0003]     Consumers often follow patterns of activity that involve content distribution to the consumer. For example, a household may frequently order a pizza and a movie on Friday evening. Existing content management services do not detect such behavior or offer content based on such behavior.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Embodiments of the invention include a method of providing offerings to a consumer that includes accumulating consumer activity associated with a device on a consumer network. A determination is made whether the consumer activity establishes a pattern corresponding to an offering including a component deliverable to the consumer network over a content distribution network. The consumer is presented with a notification of the offering on a device on the consumer network. The offering is provided to the consumer in response to the consumer requesting the offering using a device on the consumer network.  
         [0005]     Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary content distribution network in embodiments of the invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary consumer network in embodiments of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary network element in embodiments of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary database of consumer activity in embodiments of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  depicts a notification of an exemplary offering on a consumer television.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an exemplary process for providing offerings to consumers in embodiments of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary video distribution architecture. The architecture is similar to that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/605,928, filed Nov. 6, 2003 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The video distribution architecture includes an underlying distribution network  20  and software infrastructure to support a video service platform. The major components of the architecture include content  10 , the distribution network  20  (backbone and access), network storage  22 , a grid computing platform  24 , and consumer networks  26 . It is understood that the consumer networks  26  are not limited to residential locations but may be any end user of the content.  
         [0013]     The content  10  is made available through a distribution agreement between the content distribution system provider and the content owner. The content  10  may be a variety of audio-visual multimedia, such as television programs, movies, audio, consumer-generated content, etc. Consumer-generated content may be stored locally at consumer storage devices  28  (e.g., DVR) or at other storage elements on distribution network  20 . There is a defined process for adding new content into the network and an associated profile including digital rights, subscription rules, quality of service (QOS), and billing rules. Content is stored within content provider storage  11 , network storage  22  as well as on the consumer storage devices  28  (e.g., DVR) at the consumer sites.  
         [0014]     The distribution network  20  includes the backbone and the edge network. An IP core provides the backbone network for content distribution. The IP core interfaces with a variety of access networks and access network technologies. This includes ADSL networks as well as open cable networks, wireless DSL networks, and other access networks as required.  
         [0015]     The distribution architecture includes storage within the distribution network at the content provider storage  11 , the network storage  22 , perhaps at a centralized location (e.g., central offices within a telecommunications network, a cable head end) as well as at the consumer storage devices  28  at the consumers&#39; sites (e.g., DVR devices). The network storage  22  supports transmission of real-time video and other content that is archived for future viewing and supports the transportation of non-real-time video between storage devices (e.g., consumer-to-consumer).  
         [0016]     The grid computing platform  24  controls components of the distribution network  20 . The grid computing platform  24  is provided by network elements executing grid applications. As described in further detail herein, the grid computing platform  24  is implemented using processor-based network elements at a central office, at edges of the network, at the consumer location, etc. The grid applications control resources within the network including processing, bandwidth, and storage. The grid computing platform  24  provides the core applications platform for managing content and customer profiles including digital rights, subscriptions, billing, monitoring, etc.  
         [0017]     The consumer network  26  is the end user network that seamlessly unites all/any of the typical end-user&#39;s information appliances and devices as described in further detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . The consumer network  26  manages the receipt of content from the distribution network  20  and stores the content on one of the consumer storage devices  28  (e.g., DVR). The consumer network  26  may be based on a wireless networking standard such as 802.11e or wired network architectures such as a LAN, Ethernet, etc. or combinations or wired/wireless networking.  
         [0018]     The distribution network  20  may include ADSL networks, open access cable, satellite, terrestrial broadcast and/or a wireless DSL platform. The distribution network  20  may be implemented over another access network or over cable modem access. The network operator derives value from the video service and the video revenue stream, not from the underlying access network. Further, the network owner may only need access to the underlying network rather than own the network outright.  
         [0019]     The grid computing platform  24  is implemented using distributed network elements such as controller  30  (e.g., set-top box), the consumer storage devices  28  (which may be incorporated within controller  30 ), network storage devices  22  (e.g., at central office, data centers) and/or other network elements (e.g., processors at central office locations or other locations). The processor-based network elements may be implemented using a variety of components such as personal computers, servers, set top boxes, field programmable logic arrays, application specific integrated circuits, etc. These processor-based network element(s) determine based on consumer preference, consumer viewing habits or other reasons when to store a video program on the consumer storage device  28 . Processor-based network element(s) decide where to store content that is not resident on the user&#39;s local consumer storage device  28 . The grid computing platform  24  understands the network relationship between users to optimize network resources when content must be distributed from one consumer&#39;s storage device  28  to another consumer&#39;s storage device  28 .  
         [0020]     The grid computing platform  24  manages storage transparently to the consumer. The consumer is aware of the content they currently subscribe to and additional content that they may subscribe to in the future. The location of the content is transparent to the consumer. The consumer does not know and does not need to know if the content is on their local storage device  28  or being pulled from another storage device in the network. In  FIG. 1 , TV A 1  pulls the program out of the resident DVR  28  while TV A 2  displays real-time programming streamed over the distribution network  20 . TV B 1  pulls content from another consumer&#39;s DVR  28  while TV C 1  pulls programming from a resident network storage device  22 . Thus, content may be distributed from a variety of storage devices in the video distribution architecture.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary consumer network  26  in an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the consumer network  26  is a residential home network, but similar networks may be employed in any setting where content is distributed. The consumer network  26  may be a wireless network that connects multiple devices using existing wireless network techniques (e.g., 802.11g/e/i, 802.11b, HPNA, Power Line Carrier, UWB). The controller  30  is coupled to the distribution network  20  and serves as a gateway device between the consumer network  26  and the distribution network  20 .  
         [0022]     The consumer network  26  includes associated home devices such as: DVR, TV, PC, PDA, game consoles, telephone, etc. Content may be provided through controller  30  to the consumer&#39;s storage device  28  (which may be incorporated within controller  30 ). A voice/message module  40  provides for wireless telecommunications services. Voice data may also be distributed to a personal computer  42  or laptop  44 . Thus, the consumer network  26  provides communication between devices as well as connecting the storage device  28  back to the distribution network  20  for distributing content to other consumers.  
         [0023]     The consumer network  26  may include a handheld or speech activated input device  46  and associated navigating software to command and control voice, data and video applications. The consumer network  26  has a common control platform for managing devices on the consumer network  26 . This includes the ability to navigate through a video programming guide. A simple and functional user interface is one aspect of the content distribution service. This interface promotes watching pre-loaded content thereby reducing the bandwidth across the content distribution network. The interface highlights the breadth of content available on demand to move the consumer away from valuing cable broadcast services based on the number of channels. The consumer selects content through user input device  46 . The interface provides advanced flexible features such as pause, rewind, and fast forward that are not provided by the broadcasters without a CPE upgrade. The user input device  46  provides such features to guide the consumer through the program guide.  
         [0024]     In embodiments of the invention, consumer behavior is detected using an inference engine that monitors consumer behavior to detect patterns and initiate bundled content and product offerings based on the detected patterns.  FIG. 3  depicts exemplary components in the system for implementing embodiments of the invention. One or more network elements such as controller  30  monitor activity of one or more devices on the consumer network  26 . The activity may include telecommunications data such a landline phone calls through POTS or wireless phone calls, paging, etc through voice/message module  40 . Controller  30  may also monitor e-mail sent and received by the consumer using PC  42  or laptop  44  through controller  30  to distribution network  20 . Content distributed to the consumer may be monitored by controller  30 . Further, internet usage by the consumer on PC  42  or laptop  44  may be monitored by controller  30 .  
         [0025]     As consumer activity is monitored, patterns are detected that are used to initiate offerings to the consumer. Patterns that generate consumer offerings may be predefined by content providers, optionally in partnership with providers of goods and services.  FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary database  60  maintained in storage device  52  by controller  30 . Database  60  may be stored in multiple storage devices on the grid computing network  24  in addition to storage device  52 .  
         [0026]     Database  60  includes records of activity by a consumer. In exemplary embodiments, database  60  includes a date field, time field, type field and source field. The date and time field reflect when a consumer activity took place. The type field identifies the type of activity such as telephone communication, e-mail, internet usage, content ordering, etc.  
         [0027]     At least one network element  21  in the grid computing network  24  implements an inference engine to detect consumer behavior based on database  60 . In exemplary embodiments, processor  50  executes a computer program stored on storage device  52  to implement the inference engine. In alternate embodiments, processor-based network elements in grid computing network  24  (e.g., processor at the consumer&#39;s central office) execute the inference engine. The inference engine may be implemented by a single processor or multiple processors using grid computing techniques.  
         [0028]     In operation, the inference engine periodically accesses database  60  to detect consumer behavior that may be linked with consumer offerings. In exemplary embodiments, the consumer behavior is defined a priori so that the inference engine searches for predefined activity. For example, a pizza delivery chain may partner with the network operator to detect repetitive phone orders for pizza delivery. The consumer activity may need to meet criteria established by the provider of the goods or services prior to issuing a consumer offering. The criteria may be a simple threshold (e.g., a consumer orders pizza three times). Alternatively, the criteria may be more sophisticated. For example, the pizza provider may establish that if a consumer orders pizza on the same day of the week, more than three consecutive times, for more than a certain dollar amount, then the consumer qualifies for a promotional consumer offering.  
         [0029]     Additionally, the offerings may be bundled as shown in the example in  FIG. 5 . In other words, offerings from distinct providers may be combined and presented to the consumer. In such a situation, each provider may specify criteria that must be met to qualify for the offering.  
         [0030]     In the exemplary database shown in  FIG. 4 , the consumer has ordered a pizza from Pizza Palace and ordered a video on demand from Movie Zone on three consecutive Friday evenings. The inference engine applies the criteria identified by the pizza provider and movie provider and determines that the consumer qualifies for a consumer offering. A message is provided to a device in the consumer network  26  (e.g., the consumer television) offering the consumer a discount on a pizza delivery and a movie.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary consumer television  70  including a notification  72  to the consumer of a dinner and a movie offering sponsored by a goods provider (e.g., Pizza Palace). The notification may be generated at a predetermined time based on information in database  60 . Also displayed are menus  74  through which the user can specify offering parameters, that is, specify a movie for video-on-demand and pizza for delivery. The consumer may enter user input through cursor  76  controlled by user input device  46 . Once the user has selected offering parameters, the providers are notified using known communication techniques so that the offering can be fulfilled.  
         [0032]     The description above focuses on a predefined offering. Offerings may also be generated without predefined criteria by inference engine analysis of database  60 . The inference engine may detect trends in database  60  that prompt offerings, either sole or bundled. For example, if a consumer regularly visits a website, this activity is recorded in database  60 . The inference engine detects the frequency of the activity and detects a pattern in the consumer&#39;s behavior. For example, every Friday evening a consumer visits nascar.com to view the qualifying results and every Sunday evening the consumer visits nascar.com to view the race results. The inference engine detects this activity, and after sufficient frequency detects a pattern in consumer behavior.  
         [0033]     Once a pattern is established, that pattern may be matched to a database of offerings such as content or content bundled with other offerings. The database of offerings may be stored on storage device  52  and updated periodically by other network elements (e.g., processor at consumer&#39;s central office). Alternatively, storage devices on the grid computing platform  24  may store the database of offerings. A network element such as controller  30  or a network element in the grid computing network  24  matches the consumer pattern with offerings using keyword searching. In the present example, searching offerings including the term NASCAR® reveals a bundled offering which offers the consumer a race broadcast with in-car audio of a specified driver along with a code for coupon to HOME DEPOT®, a sponsor of NASCAR®.  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary flowchart for a process of generating offerings in embodiments of the invention. Initially, at step  110  the consumer enters the offering program and indicates a desire to receive offerings based on the consumer&#39;s activity. At step  112 , the consumer&#39;s activity is collected in a database such as that shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0035]     Periodically, the database is analyzed to determine if the consumer activity meets predefined criteria for a predefined offering as shown at step  114 . As described above, the consumer&#39;s activity is analyzed to determine if certain criteria are met from one or more suppliers. If the predefined criteria are met, flow proceeds to step  116  where the consumer is presented with the predefined offering. The consumer can either accept or deny the offering, after which flow proceeds to step  112  to continue monitoring consumer activity.  
         [0036]     If the consumer activity does not meet predefined criteria at step  114 , then flow proceeds to step  118  where a pattern in the consumer&#39;s activity is detected and compared to a database of offerings. For example, as described above, the consumer&#39;s internet activity may reveal an interest in NASCAR® which results in retrieving a NASCAR®/HOME DEPOT® offering. If an offering matches the consumer&#39;s pattern, flow proceeds to step  120  where the consumer is presented with the offering. The consumer can either accept or deny the offering, after which flow proceeds to step  112  to continue monitoring consumer activity. If no consumer pattern is detected or the consumer pattern does not match existing offerings, then flow proceeds to step  112  to continue accumulating consumer activity.  
         [0037]     As described above, embodiments can be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. In exemplary embodiments, the invention is embodied in computer program code executed by one or more network elements. Embodiments include computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. Embodiments include computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits and/or execute certain process flows.  
         [0038]     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.