Self-service channel marketplace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9247278-B2
Application number	US-201314145812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2013
Priority date	Jun 29, 2010
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

A content hosting system allows content providers to create channels of video content and make them available to users in a marketplace. Users can search or browse for channels of interest, and selectively subscribe to channels. Users can also pay for the right to view premium videos in each channel. The system ranks channels according to the value provided. Generally, users will seek out and subscribe to the highest ranked channels that provide the greatest value. The ranking function allows different providers to compete for the subscriptions of users. Providers can observe their channel's reception in the market by analyzing rankings and usage statistics to adjust channels to maximize channel performance. The system operator can also create bundled channels containing videos from multiple providers, and the resulting subscription revenue can be distributed to the various providers of the videos in the channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer system providing a self-service marketplace of subscription video channels comprising:
at least one computer processor; and
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing executable code, the code when executed by the computer processor causes the computer processor to create user interfaces comprising:
a content provider user interface comprising:
an option to create subscription channels based on videos controlled by content providers, each subscription channel comprising a plurality of videos accessible to subscribers paying a subscription price; and
an option for each content provider to review performance data for their subscription channels;
wherein responsive to receiving a selection of the option to review the performance data, the content provider user interface is updated to display an amount of time each subscriber spends watching the videos of the subscription channels and a total amount of subscribers over a period of time for at least one of the subscription channels;

a subscriber user interface comprising:
a list of the subscription channels created by the content providers;
an option to submit subscription requests and payments of subscription prices for a subscription channel from the list of the subscription channels;
an option for each subscribed channel to automatically renew or manually renew the subscription to the subscribed channel;
an option to view all subscriptions including active subscriptions and inactive subscriptions;
an option to view active subscriptions without the inactive subscriptions; and
an option to view inactive subscriptions without the active subscriptions.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein responsive to receiving a selection of the option to review the performance data, the content provider user interface is updated to display:
a ranked list of the subscription channels.

3. The computer system of claim of claim 2 wherein the updated content provider user interface further displays feedback of subscribers who have paid the subscription price for subscription channels, the feedback comprising user ratings, user comments, user help requests, and user fraud reports.

4. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the updated content provider user interface further displays a subscriber churn rate for at least one of the subscription channels, the subscriber churn indicative of an amount of time subscribers are maintaining their subscriptions to the subscription channels.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the list of the subscription channels created by the content providers is a ranked list.

6. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein responsive to receiving a selection of the option to create subscription channels the content provider user interface is updated, the updated content provider interface comprising:
a title area that receives a title of a subscription channel from the content provider;
a video area that receives a video for inclusion in the subscription channel from the content provider, dates that the video is available on the subscription channel for viewing, and an indication whether the video is free for the subscribers to view or whether a subscription fee is required for subscribers to view the video;
a subscription price area that receives a subscription price for the subscription channel from the content provider, the subscription price indicative of a cost required for subscribers to view videos of the subscription channel.

7. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein the updated content provider interface further comprises:
a promotional area indicative of prizes available on the subscription channel;
an option for the content provider to customize a layout of the subscription channel; and
an advertisement option for the content provider to indicate whether to display advertisements in the subscription channel.

8. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the content provider user interface further comprises an option for each content provider to review performance data for subscription channels created by other content providers.

9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable code for providing a self-service marketplace of subscription video channels, the code comprising:
a content provider user interface comprising:
an option to create subscription channels based on videos controlled by content providers, each subscription channel comprising a plurality of videos accessible to subscribers paying a subscription price; and
an option for each content provider to review performance data for their subscription channels;
wherein responsive to receiving a selection of the option to review the performance data, the content provider user interface is updated to display a subscriber churn rate for at least one of the subscription channels, the subscriber churn indicative of an amount of time subscribers are maintaining their subscriptions to the subscription channels;

a subscriber user interface comprising:
a list of the subscription channels created by the content providers;
an option to submit subscription requests and payments of subscription prices for a subscription channel from the list of the subscription channels; and
an option for each subscribed channel to automatically renew or manually renew the subscription to the subscribed channel;
an option to view all subscriptions including active subscriptions and inactive subscriptions;
an option to view active subscriptions without the inactive subscriptions; and
an option to view inactive subscriptions without the active subscriptions.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein responsive to receiving a selection of the option to review the performance data the content provider user interface is updated to display a ranked list of the subscription channels.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the updated content provider user interface further displays an amount of time each subscriber spends watching the videos of the subscription channels.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the updated content provider user interface further displays for at least one of the subscription channels a total amount of subscribers over a period of time.

13. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the updated content provider user interface further displays feedback of subscribers who have paid the subscription price for subscription channels, the feedback comprising user ratings, user comments, user help requests, and user fraud reports.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the list of the subscription channels created by the content providers is a ranked list.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein responsive to receiving a selection of the option to create subscription channels the content provider user interface is updated, the updated content provider interface comprising:
a title area that receives a title of a subscription channel from the content provider;
a video area that receives a video for inclusion in the subscription channel from the content provider, dates that the video is available on the subscription channel for viewing, and an indication whether the video is free for the subscribers to view or whether a subscription fee is required for subscribers to view the video;
a subscription price area that receives a subscription price for the subscription channel from the content provider, the subscription price indicative of a cost required for subscribers to

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Patterson Jim
• Walk Hunter
• Yong Kuan

Classifications

• H04N21/4828

  for searching programme descriptors (retrieval of video data G06F16/739) · CPC title

• H04N21/44224 Primary

  Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing · CPC title

• H04N21/2543

  Billing {, e.g. for subscription services (payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21)} · CPC title

• H04N21/2743 Primary

  Video hosting of uploaded data from client · CPC title

• H04N21/25866

  Management of end-user data (customer care in data networks H04L41/5077) · CPC title