Patent Publication Number: US-10762131-B2

Title: System for identifying media content

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/840,455 filed Aug. 17, 2007. All sections of the aforementioned application(s) are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to media content and more specifically to a system for identifying media content. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Media content processors such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) generally feature a combination of various vertical services (e.g., TV, DVR, Video on Demand, Music on Demand, Photos, etc.). These services tend to be presented in silos, with little opportunity for the user to smoothly transition from an item of content in one vertical service to a related item of content in another without backing completely out of the current silo and browsing into another. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication system; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a portal of the communication system; 
         FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary method operating in portions of the communication system; 
         FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary embodiment of media content from an alternative media content source according to the method of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium can have computer instructions for detecting a selection of media content, presenting at a media device the selected media content, retrieving metadata associated with the selected media content, comparing the retrieved metadata with metadata of a plurality of media content sources, detecting one or more matches between the retrieved metadata and metadata of the plurality of media content sources, and presenting at the media device one or more sources of media content associated with the one or more matches of metadata. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a media content processor can have a controller element to compare a first portion of metadata associated with media content under presentation with a second portion of metadata of each of one or more media content sources to present one or more alternative sources of related media content. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method can involve identifying one or more alternative sources of media content according to one or more matches between a portion of metadata associated with media content requested for presentation and a portion of metadata associated with one or more media content sources. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium in a portal can have computer instructions for establishing communications with a media content processor, submitting to the media content processor a request for presentation of media content, presenting the requested media content responsive to receiving said requested media content from the media content processor, and presenting one or more alternative sources of related media content identified from a comparison of metadata of the requested media content and metadata of one or more media content sources. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication system  100 . The communication system  100  can represent an IPTV broadcast media system. In a typical IPTV infrastructure, there is at least one super head office server (SHS) which receives national media programs from satellite and/or media servers from service providers of multimedia broadcast channels. In the present context, media programs can represent audio only content, video only content, and/or combinations thereof. The SHS server forwards IP packets associated with the media content to video head servers (VHS) via a network of video head offices (VHO) according to a common multicast communication method. 
     The VHS then distributes multimedia broadcast programs to commercial and/or residential buildings  102  housing a gateway  104  (e.g., a residential gateway or RG). The gateway  104  distributes broadcast signals to media content processors  106  such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present broadcast selections to media devices  108  such as computers or television units managed in some instances by a media controller  107  (e.g., an infrared or RF remote control). Unicast traffic can also be exchanged between the media content processors  106  and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such as video-on-demand (VoD). 
     The IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices  130  that can operate as a web or Internet server for providing portal services over an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network  132  to fixed media devices  108  or portable communication devices  116  by way of a wireless base station  117  such as in a cellular communication network operating with common protocols (GSM, CDMA, etc.). 
     A satellite broadcast system can be used in place of the IPTV media system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite  115  can be intercepted by a satellite dish receiver  131  coupled to building  102  which conveys media signals to the media content processors  106  by way of gateway  104 . The media content processors  106  can be equipped with a broadband port to the ISP network  132 . Although not shown, the communication system  100  can also be combined or replaced with analog or digital broadcast distributions systems such as cable systems. It would be apparent therefore to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure can be applied to any media content system. 
       FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a portal  230  of the communication system  100 . In  FIG. 2 , the portal  230  can be accessed by a URL with a common browser such as Microsoft&#39;s Internet Explorer using an Internet-capable fixed or portable communication device  108 ,  116 . The portal  230  can be configured to access a media content processor  106  such as the STB of  FIG. 1  and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, a personal catalog stored in the STB (e.g., personal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.), and so on by way of the gateway  104 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary method  300  operating in portions of the communication system  100 . Method  300  begins with step  302  in which a subscriber of the media content processor  106  selects media content. This step can be accomplished several ways. When the subscriber is situated in building  102  the selection process can take place via the media controller  107 . The media controller  107  can be used to select media content of a select media channel. Alternatively, the media controller  107  can be used to select media content of a DVR recording, or some other stored media file. In another embodiment, the subscriber can remotely log into portal  230  by way of a browser operated by a portable communication device  116  and request in step  324  remote access to the media content processor  106 . The portal  230  can utilize common means in step  326  to establish communications over the ISP network  132  with the media content processor  106  via the gateway  104 . Once communications have been established, the subscriber can select media content in a similar way as described in the previous embodiment by way of a graphical user interface (GUI) presented by the portal  230 . 
     In step  304  the select media content is presented by the media content processor  106 . In an embodiment where the subscriber is situated in building  102 , the presentation can take place at a media device  108 . In an embodiment where the subscriber logs into the portal  230  remotely with a portable communication device  116 , the presentation of the media content can take place via a browser of said portable communication device  116  in the form of streamed data supplied by the media content processor  106 . In the present context media content can represent audio content and/or video content. Media content can also represent still images with or without audio content. Audio only content can be music, documentaries, audio books, etc. Video content can be copyrighted content supplied by the IPTV communication system, downloaded from a VoD catalog, or personal videos stored in the media content processor  106 , and so on. Still images can similarly be copyrighted content downloaded from a third party source, or a picture selected from a personal photo album of the subscriber. 
     In step  306  the media content processor  106  can retrieve metadata associated with the requested media content. Metadata can be text or binary information retrieved from a source such as an EPG, or a backend system of the IPTV communication system. The metadata can contain information about the media content such its genre, an identity of one or more artists (e.g., singers, actors), a title, a description of the media content (e.g., synopsis), and credits (e.g., producers, directors, etc.)—just to mention a few of the possible metadata options. 
     Once the metadata has been retrieved, the media content processor  106  can be programmed in step  308  to select one or more media content sources according to a consumption pattern of the subscriber. For example, a consumption pattern may indicate that the subscriber enjoys comedies and action movies, but not honor or drama movies. Similarly said consumption pattern may indicate that the subscriber has a particular likeness to towards classical and light rock music but not heavy medal or like genres. Consumption patterns can be determined by the media content processor  106  by observing media content consumed by the subscriber and applying common statistical techniques to identify such patterns. 
     From the consumption pattern, the media content processor  106  can identify media content sources likely to contain media content that may be of interest to the subscriber. The media content sources can be audio and/or video content databases. Additionally, said media content sources can correspond to for example a VoD catalog, an EPG, a repository of Digital Video Recorder (DVR) recordings stored in the media content processor  106 , a repository of personal media content of the subscriber stored in the media content processor, and/or one or more media content sources accessible by way of the ISP network  132  (which may or may not be necessarily managed by a service provider of the IPTV communication system). 
     In step  310 , the media content processor  106  can be programmed to compare the retrieved metadata of the media content selected in step  302  and metadata of the aforementioned one or more media content sources identified in step  308 . Selective portions of the metadata can be compared in step  310 . For example, the metadata retrieved in step  306  may indicate that the media content being presented is a drama episode of the TV program “24” recorded in a DVR feature of the media content process  106 . The metadata can also indicate that Kiefer Sutherland is one of the primary actors in this program. The media content processor  106  can compare metadata such as this to metadata of the content sources selected in step  308  to find for example other media programs which Kiefer Sutherland has been a performer, a director or producer, as well as other episodes of “24”. 
     If the media content processor  106  does not find any matches in step  312 , method  300  ends and is repeated with respect to other media content selected by the subscriber on other occasions. If on the other hand one or more matches are found, the media content processor  106  proceeds to step  314  where it identifies one or more alternative media content sources associated with said matches (e.g., “Lost Boys” is available on VoD, Oprah has a scheduled interview with Kiefer Sutherland on XXX date on media channel ZZZ, etc.). For presentation purposes, the media content processor  106  can construct in step  316  a tout message that is presented in step  318  at the media device  108  or portable communication device  116  with one or more selectable GUI elements to manage presentation of media content supplied by said alternative sources. 
       FIG. 4  depicts embodiments of GUI window s  402  for presenting the tout message in step  318 . In these embodiments, the GUI elements correspond to GUI buttons for responding to the tout message in GUI window  404 . The GUI buttons can for example represent a command that can direct the media content processor  106  to perform a specific media presentation task associated with the alternative sources. As noted in this illustration, the tout message indicates that the movie “Lost Boys” starring Kiefer Sutherland is available on a VoD catalog of the IPTV communication system for a price of $3.99. The GUI buttons provide the subscriber the option to purchase (rent) the movie (Buy button  406 ), preview the movie (Preview button  408 ), and ignore the tout (Not Interested button  410 ). 
     When the preview button  408  is for example selected in step  320  a new GUI window  412  is presented in step  322  by way of a user interface of the media device  108  or portable communication device  116 . In said window  412  a trailer of the movie is presented at the media device  108  or streamed to the portable communication device  116  by way of the portal  230  to an embedded media player operating in a browser application of the portable communication device. GUI window  412  can have GUI elements such as play and pause buttons for controlling presentation of the movie trailer. The “Buy” GUI button  406  and the “Not Interested” GUI button  410  can be presented with the preview GUI window  412  in the event the subscriber wants to purchase or reject the media content being touted. 
     If the subscriber rejects the content, the media content processor  106  terminates the GUI window  402  thereby ending method  300  from step  320 . If on the other hand the subscriber selects to purchase the media content in step  320  with or without previewing it, the media content processor  106  proceeds to step  322  where it presents GUI window  414  and begins to download from a VoD catalog or other source the media content item identified by the tout message. Once the download is complete, the media controller  107  can be used by the subscriber to playback the downloaded media content item. Alternatively, presentation of the downloaded media content can take place at the portable communication device  116  by way of the portal  230 . 
     Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. For example, method  300  can be adapted so that the same media content sources are used in step  308  rather than a selection process based on consumption patterns. Additionally, method  300  can be applied in contexts other than the illustration given by  FIG. 3 . For instance, assume for example that the subscriber selects a media channel in step  302  to view an episode of the Star Trek series. Steps  310  through  322  can be used to suggest options to the subscriber for recording via the DVR other episodes of Star Trek found by way of the metadata comparison. Additionally, the media content processor  106  can keep track by way of the consumption patterns of the subscriber which Star Trek episodes have been previously consumed so that the tout message presented does not include previous viewings. 
     These are but a few examples of modifications that can be applied to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the reader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding of the breadth and scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system  500  within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. 
     The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. 
     The computer system  500  may include a processor  502  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory  504  and a static memory  506 , which communicate with each other via a bus  508 . The computer system  500  may further include a video display unit  510  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system  500  may include an input device  512  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  514  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  516 , a signal generation device  518  (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device  520 . 
     The disk drive unit  516  may include a machine-readable medium  522  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  524 ) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions  524  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  504 , the static memory  506 , and/or within the processor  502  during execution thereof by the computer system  500 . The main memory  504  and the processor  502  also may constitute machine-readable media. 
     Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein. 
     The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containing instructions  524 , or that which receives and executes instructions  524  from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network environment  526  can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over the network  526  using the instructions  524 . The instructions  524  may further be transmitted or received over a network  526  via the network interface device  520 . 
     While the machine-readable medium  522  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure. 
     The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored. 
     Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the 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 functions are considered equivalents. 
     The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 
     Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter 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 single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all 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 above description. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It 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, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of 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, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.