System and method for simplifying discovery of content availability for a consumer

摘要

There is presented a system and method for simplifying discovery of content availability for a consumer. The system comprises a content availability database storing content records accessible through a server, and an aggregator configured to update the content records. The system also comprises a content discovery application configured to display an information pane corresponding to one of the content records according to a data related to the consumer, the information pane including one or more selectable display features indicating the distribution status of a content unit corresponding to the content record. The content discovery application is further configured to receive an input from the consumer selecting one of the selectable display features indicating distribution status and to identify at least one provider of the content unit according to the selected distribution status.

主权项

1. A method for use by a system for discovery of content availability for a consumer, the method comprising:
receiving a selection of a movie and a selection of a future date from the consumer, wherein the movie is selected from a plurality of movies, and wherein the selections are made via a user interface of a client computer; determining, in response to the selection of the movie by the consumer from the plurality of movies, a distribution status for the movie based on availability according to a current geographical location of the consumer and availability according to the future date falling within one or more of a plurality of release windows stored in a plurality of content records corresponding to the movie, each of the plurality of release windows indicative of one of a plurality of distribution release forms of the movie; displaying, after the determining, an information pane corresponding to each of the plurality of content records having the one or more of the plurality of release windows covering the future date, the information pane including a selectable display feature for each of the plurality of content records having the one or more of the plurality of release windows covering the future date, the selectable display feature indicating the distribution status of the movie including a corresponding distribution release form of the movie; receiving, via the user interface of the client computer, an input from the consumer selecting one of the at least one selectable display features indicating the distribution status for the movie; and identifying at least one provider of the movie according to the selected distribution status, the future date, and the current geographical location of the consumer wherein the provider is one of a venue and a retailer.