Method and system for dataflow management in a communications network

• US 20020116510A1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HBAC Matchmaker Media Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HBAC Matchmaker Media Incorporated
• Inventors: Shankar, Sanjeev, Juneau, Rene J., Bacso, Stephen R., Scanlan, Bruce D.
• Application Number:
  US09/991,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116510A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• 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 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 : involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 : involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 : using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• 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 21/4532 : 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 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 : Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• 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 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• 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 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for dataflow management in interactive communications networks. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for dataflow management in interactive communications networks, the method comprising the steps of: determining characteristics of network components; and managing dataflow in accordance with said determined characteristics. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for targeting content to users in a communications network; the method comprising the steps of: determining targeted user characteristics; and presenting content in accordance with said characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for dataflow management in interactive communications networks, the method comprising the steps of:

determining characteristics of network components; and

managing dataflow in accordance with said determined characteristics.

3. The method according to claim 1, for targeted content presentation in a communications network for regularly scheduled content opportunities, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the programming stream for opportunities and content descriptors;

determining the source for alternate content;

matching the opportunity to the available content and the viewer characteristics;

presenting content to the viewer; and

updating the secure audit log with the viewing result.

5. The method according to claim 1, for targeted content presentation in a communications network for functional/user interaction content opportunities, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the programming and content streams for opportunities and content descriptors;

pre-matching the opportunities to the available content and viewer characteristics;

determining the source for alternate content as described previously;

checking security rights at a function invocation to determine appropriateness of content insertion;

presenting the content to the viewer if appropriate; and

updating pre-matched opportunities for next function invocation.

2. A method for targeting content to users in a communications network;

the method comprising the steps of;

determining targeted user characteristics; and

presenting content in accordance with said characteristics.

4. The method according to claim 2, further including the step of updating the secure audit log with the viewing result.

6. The method according to claim 4, further including the step of updating the secure audit log with the viewing result.

7. A method according to claim 2, further including the steps of:

monitoring the content descriptor transmission stream;

matching the opportunity map descriptors with the receiver capabilities;

verifying that permission is available to access the content;

matching of the content descriptors to the viewer profile information;

selecting the descriptors with the strongest content match if local persistent storage is available to the MDE;

determining if the content is already in storage;

determining if the content can be acquired in a timely manner;

verifying access rights to storage if access rights are verified, verifying availability of storage;

determining if content can be deleted to make storage available by comparing matches of the new content with existing content in storage, and replacing content with weaker matches to make storage available;

acquiring content from the designated source; and

placing acquired content in storage.

8. The method according to claim 2, whereby the ME/DE also forwards configuration triggers that indicate to the MDE if certain components need to be replaced to enable dynamic adaptation of the system to new feedback algorithms, better functional capability, and/or component code fixes.

9. The method according to claim 2, whereby the MDE also receives profile characteristic information on the viewers from the operator.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the viewers profile data is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the data is kept in encrypted format within the facilities of a CA system.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of instances of the MDE can be generated to match one or more of the capabilities and requirements of the system and the capabilities of the various receiver models on the network

14. The system according to claim 13, for targeted content presentation in a communications network, the system comprising:

a head end component having;

a content schedule component having;

a content schedule database; and

a content scheduler for accessing the content schedule database to provide schedule triggers;

a profile component having;

a profile database; and

a profile scheduler for accessing the profile database to provide profile triggers;

a matching engine for accessing the content schedule and profile components to match content to end-users;

a delivery engine for delivering the matched content; and

a combiner that receives the delivered matched content and combines it with available content streams;

a receiver component having;

a data filter for filtering data; and

a microdecision engine for providing the guidance and commands to present content to the end-user from the data filter; and

a data network between the head end and the end-user components for transmitting data.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the delivery engine is provided in a plurality of instances to provide for load balancing and capacity requirements.

13. A system for targeting content to users in a communications network comprising:

means for determining targeted user characteristics; and

means for presenting content in accordance with said characteristics.

16. A storage medium readable by a computer, the medium encoding a computer process to provide a method for targeted content presentation in a communications network, the computer process comprising:

a processing portion for determining targeted user characteristics; and

a processing portion for presenting content in accordance with said characteristics.

17. A system for dataflow management in interactive communications networks, the system comprising:

means for determining characteristics of network components; and

means for managing dataflow in accordance with said determined characteristics.

18. A storage medium readable by a computer, the medium encoding a computer process to provide a method for dataflow management in interactive communications networks, the computer process comprising:

a processing portion for determining characteristics of network components; and

a processing portion for managing dataflow in accordance with said determined characteristics.