Techniques for reinsertion of local market advertising in digital video from a bypass source

• US 20040128682A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Liga, Kevin, Deo, Frank P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/35
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A method and system for reinserting local content commercials in a digital video format into a customized event data stream. Local content commercials may be inserted at an on-site facility, a national network, a headend, or a local affiliate. Local content commercials may be inserted into the overall data stream, or into one of a plurality of program signals comprising the data stream. Further, markers or software instructions may be inserted into the data stream or program signals instructing a headend, set top box, or personal video recorder to retrieve a stored local content commercial and insert the commercial into the data stream.

Claims

1. A method for inserting a local content commercial into a nationally transmitted data stream, comprising:

creating a data stream comprising a plurality of program signals;

determining a plurality of geographic areas to receive a local content commercial;

inserting one of the plurality of local content commercials into one of the plurality of program signals;

multiplexing the plurality of program signals into a local content data stream; and

transmitting the local content data stream to the headend.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at the headend which of the plurality of local content commercials corresponds to the geographic location of the headend; and

instructing a receiver to play the local content commercial corresponding to the geographic location of the headend.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising inserting a geographic identifier into each of the plurality of program signals, the geographic identifier corresponding to the geographic area for which the local content commercial inserted into the program signal is intended.

4. The method of claim 3, in which the step of determining at the headend which of the plurality of local content commercials corresponds to the geographic location of the headend comprises:

receiving the geographic identifier; and

comparing the geographic identifier to the geographic location of the headend.

5. The method of claim 4, in which the step of instructing a receiver to play the local content commercial for the geographic region of the headend comprises:

in the event that the geographic identifier identifies the geographic location of the headend, issuing to the receiver a software command identifying the program signal containing the local content commercial corresponding to the geographic location of the headend;

in response to receiving the software command at the receiver, switching a display from one of the plurality of program signals to the program signal containing the local content commercial corresponding to the geographic location of the headend; and

suppressing the receiver'"'"'s ability to change between program signals.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving an end-of-commercial marker; and

in response to receiving the end-of-commercial marker, permitting the recover to change between program signals.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the local content data stream to a receiver;

determining at the receiver which of the plurality of local content commercials corresponds to the geographic location of the receiver; and

instructing the receiver to play the local content commercial corresponding to the geographic location of the receiver.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising inserting a geographic identifier into each of the plurality of program signals, the geographic identifier corresponding to the geographic area for which the local content commercial inserted into the program signal is intended.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the step of determining at the receiver which of the plurality of local content commercials corresponds to the geographic location of the receiver comprises:

receiving the geographic identifier; and

comparing the geographic identifier to the geographic location of the receiver.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the step of instructing a receiver to play the local content commercial for the geographic region of the receiver comprises:

in the event that the geographic identifier identifies the geographic location of the receiver, issuing to the receiver a software command identifying the program signal containing the local content commercial corresponding to the geographic location of the receiver;

in response to receiving the software command at the receiver, switching a display from one of the plurality of program signals to the program signal containing the local content commercial corresponding to the geographic location of the receiver; and

suppressing the receiver'"'"'s ability to change between program signals.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving an end-of-commercial marker; and

in response to receiving the end-of-commercial marker, permitting the recover to change between program signals;

12. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable instructions which, when executed, perform the method of claim 1.

13. The method of claim 5, in which the geographic identifier comprises a DMA.

14. A method for inserting a local content commercial into a nationally transmitted data stream, comprising:

retrieving geographic location data;

determining whether a local content commercial matches the geographic location data;

in the event that the local content commercial matches the geographic location data, recording the local content commercial;

receiving a marker indicating the beginning of a commercial space in a data stream; and

inserting the local content commercial into the data stream.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining whether the local content commercial is broadcast by a transmission center on a dedicated frequency;

in the event that the local content commercial is broadcast by the transmission center on the dedicated frequency, tuning a receiver to the dedicated frequency;

in response to tuning a receiver to the frequency, recording the local content commercial on a personal video recorder;

in the event that the local content commercial is not broadcast by the transmission center on the dedicated frequency, scanning a set of broadcast frequencies to locate the local content commercial; and

in response to locating the local content commercial, recording the local content commercial.

16. A program signal containing instructions which, when executed, perform the method of claim 14.

17. A personal video recorder configured to execute the instructions contained within the program signal of claim 16.

18. A method for inserting a local content commercial into a customized event data stream, comprising:

creating a customized event data stream comprising a plurality of program signals;

transmitting the customized event data stream to a commercial insertion point;

detecting a commercial marker in a second data stream;

retrieving a local content commercial; and

inserting the local content commercial into the customized event data stream at the point identified by the commercial marker.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the commercial insertion point is a headend.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the commercial insertion point is a local affiliate.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the second data stream and the customized event data stream are the same.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

creating the second data stream by multiplexing one of the plurality of program signals and a commercial marker; and

transmitting the second data stream separately to the headend.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the local content commercial is retrieved from a storage device collocated with the headend.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the local content commercial is retrieved from the second data stream.

25. The method of claims 23 or 24, further comprising:

multiplexing the local content commercial and the customized event data stream into a remultiplexed customized event data stream; and

transmitting the remultiplexed customized event data stream to a receiver.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of inserting the local content commercial into the customized event data stream at the point identified by the commercial marker comprises:

calculating an MPEG-4 frame differential between the frame of the customized event data stream immediately prior to the commercial marker and the first frame of the local content commercial; and

using the frame differential to seamlessly insert the local content commercial into the customized event data stream.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of inserting the local content commercial into the customized event data stream at the point identified by the commercial marker comprises inserting a first local content commercial into a first program signal.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

inserting a second local content commercial into a second program signal;

inserting a first geographic identifier into the first program signal;

inserting a second geographic identified into the second program signal;

transmitting the data stream to a first headend having a unique geographic location;

comparing the first geographic identifier to the unique geographic location of the headend; and

in the event that the comparison yields a match, instructing all receivers operably connected to the headend to switch to the first program signal.

29. A method for inserting a local content commercial into a customized event data stream, comprising:

receiving a customized event data stream at a first tuner of a dual receiver, the dual receiver having a first and second tuner;

receiving a local content commercial transmitted by a carrier at the second tuner;

displaying the customized event data stream on a display device operably connected to the dual receiver;

in response to a marker, ceasing to display the customized event data stream on the display device; and

further in response to the marker, displaying the local content commercial on the display device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the carrier is a digital cable signal.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the carrier is a terrestrial broadcast.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the carrier is a satellite broadcast.

33. A method of broadcasting an event to numerous viewers in a variety of different geographic areas, comprising:

receiving a data stream comprising a plurality of multiplexed programs and containing at least one respective supplemental content markers;

integrating a plurality of segments respectively into the programs at the supplemental content markers to generate a revised data stream, each of the segments comprising an identifier for a different one of the geographic areas and content therefor; and

transmitting the revised data stream.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving the revised data stream at a headend having a geographic location;

identifying one of the programs containing a segment having an identifier corresponding to the geographic location of the headend;

in programs other than the identified program, substituting the segment of the identified program for the segments in the other programs to generate a further revised data stream; and

broadcasting the further revised data stream to a plurality of subscriber receivers.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving the revised data stream at a receiver having a geographic location;

selecting one of the programs in the revised data stream in accordance with the viewer'"'"'s preference;

displaying the selected program;

identifying one of the programs containing a segment having an identifier corresponding to the geographic location of the receiver; and

displaying the segment of the identified program instead of the selected program, in response to the identifying step.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising suppressing the viewer'"'"'s ability to switch from the identified program to any other program in the revised data stream on a common channel.

37. A data stream processing facility comprising:

a programmed component for receiving a data stream comprising a plurality of multiplexed programs containing respective supplemental content markers;

a programmed component for integrating a plurality of segments respectively into the programs at the supplemental content markers to generate a revised data stream, each segment comprising a geographic area identifier for a different one of the geographic areas and content therefor; and

a programmed component for broadcasting the revised data stream.

38. The data stream processing facility of claim 37 wherein the receiving programmed component, the integrating programmed component, and the broadcasting programmed component are contained in a headend.

39. The data stream processing facility of claim 37 wherein the receiving programmed component, the integrating programmed component, and the broadcasting programmed component are contained in a local affiliate facility.

40. The data stream processing facility of claim 37 wherein the receiving programmed component, the integrating programmed component, and the broadcasting programmed component are contained in a HITS facility.

41. The data stream processing facility of claim 37 wherein the receiving programmed. component, the integrating programmed component, and the broadcasting programmed component are contained in a national network facility.

42. A method of presenting an event to a viewer in a particular geographic area, comprising:

receiving a customized event data stream comprising a plurality of multiplexed programs containing respective supplemental content markers;

selecting one of the programs in the data stream in accordance with the viewer'"'"'s preference;

displaying the selected program to the viewer;

detecting one of the supplemental content markers in the selected program; and

displaying supplemental content relating to the particular geographic area to the viewer instead of the selected program, in response to the detecting step.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the data stream is received from a first channel, further comprising the step of acquiring the supplemental content from a second channel.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of:

storing the supplemental content on a storage medium local to the viewer; and

acquiring the supplemental content for the supplemental content displaying step from the storage medium.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising resuming display of the selected program upon completion of the supplemental content displaying step.