Dynamic channel versioning in a broadcast air chain based on user preferences

• US 10,694,231 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2016
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• 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): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US15/396,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20180192097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,270 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

A media content packaging and distribution system that controls distribution of a channel to be viewed on a plurality of user-computing devices associated with a plurality of specific subscriber accounts, receives a plurality of user-preferences from at least one of the plurality of user-computing devices over one or more communication mediums, and generate a plurality of customized media feeds of a media feed of the channel, based on at least the received plurality of user-preferences. The generated plurality of customized media feeds represents a plurality of user-specific versions of the channel. The plurality of customized media feeds is communicated over the one or more communication mediums to be viewed on the plurality of user-computing devices. The media feed corresponds to at least one of a live media feed, or a stored media feed, and the plurality of user-computing devices is associated with one or more regions.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

one or more circuits in a media content packaging and distribution system configured to control creation and distribution of a channel to one or more of a plurality of user-computing devices associated with a plurality of specific subscriber accounts, the one or more circuits configured to;

receive a plurality of user-preferences from the plurality of user-computing devices over one or more communication mediums;

determine a plurality of targeted contents for each user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices,

wherein the plurality of targeted contents are determined based on a first number of types of the user-computing device and the plurality of user-preferences from a corresponding user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices;

determine corresponding sequences of a plurality of segments of a media feed of the channel, based on information corresponding to one or more triggers included in the media feed;

generate a plurality of customized media feeds of the media feed of the channel, based on at least the plurality of user-preferences,

wherein the plurality of customized media feeds are generated based on video stitching of the plurality of segments of the media feed of the channel and a targeted content of the plurality of targeted contents for the plurality of user-computing devices, and

wherein the generated plurality of customized media feeds represent a plurality of user-specific versions of the channel; and

communicate the plurality of customized media feeds to the one or more of the plurality of user-computing devices over at least one of the one or more communication mediums or a distribution system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the media feed corresponds to at least one of a live media feed or a stored media feed.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to control the communication of the plurality of customized media feeds to the plurality of user-computing devices such that a customized media feed of the plurality of customized media feeds to be viewed on a user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices 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.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of user-computing devices is associated with one or more geographical regions.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the video stitching comprises replacement of a segment of the plurality of segments of the media feed with the targeted content.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the video stitching comprises addition of the targeted content among the plurality of segments of the media feed.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to determine the targeted content for the plurality of segments of the media feed for each of a plurality of regions based on at least one of at least one of media-viewing pattern data or station identifiers.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein a second number of the plurality of targeted contents correspond to the first number of the types of the user-computing device.

9. A method, comprising:

in a media content packaging and distribution system that controls distribution of a channel to one or more of a plurality of user-computing devices associated with a plurality of specific subscriber accounts;

receiving a plurality of user-preferences from the plurality of user-computing devices over one or more communication mediums;

determining a plurality of targeted contents for each user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices,

wherein the plurality of targeted contents are determined based on a first number of types of the user-computing device and the plurality of user-preferences from a corresponding user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices;

determining corresponding sequences of a plurality of segments of a media feed of the channel, based on information corresponding to one or more triggers included in the media feed;

generating a plurality of customized media feeds of the media feed of the channel, based on at least the plurality of user-preferences,

wherein the plurality of customized media feeds are generated based on video stitching of the plurality of segments of the media feed of the channel and the targeted content of the plurality of targeted contents for the plurality of user-computing devices, and

wherein the generated plurality of customized media feeds represents a plurality of user-specific versions of the channel; and

communicating the plurality of customized media feeds to the one or more of the plurality of user-computing devices over the one or more communication mediums.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the media feed corresponds to at least one of a live media feed or a stored media feed.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the communication of the plurality of customized media feeds to the plurality of user-computing devices is controlled such that a customized media feed of the plurality of customized media feeds to be viewed on a user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices 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.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of user-computing devices is associated with one or more geographical regions.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-readable 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 distribution of a channel to one or more of a plurality of user-computing devices associated with a plurality of specific subscriber accounts;

receiving a plurality of user-preferences from the plurality of user-computing devices over one or more communication mediums;

determining a plurality of targeted contents for each user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices,

wherein the plurality of targeted contents are determined based on a first number of types of the user-computing device and the plurality of user-preferences from a corresponding user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices;

determining corresponding sequences of a plurality of segments of a media feed of the channel, based on information corresponding to one or more triggers included in the media feed;

generating a plurality of customized media feeds of the media feed of the channel, based on at least the plurality of user-preferences,

wherein the plurality of customized media feeds are generated, based on video stitching of the plurality of segments of the media feed of the channel and the targeted content of the plurality of targeted contents for the plurality of user-computing devices, and

wherein the generated plurality of customized media feeds represents a plurality of user-specific versions of the channel; and

communicating the plurality of customized media feeds to the one or more of the plurality of user-computing devices over the one or more communication mediums.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the media feed corresponds to at least one of a live media feed or a stored media feed.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the operations further comprising controlling the communication of the plurality of customized media feeds to the plurality of user-computing devices such that a customized media feed of the plurality of customized media feeds to be viewed on a user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices 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.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of user-computing devices is associated with one or more geographical regions.

17. A system, comprising:

one or more circuits in a media content packaging and distribution system that controls creation and distribution of a channel to one or more of a plurality of user-computing devices associated with a plurality of specific subscriber accounts, the one or more circuits configured to;

receive a plurality of user-preferences from the plurality of user-computing devices over one or more communication mediums;

determine a plurality of targeted contents for each user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices,

wherein the plurality of targeted contents are determined based on a first number of types of the user-computing device and the plurality of user-preferences from a corresponding user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices;

determine corresponding sequences of a plurality of segments of a media feed of the channel, based on information corresponding to one or more triggers included in the media feed;

generate a plurality of distinct customized media feeds of the media feed of the channel, based on the number of the plurality of user-preferences, wherein each of the plurality of distinct customized media feeds is for a specific one of the plurality of user-computing devices;

video stitching the plurality of segments of the media feed of the channel and the targeted content of the plurality of targeted contents for corresponding user-computing devices of the plurality of user-computing devices to generate the plurality of distinct customized media feeds, wherein each of the generated plurality of distinct customized media feeds represents a user-specific version of the channel; and

communicate the plurality of distinct customized media feeds via at least one of the one or more communication mediums or a distribution system, wherein each of the plurality of distinct customized media feeds is communicated to the specific one of the plurality of user-computing devices.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to replace a segment of the plurality of segments with the determined targeted content.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to insert the determined targeted content among the plurality of segments.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to:

reorder the plurality of segments with the determined targeted content; and

insert the determined targeted content among the reordered plurality of segments.

21. A method, comprising:

in a media content packaging and distribution system that controls creation and distribution of a channel to one or more of a plurality of user-computing devices associated with a plurality of specific subscriber accounts;

receiving a plurality of user-preferences from the plurality of user-computing devices over one or more communication mediums;

determining a plurality of targeted contents for each user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices,

wherein the plurality of targeted contents are determined based on a first number of types of the user-computing device and the plurality of user-preferences from a corresponding user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices;

determining corresponding sequences of a plurality of segments of a media feed of the channel, based on information corresponding to one or more triggers included in the media feed;

generating a plurality of distinct customized media feeds of the media feed of the channel, based on the number of the plurality of user-preferences,

wherein each of the plurality of distinct customized media feeds is for a specific one of the plurality of user-computing devices;

video stitching the plurality of segments of the media feed of the channel and the targeted content of the plurality of targeted contents for corresponding user-computing devices of the plurality of user-computing devices to generate the plurality of distinct customized media feeds,

wherein each of the generated plurality of distinct customized media feeds represents a user-specific version of the channel; and

communicating the plurality of distinct customized media feeds via at least one of the one or more communication mediums or a distribution system, wherein each of the plurality of distinct customized media feeds is communicated to the specific one of the plurality of user-computing devices.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising replacing a segment of the plurality of segments with the determined targeted content.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising inserting the determined targeted content among the plurality of segments.

24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

reordering the plurality of segments with the determined targeted content; and

inserting the determined targeted content among the reordered plurality of segments.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-readable 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 to one or more of a plurality of user-computing devices associated with a plurality of specific subscriber accounts;

receiving a plurality of user-preferences from the plurality of user-computing devices over one or more communication mediums;

determining a plurality of targeted contents for each user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices,

wherein the plurality of targeted contents are determined based on a first number of types of the user-computing device and the plurality of user-preferences from a corresponding user-computing device of the plurality of user-computing devices;

determining corresponding sequences of a plurality of segments of a media feed of the channel, based on information corresponding to one or more triggers included in the media feed;

generating a plurality of distinct customized media feeds of the media feed of the channel, based on the number of the plurality of user-preferences,

wherein each of the plurality of distinct customized media feeds is for a specific one of the plurality of user-computing devices;

video stitching the plurality of segments of the media feed of the channel and the targeted content of the plurality of targeted contents for corresponding user-computing devices of the plurality of user-computing devices to generate the plurality of distinct customized media feeds,

wherein each of the generated plurality of distinct customized media feeds represents a user-specific version of the channel; and

communicating the plurality of distinct customized media feeds via at least one of the one or more communication mediums or a distribution system, wherein each of the plurality of distinct customized media feeds is communicated to the specific one of the plurality of user-computing devices.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 25, further comprising replacing a segment of the plurality of segments with the determined targeted content.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 25, further comprising inserting the determined targeted content among the plurality of segments.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 25, further comprising:

reordering the plurality of segments with the determined targeted content; and

inserting the determined targeted content among the reordered plurality of segments.