Digital data monitoring and logging in an ITV system

• US 20030053655A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mixed Signals Incorporated (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mixed Signals Incorporated (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: King, John Kelly, Barone, Samuel T. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/222,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20030053655A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26225 involving billing parameters, e.g. priority for subscribers of premium services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

An ITV system that monitors and stores data related to digital video broadcasts. Such data may include digital sound files, image files, subscription data, software programs, television program information, ITV advertising content, and the like. The monitoring system stores information about a pre-determined set of data that is being monitored in a digital video stream, in one or more log files. The log files may then be used to generate a plurality of user defined reports. The reports may be used by broadcasters, cable operators, and content providers, and the like to establish general auditing and billing services.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring data embedded in a video stream, the method comprising:

receiving a video stream including embedded data;

monitoring the video stream for the embedded data;

storing information on the monitored data; and

utilizing the monitored data for generating a report.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the video stream comprises monitoring the video stream from a remote location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the video stream comprises monitoring a frequency in which the data appears in the video stream.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the video stream comprises monitoring integrity of the embedded data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the video stream is a digital video stream.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data is a digital data file.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the data is interactive television data.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising filtering the embedded data from the video stream.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting the video stream to a receiver; and

monitoring the video stream at the receiver.

10. A system for monitoring data embedded in a video stream, the system comprising:

a video stream including embedded data;

a memory; and

a data monitor coupled to the memory, the data monitor monitoring the video stream for the embedded data and storing information on the monitored data in the memory, the monitored data being used for generating a report.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising means for invoking the data monitor from a remote location.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the data monitor monitors a frequency in which the data appears in the video stream.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the data monitor monitors integrity of the embedded data.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the video stream is a digital video stream.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the data is a digital data file.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the data is interactive television data.

17. The system of claim 10 further comprising a filtering system for filtering the embedded data from the video stream.

18. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a receiver receiving the video stream; and

a second data monitor coupled to the receiver for monitoring the video stream.