Web Portal Playlist Sharing for Set-Top Boxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems do not allow for the sharing of playlists associated with television programs and video-on-demand content between users, particularly through set-top boxes or conditional access devices, limiting the ability to interface with program guides and share authorized content.
Innovation Solution
A system and method enabling users to create, share, and manage playlists across various devices, including set-top boxes, web portals, and mobile devices, by displaying user interfaces for playlist creation, naming, storing, and configuring sharing parameters, while ensuring access and privileges for contacts based on their service provider subscriptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If playlists are created on set-top boxes or conditional access devices, then authorized content can be organized and managed, but the ability to share playlists with other users is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a web portal as an intermediary system that bridges set-top boxes and users' personal devices. The web portal receives playlist data from set-top boxes via conditional access devices, processes it, and makes it accessible through standard web interfaces on PCs, tablets, and smartphones. This mediator approach enables playlist sharing without requiring direct integration between all devices, resolving the complexity issue while providing versatile sharing capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If playlists are created on personal computers, then content can be organized, but the playlist does not interface with the program guide and cannot be shared
Solution Approach 1:
The web portal serves as a universal interface that consolidates multiple functions: it acts as a program guide, enables playlist creation from broadcast content, allows playlist management, and provides sharing capabilities. Users can create playlists on their personal devices while the web portal maintains synchronization with the program guide, ensuring that playlists remain compatible with the broadcast system while being accessible across different platforms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conditional access devices are used for content protection, then authorized content can be delivered, but playlist creation and sharing features are not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the playlist creation and sharing functionality from the conditional access device itself and relocates it to the web portal. The conditional access device continues to handle content protection and authorized delivery, while the web portal independently manages playlist operations. This separation allows playlist sharing features to be implemented without modifying the core conditional access hardware, simplifying the manufacturing and deployment process.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and device for sharing of playlists of authorized content with other users. A user interface is displayed on a media viewing device for creating a playlist of content. The playlist is generated by a user via the user interface and a name is associated with the playlist of content. The playlist is stored using the name. Parameters for sharing the playlist with contacts of the user are configured. At a viewing device of a contact, notification of a playlist created by a user is received. Privileges of the contact associated with content identified in the playlist are determined. Action is taken, by the contact, regarding content identified in the playlist created by the user based on the determined privileges of the contact.