System and method for content transmission network selection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9503768-B2
Application number	US-201514959566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2015
Priority date	Dec 20, 2001
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A content transmission selection system is disclosed. The content transmission selection system receives requests from viewers for specific video content items. Using characteristics of the designated content item, the content transmission selection system determines whether to transmit the content item over a broadcast network or a broadband network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a request for viewing video content at a media processor device;
determining, by the system, whether the media processor device is communicatively coupled to both a broadband network and a broadcast network according to an account profile that is associated with the media processor device;
identifying, by the system, playback command features available with the video content responsive to the media processor device being communicatively coupled to both the broadcast network and the broadband network;
selecting, by the system, a transmit network as one of the broadcast network or the broadband network according to the playback command features; and
transmitting, by the system, the video content to the media processor device according to the transmit network that is selected.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the system, a number of requests for the video content from a plurality of media processor devices, wherein the transmit network is further selected according to the number of requests that are determined.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmit network is further selected according to playback command features of a second media processor device that is communicatively coupled to both the broadcast network and the broadband network.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmit network is further selected according to whether the media processor device is communicatively coupled to the broadcast network or the broadband network responsive to the media processor device being communicatively coupled to the broadcast network or the broadband network but not both.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the playback command features comprise one of a fast forward control, a rewind control, a pause control, a video recorder control, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising formatting, by the system, the video content for transmission according to the transmit network that is selected.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the video content is encapsulated in a spooler file and routed through a transport multiplexer for transmission via the broadcast network.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the video content is encapsulated in a TCP/IP packet stream and routed through a switch fabric for transmission via the broadband network.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, by the system, a notification of transmission characteristics to the media processor device according to the transmit network that is selected.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the transmission characteristics comprise one of: a time of transmission; transponder characteristics; stream characteristics; or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the media processor device performs monitoring for the video content according to the transmission characteristics.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is not received from the media processor device.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising estimating a cost of transport for one of the broadcast network, the broadband network, or any combination thereof, wherein the step of selecting, by the system, the transmit network is further performed according to the cost that is estimated.

14. A server, comprising:
a memory to store executable instructions; and
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
transmitting a list of available content items to a media processor device;
receiving a selection of media content from the media processor device;
determining a playback command feature for the selection; determining whether the media processor device is communicatively coupled to both a broadband network and a broadcast network according to an account profile that is associated with the media processor device; and
selecting a transmit network as one of the broadband network or the broadcast network for delivery of the selection of media content according the playback command feature responsive to the media processor device being communicatively coupled to both the broadband network and the broadcast network; and
transmitting the selection of media content to the media processor device.

15. The server of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a number of requests for the selection of media content from a plurality of media processor devices, wherein the transmit network is further selected according to the number of requests.

16. The server of claim 14 , wherein the playback command feature comprises one of a fast forward control, a rewind control, a pause control, a video recorder control, or any combination thereof.

17. The server of claim 14 , wherein the transmit network is further selected according to whether the media processor device is communicatively coupled to one of the broadband network or the broadcast network but not both responsive to the media processor device being coupled to one of the broadcast network or the broadband network but not both.

18. A machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions which when executed by a processor at a media device to facilitate operations comprising:
transmitting a selection of media content to a media provider, wherein the media provider determines whether the media device is communicatively coupled to both a broadband network and a broadcast network, wherein the media provider selects a transmit network for delivery of the selection of media content according to a playback command feature that is available for the selection of media content responsive to the media device being communicatively coupled to both the broadband network and the broadcast network; and
receiving the selection from the media provider for presentation at a display device of the media device.

19. The machine-readable storage device of claim 18 , wherein the media provider determines the playback command feature that is available for the selection of media content.

20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 18 , wherein the playback command feature comprises one of a fast forward control, a rewind control, a pause control, a video recorder control, or any combination thereof.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp
• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Gray James H
• Koch Robert A

Classifications

• H04N21/25883

  being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address (arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52) · CPC title

• H04N21/266

  Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel · CPC title

• H04N21/6125

  involving transmission via Internet (transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82) · CPC title

• H04N7/17318 Primary

  Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests · CPC title

• H04N21/47202

  for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand · CPC title