Method of common addressing of tv program content on internet and tv services platform of a digital tv services provider

Abstract

A method of common addressing of video content on the Internet and corresponding on-demand TV program content on a TV services platform of a digital TV service provider includes enabling converting and uploading of video content from a video content provider on the Internet into a formatted on-demand TV program to be uploaded to the TV services platform with associated metadata for specifying position of its title in a hierarchically categorized ordering of the electronic program guide. The metadata is structured as a string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters which represent the position of the title on the electronic program guide. The corresponding video content is accessible on the Internet at a URL address containing the same string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters for the position of the title in the electronic program guide in a common addressing scheme with the on-demand TV program accessible on the electronic program guide. The TV services platform enables a bookmark address corresponding to the position of the title on the electronic program guide to be saved as a link to the on-demand TV program.

1 . A method of common addressing of video content on the Internet and corresponding on-demand TV program content on a TV services platform of a digital TV service provider, which is of the type employing a closed system of pre-screened and pre-programmed video content selectable for viewing by TV service subscribers upon request using their TV remote control units to control set-top boxes connected to their TV display equipment, comprising:
 (a) enabling converting and uploading of video content from a video content provider on the Internet into a formatted on-demand TV program to be uploaded to the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, wherein the on-demand TV program is to be uploaded with associated metadata for specifying position of its title in a hierarchically categorized ordering of categories and subcategories of an electronic program guide for the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, said metadata being structured as a string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters which represent the position of the title of the to-be-uploaded TV program in the hierarchically categorized ordering of the electronic program guide; and   (b) enabling the video content corresponding to the to-be-uploaded on-demand TV program to be accessible on the Internet at a URL address containing the same string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters representing the position of the title of the to-be-uploaded TV program on the electronic program guide, so that the video content is accessible at the URL address on the Internet in a common addressing scheme with the corresponding on-demand TV program accessible on the electronic program guide of the TV services platform of the digital TV service provider.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the video content is provided from the video content provider to a web-based content management system which performs the screening, converting, and uploading of the video content into a formatted on-demand TV program to be uploaded to the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the web-based content management system is enabled to receive tracking data indicative of viewing selections of the on-demand TV programs by TV service subscribers on the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, and the received tracking data are used for value transactions with providers of video content corresponding to the on-demand TV program content. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the to-be-uploaded on-demand TV programs are host and subordinate TV programs, and the video content corresponding to the host and subordinate TV programs are accessible at URL addresses on the Internet in a common addressing scheme as the host and subordinate TV programs on the electronic program guide. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the to-be-uploaded on-demand TV programs are video classified ads that are listed on the electronic program guide, and the video content corresponding to the video classified ads are accessible at URL addresses on the Internet in a common addressing scheme with the video classified ads on the electronic program guide. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the to-be-uploaded on-demand TV programs are for a channel operator on the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, and the video content corresponding to the on-demand TV programs are accessible at URL addresses for a channel operator's website on the Internet in a common addressing scheme with the on-demand TV programs on the electronic program guide. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the value transactions are for billing charges to the channel operator for viewing of on-demand TV programs of the channel operator. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the video content is provided from one or more sources of the group consisting of: (a) user-generated content from Internet users; (b) web-based content from video content websites; (c) digital video from mobile platforms; and (d) digital video from Internet-connected portable devices. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the to-be-uploaded on-demand TV programs are hierarchically arranged in program viewing layers from an upper program viewing layer offering selection options for subordinate TV programs in subordinate TV program viewing layers, whereby successive layers of on-demand TV programs may be viewed in hierarchical order providing the TV service subscriber with a “drill-down” TV viewing experience, and the video content corresponding to the on-demand TV programs are accessible at URL addresses on the Internet in a common drill-down addressing scheme with the TV programs. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the web-based content management system is enabled to receive a bookmark address sent from the TV services platform corresponding to the position of the title for an on-demand TV program on the electronic program guide and use it as the URL address for the video content on the Internet in a common addressing scheme with the TV program on the electronic program guide. 
     
     
         11 . A method of common addressing of video content on the Internet and corresponding on-demand TV program content on a TV services platform of a digital TV service provider, which is of the type employing a closed system of pre-screened and pre-programmed video content selectable for viewing by TV service subscribers upon request using their TV remote control units to control set-top boxes connected to their TV display equipment, comprising:
 (a) enabling receipt of converted and uploaded video content from a video content provider on the Internet into a formatted on-demand TV program uploaded to the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, wherein the on-demand TV program is associated with metadata for specifying position of its title in a hierarchically categorized ordering of categories and subcategories of an electronic program guide for the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, said metadata being structured as a string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters which represent the position of the title of the uploaded TV program in the hierarchically categorized ordering of the electronic program guide; and   (b) saving a bookmark address requested by a TV service subscriber corresponding to the position of the title for the on-demand TV program on the electronic program guide and using it by containing the same string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters in a URL address for video content on the Internet in a common addressing scheme with the on-demand TV program on the electronic program guide.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the bookmark address is used by sending it to another TV service subscriber of the digital TV services provider system for addressing the on-demand TV program on the other TV service subscriber's electronic program guide. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the bookmark address is used by sending it in email to a user on the Internet to enable access to corresponding video content at a URL address containing the bookmark address.