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.

Claims

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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1A is a diagram of an overall architecture for a VOD Content Delivery System in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 1B shows an example of Drill-Down Ad navigation, and FIG. 1C shows an example of the templatized ad display model.

[0024] FIG. 2A is a process flow diagram of the overall architecture of a consumer generated Classified Ad application for the VOD Content Delivery System, FIG. 2B illustrates a Content Management Website for the Classified Ad application, FIG. 2C illustrates a Content Screening Component of the system, and FIG. 2D illustrates a Content Feed and Conversion Components of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1A, an overall system architecture for a VOD content delivery system includes a VOD Application Server 10 located at a Cable Head End. The VOD Application Server 10 manages a Database 11 of templates and video content segments from Video Server 12 for generating templatized VOD content. The VOD content is generated in response to a viewer request signal transmitted from the Digital Set Top Box 21 of a viewer's TV equipment through the Digital Cable Television System 13 to the VOD Application Server 10 at the Cable Head End. The VOD Application Server 10 may be of the type which enables any compatibly-developed VOD applications to be loaded on and operated on the server. An example of such a VOD Application Server is the Navic N-Band™ server as previously described. Templates for displaying VOD content are created at an Application Data Center 30 and stored in the Database 11 for use by the operative VOD application. The templates may be designed, for example, to present video ad content displays in a logo frame, or to provide navigation buttons and viewer selection options in a frame around currently displayed video content. In the preferred embodiment described in greater detail below, the templates are used to provide navigation aids in a series of progressively more focused ad display types. A Video Content Encoder 31 is used to encode raw video feeds into formatted video content segments compatible with the VOD platform and supply them through a Video Content Distribution Network 14 to the Video Server 12.

[0026] In operation, the VOD Application Server 10 operates a VOD application for the CATV system, for example, “automobile infomercials on demand”. The viewer sends a request for selected VOD content, such as to see an infomercial on a specific model type made by a specific auto manufacturer, by actuating a viewer request signal by a key press on the viewer's remote control unit transmitting an IR signal to the Set Top Box 21 that is sent on a back channel of the Digital Cable Television System 13 to the VOD Application Server 10 at the Cable Head End. In response to the signal, the VOD Application Server 10 determines the VOD content being requested and retrieves the infomercial ad display template from the Template Database 11 and video content segment from the Video Server 12, in order to generate the corresponding templatized VOD content. In the invention, the templates are of different types ordered in a hierarchy, and display of content in a template of a higher order includes links the viewer can select to content of a lower order in the hierarchy. Upon selecting a link using the remote control, the VOD Application Server 10 retrieves the template and video content of lower order and displays it to the viewer. Each successive templatized display may have further links to successively lower levels of content in the hierarchy, such that the viewer can use the series of linked templatized VOD displays as a “drill-down navigation” method to find specific end content of interest.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1B, a preferred embodiment of the templatized VOD content delivery system is shown providing a User Interface using Drill-Down Navigation through display ads, such as for automobile infomercials. When the viewer selects a VOD application (channel), such as “Wheels-On-Demand”, the viewer's TV displays a Main Menu with buttons inviting the viewer to “Select Category”. The viewer can select an “Auto” category, and the TV then displays an “Auto” menu with buttons inviting the viewer to “Select Make”, such as Make A, Make B, etc. When the viewer makes a selection, such as Make A, the viewer's TV displays a further menu that is a Gateway into templatized VOD content delivery which enables Drill-Down Navigation by templatized display ads. Through the Gateway, the VOD Application leaves the Menu mode and enters the Drill Down Navigation mode for successively displays of hierarchically-ordered video content which allow the viewer to navigate to progressively more focused content. In this example, the highest level of the hierarchy includes categories for Model, Local Dealer, Sales Events, and/or Inventory. When the viewer selects a category such as “Model” from the Gateway, for example, the VOD Application creates a templatized ad display showing video content generic to all models by that automaker framed in a frame which has links (buttons or choices) for a list of the specific models made by that automaker. When the viewer selects the link to a specific model, “Model A” for example, the VOD Application creates a templatized ad display showing video content for Model A, and the viewer can then choose to run a long-form infomercial of the Model A video. Alternatively, the Drill-Down Navigation can continue with further levels of specificity, such as “Custom Packages”, “Options”, “Colors/Stylings”, etc. Similarly, the selection of the “Local Dealer” category from the Gateway can bring up a templatized ad for local dealers with links to specific local dealers in the viewer's cable service area, and a click on a specific “Dealer A” can bring up a templatized ad for Dealer A with further links to more specific content pertaining to Dealer A, such as “Current Sales Promotions”, etc.

[0028] In this manner, the templatized VOD content delivery system allows the viewer to navigate to specific content of high interest to the viewer using the Drill-Down ads as a navigation tool, while at the same time having a unique visual experience of moving through a series of ads mirroring the viewer's path to the subject of interest. The templatized VOD ads are generated dynamically by searching the Content/Template database with each request by a viewer, enabling the system to display updated navigation choices and content simply by updating the database with updated links and video content. For example, if the Auto Maker changes the Model types of autos currently available, or if Local Dealer A changes its current sales promotions for autos currently available, that advertiser's ads can be updated with new, template frame navigation links and content, instead of entirely new ads or screen displays having to be shot, produced, contracted, delivered, and programmed with the cable TV company. Many other types of layered or in depth ads, subjects, and interactive TV applications can be enabled with the use of the Drill-Down Navigation method. The selections or preferences exhibited by viewer navigation paths through the Drill-Down Navigation can also be tracked, profiled, and/or targeted as feedback data to advertisers for fine-tuning Drill-Down Navigation designs.

[0029] In FIG. 1C, an example illustrates how a templatized VOD display is generated in layers. A Background screen provides a basic color, logo, or graphical theme to the display. A selected Template (display frame) appropriate to the navigation level the intended display resides on is layered on the Background. The Template typically has a frame in which defined areas are reserved for text, display image(s), and navigation links (buttons). Finally, the desired content constituted by associated Text, Image & Buttons is retrieved from the database and layered on the Template. The resulting screen display shows the combined background logo or theme, navigation frame, and text, video images, and buttons.

[0030] Referring again to FIG. 1A, a Tracking System 15 of conventional type can be installed at the Cable Head End to aggregate non-personal data on what channels and programs viewers watch. For the Drill Down Navigation method, the Tracking System 15 can include tracking of the navigation paths viewers use to find subjects of interest in a VOD Application. The aggregation of viewer navigation data can indicate what subjects are most popular, whether some subjects are of greater interest to viewers at certain times of day, of certain demographics, or in relation to certain products or services. The VOD Application Server 10 can export the aggregated viewer navigation data to an external Profiling System 16, such as a non-biased or unrelated firm applying profile analysis methods. The results of the Profiling System 16 can be communicated to a Targeting System 17, such as a template design firm or content production company, to fine-tune the presentation of the templatized VOD content consistent with viewer preferences or interests. The feedback from the Targeting System can be supplied as feedback to the VOD Application Server to modify the Content/Template Database 11.

[0031] Another application for the templatized VOD content delivery system can be developed to support video advertisements which link national to local market ad campaigns in “drill-down” fashion. Advertisers, both national and local, can pay for placement of their video advertisements on the system. When the VOD Application is run, the national ads are displayed as a Gateway to linking to the local market ads. In this manner, national ads can be used to transition viewers from general interest in a product to finding specific information about the product available locally.

[0032] The templatized VOD content delivery system can also support “traffic building” videos, including music videos, that may not generate direct revenue. Once a video is encoded and registered into the system, the management and distribution of the video is conducted through software systems and automated controls. The User Interface provides the user with the ability to navigate and find desired video content. Selection of a category presents the user with a list of video titles available for playback. Categories and title lists can be generated using real-time database queries, allowing for database-driven management of content within the User Interface. The User Interface can also support a search interface which allows the user to search the video content database to generate a list of video titles with specific characteristics.

[0033] The core services and functions of the VOD content delivery system can include:

Encoding—converts videos to proper digital format for playback on cable video-on-demand systems, currently MPEG2 format
Metadata Input—allows for the input of descriptive data regarding each video
Packaging—Prepares a data package for transport consisting of the encoded video file and the metadata
Scheduling—Establishes the schedule when packages are to be delivered to cable video-on-demand systems via the transport system
Transport—Digital broadcast medium through which the packages are migrated from the central processing facility to the cable video-on-demand systems.

[0034] The core services and functions of the User Interface system can include:

Development of UI “pages”—An Internet-based system is used for the composition, coding and quality assurance of the User Interface images (“pages”) that are presented to the user on an interactive basis.
Category and List Presentation—The category lists and title lists presented to the user for navigation and selection can be generated and rendered real-time using database queries against the video metadata database. These lists can also be incorporated in the fully rendered graphics if real-time queries are not required or desired.
Distribution—The UI system supports a scheduling and transport subsystem separate from the video distribution system for the distribution of the UI assets and related set-top box software components to local UI servers installed at the cable head end.
User Input Device—The UI system receives user input and commands from the IR remote control used with the digital set-top box.
User Database—The UI system maintains a database of set-top box addresses that is used to identify the users of the system. This database is the seed for the Profiling Database system described below.
Targeting—The UI system is capable of changing the UI presentation to a specific user based on the information contained in the User Database and the Profiling Database.

[0035] The core services and functions of the Tracking System can include:

Consolidation of Video-On-Demand Data—The Tracking System can be made capable of ingesting and consolidating usage data provided by the cable video-on-demand systems. This may be performed through automated interfaces or “feeds”, or it may be performed through the batch processing of data files delivered by the cable operators.
Consolidation of UI Data—The Tracking System can gather and consolidate data from the UI system on an automated basis. The UI system can provide data describing the user commands, behaviors, responses and requests generated by each user while using the User Interface system.
Reporting—The Tracking System can generate reports and analyses of the Video-On-Demand data and the UI data.
Web Interface—The Tracking System can include a Web interface for providing authorized users such as advertisers with access to specific reports.

[0036] The core services and functions of the Profiling System can include:

Consolidation of Profiling Data—The Profiling System can be made capable of consolidating on a continuing, automated basis all user-related data requested by advertisers or by the system operator.
Interface to Targeting System—The Profiling System can provide pertinent data as required by the Targeting System within the UI system. This data is used to reformat UI presentations based on the data values.
Interface to Targeting System—The Profiling System data can be accessed and incorporated into the Targeting System.
Support of Private and Public Data—The Profiling System can segregate and maintain as private any data gathered specifically for an advertiser for the use of that advertiser.

[0037] As another aspect of the present invention, a VOD content delivery system may be adapted to offer consumer-generated classified ads on TV. The VOD content delivery system is provided with a Content Management frontend to receive consumer input and convert it to video display ads maintained in the system database. Referring to FIG. 2A, a system for managing, converting and displaying individual consumer-generated ads on a VOD content delivery system has a Web-based Content Management System 40 for enabling an individual user to upload content from their computer via a web browser to display a consumer-generated video ad on TV. The uploaded content includes meta data for classifying the video ad by title and topical area(s). Content Screening System 41 is used for screening the content input by the individual user, such as by performing automatic searching for objectionable text, audio, video and/or images and rejecting the content if found objectionable. A Content Feed System 42 is used to automatically transfer consumer-generated content screened through the Content Screening System 41 to a Content Conversion System 43. This system automatically converts the consumer-generated content supplied by the Content Feed System 42 into video display format compatible with the VOD content delivery system. The converted video ad is indexed by title and classified topical areas according to the meta data supplied by the user, in accordance with the indexing system maintained by the Content Management System. The VOD Content Delivery System 44 operates a Classified Ads VOD Application in which menus for finding classified ads are navigated by viewers, and specific classified ads are delivered through the Digital Cable Television System for display as video ads on the viewer's TV equipment in response to viewer request input by remote control to the Digital Set Top Box 21, as described previously with respect to the operation of the general VOD platform.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2B, the Web-based Content Management System 40 includes a plurality of functional components to allow consumers to create and manage their own classified ads as interactive television content, as well as pay for the distribution of their content within the digital cable television system. A Classified Management Application 50 is used to receive consumer-input content, have it screened (by the Content Screening System 41, not shown), and store it in the Classified Metadata, Image and Video Database 51. Consumer payment for running video ads is handled by the Transaction Processing Component 53. Also included in the Content Management System is an Account Management Component 55 and Account & Permissions Database 56 for management of user accounts for use of the web-based TV Classified Ads system. A Bulletin Board Ads application may be operated in parallel with the TV Classified Ads application. A Bulletin Board Management Application 54 and Database 57 enable the creation and management of consumer-generated content relating to public announcements and other items of general interest for groups, organizations or topics. The preferred VOD Content Delivery System uses templatized VOD content, and a Template Library 58 is used to store templates for both the Classified Ads and Bulletin Board Ads applications.

[0039] The Account Management Component controls the access by persons to the web-based Content Management System. The Account Management Component identifies persons accessing the system for the first time and allows these persons to register and create an account by providing an account name, password, credit card information and other information required for the payment of fees. The Account Management Component controls the access by registered users to their accounts and manages the privileges and security associated to all accounts. Persons may create accounts for the creation and management of Classified Ads. Accounts capable of accessing the Bulletin Board Management Application may also be assigned by a system administrator in the Account Management Component. Any account capable of accessing the Bulletin Board application can then create and manage bulletin board ads for the assigned bulletin boards.

[0040] The Classified Content Management System enables users to upload text, audio, video, and/or image files for classified ads in industry-standard file formats and have it converted into video display ads compatible with the VOD Content Delivery System. Classified ads are searched on the viewer's TV equipment by menus and lists indexed by title and topical areas corresponding to the metadata associated with the classified ads content. Selection of a listed item results in the display of a TV display ad containing uploaded text, images, video and/or audio. Users pay listing fees to the operator of the system for maintaining and displaying the classified ads on the digital cable television system.

[0041] Significant features of the Classified Ads Content Management System include: (a) the ability to enter descriptive data and text regarding the item; (b) uploading digital images of the item to the Content Management System; (c) uploading digital video of the item to the Content Management System; (d) uploading digital audio regarding the item to the Content Management System; (e) automated size and resolution processing of digital images uploaded to the system; (f) automated digital format conversion of digital video uploaded to the system; (g) automated digital format conversion of digital audio uploaded to the system; (h) ability for users to select an interactive television screen design (template) from a catalog of available templates; (i) ability to view on a web browser the interactive television template containing the consumer-provided content; (j) ability to save classified content in persistent memory or storage for subsequent modification; (k) ability to mark classified content as completed and ready for submission to the interactive television system; (l) ability to specify the date and time when a classified content item is to become accessible by users of the interactive television system and the data and time when a classified content item is to be removed from display on the interactive television system; (m) ability to notify the user through email or other communication system that a specific content item is scheduled to be displayed or removed from the interactive television system; (n) ability to modify and resubmit previously created classified content for display on the interactive television system; (o) ability to access viewing data generated by the Tracking System regarding access and use of specific consumer-generated content by users of the interactive television system; and (p) ability to calculate fees for classified content and submit payment of the fees using the Transaction Processing system.

[0042] As noted in (i) above, the Classified Content Management System allows the user to view the content they have composed using the templates. The templates are designed specifically for use on interactive television systems and the user is able to view on the web-interface their content as composed for presentation on television. As noted in (j) above, the Classified Content Management System allows the persistent storage of classified content; although the user is composing interactive television pages using a template system, the content is persistently stored as individual elements to simplify changes by the user and to allow the conversion of the content to different formats as required by different interactive television systems.

[0043] The Bulletin Board Content Management System provides the users of the web-based Content Management System with content creation and content management tools for the creation and maintenance of consumer-generated content related to announcements and other informational items of general interest. Bulletin Board content is displayed on the interactive television system as dedicated interactive television screens (bulletin boards), where approved groups, organizations or topics are each assigned a bulletin board for the display of their information. Bulletin Board content is displayed as list items organized within a bulletin board; selection of a list item results in the display of an interactive television screen containing or providing access to the descriptive data, text, images, video and audio regarding the item.

[0044] An alternative implementation of a Bulletin Board can display the content as scrolling text, where the user scrolls through the text, or the text scrolls automatically. Bulletin Board accounts will pay fees determined by the operator of the system for the distribution of the bulletin board content on the interactive television system for display on the digital cable television system. Significant features of the Bulletin Board Content Management System include: (a) the ability to enter descriptive data and text regarding the item; (b) upload digital images to the content management; (c) upload digital video to the content management system; (d) upload digital audio to the content management system; (e) automated size and resolution processing of digital images uploaded to the system; (f) automated digital format conversion of digital video uploaded to the system; (g) automated digital format conversion of digital audio uploaded to the system; (h) ability for users to select an interactive television screen design (template) from a catalog of available templates; (i) ability to view on a web browser the interactive television template containing the consumer-provided bulletin board content; (j) ability to save bulletin board content in persistent memory or storage for subsequent modification; (k) ability to mark bulletin board content as completed and ready for submission to the interactive television system; (l) ability to specify the date and time when specific bulletin board content is to become accessible by users of the interactive television system and the data and time when specific bulletin board content is to be removed from display on the interactive television system; (m) ability to notify the user through email or other communication system that specific bulletin board content is scheduled to be displayed or removed from the interactive television system; (n) ability to modify and resubmit previously created bulletin board content for display on the interactive television system; (o) ability to access viewing data generated by the Tracking System regarding access and use of specific bulletin board content by users of the interactive television system; and (p) ability to calculate fees for bulletin board content and submit payment of the fees in conjunction with the Transaction Processing component.

[0045] The Transaction Processing component allows users of the Classified Content Management System and Bulletin Board Content Management System to determine and pay for any fees resulting from their use of these systems. The Transaction Processing component will allow users to pay for fees using credit cards or other supported payment methods. Significant features of the Transaction Processing component include: (a) ability to maintain business rules for use by the Transaction Processing system to determine fees based on user type and content type; (b) ability to maintain business rules for one or more payment methods for use by the Transaction Processing system in handling the settlement of fees; (c) ability to maintain business rules for user account and payment settlement conditions such as delinquency and lack-of-credit for use by the Transaction Processing system in determining user account privileges and content status; and, (d) ability to process payment of fees in real-time for payment methods that support real-time settlement.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 2C, the Content Screening System (41) is comprised of a Text Screening Application 60 which searches for objectionable words or phrases, an Image Screening Application 61 which searches for objectionable graphic images, a Video Screening Application 62 which searches for objectionable images or audio words or phrases in video segments, and an Audio Screening Application 63 which searches for objectionable words or phrases in audio segments. The Content Screening System can be used for both Classified Ads content and Bulletin Board content. Content that has been screened by the Content Screening System is then transferred to the aforementioned Classified Ads Database 51 or the Bulletin Board Content Database 57. The system also has component 64 for Editorial and Customer Service Functions for Classified Ads, and component 65 similarly for Bulletin Board content. These can each include an Email Function to send confirmations of input, reasons for rejection of posting, suggested corrections, further processing, and posting of content to consumers using the system.

[0047] Significant features of the Content Screening System include: (a) ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal words and phrases for use in the screening of text; (b) ability to perform automated analysis of user content text using the text library as an input and alert system administration personnel to the use of objectionable or illegal content and the use of unknown and suspect words or phrases; (c) ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal image elements for use in the screening of images; (d) ability to perform automated image recognition analysis against user content images using the library of image elements as an input and alert system administration personnel to the use of objectionable or illegal content; (e) ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal image elements for use in the screening of video; (f) ability to perform automated image recognition analysis against user content video using the library of image elements as an input and alert system administration personnel to the use of objectionable or illegal content; (g) ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal audio elements for use in the screening of audio; (h) ability to perform automated audio analysis against user content audio using the library of audio elements as an input and alert system administration personnel to the use of objectionable or illegal content; and (i) ability to save screened content in persistent memory or storage for subsequent processing. Content Screening is automatically performed with the Content Management System 40 during the user process of submitting and/or creating consumer-generated content or may be performed as a process subsequent to the creation of content by the user.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 2D, the Content Feed System 42 and the Content Conversion System 43 provide for the transfer of user content from the Content Screening System and conversion to video content format compatible with the VOD Content Delivery System 44. The Content Feed System 42 has a Content Selection/Date Filtering Application which selects consumer-generated content uploaded to the system that is within the dates contracted for posting and display of the content as Classified Ads or on Bulletin Boards. Content within the active date range is transferred to the Active Classified Ads Database 71A or the Active Bulletin Board Database 71B.

[0049] The Content Conversion System receives consumer-generated content in industry standard formats or created in viewable format (HTML) on the web-based input system and converts the content into formats compatible with the VOD Content Delivery System and for display on viewers' televisions. The Content Conversion System 43 has an Image Conversion Application 72 which converts consumer-uploaded image files (in industry-standard formats such as JPEG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, PDF, PPT, etc.) into VOD content format, a Video Conversion Application 73 which converts consumer-uploaded video files into VOD content format, and an Audio Conversion Application 74 which converts consumer-uploaded audio files into VOD content format. Content converted to VOD content format is stored in the Active Converted Classified Ads Database 75A or the Active Converted Bulletin Board Database 75B. The content is subject to a further Production Push Function 76A, 76B and stored in the Production Classified Ads Database 77A or the Production Bulletin Board Database 77B, if any presentation formatting, date stamping, template framing, or other system editing is required by the system.

[0050] Significant features of the Content Feed System include: (a) ability to select user content for submission to the Content Conversion System through the testing of appropriate parameters including the date and time information contained in the user content; (b) ability to appropriately package the elements of the user content to permit the efficient transfer of these content elements to the Content Conversion System through an Application Program Interface or other interface; (c) ability to create, maintain and execute a schedule for when the Content Feed System will execute on an automatic basis for the automatic transfer of consumer-generated content to the Content Conversion System; and, (d) ability to execute the functions of the Content Feed System on a manual basis in the presence or absence of a schedule. The Content Feed System may be able to package and distribute content to single or multiple Content Conversion Systems.

[0051] Significant features of the Content Conversion system include: (a) ability to receive content packages delivered by the Content Feed System through an Application Program Interface or other interface; (b) ability to process the elements of consumer-generated content into data, text, graphic, video and audio elements that are compatible with the interactive television system and maintain the content presentation created by the user on the web-based Content Management System; (c) ability to save reformatted content in persistent memory or storage for subsequent distribution and use by the interactive television system; and, (d) ability to inform the interactive television system that consumer-generated content is available for distribution and use. The Content Conversion System may be added as a component system of the VOD Content Delivery System, or it may be implemented as a wholly separate system that connects to the VOD Content Delivery System through an Application Program Interface or other interface. When implemented as a system that is separate from the VOD Content Delivery System, it is possible to support multiple, different interactive television systems by either (a) incorporating multiple formatting requirements into a single instance of the Content Conversion System or (b) creating multiple Content Conversion Systems, each supporting the formatting requirements for a specific interactive television system. Either implementation allows for a single instance of consumer-generated content that is created and maintained using the web-based Content Management System to be distributed and displayed on multiple, different interactive television systems with different formatting requirements.

[0052] The VOD Content Delivery System 44, as described previously, provides for the distribution of screened, converted, properly formatted consumer-generated content to viewers' televisions, typically through the use of digital set-top boxes connected to a digital cable television system capable of supporting real-time two-way data transfer between the set-top box and the Cable Head End. Significant features of the VOD Content Delivery System include: (a) ability to receive properly formatted content from the Content Conversion System; (b) ability to distribute said content over a digital cable television system and display this content on television as an interactive television presentation; (c) ability to receive user commands generated by an infrared remote control device, keyboard or other device; (d) ability to respond to the user commands by displaying appropriate content or executing desired functionality; and, (e) ability to generate and collect data regarding the user sessions and the viewing data regarding consumer-generated content on the interactive television system and make this data accessible to the Tracking System. The VOD Content Delivery System can employ templatized VOD content delivery, as described previously with respect to FIG. 1A, enabling use of the Drill Down Navigation method in which viewers can navigate visually through classified ad hierarchical categories to specific titles or content.

[0053] The VOD Content Delivery System for the Classified Ads application can also employ the Tracking System 15 for the collection and consolidation of viewing data generated by the interactive television system and the generation of reports against this viewing data. For example, the Tracking System can track the number of viewer requests for viewing that a classified ad received in a given period and calculate billing charges accordingly. The Tracking System can make this information available to users of the Content Management System as well as to system administrative personnel performing general analysis of interactive television services and associated content. Significant features of the Tracking System include: (a) ability to access and process the data generated by the Classified Ads application; (b) ability to form summaries of the viewing data against desired parameters; (c) ability to save data, summaries and reports in persistent memory or storage for subsequent modification or access; (d) ability to make data, summaries and reports accessible by users of the web-based Content Management System, restricting the data accessible by any specific user to data regarding the content created by that user account on the Content Management System; and, (e) ability to make data, summaries and reports accessible by to system administration personnel.

[0054] It is understood that many modifications and variations may be devised given the above description of the principles of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and variations be considered as within the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the following claims.