Apparatus and methods for selective enforcement of digital content viewing
First Claim
1. Computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory storage medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus:
- receive a digitally rendered content element via a content distribution network;
extract data relating to at least one watermark encountered as part of the received digitally rendered content element;
determine whether the at least one watermark is already in a database in data communication with the computer readable apparatus; and
based at least on a determination that the at least one watermark is not already in the database, (i) cause storage of the extracted data for a predetermined period of time in the database; and
(ii) disable digital content control functionality.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory storage medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus:
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receive a digitally rendered content element via a content distribution network; extract data relating to at least one watermark encountered as part of the received digitally rendered content element; determine whether the at least one watermark is already in a database in data communication with the computer readable apparatus; and based at least on a determination that the at least one watermark is not already in the database, (i) cause storage of the extracted data for a predetermined period of time in the database; and
(ii) disable digital content control functionality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computerized method of enabling one or more digital content control functions, the computerized method comprising:
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causing provision of a first digitally rendered content element to a computerized client device via a content distribution network, the first digitally rendered content element encoded with first data, the first data identifying at least the first digitally rendered content element; receiving second data via the content distribution network, the second data comprising information related to the first data, the second data generated by the computerized client device; utilizing the second data to determine (i) an association between the first data and viewing information stored in at least one portion of a database, and (ii) a position associated with a user of the computerized client device with respect to a linked chain of events; selecting one or more second digitally rendered content elements, the selecting based at least in part on the position associated with the user in relation to a sequential order of the one or more second digitally rendered content elements with the first digitally rendered content element; and based at least in part on the determining of (i) and (ii), enabling the one or more digital content control functions, the one or more digital content control functions enabling the user to bypass, via the computerized client device, at least a portion of the first digitally rendered content element in favor of at least the one or more second digitally rendered content elements; and wherein the linked chain of events spans at least portions of (i) the first digitally rendered content element, and (ii) the one or more second digitally rendered content elements. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computerized method for digital content control, the computerized method comprising:
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receiving a digitally rendered content element via a content delivery network; extracting data relating to at least one watermark feature encountered as part of the received digitally rendered content element; determining whether the at least one watermark feature is already in a database associated with the content delivery network; and based at least on a determination that the at least one watermark feature is not already in the database, (i) causing storage of the extracted data for a predetermined period of time in the database; and
(ii) disabling at least one digital content control functionality. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification