IP Library Granted Patent US 8,856,835
Granted Patent B2
US 8,856,835 · App. 11/828,519 · Granted Oct 7, 2014

Method and system for associating content and content information in a menu structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,856,835
App. No.
11/828,519
Granted
Oct 7, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method includes a user device and a content processing system receiving content from a content provider, assigning a material identification to the content, receiving content information different than the content, associating the content information and the content and communicating the content information and material identification to the user device. The user device forms a menu from the content information and associated material identification, generates a menu selection from the menu, and communicates the material identification associated with the menu selection to the content processing system. The content processing system communicates the content corresponding to the menu selection to the user device.

Claims (59)

1. A method comprising:

receiving content at a content processing system from a content provider having an asset identifier;

storing the content in a house format server as house format content;

assigning a material identification different than the asset identifier to the house format content in a content management system of the content processing system;

receiving metadata and program associated data for the house format content at the content processing system;

associating the metadata with the material identification at the content management system;

communicating the metadata and material identification to a user device through a program guide system;

scheduling processing of the house format content to a broadband format content at the content management system;

communicating the program associated data to a schedule PAD server that generates control words for a video transport processing system;

generating the broadband format content based on the control words, based on scheduling and the house format content;

storing the broadband format content in a content repository;

forming a menu from the program associated data, metadata and material identification;

generating a menu selection from the menu at the user device;

communicating the material identification associated with the menu selection to a content processing system; and

communicating the broadband format content corresponding to the menu selection to the user device from the content repository through a content delivery network.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving content comprises receiving content through a first communication means and receiving metadata comprises receiving the metadata through a second communication means different than the first communication means.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the first communication means comprises a satellite or optical fiber and the second means comprises a digital file.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the metadata comprises an asset name.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the metadata comprises communicating the metadata through a satellite.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the metadata comprises communicating the metadata through a broadband communication system.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the metadata comprises communicating the metadata through a terrestrial system.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the content comprises communicating the content through a satellite.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the content comprises communicating the content through a broadband communication system.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the content comprises communicating the content through a terrestrial system.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the metadata comprises communicating the metadata through a satellite and wherein communicating the content comprises communicating the content through a satellite.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the metadata comprises communicating the metadata through a satellite and wherein communicating the content comprises communicating the content through a broadband communication system.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the metadata comprises communicating the metadata through a satellite and wherein communicating the content comprises communicating the content through a terrestrial system.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the metadata comprises a start time and an end time.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the metadata comprises an asset identification.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user device comprises a mobile user device.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user device comprises a fixed user device.

18. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user device comprises a satellite television set top box.

19. A system comprising:

a user device;

a content processing system comprising a content management system, a house format server, a workflow system, a video transport processing system, a program guide system, and a schedule PAD server, said content processing system receiving content from a content provider having an asset identifier and storing house format content in the house format server, assigning a material identification to the house format content different than the asset identifier, receiving metadata for the house format content, associating the metadata and the material identification at the content management system and, communicating the metadata and material identification to the user device through the program guide system;

said content management system scheduling processing of the house format content to a broadband format content;

said content management system communicating the program associated data to the schedule PAD server;

said schedule PAD server generating control words and communicating the control words to the video transport processing system;

said content processing system controlling a movement of the house format content from the house format server to the video transport processing system;

said video transport processing system generating broadband content from the house format content and the control words, and storing the broadband content in a content repository;

said user device forming a menu from the program associated data, metadata and material identification, generating a menu selection from the menu, and communicating the material identification associated with the menu selection to the content processing system; and

said content processing system communicating the content corresponding to the menu selection to the user device from the content repository through a content delivery network.

20. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a first communication means and a second communication means, wherein said content processing system receiving content through the first communication means and wherein the content processing system receiving metadata through the second communication means different than the first communication means.

21. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein the first communication means comprises a satellite or optical fiber and the second means comprises a digital file.

22. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the metadata comprises an asset name.

23. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a satellite communicating the metadata.

24. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a broadband communication system communicating the metadata.

25. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a terrestrial system communicating the metadata.

26. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a satellite communicating the content.

27. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a broadband communication system communicating the content.

28. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a terrestrial system communicating the content.

29. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a satellite communicating the metadata and the content.

30. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a satellite communicating the metadata and a broadband communication system communicating the content.

31. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a satellite communicating the metadata and a terrestrial system communicating the content.

32. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the metadata comprises a start time and an end time.

33. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the metadata comprises an asset identification.

34. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the user device comprises a mobile user device.

35. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the user device comprises a fixed user device.

36. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the user device comprises a satellite television set top box.

Assignments (6)
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY IN PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Oct 3, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH (AS SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 072994/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066371/0690 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 5, 2021
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058220/0531 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 3, 2021
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057695/0084 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2021
From: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
To: DIRECTV, LLC
Reel/Frame 057020/0291 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2007
From: KIDD, DEANNA R.
To: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 019931/0748 →