U.S. patent application number 12/981753 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-08 for method and system for matching content consumption preference via a broadband gateway.
Invention is credited to Xuemin Chen, Wael William Diab, David Garrett, Jeyhan Karaoguz, David Lundgren, Rich Prodan.
Application Number | 20110302275 12/981753 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45064389 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110302275 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prodan; Rich ; et
al. |
December 8, 2011 |
Method and System for Matching Content Consumption Preference Via a
Broadband Gateway
Abstract
A broadband gateway, which enables communication with a
plurality of devices and handles at least one physical layer
connection to at least one corresponding network access service
providers, may be operable to receive a request for content from a
particular device of the plurality of devices. Content which
corresponds to the request may be selected by the broadband gateway
from content that may be available in one or more content sources,
based on user preference information associated with a particular
type of the content. The broadband gateway may receive the selected
content from a selected content source of the one or more content
sources for communication to the particular device. The broadband
gateway may receive the selected content from a content provider
and/or a network access service provider via broadcast
communications and/or Internet communications. The selected content
may also be received from a communication device via peer-to-peer
communications.
Inventors: |
Prodan; Rich; (Niwot,
CO) ; Karaoguz; Jeyhan; (Irvine, CA) ; Chen;
Xuemin; (San Diego, CA) ; Diab; Wael William;
(San Francisco, CA) ; Garrett; David; (Tustin,
CA) ; Lundgren; David; (Mill Valley, CA) |
Family ID: |
45064389 |
Appl. No.: |
12/981753 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61351696 |
Jun 4, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/10 20130101;
H04N 21/454 20130101; Y02D 30/70 20200801; H04L 12/2838 20130101;
H04L 12/6402 20130101; H04L 47/2491 20130101; H04N 21/632 20130101;
G05B 13/02 20130101; G05F 1/66 20130101; H04L 45/302 20130101; H04L
12/2801 20130101; H04L 65/4084 20130101; H04L 67/16 20130101; H04N
21/258 20130101; H04N 21/47202 20130101; H04W 12/086 20210101; G06F
21/6245 20130101; H04L 12/1453 20130101; H04L 65/1036 20130101;
H04L 2012/2849 20130101; H04N 21/482 20130101; H04L 41/32 20130101;
H04L 63/20 20130101; H04N 21/43615 20130101; H04L 65/1033 20130101;
H04L 63/0281 20130101; G06Q 30/04 20130101; H04L 65/102 20130101;
H04N 21/6543 20130101; H04L 63/10 20130101; Y04S 40/20 20130101;
H04L 12/66 20130101; G06Q 30/0226 20130101; H04L 65/1023 20130101;
G06F 21/10 20130101; H04N 21/6373 20130101; Y02D 30/00 20180101;
G06Q 30/0215 20130101; H04L 63/205 20130101; H04L 67/1078 20130101;
H04L 67/12 20130101; H04L 41/5019 20130101; H04L 63/02 20130101;
G06Q 40/12 20131203; H04L 67/104 20130101; H04L 67/2842 20130101;
H04L 41/0816 20130101; H04L 47/805 20130101; H04L 65/40 20130101;
H04L 29/06095 20130101; H04L 69/16 20130101; H04L 65/103 20130101;
H04L 67/10 20130101; H04N 5/445 20130101; H04N 21/6371 20130101;
G06F 2221/07 20130101; H04L 67/1095 20130101; H04W 52/265
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/218 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A method for communication, the method comprising: in a
broadband gateway that enables communication with a plurality of
devices, wherein said broadband gateway is operable to handle at
least one physical layer connection to at least one corresponding
network access service provider: receiving a request for content
from a particular device of said plurality of devices; selecting
content, which corresponds to said request, from content that is
available in one or more content sources based on user preference
information associated with a particular type of said content ; and
receiving said selected content from a selected content source of
said one or more content sources for communication to said
particular device.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one
physical layer connection comprises a plurality of physical layer
connections and said at least one corresponding network access
service provider comprises a plurality of corresponding network
access service providers, and each of said plurality of physical
layer connections corresponds to respective one of said plurality
of corresponding network access service providers.
3. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving said
selected content from a content provider and/or a network access
service provider via broadcast communications.
4. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving said
selected content from a content provider and/or a network access
service provider via Internet communications.
5. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving said
selected content from a communication device via peer-to-peer
communications.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said particular type of
said content comprises a movie, a sports program, a news program,
an education program, a life show and/or other categories of
content.
7. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating and/or
updating said user preference information associated with said
particular type of said content based on content consumption
history of an associated user and/or inputs from said user.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said user preference
information comprises rules associated with price, picture quality,
advertisement insertion, content source and/or other
characteristics for consuming said particular type of said
content.
9. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving
information associated with said content that is available in said
one or more content sources, wherein said received information is
used to determine said selection of said content that corresponds
to said request.
10. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating
choices of content sources for said content request to said
particular device based on a request for options from a user who is
associated with said particular device, wherein said request for
options overrides one or more rules in said user preference
information.
11. A system for communication, the system comprising: one or more
processors and/or circuits for use in a broadband gateway that
enables communication with a plurality of devices, wherein said
broadband gateway is operable to handle at least one physical layer
connection to at least one corresponding network access service
provider, said one or more processors and/or circuits being
operable to: receive a request for content from a particular device
of said plurality of devices; select content, which corresponds to
said request, from content that is available in one or more content
sources based on user preference information associated with a
particular type of said content ; and receive said selected content
from a selected content source of said one or more content sources
for communication to said particular device.
12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one
physical layer connection comprises a plurality of physical layer
connections and said at least one corresponding network access
service provider comprises a plurality of corresponding network
access service providers, and each of said plurality of physical
layer connections corresponds to respective one of said plurality
of corresponding network access service providers.
13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more
processors and/or circuits are operable to receive said selected
content from a content provider and/or a network access service
provider via broadcast communications.
14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more
processors and/or circuits are operable to receive said selected
content from a content provider and/or a network access service
provider via Internet communications.
15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more
processors and/or circuits are operable to receive said selected
content from a communication device via peer-to-peer
communications.
16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said particular type
of said content comprises a movie, a sports program, a news
program, an education program, a life show and/or other categories
of content.
17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more
processors and/or circuits are operable to generate and/or update
said user preference information associated with said particular
type of said content based on content consumption history of an
associated user and/or inputs from said user.
18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said user preference
information comprises rules associated with price, picture quality,
advertisement insertion, content source and/or other
characteristics for consuming said particular type of said
content.
19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more
processors and/or circuits are operable to receive information
associated with said content that is available in said one or more
content sources, and said received information is used to determine
said selection of said content that corresponds to said
request.
20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more
processors and/or circuits are operable to communicate choices of
content sources for said content request to said particular device
based on a request for options from a user who is associated with
said particular device, and said request for options overrides one
or more rules in said user preference information.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY
REFERENCE
[0001] This patent application makes reference to, claims priority
to, and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.
61/351,696, which was filed on Jun. 4, 2010.
[0002] This application also makes reference to: [0003] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/355,377 filed on Jan. 16, 2009; [0004] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/355,413 filed on Jan. 16, 2009;
[0005] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/355,480 filed on Jan.
16, 2009; [0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/395,383 filed
on Feb. 27, 2009; [0007] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______
(Attorney Docket No. 23397US02) filed on ______; [0008] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23398US02) filed
on ______; [0009] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23399US02) filed on ______; [0010] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23400US02) filed
on ______; [0011] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23401US02) filed on ______; [0012] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23402US02) filed
on ______; [0013] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23403US02) filed on ______; [0014] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23404US02) filed
on ______; [0015] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23405US02) filed on ______; [0016] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23406US02) filed
on ______; [0017] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23407US02) filed on ______; [0018] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23408US02) filed
on ______; [0019] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23409US02) filed on ______; [0020] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23410US02) filed
on ______; [0021] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23411US02) filed on ______; [0022] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23412US02) filed
on ______; [0023] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23413US02) filed on ______; [0024] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23414US02) filed
on ______; [0025] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23415US02) filed on ______; [0026] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23416US02) filed
on ______; [0027] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23417US02) filed on ______; [0028] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23418US02) filed
on ______; [0029] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23419US02) filed on ______; [0030] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23420US02) filed
on ______; [0031] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23421US02) filed on ______; [0032] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23422US02) filed
on ______; [0033] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23423US02) filed on ______; [0034] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23424US02) filed
on ______; [0035] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23425US02) filed on ______; [0036] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23426US02) filed
on ______; [0037] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23427US02) filed on ______; [0038] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23428US02) filed
on ______; [0039] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23429US02) filed on ______; [0040] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23430US02) filed
on ______; [0041] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23431US02) filed on ______; [0042] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23432US02) filed
on ______; [0043] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney
Docket No. 23434US02) filed on ______; and [0044] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 23435US02) filed
on ______.
[0045] Each of the above stated applications is hereby incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0046] Certain embodiments of the invention relate to communication
systems. More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention
relate to a method and system for matching content consumption
preference via a broadband gateway.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0047] Telecommunication technologies have evolved from analog to
digital technologies, and continues to evolve from circuit switched
to packet switched, from connection oriented packet switching to
connectionless packet switching, and from narrow band application
to broadband applications. The accompanied evolution in
telecommunication technologies has significantly advanced
operators' capability to offer broadband, IP-based multimedia
services ranging from entertainment and lifestyle applications such
as mobile TV and mobile payment to professional services such as
video conferencing and real-time data exchange.
[0048] With the continuous growth of digital television or
broadcast multimedia, and/or broadband access, which may be used in
conjunction with online businesses, social networks, and/or other
online services and applications, users may desire having access to
a larger number of providers and/or a broader range of content in a
manner that is flexible and/or suits the users' lifestyles. Most
users connect to the Internet using web browsers running on
personal computers (PCs). Furthermore, most households may have one
or more display devices that may be used to view television and/or
multimedia broadcasts. Television broadcasts may include
terrestrial TV, Cable-Television (CATV), satellite TV and/or
Internet Protocol television (IPTV) based broadcasts. To ensure
against unauthorized reception and/or use of TV and/or multimedia
broadcast, service providers may require use of dedicated
equipments such as set-top boxes (STBs) that may be used to encrypt
broadcast signals communicated from the service providers to
generate suitable video and/or audio streams that may be played via
televisions and/or other display/playback devices in the household.
Furthermore. STBs and/or TVs may support Internet access. Thus,
rather than using a computer to access the Internet, a user may
find it more convenient to use the flat screen televisions and/or
monitors in home networks for the same prpose.
[0049] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and
traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the
art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention
as set forth in the remainder of the present application with
reference to the drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0050] A system and/or method for matching content consumption
preference via a broadband gateway, substantially as shown in
and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as
set forth more completely in the claims.
[0051] Various advantages, aspects and novel features of the
present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment
thereof, will be more fully understood from the following
description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0052] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
communication system that is operable to match content consumption
preference via a broadband gateway, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0053] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
broadband gateway that is operable to match content consumption
preference, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0054] FIGS. 3A-3D are block diagrams that each illustrates
exemplary matching of content consumption preference utilizing a
broadband gateway, in accordance with embodiments of the
invention.
[0055] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for
matching content consumption preference via a broadband gateway, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0056] Certain embodiments of the invention can be found in a
method and system for matching content consumption preference via a
broadband gateway. In various embodiments of the invention, a
broadband gateway, which enables communication with a plurality of
devices and handles at least one physical layer connection to at
least one corresponding network access service providers, may be
operable to receive a request for content from a particular device
of the plurality of devices. Content which corresponds to the
request may be selected by the broadband gateway from content that
may be available in one or more content sources, based on user
preference information associated with a particular type of the
content. The broadband gateway may receive the selected content
from a selected content source of the one or more content sources
for communication to the particular device. In this regard, the at
least one physical layer connection may comprise, for example, a
plurality of physical layer connections and the at least one
corresponding network access service provider may comprise a
plurality of corresponding network access service providers, and
each of the plurality of physical layer connections corresponds to
respective one of the plurality of corresponding network access
service providers.
[0057] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the broadband
gateway may be operable to receive the selected content from a
content provider and/or a network access service provider via
broadcast communications and/or Internet communications. The
selected content may also be received from a communication device
via peer-to-peer communications, for example. The particular type
of the content may comprise, for example, a movie, a sports
program, a news program, an education program, a life show and/or
other categories of content. The broadband gateway may generate
and/or update the user preference information associated with the
particular type of the content based on content consumption history
of an associated user and/or inputs from the user. In this regard,
the user preference information may comprise rules associated with
price, picture quality, advertisement insertion, content source
and/or other characteristics for consuming the particular type of
the content, for example.
[0058] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the broadband
gateway may be operable to receive information associated with the
content that is available in the one or more content sources, where
the received information may be used by the broadband gateway to
determine the selection of the content that corresponds to the
request.
[0059] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the broadband
gateway may receive a request for options, which may override one
or more rules in the user preference information, from a user who
is associated with the particular device. In this regard, the
broadband gateway may communicate or offer choices of content
sources for the content request to the particular device based on
the request for options from the user.
[0060] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
communication system that is operable to match content consumption
preference via a broadband gateway, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a
communication system 100. The communication system 100 may comprise
a plurality of broadband gateways of which broadband gateways 102,
103 are illustrated, a plurality of distribution networks 110, a
plurality of devices 104a-104d, 105a-105d, which are collectively
referred to herein as devices 104 and 105 respectively, a plurality
of network access service providers 120 of which network access
service providers 120a-120c are illustrated and a plurality of
content providers 130 of which content providers 130a-130c are
illustrated. The devices 104a-104d may be serviced by the broadband
gateway 102. The devices 105a-105d may be serviced by the broadband
gateway 103.
[0061] A content provider such as the content provider 130a may
comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code that may
be operable to generate, capture and/or package content such as,
for example, multimedia content that may be distributed to one or
more of the devices 104a-104d, 105a-105d via one or more of the
network access service providers 120a-120c and the corresponding
broadband gateways 102, 103. The content may be, for example,
downloadable or streaming, and/or rented or purchased. In an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, a content provider such as
the content provider 130a may provide information such as metadata
associated with content available in the content provider 130a to a
broadband gateway such as the broadband gateway 102. The
information associated with the content may be used by the
broadband gateway 102 to determine a selection of content that
corresponds to a content request from a coupled device such as the
device 104a.
[0062] A network access service provider such as the network access
service provider 120a may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,
interfaces and/or code that may be operable to provide services
using different access technologies to one or more of the devices
104a-104d, 105a-105d for end-users via the corresponding broadband
gateways 102, 103. The services may include, but are not limited
to, multimedia, television, Internet, phone, Ethernet, multimedia
over coax alliance (MoCA), passive optical network (PON), and/or
cellular services, for example. The network access service
providers 120 may provide physical layer connections to the
broadband gateways 102, 103. Such physical layer connections may
then be utilized by the broadband gateways 102, 103 to access
content provided by the content providers 130, to access services
provided by other service providers, and/or to access an intranet
or the Internet at-large. In this regard, "network access service
provider" as utilized herein, is distinguished from the more
generic term "service provider" which may encompass services other
than providing physical layer access. Cable television (CATV)
providers, plain old telephone service (POTS) providers, digital
subscriber line (DSL) providers, cellular service providers, WiMAX
providers and/or satellite providers are examples of the network
access service providers 120. In some instances, a network access
service provider such as the network access service provider 120c
may be a provider that provides both content and services.
[0063] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a network
access service provider such as the network access service provider
120c may provide information such as metadata associated with
content available in the network access service provider 120c to a
broadband gateway such as the broadband gateway 102. The
information associated with the content may be utilized by the
broadband gateway 102 to determine a selection of content that
corresponds to a content request from a coupled device such as the
device 104a.
[0064] A broadband gateway such as the broadband gateway 102 may
comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code that may
be operable to provide an interface and connectivity between one or
more of the devices 104a-104d and one or more of the distribution
networks 110. For example, the broadband gateway 102 may support
configuring and/or using a plurality of broadband connections 108
to the distribution networks 110. The broadband connections 108 may
comprise wired and/or wireless connections between the broadband
gateway 102 and the distribution networks 110. In this regard, the
broadband gateway 102 may be operable to perform and/or provide
various services that may pertain to enabling and/or facilitating
reception of content such as multimedia content from one or more of
the content providers 130a-130c. The content may be delivered
through one or more of the network access service providers 120.
The broadband gateway 102 may communicate with various devices
104a-104d using wired, optical and/or wireless communication links
106. Similarly, the broadband gateway 103 may support configuring
and/or using a plurality of broadband connections 109 to the
distribution networks 110. The broadband gateway 103 may
communicate with various devices 105a-105d using wired, optical
and/or wireless communication links 107.
[0065] A single broadband gateway such as the broadband gateway 102
may be operable to handle a plurality of physical layer connections
to the distribution networks 110, where different ones or portions
of the distribution networks 110 may be owned, operated, leased or
associated with different ones of the network access service
providers 120. A physical layer may refer to an open systems
interconnection (OSI) layer 1. In this regard, for example, a first
network access service provider such as network access the service
provider 120a may provide network access to the broadband gateway
102 via a DSL connection over twisted-pair cabling, and a second
network access service provider such as the network access service
provider 120b may provide network access to the broadband gateway
102 via a cable television connection over coaxial cabling. In some
instances, the broadband gateway 102 may be operable to
concurrently communicate over the plurality of physical layer
connections provided by the plurality of network access service
providers 120.
[0066] A broadband gateway such as the broadband gateway 102 may be
located at a residential location such as a home. The broadband
gateway 102 may also be located in non-residential location
comprising, for example, a commercial building, an office, an
office complex, an apartment building and/or a factory. While the
broadband gateway 102 may be illustrated as a single and separate
device in FIG. 1, the invention may not be so limited. In one
embodiment of the invention, some functionalities of the broadband
gateway 102 may be implemented in a distributed manner over two or
more devices locally and/or remotely. For example, some of the
functionalities of the broadband gateway 102 may be implemented
within one of the televisions available in the home. Furthermore,
the broadband gateway 102 may be implemented as a virtual platform,
for example.
[0067] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a broadband
gateway such as the broadband gateway 102 may be operable to
respond a content request received from a coupled device such as
the device 104a. The broadband gateway 102 may select content that
corresponds to the request from available content in one or more
content sources, based on user preference information associated
with a particular type of the request content. The broadband
gateway 102 may receive or acquire information such as, for
example, metadata or peer-to-peer directory that may be associated
with the content available in the one or more content sources. The
information associated with the content may be utilized by the
broadband gateway 102 to determine the selection of content that
corresponds to the content request from the device 104a and matches
the associated user preference information. The broadband gateway
102 may generate and/or update the user preference information that
is associated with the particular type of the content for a user
such as the user 114, based on content consumption history of the
user 114 and/or inputs from the user 114, for example.
[0068] A device such as the device 104a may comprise suitable
logic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code that may be operable to
interact with the broadband gateway 102. The devices 104a-104d
serviced by, and/or connected with the broadband gateway 102 may
comprise content consuming devices and/or non-content consuming
household devices. For example, the devices 104 may comprise a
television, a set-top box (STB), a laptop computer, a tablet PC, a
smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, a security alarm, a
desk top computer and/or server, a mobile phone, a speaker, an
AM/FM radio, a phone, and/or an appliance such as a refrigerator.
The devices 104a-104d may interact with the broadband gateway 102
via the links 106 utilizing various wired and/or wireless
communication technologies such as, for example, Bluetooth, LTE,
WiFi and/or Ethernet. Similarly, the devices 105a-105d may interact
with the broadband gateway 103 via the links 107 utilizing various
wired and/or wireless communication technologies. One or more of
the devices 104a-104d may be associated with the user 114, and one
or more of the devices 105a-105d may be associated with the user
115.
[0069] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in
FIG. 1, although the devices 104a-104d communicate with only the
broadband gateway 102 as shown and the devices 105a-105d
communicate with only the broadband gateway 103 as shown, the
invention may not be so limited. Accordingly, the devices 104a-104d
may communicate with multiple broadband gateways in a local or home
network and the devices 105a-105d may communicate with multiple
broadband gateways in a local or home network without departing
from the spirit and scope of various embodiments of the
invention.
[0070] The distribution networks 110 may comprise suitable logic,
circuitry, communication devices, interfaces and/or code that may
be operable to enable wireless and/or wired communication among a
plurality of local and/or remote entities, based on one or more
networking and/or communication infrastructures. In this regard,
one or more of the distribution networks 110 may be utilized to
enable distribution of content such as multimedia content generated
by one or more of the content providers 130a-130c, via one or more
of the network access service providers 120a-120c, to one or more
of the devices 104a-104d, 105a-105d. The network connectivity
available via the distribution networks 110 may be based on one or
more communication standards and/or protocols. The distribution
networks 110 may comprise, for example, Internet, cable television
(CATV) network, satellite television (TV) network, wired or
wireless local area network (LAN), wired or wireless wide area
network (WAN), personal area network (PAN) and/or cellular network.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the distribution
networks 110 may provide resources to support peer-to-peer
communications between, for example, a communication device such as
the device 104a associated with the user 114 and a communication
device such as the device 105a associated with the user 115, as
illustrated by the link 140.
[0071] In operation, the broadband gateway 102 may be operable to
receive a content request from a coupled device such as the device
104a which is associated with the user 114. The broadband gateway
102 may select content which corresponds to the content request
from content that may be available in one or more content sources,
based on user preference information associated with a particular
type of the content. The selected content may be received by the
broadband gateway 102 from a selected content source of the one or
more content sources for communication to the device 104a.
[0072] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the broadband
gateway 102 may be operable to receive the selected content from a
content provider such as the content provider 130a and/or a network
access service provider such as the network access provider 120c
via broadcast communications. The broadband gateway 102 may be
operable to receive the selected content from a content provider
such as the content provider 130b and/or a network access service
provider such as the network access provider 120a via Internet
communications, for example. The selected content may also be
received from a communication device such as the device 105a via
peer-to-peer communications, for example.
[0073] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the broadband
gateway 102 may be operable to receive information associated with
the content that is available in the one or more content sources,
where the received information may be used by the broadband gateway
102 to determine the selection of the content that corresponds to
the content request from the device 104a. For example, the
broadband gateway 102 may receive, from a content provider such as
the content provider 130a, metadata associated with content that is
available in the content provider 130a. The metadata associated
with the content may indicate the characteristics of the content
such as, for example, cost, picture resolution and/or other
characteristics. The broadband gateway 102 may also receive, via
the broadband gateway 103, peer-to-peer directory information
associated with the user 115. The directory information may
indicate that the device 105a may comprise content which may be
available via peer-to-peer communications to the device 104a with
standard-definition (SD) quality. The content may be available free
of charge or at a reduced price, for example.
[0074] The particular type of the content may comprise, for
example, a movie, a sports program, a news program, an education
program, a life show and/or other categories of content. The user
preference information may comprise rules associated with, for
example, price, picture quality, advertisement insertion, content
source and/or other characteristics for consuming the particular
type of the content. In this regard, for example, the user 114
associated with the device 104a may request or choose to watch a
sports program such as a World Cup soccer game. The user preference
information associated with the chosen sports program may indicate
that high-definition (HD) quality is required or preferred with no
advertisement insertions. In this instance, available content
sources may comprise the content provider 130a, the content
provider 130b and the device 105a, for example. According to the
information or metadata associated with the sports program, the
content provider 130a may provide the requested sports program in
HD picture quality and with no advertisement insertions via a
cable-based broadcast network with a full price. The content
provider 130b may provide the requested sports program in SD
picture quality via an Internet network with advertisement
insertions and a reduced price. According to peer-to-peer directory
information associated with the device 105a, the device 105a may
provide the requested sports program in SD picture quality via a
peer-to-peer network free of charge. Accordingly, the broadband
gateway 102 may select the requested sports program from the
content provider 130a for delivering the sports program to the
device 104a for the user 114 with the full price.
[0075] In other instances, the user 114 associated with the device
104a may want to watch an evening news program. In this regard, the
user preference information associated with the news program may
indicate that SD picture quality is acceptable for the news
program, for example. The available content sources may comprise,
for example, the content provider 130a via broadcast communications
and the network access service provider 120a via Internet
communications. According to the information or metadata associated
with the news program, the content provider 130a may provide the
news program in HD picture quality with a full price. The network
access service provider 120a may provide the news program in SD
picture quality via Internet free of charge. Accordingly, the
network access service provider 120a may be selected by the
broadband gateway 102 for delivering the news program free of
charge to the device 104a for the user 114.
[0076] The broadband Gateway 102 may generate, update and/or
maintain the user preference information associated with the
particular type of the content automatically and/or periodically
based on content consumption history of the user 114. For example,
the broadband gateway 102 may adaptively and transparently keep
track of content with different types that may have been viewed or
consumed by the user 114 in certain ways and/or at certain times.
Accordingly, the user preference information associated with the
particular type of the content may be generated, updated and/or
maintained. The broadband gateway 102 may also generate, update
and/or maintain the user preference information based on inputs
from the user 114 manually. For example, a user interface provided
by the broadband gateway 102 may be utilized to query the user 114
to provide answers to questions related to preferences and/or
requirements associated with a particular type of the content being
consumed.
[0077] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the broadband
gateway 102 may receive a request for options, which may override
one or more rules in the user preference information, from the
device 104a that is associated with the user 114. In this regard,
the broadband gateway 102 may communicate or offer choices of
available content sources for the content request to the device
104a based on the request for options from the user 114. In such an
instance, for example, instead of following the rules specified in
the user preference information for consuming a particular sports
event this evening in HD picture quality without advertisement
insertions, the user 114 of the device 104a may send a request for
options, which overrides the HD picture quality and the no
advertisement insertion rules, to the broadband gateway 102 for the
particular sports event. The broadband gateway 102 may then provide
available content source choices with different prices, picture
qualities and/or other characteristics associated with the
particular sports event to the user 114 for consideration.
[0078] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
broadband gateway that is operable to match content consumption
preference, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a broadband gateway 200. The
broadband gateway 200 may be substantially similar to the broadband
gateway 102 in FIG. 1. The broadband gateway 200 may comprise a
provider interface module 202, a processor 204, a memory 206, a
client device interface module 208 and a content agent 210.
[0079] The provider interface module 202 may comprise suitable
logic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code that may be operable to
receive data from one or more network access service providers
220a-220b. The provider interface module 202 may also be operable
to send data to one or more network access service providers
220a-220b. The provider interface module 202 may be operable to
support multiple communication protocols, standards, and/or data
transport technologies. The provider interface module 202 may be
communicatively coupled to one or more network access service
providers 220a-220b via one or more physical layer connections
230a-230b. In this regard, each of the physical layer connections
230a-230b may connect the broadband gateway 200 to one of different
network access service providers 220a-220b. Each of the physical
layer connections 230a-230b may comprise a wired, optical and/or
wireless connection. For example, the physical layer connection
230a may comprise a DSL over twisted-pair connection while the
physical layer connection 230b may comprise a CATV over coaxial
cable connection.
[0080] The processor 204 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,
interfaces and/or code that may be operable to process data
received from the network access service providers 220a-220b and/or
the content providers 130a-130c and/or data received from one or
more of the devices 104a-104d. In this regard, the processor 204
may comprise one or more portions that are suitable to handle
certain types of data such as video data and/or audio data, for
example.
[0081] The content agent 210 may comprise suitable logic,
circuitry, interfaces and/or code that may be operable to perform
content source selections for one or more coupled devices such as
the device 104a based on user preference information associated
with content being consumed by the one or more devices such as the
device 104a. The content agent 210 may generate and/or update the
user preference information for a user such as the user 114
associated with the device 104a.
[0082] The memory 206 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,
interfaces and/or code that may be operable to store data utilized
in the operations of the broadband gateway 200. For example, the
memory 206 may be utilized to store configuration data, parameters,
device information, tracking and/or monitoring information,
security information, and intermediate processing data, for
example. The memory 206 may comprise storage media integrated in
the broadband gateway 200 and/or a removable storage device. In an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory 206 may be
operable to store the user preference information which may be
generated and/or updated by the content agent 210.
[0083] The client device interface module 208 may comprise suitable
logic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code that may be operable to
send data to one or more of the devices such as the devices
104a-104d in a local or home network. The client device interface
module 208 may also be operable to receive data from one or more of
the devices 104a-104d in the local or home network. The client
device interface module 208 may be operable to support multiple
communication protocols, standards, and/or data transport
technologies.
[0084] In operation, a broadband gateway such as the broadband
gateway 200 may provide connections and/or interfaces for various
devices such as the devices 140a-140d to distribution networks such
as the distribution networks 110. One or more of the devices such
as the device 104a may be associated with a user such as the user
114. The content agent 210 in the broadband gateway 200 may be
operable to receive a content request from a coupled device such as
the device 104a which is associated with the user 114. The content
agent 210 may select content which corresponds to the content
request from content that may be available in one or more content
sources, based on user preference information associated with a
particular type of the content. The particular type of the content
may comprise, for example, a movie, a sports program, a news
program, an education program, a life show and/or other categories
of content. The user preference information may comprise rules
associated with, for example, price, picture quality, advertisement
insertion, content source and/or other characteristics for
consuming the particular type of the content. The selected content
may be received by the processor 204 from a content source through
the provider interface module 202 or the client device interface
module 208. The processor 204 may communicate the content to the
device 104a through the client device interface module 208 for the
user 114.
[0085] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the processor
204 may be operable to receive the selected content from a content
provider such as the content provider 130a and/or a network access
service provider such as the network access provider 220b via
broadcast communications. The processor 204 may be operable to
receive the selected content from a content provider such as the
content provider 130b and/or a network access service provider such
as the network access provider 220a via Internet communications,
for example. The selected content may also be received by the
processor 204 from a communication device such as the device 105a
via peer-to-peer communications, for example.
[0086] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the content
agent 210 may be operable to receive information associated with
the content that is available in the one or more content sources,
where the received information may be used by the content agent 210
to determine the selection of the content that corresponds to the
content request from the device 104a. The received information
associated with the content may comprise, for example, metadata
and/or peer-to-peer directory which may indicate the
characteristics of the content such as, for example, cost, picture
resolution and/or other characteristics. The peer-to-peer directory
may comprise information pertaining to one or more partners with
whom the user 114 may engage in peer-to-peer communications or
content sharing.
[0087] The content agent 210 may generate, update and/or maintain
the user preference information associated with the particular type
of the content automatically based on content consumption history
of the user 114. The content agent 210 may also generate, update
and/or maintain the user preference information based on inputs
from the user 114 manually. The generated and/or updated user
preference information may be stored in the memory 206.
[0088] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the content
agent 210 may receive a request for options, which may override one
or more rules in the user preference information, from the device
104a that is associated with the user 114. In this regard, the
content agent 210 may communicate or offer choices of content
sources for the content request to the device 104a, based on the
received request for options, for consideration by the user
114.
[0089] FIGS. 3A-3D are block diagrams that each illustrates
exemplary matching of content consumption preference utilizing a
broadband gateway, in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
These scenarios are provided by way of exemplary illustration and
not of limitation. Referring to each of FIGS. 3A-3D, there is shown
broadband gateways 302, 303, devices 304a-304b, 305a-305b, content
providers 330a-330c and distribution networks 310. The broadband
gateways 302, 303 may be substantially similar to the broadband
gateways 102, 103 respectively in FIG. 1. The devices 304a-304b may
be substantially similar to the devices 104 in FIG. 1. The devices
305a-305b may be substantially similar to the devices 105 in FIG.
1. The content providers 330a-330c may be substantially similar to
the content providers 130 in FIG. 1. The distribution networks 310,
which may be substantially similar to the distribution networks 110
in FIG. 1, may comprise a broadcast network 310a, an Internet
network 310b and a peer-to-peer network 310c. The users 314, 315
may be substantially similar to the users 114, 115 respectively in
FIG. 1.
[0090] The content providers 330a, 330c may be available to provide
content services in high-definition (HD) picture quality via the
broadcast network 310a. The content provider 330a may provide the
content in HD picture quality without advertisement insertions for
a fee. The content provider 330c may have an agreement with the
content provider 330a to aggregate a particular content of the
content provider 330a. In such an instance, the content provider
330c may be available to provide the particular content of the
content provider 330a for a reduced fee or discount price but with
advertisement insertions for services of the content provider 330a.
The content provider 330b may be available to provide the content
services in standard-definition (SD) picture quality via the
Internet network 310b for a lower fee. The device 305b may be
available to communicate content to the device 304a via the
peer-to-peer network 310c. The content that may be shared with the
device 304a via peer-to-peer communications may be in SD picture
quality free of charge, for example.
[0091] FIG. 3A illustrates a first scenario in which the broadband
gateway 302 may receive a content request for a sports program such
as a professional basketball game from the device 304a which is
associated with the user 314. The user preference information
associated with the requested sports program may indicate that HD
quality is required or preferred with no advertisement insertions.
Accordingly, the content provider 330a may be selected to provide
the sports program to the device 304a as illustrated by the arrows
labeled 1, 2 and 3.
[0092] FIG. 3B illustrates a second scenario in which the broadband
gateway 302 may receive a content request for a movie from the
device 304a which is associated with the user 314. The user
preference information associated with the requested movie content
may indicate that HD picture quality at a lowest available price is
required or preferred and advertisement insertions are acceptable.
Accordingly, the content provider 330c, which receives the original
movie content from the content provider 330a, may be selected to
provide the movie content with advertisement insertions to the
device 304a as illustrated by the arrows labeled 1, 2, 3 and 4.
[0093] FIG. 3C illustrates a third scenario in which the broadband
gateway 302 may receive a content request for a news program such
as an evening news from the device 304a which is associated with
the user 314. The user preference information associated with the
requested news program may indicate that SD picture quality at a
lowest available price is required or preferred. In this exemplary
scenario, the device 305b may not comprise the requested news
program for peer-to-peer content sharing. Accordingly, the content
provider 330c may be selected to provide the news program to the
device 304a as illustrated by the arrows labeled 1, 2 and 3.
[0094] FIG. 3D illustrates a fourth scenario in which the broadband
gateway 302 may receive a content request for an education program
such as a Chinese cooking show from the device 304a which is
associated with the user 314. The user preference information
associated with the requested news program may indicate that SD
picture quality at a lowest available price is required or
preferred. In this exemplary scenario, both the device 305b and the
content provider 330b may be available to provide the requested
education program, based on the peer-to-peer directory provided by
the device 305b and the metadata provided by the content provider
330b. Since the device 305b may provide the education program free
of charge, accordingly, the device 305b may be selected by the
broadband gateway 302 to provide the news program to the device
304a as illustrated by the arrows labeled 1, 2, 3 and 4.
[0095] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for
matching content consumption preference via a broadband gateway, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.
4, the exemplary steps start at step 401. In step 402, the content
agent 210 in the broadband gateway 200 may be operable to receive a
content request from a coupled device such as the device 104a that
is associated with a user such as the user 114. In step 403, the
content agent 210 may select content that may correspond to the
request from the content available in one or more content sources,
based on user preference information associated with a particular
type of the content. The particular type of the content may
comprise, for example, a movie, a sports program, a news program,
an education program, a life show and/or other categories of
content. The user preference information may comprise rules
associated with, for example, price, picture quality, advertisement
insertion, content source and/or other characteristics for
consuming the particular type of the content. In step 404, the
processor 204 in the broadband gateway 200 may be operable to
receive the selected content from a selected content source through
the provider interface module 202 or the client interface module
208 in the broadband gateway 200. In step 405, the processor 204
may communicate the selected content to the device 104a through the
client device interface 208 for the user 114. The exemplary steps
may proceed to the end step 406.
[0096] In various embodiments of the invention, a broadband gateway
102, 200 may enable communication with a plurality of devices
104a-104d and may handle at least one physical layer connection to
at least one corresponding network access service provider. In this
regard, for example, the at least one physical layer connection may
comprise, for example, a plurality of physical layer connections
230a-230b and the at least one corresponding network access service
provider may comprise a plurality of corresponding network access
service providers 220a -220b. Each of the plurality of physical
layer connections 230a -230b may correspond to a respective one of
the plurality of corresponding network access service providers
220a -220b.
[0097] A content agent 210 in the broadband gateway 200 may be
operable to receive a request for content from a particular device
such as the device 104a. Content which corresponds to the request
may be selected by the content agent 210 from content that may be
available in one or more content sources, based on user preference
information associated with a particular type of the content. The
processor 204 in the broadband gateway 200 may receive the selected
content from a selected content source of the one or more content
sources for communication to the device 104a for an associated user
such as the user 114.
[0098] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the processor
204 may be operable to receive the selected content from a content
provider such as the content provider 130a and/or a network access
service provider such as the network access service provider 220b
via, for example broadcast communications. The processor 204 may
receive the selected content from a content provider such as the
content provider 130b and/or a network access service provider such
as the network access service provider 220a via Internet
communications. The selected content may also be received from a
communication device such as the device 105a via peer-to-peer
communications, for example. The particular type of the content may
comprise, for example, a movie, a sports program, a news program,
an education program, a life show and/or other categories of
content. The content agent 210 may generate and/or update the user
preference information associated with the particular type of the
content based on content consumption history of the user 114 and/or
inputs from the user 114. The user preference information may be
stored in the memory 206 in the broadband gateway 200. In this
regard, the user preference information may comprise rules
associated with price, picture quality, advertisement insertion,
content source and/or other characteristics for consuming the
particular type of the content, for example.
[0099] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the content
agent 210 may be operable to receive information associated with
the content that is available in the one or more content sources.
The received information such as, for example, metadata and/or
peer-to-peer directory information may be used by the content agent
210 to determine the selection of the content that corresponds to
the content request.
[0100] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the content
agent 210 may receive a request for options, which may override one
or more rules in the user preference information, from the user 114
who is associated with the device 104a. In this regard, the content
agent 210 may communicate or offer choices of content sources for
the content request to the device 104a based on the request for
options from the user 114.
[0101] Other embodiments of the invention may provide a
non-transitory computer readable medium and/or storage medium,
and/or a non-transitory machine readable medium and/or storage
medium, having stored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer
program having at least one code section executable by a machine
and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computer to
perform the steps as described herein for matching content
consumption preference via a broadband gateway.
[0102] Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in
hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The
present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at
least one computer system or in a distributed fashion where
different elements are spread across several interconnected
computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus
adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A
typical combination of hardware and software may be a
general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when
being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that
it carries out the methods described herein.
[0103] The present invention may also be embedded in a computer
program product, which comprises all the features enabling the
implementation of the methods described herein, and which when
loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods.
Computer program in the present context means any expression, in
any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended
to cause a system having an information processing capability to
perform a particular function either directly or after either or
both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or
notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.
[0104] While the present invention has been described with
reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents
may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present
invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a
particular situation or material to the teachings of the present
invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is
intended that the present invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention
will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *