Content provider management system and method

CONTENT PROVIDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

BACKGROUND

0003The present invention relates generally to data distribution systems and methods, and more particularly, to a content provider management system and method for use in a data distribution system that controls submission of content by content providers that is distributed to personal computers of content subscribers.

0004The assignee of the present invention has developed a data distribution system, and in particular, a satellite-based data distribution system, that that is used to distribute data supplied by content providers to personal computers of clients. In order to allow content providers to more easily supply data for distribution by the data distribution system, an important aspect of the system was developed that addresses this need.

0005It would be advantageous to have a content provider management system and method for use in a data distribution system that controls submission of content by content providers that is distributed to personal computers of content subscribers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0007The present invention provides for a content provider management system and method that may be used as part of a data distribution system that manages the submission of content by content providers that is distributed to personal computers of content subscribers. The content provider management system comprises a content manager module dispo.sed on a computer of the data distribution system that establishes and initializes access rights for the respective content provider to gain access to the data distribution system. A content provider module is disposed on a computer controlled by each content provider that is enabled by the content manager module. The content ^"provider module sends content to the data distribution system for transmission to one or more client personal computers after being enabled by the content manager module. The content provider module may generate content tagging instructions that are performed by the computer of the data distribution system upon receipt of the transmitted content. The content provider module may also generate content tagging instructions indicating actions that are to be performed by personal computers of content subscribers upon receipt of the transmitted content. Content tagging instructions include delivery schedule and priority instructions performed by computer of the data distribution system, or display and storage instructions that are performed by client personal computers.

0008Content tagging is implemented using XML/HTML or other metadata tagging of the content. A content submission utility is provided that allows content providers and clients to submit pre-formatted content to a centralized broadcast center. The pre- formatting is done by a content submission utility and provides predefined content tags for handling the content in client applications. The content submission utility operates within a standard web browser, or as a standalone application, for example, at the content provider site and delivers the content via the Internet or other dedicated connections as defined for a particular client.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0010The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

0011Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary data distribution system for distributing data to personal computers in which the present invention may be employed;

0012Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary content provider management system in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

0013Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary content provider management method in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

0014DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing figures, Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary data distribution system 10, illustrated as a satellite broadcast data distribution system 10, in which content provider management systems (Fig. 2) and methods (Fig. 3) in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be employed. The exemplary system 10 is designed to distribute data (content) derived from one or more content providers 11 by way of a satellite 14 to personal computers 16 of content subscribers, referred to in this detailed description as client personal computers 16. The system 10 uses Internet protocol (IP) and media access control (MAC) layer addressing to distribute the data to the personal computers 16.

0015The system 10 comprises a network operations center 13 that includes a data broadcast subsystem (DBS) 21, a subscriber management subsystem (SMS) 22, a network management subsystem (NMS) 23, and a content management subsystem (CMS) 24. One or more content providers 11 communicate by way of a direct connection 12a or the Internet 12, for example, to the network operations center 13. The network operations center 13 communicates by way of the satellite 14 to the client personal computers 16.

0016The client personal computers 16 interface to the satellite 14 using satellite receiver PC cards (not shown) disposed in the client personal computers 16.

0017Alternatively, the client personal computers 16 are connected to a local area network 17 and interface to the satellite 14 using a PC card disposed in a server computer 15 coupled to the local area network. The client personal computers 16 are also coupled by way of a modem 18 to the network operations center 13. The modem 18 provides a low-rate return path that is used to transmit requests from the client personal computers 16 to the network operations center 13 to request data to be derived from the content providers 1 1.

0018Each of the client personal computers 16 includes software that interfaces to the network operations center 13 and the content providers 1 1. The software is used to browse the Internet 12, send requests for data, control data download sessions, schedule delivery of data, and download streaming audio, video and data to the client personal computers 16in real time, for example.

0019The system 10 and the software cooperate to establish a virtual private multicast network between the content providers 11 and the client personal computers 16. The system 10 and the software cooperate to provide managed electronic data delivery to multiple client personal computers 16. The system 10 and the software cooperate to provide both video and data download services with high efficiency.

0020Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary content provider management system 30 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The content provider management system 30 is designed for use with the data distribution system 10 and manages the submission of content by the respective content providers 1 1 that is distributed to client personal computers 16. The content provider management system 30 comprises two components. ^~~ A content manager module 32 is disposed on a computer 31 of the data distribution system 10 that establishes and initializes access rights for the respective content provider 11 to gain access to the data distribution system 10. The computer 31 is a component of the network operations center 13. In a reduced to practice embodiment of the content provider management system 30, the computer 31 is part of the content management subsystem (CMS) 24.

0021A content provider module 33 is disposed on a computer 34 controlled by each content provider that is enabled by the content manager module. The content provider module 33 sends content to the data distribution system 10 for transmission to one or more client personal computers 16 after being enabled by the content manager module 32.

0022The content provider module 33 may also generate content tagging instructions comprising instructions that are performed by computer 31 of the data distribution system 10 upon receipt of the transmitted content. The content provider module may also generate content tagging instructions comprising instructions that are performed by client personal computers 16 upon receipt of the transmitted content.

0023The content tagging instructions may include delivery schedule and priority instructions that are performed by computer 31 of the data distribution system 10. The instructions may also comprise display and storage instructions that are performed by client personal computers 16.

0024Content tagging is implemented using XML/HTML or other metadata tagging of the content. A content submission utility is provided that allows content providers 1 1 and clients to submit pre-formatted content to the network operations center 13. The pre-formatting is done by the content submission utility and provides predefined content tags for handling the content in client applications. The content submission utility operates within a standard web browser or as a standalone application, for example, at the content provider site and delivers the content via the Internet 12 or other dedicated connection as defined for a particular client.

0025Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary content provider management method 40 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The content provider management method 40 comprises the following steps.

0026A content manager module 31 is disposing 41 on a computer 31 of the data distribution system 10 that establishes and initializes access rights for content providers to gain access to the data distribution system 10. A content provider module 33 is disposing 42 on a computer 34 controlled by a content provider 1 1 which sends content to the data distribution system 10 for transmission to one or more client personal computers 16. ^~~ The content provider module is enabled 43 from the content manager module

002731. Content is sent 44 from the computer 34 controlled by a content provider 11 under control of the content provider module 33 to the data distribution system 10 for transmission to one or more client personal computers 16 after being enabled by the content manager module 32.

0028Thus, improved content provider management systems and methods for use in a data distribution system that controls submission of content by content providers that is distributed to client personal computers have been disclosed. It is to be understood that the described embodiment is merely illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Clearly, numerous and other arrangements can be readily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.