System and method for simultaneous broadcast for personalized messages

• US 20020013943A1
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible World Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Burgh, Abeljan van der, Niemeijer, Gerrit, Haberman, Seth, Jansen, Alex, Schuler, Chester L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• 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 21/2668 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A system and method for the simultaneous creation, assembly and transmission of synchronous multiple personalized messages to specific targeted individuals or other entities. The system can send rich media distinctly personalized messages such as commercials to a small or large group of selected individuals through any appropriate distribution media. A personalized message is created based on segmenting a message into multiple slots, and providing different selectable segments for each slot. The multiple segments are then simultaneously broadcasted over multiple data streams to a receiver, wherein the receiver switches between the data streams to assemble the personalized message in a just-in-time fashion. Other data including overlays, animation, frame transitions etc. may also be transmitted and used to assemble the personalized message.

Claims

1. A method for allowing the creation of a plurality of personalized messages comprising:

creating a personalized message template comprising a plurality of slots in sequence, wherein at least one of said slots can include one of a plurality of different segments, with all segments for a particular slot being a same length;

providing a plurality of data streams to a receiving unit, each data stream delivering a different one of said plurality of segments for said at least one slots, wherein said segments are synchronized to begin and end at substantially the same time;

providing content selection information regarding content of said plurality of data streams to said receiving unit, said information including switch times for said plurality of synchronized segments, to allow said receiving unit to select among said plurality of data streams for one of said segments for said particular slot, to assemble a personalized message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving unit selects among said plurality of data streams in real time.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said personalized message is viewed by a viewer as it is assembled.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving unit selects among said plurality of data streams based on said content selection information and information about a viewer who will view said personalized message.

5. The method of claim 4 further including providing a data stream with a default personalized message to allow said receiving unit to display said default personalized message without selecting between said plurality of data streams.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of data streams are MPEG encoded data streams.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of data streams are multiplexed into a transport stream.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said segments are incomplete parts of a personalized message.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving unit is a set top box.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said set top box can receive both analog data streams and digital data streams, and wherein said set top box momentarily switches from an analog data stream to a digital data stream to play out a personalized message.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said set top box switches from an analog data stream to a digital data stream triggered by VBI data.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said set top box momentarily switches from a first digital data stream to a second digital data stream to play out a personalized message.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said set top box receives a plurality of television channels over said data streams, and said channels include programs including a synchronized commercial break;

and

during said synchronized commercial break;

said data streams deliver segments to create a personalized message for display irrespective of which channel said set top box had selected.

14. The method of claim 1 further including transition segments, which are inserted into said personalized message between said segments.

15. The method of claim 1 further including a plurality of templates for creating said personalized messages, wherein said templates include video sequence templates and audio sequence templates.

16. A system for distributing a plurality of multimedia personalized messages to a plurality of end users, said system comprising:

a personalized message template comprising a plurality of slots in sequence;

a plurality of media segments for said slots, wherein at least one of said slots can include one of a plurality of different media segments, with all media segments for a particular slot being a same length;

a plurality of data streams transmitting said media segments, wherein said plurality of data streams transmit all media segments for one of said slots in at a same time, and wherein one of said data streams transmits content selection information regarding content of said plurality of data streams said information including switch times for allowing a receiving unit to switch among said plurality of data streams to select a particular media segment at a particular time, to assemble said personalized message.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said receiving unit switches between analog data streams and digital data streams to assemble said personalized message.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said receiving unit switches between a first digital data stream to at least one second digital data stream to assemble said personalized message.

19. A system for distributing a plurality of multimedia personalized messages to a plurality of end viewers, said system comprising:

a means for creating a personalized message template with plurality of slots;

a means for creating a plurality of media segments, said media segments for use in said slots;

a transmission means for transmitting said media segments, wherein said media segments for a particular slot in said personalized message are transmitted at a same time;

a means for providing content information to allow a receiving unit to select one of said media segments at a particular time, to assemble said personalized message.

20. A method for delivering a plurality of different messages over a television transmission network, comprising:

creating a plurality of different media segments, wherein said different media segments include incomplete sections of a complete message, and wherein at least one subset of said media segments are a same length;

transmitting said plurality of different media segments to a television signal receiver, wherein all media segments in said at least one subset are transmitted simultaneously;

directing said television signal receiver to switch to one of said media segments in said subset as said media segments in said subset are received.

21. A method for delivering a plurality of different messages over a television transmission network, comprising:

creating a plurality of different media segments, wherein said different media segments include incomplete sections of a complete message, and wherein at least one subset of said media segments are a same length;

transmitting a plurality of television programs to a television signal receiver, wherein said plurality of television programs have at least one synchronized commercial break;

during said synchronized commercial break, transmitting said plurality of different media segments to said television signal receiver, wherein all media segments in said at least one subset are transmitted simultaneously;

directing said television signal receiver to switch to one of said media segments in said subset as said media segments in said subset are received; and

wherein after said synchronized commercial break, said television signal receiver switches to a previously selected television program.