WO2010046924A2

WO2010046924A2 - Integrated, secured, robust, scalable & reliable system to distribute the media content through an uniquely amalgamated hybridized network of proprietary hardware to a media device; according to "pay per pick & view or listen" customer's preference model with centrally monitored, online media depository; amid transparent & economically managed accounting & billing

Info

Publication number: WO2010046924A2
Application number: PCT/IN2009/000576
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sanjay Gaikwad; Ameya Hete
Original assignee: Valuable Innovations Private Limited
Priority date: 2008-10-20
Filing date: 2009-10-14
Publication date: 2010-04-29
Also published as: WO2010046924A3

Abstract

The invention incorporates an integration of proprietary hardware and software merger of several independent gadgets Le. set top box and digitized media' recorder.. The embedded algorithm monitors the centralized accounting system. The system has wire/wireless connectivity to the centralized media server at service provider's end with secured access to centralize depository of continuously upgraded media content and by an integration of which a media contents can be directly downloaded on the top box after authentication and verification through the centralized media server connected via satellite and viewed as per customer's choice.

Description

Field of Invention

The existing media viewing/listening market typically consist of watching /hearing the limited number of channels / bands on a television / radio set directly through

(a) Satellite based signal reception

(b) Cable TV operator

(c) Set top box (STB) with conditional access (CAS) and dish

(d) Radio

One can even have a Digitized Media Recorder (DMR) unit for storage and replay of the downloaded content through STB.

Background of Invention

However, in all the cases subscribers are forced to overpay for the unseen channels as well the choice of media content is left to the mercy of the service provider who in turn has his / her own interest in broadcasting and distribution of media of his choice which drives his own business. Moreover, there is no transparency on the subscriber billing, rather the subscriber are bullied and are forced to pay from their pocket.

Sympathy toward the honest subscriber has motivated the invention by the undertaking an investigation of the technological limitations of the prevailing media distribution and viewing solutions.

The invention comes up with studio approved, state of the art technology solution with ground breaking efficiency and reliability. Thereby it has attempted to overcome the drawbacks associated with the aforesaid model for secured media broadcasting, distribution and viewing.

Summary of the Invention

The unique solution under the invention incorporates an integration of proprietary hardware and software merger of several independent gadgets i.e. set top box and digitized media recorder. The dual function circuitry is designed in a compact and secured fashion. The embedded algorithm monitors the centralized accounting system.

Moreover, it has wire/wireless connectivity to the centralized media serve at service provider's end with secured access to centralize depository of continuously upgraded media content. Its uniqueness lies in its scalability and economic mode of offering as an alternative and feature rich, value added flexible entertainment solution to hospitality & domestic sector.

Brief description of the drawings

The Figure 1 and 2 shows the end to end hospitality, individual subscriber specific solution generated by the invention.

Methodology

In the invention the entertainment options available to subscribers has been enhanced by offering a path breaking, cost effective media viewing /listening on Demand solution christened as FLIX Entertainment. For hospitality sector, it will serve as a boon. This is feasible because only FLIX Entertainment is geared with an exclusive studio approved platform which offers a win-win situation for the guest as well as hotel owners through flexibility of package.

The system consists of an inimitable hardware top box with embedded software. This top box has memory unit capable of storing compressed media of larger size occupying smaller bit size space of the hard disk. The media contents can be directly downloaded on the top box after authentication and verification through the centralized media server connected via satellite. This is accomplished through operation of a remote channel tuner and a browser enable virtual tuner displayed on a television terminal with user friendly Graphic User Interface (GUI). The downloaded content is catalogued in encrypted format. It is available for viewing for a fixed duration only for that person. The top box is interfaced with a TV panel which covers a spectrum ranging from high definition, LCD to plasma panel.

The cost effective solution is scalable to any size of the subscriber base.

The system offer a business model based upon type of service as well as contents.

The invention has created a Service based solution for -

(1) Hospitality Sector

(2) Domestic Sector - Individual subscriber

Further, Hospitality sector is sub-categorized as

(a) FLDC Entertainment - Entrepreneurs Pack

(b) FLDC Entertainment - Professional Pack Whereas overall content based classification is -

(a) FLIX Entertainment Library Catalogue content

(b) FLIX Entertainment Premium content (C) FLIX Entertainment Music

Hospitality Sector Subscriber

For hospitality sector subscriber the feature rich top box of inventor has capability to communicate with the Property Management System (PMS) of the hotel. Depending upon the average annual room occupancy rate of the hotel, the catalogued movie from the set top box library is available for viewing for an occupant.

For viewing these movies, an occupant will be charged a minuscule amount which will be equivalent to offer any room service. Charges will be included in the room rent or will come as a bundled up offer. Over and above if the hotel owners desire he/she can very charges to the occupant and share annual revenue with the media content service provider at back end is the predetermined ratio e.g. 40:60 etc.

However, if the authorized occupant is interested in watching the media content outside the scope of the catalogue of the top box, he can access the premium content, by evoking pay per view/listen option.

Salient features of the system are -

• Validity of the downloaded media content is typically for 24 hours. The content has a water mark embedded upon it and thus any piracy using this content can always be traced back thereby discouraging the subscriber for unethical usage.

• Consumer has choice to access and listen to only audio database as per pay and hear model with fixed duration validity.

• Device has DMR or DVR with ample memory to occupy the terabyte size of media content. The access to the content is speedy due to dedicated network and availability of substantial bandwidth.

As the system is integrated with the hotel PMS system, the inventor's box in each room is connected to the Hotel Server which is backwardly connected to the central media server of the inventor's office. Network topology can be a combination of broadband, wireless, optical or any hybridized network.

Legal subscriber (one who has made online payment for required type occupancy against which he gets a login and password combination, valid in a particular geographical zone with expiry clause) can schedule the download of the desirable media content by remotely accessing the IP address of the top box through internet or mobile. • Box menu highlights the availability of the inventory of the customers holding, balance and refilling pathways.

Box has features which permits concurrent download in background while watching one set of media content which enables effortlessness time management.

Through the Graphic BROWSABLE interface, a legal occupant can utilize almost all services offered by hotel such as ordering room service, coffee shop, Dining . Zone, help desk, travel desk booking of entertainment, recreation, health facilities. He can virtually stroll through the gymnasium, casino, online stalls, exhibition, and special tourist spot within the premises of the hotel. All the places where ever the charges are levied can be accessed, paid and time can be conserved.

Box permits the subscriber to browse the internet and watch online portal such as U tube etc.

• Box permits a legal occupant to check in, check out or any other operation required before or after leaving/entering room.

• Legitimate consumer can delete media on usage

• The top box can be activated through mobile handset and forward up gradation involves display of media content even on handset display.

The consumer can thus have best possible media content in most economical manner.

Moreover, the solution under the invention offers a unique business proposition to hotel owners /franchisers to generate a new revenue streams and provides its guests with a rich interactive entertainment solution.

Service Based Classification

The detail description of sub category of subscriber based upon the type of services Choice is highlighted as below

(a) FLDC Entertainment - Entrepreneur Pack

This pack has been designed for hotel owners/operators that are entrepreneurial in nature and would like to be in control of the media service provided to their guests. This pack allows the hotel owner to get access to the FLIX Entertainment Library content (defined below) and the service at a fixed cost and allows him to maintain the upside of running the media service within his hotel where the pricing for such services is determined by the hotel.

(b) FLDC Entertainment - Professional Pack

The professional pack has been designed for hotel owners that are not able to dedicate the time and resources in trying to build a media service for their guests and allow them to get a fixed share of the revenues without any cost bearing upon them. Mentioned below is a description of the media service offering available to the hotels' guests under option.

The Hotel guest has an option of upgrading to FLIX Entertainment service at the time of check-in at a fixed cost. FLIX Entertainment Professional Pack also allows the guest to opt for an upgrade at any time during their stay in case this option is not chosen at the time of check-in (In-room upgrade option).

• Under the upgrade option the guest will be able to have unlimited access to the entire Inventor's content library during their stay at the hotel.

If the guest chooses not to upgrade his room for the tenure of his stay at the hotel, he/she gets the FLIX Entertainment service where all content is individually priced and charged to him/her on a Pay Per View (PPV) basis.

The guest thus can either choose an upgrade option or avail this service on an a-la- carte basis. Under both options the hotel enjoys a fixed commission of 20% of the net service fee revenue generated by Inventors from FLIX Entertainment Professional Pack offerings.

Content Based Classification

The detail description of sub category of subscriber based upon the type of content services choice is highlighted as below

(a) FLIX Entertainment Library Content

20-30 Non-Hollywood studio movies/ content (including but not limited to independent movies and adult content) delivered to each Set-Top- Box (STB) installed in the room. This Library will be updated with new releases on a weekly basis.

(b) FLIX Entertainment Premium Content

10-15 Hollywood movies and other premium pay per view content delivered to each STB per month. The pricing for this content will be at the discretion of the content providers/Inventor as appropriate.

(c) FLIX Entertainment Music

Songs and music tracks delivered to each STB per month. The guest has the option to purchase unlimited access to the Music library provided by Inventor for a period of 24 hours at a fixed rate. The pricing for this content will be at the discretion of the content providers/Inventor as appropriate. Comparative Service Pack Features

Following table illustrates the features and flexibility offered by inventors for implementing both the type packages.

Table 1 - Comparison of Entrepreneur & Professional Service Pack

Conditions for Media Up-gradation

In order to have peak market share an upgrade package is offered to hotel owners interested in upgrading their Media Infrastructure e.g. Television displays within their hotel rooms to Flat Panel LCD TVs. It will upgrade all the rooms in the hotel to 32" HD ready flat panel displays subject to the following criterion:

[I]. Hotel will be charged a small amount e.g. 99 cents per occupied room per night towards providing the flat panel display. [2]. The responsibility of any technical defects with the display for the period of the contract will be the responsibility of the applicant [3]. The responsibility of theft or damage of the display equipments will lie solely with the hotel owner.

[4]. The term of the agreement will be 5 years. [5]. A security deposit of fixed amount e.g. $100 per room will be payable to applicant towards this service. [6]. A credit of small amount e.g. 25 cents per night per occupied room will be adjusted as set off towards the deposit

Property Standardization, Certification Requirements

For hospitality sector, the inventors have adopted standardization of hotel property with certain norms for successful operation of their entertainment solution. The unique solution will be implemented only in these certified hotels. The fulfillments to acquire such certification are -

(a) The hotel should undertake responsibility for safekeeping all equipments provided by applicant on the hotel premises against damage and theft.

(b) Hotel must allow applicant's billing system to be integrated with the Hotel's Property Management System (PMS). In instances where inventors deems the integration with the PMS system as not feasible, the Hotel undertakes to check- in and check-out guests on applicant's billing system manually each time the room is rented. Applicant will provide such system to the hotel at no additional cost

(c) Provide applicant with appropriate access to its property for installation (such as networking and telecommunication infrastructure) and access to systems including PMS for integration with the Inventor's billing system.

(d) Furnish data on occupancy of rooms for the past 24 months.

(e) Responsibility for disposal of any existing equipment that is replaced by . applicant

(f) Hotel will promote "FLIX Entertainment " logo on all their marketing material.

Complementary Revenue Stream

The software component of the solution under the invention offer hotel owners additional profitability. They can further earn revenue by selling/auctioning the various time slots available on the inventor's proprietary media devices to various organizations into advertising sector. Broadly it is categorized viz. (a) Local advertising

1) The hotel may choose to sell advertising slots to local merchants which will be placed on the STB screens within its hotel.

2) The applicant will charge the hotel for each advertisement slot a sum of e.g. Five Cents (5 cents) per occupied room per night.

(b) The hptel may charge the advertisers any amount at its discretion for local advertisements. Any income, above five cents, generated from selling these slots belong to the hotel.

(c) National advertising

1) Inventors reserve the right to promote national and regional networked advertisements to the STBs in the hotel rooms.

2) Inventors will enter into a revenue share agreement with the hotel. The payout ratio will be e.g. 80:20 between Inventors and the hotel, respectively.

Individual Subscriber

Similar features are available for an individual user. An individual or domestic user will have a top box installed at his premises along with a TV panel provided by the service provider. The user will be charged on daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, half yearly or annually basis. Various model of subscription according to the view and pay potential of the subscriber are available.

Proprietary Media Infrastructure

The integrated solution of the inventors functions only on the unique method of amalgamation of the following proprietary hardware. Also its algorithm can be operated only upon successful incorporation of these equipments.

(1) One Central server (Media Gateway).

(2) VSAT connectivity to the central server.

(3) One Set-Top-Box (STB) for each room at the property.

(4) One Universal Remote control to operate the STB and TV in each room.

(5) One Internet connectivity module for each room (if necessary) to provide Ethernet access to the STB

(6) One 27" or above Flat Panel HDTV (In cases where the hotel has opted for the HDTV upgrade package).

(7) One HDMI or equivalent cable.

(8) End to end Billing System. Moreover, inventors offer complete technical and maintenance support for the aforesaid media content with free replacement of any media equipment only due to technical/system failure.

Algorithm

The unique algorithm at the centrally monitored media server has a robust e-commerce business engine capable of catering round the clock request for various media content sought by variety of tail end consumer and equivalent, transparent, secured accounting and billing. The media server algorithm manages bandwidth to have speedy access to the depository of the encrypted media content and there enabling downloading and scheduling of the desired media content. The chosen media content is then broadcasted through an optical duplex secured network in fastest possible manner. The algorithm is embedded in the hardware of the box. The algorithm handles the encrypted media content, authentication, accounting and billing operation in the most economical manner compare to any existing solution.

Claims

We claim:

1. An Integrated, Secured, Robust, Scalable, Reliable System to Distribute Media Content on a Media Device Through Hybridized Network; According to "Pay Per Pick & View/Listen" Customer's Preference Model with Centrally Monitored, Online Media Depository; Amid Transparent & Economically Managed Accounting & Billing.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein the unique solution functions exclusively upon the proprietary hardware and the manner in which the said hardware is amalgamated, configured and maintained.

3. The system as in 1 and 2 wherein the dual function set top box has unlimited memory for storage of the media content.

4. The system as in claims, 2 and 3 wherein the set top box in interfaced with property management system (PMS), thereby permits operation of PMS thorough a display terminal and remote.

5. The system as in claim 1 wherein the set top box contains encrypted and watermarked media contents thereby eliminating piracy with the point of piracy being traceable.

6. The system as in claims 1 to 5 above wherein the set top box supports online payment, accounting and billing of the facilities and services offered within the hotel premises e.g. local tourist attraction, casino, gymnasium etc.

7. The system as in claims 1 to 6 above wherein set top Box can be remotely accessed through internet & mobile network.

8. The system as in claims 1 to 7 wherein the set top box has provision of backward hybridized connectivity with central media server and wherein the forward connectivity can be of similar type with any display device such as LCD panel or mobile display.

9. The system as in claims 1 to 8 offering most economical pay per view model for individual as well as hospitality sector with transparent online billing and loyalty program imparting en-cashable credits on frequency and category of occupied room.

10. The system as in claim 1 wherein the set top box permits viewing, hearing, and reading of the online portal.

11. The system as in claim 1 wherein the set top box enables download of media content from multiple service providers even in background without affecting the quality of the media being watched or heard.

12. The system as in claim 1 wherein the virtual tuner operated through the GUI from display device provides unlimited choice to the customer over the conventional remote operated channel selector.

13. The system as in claim 1 having the algorithm being embedded in the Box's hardware is tamperproof and robust.

14. The system as in claim 1 wherein for a hotelier, the set top box permits, basic levying "pay per view of media content" upon the average occupancy statistic which is subsequently incorporation in hotel rental as one of the services for the consumer.

15. The system as in claim 1 to 14 could be integrated into the existing Property Management System (PMS) for seamless for hassle free inward and outward movement of guest.