Methods, apparatus, and systems for managing the insertion of overlay content into a video signal

• US 20080068507A1
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imagine Communications Limited (Gores Broadcast Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: RGB Networks, Inc. (Gores Broadcast Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Yang, Charlie X., Sharma, Anesh, Krause, Edward A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,087,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/570
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems for managing the insertion of overlay content into a video signal are provided. A video signal is received from a video source. In addition, overlay content is provided in one or more overlay content signals. A tag is appended to the video signal and/or the overlay content signals. The tag contains identifying information. Overlay content selected from one of the overlay content signals may then be inserted into the video signal in accordance with the identifying information to produce a modified video content. The identifying information may comprises various types of information identifying the source or subject matter of the overlay content or video signal, the destination of the overlay content or video signal, information identifying the geographic region where the overlay content is to be inserted, or key words or other information to enable matching of the overlay content with an appropriate video signal.

Claims

1. A method for inserting overlay content into a video signal, comprising:

receiving a video signal from a video source;

providing overlay content in one or more overlay content signals;

appending a tag to at least one of;

(a) the video signal; and

(b) at least one of said one or more overlay content signals, said tag containing identifying information;

inserting overlay content selected from one of said one or more overlay content signals into said video signal in accordance with said identifying information to produce a modified video content.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

appending a tag to both the video signal and each of said one or more overlay content signals.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said overlay content is selected from one of said one or more overlay content signals by:

extracting the tags from the video signal and each of said one or more overlay content signals;

comparing the tag from the video signal with each tag from the overlay content signals;

selecting for insertion the overlay content from the overlay content signal which has the tag that is a best match to the tag extracted from the video signal.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said identifying information comprises at least one of;

(1) geographic information identifying the geographic region where the overlay content is to be inserted into the video signal;

(2) a downlink control device identifier;

(3) a destination QAM;

(4) a channel number;

(5) an insertion start time;

(6) a duration of overlay content;

(7) an insertion identifier;

(8) an insertion window position;

(9) an insertion window size;

(10) a classification identifier;

(11) blending information; and

(12) key words to enable matching of the overlay content with the video signal.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said classification identifier comprises at least one of subject information for the video signal, subject information for the overlay content, priority information for an existing insertion window, characteristics of an insertion window, audio override information for said overlay content, a resolution of the overlay content, a channel number, a target program name for insertion of said overlay content, a regional program rating of said target program, a transport identifier for said target program, a format descriptor, a text component descriptor comprising at least one of text position, speed, font size, font type, and font color, and a video component descriptor comprising at least one of a video resolution, a video position, and a video speed for animation.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

appending a tag to both the video signal and each of said one or more overlay content signals;

providing classification identifiers as at least part of said identifying information;

assigning a corresponding quality of fit parameter to said overlay content signal for each classification identifier, said quality of fit parameter indicating a relative correspondence between each overlay content and said classification identifier; and

identifying said overlay content signals which have the same classification identifier as the video signal;

wherein said overlay content is selected from the identified overlay content signal which has a quality of fit parameter that indicates a highest correspondence to said classification identifier.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the overlay content signals are generated at a central distribution site.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

the overlay content signals are forwarded to at least one remote location for storage in advance of said inserting.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said remote location comprises one of a cable headend, a central office, a cable distribution hub, and a satellite distribution hub.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

said identifying information comprises geographic information; and

the overlay content signals having geographic information corresponding to a particular remote location are selected for insertion at that particular remote location.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

the selection and inserting of the overlay content occurs at said at least one remote location.

12. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

the tag is appended to the overlay content signal at the central distribution site and determines which of said one or more remote locations will insert the overlay content in a particular video stream.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the selection and inserting of said overlay content occurs at a central location; and

the modified video content may be distributed from the central location to one or more remote locations for further distribution.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said overlay content signal is inserted into an insertion window of said video signal in place of a corresponding portion of said video signal.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said overlay content is inserted into an insertion window of said video signal and blended with a corresponding portion of said video signal.

16. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

triggering the insertion of said overlay content from an external source.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said external source comprises one of an Emergency Alert System and an Ad Decision System.

18. A system for inserting overlay content into a video signal, comprising:

a network switch for receiving a video signal from a video source;

an overlay generator for providing overlay content in one or more overlay content signals to said network switch;

tagging means for appending a tag to at least one of;

(a) the video signal; and

(b) at least one of said one or more overlay content signals, said tag containing identifying information;

a video processor in communication with said network switch, said video processor adapted for;

selecting overlay content from one of said one or more overlay content signals; and

inserting the selected overlay content into said video signal in accordance with said identifying information to produce a modified video content.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said tagging means for the video signal comprises a tagging processor for appending a tag to the video signal;

said tagging means for the one or more overlay content signals comprises said overlay generator, which appends said tags to said one or more overlay content signals; and

tags are appended to the video signal and each of said one or more overlay content signals.

20. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said video processor comprises:

means for extracting the tags from the video signal and each of said one or more overlay content signals;

means for comparing the tag from the video signal with each tag from the overlay content signals;

means for selecting for insertion the overlay content from the overlay content signal which has the tag that is a best match to the tag extracted from the video signal.

21. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said identifying information comprises at least one of;

(1) geographic information identifying the geographic region where the overlay content is to be inserted into the video signal;

(2) a downlink control device identifier;

(3) a destination QAM;

(4) a channel number;

(5) an insertion start time;

(6) a duration of overlay content;

(7) an insertion identifier;

(8) an insertion window position;

(9) an insertion window size;

(10) a classification identifier;

(11) blending information; and

(12) key words to enable matching of the overlay content with the video signal.

22. A system in accordance with claim 21, wherein said classification identifier comprises at least one of subject information for the video signal, subject information for the overlay content, priority information for an existing insertion window, characteristics of an insertion window, audio override information for said overlay content, a resolution of the overlay content, a channel number, a target program name for insertion of said overlay content, a regional program rating of said target program, a transport identifier for said target program, a format descriptor, a text component descriptor comprising at least one of text position, speed, font size, font type, and font color, and a video component descriptor comprising at least one of a video resolution, a video position, and a video speed for animation.

23. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said tagging processor appends tags to the video signal and each of said one or more overlay content signals;

said identifying information comprises a classification identifier;

the overlay generator assigns a corresponding quality of fit parameter to said overlay content signal for each classification identifier, said quality of fit parameter indicating a relative correspondence between each overlay content and said classification identifier;

said video processor identifies the overlay content signals which have the same classification identifier as the video signal; and

said video processor selects said overlay content from the identified overlay content signal which has a quality of fit parameter that indicates a highest correspondence to said classification identifier.

24. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

the overlay generator is located at a central distribution site.

25. A system in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

at least one video processor is provided at a respective remote location;

the overlay content signals are forwarded to at least one remote location for storage in advance of said inserting.

26. A system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said remote location comprises one of a cable headend, a central office, a cable distribution hub, and a satellite distribution hub.

27. A system in accordance with claim 25, wherein:

said identifying information comprises geographic information; and

said video processor at a particular remote location selects the overlay content from the overlay content signals having geographic information corresponding to said particular remote location for insertion in the video signal.

28. A system in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

the selecting and inserting occurs at said remote location.

29. A system in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

the tag is appended to the overlay content signal at the central distribution site and determines which of said one or more remote locations will insert the overlay content for insertion in a particular video stream.

30. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said selecting and inserting of said overlay content occurs at a central location; and

the modified video content may be distributed from the central location to one or more remote locations for further distribution.

31. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said overlay content signal is inserted into an insertion window of said video signal in place of a corresponding portion of said video signal.

32. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said overlay content is inserted into an insertion window of said video signal and blended with a corresponding portion of said video signal.

33. A system in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

an external source for triggering the insertion of said overlay content by the overlay generator.

34. A system in accordance with claim 33, wherein said external source comprises one of an Emergency Alert System and an Ad Decision System.