WO2010023663A1

WO2010023663A1 - Internet tv content provisioning

Info

Publication number: WO2010023663A1
Application number: PCT/IL2009/000823
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eli Fux; Vladislav Drouker; Nadav Kedem
Original assignee: Webtview Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-08-25
Filing date: 2009-08-25
Publication date: 2010-03-04

Abstract

Apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: a) a primary catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet, b) at least one operating module installed on a Set-Top Box (STB) and operable by a user for selecting among categories presented to the user, c) at least one content agent, installed on the STB, associated with a respective one of the operating modules, configured to send a request for data pertaining to at least one of the categories and references of the primary catalogue, receive the data, and input the data to the operating module, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module, and d) at least one application server, in communication with the primary catalogue and the content agent, configured to receive the request, extract the data from the primary catalogue according to the request, and communicate the data to the content agent.

Description

INTERNET TV CONTENT PROVISIONING

FIELD AND BACKGROUND QF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to Internet Television, and more particularly, but not exclusively to provisioning of Internet TV services by Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

A telco IPTV service is usually delivered over a complex and investment heavy walled garden network, which is carefully engineered to ensure bandwidth efficient delivery of vast amounts of multicast video traffic. The higher network quality also enables easy delivery of high quality SD or HD TV content to subscribers' homes. TMs makes IPTV by default the preferred delivery platform for premium content. However the investment for a telco to build an end-to-end IPTV service can be substantial.

By contrast, Internet TV generally refers to transport streams sent over IP networks (normally the Internet) from outside an Internet Service Provider (ISP)'s network that connects users to the World Wide Web.

Compared to telco IPTV, Internet TV is a quick-to-market and relatively low investment service. Internet TV rides on existing infrastructure including broadband, ADSL₅ Wi-Fi, cable and satellite which makes it a valuable tool for a wide variety of service providers and content owners looking for new revenue streams.

During recent years, the Internet TV sector has grown rapidly and major television broadcasters worldwide transmit their broadcast signal over the Internet. Thousands of free Internet TV channels are now available. The free TV channels, which broadcast through the Internet, require an

Internet connection and an Internet enabled device. Current devices used for receiving Internet TV content from the free Internet TV channels, include traditional devices such as a personal computer, which may be conencted to a High Definition Television (HDTV), or even a mobile third generation (3G) cellular phone. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: a) a primary catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet, b) at least one operating module installed on a Set-Top Box (STB) and operable by a user for selecting among categories presented to the user, c) at least one content agent, installed on the STB, associated with a respective one of the operating modules, configured to send a request for data pertaining to at least one of the categories and references of the primary catalogue, receive the data, and input the data to the operating module, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module, and d) at least one application server, in communication with the primary catalogue and the content agent, configured to receive the request, extract the data from the primary catalogue according to the request, and communicate the data to the content agent. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: a) a primary catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet, b) at least one operating module installed on a TV set and operable by the user for selecting among categories presented to the user, c) at least one content agent, installed on the TV set, associated with a respective one of the operating modules, configured to send a request for data pertaining to at least one of the categories and references of the primary catalogue, receive the data, and input the data to the operating module, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module, and d) at least one application server, in communication with the primary catalogue and the content agent, configured to receive the request, extract the data from the primary catalogue according to the request, and communicate the data to the content agent.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for Internet TV content provisioning, the method comprising: providing a catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet, receiving a request a for data pertaining to at least one of the categories and references, from a TV set, extracting the data from the catalogue according to the request, communicating the extracted data to the TV set, and inputting the communicated data to an operating module of the TV set.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: a) a primary catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet, and b) at least one application server, in communication with the primary catalogue, configured to receive a request from a remote TV set, extract data from the primary catalogue according to the request, and communicate the data to the remote TV set.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for Internet TV content provisioning, the method comprising: providing a primary catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet, receiving a request from a remote TV set, extracting data from the primary catalogue according to the request, and communicating the data to the remote TV set.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: a) a catalogue, installed on a TV set, configured to store categories associated with references to content items accessible through the Internet, and b) a content agent, installed on the TV set, associated with the catalogue, configured to retrieve data pertaining to at least one of the categories and references from the catalogue, and input the received data to an operating module of the TV set, for presenting at least a part of the input data to a user of the TV set.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a Set-Top Box (STB), comprising: a) an operating module, operable by a user for selecting among categories presented to the user, and b) a content agent, associated with the operating module, configured to send a request for data pertaining to at least one of categories and references to content items associated with the categories in a remote catalogue, receive the data, and input the data to the operating module, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a TV set, comprising: a) an operating module, operable by a user for selecting among categories presented to the user, and b) a content agent, associated with the operating module, configured to send a request for data pertaining to at least one of categories and references to content items associated with the categories in a remote catalogue, receive the data, and input the data to the operating module, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Implementation of the method and system of the present invention involves performing or completing certain selected tasks or steps manually, automatically, or a combination thereof.

Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of preferred embodiments of the method and system of the present invention, several selected steps could be implemented by hardware or by software on any operating system of any firmware or a combination thereof.

For example, as hardware, selected steps of the invention could be implemented as a chip or a circuit.

As software, selected steps of the invention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In any case, selected steps of the method and system of the invention could be described as being performed by a data processor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality of instructions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in order to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. The description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a first apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a second apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a third apparatus for

Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a Set-Top Box, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a TV set, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a fourth apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a fifth apparatus for Internet

TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a sixth apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a first method for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a second method for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 illustrates an exemplary list of content items in an XML format, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 illustrates exemplary Internet Crawler functions, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present embodiments comprise an apparatus and method for Internet TV content provisioning.

During recent years, the Internet TV sector has grown rapidly and major television broadcasters worldwide transmit their broadcast signals over the Internet. Thousands of free Internet TV channels are now available to users worldwide.

The proliferation of TV content in the Internet, may be used by an Internet

Service Provider (ISP), to offer a TV service to clients, in a way which provides the clients of the ISP with a user experience which resembles the one experienced by subscribers of IP TV or other multi-channel TV services, such as Satellite TV, and Cable TV.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention aim at providing subscribers of ISP services, with an apparatus for receiving Internet TV Content, with a user experience similar to a user experience provided by multi-channel TV services. The Internet TV content may be provisioned to ISP subscribers, using a Set- Top Box, provided by the ISP, which includes a content agent and an operating module, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Alternatively, the Internet TV content may be provisioned to the ISP subscribers, using a content agent installed on a TV set already equipped with an operating module, which includes Internet access functionality, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a catalogue of categories associated with references to content items accessible through the Internet is dynamically generated and updated, using an Internet crawler, as known in the art.

A content agent is installed on the Set-Top Box (STB), which may be provided to a subscriber of the ISP. The content agent is used by the STB's operating module, for requesting and receiving data pertaining to one or more of the categories and references from the catalogue. For example, upon certain selections made by the subscriber using the STB's operating module (say, for sport channels), the operating module uses the content agent for requesting and receiving sport categories from the catalogue.

Then, the subscriber is presented the sport categories, and chooses one of them, say Tennis, using the operating module. Tennis content items are requested, say using the content agent, and a list of content items is retrieved from the catalogue and sent to the STB.

Consequently, the subscriber is allowed to select one of the content items, say a certain tennis match, using the STB's operating module.

Finally, the content item is downloaded to the STB, and the subscriber watches the tennis match on a TV set connected to the STB. The principles and operation of an apparatus and method, according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying description.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a simplified block diagram illustrating a first apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. An apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a primary catalogue 110.

The primary catalogue 110 includes categories associated with references to content items accessible through the Internet. The reference may include URL (Uniform Resource Locator) addresses, as described in further detail hereinbelow. The apparatus further includes one or more Set-Top boxes (STBs) 190 connected to TV sets 195, through a wireless or wired connection, as known in the art. Optionally, the STBs 190 are provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), as described in further detail hereinbelow.

The apparatus further includes one or more content agent(s) 130. Each of the content agents 130 is installed on a respective one of the Set-Top Box (STB) 190, in communication with an operating module 170 of the STB 190, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the operating module 170 interacts with a user of the STB 190, using an Electric Program Guide (EPG) user interface, as known in the art. The content agent 130 requests and receives data pertaining to one or more of the categories and references. The content agent 130 inputs the received data to the operating module 170 of the STB 190, for presenting at least a part of the input data to a user of the STB 190, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the content agent 130 inputs the data to the operating module 170 of the Set-Top Box (STB) 190 in an XML format.

Optionally, the content agent 130 inputs the data to the operating module 170 of the Set-Top Box (STB) 190 in an HTML format.

In one example, the operating module 170 of the STB 190 includes a browser, which may be used for presenting the data to the user of the Set-Top Box (STB) 190, as known in the art.

The apparatus further includes one or more application servers 120, in communication with the primary catalogue 110.

Optionally, each of the. application servers 120 further communicates with one or more of the content agents 130, through communication lines 125 provided by the ISP (Internet Service Provider), for connecting subscribers of the ISP to the Internet, as known in the art.

Optionally, the application server 120 installs the content agent 130 on the STB 190, through a remote connection to the STB 190, using known in the art remote access software products. The application server 120 receives the request from the content agent 130 and extracts the data from the primary catalogue 110 according to the request. The application server 120 communicates the data to the content agent.

Optionally, the application server 120 communicates the data to the content agent, using a predefined Extended Mark-up Language Q(ML) protocol, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the application server 120 communicates the data to the content agent, in an HTML format. The content agent 130 may forward the data to a browser (which may be a part of the STB's 190 operating module 170), for immediate presentation to the user of the STB 190, as described in further detail hereinbelow. Optionally, the request received from the content agent 130 has to do with a content item ordered using the request.

Optionally, the application server 120 sends a reference to the content item ordered using the request to the content agent 130. The content item may be downloaded directly from the Internet, say by the operating module 170 of the STB 190, which may include an Internet browser, as known in the art.

Optionally, the application server 120 sends the content item ordered using the request to the content agent 130, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the content agent 130 downloads the content item asynchronically, as described in further detail hereinbelow. Optionally, the apparatus also includes several secondary catalogues, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Each of the secondary catalogues is in communication with a specific one of the application servers 120. The application server 120 derives the secondary catalogue from the primary catalogue 110, say using a query, in accordance with a predefined derivation criterion, as described in further detail hereinabove. In one example, upon receiving a request for data pertaining to categories, content items, or both, from one of the content agents 130, the application server 120 retrieves the data from the secondary catalogue, thereby indirectly extracting the data from the primary catalogue 110, according to the request. The application server 120 sends the data to the content agent 130 the request originates from, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Upon receiving the data, the content agent 130 forwards the data to an operating module 170 of the Set-Top Box 190, which presents at least some of the data to the user of the STB 190 (say an ISP subscriber). For example, the received data may include one or more categories of content items, and the STB's 190 operating module 170 may present the categories to the user of the STB, using an Electric Program Guide (EPG) interface, say in a dedicated TV channel.

Optionally, the apparatus further includes a catalogue updater 150 in communication with the primary catalogue 110.

The catalogue updater 150 updates the primary catalogue with the categories and references to content items accessible through the Internet.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 150 further searches the Internet using an Internet Crawler, as known in the art. The Internet Crawler crawls through the Internet Network, searching for relevant content items, say content items fitting a criterion predefined by a user of the catalogue updater 150, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

When a relevant content item is found by the Internet Crawler, the content item features are used as categories characterizing the content item. Optionally, the catalogue updater 150 further converts the categories characterizing the content item, into a predefined Extended Mark-up Language

(XML) standard format, say into a hierarchically arranged array of content item categories.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 150 converts the categories characterizing the content item, into the XML standard format, utilizing a history learning model, which is at least semi-automatic, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

The history learning model may be based on a neuronal network technique, as known in the art.

Neuronal network techniques are computer predictive models that learn from examples rather than follow a rigid analytical procedure set in advance by a set of computer program instructions.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 150 further verifies that each of the content items complies with a predefined criterion, prior to updating the catalogue 110 with the reference to the content item. For example, the catalogue updater 150 may verify that the content item is a media item (say video or audio), prior to updating the catalogue 110 with the content item.

Optionally, the content agent 130 further manages a memory space (say a disk space) available on the Set-Top Box (STB) 190. For example, the content agent 130 may remove content items which are not in use from a disk space available on the STB 190, thus making space for new content items, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the application server 120 further informs the content agent 130 about the size of a content item requested using the content agent 130, and the content agent 130 makes space for the content item on the STB's disk, say by removing the content items which are not in use.

Optionally, the application server 120 further collects and uses statistical information pertaining to interaction of the user with the Set-Top Box (STB) 190, for extracting the data from the primary catalogue 110. For example, the application server 120 may use statistical information indicating that the user of a specific STB 190 watches football matches on a regular basis. When the user of the specific STB 190 requests content items belonging to a Sport Category, the application server 120 extracts from the primary catalogue references to Football Matches, rather than references to Wrestling Competitions. Optionally, at least a part of the statistical data originates from the content agent 130 of the STB 190. That is to say that the STB's 190 content agent 130 communicates the statistical information pertaining to interaction of the user with the STB 190 to the application server 120, say on a daily basis, as described in further detail hereinbelow. Optionally, the application server 120 also uses STB content information pertaining to a content item stored on the STB 190, in facilitating provisioning of the content item stored on the STB 190 to a second STB 190 connected to the Internet using the same ISP.

Optionally, the content agent 130 communicates the STB's content information pertaining content items stored on the STB 190 to the application server 130. The information may be used for provisioning of the content item stored on the STB 190 to a second STB 190 connected to the Internet using the same ISP.

In one example, whenever a user of a first Set-Top Box (STB) 190 turns on the STB (or a TV set 195 connected to the STB), the content agent 130 installed on the first STB 190 sends information pertaining to content items stored on a memory space of the first STB 190 to the application server 120.

The application server 120 receives a request for a content item already stored on memory space of the first STB 190 from a second STB's 190 content agent 130. The application server 120 may choose to copy the content item from the first STB's 190 memory space.

By copying the content item from the first STB's memory space, rather than downloading the content directly from a web site the content item originates from, there may be avoided overloading of the web site with requests.

Further, the provisioning of the content item to the second STB 190 may be much faster, as the bandwidth available to the ISP is likely to be much wider than average bandwidth available in the Internet.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a simplified block diagram illustrating a second apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. An apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a primary catalogue 210.

The primary catalogue 210 includes categories associated with references to content items accessible through the Internet. The references may include URL addresses, as described in further detail hereinbelow. The apparatus further includes one or more TV sets 295. Each of the TV sets has an operating module 270, which includes Internet access functionality (say a web browser), a user interface (say an Electric TV Guide user interface), etc., as known in the art.

The apparatus further includes one or more content agent(s) 230. Each of the content agents 230 is installed on the TV set 295, in communication with the operating module 270 of the TV set 295, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

The content agent 230 requests and receives data pertaining to one or more of the categories and references. The content agent 230 inputs the received data to the operating module 270 of the TV set 295, for presenting at least a part of the input data to a user of the TV set 295, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the content agent 230 inputs the data to the operating module 270 of the TV set 295 in an XML format.

Optionally, the content agent 230 inputs the data to the operating module 270 of the TV set 295 in an HTML format. In one example, the operating module 270 of the TV set 295 includes a browser, which may be used for presenting the data input in the HTML format, to the user of the TV set 295, as known in the art.

The apparatus further includes one or more application servers 220, in communication with the primary catalogue 210 and with one or more of the content agents 230.

Optionally, each of the application servers 220 further communicates with one or more of the content agents 230, through communication lines 225 used by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), for connecting the TV set 295 to the Internet, as known in the art. Optionally, the application server 220 installs the content agent 230 on the TV set 295, through a remote connection to the TV set 295, using known in the art remote access software products.

The application server 220 receives the request, and extracts the data from the primary catalogue 210 according to the request. The application server 220 communicates the data to the content agent 230 the request originates from. Optionally, the application server 220 communicates the data to the content agent 220, using a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) protocol, as described in further detail hereinbelow, and illustrated using Fig. 11.

Optionally, the application server 220 communicates the data to the content agent, in an HTML format. The content agent 230 may forward the data to a browser (which may be a part of the TV set's 295 operating module 270), for immediate presentation to the user of the TV set 295, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the request received from the content agent 230 has to do with a content item ordered using the request. Optionally, the application server 220 sends the content item ordered using the request to the content agent 230, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the application server 220 sends a reference to the content item ordered using the request to the content agent 230. The content agent 230 may forward the reference to the operating module 270 of the TV set 295. The operating module 270 may download the item directly from the Internet, say using an Internet browser used by the operating module 270 of the TV set 295, as known in the art.

Optionally, the apparatus also includes several secondary catalogues, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Each of the secondary catalogues is in communication with a specific one of the application servers 220. The application server 220 derives the secondary catalogue from the primary catalogue 210, say using a query, in accordance with a predefined derivation criterion, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Upon receiving a request for data pertaining to categories, content items, or both, from one of the content agents 230, the application server 220 retrieves the data from the secondary catalogue. By retrieving the data from the secondary catalogue, the application server 220 indirectly extracts the data from the primary catalogue 210, according to the request.

The application server 220 sends the data to the content agent 230 the request originates from, as described in further detail hereinbelow. Upon receiving the data, the content agent 230 forwards the data to the operating module 270 of the TV set 295. The operating module 270 presents at least some of the data to the user of the TV set 295.

For example, the received data may include one or more categories of content items. The TV set's 295 operating module 270 may present the categories to the user of the TV set 295, using an Electric Program Guide (EPG) interface, say as a special channel, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the apparatus further includes a catalogue updater 250 in communication with the primary catalogue 210.

The catalogue updater 250 updates the primary catalogue with the categories and references to content items accessible through the internet.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 250 further searches the Internet using an Internet Crawler, as known in the art.

The Internet Crawler crawls through the Internet Network, searching for relevant content items, say content items fitting a predefined criterion. The criterion may be predefined by a user of the catalogue updater 250, say according to a media type of the content item, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

When a relevant content item is found by the Internet Crawler, the content item features are used as categories characterizing the content item.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 250 converts the categories characterizing the content item, into a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) standard format.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 250 converts the categories characterizing the content item into a hierarchically arranged array of content item categories.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 250 converts the categories characterizing the content item, into the XML standard format, utilizing a history learning model, which is at least semi-automatic, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 250 further verifies that each of the content items complies with a predefined criterion, prior to updating the catalogue 210 with the reference to the content item. For example, the catalogue updater 250 may verify that the content item is a media item (say video or audio), prior to updating the catalogue 210 with the content item.

Optionally, the content agent 230 further manages a memory space (say a disk space) available on the TV set 295. For example, the content agent 330 may remove content items which are not in use from a disk space available on the TV set 295, thus making space for new content items, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the application server 220 further informs the content agent 230 about the size of a content item requested using the content agent 230. The content agent 230 makes space for the content item on the TV set's 295 disk, say by removing the content items which are not in use.

Optionally, the application server 220 further collects and uses statistical information pertaining to interaction of the user with the TV set 295, for extracting the data from the primary catalogue 210. For example, the application server 220 may use statistical information indicating that that the user of a specific TV set 295 watches football matches on a regular basis. When the user of the specific TV set 295 sends a request for content items of a Sport Category, the application server 220 extracts from the primary catalogue references to football matches, rather than references to wrestling competitions.

Optionally, at least a part of the statistical data originates from the content agent 230 of the TV set 295. That is to say that the TV set's 295 content agent 230 communicates the statistical information pertaining to interaction of the user with the TV set 295, to the application server 220, say on a daily basis, a weekly basis, etc. Optionally, the application server 220 also uses Internet TV content information pertaining to a content item stored on the TV set 295, in facilitating provisioning of the content item stored on the TV set 295 to a second TV set 295 connected to the Internet using the same ISP.

Optionally, the content agent 230 communicates the Internet TV content information pertaining to content items stored on the TV set 295, to the application server 230. The information may be help facilitate provisioning of the content item stored on the TV set 295 to a second TV set 295 connected to the Internet using the same ISP.

In one example, whenever a user of a first TV set 295 turns on the first TV set 295, the content agent 230 installed on the first TV set 295 sends information pertaining to content items stored on a memory space of the first TV set 295 to the application server 220.

When the application server 220 receives a request for a content item already stored on memory space of the first TV set 295, from a second TV set's 295 content agent 230, the application server 220 may choose to copy the content item from the first the memory space of the first TV set 295.

By copying the content item from the first TV set's 295 memory space, rather than downloading the content, directly from a web site the content item originates from, there may be avoided overloading of the web site with requests. Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a simplified block diagram illustrating a third apparatus, for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus of Fig. 3 includes a TV set 395, installed with an operating module 370. The TV set 395 further includes Internet access functionality, as known in the art. Optionally, the Internet access functionality is a part of the operating module's functions.

The apparatus further includes a primary catalogue 310, installed on a server of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), which connects the TV set 395 to the Internet 380. Alternatively, the primary catalogue 310 is installed on a server of a third party, (i.e. a party other than the ISP and the user of the TV set 395).

The primary catalogue 310 includes categories associated with references to content items accessible through the Internet 380, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Optionally, the categories in the primary catalogue 310 are stored in a hierarchical array of categories, with references (say URL addresses) connected thereto, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Optionally, the hierarchically arranged array of content item categories is represented using a set of relational database tables, as known in the art.

Optionally, the hierarchically arranged array of content item categories is represented using a set of hierarchical database structures, as known in the art.

The apparatus illustrated using Fig. 3, further includes a catalogue updater 350, in communication with the primary catalogue 310.

The catalogue updater 350 updates the primary catalogue with the categories and references to content items accessible through the Internet 380. The catalogue updater 350 searches the Internet 380, for new content items, say using the Internet Crawler, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The catalogue updater 350 adds URL (Uniform Resource Locator) addresses of the new content items (or other links to the new content items), as references to the new content items, to the primary catalogue 310. The catalogue updater 350 further removes references to content items that are no longer available in the Internet 380, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The apparatus further includes an application server 320, in communication with the primary catalogue 310.

The apparatus further includes a content agent 330, installed on the TV set 395, which communicates with the application server 320, for requesting and receiving data extracted from the primary catalogue 310.

Optionally, the content agent 330 is further used for receiving content items or references to content items from the application server 320. The content agent 330 forwards the content items to the operating module 370 of the TV set 395. The operating module 370 feeds the received data and content items to the TV set's 395 screen (say using a browser, as known in the art), thus allowing the user to watch the content item on the TV set's 395 screen.

Optionally, the application server 320 supports a variety of XML commands, which may be issued from the content agent 330. In one example, the application server 320 may support a login command issued using the content agent 330.

Using the login command, the application server 320 receives from the content agent 330 data pertaining to the TV set 395, to the user of the TV set 395, etc.

For example, the login command may be used for sending attribute data pertaining to technical attributes of the TV set 395, to the application server 320.

The attribute data is used by the application server 320, say for avoiding provisioning unsuitable content to the content agent 330. For example, for avoiding sending HD (High Definition) TV content items to a Standard Definition (SD) TV set, which does not support HD TV. Optionally, the login command is issued by the content agent 330 each time the TV set 395 is turned on.

The application server 320 may further support a usage statistics command, used by the content agent 330, to send statistical information pertaining to interaction of the user with the TV set 395. For example, the application server 320 may receive statistical information indicating that that the user of a specific TV set 395 seldom watches tennis matches.

Consequently, when the content agent 330 of the specific TV set 395 sends to the application server 320 a request for content items belonging to a Sport Category, the application server 320 may exclude tennis content items from a list of content items sent to the TV set 395, in response to the request. Optionally, the login command and the usage statistics command are but a couple of exemplary ones of several API (Application Programming Interface) commands of the content agent 330. The API commands are available to the operating module 370 of the TV set 395, say for requesting data, content items, or references to content items from the application server 320.

The content agent 330 may further include API download services, which are used for downloading content items from the Internet 380, or for receiving the content, say as video data streamed from the application server 320.

In one example, the content agent 330 is used by the operating module 370 to request data pertaining to item categories on the top level of the hierarchical array of categories, stored in the primary catalogue 310.

The application server 320 receives the request from the content agent 330, and extracts data pertaining to the top level categories from the primary catalogue 310. The application server 320 sends the data pertaining to the top level categories to the content agent 330, which forwards the data to the operating module 370 of the TV set 395.

The operating module 370 presents the data received from the application server 320 to the user of the TV set 395, say using a browser which inputs a video signal carrying the data, to the TV set 395, as known in the art.

The user uses the operating module 370, for selecting one of the categories presented to the user, on screen of the TV set 395.

The content agent 330 sends a request for categories subordinate to the selected category, to the application server 320. The application server 320 receives the request from the content agent 330, and extracts data pertaining to the subordinate categories from the primary catalogue

310.

The application server 320 sends the data pertaining to the subordinate categories to the content agent 330, which forwards the data to the operating module 370 of the TV set 395.

The operating module 370 presents the data received from the application server 320 to the user of the TV set 395, say using the browser which inputs a video signal carrying the data, to the TV set's 395 screen, as known in the art..

The user uses the operating module 370, for selecting one of the subordinate categories presented to the user.

The content agent 330 sends a request for a list of content items (say Internet TV channels) references associated with the subordinate category selected by the user, to the application server 320.

The application server 320 receives the request from the content agent 330, and extracts data (i.e. the requested list) from the primary catalogue 310.

The application server 320 sends the list to the content agent 330, which forwards the list to the operating module 370 of the TV set 395.

The operating module 370 presents the list to the user of the TV set 395, say using the browser which inputs a video signal carrying the data (i.e. the list) to the screen of the TV set 395.

The user uses the operating module 370, for selecting one of the items (i.e. Internet TV channels) in the list.

Consequently, the operating module 370 sends a request to watch the selected content item to the application server 320, using the content agent 330. Optionally, the request is issued using a command which asks for the content item to be streamed to the TV set 395 from the application server.

Alternatively, the request is issued using a command which asks for a reference to the content item to be sent to the TV set 395, say as a URL address. The application server 320 receives the request and extracts relevant data from the primary catalogue 310 (i.e. the reference to the selected content item). The application server 320 uses the relevant data, for streaming the content item to the STB 390, using the content agent 330, or for sending the reference to the content item to the TV set 395. Optionally, using the reference to the content item, the content agent 330 downloads the content item directly from the Internet 380, using Internet access functionality of the TV set 395.

Alternatively, the content agent 330 forwards the reference to the operating module 370, and the operating module 370 downloads the content item from the Internet 380, using Internet access functionality of the operating module.

Optionally, the application server 320 further supports a command for sending a logo of the channel (i.e. content item) selected by the user, to the TV set 395, say by downloading the logo from a web site of the Internet TV Channel.

Optionally, the communication between the content agent 330 and the application server 320 is carried out in an unblocked mode, where at least some of the communication is carried out asynchronically. That is to say that at least some of the commands of the content agent 330 may be carried out in the background, as known in the art.

In one example, a first part of a requested a High Definition TV content item may be presented to the user, while remaining parts are downloaded in the background into a dedicated data buffer on the TV set 395, thus implementing a prefetch capacity, as known in the art.

Optionally, the first part is presented to the user only once a large enough portion of the content item's downloading is successfully completed. Optionally, the successful completion is determined, using an API download service of the content agent 330, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

In a second example, the requested content item is already available on the TV set 395 (say when the content item is an item downloaded before), and is thus immediately presented to the user (that is to say, that the requested is fulfilled locally, onthe TV set 395).

In a third example, the application server 320 streams the content item (say TV channel feed) to the TV set 395, for immediate presentation to the user, provided the content is technically suitable for immediate streaming to the TV set 395, as known in the art. In another example, the operating module 370 of the TV set 395 uses the content agent 330, for sending a request for data pertaining to categories of the primary catalogue 310, to the application server 320.

Optionally, while the application server 320 receives the request, and extracts the categories from the primary database 310, the operating module 370 allows the user of the TV set 395 to browse through other options available through an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) interface used by the TV set's 395 operating module 370. When data pertaining to categories is received on the TV set 395, the content agent 330 provides the operating module 370 with the data. The operating module 370 presents the data to the user of the TV set 395. Optionally, commands of the content agent 330 may be carried out in parallel, say using multi-task functionality, as known in the art.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which is a simplified block diagram illustrating a Set-Top Box, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A Set-Top Box (STB) 490 includes an operating module 470, operable by a user for selecting among categories presented to the user, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The Set-Top Box (STB) 490 further includes a content agent 430, in communication with the operating module 470.

The content agent 430 sends a request for data pertaining to one or more of categories and references to content items associated with the categories in a remote catalogue, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The content agent 430 receives the data, and inputs the data to the operating module 470, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module. 470, say on a screen of a TV set connected to the STB 490, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which is a simplified block diagram illustrating a TV set, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A TV set 595 includes an operating module 570, operable by a user for selecting among categories presented to the user, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The TV set 595 further includes a content agent 530, in communication with the operating module 570. The content agent 530 sends a request for data pertaining to one or more of categories and references to content items associated with the categories in a remote catalogue, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The content agent 530 receives the data, and inputs the data to the operating module 570, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module 570, on the TV set 595's screen, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which is a simplified block diagram illustrating a fourth apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus 6000 includes a primary catalogue 610, which may be implemented using a dedicated computer database server. The primary catalogue 610 includes categories associated with references to content items accessible through the Internet 680.

For example, the primary catalogue 610 may include categories such as: English, Italian, Talk Shows, Sport, News, High Definition (HD) TV, etc.

The catalogue 610 may further include Uniform Resource Locator (URL) addresses used as references to content items accessible through the Internet 680, in association with one or more of the categories.

Optionally, the categories and references associated thereto are arranged in a hierarchical Extended Mark-UP Language (XML) format, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Apparatus 6000 further includes one or more application servers 620, in communication with the primary catalogue 610.

The application server 620 may receive a request from a remote Set-Top Box installed with a content agent, say a Set-Top Box provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to a subscriber. Optionally, the request is rather received from a remote

TV set installed with a content agent, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The application server 620 extracts data from the primary catalogue 610, according to the request, as described in further detail hereinbelow. The application server 620 communicates the data to the remote STB (or to the remote TV set), as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Apparatus 6000 further includes a catalogue updater 650, in communication with the primary catalogue 610.

The catalogue updater 650 updates the primary catalogue with the categories and references to content items accessible through the Internet 680.

The catalogue updater 650 adds references to new content items to the primary catalogue 610, and removes references to content items that are no longer available in the Internet 680, etc.

The content items include, but are not limited to content items in RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds (say of a Web TV site), content items in ATOM Feeds, Video streams, etc., as known in the art.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 150 further searches the Internet 680, using an Internet Crawler, as known in the art.

The Internet Crawler, crawls through the Internet 680, searching for relevant content items, say video content items, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

When a relevant content item is found by the Internet Crawler, the content item features are used as categories characterizing the content item, as described in further detail hereinbelow. Optionally, the catalogue updater 650 further converts the categories characterizing the content item into a predefined standard format, say into a hierarchically arranged array of content item categories.

Optionally, the predefined standard format is a hierarchically arranged array of content item categories represented in a predefined standard XML format, as known in the art.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 650 converts the categories characterizing the content item, into the standard format, utilizing a history learning model, which is at least semi-automatic, as described in further detail hereinbelow. The history learning model may be based on a neuronal network technique, as known in the art. In one example, there is predefined (say by a user of apparatus 6000) a standard RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Fidelity Scale of 1 to 10.

A fidelity rate of a content item found by the Internet Crawler is in a scale of 1 to 100. The catalogue updater 650 automatically converts the Fidelity Rate of the content item into the standard 1 to 10 scale, by dividing the rate by 10. In a second example, an XML standard hierarchically arranged array of content item categories includes the following categories: Nature, Science, Reality TV, News, and Comedy.

The Crawler finds a content item (say a National Geographic™ video item featuring Lions in The African Savannah), which has a category - Animals, assigned to the content item by National Geographic™. However, as there is no Animals category in the XML standard hierarchically arranged array of content item categories, the catalogue updater 650 fails to automatically associate the content item of Lions in The African Savannah with any of the predefined categories listed hereinabove. The catalogue updater 650 prompts a user of the apparatus 6000, say an employee of the ISP, to manually intervene. The user assigns the content item to the Nature Category. Consequently, the catalogue updater 650 updates a learning model with a rule linking Nature and Animals.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 650 further updates the XML hierarchically arranged array of content item categories, with the Animals category, as a category subordinate to the Nature category.

In another example, one or more content items linked in a RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds, are found in the Internet by the catalogue updater 650, say using the Internet crawler, as described in further detail hereinbelow. An RSS feed lists and links one or more content items, say for publishing the content items in a web site, thus creating syndication and categorization for the content items, as known in the art.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 650 analyzes the RSS feeds found by the crawler, and updates the primary catalogue 610 with references to the content items in the RSS feeds. The catalogue updater 650 further associates the references with one or more categories stored in the primary catalogue 610, thus providing new syndication and categorization for the content items of the RSS feeds.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 650 analyzes the RSS feeds found by the crawler, and updates the primary catalogue 610 with references to the RSS feeds. The catalogue updater 650 further associates the references with one or more categories stored in the primary catalogue 610, thus providing syndication and categorization for the RSS feeds.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 650 further verifies that each of the content items complies with a predefined criterion, prior to updating the catalogue 610 with the reference to the content item.

In one example, the catalogue updater 650 may verify that the content item is a video content item, prior to updating the catalogue 610 with the video content item.

In another example, the catalogue updater 650 verifies that the content item is one of a language listed in a limited list of languages, as defined by a user of the catalogue updater 650.

Reference is now made to Fig. 7, which is a simplified block diagram illustrating a fifth apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Apparatus 7000 includes a primary catalogue 710. The primary catalogue 710 includes categories associated with references to content items accessible through the Internet, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Apparatus 7000 further includes several application servers 720, in communication with the primary catalogue 710.

Optionally, each application server 720 deals with requests sent from a predefined group of ISP (Internet Service Provider) Subscribers Set-Top Boxes (STBs), TV sets, etc.

The group may include STBs located in a predefined geographical area, TV sets sold in German speaking countries, etc., as described in further detail hereinbelow. Optionally, the apparatus 7000 further includes several secondary catalogues

722.

Each of the secondary catalogues 722 is in communication with a specific one of the application servers 720. The application server 720 derives the secondary catalogue from the primary catalogue, say using an SQL (Structured Query language) data query, as known in the art.

The secondary catalogue 722 is derived from the primary catalogue in accordance with a predefined derivation criterion.

For example, an application server 720 may deal with STBs and TV sets of ISP subscribers interested in content items of a certain language, say French

The application server 720 derives the secondary catalogue 722 associated therewith, by retrieving from the primary catalogue 710 categories and references to content items associated with the retrieved categories, where the content items are in French. Upon receiving a request for data pertaining to categories, content items, or both, from one of the STBs or one of the TV sets, the application server 720 retrieves the data from the secondary catalogue, thereby indirectly extracting the data from the primary catalogue, according to the request. The application server 720 sends the data to the STB or TV set, the request originates from, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

In one embodiment, each of the application servers 720 has a secondary catalogue, which is periodically updated, according to changes in content of the primary catalogue 710. Optionally, the secondary catalogue 722 is updated using a database delta tool, which extracts differences in content of the primary catalogue 710, and uses the extracted differences, for updating the secondary catalogue, say on a periodic manner, as known in the art.

Optionally, each application server 710 is an XML (Extended Mark-Up Language) Server, which communicates with Set-Top Boxes (STBs) of subscribers of the ISP, or with TV sets, using an XML Protocol, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Reference is now made to Fig. 8, which is a simplified block diagram illustrating a sixth apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus 8000 includes a catalogue 810, installed on a TV set.

The catalogue 810 is used for storing categories associated with references to content items accessible through the Internet, as described in further detail hereinabove.

For example, the catalogue 810 may be used for storing categories such as: English, Italian, Talk Shows, Sport, News, High Definition (HD), etc.

The catalogue 810 may further include Uniform Resource Locator (URL) addresses, or other links, used as references to content items accessible through the

Internet, in association with one or more of the categories. Optionally, the categories and references associated thereto are arranged in a hierarchical array, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

The apparatus 8000 also includes a content agent 830, installed on the TV set, in communication with the catalogue 810.

The content agent 830 retrieves data pertaining to one or more of the categories and references from the catalogue 810. The content agents 830 inputs the received data to an operating module 870 of the TV set, for presenting at least a part of the input data to a user of the TV set.

Optionally, the apparatus 8000 further includes a catalogue updater 850, in communication with the catalogue 810. The catalogue updater 850 updates the catalogue 810 with the categories and references to content items accessible through the Internet.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 850 searches the Internet for relevant content items, say using an Internet crawler, as described in further detail hereinabove. The catalogue updater 850 updates the catalogue 810 with references to the content items found relevant, say a URL address. The catalogue updater 850 further links one or more of the categories, thus creating an association between the content item and the categories.

Reference is now made to Fig. 9, which is a simplified flowchart illustrating a first method, for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In a method for Internet TV content provisioning, there is provided 910 a catalogue comprising content categories, such as Sport, Talk Shows, Stand Up Comedy, Nature, Science, etc. The catalogue may further include categories in subordination to other categories. For example, the catalogue may include Tennis - as a category subordinate to Sport, Animals - as a category subordinate to Nature, Biology as a category subordinate to Science, and so forth. At least some of the categories are associated with content items accessible through the Internet, say a using URL (Uniform Resource Locator) address, as known in the art.

Next, there is received 920 a request for data pertaining to one or more of the categories, references to content items, or both, from a TV set 295, or from Set-Top Box (STB) 190 connected to a TV set 195, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The request may be sent from the content agent 330, and received by the application server 320, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The data pertaining to the categories, references, or both, is extracted 930 from the catalogue 310 according to the request, say by the application server 220. The extracted data is communicated 940 to the TV set 295, say by the application server 220, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Next, there is input 950 the communicated data to an operating module of the TV set 295, say using a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) protocol, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Optionally, the data is input 950 to the operating module, in an HTML format, thus allowing immediate presentation of the data to a user, say using a browser the operating module of the TV set includes, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Optionally, the operating module uses an Electric Program Guide (EPG) interface, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the TV set 295.

In one example, the data is input 950 to the operating module, in an XML format, through API functions provided to the operating module from a program library the content agent 230 contains, as known in the art. The operating module may use the API functions for requesting and receiving the data, and dynamically incorporate the data in the EPG, say as a sub-menu in the EPG channel, or as a separate channel having a dedicated menu, as known in the art.

Consequently, the user of the TV set 295 may be provided access to the Internet's dynamic and growing variety of TV channels.

Optionally, a content item ordered using the request, or a reference to the content item (such as a URL address, or another link usable for downloading the content item), is sent to the TV set 395, say using the application server 320, as described in further detail hereinabove. Optionally, the method further includes updating the catalogue 310 with the categories and references to the content items accessible through the Internet.

Optionally, the categories are further converted into a predefined standard format, say into a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) standard format.

Optionally, in the standard format, the categories are hierarchically arranged, in a manner which represents the hierarchical relationship between the categories.

For example, the hierarchical array may express the relationship between the nature category and an animal category subordinate to nature category, and between the animal category and a lion category subordinate to the animal category, as described in further detail hereinabove. Optionally, the hierarchically arranged array of content item categories is represented using a set of relational database tables, as known in the art.

Optionally, the hierarchically arranged array of content item categories is represented using a set of hierarchical database structures, as known in the art. Optionally, the categories are further converted to the categories to the standard format, utilizing an at least semi-automatic history learning model, say a model based on a neuronal network technique.

The method may further includes searching the Internet for content items, say using the Internet crawler of the content updater 350, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Optionally, there is verified that each of the content items complies with a predefined criterion, prior to updating the catalogue with the reference to the content item. For example, the catalogue updater 350 may verify that the content item is a media item (say video or audio), prior to updating the catalogue with the content item, as described in further detail hereinabove.

The method may further include managing a memory space (say a hard disk space) available on the TV set, or STB. For example, the content agent 330 may remove content items which are not in use from the disk space available on the TV set, thus making space for new content items.

Optionally, the method further includes using statistical information pertaining to interaction of the user with the TV set or STB, for extracting 930 the data from the catalogue.

In one example, the application server 320 may use statistical information indicating that the user of a specific TV set seldom watches tennis matches.

Consequently, when the user of the specific TV set sends to the application server 320 a request for content items belonging to a Sport Category, the application server 320 excludes tennis content items from a list of content items sent to the TV set, in response to the request. Optionally, the method further includes using TV content information pertaining to a content item already stored on the TV set. The information pertaining to the content item may be used for facilitating provisioning of the content item stored to a second TV set. For example, the TV set's content information pertaining to the content item stored on the TV set may be sent from the content agent 330 to the application server 320.

In one example, whenever a user of a first TV set turns on the TV set, the content agent 330 installed on the first TV set, sends information pertaining to content items stored on a memory space of the first TV set, to the application server 320.

When the application server 320 receives a request for a content item already stored on memory space of the first TV set from a second TV set's content agent 330, the application server 320 may choose to copy the content item from the first TV set's memory space. By copying the content item from the first TV set's memory space, rather than downloading the content, directly from a web site the content item originates from, there may be avoided overloading of the web site with requests.

Reference is now made to Fig. 10, which is a simplified flowchart illustrating a second method for Internet TV content provisioning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the method of Fig. 10, there is generated 1010 a primary catalogue with categories and references to content items accessible through the Internet, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

For example, the primary catalogue may include categories such as: English, Italian, Talk Shows, Sport, News, High Definition (HD), etc. Optionally, the catalogue is periodically updated 1020 with the categories, through a manual process, through an automatic process based on a dictionary and thesaurus like functionality.

Optionally, the catalogue is updated 1020, with the categories through a manual process, through an automatic process based on attributes of content items found by an Internet Crawler, as described in further detail hereinabove, etc.

The catalogue may further include Uniform Resource Locator (URL) addresses, or other links, used as references to content items accessible through the Internet, in association with one or more of the categories. The categories are converted 1030 into a predefined standard, say into a hierarchically arranged array of content item categories, such as an Extended Mark-up Language (XML) format, as known in the art.

Optionally, the categories are converted 1030 into the standard format, utilizing a history learning model, which is at least semi-automatic, as described in further detail hereinbelow.

Optionally, the updating 1020 of the catalogue with the categories and associated references to content items includes searching the Internet using a content updater 150, which includes an Internet Crawler, as known in the art.

The Internet Crawler, crawls through the Internet Network, searching for relevant content items, say items fitting a predefined criterion.

For example, the Internet Crawler may include a function, which checks if a content item found by the crawler is a video content. Optionally, the Internet Crawler implements a recursive process where the

Internet is searched for relevant content items, in a continuous or periodic manner, as described in further detail, and illustrated using Fig. 12, hereinbelow.

Using the crawler, web sites are searched, and pages of the web sites are visited, and searched for content items fitting the criterion predefined by a user of the catalogue updater 150 (say that the content item is a video item).

When a relevant content item is found by the Internet Crawler, one or more features of the content item are used as categories characterizing the content item.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 150 further converts the categories characterizing the content item, into a standard format, say into a hierarchically arranged array of content item categories, say an Extended Mark-up Language (XML) format.

Optionally, the catalogue updater 150 converts the categories characterizing the content item, into the standard format, utilizing a history learning model, which is at least semi-automatic, as described in further detail hereinbelow. The history learning model may be based on a neuronal network technique, as known in the art.

In one example, there is predefined (say by a user of apparatus 1000) a standard RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Fidelity Scale of 1 to 10.

A fidelity rate of an RSS content item found by the Internet Crawler is in a scale of 1 to 100. The fidelity rate is automatically converted into the standard 1 to 10 scale, by dividing the rate by 10.

In a second example, the hierarchically arranged array of content item categories includes the categories: Nature, Talk Shows, News, Reality TV, etc. However there is no Animals category in the exemplary standard hierarchically arranged array of content item categories. The Internet Crawler finds a content item entitled "Wild Cats", which has an animal attribute assigned to the item in a web site of the National Geographic™.

An attempt to automatically associate the National Geographic™ video item entitled "Wild Cats", with one of the categories above fails, as none of the categories listed hereinabove is an animal category.

A user (say a network worker) of the apparatus 1000 is prompted to manually intervene. The user assigns the content item to the Nature Category. Consequently, a reference to the content item entitled "Wild Cats", is created, and associated with the Nature category. Optionally, the learning model is updated with a rule linking Nature and

Animals, say by updating the hierarchically arranged array of content item categories, with the Animals Category, as a category subordinate to the Nature Category.

Reference is now made to Fig. 11, which illustrates an exemplary list of content items in an exemplary XML format, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The exemplary XML format list of content items lists Internet TV Channels, associated with attributes pertaining to each of the channels, received by the content agent 330 from the application server 320.

For example, the first channel has a channel ID: "0x60", entitled "Arena Grande Concert Videos", in English, and which belongs to the categories of Art and Music.

The list may be received as data requested using the content agent 330, as described in further detail hereinabove.

Reference is now made to Fig. 12, which illustrates exemplary Internet Crawler functions, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention Optionally, the Internet crawler implements a recursive process where the

Internet is searched for relevant content items.

An exemplary Internet crawler starts searching content items in a web page selected by a user of the catalogue updater 150, say on a web page arbitrarily selected by the user.

As illustrated by the crawler Junction function, the crawler visits each web page linked to a page previously visited by the crawler, in a recursive manner.

In each of the pages the Internet crawler visits, the crawler searches for content items. For each content item found, there is verified that the content item complies with a predefined criterion. For example, using the Bool_Function_01 function, the crawler verifies that the content item is a video content item.

Provided the content item is indeed a video content item, the content item's attributes are retrieved from the web page. The crawler may update the catalogue 110 with a reference to the content item, and use the attributes, for associating the reference with one or more categories stored in the catalogue 110, say using the Void_

Function_02.

It is expected that during the life of this patent many relevant devices and systems will be developed and the scope of the terms herein, particularly of the terms "Set-Top Box (STB)", "Internet", "Internet Crawler", "Internet Service Provider",

"TV", and "Extended Mark-Up Language (XML)", is intended to include all such new technologies a priori.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. Apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: a) a primary catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet; b) at least one operating module installed on a Set-Top Box (STB) and operable by a user for selecting among categories presented to the user; c) at least one content agent, installed on the STB, associated with a respective one of said operating modules, configured to send a request for data pertaining to at least one of the categories and references of said primary catalogue, receive the data, and input the data to said operating module, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module; and d) at least one application server, in communication with said primary catalogue and said content agent, configured to receive the request, extract the data from the primary catalogue according to the request, and communicate the data to said content agent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a catalogue updater, in communication with said primary catalogue, configured to update the primary catalogue with the categories and references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said catalogue updater is further configured to convert the categories into a predefined standard format.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said catalogue updater is further configured to convert the categories into a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) standard.

5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said catalogue updater is further configured to convert the categories into a predefined standard format, utilizing an at least semi-automatic history learning model.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said catalogue updater is further configured to convert the categories into a predefined standard format, utilizing an at least semi-automatic history learning model based on a neuronal network technique.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said catalogue updater is further configured to search the Internet for Internet TV content items.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein said catalogue updater is further configured to verify each of the Internet TV content items complies with a predefined criterion, prior to updating the catalogue with the reference to the Internet TV content item.

9. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said application server is further configured to communicate the data to said content agent, using a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) protocol.

10. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said application server is further configured to communicate the data to said content agent, in an HTML format.

11. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said application server is further configured to send an Internet TV content item ordered using the request, to said content agent.

12. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said application server is further configured to send a reference to an Internet TV content item ordered using the request, to said content agent.

13. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one secondary catalogue, in communication with a respective one of said application servers, wherein said application server is further configured to derive said secondary catalogue from said primary catalogue, in accordance with a predefined derivation criterion, and retrieve the data from said secondary catalogue, thereby indirectly extracting the data from said primary catalogue, according to the request.

14. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating module uses an Electric Program Guide (EPG) interface, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the STB.

15. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said content agent is further configured to manage a memory space available on the Set-Top Box (STB).

16. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said application server is further configured to use statistical information pertaining to interaction of the user with the Set-Top Box (STB), for extracting the data from the primary catalogue.

17. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said content agent is further configured to communicate statistical information pertaining to interaction of the user with the Set-Top Box (STB), to said application server, and said application server is further configured to use the statistical information, for extracting the data from the primary catalogue.

18. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said application server is further configured to use STB content information pertaining to an Internet TV content item stored on the STB, in facilitating provisioning of the Internet TV content item stored on the STB to a second STB.

19. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said content agent is further configured to communicate Set-Top Box (STB) content information pertaining a content item stored on the STB to said application server, and said application server is further configured to use the STB content information, in facilitating provisioning of the content item stored on the STB to a second STB.

20. The apparatus of any one of Hie preceding claims, wherein said content agent is further configured to input the data to the operating module of the Set-Top Box (STB) in an XML format.

21. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said content agent is further configured to input the data to the operating module of the Set-Top Box (STB) in an HTML format.

22. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said application server is further configured to install said content agent on the STB, through a remote connection to the STB.

23. Method for Internet TV content provisioning, the method comprising: providing a catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet; receiving a request a for data pertaining to at least one of the categories and references, from a TV set; extracting the data from the catalogue according to the request; communicating the extracted data to the TV set; and inputting the communicated data to an operating module of the TV set.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising updating the catalogue with the categories and references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet.

25. The method of any one of claims 23-24, further comprising converting the categories into a predefined standard format.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising converting the categories into a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) standard.

27. The method of any one of claims 24-26, further comprising converting the categories into a predefined standard format, utilizing an at least semi-automatic history learning model.

28. The method of any one of claims 24-27, further comprising converting the categories into a predefined standard format, utilizing an at least semi-automatic history learning model based on a neuronal network technique.

29. The method of any one of claims 24-28, further comprising searching the Internet for Internet TV content items.

30. The method of any one of claims 24-29, further comprising verifying that each of the Internet TV content items complies with a predefined criterion, prior to updating the catalogue with the reference to the Internet TV content item.

31. The method of any one of claims 23-30, wherein said communicating the data to the TV set is carried out using a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) protocol.

32. The method of any one of claims 23-31, wherein the data is communicated to the TV set in an HTML format.

33. The method of any one of claims 23-32, further comprising sending an

Internet TV content item ordered using the request, to the TV set.

34. The method of any one of claims 23-33, further comprising sending a reference to an Internet TV content item ordered using the request, to the TV set.

35. The method of any one of claims 23-34, wherein the operating module uses an Electric Program Guide (EPG) interface, for presenting at least a part of the input data to a user of the TV set.

36. The method of any one of claims 23-35, further comprising managing a memory space available on the TV set.

37. The method of any one of claims 23-36, further comprising using statistical information pertaining to interaction of the user with the TV set, for extracting the data from the catalogue.

38. The method of any one of claims 23-37, further comprising using TV set content information pertaining to a content item stored on the TV set, for facilitating provisioning of the Internet TV content item stored on the TV set to a second TV set.

39. The method of any one of claims 23-38, further comprising inputting the data to the operating module of the TV set in an XML format.

40. The method of any one of claims 23-39, further comprising inputting the data to the operating module of the TV set in an HTML format.

41. Apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: a) a primary catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet; and b) at least one application server, in communication with said primary catalogue, configured to receive a request from a remote TV set, extract data from the primary catalogue according to the request, and communicate the data to the remote TV set.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising a catalogue updater, in communication with said primary catalogue, configured to update the primary catalogue with the categories and references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said catalogue updater is further configured to convert the categories into a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) standard.

44. The apparatus of claims 42 or 43, wherein said catalogue updater is further configured to convert the categories into a predefined standard format, utilizing an at least semi-automatic history learning model.

45. The apparatus of any one of claims 42 to 44, wherein said catalogue updater is further configured to convert the categories into a predefined standard format, utilizing an at least semi-automatic history learning model based on a neuronal network technique.

46. Method for Internet TV content provisioning, the method comprising: providing a primary catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet; receiving a request from a remote TV set; extracting data from the primary catalogue according to the request, and communicating the data to the remote TV set.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising updating the primary catalogue with the categories and references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising converting the categories the catalogue is updated with, into a predefined Extended Mark-up Language (XML) standard.

49. The method of claims 47 or 48, further comprising converting the categories the catalogue is updated with, into a predefined standard format, utilizing an at least semi-automatic history learning model.

50. The method of any one of claims 47 to 49, further comprising converting the categories the catalogue is updated with, into a predefined standard format, utilizing an at least semi-automatic history learning model based on a neuronal network technique.

51. Apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: a) a catalogue, installed on a TV set, configured to store categories associated with references to content items accessible through the Internet; and b) a content agent, installed on the TV set, associated with said catalogue, configured to retrieve data pertaining to at least one of the categories and references from said catalogue, and input the received data to an operating module of the TV set, for presenting at least a part of the input data to a user of the TV set.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising a catalogue updater, in communication with said catalogue, configured to update the catalogue with the categories and references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Internet.

53. A Set-Top Box (STB), comprising: a) an operating module, operable by a user for selecting among categories presented to the user; and b) a content agent, associated with said operating module, configured to send a request for data pertaining to at least one of categories and references to content items associated with the categories in a remote catalogue, receive the data, and input the data to said operating module, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module.

54. A TV set, comprising: a) an operating module, operable by a user for selecting among categories presented to the user; and b) a content agent, associated with said operating module, configured to send a request for data pertaining to at least one of categories and references to content items associated with the categories in a remote catalogue, receive the data, and input the data to said operating module, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module.

55. Apparatus for Internet TV content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: a) a primary catalogue comprising a plurality of categories associated with references to Internet TV content items accessible through the Iinternet; b) at least one operating module installed on a TV set and operable by the user for selecting among categories presented to the user; c) at least one content agent, installed on the TV set, associated with a respective one of said operating modules, configured to send a request for data pertaining to at least one of the categories and references of said primary catalogue, receive the data, and input the data to said operating module, for presenting at least a part of the input data to the user of the operating module; and d) at least one application server, in communication with said primary catalogue and said content agent, configured to receive the request, extract the data from the primary catalogue according to the request, and communicate the data to said content agent.