Patent Publication Number: US-2011078714-A1

Title: System and method of sharing video on demand content

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Some conventional Video on Demand (“VOD”) systems and methods provide ways of recommending certain VOD content to other VOD subscribers. Also, some conventional VOD systems provide ways of providing VOD content to other subscribers in the form of a gift. Conventional VOD systems do not provide a user with a cost-effective way of sharing VOD content with a fellow subscriber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system for sharing VOD content, in accordance with exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary modules of a hardware component of a system for Video on Demand sharing in accordance with exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 3(   a ) illustrates the appearance of a main menu of a user interface according to a particular embodiment; 
         FIG. 3(   b ) illustrates the appearance of a user interface for inputting intended recipients of VOD content according to a particular embodiment; 
         FIG. 3(   c ) illustrates the appearance of a VOD recipient messaging interface in accordance with exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method of sharing Video on Demand content in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may facilitate sharing of Video on Demand (“VOD”) content between friends and family. The sharing of VOD content between users may allow for the users to view the content in a more cost-effective manner than if the VOD content were purchased individually by all the users. Further, giving users the ability to share VOD content between one another may result in more overall viewing of the content. 
     The description below describes servers, set top boxes (STBs), display devices, and network elements that may include one or more modules, some of which are explicitly shown in the figures, others that are not. As used herein, the term “module” may be understood to refer to computing software, firmware, hardware, and/or various combinations thereof. It is noted that the modules are exemplary. The modules may be combined, integrated, separated, and/or duplicated to support various applications. Also, a function described herein as being performed at a particular module may be performed at one or more other modules and/or by one or more other devices instead of or in addition to the function performed at the particular module. Further, the modules may be implemented across multiple devices and/or other components local or remote to one another. Additionally, the modules may be moved from one device and added to another device, and/or may be included in both devices. It is further noted that the software described herein may be tangibly embodied in one or more physical media, such as, but not limited to, a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a hard drive, read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), as well as other physical media capable of storing software, and/or combinations thereof. Moreover, the figures illustrate various components (e.g., servers, STBs, display devices, and network elements, etc.) separately. The functions described as being performed at various components may be performed at other components, and the various components may be combined and/or separated. Other modifications also may be made. 
     The terms “recipient” or “intended recipient” as used throughout this description, refer to an individual that the original purchaser of VOD content shared or intended to share the VOD content with. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system for sharing VOD content, in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The system  100  may provide the user with different graphical user interfaces to facilitate the sharing process. The system  100  can facilitate the selection of individuals to share the VOD content with. For example, the system  100  may allow for the names of the recipients to be input into a graphical user interface (GUI) by the purchaser of the VOD content and may further allow the purchaser to search, via an internal database or other search mechanism, for potential recipients of purchased VOD content. The system may also communicate to the recipient of the VOD content that the content has been shared with them and is available for viewing. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the system  100  may include a server  102  communicatively coupled to a network  104 , and one or more STBs  106  communicatively coupled to the network  104 . The network  104  may communicate content signals from the server  102  to the STBs  106 . The server  102  may communicate the content signal to the STBs  106  via the network  104  individually or to the STBs  106  as a group or sub-group. The STBs  106  may be located at one or more user premises  110 . In an exemplary embodiment, the server  102  may broadcast, multicast, and/or unicast the content signal. 
     The content signals may be, for example, television signals or audio signals that may be in digital or analog form, data, requests, other digital or analog information, or combinations thereof. The content signal also may include a plurality of channels, where the STB  106  may tune to a particular channel to display the video of the channel at a display device  108 , as is well known in television systems. Additionally, the viewer may use a user input device  112  (e.g., remote control, computer keyboard, computer mouse, touchscreen, etc.) to control which channel the STB  106  causes display of the content at the display device  108 . The content signal may be used to display content at the display device  108 . Content may be video, audio, text, or other types of video or audio information. It is noted that the input device  112  may be integrated in either the STB  106 , the display device  108 , or both. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the content signal may be a cable television signal complying with the American National Standard Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers standard ANSI/SCTE 07 2006 titled “Digital Transmission Standard for Cable Television,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The content signal also may comply with other standards and may be communicated by the network  104 . 
     The network  104  may be a wired network, a wireless network, and/or combinations thereof. The network  104  may include one or more of a fiber optics network, a passive optical network, a cable network, an Internet network, a satellite network (e.g., operating in Band C, Band Ku or Band Ka), a wireless LAN, a Global System for Mobile Communication (“GSM”), a Personal Communication Service (“PCS”), a Personal Area Network (“PAN”), D-AMPS, Wi-Fi, Fixed Wireless Data, IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.15.1, 802.11n and 802.11 g or any other wired or wireless network for transmitting and/or receiving a data signal. In addition, network  104  may include, without limitation, telephone line, fiber optics, IEEE Ethernet 802.3, a wide area network (“WAN”), a local area network (“LAN”), or a global network such as the Internet. Also, network  104  may support, an Internet network, a wireless communication network, a cellular network, or the like, or any combination thereof. Network  104  may further include one, or any number of the exemplary types of networks mentioned above operating as a stand-alone network or in cooperation with each other. Network  104  may utilize one or more protocols of one or more network elements to which it is communicatively coupled. Network  104  may translate to or from other protocols to one or more protocols of network devices. Although network  104  is depicted as one network, it should be appreciated that according to one or more embodiments, network  104  may comprise a plurality of interconnected networks, such as, for example, a service provider network, the Internet, a broadcaster&#39;s network, a cable television network, corporate networks, and home networks. 
     The network  104  may transport the content signal or various messages in analog or digital form from the server  102  to the STBs  106 . The network  104  also may transport analog or digital messages from the STBs  106  to the server  102 . In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the network  104  may comply with the Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standard (ITU-T) Recommendation G.983.1 titled “Broadband Optical Access Systems based on Passive Optical Networks (PON),” January 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The network  104  also may comply with other standards. In an exemplary embodiment, the network  104  may communicate with the STBs  106  using three separate carriers, where one of the carriers may exchange data using a data communication session, such as, but not limited to, Internet Protocol, another carrier may communicate content signals to the STBs  106 , and the last carrier may receive messages from the STBs  106 . The network  104  also may be or include a cable television network, a satellite network, fiber optics, combinations thereof, or other networks capable of distributing a content signal from the server  102  to the STB  106 , and exchanging information, messages, requests, etc., between the server  102  and one or more STBs  106  via the network  104 . 
     The user premises  110 A-N may each include a STB  106  and a display device  108 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a STB  106 A and a display device  108 A at user premises  110 A, and a STB  106 N and a display device  108 N at user premises  110 N. In an exemplary embodiment user premises  110 A and the devices included therein may correspond to the purchaser or sharer of VOD content. User premises  110 B-N may correspond to the recipient of VOD content. 
     A single user premise  110  may include multiple STBs  106  and multiple display devices  108 . The STB  106  also may be remotely located from the display device  108 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the STB  106  may be a hardware device that may receive a content signal from the network  104 , may cause display of the content signal at the display device  108 , and may communicate messages to the network  104 . For example, the STB  106  may cause display of a cable television signal at the display device  108 , which may be, for example, a television set or computer monitor. In another example, the STB  106  may be a computer and the display device  108  may be a computer monitor. It is noted that the STB  106  and the display device  108  are depicted and described as being separate devices in  FIG. 1 . The STB  106  and the display device  108 , however, may be combined into a single unit. The functions performed by the STB  106  and the display device  108  also may implemented in a mobile phone, a wireless device, or any other device that may communicate via the network  104 . 
     It is noted that system  100  illustrates a simplified view of various components included in a content distribution system, and that other hardware devices and software not depicted may be included in the system  100 . It is also noted that the system  100  illustrates only a single server  102  and a single network  104 . It will be appreciated that multiple instances of these devices may be used. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary modules of a hardware component of a system for Video on Demand sharing in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The server  102  may receive a request for VOD content from user premises  110 A. Specifically, the server  102  may receive information sent from STB  106 A and transmitted over network  104  before arriving at the server  102 . The server  102  may generate and communicate the content signal to the STB  106  via the network  104 . 
     In some embodiments, this request for VOD content may include information specifically identifying the additional user premises that the VOD content is to be delivered to. In some embodiments, the request for VOD content may include information which may not directly identify the additional user premises to receive VOD content, but which may be processed by server  102  to determine a network address corresponding to the intended recipient premises. The server may send video data content to the multiple premises based on these requests. The server  102  may be configured to utilize the information included in the content request from premises  110 A to determine the total charge for the content delivered. The server  102  may be configured to determine the proper recipient or recipients of the charge. The server  102  may receive this information from the STB  106 . The server  102  may use this information to determine how much a user will be charged. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the server  102  may include a customer interface module  202 , a content and recipient identification module  204 , a recipient communication module  206 , a content delivery module  208 , and a billing module  210 . Modules  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 , and  210  are exemplary. The function of modules  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 , and  210  may be performed at other modules remote or local to server  102  or STB  106 , and the modules  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208  and  210  may be combined or separated. 
     Customer interface module  202  may exist as a software application executing on a STB, which displays the visual manifestation of the interface to a display device. Customer interface module  202  may allow a user to select VOD content and may further allow a user to share selected VOD content with other individuals. Customer interface module  202  may work in conjunction with various other modules such as content and recipient identification module  204 . For example, customer interface module may receive information from a user indicating the VOD content to share and the individuals to share VOD content with. Content and recipient identification module  204  may cause the user request to a server where the content may be identified and retrieved for delivery to the user and anyone who the user has selected for sharing purposes. The content and recipient identification module  204  may also process the information input from the user to determine the delivery location for the requested VOD content. 
     Content delivery module  208  may work in conjunction with content and recipient identification module  204 . Specifically, content and recipient identification module  204  may identify the content to be delivered and the location that the content should be delivered to. Content delivery module  208  may then deliver the identified VOD content to the properly identified locations. The content delivery module may exist both at a server  102  and STB  106 . The delivery of the content may begin at the server  102  and may be routed to a destination address corresponding to a SIB  106  of a recipient user. 
     Recipient notification module may operate at the STB of a recipient of shared VOD content. The recipient notification module  204  may work in conjunction with content and recipient identification module  204 . For example, the content, once identified, may be delivered to the user and the recipient notification module  204  may provide the recipient with notification—for example, a display device interface message, a text message, a phone call, or another mechanism likely to be successful in quickly alerting the recipient to the shared VOD content—that a user has shared VOD content with the recipient. The recipient notification module  204  may also provide details about the manner that the content can be retrieved. 
     Billing module  210  may exist at both server  102  and STB  106  and may analyze the user&#39;s request for VOD content to determine the appropriate charge. In some embodiments, the purchaser or sharer of VOD content may receive the charge for the entirety of the content. In some embodiments, the cost of the content may be divided between purchaser and the one or more recipient in a predetermined or agreed-upon manner. The price of the purchasing and sharing VOD content may be determined in various different manners. The billing module  210 , by way of non-limiting example, may determine the final charge by a formula that ensures that both the purchaser and recipients of the VOD content are charged a fixed amount less than they would have normally been charged had they purchased the content individually. Other calculation methods, such as a method that provided additional discounts based on the number of people that the original purchaser shares the VOD content with, may also be suitable and, again, are provided only by way of non-limiting example. 
       FIG. 3(   a ) illustrates the appearance of a main menu of a user interface according to a particular embodiment. The main menu may provide the user with the option of deciding, at the outset, whether to purchase VOD content for the user only or whether to share this content with other users. In some embodiments, a purchaser of VOD content may be given the option of sharing the VOD content after the purchaser has viewed the content in its entirety. This may provide a user-purchaser with the opportunity to immediately share video content that the user finds enjoyable. 
       FIG. 3(   b ) illustrates the appearance of a user interface for inputting the intended recipients of VOD content according to a particular embodiment.  FIG. 3(   c ) illustrates the appearance of a VOD recipient messaging interface in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The interface shown in  FIG. 3(   b ) may be used by the purchaser of the VOD content who wishes to share the VOD content. In the illustrated interface, a hypothetical VOD purchaser, Eric Berry (shown in  FIG. 3(   c )), may directly input the names of the intended recipients into the interface. If Eric wants to share VOD content with an individual but is not sure if that individual has a system configured to receive VOD content, Eric may search through the name directory and find out whether it is possible to share VOD content with a particular individual. For example, Eric may know for certain that his friends Rico, Monte, and Bryce have systems configured to receive and view VOD content. Eric may be unsure, however, whether an additional friend, NuKeese, has a configured system. Eric may select the control button next to the input field and perform a search to determine whether NuKeese has a configured system so that he can share VOD content with NuKeese. 
     Once the VOD content has been shared, the recipients may receive a message indicating that content has been made available to them for viewing. This message may be delivered to the user&#39;s display device. The message may be delivered via text message. The message may be delivered via email. Or the message may be delivered via another mechanism suitable to notify the recipient of the shared content. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method of sharing Video on Demand content in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated at box  405 , a user may select VOD content through a VOD user interface. The interface may appear at the display device and the user may indicate selections by navigating the interface using control buttons such as, by way of non-limiting example, a remote control or plugged-in joystick device. The content and organization of the interface may be dictated by information stored in a STB, which may receive content updates from a central server. The display device and STB may be communicatively coupled. Likewise, the STB may be communicatively coupled with a central server through a network. 
     A user selection of content via the interface may be received by the STB, which may then send this information to a central server. The server may be configured to process the instructions, such as the user selection of a particular VOD content, and retrieve the requested content for subsequent delivery. 
     In exemplary embodiments, as is illustrated in box  410 , the interface may present the user with the option of making a movie selection for personal viewing only, or sharing the selection with other users. Box  420  illustrates that a user who does not wish to share VOD content may complete the VOD purchase transaction as normal. 
     If the user wants to share the VOD content with others, as is shown in box  425 , the user may be given the option of inputting the intended recipients into the interface. In an exemplary embodiment, as is illustrated in  FIG. 3(   b ), the interface may provide a menu where the intended recipients can be listed. In some embodiments, the interface may provide the user with information regarding the cost of sharing VOD content with others. In some embodiments, the total cost of sharing VOD content may be less than the price of each individual separately purchasing the content. As a non-limiting example, if the VOD content is a newly released blockbuster movie that costs four dollars to purchase and view on demand, the additional charge for sharing the blockbuster movie with three additional people may only be ten dollars. In this example, the customers, viewed collectively, saved two dollars from what the normal charge would have been. In some embodiments, a search mechanism may be provided, as is illustrated in  FIG. 3(   b ) for finding potential recipients and ensuring that they have the ability to receive the VOD content. 
     Box  430  illustrates that after the purchaser shares the VOD content with intended recipients, notification may be sent to the intended recipients indicating that the VOD content is available for viewing. The notification may also include other relevant information, including but not limited to, any time constraints that the recipient has to view the VOD content. 
     Box  435  illustrates that a purchase price may be calculated based upon the number of people the VOD content has been shared with. Various methodologies may be used to calculate a purchase price. At least three non-limiting examples of different pricing schemes have been discussed in the disclosure above. In some embodiments, the purchase price is provided to the user prior to completing the transaction of sharing the VOD content and delivering it to the STB at the location of the intended recipient. 
     In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have been described with references to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.