WO2003098914A2

WO2003098914A2 - Method and system for supplying video-on-demand content

Info

Publication number: WO2003098914A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/014392
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nathaniel J. Thurston; Devin Hosea
Original assignee: Predictive Media Corporation
Priority date: 2002-05-08
Filing date: 2003-05-08
Publication date: 2003-11-27
Also published as: AU2003269301A1; WO2003098914A3; AU2003269301A8

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for automatically capturing and supplying a video-on-demand (VOD) library to a subscriber system (150-1…150-n) by a provider system (110). A viewing-preference profile is generated for a viewer at the subscriber system (150-1…150-n), VOD content is automatically captured from available video content at the provider system (110) based upon the viewing-preference profile, and captured VOD content is supplied to the subscriber system (150-1…150-n) for use by the viewer. In one form, VOD content is updated by the automatic capture of newly available video content at the provider system (110).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING VIDEO-ON-DEMAND CONTENT

[01] The application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. provisional application 60/378,823 filed May 8, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[02] This application hereby incorporates by reference as if contained herein the commonly-assigned patent applications identified below by serial number, title, and filing date.

U.S. Patent Application No. 60/338,398, entitled: "Modal and Recommendation Based Electronic Program Guide and Method for Selecting Television Programming," filed December 7, 2001;

U.S. Patent Application No. 10/004,565, entitled: "Television Navigation Program Guide," filed December 5, 2001;

U.S. Patent Application No. 60/339,082, entitled: "Method and System for Selective Initial Television Channel Display," filed October 22, 2001;

U.S. Patent Application No. 09/969,911, entitled: "Non-Deterministic Method and System for the Optimization of Targeted Content Delivery," filed October 3, 2001; U.S. P atent Application No. 60/315,835, entitled: "Method and System for Parsing Purchase Information from Web Pages," filed August 29, 2001; U.S. Patent Application No. 09/928,493, entitled: "Predicting the Activities of An Individual or Group Using Minimal Information," filed August 13, 2001; U.S. Patent Application No. 09/877,974, entitled: "Method And System For Profiling iTV Users And For Providing Selective Content Delivery," filed June 7, 2001; U.S. Patent Application No. 60/282,028, entitled: Method and Apparatus for Identifying Unique Client Users from Clickstream, Keystroke and/or Mouse : Behavioral Data"," filed April 6, 2001 ; U.S. Patent Application No. 09/798,337, entitled: "Method and System for Selective Content Display," filed March 2, 2001;

U.S. Patent Application No. 09/777,807, entitled: "Method and System for Web Page Personalization," filed February 5, 2001;

U.S. Patent Application No. 09/767,793, entitled: "Method and System for Scheduling Online Targeted Content Delivery," filed January 23, 2001; U.S. Patent Application No. 09/766,377, entitled: "Method and Apparatus for Data Clustering," filed January 19, 2001;

PCT International Publication No. PCT/US 00/24442 entitled: "Method and System for Web User Profiling and Selective Content Delivery," filed September 6, 2000; and U.S. Patent Application No. 09/558,755, entitled: "Method and System for Web User Profiling and Selective Content Delivery," filed April 21, 2000. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[03] Aspects of the present invention are directed to television and other content distribution systems. More particularly, aspects of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for automatically capturing and supplying customized video on-demand libraries for on demand use by subscribers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[04] Television has become a cornerstone for both information transfer and entertainment. The ability to reach people in a greater number of manners has increased as well. Television content is available from a variety of video distribution sources, including conventional television broadcasts, cable systems, satellite networks, and the Internet. Today, the average viewer is inundated with video content choices. This abundance of video content choices creates a multitude of problems for the average viewer. For example, with cable companies offering hundreds of channels for viewing, a viewer may have to 'surf through these hundreds of channels to identify some content for viewmg that is consistent with her preferences. Alternatively, the viewer may be required to interact with an electronic or interactive programming guide to identify video content that is consistent with her viewmg preferences. Direct interaction on the part of the viewer is time consuming, and such interaction does not guarantee that the viewer will identify video content that is consistent with her viewing preferences.

[05] In addition, once video content has been identified for viewing, constraints inherent in the content distribution system impose a time delay in viewing the identified video content. Video content distribution systems typically operate under predetermined time schedules for the viewing of video content. For example, a pay-per-view movie may only be available to view at certain times of the day, such that the viewer may be required to forego viewing identified video content until a time occurs when such identified video content is scheduled for viewing. [06] Video-on-demand (VOD) service was developed to address some of these problems since such services allow the viewer to view video content on-demand so that the time constraint limitation is effectively eliminated. However, existing VOD services still require a viewer to interact with the content distribution source to identify particular video content for immediate viewing. Moreover, due to the current structures of VOD services, typically the viewer is required to interact with the content distribution system for each individual VOD service request.

[07] The system architectures of some content distribution sources are not conducive to providing NOD services. While the architecture of existing cable systems may permit VOD services to cable subscriber systems, the architecture of existing satellite distribution networks do not permit as many of the different types of VOD services. For example, existing satellite distribution networks employ personal video recorders (PVR) at subscriber systems that have a limited storage capacity for recording video content for later viewmg. In view of existing limitations in their architectures, satellite distribution networks are not able to effectively compete with cable distribution systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[08] There is therefore a need to provide methods and systems for capturing and supplying video-on-demand (VOD) content for on-demand use at subscriber systems. One aspect of the invention provides for automatically capturing and supplying VOD content within the existing architectures of satellite distribution networks so that satellite distribution networks can effectively compete with cable distribution systems in providing VOD services. Another aspect of the invention allow for the capability to automatically capture and supply VOD content without the direct interaction of subscriber system viewers.

[09] Still another aspect of the present invention provides a method and system for compiling and supplying a VOD library for on-demand use by a viewer at a subscriber system. In another aspect of the invention, a subscriber system includes a personal video recorder for recording a video-on-demand library supplied to the subscriber system. These and other features of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[10] The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention.

[11] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a video content distribution system in which certain aspects of the present invention may be implemented;

[12] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a subscriber system in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention;

[13] Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a set-top terminal in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention;

[14] Figure 4 is a functional block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a provider system in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention;

[15] Figure 5A is a flow chart of an illustrative embodiment of a method for supplying video-on-demand content in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention;

[16] Figure 5B is a flow chart of an illustrative embodiment of a method for supplying video-on-demand content in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention;

[17] Figure 5C is a flow chart of an illustrative embodiment of a method for updating video-on-demand content in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention; [18] Figure 6 is a flow chart of an illustrative embodiment of a method for displaying video content is accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention; and

[19] Figure 7 is a flow chart of an illustrative embodiment of a method for supplying video-on-demand content in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[20] In the following description of various illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[21] Examples of the architecture, system equipment, and operation of conventional video content distribution systems are set forth in the U.S. and foreign patent documents listed above, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference as if set forth herein in their entirety. Figure 1 illustrates a video content distribution system 100 wherein aspects of the present invention may be utilized. Video content distribution system 100 comprises a provider system 110 and multiple subscriber systems 150-1 to 150-n. Figure 1 shows three subscriber systems 150-1, 150-2, and 150-n. Any of a number of subscriber systems n could be included within the video content distribution system 100. Each subscriber system, 150-1 to 150-n, communicates with the provider system 110 by way of a communication path 102-1 to 102-n, respectively. Communication paths 102-1 to 102-n may be connected to the provider system 110 through any of a number of different communication systems 130, including a satellite communication system, a cable system, a conventional television broadcast system, and the Internet. One function of the provider system 110 is to disseminate video content to subscriber systems 150-1 to 150-n. Provider systems 110 may be any of a number of different systems, including satellite networks, cable networks, conventional television broadcast networks, and the Internet. [22] One function of the subscriber system 150-1, 150-2, and 150-n, is to receive and display video content to one or more viewers. Other functions include the ability to generate a view-preference profile. Communication paths 102-1 to 102-n permit a provider system 110 to transmit and/or detect information to/from each of the subscriber systems 150-1 to 150-n. Again, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the number of subscriber systems 150-1 to 150-n, the number of different communication systems 130, and the number of provider systems 110 can vary and is not limited to the one illustration shown in Figure 1.

[23] Figure 2 illustrates an illustrative embodiment of a subscriber system 150-1 in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention. Subscriber system 150-1 includes, as illustrated in Figure 2, a display monitor 220, which could include, among others, a television set, projection television system, and computer monitor for viewing video content. Additionally, subscriber system 150-1 includes a set-top terminal 240 and one or more control unit(s) 260 that allow a viewer to manage the video content viewing process via the display monitor 220 and/or the set-top terminal 240. Various types of communication paths may be employed between each of the display monitor 220, set-top terminal 240, and control unit(s) 260, including hard-wire, radio signals, and infrared signals. Different types of control unit(s) 260 may be employed, including point-and-click remotes, a computer keyboard, a touch screen system, and a mouse. Further, subscriber system 150-1, as shown in Figure 2, includes a billing component 280. Billing component 280 can generate and maintain transaction and/or billing information.

[24] Among other capabilities, set-top terminal 240 includes hardware and software components that provide the communication interface between the subscriber system 150-1 and the provider system 110. For example, set-top terminal 240 may include a satellite receiver, cable terminal, antenna, and /or DSL connection. Set-top terminal 240 further includes the operating features of the subscriber system 150, excluding those features provided by the display monitor 220, control unit(s) 260, and billing component 280. For example, set-top terminal 240 may include an operating system, one or more microprocessors for running the operating system and executing applications, RAM, chips for video and/or audio processing and decoding, if necessary, and memory for storing applications provided by the provider system 110, such as an electronic program guide (EPG), interactive program guide (IPG) and/or other applications, i.e., recommendation engine and profile engine applications.

[25] Figure 3 illustrates a functional block diagram of internal components of an illustrative set-top terminal 240. As shown in Figure 3, set-top terminal 240 includes a personal video recorder (PVR) 320 for recording/storing and playing video content. Set-top terminal 240 also includes a profile engine 340 for creating viewing-preference profiles for viewers at the subscriber system, a video-on-demand library generator 360, and internal controls 380. As previously described, control 380 may include an operating system, one or more microprocessors for running the operating system and executing applications, RAM, chips for video and/or audio processing and decoding, if necessary, and memory for storing applications provided by the provider system 110, such as an electronic program guide (EPG), interactive program guide (IPG) and/or other applications, i.e., recommendation engine and profile engine applications. The video-on-demand library generator 360 is configured to permit a set-top terminal 240 to generate a video-on-demand library, initiated from the subscriber system 150-1, for example. Video-on-demand library generator automatically captures and compiles video content from a provider system 110 and generates a video-on-demand library based on the view-preference profile generated by the profile engine 340. The video-on-demand library 360 is not necessary in all embodiments and is merely shown in Figure 3 for illustrative purposes. Further, although certain components are shown to be located within the set-top terminal 240, such components could be physically located within other areas of the subscriber system 150-1. For example, the personal video recorder 320 is shown in Figure 3 to be included within the set-top terminal 240; however, the personal video recorder 320 could also be located outside of the set-top terminal 240 and merely coupled to the set-top terminal 240. [26] Figure 4 illustrates an illustrative embodiment of a provider system 110 in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention. As illustrated in Figure 4, provider system 110 includes detector 420, compiler 430, video-on-demand content retriever 440, available video-on-demand content 460, and transmitter 480. Detector 420 detects a viewing-preference profile generated at a subscriber system 150-1, for example. Video-on-demand content retriever 440 automatically captures, i.e., identifies, video-on-demand content from the available video-on-demand content 460. Available video-on-demand content 460 may include a database of available video- on-demand content choices that may be viewed. Video-on-demand content retriever 440 automatically captures video-on-demand content based on the detected viewing- preference profile of the subscriber system 150-1. For example, available video-on- demand content 460 may include content on operas, baseball, basketball, television sitcoms, and American history. A viewing-preference profile for a viewer may indicate that a particular viewer watches a great deal of baseball and television sitcoms. As such, the video-on-demand content retriever 440 automatically captures video-on-demand content on baseball and television sitcoms. Once complete, compiler 430 can compile a video-on-demand library, customized for the particular subscriber, from the captured video-on-demand content retrieved by the video-on- demand content retriever 440. Transmitter 480 allows for the transmission of video- on-demand content and/or the video-on-demand library to the subscriber system 150- 1, for this example. Again, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the components shown for the provider system 110 in Figure 4 are illustrative of one embodiment of the provider system 110 and that additional or fewer components may be employed.

[27] Figure 5A illustrates a method for supplying video-on-demand content according to at least one aspect of the present invention. The illustrated method of Figure 5 A may be characterized as a "push method," where the provider system 110 controls the automatic capture and supply of the video-on-demand content to the subscriber system 150-1, or a "pull method," where the subscriber system 150-1 controls the automatic capture and retrieval of the video-on-demand content from the provider system 110, as described in reference to Figure 7. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that steps described below as being executed by the satellite system could be executed instead by the subscriber system in a "pull" embodiment, and that such an embodiment is within the scope of the invention.

[28] The method as illustrated in Figures 5A-5C are described in the following paragraphs in terms of a provider system 110 that is a satellite network system that automatically captures and supplies video content in the form of pay-per-view (PPV) video events, i.e., movies, sporting events, that may be packaged into a video-on-demand library to the subscriber system 150-1. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described herein, but could also encompass video content disseminated by other providers, i.e., cable networks, Internet sites, and/or other video content for which a viewer would be willing to pay a fee in consideration for the ability to store and view such other video content on-demand at the subscriber system 150-1. At step 500, a viewing-preference profile representative of the particular viewing preferences of a viewer at the subscriber system 150-1 is generated by the profile engine 340, i.e., the "viewing-preference profile", and stored at the subscriber system 150-1. Such profiles can be generated using known methods, i.e., profile engines, such as those described in the Yuen WIPO publications WO 0049801A1 and WO 00332241A1, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, as if set forth completely herein.

[29] Typically, a viewing-preference profile is based upon the past-viewing behavior at the subscriber system 150-1. As used herein, the terminology 'generated' includes the initial creation of a viewing-preference profile for a viewer at the subscriber system 150-1 as well as updating of the viewing-preference profile in accordance with the update parameters specified in the particular profile engine 340. Accordingly, at step 500 the most current viewing-preference profile of the viewer at subscriber system 150-1 is available for use. [30] At step 510, the viewing-preference profile is detected at the satellite network system 110. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, there are a variety of ways to accomplish this detection step. For example, in every instance that a viewing-preference profile is updated, the updated profile could be automatically transmitted to the satellite network system 110. Alternatively, the satellite network system 110 could be configured to update the video-on-demand content. In such an example, the satellite network system 110 would query the subscriber system 150-1 to determine if the viewing-preference profile has been updated. .If the viewing- preference profile had been updated, the updated viewing-preference profile would be transmitted to the satellite network system 110.

[31] At step 520, the satellite network system 110 automatically captures video-on-demand content. The satellite network system 110 correlates the viewing-preference profile with all the PPV video events that are available via the provider system 110 to automatically capture, i.e., identify, those specific PPV video event(s) that would be of interest to the viewer at the subscriber system 150-1. The specific PPV video event(s) captured in step 520 comprise video-on-demand content that has been customized to the viewing preferences of the viewer at the subscriber system 150-1.

[32] At step 530, the video-on-demand content is supplied by the satellite network system 110 for on-demand use by the viewer at the subscriber system 150-1. Figure 5B illustrates additional steps within the step 530 of supplying captured video-on-demand content. As shown in Figure 5B, at step 531, a video-on-demand library is compiled from the captured video-on-demand content. As used in the present context, the term "library" defines a range of discrete video events from one to n, i.e., individual movies, individual sporting events, where n represents the maximum number of events that can be supported by the recording capability of the personal video recorder 320 at the subscriber system 150-1. At step 532, the video-on-demand library is transmitted to the set-top-terminal 240 of the subscriber system 150-1. At step 533, the video-on-demand library received by set-top-terminal 240 is recorded/stored in the personal video recorder 320. The video-on-demand library as recorded is now accessible to the viewer at the subscriber system 150-1 for on-demand use, i.e., at the viewer's convenience.

[33] Referring to Figure 5 A, at step 550, the viewing-preference profile of a subscriber may be updated. Such a case may occur when a viewer has selected and viewed a particular video-on-demand content among the captured video-on-demand content supplied to the subscriber system 150-1. Additionally, the viewing-preference profile may be updated in the situation where an entry in the library of video-on-demand content is deleted. If a viewer decides that she will not view a particular entry in the video-on-demand library, the viewing-preference profile of the viewer may change to reflect a new viewmg trend of the viewer. When the viewing-preference profile has been updated in step 550, the process proceeds to step 540.

[34] At step 540, the video-on-demand content and/or the video-on-demand library recorded on the personal video recorder 320 is updated by the satellite network system 110 in accordance with an established protocol. One skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of protocols for updating content may be used. For example, the satellite network system 110 may update content according to a predetermined schedule, i.e., daily, every other day, weekly. Alternatively, the satellite network system 110 may update content in response to receipt of some acknowledgement that one or more of the PPV video events within the video-on-demand content and/or library has been viewed at the subscriber system 150-1 or a detected change in the viewing preference profile at the subscriber system 150-1. Further, the subscriber system 150-1 may be configured to transmit a request to update its content to the satellite network system 110.

[35] Figure 5C illustrates additional steps within the step 540 of updating video-on- demand content. As shown in Figure 5C, at step 541, the viewing-preference profile is detected at the provider system 110. This step ensures that the most current viewing-preference profile of the viewer at the subscriber system 150-1 is being utilized for updating the video-on-demand content. Again, the viewing-preference profile may have been updated due to the selection of a particular video-on-demand event from the listing of video-on-demand content in the video-on-demand library. At step 542, the satellite network system 110 automatically captures updated video- on-demand content. The satellite network system 110 correlates the most current viewing-preference profile with newly available PPV video events since the prior capture of video-on-demand content for the subscriber system 150-1, taking into account any PPV video event(s) of video-on-demand content that has already been viewed at the subscriber system 150-1. The updated video-on-demand content captured/identified in step 542 is supplied to the subscriber system 150-1. Again, a video-on-demand library may be compiled and transmitted to the subscriber system 150-1 as part of the supplying step 543.

[36] Updating video-on-demand content allows a video content distribution system 100 to automatically be responsive to a change in the viewing-preference profile since the video-on-demand library was last updated, to the release of new PPV video events since the video-on-demand library was last updated, and/or to the recognition that one or more PPV video events within the video-on-demand library have been viewed at the subscriber system 150-1.

[37] Figure 6 is a flow chart of an illustrative embodiment for displaying video content is accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention. At step 600, the subscriber system 150-1 displays a listing, i.e., video content titles, of the PPV video events located within the video-on-demand library. The listing may be displayed via a user interface at the subscriber system 150-1. This display function can be provided in any of a number of techniques known to those skilled in the art. For example, using the control unit(s) 260, the viewer may interact with the user interface on the display monitor 220, where the user interface may be a full-screen display or a compact display, i.e., a display that occupies less than the full screen of the display monitor 220 so that the viewer can simultaneously view the video-on-demand library listing and the video content shown on the display monitor 220. [38] The listing displayed in step 600 may be neutrally rank-ordered by any conventional technique, i.e., alphabetically by title, video run-times, categorically by genre. Alternatively, the listing displayed in step 600 may be ranked-ordered based upon the preferences of the particular viewer. In such an example, a recommendation engine is used (not shown), in conjunction with the viewing-preference profile of the viewer, to rank-order the PPV video events within the video-on-demand library so that the listing displayed in step 600 is a customized rank-order array, i.e., in accordance with the viewing preferences of the viewer, where higher ranked PPV video events have a higher probability of being viewed by the viewer.

[39] Still further, the listing of PPV video events within the video-on-demand library may be rank-ordered based upon criteria defined by and/or for the benefit of the satellite network system 110. Such a rank-ordering technique involves selective increases/decreases of ratings and/or rankings of the PPV video events within the video-on-demand library by the satellite network system 110, typically for consideration over and above that generated solely by viewing of PPV video events within the video-on-demand library.

[40] There are several rank-ordering schemes available to the satellite network system 110. In one scheme, a traffic engine (not shown) creates ratings based upon the ratings generated by the recommendation engine, but modifies such ratings in accordance with criteria specified by the satellite network system 110. For example, the traffic engine would create a modified rating for each PPV video event within the video-on- demand library that would be a function of its rating, as generated by the recommendation engine, and a boost factor specified by the satellite network system 110. The modified ratings for the PPV video events within the video-on-demand library define a rank-ordered listing that can be utilized in step 600. An example of such a scheme is a situation where the transmission of one video-on-demand event over another is more efficient for the satellite network system 110. [41] In another rank-ordering scheme, the traffic engine generates modified ratings by multiplying the ratings generated by the recommendation engine by a boost factor, such that:

Rmod = Rre * B.

[42] If the allowable values of the boost factor are appropriately selected, i.e., values of B is between 0.5 and 2.0, the effect of the boost factor will be imperceptible to most viewers. As a result, such a rank-ordering scheme allows a satellite network system 110 to augment, decrease, or otherwise manipulate the rank-ordering of the video-on- demand library listing in a manner substantially imperceptible to the subscriber system 150-1.

[43] Sponsored recommendations are used to reorder the listing of PPV video events within the video-on-demand library in another rank-ordering scheme. In a sponsored recommendation configuration, the traffic engine assigns to a particular PPV video event within the video-on-demand library, for augmenting viewership, a "premium" position in the listing displayed in step 600. Thus, for example, the top position or ranking, or top two or three positions/rankings in the step 600 listing can be assigned to particular PPV video events within the video-on-demand library by the satellite network system 110. In addition, the "premium" positions occupied may be highlighted or otherwise visually distinguished sponsored recommendations from other positions in the step 600 listing to increase the probability that particular PPV video events identified as sponsored recommendations are viewed.

[44] In still another rank-ordering scheme, a PPV video event can be assigned an ordinal boost such that the PPV video event is elevated by one or more positions in the rank-ordered listing displayed in step 600. For example, a particular PPV video event can be assigned an ordinal boost of +1, such that if it were otherwise ranked 5^th within the step 600 listing, the particular PPV video event would be advanced to the 4^th position in an ordinal rank-ordering scheme. The PPV video event otherwise ranked 4* would be displaced, bumped downward, or bumped to a different position by the ordinal advancement of the boosted PPV video event. Similarly, a particular PPV video event can be assigned an ordinal boost of -1, such that it would be bumped downward within the listing of step 600.

[45] Referring back to Figure 6, at step 610, a selection signal representative of a particular PPV video event from the listing displayed at the subscriber system 150-1 in step 600 is received. The selection signal may be received from any of the techniques known to those skilled in the art, i.e., having a user point-and-click on the title of a particular PPV video event to select such event for viewing or, in one alternative, to delete the entry from the library. In addition, the selection process can be expanded by configuring the user interface to provide additional information (i.e., listing of actors/players, synopsis of story line) to the viewer regarding any particular PPV video event within the video-on-demand library prior to receipt of the selection signal. For example, identifying, i.e., highlighting, hovering over, the title of a particular PPV video event within the video-on-demand library listing would automatically display, i.e., a pop-up terminal, additional information on the identified PPV video event.

[46] At step 620, a determination is made as to whether the received selection signal from step 610 is a selection to view an entry or a selection to delete an entry from the library. If the selection signal received from step 620 is a signal to delete the entry, the particular video content identified is deleted from the listing of vide-on-demand content within the video-on-demand library at step 650. The process would then proceed to step 660.

[47] In the event that the selection signal received in step 610 is a signal to view the particular entry within the listing, the process moves to step 630 where transaction data is transmitted from the subscriber system 150-1 to the satellite network system 110. The transaction data may be sent automatically by the selection of a particular PPV video event for viewing in step 610, or, in one alternative, the transaction data may be transmitted after a predetermined period, i.e., five minutes, thirty seconds, of time to allow a viewer to decide whether to watch the entire event. The transaction data may be generated in the billing component 280. The transaction data allows the satellite network system 110 to bill the subscriber system 150-1 for each particular PPV video event within the video-on-demand library that is viewed at the subscriber system 150-1. In addition, the transaction data provided in step 630 has utility in the updating step 540 described above inasmuch as it facilitates the removal of particular PPV video events within the video-on-demand library that have been viewed at the subscriber system 150-1. Although shown in Figure 6 to occur after the transmittal of transaction data, the process at step 640 may occur prior to the transmittal of transaction data or simultaneously with the transmittal of transaction data.

[48] At step 640, the selected video content from the listing of video-on-demand entries is displayed at the subscriber system 150-1. The process then continues to step 660. At step 660, the viewing-preference profile is updated, whether in response to deletion of a particular entry in the listing of video-on-demand content or in response to a viewing of a particular video-on-demand entry at the subscriber system 150-1. Updating the viewing-preference profile ensures that the most recent trend of the viewer is being analyzed in determining the appropriate video-on-demand content to capture at the provider system 110.

[49] Figure 7 illustrates an illustrative method for supplying video-on-demand content according to at least one aspect of the present invention. The illustrated method of Figure 7 may be characterized as a "pull method," where the subscriber system 150-1 controls the automatic capture and retrieval of the video-on-demand content from the provider system 110. At step 700, the viewing-preference profile is generated by a first component, i.e., the profile engine 340 and stored at the subscriber system 150-1. At step 710, a second component at the subscriber system 150-1 automatically captures video-on-demand media from the satellite media distribution system 110 in accordance with the viewing-preference profile generated at step 700, such that the captured video-on-demand media is 'customized' to the viewing preferences of the viewer at the subscriber system 150-1. [50] It will be appreciated that the step of capturing video-on-demand content implemented in step 610 may be implemented by any of several techniques known to those skilled in the art. For example, set-top terminal 240 can be configured to receive a listing of video-on-demand media available from the satellite media distribution system 110, i.e., the titles and/or synopses of available PPV video events from scheduling and/or library information previously complied by the satellite media distribution system 110. Set-top terminal 240 may be further configured to implement an algorithm that correlates the viewing-preference profile with the listing of available video-on-demand media to automatically capture video-on-demand media that are of interest to the viewer at the subscriber system 150-1.

[51] Because the video-on-demand media captured in step 710 constitutes media derived from the available video-on-demand listing, this media is then made available to the satellite media distribution system 110. At step 720, the satellite media distribution system 110 uses this list to compile the full video content within the video-on-demand media. At step 730, the video-on-demand media is supplied to the subscriber system 150-1 for on-demand use by the viewer at the subscriber system 150-1.

[52] While illustrative systems and methods as described herein embodying various aspects of the present invention are shown, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, each of the elements of the aforementioned embodiments may be utilized alone or in combination or subcombination with elements of the other embodiments. It will also be appreciated and understood that modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. A method of supplying video-on-demand content for use at a subscriber system, the method comprising steps of: generating a viewing-preference profile at the subscriber system; detecting the viewing-preference profile at a provider system; automatically capturing video-on-demand content from available video content at the provider system based on the detected viewing-preference profile; and supplying the captured video-on-demand content to the subscriber system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of supplying comprises steps of: compiling a video-on-demand library from the captured video-on-demand content; transmitting the video-on-demand library from the provider system to the subscriber system; and recording the video-on-demand library at the subscriber system.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising a step of updating the video-on-demand library supplied to the subscriber system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of updating comprises steps of: detecting the viewing-preference profile at the subscriber system; automatically capturing updated video-on-demand content from newly available video content at the provider system, based on the detected viewing-preference profile and any previously viewed video content from the video-on-demand library; and supplying the captured updated video-on-demand content to the subscriber system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of supplying the captured updated video-on- demand content comprises steps of: compiling an updated video-on-demand library from the captured updated video-on- demand content; transmitting the updated video-on-demand library from the provider system to the subscriber system; and recording the updated video-on-demand library at the subscriber system.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising steps of: displaying a listing of video content from the video-on-demand library; receiving a selection signal for video content from the listing; and displaying the selected video content.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of transmitting transaction data for the selected video content.

8. A video content distribution system comprising: a subscriber system configured to generate a viewing-preference profile; and a provider system configured to detect the viewing-preference profile, to automatically capture video-on-demand from available video content at the provider system based on the detected viewing-preference profile, and to supply the video-on-demand content to the subscriber system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the provider system is configured to compile a video- on-demand library from the captured video-on-demand content and to transmit the video-on- demand library to the subscriber system, wherein the subscriber system is configured to record the video-on-demand library.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the subscriber system includes a personal video recorder configured to record the video-on-demand content.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the provider system is configured to update the video- on-demand library.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the subscriber system is configured to display a listing of video content from the video-on-demand library, to receive a selection signal for video content from the listing, and to display the selected video content.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the subscriber system is configured to transmit transaction data for the selected video content.

14. A method for providing automatic capture of media from a satellite media distribution system, the method comprising steps of: generating a viewer profile representative of media preferences of a viewer; automatically capturing video-on-demand media from a satellite media distribution system based on the viewer profile; and generating a video-on-demand library from the captured video-on-demand media.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of providing a user interface, the user interface configured to present viewing options based on the captured video-on-demand media and the viewer profile.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the viewing options are presented in a rank-ordered array.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the rank-ordered array is based on the viewer profile.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of successively capturing video- on-demand media from the satellite media distribution system based on the viewer profile and newly available video-on-demand media.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising steps of: generating transaction data representative of the capture of video-on-demand media from the satellite media distribution system; and generating billing information based on the generated transaction data.

20. A subscriber system for generating a video-on-demand library comprising: a first component configured to generate a viewer profile representative of media preferences of a viewer; a second component configured to automatically capture video-on-demand media from a satellite media distribution system based on the viewer profile; and a third component to generate a video-on-demand library from the captured video-on- demand media.

21. The subscriber system of claim 20, further comprising a user interface, the user interface configured to present viewing options based on the captured video-on-demand media and the viewer profile.

22. The subscriber system of claim 21, wherein the viewing options are presented in a rank-ordered array.

23. The subscriber system of claim 22, wherein the rank-ordered array is based on the viewer profile.

24. The subscriber system of claim 20, wherein the second component is configured to successively capture video-on-demand media from the satellite media distribution system based on the viewer profile and newly available video-on-demand media.

25. The subscriber system of claim 20, further comprising a fourth component configured to generate transaction data representative of the capture of video-on-demand media from the satellite media distribution system and a fifth component to generate billing information based on the generated transaction data.