CA2508411A1 - Strategies for consuming resource items based on a resource item list - Google Patents
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/40—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data
- G06F16/44—Browsing; Visualisation therefor
Abstract
Strategies are described for creating a resource item list, for transferring the resource item list from one user to another user or to another destination, and for retrieving resource items from an operations center based on resource descriptors specified in the resource item list.
The resource item list can include a number of attributes which are used to identify matching resource items in a content store of the operations center. A schema defines the contents and organization of entries in the resource item list. The use of resource item lists helps users discover and consume resource items of interest extracted from a larger pool of resource items.
The resource item list can include a number of attributes which are used to identify matching resource items in a content store of the operations center. A schema defines the contents and organization of entries in the resource item list. The use of resource item lists helps users discover and consume resource items of interest extracted from a larger pool of resource items.
Description
z This subject matter relates to strategies for presenting resource items to users, and, 3 in a more particular implementation, to strategies for presenting collections of audio-a visual media items to users.
Providers of media programs continue to expand the number of resource items s from which consumers may select. For instance, traditional satellite and cable providers 9 often offer hundreds of channels from which to select, each providing multiple resource to items (e.g., television programs, movies, etc.). Internet-enabled providers of media > > programs have the potential to provide even greater quantities of resource items from iz which to select. The expanding array of choices benefits consumers by increasing the 13 probability that the consumers will find resource items that meet their interests.
la However, the explosion of resource items also introduces a number of challenges.
is For instance, with the ever-expanding pool of resource items, consumers may fmd it 16 difficult to discover resource items that meet their interests. For instance, consumers may find it burdensome to sift through a great number of resource items to fmd resource items la that meet their interests. While various search engines exist for facilitating the ~9 consumers' searches, many consumers may lack familiarity with these tools, especially zo those consumers who are not particularly computer savvy. Alternatively, many zi consumers may lack sufficient time or patience to use these seaxch tools on a day to day zz basis.
z3 There is accordingly a need for mechanisms that will facilitate the discovery of za resource items from a larger pool of resource items, and the subsequent retrieval of such zs resource items.
SUMMARY
According to one exemplary implementation, a method is described for providing 3 plural resource items from a content store. The method includes: (a) receiving a resource 4 item list from a client processing device, the resource item list including plural resource s item descriptors that identify resource items provided in the content store;
(b) 6 automatically retrieving the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors from the content store; and (c) providing the retrieved resource items to the client 8 processing device for presentation thereat.
According to another exemplary feature, the resource item list is expressed in a to markup language, such as the Extensible Markup Language (XML).
11 According to another exemplary feature, a schema governs the contents and ~2 organization of the resource item list.
13 According to another exemplary feature, each resource item descriptor includes la plural attributes, a subset of which are optional.
Is According to another exemplary feature, the resource item list includes 16 information that specifies an order in which the resource items are to be presented.
According to another exemplary feature, the above-mentioned retrieving is determines that at least two resource items match at least one of the resource item 19 descriptors in the resource item list. In this case, the method further includes selecting zo one of the resource items based on at least one consideration (such as a determination of 21 the format preferences of the receiving client processing device).
22 According to another exemplary feature, the resource item list can be obtained 23 from another client processing device. In other words, the method permits users to share Za resource item lists amongst themselves, or to download resource item lists from websites, Zs II etc.
Providers of media programs continue to expand the number of resource items s from which consumers may select. For instance, traditional satellite and cable providers 9 often offer hundreds of channels from which to select, each providing multiple resource to items (e.g., television programs, movies, etc.). Internet-enabled providers of media > > programs have the potential to provide even greater quantities of resource items from iz which to select. The expanding array of choices benefits consumers by increasing the 13 probability that the consumers will find resource items that meet their interests.
la However, the explosion of resource items also introduces a number of challenges.
is For instance, with the ever-expanding pool of resource items, consumers may fmd it 16 difficult to discover resource items that meet their interests. For instance, consumers may find it burdensome to sift through a great number of resource items to fmd resource items la that meet their interests. While various search engines exist for facilitating the ~9 consumers' searches, many consumers may lack familiarity with these tools, especially zo those consumers who are not particularly computer savvy. Alternatively, many zi consumers may lack sufficient time or patience to use these seaxch tools on a day to day zz basis.
z3 There is accordingly a need for mechanisms that will facilitate the discovery of za resource items from a larger pool of resource items, and the subsequent retrieval of such zs resource items.
SUMMARY
According to one exemplary implementation, a method is described for providing 3 plural resource items from a content store. The method includes: (a) receiving a resource 4 item list from a client processing device, the resource item list including plural resource s item descriptors that identify resource items provided in the content store;
(b) 6 automatically retrieving the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors from the content store; and (c) providing the retrieved resource items to the client 8 processing device for presentation thereat.
According to another exemplary feature, the resource item list is expressed in a to markup language, such as the Extensible Markup Language (XML).
11 According to another exemplary feature, a schema governs the contents and ~2 organization of the resource item list.
13 According to another exemplary feature, each resource item descriptor includes la plural attributes, a subset of which are optional.
Is According to another exemplary feature, the resource item list includes 16 information that specifies an order in which the resource items are to be presented.
According to another exemplary feature, the above-mentioned retrieving is determines that at least two resource items match at least one of the resource item 19 descriptors in the resource item list. In this case, the method further includes selecting zo one of the resource items based on at least one consideration (such as a determination of 21 the format preferences of the receiving client processing device).
22 According to another exemplary feature, the resource item list can be obtained 23 from another client processing device. In other words, the method permits users to share Za resource item lists amongst themselves, or to download resource item lists from websites, Zs II etc.
Additional implementations and features will be described in the following.
a Fig. 1 shows an exemplary system for consuming resource items using a resource s item list.
Fig. 2 shows one exemplary implementation of the system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows an exemplary correlation between resource item descriptors in a 8 resource item list and associated resource items provided in a content store used in the 9 system of Fig. 1.
to Fig. 4 shows an overview of an exemplary schema for forming a resource item i i I I list.
12 Fig. 5 shows an exemplary Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema used to 13 implement the schema design of Fig. 4.
14 Fig. 6 shows an exemplary XML resource item list constructed based on the 1 s schema of Fig. 5.
16 Figs. 7-9 show exemplary user interface presentations for interacting with the 1~ system of Fig. 1.
1g Figs 10-12 show a collection of flowcharts for explaining the operation of the ~9 system of Fig. 1.
zl The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and figures to reference like 22 components and features. Series 100 numbers refer to features originally found in Fig. 1, 23 series 200 numbers refer to features originally found in Fig. 2, series 300 numbers refer 24 to features originally found in Fig. 3, and so on.
2 Strategies are described herein for consuming resource items based on a resource 3 ~ ~ item list. The term "resource item" refers to any kind of information resources that can a ~ ~ be consumed by users. In one case, the resource items pertain to audio and/or visual s media programs, such as music, still pictures, audio-visual motion pictures, and so on. In 6 the case of audio-visual resources, the resource items can pertain to any kind of subject matter, such as serial-type dramas and comedies, documentaries, movies, talk shows, a various kinds of sales presentations, news programs, weather information, financial 9 information (e.g., stock information), and so on. In another case, the resource items to pertain to executable computer programs that allow the user to interact with the programs > > (such as computer games, etc.). In another case, the resource items pertain to markup 12 language resources (such as hypertext markup language resources).
13 The term "resource item list" refers to any kind of information used to identify la one or more resource items. The resource item list can be expressed as an Extensible ~5 Markup Language (XML) document, a flat file, a spreadsheet document, a document 16 created by a text editor, or in any other format.
The term "resource item descriptor" refers to any kind of information used to ~8 identify a resource item within a resource item list. As will be described, an exemplary 19 resource item descriptor may include a collection of attributes. The term "attributes"
ao refers to any kind of information that specifies respective properties of a resource item, zi such as a reference ID, name, title, etc.
22 This disclosure includes the following sections. Section A describes an z3 exemplary system for consuming resource items using a resource item list.
Section B
za describes the operation of the system of Section A. To facilitate discussion, the is implementation most commonly evoked in the following discussion involves the dissemination of audio-visual resource items in streaming digital format over a packet 2 network based on a media play list; however, as will be discussed, the functionality 3 described herein can be applied to other types of resource items in other kinds of a I I technical and commercial environments.
s A. Exemplary System for Consuming Resource Items Based on a Resource Item List s A.l. System Overview Fig. 1 shows an exemplary system 100 for consuming resource items based on a io resource item list. By way of overview, the system 100 allows a user to create and/or 11 receive a resource item list that identifies one or more resource items.
For instance, a 12 user may wish to create a resource item list, or receive an already created resource item 13 list from another user or other source, that identifies resource items that have some 14 common theme. The user can invoke this resource item list to automatically receive the is resource items identified therein. These resource items can be presented to the user in the 16 sequential order identified in the resource item list. Retrieval of resource items based on 1~ a resource item list provides a user-friendly approach to the consumption of resources, is particularly where, without such a provision, the user would be forced to manually select 19 individual resource items from a potentially vast pool of resource items.
Additional zo features and attendant benefits of the retrieval of resource items based on lists will be ai II described below.
z2 Generally, any of the functions illustrated in the figures can be implemented using a3 software, firmware (e.g., fixed logic circuitry), manual processing, or a combination of as these implementations. The terms "logic," "module" or "functionality" as used herein zs ~ ~ generally represents software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. For 1 instance, in the case of a software implementation, the terms "logic,"
"module" or 2 "functionality" represents program code that performs specified tasks when executed on a 3 processing device or devices (e.g., CPU or CPUs). The program code can be stored in a one or more computer readable memory devices. The illustrated separation of logic, s modules and functionality into distinct units may reflect an actual physical grouping and 6 allocation of such software and/or hardware, or can correspond to a conceptual allocation of different tasks performed by a single software program and/or hardware unit. The s illustrated logic, modules and functionality can be located at a single site (e.g., as 9 implemented by a processing device), or can be distributed over plural locations.
Io The system 100 includes a plurality of client presentations devices (102, 104, ...
l 106). The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can be implemented in different iz ways to suit different technical and commercial environments. In one case, these client is processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can represent set-top boxes or other application-is specific units which couple to client presentation devices (108, 110, ...
112), where the is client presentation devices (108, 110, ... 112) can represent televisions, stereo systems, or 16 other kinds of information presentation devices. In an alternative implementation, the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can represent general computer devices ~8 which couple to their respective client presentations devices (108, 110, ... 112). In still i9 another example, the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can represent Zo functionality that is integrated into the client presentation devices (108, 110, ... 112) 21 themselves (e.g., in the form of processing boards, detachable cards, etc.).
zz The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can receive resource items (e.g., z3 media programs) from one or more sources. One exemplary source is an operations as center 114 coupled to the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) via a network as coupling mechanism 116 (such as the Internet). The operations center 114 center can 1 generally represent any infrastructure for storing resource items and for distributing the 2 resource items to users upon request over the network coupling mechanism 116. In one 3 case, the operations center 114 can be implemented by computing functionality (e.g., one 4 or more computer servers) housed at a particular site. In another case, the operations s center 114 can be implemented in distributed fashion by computing functionality spread 6 over multiple sites. In one case, a single entity can administer the operations center 114.
In another case, multiple entities can collaboratively implement the operations center 8 114. For instance, in the latter case, plural partners can administer different operation 9 centers which are collectively represented in Fig. 1 as the unified operations center 114.
to Fig. 2 (to be discussed below in turn) describes one technology-specific implementation 1 ~ of the system 100 shown in Fig. 1.
lz The operations center 114 includes an resource item content store 118 for storing 13 the resource items (e.g., media programs). This content store 118 can represent a single is database, or can represent multiple distributed databases spread over multiple respective is sites. The resource items stored in the content store 118 can originate from a number of 16 different sources, generically represented in Fig. 1 as "information sources" 120. The I~ information sources 120 can represent any entity which produces or provides resource 1$ items, such as conventional commercial cable or satellite television providers, one or 19 more commercial Video-On-Demand (VOD) entities, one or more publishing houses, one 20 or more library sources of resource items, any kind of Internet-enabled repository of 2~ information, and so on. In one example, an entity that administers the operations center 22 114 can enter into a contractual arrangement with the entity (or entities) that supply the z3 resource items. In another case, the entity that administers the operations center 114 can Za itself produce at least some of the resource items stored in the content store 118. In any Zs event, the information sources 120 can fall into two principal categories.
A first type 1 corresponds to live sources 122. The live sources 122 correspond to sources that supply 2 resource items that capture live events, or resource items that otherwise have some real-3 time aspect associated with them (such as a televised sporting event or news event, etc.).
4 A second type of source corresponds to pre-recorded sources 124. The pre-recorded s sources 124 correspond to sources that supply resource items that have been already 6 recorded in their entirety. The operations center 114 includes a receiving/recording module 126 for receiving resource items from either the lives sources 122 or the pre-s recorded sources 124 and storing these resource items in the content store 118.
An information dissemination module 128 is configured to handle users' requests ~o for resource items by retrieving the requested resource items from the content store 118 11 and supplying the resource items to the appropriate client processing devices (102, 104, 12 ... 106) via the network coupling mechanism 116. The operations center 114 connects to ~3 the coupling mechanism 116 via the client interface module 130. The client interface 14 module 130 can be implemented as a broadband coupling mechanism or other kind of is coupling mechanism.
16 More specifically, the operations center 114 can apply a unicast paradigm in l~ distributing resource items to client processing devices (102, 104, ...
106). In the unicast 1$ approach, the operations center 114 sends a requested resource item to only that client 19 processing device that requested it. This differs from the traditional broadcast paradigm.
Zo In the broadcast mode, a head-end station simultaneously provides a plurality of 21 programs to a large pool of subscribers. The subscribers then locally tune their respective z2 client processing devices to receive one or more programs of interest. In contrast, in the 23 above-described unicast mode of transfer, the operations center 114 does not transfer any 24 information until it is specifically requested by a user. The unicast mode therefore as provides an economical point-to-point transfer of information compared to the broadcast 1 mode. Further, in the unicast mode, the operations center 114 can simultaneously stream z different parts of the same resource item to different respective users using potentially 3 different transmission settings (e.g., different transmission rates), thereby allowing 4 greater flexibility in information dissemination compared to the broadcast mode (where s all of the subscribers receive the same information at the same time).
The operations center 114 can supply resource items to users using different program-packaging paradigms. In one case, the operations center 102 can group resource s items into different respective "channels," and allow the users to select resource items by 9 specifying channel identifiers. A single channel can provide a defined chronological io sequence of resource items according to the traditional broadcast model of resource item 11 delivery. In this case, the user can receive a desired resource item by "tuning" to the ~z channel at a prescribed time. In another case, a single channel can provide a portal that i3 allows the user to select from a subset of resource items associated with the channel. In la this case, the user can receive a desired resource item by "tuning" to the channel at any is time and selecting one of the resource items that the channel offers in an on-demand 16 manner. In still another case, a single channel can be associated with a single resource 1~ item. In this case, the user can receive this resource item by "tuning" to the channel at 1g any time and selecting this resource item in an on-demand manner. The above-described 19 information delivery paradigm is advantageous because it conforms to a typical user's zo prior experience in dealing with the traditional broadcast delivery of resource items. That zi is, the channel paradigm may promote acceptance of the operations center services zz because the user may feel that he or she is already familiar with its method of operation.
z3 However, again, the operations center 102 employs a unicast point-to-point method of za delivery, rather than broadcast. Accordingly, any reference to "channel"
and "tuning"
zs i used herein (which were originally coined in the context of broadcast services) is to be 2 understood as referring to the expanded meaning of these terms as explained above.
A specific scenario will further clarify one exemplary application of the system 4 100 of Fig. 1. Assume that the operations center 114 devotes itself to archiving television s programs that are broadcast by a provider over a number of different channels from a 6 certain starting date onward. The content store 118 thus serves as a large historical archive from which users can pull resource items, e.g., by specifying the date on which a s resource item "aired," the time at which it aired, the service (e.g., channel) on which it 9 aired, and so on. Further, as the operations center 114 is also archiving new resource to items in real-time mode, it can also serve as a source of current media content for users.
~ 1 Again, this arrangement reflects only one exemplary business-related and technological iz application.
I3 In addition to the operations center 114, or instead of the operations center 114, 14 the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can receive resource items from other is sources (generically referred to in Fig. 1 as "other sources 132"). Such other sources 132 16 may correspond to other operation centers that provide resource items in the manner described above, or might correspond to more traditional broadcast sources, such as 18 conventional satellite or cable head-end sources. The client processing devise (102, 104, 19 ... 106) can receive resource items from broadcast sources by tuning to one or more Zo selected resource items via local tuners (not shown in Fig. 1) in a conventional manner.
zi While the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can receive resource items zz from any source, to facilitate discussion by providing concrete examples, the following z3 discussion will most commonly evoke the case where resource items are received from 24 the operations center 114 (representing one or more computer servers) via the network as coupling mechanism 116 (e.g., the Internet).
The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) include information selection 2 and presentation modules (such as exemplary module 134 of representative client 3 processing device 102). These selection and presentation modules include functionality 4 for receiving users' selections of resource items, for receiving selected resource items from any one of the above-identified sources, for presenting the selected resource items 6 on respective client presentation devices (108, 110, ... 112), and for performing other tasks to be described below. The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can s additionally include local stores (such as exemplary local store 136 of representative 9 client processing device 102).
to With the above overview of the system 100 as a whole, attention will now be 11 directed to the system 100's functionality for processing resource item lists. As described iz above, a resource item list corresponds to any kind of listing in any kind of format of one 13 or more resource item descriptors. As will be described in greater detail below, a ~a resource item descriptor can identify a corresponding resource item by providing is reference information that indicates where the resource item can be retrieved from, title 16 information, and other attribute information. Resource item lists can be compiled based 1~ on any criterion or combination of criteria. In one example, a user may wish to create or 18 receive a resource item list that groups a collection resource items according to some 19 common theme. Resource item lists can include instructions which prompt the zo operations center 114 to deliver the resource items in a suggested order.
Functionality for performing various tasks associated with the resource item lists 22 (referred to as "list functionality" for brevity) includes an operations center (OC) list 23 handling module 138 located at the operations center 114, and a client list handling Za module located at each client processing device (such as client handling module 140 as located at client processing device 102).
More specifically, the client list handling module 140 can perform various 2 functions. According to one such function, this module 140 can be configured to create 3 resource item lists. There are many ways to perform this task. In one technique, the a client list handling module 140 can create a resource item list by selecting resource item s descriptors from a larger pool of resource item descriptors. Exemplary user interface 6 functionality for performing this operation will be described below in Section A.3.
Alternatively, the user can compile the resource item list from "scratch"
using any kind s of text editor. Still alternatively, the user can create a resource item list by combining 9 two or more pre-existing resource item lists, or by editing a pre-existing resource item list to in any manner (e.g., by adding resource item descriptors, deleting resource item 11 descriptors, or modifying existing resource item descriptors). A client processing device ~2 can store any resource item lists that it creates (or receives) in its local store (such as local ~3 store 136 of client processing device 102).
la The client list handling module 140 can also include functionality for sending a is resource item list to another user or, more generally, to any recipient entity. For instance, 16 a first user may create a resource item list that identifies resource items sharing a 1~ common theme. The first user can then transfer this resource item list to a second user, ~s or can broadcast this resource item list to plural users. The first user can also transfer a ~9 resource item list to a remote repository, such as resource item list database 142 Zo maintained by the operations center 114. In any case, the first user can perform this 21 transfer in various ways. For example, the client list handling module 140 can include a Zz custom designed user interface and associated transfer mechanism for performing this 23 transfer. Alternatively, the client list handling module 140 can rely on existing message as transmission tools to perform this transfer, such as existing email transmission tools.
as The client list handling module 140 can also include functionality for receiving a 1 resource item list from another user or, more generally, any source entity.
For instance, 2 the second user identified above can receive the resource item list that identifies resource 3 items having a common theme from the first user. Any user can also receive a resource a item list from a central repository of such resource item lists, such as the operations s center 114's resource list database 142, or some other source of lists 144.
For example, 6 list source 144 may comprise an Internet-enabled website that allows users to select from a variety of resource item lists. Such a website can permit any user to receive resource s item lists without restriction, or can charge a fee for downloading resource item lists (e.g., 9 by either restricting access to the site to paying subscribers or by charging a fee for each ~o individual resource item list downloaded by a user). In any case, again, the client list 11 handling module 140 can use specifically tailored functionality for receiving the resource ~2 item list, or can rely on existing message transfer mechanisms for receiving the resource 13 item list.
is Finally, once a resource item list has been created or received, the client list is handling module 140 includes functionality for invoking this resource item list to receive ~6 the resource items specified therein. One way to perform this task is to transfer the entire m resource item list to the OC list handling module 138 for processing at this module.
is Another way to perform this task is to transfer only selected resource item descriptors to ~9 the OC list handling module 138. For instance, in the latter case, assume that the 2o resource item list identifies a group of movies. The user may select only one of these 2~ movies and transfer corresponding descriptor information to the OC list handling module z2 138 to obtain this movie. Once again, the client list handling module 140 can use 23 specifically tailored user interface and transmission functionality to perform the above z4 transfer tasks, or can rely on existing general message transmission tools.
1 To facilitate discussion, it is assumed that the operations center 114 is the only 2 head-end "actor" engaged in processing resource item lists. However, the system 100 3 can include multiple operations centers that service different respective groups of 4 subscribing users. These multiple centers can be communicatively coupled together.
s Provisions can be put in place to ensure uniformity in list handling processing among the 6 multiple operations centers. This permits users to use the services of "foreign" operation centers in various circumstances, possibly by paying a surcharge to use these services.
s In any case, upon receiving the resource item list (or some part thereof), the OC
9 list handling module 138 comes into play to provide the resource items identified in the to resource item list. In one case, each resource item descriptor in the resource item list 11 contains reference information that can be used to retrieve an associated resource item ~2 from the content store 118 (or from some other repository or source). That is, in this 13 case, the reference information provides a link between the resource item descriptor and a is particular entry in the content store 118. The OC list handling module 138 can then is coordinate the retrieval of that particular resource item based on the reference 16 information and provide it to the requesting client processing device.
More specifically, in one case, there may be a one-to-one correspondence la between a particular resource item descriptor and a resource item in the content store 118.
~9 The match in this case is therefore unambiguous. In this case, the OC
listing handling Zo module 138 can retrieve this single matching resource item and provide it to the 21 requesting user.
22 In other cases, however, a particular resource item descriptor may map into 23 several matching resource items stored in the content store 118. The OC
list handling Za module 138 can resolve this situation in different ways. According to one technique, the as OC list handling module 138 can automatically select one or more of the matching 1 resource items based on one or more considerations. For instance, the OC
list handling z module 138 can maintain a file that identifies each user's preferences pertaining to the 3 receipt of resource items, and it can consult this file to determine, in the case of multiple a matches, what matching resource items should be presented to the users. For example, assume that a user requests a movie, but there are several renditions of this movie that are 6 stored in the content store 118. One user might have specified, in advance, that he or she wishes to receive movies having the highest quality provided (e.g., HDTV
format).
s Another user might have specified, in advance, that the he or she wishes to receive 9 movies that were originally aired by a certain source (e.g., that were originally aired on a ~ o particular television channel). Another user might have specified, in advance, that he or a she wants to receive movies with the least amount of commercials, and so forth. Users iz may also specify multiple preference criteria, and also assign weighting scores associated 13 with the respective criteria to reflect their importance. In this case, the OC list handling la module 138 can rank the matching resource items based on the plural criteria and is associated weighting scores, and provide the highest ranking resource item to a user. In ~6 one case, users may take active steps to send their preference criteria to the OC list m handling module 138; in another case, the OC list handling module 138 can automatically ~ g discover the users' preference criteria, such as by polling the users' respective client 19 processing devices to discover such criteria (e.g., by determining the formats in which the Zo users' respective client processing devices and presentation devices are configured to 21 receive resource items).
zz Still alternatively, the OC list handling module 138 can be configured to send a 23 query to a user in the event that more than one stored resource item matches a resource 24 item descriptor in their resource item list. For instance, the query can identify the z5 matching resource items and their respective properties and permit the user to select one IS
1 or more of them, whereupon the selected resource items are retrieved from the content 2 store 118 and sent to the user.
The OC list handling module 138 can also enable up-selling and cross-selling a opportunities. For instance, even if there is an exact one-to-one match between a s resource item descriptor and a resource item stored in the content store 118, the OC list 6 handling module 138 can alert the user to the fact that there is a related resource item that can be consumed, in place of, or in addition to, the matching resource item.
This gives s the user the opportunity to select the alternative resource item. Up-selling and cross-9 selling provisions can also be applied in the case that a resource item descriptor matches ~o several resource items stored in the content store 118. For instance, the OC list handling 11 module 138 can automatically pick one of the multiple matching resource items based on 12 various marketing considerations, or can suggest a resource item that is related to the ~3 matching resource items.
is Whatever matching circumstance applies, once matching resource items are ~s identified, the dissemination module 128 can transfer these matching resource items to 16 the requesting user in streaming mode (where the content is streamed to the user's client 1~ processing device in real-time or in substantially real-time fashion).
Alternatively, the is dissemination module 128 can send the matching resource items to the user in bulk mode, 19 e.g., as a file that can be stored by the user's client processing device and played by the Zo user at a time of his or her choosing. In any case, the OC list handling module 138 can be 21 configured to transfer the resource items in the order specified in the resource item list, or 22 in another order determined by the OC listing handling module 138.
as Fig. 1 summarizes the operation of the client list handling module 140 and the OC
24 listing handling module 138 by illustrating a series of operations performed in the system as 100 in one exemplary scenario. In this scenario, one client processing device 104 sends a 1 resource item list (e.g., List XYZ) to another client processing device 102.
This transfer z is represented by a first path 146. Upon receipt, the user of the other processing device 3 102 can invoke the resource item list by transferring the entire resource item list to the 4 OC list handling module 138 in order to retrieve the resource items identified in the s resource item list. This transfer is represented in Fig. 1 as path 148.
Alternatively, the 6 user of the other processing device 102 can forward only certain entries from the resource item list to the OC list handling module 138. In either case, the OC list handling module s 138 can respond by streaming the requested resource items to the client processing device 9 102, or by transferring the resource items en bloc, e.g., as a single file or collection of to files. This transfer is represented as path 150.
11 To yet further clarify the operation of the system 100, the following discussion lz identifies three exemplary applications of the list functionality. In a first example, 13 assume that a parent in household "A" builds a resource item list that identifies four 14 programs that her children enjoy watching on a certain television channel.
A parent of is household "B," a friend of the parent of household "A," also has children, and would like 16 recommendations regarding suitable programs to present to his own children.
To help the parent of household "B," the parent of household "A" can email her resource item list to 1$ the parent of household "B," allowing the children of household "B" to watch the four 19 programs that have been recommended by the parent of household "A." In one zo implementation, the programs have been archived on in the content store 118 of the zi operations center 114, so there neither household need store copies of the actual zz referenced programs.
23 In a second example, assume that an entertainment website is running a feature z4 regarding a prominent actress. A link on the website allows users to download a resource zs item list that identifies award-winning movies that feature this actress.
The user can 1 download this resource item list and then present it to the operations center 114 to obtain 2 the actual resource items, or the user can instruct the website to directly transfer the 3 resource item list to the operations center 114 for processing. For example, the entity that a administers the operations center 114 may itself sponsor this website to promote consumption of its resource items. Or an entity associated with one of the information 6 sources 120 may sponsor this website for the same reason.
In a third example, assume that a professor is designing a university course that g pertains to environmental awareness. The course requires students to view a collection of 9 television documentaries regarding global warming that originally aired within the past to three years. A resource item list can be created that identifies these resource items and ~ 1 the order in which they are to be presented to students. The students taking the class can 12 access the resource item list and consume the resource items in the suggested order ~3 identified in the list.
~a The above scenarios are merely illustrative; the list functionality has a great I s number of additional applications.
16 Further, the client list handling module 140 can apply other techniques for 1 receiving resource items from other sources 132 (such as broadcast sources).
For 1g instance, suppose that the resource item list identifies resource items that can only be 19 obtained from a conventional broadcast source, such as a conventional cable or satellite Zo broadcast source. In this case, the client list handling module 140 can be configured to 21 tune a tuner (not shown) of the client processing device 102 to receive the resource items 22 transmitted by the broadcast sources 132. For example, assume that a resource list zs identifies three television shows airing at 7:00 PM, 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM
on a as particular day, but on three different broadcast channels. The client list handling module 25 140 can receive the television shows by automatically and successively tuning the tuner 1 ~ ~ of the client processing device 102 to receive these programs at the allotted respective z 11 times.
Still further variations of the above-described list functionality can be a implemented by the system 100. For instance, the list functionality can be implemented s entirely in local mode without interaction with the operations center 114 or the other 6 content sources 132. Assume, for example, that the local store 136 of client processing device 102 contains a jukebox repository of resource items, such as movies.
The user of s I I this device 102 can create a resource item list or receive a resource time list, which culls a 9 subset of resource items from the local store 134 for playback.
to Further, in any of the above implementations, the entity that submits the resource 11 item list need not be the entity which receives the associated resource items. The iz resource item list can include information that identifies an alternative recipient of such 13 resource items (or this information can be conveyed by some other source of routing ~4 information besides the resource item list).
is Sections A.2 and A.3 below provide yet further details regarding exemplary 16 features of the list functionality.
To conclude the discussion of Fig. 1, other features of the dissemination module ~a 128 are generally represented in Fig. 1 by the module generically labeled "other i9 modules" 152. Other information maintained by the operations center 114 is generally zo represented in Fig. 1 by the store generically labeled "other information"
154. As the z~ primary focus of this disclosure concerns the list functionality, a detailed discussion of zz such other modules 152 and other information 154 will be omitted here.
z3 Fig. 2 provides further details regarding one exemplary implementation 200 of the za system 100 shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the operations center 114 can be implemented as zs one or more computer servers, such as a farm of computer servers. A
computer server refers to a computer device that is configured to provide a service to requesting client 2 processing devices. Although not shown, a computer server can include one or more 3 processors (e.g., CPUs), random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a various media storage drives, various network interface functionality, various input and s output devices, various internal coupling mechanisms (such as buses), and so on. The 6 operations center 114 can dedicate different servers 202 to handling different functions provided by the operations center 114, such as administrative tasks, receiving/recording a tasks, resource item dissemination tasks, and so on. The operations center 202 can 9 alternatively, or in addition, allocate plural servers 202 to performing the same tasks to using various load balancing algorithms to meet client demand for services.
As 11 mentioned above, the functionality associated with the operations center 114 can be lz implemented at a single site or distributed over plural sites.
13 The information content store 118, user resource item list store 142 and other is information store 154 shown in Fig. 1 can be implemented by the collection of data stores ~5 204 shown in Fig. 2. These data stores 204 can represent any kind of magnetic storage 16 media, optical storage media, solid state type storage media, or other kind of storage 1~ media. The data stores 204 can be maintained using any kind of database management 18 technology. The data stores 204 can be implemented at a single site or distributed over 19 plural sites.
zo In one implementation, the network coupling mechanism 116 can be implemented zl as a wide area network (WAN) 206 governed by the TCP/IP protocols (such as the zz Internet). Such a network can include various hardwired and/or wireless communication z3 links, routers, gateways, name servers, and so on (not shown). Other types of networks z4 can be used besides a TCP/IP WAN 206, such as an intranet, a LAN network, various zs kinds of wireless communication networks, and so on.
As noted above, the computer processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can be 2 implemented as set-top boxes or other application-specific units (such as game consoles, 3 e.g., XboxTM game consoles produced by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, 4 Washington), general purpose computer devices, processing mechanisms integrated into s the client presentation devices (108, 110, ... 112) themselves, or other implementations.
6 In any case, as illustrated by exemplary client processing device 102, the client processing devices can include one or more processors 208 for executing machine s readable code, ROM memory 210 and RAM memory 212 for storing machine readable 9 code and other data, a network interface 214 for interacting with the operations center l0 114 via the TCP/IP network 206, local storage 136, an I/O interface 216 for interacting ~ 1 with one or more user input devices, an audio-visual (A/V) interface 218 for interacting iz with the client presentation device 108, one or more optional tuners 220 for receiving 13 conventional broadcast resource items from the other sources 132, and various other ~a modules 222. One or more busses 224 couple all of the above-identified components Is together and coordinate their cooperation.
16 The client presentation device 108 is shown Fig. 2 as a television 226, although m the client presentation device 108 could also be implemented as a stereo output system, is other some other kind of media output device. In other cases, the client presentation 19 device 108 can represent a combination of different output devices working in ao cooperation to present media resource items. The client processing device 102 can be zi configured to present one or more on-screen user interface presentations 228 to assist the 22 user in interacting with the services provided by the operations center 114.
23 A remote controller 230 serves as one possible input device. A user can use the 24 remote controller 230 to select resource items, to pause resource items, to resume zs previously paused resource items, and for performing other tasks. As generally shown in 1 Fig. 2, the remote controller 230 includes a collection of keys 232, a control module 234 2 for processing the user's actuation of the keys 232 to provide user instructions, and an 3 interface module 236 for transmitting the user's instructions to the client processing 4 device 102 via wireless communication (e.g., infrared communication).
Function specific s keys can be devoted to interacting with resource item lists, such as one or more keys to 6 create a list, one or more keys to view a list, one or more keys to transmit or receive a list, one or more keys to invoke a list, and so on.
A number of other input devices 238 can be used to interact with the services 9 provided by the operations center 114, in addition to, or as substitute for, the remote to controller 230. For example, the other input devices 238 can represent a keyboard, a 11 mouse-type input device, a joystick, and so on. Alternatively, a user can user a separate 12 computer device (such as a general purpose computer, a laptop computer, etc.) to enter i3 commands to the operations center 114 and to receive feedback from the operations i4 center 114, to thereby control the presentation of resource items on the client presentation ~S device 108. This functionality can be achieved by coupling the separate computer device t6 directly to the client processing device 102; this enables the client processing device 102 1~ to directly receive commands from the separate computer device.
Alternatively, this ~ g functionality can be achieved by coupling the separate computer device directly to the 19 operations center 114 via the TCP/IP WAN network 206; in this case, the operations 2o center 114 can forward the user's commands back down to the client processing device 2~ 102 to thereby control the presentation of resource items on the client presentation device 22 1 O8.
23 The implementation 200 is only exemplary; the system 100 shown in Fig. 1 can 24 be implemented in other kinds of technical and commercial environments besides that zs shown in Fig. 2.
i A.2. Resource Item List Functionality z Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate additional features of the list functionality, namely the 3 functionality provided by the client list handling module 140 and the OC
list handling 4 module 138. To begin with, Fig. 3 indicates that the content store 118 stores a plurality s of resource items (Item-Item") 302. The contents of the resource items 302 are depicted 6 as respective streams of information to conceptually illustrate the temporal manner in which these resource items can be distributed and consumed by users.
s A resource item list 304 specifies multiple resource item descriptors (Descpl-9 Descp~"). The source item list 304 typically specifies only a small subset of the total to number of resource items (Items-Item") in the content store 118 (that is m « n), but this a need not be so. These resource item descriptors can include various fields.
One field for 12 each resource item descriptor can include a link (e.g., denoted as "Ref' in Fig. 3) which 13 points to one or more resource items stored in the content store 118. For instance, one 14 resource item descriptor has a reference (Ref3) 306 which points to Resource Item3 in the is content store 118. Thus, this reference (Ref3) 306 can be used to retrieve Resource Item3 16 and distributed it to the user who submitted the resource item list.
Alternatively, the user 1~ may have only transmitted the single resource identifier (Ref3) 306 to the OC list is handling module 138, rather than the entire resource item list 304.
19 Fig. 4 shows an overview of an exemplary schema 400 that can be used to 2o structure the resource content list. First, the schema 400 identifies the resource item list 2~ itself (e.g., note the Play List entry in the schema 400). Next the schema 400 optionally z2 identifies a sequence which defines the preferred order in which the resource items 23 should be played (e.g., note the Media Sequence entry in the schema 400).
Next the z4 schema 400 defines a number of attributes used to define the resource item that is being as sought. One or more of these attributes are optional, meaning that they can be omitted, 1 and, if so, do not play a role in the matching performed by the OC list handling module 2 138.
More specifically, a "Program Reference Number" attribute identifies reference a information that can be used to retrieve a resource item from the content store 118. A
s "Program Title" attribute provides alpha-numeric information that identifies the desired 6 resource item's title (such as a movie title). A "Program Airing Date"
attribute specifies a date when a desired resource item was presented by a media provider. For example, 8 assume that the content store 118 archives programs that have been presented to users 9 according to a fixed time schedule. The Airing Date attribute specifies one of the dates to on which the provider presented the desired resource item according to this fixed time 11 schedule. A "Program Airing Service" attribute identifies the provider who aired the 12 desired resource item (such as the channel on which the resource item was originally i3 aired). A "Program Airing Time" attribute identifies a time when the desired resource ~4 item was aired. And a "Program Duration" attribute identifies the running length of the is desired resource item.
16 The above-identified attributes are exemplary. As stated above, one or more of 1~ these attributes can be omitted. Or other attributes can be included in addition to those is shown in Fig. 4. In general, a creator of a resource item list can specify many attributes 19 for a resource item descriptor to more precisely pinpoint a desired resource item. On the 20 other hand, a creator can specify fewer attributes if the creator wishes to use a wider 21 "net" to identify matching resource items, and therefore "catch" more resource items.
2z The schema structure shown in Fig. 4 can be implemented in different 23 technology-specific formats. Fig. 5 shows one exemplary Extensible Markup Language 24 (XML) schema that can be used to implement the schema structure shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 shows an example of a resource item list constructed based on the schema z design overview shown in Fig. 5. In general, this resource item list is being used to 3 identify three programs that have a bearing on a particular theme of interest, namely, rain a forest studies. The creator of this list intends for the three resource items to be played in s sequence to optimize comprehension of the material.
In this resource item list, a MediaSequence field specifies that that there are three resource item descriptors in the list that identify three respective resource items to be s played in order. The order of each resource item in the list is identified by an "item 9 order" field associated with each resource item descriptor (e.g., item order = '1' for the to first resource item descriptor). The first resource item descriptor in the resource item list 11 is specified with many attributes, namely, a program reference attribute, a program title iz attribute, a programming airing date attribute, a program airing service attribute, a 13 program airing time attribute, and a program duration attribute.
Accordingly, in the event Ia the content store 118 provides several resource items having the same title, then this is resource item descriptor should precisely specify one of them. In contrast, the second ~6 resource item descriptor specifies only the program reference attribute and the program 1~ title attribute, and accordingly casts a wider "net" for retrieving matching resource items ~s compared to the first resource item descriptor. Finally, the third resource item descriptor 19 specifies a program reference attribute, a program title attribute, a program airing date zo attribute, and a program duration attribute. The third resource item descriptor therefore z~ defines a level of matching specificity that lies somewhere between the first resource zz item descriptor and the second resource item descriptor.
z3 A.3. Exemplary User Interface Functionality za The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106), in conjunction with the OC list zs handling module 138, can present user interface presentations 228 to facilitate the 1 creation of resource item lists and subsequent user interaction with the resource item lists.
2 Figs. 7-9 show three illustrative and exemplary such user interface presentations 228.
Fig. 7 shows an introductory user interface presentation 700 which displays a a menu that allows the user to take various actions with regard to the resource item lists.
One option is to create a new resource item list. Another option is to view or edit a pre-6 existing resource item list. Another option is to transfer a resource item list to a recipient entity, such as another user or a remote repository of lists. Another option is to invoke a s resource item list, prompting, in one implementation, the OC listing handling module 138 9 to retrieve the resource items identified in the list.
to Fig. 8 shows one of many user interface presentations 800 that can be used to i ~ create a resource item list. In the case shown here, the user has activated a master list 802 12 of resource items, namely, a master list of movies within the action genre.
In one ~3 implementation, a third part may furnish the master list over the Internet as a publicly la accessible resource. To create a resource item list from this master list, the user can is invoke the sub-panel interface 804. This sub-panel interface 804 serves as a container for 16 receiving resource item descriptors that will populate the created resource item list. For o instance, in this case, the user wishes to compile a resource item list that features action 18 movies starring a certain movie actor. The user interface presentation 800 can allow the 19 user to transfer entries from the master list to the created resource list by dragging and Zo dropping resource item titles into the sub-panel interface 804, or by using some other 21 technique. The sub-panel interface 804 can include text editing functionality that allows 22 the user to arrange the order of the resource item descriptors in the created list, and so 23 forth. In one implementation, an underlying application can be used to automatically Za build the XML version of the created resource item list by mapping information in the zs created resource item list into the predetermined format specified by the schema shown in 1 Fig. 5. Alternatively, the user remains free to write an XML resource item list document z from scratch, e.g., using any kind of text editor.
When the user eventually commands the operations center 114 to play the a compiled resource item list, the OC list handling module 138 may locate, for a particular resource item, multiple matching resource items provided in the content store 118. In 6 response to this scenario, the OC list handling module 138 can be configured to automatically select one of the matching resource items based on one or more criterion.
8 For instance, as explained above, the OC list handling module 138 can decide to present a 9 matching resource item that is best adapted for presentation on the type of client to processing device that the requesting user is using (e.g., on one end of the scale, an a HDTV television, and, on the other end of the scale, a portable viewing device having a 12 relatively low resolution picture).
13 However, the OC list handling module 138 can alternatively allow the user to 14 expressly pick one of the multiple matching resource items. The user interface presentation 900 shown in Fig. 9 allows the user to perform this operation. In this ~ 6 example, the user interface presentation 900 identifies three matching resource items, all 1 ~ pertaining to the same movie, but otherwise having different properties or metadata 18 associated therewith. This presentation 900 gives the user the option to select one or ~9 more of these resource items for presentation.
ao The type of user interface presentation 900 shown in Fig. 9 can also be used for 2~ cross-selling and up-selling, as was discussed above in Section A.1. For instance, even if 22 there is an exact one-to-one match for a particular resource item descriptor, the OC list 23 handling module 138 can present multiple resource items for review by the user based on za some kind of marketing consideration.
B. Exemplary Method of Operation z Figs. 10-12 describe the operation of the system 100 of Fig. 1 in flowchart form.
3 To facilitate discussion, certain operations are described as constituting distinct steps 4 performed in a certain order. Such implementations are exemplary and non-limiting.
Certain steps described herein can be grouped together and performed in a single 6 operation, and certain steps can be performed in an order that differs from the order employed in the examples set forth in this disclosure.
Fig. 10 shows a procedure 1000 for creating a resource item list and transmitting 9 it to a recipient entity, such as another user or a remote repository. In step 1002, the user to creates the resource item list, or otherwise obtains it. As noted above, this can be 11 accomplished in various ways, such as by using a drag and drop technique in which the ~z user transfers resource item descriptors from one list to another. Or the user can write the 13 resource item list from scratch. Or the user can create the resource item list by modifying I4 one or more existing resource item lists. Or the user can receive a pre-existing resource is item list from any source entity, such as another user, a remote repository of resource i6 item lists, etc.
In step 1004, the user can transfer the resource item list created or obtained in step 18 1002 to a destination (i.e., target) location, such as another user or a remote repository of 19 resource item lists. This transfer can be performed using custom designed list exporting zo functionality, or by using general purpose message transmission tools (e.g., an email zl transmission tool).
zz Fig. 11 describes a procedure 1100 for forwarding a resource item list (or some z3 part thereof) to the operations center 114, and, in response, receiving the resource items z4 specified in the list. That is, in step 1102, the user commands his or her client processing zs device to forward the resource item list (or some part thereof) to the operations center 1 114. In step 1104, the user receives the resource items that were specified in the resource 2 item list from the operations center 114. The operations center 114 can transfer these 3 resource items to the user in a prescribed order identified in the resource item list. In step a 1106, the receiving client processing device presents the resource items on its associated s client presentation device.
Finally, Fig. 12 shows a procedure 1200, performed by the operations center 114, for processing resource item lists forwarded to it by the client processing devices (102, 8 104, ... 106). In step 1202, the OC list handling module 138 receives a resource item list.
9 In step 1204, the OC list handling module 138 retrieves the resource items identified in io the resource item list. This can be performed by matching the attributes of the resource > > item descriptors with identifying information associated with the resource items in the 12 content store 118. In step 1206, the OC list handling module 138 forwards the retrieved 13 resource items to the requesting client processing device. It can do this in streaming ~a mode, bulk mode as a single file or multiple files, or some other mode.
is Fig. 12 shows exemplary operations involved in performing step 1204 to the right ~6 of step 1204. In step 1208, the OC list handling module 138 identifies the next resource 1~ item descriptor to process, which, at the outset, will correspond to the first descriptor 1g entry in the list. In step 1210, the OC list handling module 138 determines whether there ~9 is a one-to-one correspondence between the resource item descriptor and a resource item 2o stored in the content store 118. If this is the case, then, in step 1212, the OC list handling 2~ module 138 retrieves the one matching item. If there are multiple matches, then, in step 22 1214, the OC handling module 138 determines the best match based one or more of the 23 considerations discussed in Section A. Then, in step 1216, the OC list handling module 2a 138 retrieves the determined best match from the content store 118. Step 1218 indicates 1 that the above-described procedure is repeated for each resource item descriptor in the 2 resource item list.
4 In closing, a number of examples will be presented in this disclosure in the alternative (e.g., case A or case B). In addition, this disclosure encompasses those cases 6 which combine alternatives in a single implementation (e.g., case A and case B), even 7 though this disclosure may not expressly mention these conjunctive cases in every 8 instance.
More generally, although the subject matter has been described in language to specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the 11 invention defined in the appended claims is not limited to the specific features or acts 12 described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of 13 implementing the claimed invention.
Fig. 2 shows one exemplary implementation of the system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows an exemplary correlation between resource item descriptors in a 8 resource item list and associated resource items provided in a content store used in the 9 system of Fig. 1.
to Fig. 4 shows an overview of an exemplary schema for forming a resource item i i I I list.
12 Fig. 5 shows an exemplary Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema used to 13 implement the schema design of Fig. 4.
14 Fig. 6 shows an exemplary XML resource item list constructed based on the 1 s schema of Fig. 5.
16 Figs. 7-9 show exemplary user interface presentations for interacting with the 1~ system of Fig. 1.
1g Figs 10-12 show a collection of flowcharts for explaining the operation of the ~9 system of Fig. 1.
zl The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and figures to reference like 22 components and features. Series 100 numbers refer to features originally found in Fig. 1, 23 series 200 numbers refer to features originally found in Fig. 2, series 300 numbers refer 24 to features originally found in Fig. 3, and so on.
2 Strategies are described herein for consuming resource items based on a resource 3 ~ ~ item list. The term "resource item" refers to any kind of information resources that can a ~ ~ be consumed by users. In one case, the resource items pertain to audio and/or visual s media programs, such as music, still pictures, audio-visual motion pictures, and so on. In 6 the case of audio-visual resources, the resource items can pertain to any kind of subject matter, such as serial-type dramas and comedies, documentaries, movies, talk shows, a various kinds of sales presentations, news programs, weather information, financial 9 information (e.g., stock information), and so on. In another case, the resource items to pertain to executable computer programs that allow the user to interact with the programs > > (such as computer games, etc.). In another case, the resource items pertain to markup 12 language resources (such as hypertext markup language resources).
13 The term "resource item list" refers to any kind of information used to identify la one or more resource items. The resource item list can be expressed as an Extensible ~5 Markup Language (XML) document, a flat file, a spreadsheet document, a document 16 created by a text editor, or in any other format.
The term "resource item descriptor" refers to any kind of information used to ~8 identify a resource item within a resource item list. As will be described, an exemplary 19 resource item descriptor may include a collection of attributes. The term "attributes"
ao refers to any kind of information that specifies respective properties of a resource item, zi such as a reference ID, name, title, etc.
22 This disclosure includes the following sections. Section A describes an z3 exemplary system for consuming resource items using a resource item list.
Section B
za describes the operation of the system of Section A. To facilitate discussion, the is implementation most commonly evoked in the following discussion involves the dissemination of audio-visual resource items in streaming digital format over a packet 2 network based on a media play list; however, as will be discussed, the functionality 3 described herein can be applied to other types of resource items in other kinds of a I I technical and commercial environments.
s A. Exemplary System for Consuming Resource Items Based on a Resource Item List s A.l. System Overview Fig. 1 shows an exemplary system 100 for consuming resource items based on a io resource item list. By way of overview, the system 100 allows a user to create and/or 11 receive a resource item list that identifies one or more resource items.
For instance, a 12 user may wish to create a resource item list, or receive an already created resource item 13 list from another user or other source, that identifies resource items that have some 14 common theme. The user can invoke this resource item list to automatically receive the is resource items identified therein. These resource items can be presented to the user in the 16 sequential order identified in the resource item list. Retrieval of resource items based on 1~ a resource item list provides a user-friendly approach to the consumption of resources, is particularly where, without such a provision, the user would be forced to manually select 19 individual resource items from a potentially vast pool of resource items.
Additional zo features and attendant benefits of the retrieval of resource items based on lists will be ai II described below.
z2 Generally, any of the functions illustrated in the figures can be implemented using a3 software, firmware (e.g., fixed logic circuitry), manual processing, or a combination of as these implementations. The terms "logic," "module" or "functionality" as used herein zs ~ ~ generally represents software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. For 1 instance, in the case of a software implementation, the terms "logic,"
"module" or 2 "functionality" represents program code that performs specified tasks when executed on a 3 processing device or devices (e.g., CPU or CPUs). The program code can be stored in a one or more computer readable memory devices. The illustrated separation of logic, s modules and functionality into distinct units may reflect an actual physical grouping and 6 allocation of such software and/or hardware, or can correspond to a conceptual allocation of different tasks performed by a single software program and/or hardware unit. The s illustrated logic, modules and functionality can be located at a single site (e.g., as 9 implemented by a processing device), or can be distributed over plural locations.
Io The system 100 includes a plurality of client presentations devices (102, 104, ...
l 106). The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can be implemented in different iz ways to suit different technical and commercial environments. In one case, these client is processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can represent set-top boxes or other application-is specific units which couple to client presentation devices (108, 110, ...
112), where the is client presentation devices (108, 110, ... 112) can represent televisions, stereo systems, or 16 other kinds of information presentation devices. In an alternative implementation, the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can represent general computer devices ~8 which couple to their respective client presentations devices (108, 110, ... 112). In still i9 another example, the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can represent Zo functionality that is integrated into the client presentation devices (108, 110, ... 112) 21 themselves (e.g., in the form of processing boards, detachable cards, etc.).
zz The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can receive resource items (e.g., z3 media programs) from one or more sources. One exemplary source is an operations as center 114 coupled to the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) via a network as coupling mechanism 116 (such as the Internet). The operations center 114 center can 1 generally represent any infrastructure for storing resource items and for distributing the 2 resource items to users upon request over the network coupling mechanism 116. In one 3 case, the operations center 114 can be implemented by computing functionality (e.g., one 4 or more computer servers) housed at a particular site. In another case, the operations s center 114 can be implemented in distributed fashion by computing functionality spread 6 over multiple sites. In one case, a single entity can administer the operations center 114.
In another case, multiple entities can collaboratively implement the operations center 8 114. For instance, in the latter case, plural partners can administer different operation 9 centers which are collectively represented in Fig. 1 as the unified operations center 114.
to Fig. 2 (to be discussed below in turn) describes one technology-specific implementation 1 ~ of the system 100 shown in Fig. 1.
lz The operations center 114 includes an resource item content store 118 for storing 13 the resource items (e.g., media programs). This content store 118 can represent a single is database, or can represent multiple distributed databases spread over multiple respective is sites. The resource items stored in the content store 118 can originate from a number of 16 different sources, generically represented in Fig. 1 as "information sources" 120. The I~ information sources 120 can represent any entity which produces or provides resource 1$ items, such as conventional commercial cable or satellite television providers, one or 19 more commercial Video-On-Demand (VOD) entities, one or more publishing houses, one 20 or more library sources of resource items, any kind of Internet-enabled repository of 2~ information, and so on. In one example, an entity that administers the operations center 22 114 can enter into a contractual arrangement with the entity (or entities) that supply the z3 resource items. In another case, the entity that administers the operations center 114 can Za itself produce at least some of the resource items stored in the content store 118. In any Zs event, the information sources 120 can fall into two principal categories.
A first type 1 corresponds to live sources 122. The live sources 122 correspond to sources that supply 2 resource items that capture live events, or resource items that otherwise have some real-3 time aspect associated with them (such as a televised sporting event or news event, etc.).
4 A second type of source corresponds to pre-recorded sources 124. The pre-recorded s sources 124 correspond to sources that supply resource items that have been already 6 recorded in their entirety. The operations center 114 includes a receiving/recording module 126 for receiving resource items from either the lives sources 122 or the pre-s recorded sources 124 and storing these resource items in the content store 118.
An information dissemination module 128 is configured to handle users' requests ~o for resource items by retrieving the requested resource items from the content store 118 11 and supplying the resource items to the appropriate client processing devices (102, 104, 12 ... 106) via the network coupling mechanism 116. The operations center 114 connects to ~3 the coupling mechanism 116 via the client interface module 130. The client interface 14 module 130 can be implemented as a broadband coupling mechanism or other kind of is coupling mechanism.
16 More specifically, the operations center 114 can apply a unicast paradigm in l~ distributing resource items to client processing devices (102, 104, ...
106). In the unicast 1$ approach, the operations center 114 sends a requested resource item to only that client 19 processing device that requested it. This differs from the traditional broadcast paradigm.
Zo In the broadcast mode, a head-end station simultaneously provides a plurality of 21 programs to a large pool of subscribers. The subscribers then locally tune their respective z2 client processing devices to receive one or more programs of interest. In contrast, in the 23 above-described unicast mode of transfer, the operations center 114 does not transfer any 24 information until it is specifically requested by a user. The unicast mode therefore as provides an economical point-to-point transfer of information compared to the broadcast 1 mode. Further, in the unicast mode, the operations center 114 can simultaneously stream z different parts of the same resource item to different respective users using potentially 3 different transmission settings (e.g., different transmission rates), thereby allowing 4 greater flexibility in information dissemination compared to the broadcast mode (where s all of the subscribers receive the same information at the same time).
The operations center 114 can supply resource items to users using different program-packaging paradigms. In one case, the operations center 102 can group resource s items into different respective "channels," and allow the users to select resource items by 9 specifying channel identifiers. A single channel can provide a defined chronological io sequence of resource items according to the traditional broadcast model of resource item 11 delivery. In this case, the user can receive a desired resource item by "tuning" to the ~z channel at a prescribed time. In another case, a single channel can provide a portal that i3 allows the user to select from a subset of resource items associated with the channel. In la this case, the user can receive a desired resource item by "tuning" to the channel at any is time and selecting one of the resource items that the channel offers in an on-demand 16 manner. In still another case, a single channel can be associated with a single resource 1~ item. In this case, the user can receive this resource item by "tuning" to the channel at 1g any time and selecting this resource item in an on-demand manner. The above-described 19 information delivery paradigm is advantageous because it conforms to a typical user's zo prior experience in dealing with the traditional broadcast delivery of resource items. That zi is, the channel paradigm may promote acceptance of the operations center services zz because the user may feel that he or she is already familiar with its method of operation.
z3 However, again, the operations center 102 employs a unicast point-to-point method of za delivery, rather than broadcast. Accordingly, any reference to "channel"
and "tuning"
zs i used herein (which were originally coined in the context of broadcast services) is to be 2 understood as referring to the expanded meaning of these terms as explained above.
A specific scenario will further clarify one exemplary application of the system 4 100 of Fig. 1. Assume that the operations center 114 devotes itself to archiving television s programs that are broadcast by a provider over a number of different channels from a 6 certain starting date onward. The content store 118 thus serves as a large historical archive from which users can pull resource items, e.g., by specifying the date on which a s resource item "aired," the time at which it aired, the service (e.g., channel) on which it 9 aired, and so on. Further, as the operations center 114 is also archiving new resource to items in real-time mode, it can also serve as a source of current media content for users.
~ 1 Again, this arrangement reflects only one exemplary business-related and technological iz application.
I3 In addition to the operations center 114, or instead of the operations center 114, 14 the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can receive resource items from other is sources (generically referred to in Fig. 1 as "other sources 132"). Such other sources 132 16 may correspond to other operation centers that provide resource items in the manner described above, or might correspond to more traditional broadcast sources, such as 18 conventional satellite or cable head-end sources. The client processing devise (102, 104, 19 ... 106) can receive resource items from broadcast sources by tuning to one or more Zo selected resource items via local tuners (not shown in Fig. 1) in a conventional manner.
zi While the client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can receive resource items zz from any source, to facilitate discussion by providing concrete examples, the following z3 discussion will most commonly evoke the case where resource items are received from 24 the operations center 114 (representing one or more computer servers) via the network as coupling mechanism 116 (e.g., the Internet).
The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) include information selection 2 and presentation modules (such as exemplary module 134 of representative client 3 processing device 102). These selection and presentation modules include functionality 4 for receiving users' selections of resource items, for receiving selected resource items from any one of the above-identified sources, for presenting the selected resource items 6 on respective client presentation devices (108, 110, ... 112), and for performing other tasks to be described below. The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can s additionally include local stores (such as exemplary local store 136 of representative 9 client processing device 102).
to With the above overview of the system 100 as a whole, attention will now be 11 directed to the system 100's functionality for processing resource item lists. As described iz above, a resource item list corresponds to any kind of listing in any kind of format of one 13 or more resource item descriptors. As will be described in greater detail below, a ~a resource item descriptor can identify a corresponding resource item by providing is reference information that indicates where the resource item can be retrieved from, title 16 information, and other attribute information. Resource item lists can be compiled based 1~ on any criterion or combination of criteria. In one example, a user may wish to create or 18 receive a resource item list that groups a collection resource items according to some 19 common theme. Resource item lists can include instructions which prompt the zo operations center 114 to deliver the resource items in a suggested order.
Functionality for performing various tasks associated with the resource item lists 22 (referred to as "list functionality" for brevity) includes an operations center (OC) list 23 handling module 138 located at the operations center 114, and a client list handling Za module located at each client processing device (such as client handling module 140 as located at client processing device 102).
More specifically, the client list handling module 140 can perform various 2 functions. According to one such function, this module 140 can be configured to create 3 resource item lists. There are many ways to perform this task. In one technique, the a client list handling module 140 can create a resource item list by selecting resource item s descriptors from a larger pool of resource item descriptors. Exemplary user interface 6 functionality for performing this operation will be described below in Section A.3.
Alternatively, the user can compile the resource item list from "scratch"
using any kind s of text editor. Still alternatively, the user can create a resource item list by combining 9 two or more pre-existing resource item lists, or by editing a pre-existing resource item list to in any manner (e.g., by adding resource item descriptors, deleting resource item 11 descriptors, or modifying existing resource item descriptors). A client processing device ~2 can store any resource item lists that it creates (or receives) in its local store (such as local ~3 store 136 of client processing device 102).
la The client list handling module 140 can also include functionality for sending a is resource item list to another user or, more generally, to any recipient entity. For instance, 16 a first user may create a resource item list that identifies resource items sharing a 1~ common theme. The first user can then transfer this resource item list to a second user, ~s or can broadcast this resource item list to plural users. The first user can also transfer a ~9 resource item list to a remote repository, such as resource item list database 142 Zo maintained by the operations center 114. In any case, the first user can perform this 21 transfer in various ways. For example, the client list handling module 140 can include a Zz custom designed user interface and associated transfer mechanism for performing this 23 transfer. Alternatively, the client list handling module 140 can rely on existing message as transmission tools to perform this transfer, such as existing email transmission tools.
as The client list handling module 140 can also include functionality for receiving a 1 resource item list from another user or, more generally, any source entity.
For instance, 2 the second user identified above can receive the resource item list that identifies resource 3 items having a common theme from the first user. Any user can also receive a resource a item list from a central repository of such resource item lists, such as the operations s center 114's resource list database 142, or some other source of lists 144.
For example, 6 list source 144 may comprise an Internet-enabled website that allows users to select from a variety of resource item lists. Such a website can permit any user to receive resource s item lists without restriction, or can charge a fee for downloading resource item lists (e.g., 9 by either restricting access to the site to paying subscribers or by charging a fee for each ~o individual resource item list downloaded by a user). In any case, again, the client list 11 handling module 140 can use specifically tailored functionality for receiving the resource ~2 item list, or can rely on existing message transfer mechanisms for receiving the resource 13 item list.
is Finally, once a resource item list has been created or received, the client list is handling module 140 includes functionality for invoking this resource item list to receive ~6 the resource items specified therein. One way to perform this task is to transfer the entire m resource item list to the OC list handling module 138 for processing at this module.
is Another way to perform this task is to transfer only selected resource item descriptors to ~9 the OC list handling module 138. For instance, in the latter case, assume that the 2o resource item list identifies a group of movies. The user may select only one of these 2~ movies and transfer corresponding descriptor information to the OC list handling module z2 138 to obtain this movie. Once again, the client list handling module 140 can use 23 specifically tailored user interface and transmission functionality to perform the above z4 transfer tasks, or can rely on existing general message transmission tools.
1 To facilitate discussion, it is assumed that the operations center 114 is the only 2 head-end "actor" engaged in processing resource item lists. However, the system 100 3 can include multiple operations centers that service different respective groups of 4 subscribing users. These multiple centers can be communicatively coupled together.
s Provisions can be put in place to ensure uniformity in list handling processing among the 6 multiple operations centers. This permits users to use the services of "foreign" operation centers in various circumstances, possibly by paying a surcharge to use these services.
s In any case, upon receiving the resource item list (or some part thereof), the OC
9 list handling module 138 comes into play to provide the resource items identified in the to resource item list. In one case, each resource item descriptor in the resource item list 11 contains reference information that can be used to retrieve an associated resource item ~2 from the content store 118 (or from some other repository or source). That is, in this 13 case, the reference information provides a link between the resource item descriptor and a is particular entry in the content store 118. The OC list handling module 138 can then is coordinate the retrieval of that particular resource item based on the reference 16 information and provide it to the requesting client processing device.
More specifically, in one case, there may be a one-to-one correspondence la between a particular resource item descriptor and a resource item in the content store 118.
~9 The match in this case is therefore unambiguous. In this case, the OC
listing handling Zo module 138 can retrieve this single matching resource item and provide it to the 21 requesting user.
22 In other cases, however, a particular resource item descriptor may map into 23 several matching resource items stored in the content store 118. The OC
list handling Za module 138 can resolve this situation in different ways. According to one technique, the as OC list handling module 138 can automatically select one or more of the matching 1 resource items based on one or more considerations. For instance, the OC
list handling z module 138 can maintain a file that identifies each user's preferences pertaining to the 3 receipt of resource items, and it can consult this file to determine, in the case of multiple a matches, what matching resource items should be presented to the users. For example, assume that a user requests a movie, but there are several renditions of this movie that are 6 stored in the content store 118. One user might have specified, in advance, that he or she wishes to receive movies having the highest quality provided (e.g., HDTV
format).
s Another user might have specified, in advance, that the he or she wishes to receive 9 movies that were originally aired by a certain source (e.g., that were originally aired on a ~ o particular television channel). Another user might have specified, in advance, that he or a she wants to receive movies with the least amount of commercials, and so forth. Users iz may also specify multiple preference criteria, and also assign weighting scores associated 13 with the respective criteria to reflect their importance. In this case, the OC list handling la module 138 can rank the matching resource items based on the plural criteria and is associated weighting scores, and provide the highest ranking resource item to a user. In ~6 one case, users may take active steps to send their preference criteria to the OC list m handling module 138; in another case, the OC list handling module 138 can automatically ~ g discover the users' preference criteria, such as by polling the users' respective client 19 processing devices to discover such criteria (e.g., by determining the formats in which the Zo users' respective client processing devices and presentation devices are configured to 21 receive resource items).
zz Still alternatively, the OC list handling module 138 can be configured to send a 23 query to a user in the event that more than one stored resource item matches a resource 24 item descriptor in their resource item list. For instance, the query can identify the z5 matching resource items and their respective properties and permit the user to select one IS
1 or more of them, whereupon the selected resource items are retrieved from the content 2 store 118 and sent to the user.
The OC list handling module 138 can also enable up-selling and cross-selling a opportunities. For instance, even if there is an exact one-to-one match between a s resource item descriptor and a resource item stored in the content store 118, the OC list 6 handling module 138 can alert the user to the fact that there is a related resource item that can be consumed, in place of, or in addition to, the matching resource item.
This gives s the user the opportunity to select the alternative resource item. Up-selling and cross-9 selling provisions can also be applied in the case that a resource item descriptor matches ~o several resource items stored in the content store 118. For instance, the OC list handling 11 module 138 can automatically pick one of the multiple matching resource items based on 12 various marketing considerations, or can suggest a resource item that is related to the ~3 matching resource items.
is Whatever matching circumstance applies, once matching resource items are ~s identified, the dissemination module 128 can transfer these matching resource items to 16 the requesting user in streaming mode (where the content is streamed to the user's client 1~ processing device in real-time or in substantially real-time fashion).
Alternatively, the is dissemination module 128 can send the matching resource items to the user in bulk mode, 19 e.g., as a file that can be stored by the user's client processing device and played by the Zo user at a time of his or her choosing. In any case, the OC list handling module 138 can be 21 configured to transfer the resource items in the order specified in the resource item list, or 22 in another order determined by the OC listing handling module 138.
as Fig. 1 summarizes the operation of the client list handling module 140 and the OC
24 listing handling module 138 by illustrating a series of operations performed in the system as 100 in one exemplary scenario. In this scenario, one client processing device 104 sends a 1 resource item list (e.g., List XYZ) to another client processing device 102.
This transfer z is represented by a first path 146. Upon receipt, the user of the other processing device 3 102 can invoke the resource item list by transferring the entire resource item list to the 4 OC list handling module 138 in order to retrieve the resource items identified in the s resource item list. This transfer is represented in Fig. 1 as path 148.
Alternatively, the 6 user of the other processing device 102 can forward only certain entries from the resource item list to the OC list handling module 138. In either case, the OC list handling module s 138 can respond by streaming the requested resource items to the client processing device 9 102, or by transferring the resource items en bloc, e.g., as a single file or collection of to files. This transfer is represented as path 150.
11 To yet further clarify the operation of the system 100, the following discussion lz identifies three exemplary applications of the list functionality. In a first example, 13 assume that a parent in household "A" builds a resource item list that identifies four 14 programs that her children enjoy watching on a certain television channel.
A parent of is household "B," a friend of the parent of household "A," also has children, and would like 16 recommendations regarding suitable programs to present to his own children.
To help the parent of household "B," the parent of household "A" can email her resource item list to 1$ the parent of household "B," allowing the children of household "B" to watch the four 19 programs that have been recommended by the parent of household "A." In one zo implementation, the programs have been archived on in the content store 118 of the zi operations center 114, so there neither household need store copies of the actual zz referenced programs.
23 In a second example, assume that an entertainment website is running a feature z4 regarding a prominent actress. A link on the website allows users to download a resource zs item list that identifies award-winning movies that feature this actress.
The user can 1 download this resource item list and then present it to the operations center 114 to obtain 2 the actual resource items, or the user can instruct the website to directly transfer the 3 resource item list to the operations center 114 for processing. For example, the entity that a administers the operations center 114 may itself sponsor this website to promote consumption of its resource items. Or an entity associated with one of the information 6 sources 120 may sponsor this website for the same reason.
In a third example, assume that a professor is designing a university course that g pertains to environmental awareness. The course requires students to view a collection of 9 television documentaries regarding global warming that originally aired within the past to three years. A resource item list can be created that identifies these resource items and ~ 1 the order in which they are to be presented to students. The students taking the class can 12 access the resource item list and consume the resource items in the suggested order ~3 identified in the list.
~a The above scenarios are merely illustrative; the list functionality has a great I s number of additional applications.
16 Further, the client list handling module 140 can apply other techniques for 1 receiving resource items from other sources 132 (such as broadcast sources).
For 1g instance, suppose that the resource item list identifies resource items that can only be 19 obtained from a conventional broadcast source, such as a conventional cable or satellite Zo broadcast source. In this case, the client list handling module 140 can be configured to 21 tune a tuner (not shown) of the client processing device 102 to receive the resource items 22 transmitted by the broadcast sources 132. For example, assume that a resource list zs identifies three television shows airing at 7:00 PM, 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM
on a as particular day, but on three different broadcast channels. The client list handling module 25 140 can receive the television shows by automatically and successively tuning the tuner 1 ~ ~ of the client processing device 102 to receive these programs at the allotted respective z 11 times.
Still further variations of the above-described list functionality can be a implemented by the system 100. For instance, the list functionality can be implemented s entirely in local mode without interaction with the operations center 114 or the other 6 content sources 132. Assume, for example, that the local store 136 of client processing device 102 contains a jukebox repository of resource items, such as movies.
The user of s I I this device 102 can create a resource item list or receive a resource time list, which culls a 9 subset of resource items from the local store 134 for playback.
to Further, in any of the above implementations, the entity that submits the resource 11 item list need not be the entity which receives the associated resource items. The iz resource item list can include information that identifies an alternative recipient of such 13 resource items (or this information can be conveyed by some other source of routing ~4 information besides the resource item list).
is Sections A.2 and A.3 below provide yet further details regarding exemplary 16 features of the list functionality.
To conclude the discussion of Fig. 1, other features of the dissemination module ~a 128 are generally represented in Fig. 1 by the module generically labeled "other i9 modules" 152. Other information maintained by the operations center 114 is generally zo represented in Fig. 1 by the store generically labeled "other information"
154. As the z~ primary focus of this disclosure concerns the list functionality, a detailed discussion of zz such other modules 152 and other information 154 will be omitted here.
z3 Fig. 2 provides further details regarding one exemplary implementation 200 of the za system 100 shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the operations center 114 can be implemented as zs one or more computer servers, such as a farm of computer servers. A
computer server refers to a computer device that is configured to provide a service to requesting client 2 processing devices. Although not shown, a computer server can include one or more 3 processors (e.g., CPUs), random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a various media storage drives, various network interface functionality, various input and s output devices, various internal coupling mechanisms (such as buses), and so on. The 6 operations center 114 can dedicate different servers 202 to handling different functions provided by the operations center 114, such as administrative tasks, receiving/recording a tasks, resource item dissemination tasks, and so on. The operations center 202 can 9 alternatively, or in addition, allocate plural servers 202 to performing the same tasks to using various load balancing algorithms to meet client demand for services.
As 11 mentioned above, the functionality associated with the operations center 114 can be lz implemented at a single site or distributed over plural sites.
13 The information content store 118, user resource item list store 142 and other is information store 154 shown in Fig. 1 can be implemented by the collection of data stores ~5 204 shown in Fig. 2. These data stores 204 can represent any kind of magnetic storage 16 media, optical storage media, solid state type storage media, or other kind of storage 1~ media. The data stores 204 can be maintained using any kind of database management 18 technology. The data stores 204 can be implemented at a single site or distributed over 19 plural sites.
zo In one implementation, the network coupling mechanism 116 can be implemented zl as a wide area network (WAN) 206 governed by the TCP/IP protocols (such as the zz Internet). Such a network can include various hardwired and/or wireless communication z3 links, routers, gateways, name servers, and so on (not shown). Other types of networks z4 can be used besides a TCP/IP WAN 206, such as an intranet, a LAN network, various zs kinds of wireless communication networks, and so on.
As noted above, the computer processing devices (102, 104, ... 106) can be 2 implemented as set-top boxes or other application-specific units (such as game consoles, 3 e.g., XboxTM game consoles produced by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, 4 Washington), general purpose computer devices, processing mechanisms integrated into s the client presentation devices (108, 110, ... 112) themselves, or other implementations.
6 In any case, as illustrated by exemplary client processing device 102, the client processing devices can include one or more processors 208 for executing machine s readable code, ROM memory 210 and RAM memory 212 for storing machine readable 9 code and other data, a network interface 214 for interacting with the operations center l0 114 via the TCP/IP network 206, local storage 136, an I/O interface 216 for interacting ~ 1 with one or more user input devices, an audio-visual (A/V) interface 218 for interacting iz with the client presentation device 108, one or more optional tuners 220 for receiving 13 conventional broadcast resource items from the other sources 132, and various other ~a modules 222. One or more busses 224 couple all of the above-identified components Is together and coordinate their cooperation.
16 The client presentation device 108 is shown Fig. 2 as a television 226, although m the client presentation device 108 could also be implemented as a stereo output system, is other some other kind of media output device. In other cases, the client presentation 19 device 108 can represent a combination of different output devices working in ao cooperation to present media resource items. The client processing device 102 can be zi configured to present one or more on-screen user interface presentations 228 to assist the 22 user in interacting with the services provided by the operations center 114.
23 A remote controller 230 serves as one possible input device. A user can use the 24 remote controller 230 to select resource items, to pause resource items, to resume zs previously paused resource items, and for performing other tasks. As generally shown in 1 Fig. 2, the remote controller 230 includes a collection of keys 232, a control module 234 2 for processing the user's actuation of the keys 232 to provide user instructions, and an 3 interface module 236 for transmitting the user's instructions to the client processing 4 device 102 via wireless communication (e.g., infrared communication).
Function specific s keys can be devoted to interacting with resource item lists, such as one or more keys to 6 create a list, one or more keys to view a list, one or more keys to transmit or receive a list, one or more keys to invoke a list, and so on.
A number of other input devices 238 can be used to interact with the services 9 provided by the operations center 114, in addition to, or as substitute for, the remote to controller 230. For example, the other input devices 238 can represent a keyboard, a 11 mouse-type input device, a joystick, and so on. Alternatively, a user can user a separate 12 computer device (such as a general purpose computer, a laptop computer, etc.) to enter i3 commands to the operations center 114 and to receive feedback from the operations i4 center 114, to thereby control the presentation of resource items on the client presentation ~S device 108. This functionality can be achieved by coupling the separate computer device t6 directly to the client processing device 102; this enables the client processing device 102 1~ to directly receive commands from the separate computer device.
Alternatively, this ~ g functionality can be achieved by coupling the separate computer device directly to the 19 operations center 114 via the TCP/IP WAN network 206; in this case, the operations 2o center 114 can forward the user's commands back down to the client processing device 2~ 102 to thereby control the presentation of resource items on the client presentation device 22 1 O8.
23 The implementation 200 is only exemplary; the system 100 shown in Fig. 1 can 24 be implemented in other kinds of technical and commercial environments besides that zs shown in Fig. 2.
i A.2. Resource Item List Functionality z Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate additional features of the list functionality, namely the 3 functionality provided by the client list handling module 140 and the OC
list handling 4 module 138. To begin with, Fig. 3 indicates that the content store 118 stores a plurality s of resource items (Item-Item") 302. The contents of the resource items 302 are depicted 6 as respective streams of information to conceptually illustrate the temporal manner in which these resource items can be distributed and consumed by users.
s A resource item list 304 specifies multiple resource item descriptors (Descpl-9 Descp~"). The source item list 304 typically specifies only a small subset of the total to number of resource items (Items-Item") in the content store 118 (that is m « n), but this a need not be so. These resource item descriptors can include various fields.
One field for 12 each resource item descriptor can include a link (e.g., denoted as "Ref' in Fig. 3) which 13 points to one or more resource items stored in the content store 118. For instance, one 14 resource item descriptor has a reference (Ref3) 306 which points to Resource Item3 in the is content store 118. Thus, this reference (Ref3) 306 can be used to retrieve Resource Item3 16 and distributed it to the user who submitted the resource item list.
Alternatively, the user 1~ may have only transmitted the single resource identifier (Ref3) 306 to the OC list is handling module 138, rather than the entire resource item list 304.
19 Fig. 4 shows an overview of an exemplary schema 400 that can be used to 2o structure the resource content list. First, the schema 400 identifies the resource item list 2~ itself (e.g., note the Play List entry in the schema 400). Next the schema 400 optionally z2 identifies a sequence which defines the preferred order in which the resource items 23 should be played (e.g., note the Media Sequence entry in the schema 400).
Next the z4 schema 400 defines a number of attributes used to define the resource item that is being as sought. One or more of these attributes are optional, meaning that they can be omitted, 1 and, if so, do not play a role in the matching performed by the OC list handling module 2 138.
More specifically, a "Program Reference Number" attribute identifies reference a information that can be used to retrieve a resource item from the content store 118. A
s "Program Title" attribute provides alpha-numeric information that identifies the desired 6 resource item's title (such as a movie title). A "Program Airing Date"
attribute specifies a date when a desired resource item was presented by a media provider. For example, 8 assume that the content store 118 archives programs that have been presented to users 9 according to a fixed time schedule. The Airing Date attribute specifies one of the dates to on which the provider presented the desired resource item according to this fixed time 11 schedule. A "Program Airing Service" attribute identifies the provider who aired the 12 desired resource item (such as the channel on which the resource item was originally i3 aired). A "Program Airing Time" attribute identifies a time when the desired resource ~4 item was aired. And a "Program Duration" attribute identifies the running length of the is desired resource item.
16 The above-identified attributes are exemplary. As stated above, one or more of 1~ these attributes can be omitted. Or other attributes can be included in addition to those is shown in Fig. 4. In general, a creator of a resource item list can specify many attributes 19 for a resource item descriptor to more precisely pinpoint a desired resource item. On the 20 other hand, a creator can specify fewer attributes if the creator wishes to use a wider 21 "net" to identify matching resource items, and therefore "catch" more resource items.
2z The schema structure shown in Fig. 4 can be implemented in different 23 technology-specific formats. Fig. 5 shows one exemplary Extensible Markup Language 24 (XML) schema that can be used to implement the schema structure shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 shows an example of a resource item list constructed based on the schema z design overview shown in Fig. 5. In general, this resource item list is being used to 3 identify three programs that have a bearing on a particular theme of interest, namely, rain a forest studies. The creator of this list intends for the three resource items to be played in s sequence to optimize comprehension of the material.
In this resource item list, a MediaSequence field specifies that that there are three resource item descriptors in the list that identify three respective resource items to be s played in order. The order of each resource item in the list is identified by an "item 9 order" field associated with each resource item descriptor (e.g., item order = '1' for the to first resource item descriptor). The first resource item descriptor in the resource item list 11 is specified with many attributes, namely, a program reference attribute, a program title iz attribute, a programming airing date attribute, a program airing service attribute, a 13 program airing time attribute, and a program duration attribute.
Accordingly, in the event Ia the content store 118 provides several resource items having the same title, then this is resource item descriptor should precisely specify one of them. In contrast, the second ~6 resource item descriptor specifies only the program reference attribute and the program 1~ title attribute, and accordingly casts a wider "net" for retrieving matching resource items ~s compared to the first resource item descriptor. Finally, the third resource item descriptor 19 specifies a program reference attribute, a program title attribute, a program airing date zo attribute, and a program duration attribute. The third resource item descriptor therefore z~ defines a level of matching specificity that lies somewhere between the first resource zz item descriptor and the second resource item descriptor.
z3 A.3. Exemplary User Interface Functionality za The client processing devices (102, 104, ... 106), in conjunction with the OC list zs handling module 138, can present user interface presentations 228 to facilitate the 1 creation of resource item lists and subsequent user interaction with the resource item lists.
2 Figs. 7-9 show three illustrative and exemplary such user interface presentations 228.
Fig. 7 shows an introductory user interface presentation 700 which displays a a menu that allows the user to take various actions with regard to the resource item lists.
One option is to create a new resource item list. Another option is to view or edit a pre-6 existing resource item list. Another option is to transfer a resource item list to a recipient entity, such as another user or a remote repository of lists. Another option is to invoke a s resource item list, prompting, in one implementation, the OC listing handling module 138 9 to retrieve the resource items identified in the list.
to Fig. 8 shows one of many user interface presentations 800 that can be used to i ~ create a resource item list. In the case shown here, the user has activated a master list 802 12 of resource items, namely, a master list of movies within the action genre.
In one ~3 implementation, a third part may furnish the master list over the Internet as a publicly la accessible resource. To create a resource item list from this master list, the user can is invoke the sub-panel interface 804. This sub-panel interface 804 serves as a container for 16 receiving resource item descriptors that will populate the created resource item list. For o instance, in this case, the user wishes to compile a resource item list that features action 18 movies starring a certain movie actor. The user interface presentation 800 can allow the 19 user to transfer entries from the master list to the created resource list by dragging and Zo dropping resource item titles into the sub-panel interface 804, or by using some other 21 technique. The sub-panel interface 804 can include text editing functionality that allows 22 the user to arrange the order of the resource item descriptors in the created list, and so 23 forth. In one implementation, an underlying application can be used to automatically Za build the XML version of the created resource item list by mapping information in the zs created resource item list into the predetermined format specified by the schema shown in 1 Fig. 5. Alternatively, the user remains free to write an XML resource item list document z from scratch, e.g., using any kind of text editor.
When the user eventually commands the operations center 114 to play the a compiled resource item list, the OC list handling module 138 may locate, for a particular resource item, multiple matching resource items provided in the content store 118. In 6 response to this scenario, the OC list handling module 138 can be configured to automatically select one of the matching resource items based on one or more criterion.
8 For instance, as explained above, the OC list handling module 138 can decide to present a 9 matching resource item that is best adapted for presentation on the type of client to processing device that the requesting user is using (e.g., on one end of the scale, an a HDTV television, and, on the other end of the scale, a portable viewing device having a 12 relatively low resolution picture).
13 However, the OC list handling module 138 can alternatively allow the user to 14 expressly pick one of the multiple matching resource items. The user interface presentation 900 shown in Fig. 9 allows the user to perform this operation. In this ~ 6 example, the user interface presentation 900 identifies three matching resource items, all 1 ~ pertaining to the same movie, but otherwise having different properties or metadata 18 associated therewith. This presentation 900 gives the user the option to select one or ~9 more of these resource items for presentation.
ao The type of user interface presentation 900 shown in Fig. 9 can also be used for 2~ cross-selling and up-selling, as was discussed above in Section A.1. For instance, even if 22 there is an exact one-to-one match for a particular resource item descriptor, the OC list 23 handling module 138 can present multiple resource items for review by the user based on za some kind of marketing consideration.
B. Exemplary Method of Operation z Figs. 10-12 describe the operation of the system 100 of Fig. 1 in flowchart form.
3 To facilitate discussion, certain operations are described as constituting distinct steps 4 performed in a certain order. Such implementations are exemplary and non-limiting.
Certain steps described herein can be grouped together and performed in a single 6 operation, and certain steps can be performed in an order that differs from the order employed in the examples set forth in this disclosure.
Fig. 10 shows a procedure 1000 for creating a resource item list and transmitting 9 it to a recipient entity, such as another user or a remote repository. In step 1002, the user to creates the resource item list, or otherwise obtains it. As noted above, this can be 11 accomplished in various ways, such as by using a drag and drop technique in which the ~z user transfers resource item descriptors from one list to another. Or the user can write the 13 resource item list from scratch. Or the user can create the resource item list by modifying I4 one or more existing resource item lists. Or the user can receive a pre-existing resource is item list from any source entity, such as another user, a remote repository of resource i6 item lists, etc.
In step 1004, the user can transfer the resource item list created or obtained in step 18 1002 to a destination (i.e., target) location, such as another user or a remote repository of 19 resource item lists. This transfer can be performed using custom designed list exporting zo functionality, or by using general purpose message transmission tools (e.g., an email zl transmission tool).
zz Fig. 11 describes a procedure 1100 for forwarding a resource item list (or some z3 part thereof) to the operations center 114, and, in response, receiving the resource items z4 specified in the list. That is, in step 1102, the user commands his or her client processing zs device to forward the resource item list (or some part thereof) to the operations center 1 114. In step 1104, the user receives the resource items that were specified in the resource 2 item list from the operations center 114. The operations center 114 can transfer these 3 resource items to the user in a prescribed order identified in the resource item list. In step a 1106, the receiving client processing device presents the resource items on its associated s client presentation device.
Finally, Fig. 12 shows a procedure 1200, performed by the operations center 114, for processing resource item lists forwarded to it by the client processing devices (102, 8 104, ... 106). In step 1202, the OC list handling module 138 receives a resource item list.
9 In step 1204, the OC list handling module 138 retrieves the resource items identified in io the resource item list. This can be performed by matching the attributes of the resource > > item descriptors with identifying information associated with the resource items in the 12 content store 118. In step 1206, the OC list handling module 138 forwards the retrieved 13 resource items to the requesting client processing device. It can do this in streaming ~a mode, bulk mode as a single file or multiple files, or some other mode.
is Fig. 12 shows exemplary operations involved in performing step 1204 to the right ~6 of step 1204. In step 1208, the OC list handling module 138 identifies the next resource 1~ item descriptor to process, which, at the outset, will correspond to the first descriptor 1g entry in the list. In step 1210, the OC list handling module 138 determines whether there ~9 is a one-to-one correspondence between the resource item descriptor and a resource item 2o stored in the content store 118. If this is the case, then, in step 1212, the OC list handling 2~ module 138 retrieves the one matching item. If there are multiple matches, then, in step 22 1214, the OC handling module 138 determines the best match based one or more of the 23 considerations discussed in Section A. Then, in step 1216, the OC list handling module 2a 138 retrieves the determined best match from the content store 118. Step 1218 indicates 1 that the above-described procedure is repeated for each resource item descriptor in the 2 resource item list.
4 In closing, a number of examples will be presented in this disclosure in the alternative (e.g., case A or case B). In addition, this disclosure encompasses those cases 6 which combine alternatives in a single implementation (e.g., case A and case B), even 7 though this disclosure may not expressly mention these conjunctive cases in every 8 instance.
More generally, although the subject matter has been described in language to specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the 11 invention defined in the appended claims is not limited to the specific features or acts 12 described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of 13 implementing the claimed invention.
Claims (37)
1. A method for providing plural resource items from a content store, comprising:
receiving a resource item list from a client processing device, the resource item list including plural resource item descriptors that identify resource items provided in the content store;
automatically retrieving the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors from the content store; and providing the retrieved resource items to the client processing device for presentation thereat.
receiving a resource item list from a client processing device, the resource item list including plural resource item descriptors that identify resource items provided in the content store;
automatically retrieving the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors from the content store; and providing the retrieved resource items to the client processing device for presentation thereat.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource item list is expressed in a markup language.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the markup language is the Extensible Markup Language (XML).
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a schema governs the contents and organization of the resource item list.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each resource item descriptor includes at least one attribute.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein each resource item descriptor includes plural attributes, a subset of which are optional.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource item list includes information that specifies an order in which the resource items are to be presented.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the retrieving determines, in one case, that at least two resource items match at least one of the resource item descriptors in the resource item list.
9. The method according to claim 8, further including selecting one of said at least two resource items based on at least one consideration.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said at least one consideration pertains to a presentation feature of a rendering client presentation device that will render the selected resource item.
11. A computer readable medium including machine readable instructions for implementing the receiving, retrieving and providing of any one of claims 1 to 10.
12. A method for retrieving plural resource items from a content store of an operations center, comprising:
obtaining, at a client processing device, a resource item list, the resource item list including plural resource item descriptors that identify respective resource items provided in the content store of the operations center;
forwarding the resource item list to the operations center;
receiving the resource item list at the operations center;
retrieving the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors from the content store; and providing the retrieved resource items to the client processing device for presentation thereat.
obtaining, at a client processing device, a resource item list, the resource item list including plural resource item descriptors that identify respective resource items provided in the content store of the operations center;
forwarding the resource item list to the operations center;
receiving the resource item list at the operations center;
retrieving the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors from the content store; and providing the retrieved resource items to the client processing device for presentation thereat.
13. The method according to claim 12, where the obtaining includes receiving the resource item list from a source entity.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the source entity is another computer processing device.
15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the obtaining involves creating the resource item list.
16. A computer readable medium including machine readable instructions for implementing the obtaining, forwarding, receiving, retrieving and providing of any one of claims 12 to 15.
17. A server apparatus for providing plural resource items, comprising:
a content store providing plural resource items;
logic configured to receive a resource item list from a client processing device, the resource item list including plural resource item descriptors that identify resource items provided in the content store;
logic configured to automatically retrieve the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors from the content store; and logic configured to provide the retrieved resource items to the client processing device for presentation thereat.
a content store providing plural resource items;
logic configured to receive a resource item list from a client processing device, the resource item list including plural resource item descriptors that identify resource items provided in the content store;
logic configured to automatically retrieve the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors from the content store; and logic configured to provide the retrieved resource items to the client processing device for presentation thereat.
18. The server apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the resource item list is expressed in a markup language.
19. The server apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the markup language is the Extensible Markup Language (XML).
20. The server apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a schema governs the contents and organization of the resource item list.
21. The server apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each resource item descriptor includes at least one attribute.
22. The server apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each resource item descriptor includes plural attributes, a subset of which are optional.
23. The server apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the resource item list includes information that specifies an order in which the resource items are to be presented.
24. The server apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the logic for retrieving is configured to determine, in one case, that at least two resource items match at least one of the resource item descriptors in the resource item list.
25. The server apparatus according to claim 24, further including logic configured to select one of said at least two resource items based on at least one consideration.
26. The server apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said at least one consideration pertains to a presentation feature of a rendering client presentation device that will render the selected resource item.
27. A computer readable medium including machine readable instructions for implementing the logic for receiving, logic for retrieving, and logic for providing of claim 17.
28. A system for retrieving plural resource items, comprising:
a computer processing device, including:
logic configured to obtain a resource item list, the resource item list including plural resource item descriptors that identify respective resource items; and logic configured to forward the resource item list to an operations center;
the operations center including:
a content store for storing resource items;
logic configured to receive the resource item list;
logic configured to retrieve the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors in the resource item list from the content store; and logic configured to provide the retrieved resource items to the client processing device for presentation thereat.
a computer processing device, including:
logic configured to obtain a resource item list, the resource item list including plural resource item descriptors that identify respective resource items; and logic configured to forward the resource item list to an operations center;
the operations center including:
a content store for storing resource items;
logic configured to receive the resource item list;
logic configured to retrieve the resource items identified by the resource item descriptors in the resource item list from the content store; and logic configured to provide the retrieved resource items to the client processing device for presentation thereat.
29. The system according to claim 28, where the logic for obtaining is configured to receive the resource item list from a source entity.
30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the source entity is another computer processing device.
31. The system according to claim 28, wherein the logic for obtaining is configured to create the resource item list.
32. A computer readable medium including machine readable instructions for implementing the logic for obtaining, logic for forwarding, logic for receiving, logic for retrieving and logic for providing of claim 28.
33. A computer related media including, stored thereon, a resource item list having at least one resource item descriptor, wherein said at least one resource item descriptor links to at least one resource item stored in a content store, comprising:
a first field that identifies an order in which resource items associated with said at least one resource item descriptor are to be presented to the user;
a second field that identifies said at least one resource item descriptor, wherein the second field includes at least one attribute that specifies a property of said at least one resource item descriptor.
a first field that identifies an order in which resource items associated with said at least one resource item descriptor are to be presented to the user;
a second field that identifies said at least one resource item descriptor, wherein the second field includes at least one attribute that specifies a property of said at least one resource item descriptor.
34. The computer readable media according to claim 33, wherein said at least one attribute includes an attribute which specifies where to locate a resource item corresponding to said at least one resource item descriptor in the content store.
35. The computer readable medium according to claim 34, wherein said at least one attribute includes at least one additional attribute, selected from:
a first attribute that specifies a title of a matching resource item;
a second attribute that specifies an airing date on which the matching resource item was aired;
a third attribute that specifies an airing service that aired the matching resource item;
a fourth attribute which specifies an airing time at which the matching resource item was aired; and a fifth attribute which specifies a duration of the matching resource item.
a first attribute that specifies a title of a matching resource item;
a second attribute that specifies an airing date on which the matching resource item was aired;
a third attribute that specifies an airing service that aired the matching resource item;
a fourth attribute which specifies an airing time at which the matching resource item was aired; and a fifth attribute which specifies a duration of the matching resource item.
36. The computer readable medium according to claim 35, wherein at least one of said first through fifth attributes is optional.
37
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