Method and apparatus for context-specific content delivery
First Claim
1. In a packet-switched data network having a server and a computerized client device in data communication therewith, a method of providing primary media content and contextually-related advertising content to users of said network, said method comprising:
- receiving at said server from a software program, running on said client device a request for said primary content for download;
accessing, in response to said act of receiving, a metadata file associated with said primary content in order to obtain metadata therefrom;
providing said metadata obtained from said file to a search entity having a search engine, said metadata being used for a search, said search producing said contextually related advertising content;
receiving said advertising content from said search entity;
associating at least a portion of said advertising content with said primary media content to form a common data structure;
transmitting said data structure to said client device;
playing said data structure using a media player application operative to run on said client device; and
displaying said primary and advertising content within a single display window generated by said media player application, said act of displaying comprising displaying said advertising content immediately subsequent to the completion of display of the primary media content.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for generating and delivering selected primary content and contextually-related, targeted secondary content to users of a network. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a packet-switched data (e.g., IP) network such as the Internet, and the primary content comprises video or media clips that are user-selectable via a network site or web page. The primary content carries with it descriptive metadata that is accessed by a distribution server and forwarded to a secondary content source. The secondary content source (or its proxy) utilizes the metadata to identify and return contextually-related secondary content such as advertising links. This secondary content is then presented to the user in conjunction with the primary content, such as in a common display window and in a seamless fashion, thereby avoiding distractions to the user associated with generating ancillary windows or other display mechanisms, and providing the user with highly relevant secondary content choices.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. In a packet-switched data network having a server and a computerized client device in data communication therewith, a method of providing primary media content and contextually-related advertising content to users of said network, said method comprising:
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receiving at said server from a software program, running on said client device a request for said primary content for download;
accessing, in response to said act of receiving, a metadata file associated with said primary content in order to obtain metadata therefrom;
providing said metadata obtained from said file to a search entity having a search engine, said metadata being used for a search, said search producing said contextually related advertising content;
receiving said advertising content from said search entity;
associating at least a portion of said advertising content with said primary media content to form a common data structure;
transmitting said data structure to said client device;
playing said data structure using a media player application operative to run on said client device; and
displaying said primary and advertising content within a single display window generated by said media player application, said act of displaying comprising displaying said advertising content immediately subsequent to the completion of display of the primary media content. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. In a network having a server and a client device in data communication therewith, a method of providing primary content and contextually-related secondary content to users of said network, said method comprising:
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receiving at said server from said client device a request for said primary content for download;
accessing, in response to said act of receiving, a metadata file associated with said primary content in order to obtain metadata therefrom;
providing said metadata obtained from said file to a search entity for a search based at least partly on said metadata, said search producing said contextually related secondary content;
receiving said secondary content from said search entity;
associating at least a portion of said secondary content and said primary content;
transmitting said primary content to said client device, and said secondary content to said client device; and
displaying said primary and secondary content using said client device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Storage apparatus comprising a storage medium, said medium being adapted to store a plurality of data thereon, said data comprising at least one computer program, said at least one computer program being adapted to run on a computerized device and further to:
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receive a request for primary content from a client device in data communication with said computerized device;
access said primary content;
access a metadata file associated with said primary content;
provide at least a portion of said metadata to a search entity in data communication with said computerized device;
receive results of a search conducted by said entity based at least in part on said metadata;
couple at least a portion of said results to said primary content; and
transmit said primary content and said secondary content to said client device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. In a content-based network having a server and a consumer premises device in data communication therewith, a method of providing primary content and contextually-related secondary content to users of said network, said method comprising:
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receiving at said server from said consumer premises device a request for said primary content for transmission or download;
accessing, in response to said act of receiving, a descriptive data file associated with said primary content in order to obtain descriptive data therefrom, said descriptive data relating to at least one aspect of said primary content;
providing said descriptive data to a search entity for a search, said search producing said contextually related secondary content;
transmitting said primary and secondary content to said consumer premises device over at least a radio-frequency medium; and
displaying said primary and secondary content on a display device associated with said consumer premises device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Storage apparatus comprising a storage medium, said medium being adapted to store a plurality of data thereon, said data comprising at least one computer program, said at least one computer program being adapted to run on a computerized device and further to:
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issue a request for primary content to a server device in data communication with said computerized device;
receive said primary content from said server, said primary content further comprising secondary content, said secondary content being selected based at least in part on metadata associated with said primary content, said metadata being extracted by said server and provided to a search entity to identify said secondary content; and
play said primary and secondary content within the same window generated on a display at least associated with said computerized device. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. CPE adapted for use within a cable network, comprising:
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an interface configured to receive encoded content signals from said network;
processing apparatus operatively coupled to said interface and adapted to decode said encoded signals received via said interface; and
at least one computer program running on said CPE, said at least one program being adapted to;
issue a request for primary content to a server device in data communication with said CPE over said network;
receive said primary content from said server, said primary content further comprising secondary content, said secondary content being selected based at least in part on metadata associated with said primary content, said metadata being extracted by said server and provided to a search entity to identify said secondary content; and
play said primary and secondary content in a substantially contiguous fashion and within the same window generated on a display in communication with said CPE. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. Network server apparatus for use in a network having a plurality of client devices in data communication therewith, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor adapted to run at least one computer program thereon;
a storage device in data communication with said processor; and
a computer program stored at least partially on said storage device and adapted to distribute primary content and contextually-related secondary content to users of said network by;
receiving at said server from at least one of said client devices a request for said primary content for transmission or download;
accessing, in response to said act of receiving, a descriptive data file associated with said primary content in order to obtain descriptive data therefrom, said descriptive data relating to at least one context of said primary content;
providing said descriptive data to a search entity for a search, said search producing said contextually related secondary content;
transmitting said primary and secondary content to said at least one client device; and
displaying said primary and secondary content on a display device associated with said at least one client device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of selectively providing primary and secondary content to a plurality of subscribers of a network comprising at least one server and a plurality of client devices in direct or indirect signal communication therewith, comprising:
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providing each of said client devices with an identifying parameter;
receiving a request for said primary content from at least one of said client devices, said request comprising at least said identifying parameter for the requesting device;
identifying secondary content that is contextually related with said primary content, said act of identifying being based at least in part on information accessed via said identifying parameter of said requesting device; and
delivering said primary and secondary content to said at least one requesting client device. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A method of doing business within a network comprising at least one server and a plurality of client devices in direct or indirect signal communication therewith, the method comprising:
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providing users of said client devices with a plurality of primary content choices;
receiving selections by said users relating to individual ones of said primary content choices;
evaluating the selected primary content to identify descriptive information associated therewith;
utilizing said descriptive information to identify contextually related secondary content within a revenue-based content source;
associating said secondary content with said primary content;
delivering said primary and secondary content to said selecting users; and
allowing said users to interact with said secondary content, said interaction comprising an event that directly or indirectly produces revenue. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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Specification