Method for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider

摘要

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many, new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
(a) providing, to a mobile Internet-connected digital device, a viewer interface application configured to access broadcast program content and video-on-demand program content; (b) receiving, at a television service platform, a first request from the viewer interface application running on the mobile Internet-connected digital device to access an electronic program guide; (c) retrieving, by the television service platform, electronic program guide data from an electronic program guide database; (d) providing the electronic program guide data to the viewer interface application to generate the electronic program guide to be viewed by a user of the mobile Internet-connected digital device, wherein, for at least the video-on-demand program content, the electronic program guide comprises program titles arranged according to drill-down displays of hierarchical categories and sub-categories according to metadata uploaded by a content provider along with respective video-on-demand program content, the metadata comprising a title, one or more category terms, and one or more sub-category terms using a hierarchical structure; (e) receiving, at the television service platform from the mobile Internet-connected digital device, a second request to display a first video-on-demand program identified by a respective program title in the electronic program guide; (f) transmitting, from the television service platform to the mobile Internet-connected digital device, first video-on-demand program content corresponding to the first video-on-demand program to be displayed on the mobile Internet-connected digital device; (g) receiving, at the television service platform from the mobile Internet-connected digital device, a third request to access broadcast TV channel programming; and (h) transmitting, from the television service platform to the mobile Internet-connected digital device, a data stream of video content corresponding to the broadcast TV channel programming to be displayed on the mobile Internet-connected digital device, wherein the data stream of video content corresponding to the broadcast TV channel programming and the first video-on-demand program content that are transmitted from the television service platform to the mobile Internet-connected digital device are also available via IPTV to a set-top box for display on a television display.