Method and system for providing intelligent advertisement placement in a motion picture

• US 20020100042A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Individual Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Individual Network LLC
• Inventors: Khoo, Denis, Ratcliff, Raymond F. III
• Application Number:
  US10/112,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20020100042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for intelligently embedding advertisements into motion picture content. An embodiment of the method includes receiving personalized data and the identity of a motion picture from a user over a computer network; selecting an advertisement image having attributes that approximately match the personalized data; editing the motion picture to include the selected advertisement image; and transmitting the edited motion picture to the user over the computer network for viewing. An embodiment of the system includes a computer system for performing the above-described method.

Claims

1. A method for providing intelligent advertisement placement in a motion picture, comprising:

retrieving personalized data associated with a viewer;

comparing the personalized data with a plurality of attributes, each attribute associated with an advertisement image, to determine an attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data;

retrieving an advertisement image associated with the attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data; and

imposing the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of identifying one or more regions within each of a sequence of image frames of a motion picture and wherein the step of imposing the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture includes imposing the retrieved advertisement image in the one or more regions within each of the sequence of image frames of the motion picture.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving personalized data associated with a viewer includes retrieving personalized data associated with a viewer from a client computer over a data network.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of imposing the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture includes imposing the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture selected by the viewer.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the steps of generating attributes based on demographic information and associating the attributes with advertisement images.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of generating attributes based on demographic information further includes generating attributes based on demographic information selected from a group including age, gender, income, occupation, recreational interest, and geographic information.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of associating the attributes with advertisement images includes associating the attributes with advertisement images selected from a group including banners and graphical objects.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of scaling the retrieved advertisement image and wherein the step of imposing the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture includes imposing the scaled advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of scaling the retrieved advertisement image includes scaling the retrieved advertisement image to several different scales so that after the scaled advertisement image is imposed on the sequence of image frames, the scaled image appears to move one of toward and away from a viewer when viewing the motion picture.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of transmitting the motion picture, including the retrieved advertisement image imposed therein, to a client computer over a data network.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of storing the motion picture, including the retrieved advertisement image imposed therein, on a storage medium.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, further including the steps of imposing a first advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a first version of the two or more versions of the motion picture and imposing a second advertisement image on the sequence of image frames of a second version of the two or more versions of the motion picture.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further including the steps of scaling the first advertisement image and scaling the second advertisement image prior to imposing the first advertisement image and second advertisement image on the respective sequence of image frames.

15. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of retrieving personalized data associated with a viewer includes retrieving personalized data associated with a viewer from a client computer over a data network.

16. A method as recited in claim 12, further including the steps of generating attributes based on demographic information and associating each attribute with a version of the motion picture.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of generating attributes based on demographic information further includes generating attributes based on demographic information selected from a group including age, gender, income, occupation, recreational interest, and geographic information.

18. A method as recited in claim 12, further including the step of transmitting the version of the motion picture associated with the attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data to a client computer over a data network.

20. A computer system as recited in claim 19, further including the operative step to identify one or more regions within each of a sequence of image frames of a motion picture and wherein the operative step to impose the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture includes the operative step to impose the retrieved advertisement image in the one or more regions within each of the sequence of image frames of the motion picture.

21. A computer system as recited in claim 19, wherein the operative step to retrieve personalized data associated with a viewer includes the operative step to retrieve personalized data associated with a viewer from a client computer over a data network.

22. A computer system as recited in claim 19, wherein the operative step to impose the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture includes the operative step to impose the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture selected by the viewer.

23. A computer system as recited in claim 19, further including the operative steps to generate attributes based on demographic information and associate the attributes with advertisement images.

24. A computer system as recited in claim 19, further including the operative step to scale the retrieved advertisement image and wherein the operative step to impose the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture includes the operative step to impose the scaled advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture.

25. A computer system as recited in claim 24, wherein the operative step to scale the retrieved advertisement image includes the operative step to scale the retrieved advertisement image to several different scales so that after the scaled advertisement image is imposed on the sequence of image frames, the scaled image appears to move one of toward and away from a viewer when viewing the motion picture.

26. A computer system as recited in claim 19, further including the operative step to transmit the motion picture to a client computer over a data network.

27. A computer system as recited in claim 19, further including the operative step to store the motion picture on a storage medium.

29. A computer system as recited in claim 28, further including the operative steps to impose a first advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a first version of the two or more versions of the motion picture and impose a second advertisement image on the sequence of image frames of a second version of the two or more versions of the motion picture.

30. A computer system as recited in claim 29, further including the operative steps to scale the first advertisement image prior to imposing the first advertisement image on the sequence of image frames of the first version of the two or more versions of the motion picture and scale the second advertisement image prior to imposing the second advertisement image on the sequence of image frames of the second version of the two or more versions of the motion picture.

31. A computer system as recited in claim 28, wherein the operative step to retrieve personalized data associated with a viewer includes the operative step to retrieve personalized data associated with a viewer from a client computer over a data network.

32. A computer system as recited in claim 28, further including the operative steps to generate attributes based on demographic information and associate each attribute with a version of the motion picture.

12. A method for providing intelligent advertisement placement in a motion picture, comprising:

storing two or more versions of a motion picture on a storage medium, each version of the motion picture having a different advertisement image imposed on a sequence of image frames;

retrieving personalized data associated with a viewer;

comparing the personalized data with attributes, each attribute associated with a version of the motion picture, to determine an attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data; and

retrieving a version of the motion picture that is associated with the attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data.

19. A computer system for providing intelligent advertisement placement in a motion picture, comprising:

a storage medium for storing personalized data, attributes, advertisement images, and motion pictures; and

a processor in communication with the storage medium, wherein the processor is operative to

a) retrieve personalized data associated with a viewer;

b) compare the personalized data with attributes, each attribute associated with an advertisement image, to determine an attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data;

c) retrieve an advertisement image associated with the attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data; and

d) impose the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture.

28. A computer system for providing intelligent advertisement placement in a motion picture, comprising:

a storage medium for storing personalized data, attributes, advertisement images, and motion pictures; and

a processor in communication with the storage medium, wherein the processor is operative to

a) store two or more versions of a motion picture on a storage medium, each version of the motion picture having a respective advertisement image imposed on a sequence of image frames;

b) retrieve personalized data associated with a viewer;

c) compare the personalized data with attributes, each attribute associated with a version of the motion picture, to determine an attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data; and

d) retrieve a version of the motion picture that is associated with the attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data.

33. A computer system for providing intelligent advertisement placement in a motion picture, comprising:

means for retrieving personalized data associated with a viewer;

means for comparing the personalized data with a plurality of attributes, each attribute associated with an advertisement image, to determine an attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data;

means for retrieving an advertisement image associated with the attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data; and

means for imposing the retrieved advertisement image on a sequence of image frames of a motion picture.

34. A computer system for providing intelligent advertisement placement in a motion picture, comprising:

means for storing two or more versions of a motion picture of a storage medium, each version of the motion picture having a different advertisement image imposed on a sequence of image frames;

means for retrieving personalized data associated with a viewer;

means for comparing the personalized data with attributes, each attribute associated with a version of the motion picture, to determine an attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data; and

means for retrieving a version of the motion picture that is associated with the attribute that is most consistent with the personalized data.