Video-on-demand content delivery system for providing video-on-demand services to tv service subscribers

Abstract

A video-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system has a VOD Application Server which manages a database of templates for presentation of video content elements of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order. A web-based Content Management System receives content uploaded online in file formats with metadata for title and topical area, and automatically converts it into video data format compatible with the VOD content delivery system indexed by title and topical area. A User Interface for the system delivers listings data to the viewer's TV indexed by title and topical area specified by the uploaded metadata.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing video-on-demand services to a plurality of TV service subscribers via a closed system, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving, at a video-on-demand application server from a first set-top box of a tv service subscriber, a first electronic access request to access a hierarchically-arranged interactive electronic program guide;   (b) accessing, by the video-on-demand application server upon receipt of the first electronic access request, hierarchically-arranged interactive electronic program guide data for first video-on-demand content wherein the hierarchically-arranged interactive electronic program guide is generated in real-time by generating the hierarchically-arranged interactive electronic program guide data for first video-on-demand content, based at least in part on first content-characterizing metadata,   wherein the first video-on-demand content in a first digital video format was uploaded to a Web-based content management system operatively connected to the video-on-demand application server by a content provider device associated with a video content provider via an open online network in a digital video format, along with but separate from respective first content-characterizing metadata that includes first title information associated with a first title of a plurality of titles, first topical information associated with the first title, and first subtopical information associated with the first title designated by the video content provider, in order to specify a respective hierarchical location of the respective first title of the first video-on-demand content within the hierarchically-arranged interactive electronic program guide using the respective hierarchically-arranged first topical information, first subtopical information, and first title information;   (c) transmitting, from the video-on-demand application server to the first set-top box, the hierarchically-arranged interactive electronic program guide data in order to populate a first set of one or more templates associated with the hierarchically-arranged interactive electronic program guide for display on a display associated with the first set-top box;   (d) receiving, at the video-on-demand application server from the first set-top box, an electronic request to access for a fee the first video-on-demand content associated with the first title in response to the TV service subscriber selecting, via the first set-top box, the first title associated with the first video-on-demand content from the hierarchically-arranged interactive electronic program guide;   (e) in response to the electronic request to access for a fee the first video-on-demand content, processing, by a transaction processing server, payment of the fee associated with the first video-on-demand content in real-time;   (f) determining, by the transaction processing server, account privilege information associated with the TV service subscriber based on at least user account information and payment settlement information;   (g) receiving, at the video-on-demand application server from the transaction processing server, account privilege information associated with the TV service subscriber;   (h) verifying by the video-on-demand application server that the TV service subscriber has privileges to view the first video-on-demand content based on the account privilege information associated with the TV service subscriber;   (i) sending, from the video-on-demand application server to a video server, first video-on-demand content information for the video server to retrieve the first video-on-demand content;   (j) retrieving, by the video server, the first video-on-demand content; and   (k) transmitting, from the video server to the first set-top box, the first video-on-demand content for display on a TV of the respective TV service subscriber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first content-characterizing metadata further includes descriptive data about the first video-on-demand content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first content-characterizing metadata further includes a graphic image associated with the first video-on-demand content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first video-on-demand content is an on-demand movie. 
     
     
         5 . The method  1  wherein the first video-on-demand content is a documentary. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first video-on-demand content is a historic sports event. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first video-on-demand content is a TV program. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first video-on-demand content is an infomercial. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video content is an advertisement. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video content is a music video. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video content is a short-subject. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein while the first video-on-demand content is displayed, the first set-top box is configured for a subscriber to start, stop, or pause the video content using a remote control unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein while the first video-on-demand content is displayed, the first set-top box is further configured for a subscriber to rewind the video content using a remote control unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein while the first video-on-demand content is displayed, the first set-top box is further configured for a subscriber to replay the video content using a remote control unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fees associated with the first video-on-demand content are paid using credit card or other supported payment methods. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the topical information is associated with automobiles. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subtopical information is associated with makes of automobiles.