System and method for delivering and optimizing media programming in public spaces

• US 20050039206A1
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DS-IQ Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DS-IQ Incorporated
• Inventors: Opdycke, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US10/913,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039206A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• 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 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A system and corresponding methods for automating the execution, measurement, and optimization of in-store promotional digital media campaigns are provided. In one embodiment, a method in a computing system for deploying content to digital signage networks includes receiving from a user a marketing campaign goal and at least one optimization constraint suitable for generating a playlist. The method also includes generating a playlist designed to maximize a learning opportunity to achieve the marketing campaign goal. The method further includes provisioning the playlist to a point of presence on the digital signage network.

Claims

1. A method in a computing system for deploying content to digital signage networks comprising:

receiving from a user a marketing campaign goal;

receiving from the user at least one optimization constraint suitable for generating a playlist;

generating at least one playlist designed to maximize a learning opportunity to achieve the marketing campaign goal; and

provisioning the playlist to a digital signage network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the marketing campaign goal comprises a product hierarchy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the marketing campaign goal comprises an indication of what the user wants to have measured.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimization constraint comprises at least one play ready clip.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimization constraint comprises one or more content parts and a template specification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimization constraint is a temporal constraint.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimization constraint is a location constraint.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimization constraint is a demographic constraint.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the marketing campaign goal and optimization constraint is received from the user as part of a marketing object.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a play log data from the digital signage network;

receiving a behavioral response data;

analyzing the play log data and the behavioral response data to determine a statistical significance of a playlist parameter with respect to the marketing campaign goal; and

varying the playlist based on the analysis of the play log data and the behavioral response data.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising iteratively repeating the receiving, analyzing and varying steps to optimize the playlist.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising provisioning a pointer to content to the digital signage network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the playlist is provisioned to a point of presence on the digital signage network.

14. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing system to deploy content to digital signage networks by:

receiving from a user a marketing object, the marketing object comprised of a goal and at least one optimization constraint suitable for generating a playlist;

generating at least one playlist designed to maximize a learning opportunity to achieve the goal; and

provisioning the playlist to a digital signage network.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the goal defines a question the user wants to answer.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the optimization constraint comprises one or more content parts and a template specification, such that the template specification is used for rendering multiple variations of a plurality of play ready clips generated from the content parts.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising contents that cause a computing system to deploy content to digital signage networks by:

determining a statistical significance of a playlist parameter with respect to the goal by analyzing a play log data and a behavioral response data;

varying the playlist based on the analysis of the play log data and the behavioral response data; and

re-provisioning the playlist to the digital signage network.

18. One or more computer memories collectively containing a marketing object specified by a user, the marketing object comprising information identifying a marketing campaign goal and at least one optimization constraint,

such that the contents of the marketing object may be used to automatically generate a playlist designed to maximize a learning opportunity to achieve the marketing campaign goal.

19. The computer memories of claim 18, wherein the marketing object comprises information that identifies a second optimization constraint.

20. The computer memories of claim 18, wherein the marketing object comprises a conditional rules list.

21. A system for deploying content to digital signage networks comprising:

means for receiving from a user a marketing campaign goal;

means for receiving from the user at least one optimization constraint;

a means for generating at least one playlist designed to maximize a learning opportunity to achieve the marketing campaign goal; and

a means for provisioning the playlist to a digital signage network.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a means for identifying a characteristic of a viewer at a point of presence; and

a means for executing a customized version of the playlist based on the identified characteristic.

23. A method in a computing system for gauging the response to digital signage comprising:

receiving a play log data from a digital signage network, the play log data comprises information regarding actual content presented on a digital signage across the digital signage network;

receiving a viewer behavioral data from a behavioral data gathering system;

automatically mapping the viewer behavioral data to the play log data; and

automatically analyzing the mapped data.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the behavioral data gathering system includes a point-of-sale device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the behavioral data gathering system includes a monitoring device.

26. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing system to perform behavioral analytics for digital signage by:

receiving a play log data from a digital signage network, the play log data comprises information regarding actual content presented on a digital signage across the digital signage network;

receiving a viewer behavioral data from a behavioral data gathering system;

automatically mapping the viewer behavioral data to the play log data; and

automatically analyzing the mapped data.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the behavioral data comprises sales data.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the behavioral data comprises foot traffic data.

29. A behavioral analytics system for digital signage comprising:

a play log data receiving component that is capable of receiving a play log data from a digital signage network, the play log data comprises information regarding actual content presented on a digital signage across the digital signage network;

a viewer behavioral data receiving component that is capable of receiving a viewer behavioral data from a behavioral data gathering system;

a mapping component that is capable of automatically mapping the viewer behavioral data to the play log data; and

an analyzing component that is capable of automatically analyzing the mapped data.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising a presentation component that is capable of presenting the analyzed mapped data.

31. A method in a computing system for incorporating a characteristic of a display device in generating a playlist, the method comprising:

receiving information indicating a characteristic of a display device;

generating content for the display device based on the information indicating the characteristic of the display device;

generating a playlist based on the information indicating the characteristic of the display device.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising provisioning the playlist to the display device.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the information indicating the characteristic of the display device is received from a smart media box coupled to the display device.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the information indicating the characteristic of the display device includes information indicating a network identification of the display device.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the information indicating the characteristic of the display device includes information indicating a resolution of the display device.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the information indicating the characteristic of the display device includes information indicating a location of the display device.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the information indicating the characteristic of the display device includes information indicating a current health status of the display device.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the information indicating the characteristic of the display device includes information indicating a customer identification of the display device.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the information indicating the characteristic of the display device includes information indicating an input mode of the display device.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the information indicating the characteristic of the display device includes information indicating an aspect ratio of the display device.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein the information indicating the characteristic of the display device includes information indicating a size of the display device.

42. A method in a computing system for enabling previewing of network operation characteristics implied by a playlist comprising:

receiving one or more input variables for the marketing object;

generating a resultant operational setting from the input variables; and

providing an interface suitable for previewing the resultant operational setting.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising receiving one or more conditional rules for the marketing object.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising receiving a program content template.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising generating a campaign characteristic and providing an interface suitable for previewing the campaign characteristic.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the campaign characteristic is generated from mapping a playlist parameter to an environment data.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the campaign characteristic includes an indication of network coverage.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the campaign characteristic includes a demographic coverage.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the environment data comprises census block data.

50. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing system to enable previewing of network operation characteristics implied by a playlist by:

receiving one or more input variables for the marketing object;

generating a resultant operational setting from the input variables; and

providing an interface suitable for previewing the resultant operational setting.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50 further comprising contents that cause a computing system to enable previewing of network operation characteristics implied by a playlist by generating a campaign characteristic and providing an interface suitable for previewing the campaign characteristic.

52. A method in a computing system for providing an aggregated view of resources across a plurality of digital signage networks comprising:

providing a central computer system;

creating a federation of a plurality of digital signage networks, each of the plurality of digital signage networks having an indication of its characteristic;

uploading the indication of the characteristic of at least one digital signage network to the central computer system; and

providing on the computer system a facility suitable for viewing the uploaded characteristic.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the characteristic is a programming inventory.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the characteristic is an indication of audience demographics.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the characteristic is an indication of geographic location of a display device in the digital signage network.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the facility is further suitable for procuring the uploaded characteristic.

57. A method in a computing system for distributing playlists across a plurality of digital signage networks comprising:

creating a playlist suitable for execution on a plurality of digital signage networks, the playlist comprising respective display rules for each of the plurality of digital signage networks; and

provisioning the playlist to the plurality of digital signage networks.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the plurality of digital signage networks comprise a federation.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein provisioning the playlist entails provisioning each of the digital signage networks with its respective display rules.

60. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

receiving a payment for the performance of the playlist across the plurality of digital signage networks, and

distributing the received payment to each of the plurality of digital signage networks according to each digital signage network'"'"'s display performance.

61. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing system to provide an aggregated view of resources across a plurality of digital signage networks by:

providing an indication of a federation of a plurality of digital signage networks, each of the plurality of digital signage networks having an indication of its characteristic;

uploading the indication of the characteristic of at least one digital signage network to the central computer system; and

providing a facility suitable for viewing the uploaded characteristic.

62. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing system to distribute playlists across a plurality of digital signage networks by:

creating a playlist suitable for execution on a plurality of digital signage networks, the playlist comprising respective display rules for each of the plurality of digital signage networks; and

provisioning the playlist to the plurality of digital signage networks.