Dynamic channel versioning in a broadcast air chain

• US 10,645,462 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turner Broadcasting System Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Turner Broadcasting System Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Loheide, Donald Jude, Sinha, Nishith Kumar, Pope, V, Mark Cooper
• Primary Examiner(s): Huerta, Alexander Q
• Application Number:
  US15/396,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20180192155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,221 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18

Abstract

A media content packaging and distribution system that controls creation and distribution of a channel to be viewed on user-computing devices associated with a plurality of regions, receives a media feed of the channel from a distribution source device. Targeted content for a plurality of segments of the received media feed for each of the plurality of regions may be determined based on defined endpoint data that includes information related to the plurality of regions. A plurality of customized media feeds are generated based on at least the determined targeted content. The generated plurality of customized media feeds represents a plurality of versions of the channel. The plurality of customized media feeds are distributed via one or more communication mediums or a distribution system to be viewed on the user-computing devices.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

one or more circuits in a media content packaging and distribution system that controls creation and distribution of a channel, the channel comprising media to be viewed on at least one user-computing device of a plurality of user-computing devices associated with at least one region of a plurality of regions, the one or more circuits configured to;

receive a media feed of the channel from a distribution source device over the media content packaging and distribution system,

wherein the media feed of the channel corresponds to a live feed of an event;

extract first endpoint data from a first data source associated with the plurality of regions and second endpoint data from a second data source associated with the plurality of regions, wherein the first data source is different from the second data source;

determine a sum of the first endpoint data extracted from the first data source and the second endpoint data extracted from the second data source;

determine targeted content for a plurality of segments of the received media feed for each region of the plurality of regions, based on the sum of the first endpoint data extracted from the first data source and the second endpoint data extracted from the second data source;

generate a plurality of customized media feeds based on at least the determined targeted content, wherein the generated plurality of customized media feeds represents a plurality of versions of the channel; and

distribute the plurality of customized media feeds to the at least one user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices via at least one communication medium,

wherein a customized media feed of the plurality of customized media feeds to be viewed on a set of user-computing devices of the plurality of user-computing devices corresponds to a given region of the plurality of regions, and

wherein the customized media feed is distributed to the at least one user-computing device based on the customized media feed that is streamed on at least a single user-computing device of the set of user-computing devices at the given region of the plurality of regions.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the media feed further corresponds to a stored media feed.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first endpoint data or the second endpoint data further comprises demographic data.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to determine the plurality of segments of the received media feed based on an out of band trigger detected in the received media feed.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the generation of the plurality of customized media feeds for the at least one region of the plurality of regions is based on media stitching of the plurality of segments of the received media feed that corresponds to programming data and the determined targeted content for the at least one region of the plurality of regions.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the media stitching of the plurality of segments of the received media feed and the determined targeted content for the at least one region of the plurality of regions is based on modification of a programming schedule of the channel.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the media stitching comprises a replacement of a segment of the plurality of segments with the determined targeted content.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution of the customized media feed of the plurality of customized media feeds to the at least one user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices of the at least one region of the plurality of regions is executed such that the customized media feed is different from remaining customized media feeds of the plurality of customized media feeds that are to be viewed on at least one remaining user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices located at remaining regions of the plurality of regions.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to control the distribution of the plurality of customized media feeds to the plurality of user-computing devices at the plurality of regions,

wherein the distribution of the plurality of customized media feeds is controlled based on a streaming criteria of the plurality of customized media feeds on the plurality of user-computing devices at the plurality of regions,

wherein the streaming criteria is based on a streaming status of the plurality of regions, and

wherein the control of the distribution of the plurality of customized media feeds minimizes power and bandwidth of the at least one communication medium required for the distribution.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the targeted content for insertion in at least one spot in the plurality of segments of the received media feed is further determined based on at least one of near real-time feedback, or historical events-driven feedback received.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to store metadata that comprises rules associated with one of archive or block at least one media feed of the channel.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first endpoint data or the second endpoint data is based on instructions defined by a network provider.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first endpoint data or the second endpoint data is based on an aggregate of first data associated with at least one social networking platform and second data associated with at least one sensing device.

14. A method, comprising:

in a media content packaging and distribution system that controls creation and distribution of a channel, the channel comprising media to be viewed on at least one user-computing device of a plurality of user-computing devices associated with at least one region of a plurality of regions;

receiving a media feed of the channel from a distribution source device over the media content packaging and distribution system,

wherein the media feed of the channel corresponds to a live feed of an event;

extracting first endpoint data from a first data source associated with the plurality of regions and second endpoint data from a second data source associated with the plurality of regions, wherein the first data source is different from the second data source;

determining a sum of the first endpoint data extracted from the first data source and the second endpoint data extracted from the second data source;

determining targeted content for a plurality of segments of the received media feed for each region of the plurality of regions, based on the sum of the first endpoint data extracted from the first data source and the second endpoint data extracted from the second data source;

generating a plurality of customized media feeds based on at least the determined targeted content, wherein the generated plurality of customized media feeds represents a plurality of versions of the channel; and

distributing the plurality of customized media feeds to the at least one user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices via at least one communication medium,

wherein a customized media feed of the plurality of customized media feeds to be viewed on a set of user-computing devices of the plurality of user-computing devices corresponds to a given region of the plurality of regions, and

wherein the customized media feed is distributed to the at least one user-computing device based on the customized media feed that is streamed on at least a single user-computing device of the set of user-computing devices at the given region of the plurality of regions.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the media feed further corresponds to a stored media feed.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first endpoint data or the second endpoint data further comprises demographic data.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising determining the plurality of segments of the received media feed based on an out of band trigger detected in the received media feed.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the generation of the plurality of customized media feeds for the at least one region of the plurality of regions is based on media stitching of the plurality of segments of the received media feed that corresponds to programming data and the determined targeted content for the at least one region of the plurality of regions.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the media stitching of the plurality of segments of the received media feed and the determined targeted content for the at least one region of the plurality of regions is based on modification of a programming schedule of the channel.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the distribution of the customized media feed of the plurality of customized media feeds the at least one user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices of the at least one region of the plurality of regions is executed such that the customized media feed is different from remaining customized media feeds of the plurality of customized media feeds, wherein the remaining customized feeds are to be viewed on at least one remaining user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices located at remaining regions of the plurality of regions.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the distribution of the plurality of customized media feeds to be viewed on the plurality of user-computing devices at the plurality of regions is controlled,

wherein the distribution of the plurality of customized media feeds is controlled based on a streaming criteria of the plurality of customized media feeds on the plurality of user-computing devices at the plurality of regions, wherein the streaming criteria is based on a streaming status of the plurality of customized media feeds in the plurality of regions, and wherein the control of the distribution of the plurality of customized media feeds minimizes power and bandwidth of the at least one communication medium required for the distribution.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the targeted content for insertion in at least one spot in the plurality of segments of the received media feed is further determined based on at least one of near real-time feedback, or historical events-driven feedback received.

23. The method according to claim 14, wherein the distribution of the plurality of customized media feeds to the plurality of user-computing devices at the plurality of regions is controlled to enable different regions of the plurality of regions to view same programming content but different non-programming content on a same channel.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute operations, the operations comprising:

in a media content packaging and distribution system that controls creation and distribution of a channel, the channel comprising media to be viewed on at least one user-computing device of a plurality of user-computing devices associated with at least one region of a plurality of regions;

receiving a media feed of the channel from a distribution source device over the media content packaging and distribution system,

wherein the media feed of the channel corresponds to a live feed of an event;

extracting first endpoint data from a first data source associated with the plurality of regions and second endpoint data from a second data source associated with the plurality of regions, wherein the first data source is different from the second data source;

determining a sum of the first endpoint data extracted from the first data source and the second endpoint data extracted from the second data source;

determining targeted content for a plurality of segments of the received media feed for each region of the plurality of regions, based on the sum of the first endpoint data extracted from the first data source and the second endpoint data extracted from the second data source;

generating a plurality of customized media feeds based on at least the determined targeted content, wherein the generated plurality of customized media feeds represents a plurality of versions of the channel; and

distributing the plurality of customized media feeds to the at least one user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices via at least one communication medium,

wherein a customized media feed of the plurality of customized media feeds to be viewed on a set of user-computing devices of the plurality of user-computing devices corresponds to a given region of the plurality of regions, and

wherein the customized media feed is distributed to the at least one user-computing device based on the customized media feed that is streamed on at least a single user-computing device of the set of user-computing devices at the given region of the plurality of regions.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the media feed further corresponds to a stored media feed.