Method and device for distributing video information

• US 20060212912A1
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IP-Vision AB
• Original Assignee: IP-Vision AB
• Inventors: Bergstrom, Roger
• Application Number:
  US10/543,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212912A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Method and device for distribution of video information over single or multiple distribution networks, in particular TV-networks, where secondary programs of commercial character are sent parallel to, or in between, a series of main programs, where each program is supplied with a program code (PID-code) at a central location, which code contains information about the identity or character of the program as the basis for a selection of programs that will be presented to a recipient. In each receiver, one or more criteria for the selection of secondary programs are stored, and the selection criteria or selection codes are generated as a result of the viewer'"'"'s reaction to a corresponding number of questions which are presented on the viewer'"'"'s screen, on the basis of a program that is sent out from a central control unit. The selection criteria are stored only in a separate receiver, as the questions regard demographic circumstances and/or interests of the TV viewer.

Claims

1. Method for distribution of video information over single or multiple distribution networks, in particular TV-networks, where secondary programs of commercial character are sent parallel to, or in between, a series of main programs, where each program is supplied with a program code (PID-code) at a central location, said code contains information about the identity or character of the program, as the basis for a selection of programs that will be presented to a recipient, characterized in that in each receiver, one or more criteria for the selection of secondary programs are stored, as the selection criteria, or selection codes, are generated as a result of the viewer'"'"'s reaction to a corresponding number of questions, which are presented on the viewer'"'"'s screen on the basis of a program that is sent out from a central control unit (24), so that the selection criteria are stored in a separate receiver, and there only, as the questions regard demographic circumstances and/or interests of the TV-viewer.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that codes are created for 3 to 30 program groups.

3. Arrangement for performing the method according to claim 1, comprising a TV-receiver with a DVB-unit, which has data processing ability and data storage capability, where a series of main programs, and in between these, a multiplicity of inserted, relatively short duration secondary programs are received, characterized in that the TV-receiver is arranged to choose a secondary program for presentation by a receiver, on the basis of information concerning user interests and/or the demographic user profile submitted by the individual user, as it includes circuits for program storage and processing.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a central control unit (24) for transmission of control programs to the receivers (21).

5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that on at least one point in a transmission system, there is placed a coding unit (25) that produces or co-ordinates codes for the secondary programs.

6. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the receiver (21) includes circuits for storing received secondary programs.

7. Arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the receiver (21) includes circuits for storing received secondary programs.