Promotion server using video on demand channel

• US 20020066106A1
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navic Systems, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanojia, Chaitanya, Fagnani, Mark, Swartz, Terri, Wetzel, Darren
• Granted Patent: US 7,237,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/2668 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

Idle Video-On-Demand (VOD) channel capacity is used to deliver promotional content to selected set-top boxes (STBs) in a cable television network. Commercial segment cues are used to instruct a set-top box to switch away from a broadcast program to the VOD channel during a commercial segment, and then switch back again to the original broadcast program at the end of the segment.

More particularly, a promotion server determines an asset to be distributed such as a targeted promotion item (e.g., a commercial), and a list of STBs that are to receive it. The promotion server causes the video promotion content to be stored in VOD servers located at the head ends. A scheduler process then delivers schedule messages to head end message servers which identify each promotion asset, and an STB which is to receive it. The head end message server notifies its associated VOD server which then cues the asset by loading the asset, starting the asset, but pausing it. Prior to the occurrence of a commercial slot in a broadcast program, an asset trigger is inserted into the broadcast stream at the head end. This asset trigger contains general information concerning the asset to be sent, and an idle VOD channel number. The STB receives the asset trigger and readies itself to tune to the VOD channel when cued for at the beginning of a commercial segment, but does not yet tune to the VOD channel. Upon detection of a commercial cue tone in the broadcast channel, the head end message server sends a tune away trigger to the STB, and also instructs the VOD server to start playing the cued promotion. When the STB receives a tune away trigger, it switches from the broadcast channel being played to the selected idle VOD channel, and the promotion is viewed.

Claims

1. In a cable television network system that connects set-top boxes (STBs) to receive broadcast program content from cable network head end distribution points, a method for delivery of a promotional content stream comprising the steps of:

cueing a promotional content stream at a video-on-demand (VOD) server to be played on a VOD channel for a particular STB, the VOD server located at a cable network head end;

sending a first trigger to the particular STB indicating the VOD channel number, but which does not cause the STB to yet switch to the VOD channel;

sensing a commercial cue tone signal in a broadcast channel being watched at the STB, the commercial cue tone indicating an upcoming start of commercial segment;

sending a second trigger to cause the STB to switch to the VOD channel indicated by the first trigger; and

beginning playback of the promotional content stream.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the STB stores a channel number being watched prior to playback of the promotional content stream, and returns to the stored channel number once the promotional content stream ends.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein pixelation that may occur during channel switchover to the VOD channel is blanked at the STB.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein channel information is displayed during switchover to the VOD channel.