Program insertion in real time IP multicast
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A program insertion system, comprising:
- a) a primary program provider;
b) a first system for i) transmitting a primary program from said primary program provider to subscribers, and ii) receiving and scheduling at least one request for insertion of a secondary program during a pause in said transmission of said program;
c) a secondary program provider for providing said secondary program;
d) a second system for i) transmitting said secondary program from said secondary program provider to subscribers, and ii) issuing scheduling requests to said first system to insert said secondary program during said pause in said transmission of said primary program; and
e) an insertion protocol governing i) the scheduling of transmission of said primary and secondary programs, and ii) transfer of control between said first and said systems.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for broadcasting television programs over the Internet. A content provider, such as a broadcaster of a sports event, packages a television program into digital packets, and transmits the packets over the Internet to subscribers, from a first location. The content provider periodically pauses in transmitting the packets, to allow advertisers to transmit advertising messages during the pauses, from a second location. Arrangements are provided to synchornize the content provider and the advertisers.
98 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A program insertion system, comprising:
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a) a primary program provider;
b) a first system for i) transmitting a primary program from said primary program provider to subscribers, and ii) receiving and scheduling at least one request for insertion of a secondary program during a pause in said transmission of said program;
c) a secondary program provider for providing said secondary program;
d) a second system for i) transmitting said secondary program from said secondary program provider to subscribers, and ii) issuing scheduling requests to said first system to insert said secondary program during said pause in said transmission of said primary program; and
e) an insertion protocol governing i) the scheduling of transmission of said primary and secondary programs, and ii) transfer of control between said first and said systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method, comprising:
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a) receiving program content from a content provider;
b) transmitting the program content over an Internet to a destination;
c) suspending transmission of the program content, to thereby suspend display of the program content at the destination, to allow an advertiser to send advertising over said Internet to said destination; and
d) resuming transmission of the program content to the destination. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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a) from a first location, transmitting program content over an Internet to a destination;
b) from the first location, sending a suspension signal to a second location indicating that transmission of the program content is to be suspended;
c) from the second location, in response to the suspension signal, transmitting advertising content over the Internet to the destination;
d) from the second location, transmitting a termination signal to the first location indicating that transmission of the advertising content is to be terminated; and
e) repeating the processes of paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) at least once.
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14. A method, comprising:
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a) from a first location, transmitting program content over an Internet to a destination;
b) from a second location, transmitting advertising content over the Internet to the destination;
c) coordinating the transmissions from the first and second locations so that the transmissions arrive at the destination in the approximate chronological order of program—
advertising—
program—
advertising—
program—
advertising, and so on,thereby enabling equipment located at the destination to play the program content in a chronological sequence, interrupted periodically by the advertising content.
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15. A method, comprising:
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a) from a first location, transmitting program content over an Internet to a destination;
b) from a second location, transmitting advertising content over the Internet to the destination;
c) coordinating the transmissions from the first and second locations so that equipment located at the destination is able to construct both types of content in a chronological order following the following pattern;
program—
advertising—
program—
advertising—
program—
advertising, and so on.
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Specification