Systems and methods for generating media content using microtrends

• US 20080077955A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FreeWheel Media Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visible World Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Haberman, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 9,357,179 B2
• 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: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a media generation application that allows a user to create and customize a commercial based on microtrend information and/or feedback information is provided.

Claims

1. A method of providing commercials to an intended audience, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user, a commercial template and a plurality of media segments for insertion into the commercial template, wherein the commercial template includes a plurality of media slots that accommodate one or more of the plurality of media segments;

receiving, from an information source, at least one of;

information relating to user interactions with the information source, information relating to activity on the information source, and trend information relating to the information source;

selecting at least one media segment based on the received information from the information source;

instructing an assembly software package to assemble a commercial, wherein the selected media segment is inserted into one or more of the media slots; and

presenting the assembled commercial to an audience.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the received commercial template and the plurality of media segments into a database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to upload at least one of the commercial template and the plurality of media segments into a database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information source is one of:

a website, a linked website, a third party website, and a cellular provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information from the information source comprises microtrend information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a query to the information source for the received information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the received information with at least one of;

the commercial template and the plurality of media segments; and

storing the receiving information in a database.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving feedback from the information source.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the feedback further comprises information that a user of the information source performed at least one of the following actions:

reviewed content, fast-forwarded through content, rewound content, paused content, paused content at a particular time, replayed content, played content for a particular time, created a link to content, and sent a link to content to another user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the feedback further comprises inventory information.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting a different set of media segments from the plurality of media segments based on the received feedback; and

updating the assembled commercial by inserting the different set of media segments into the commercial template.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the received feedback to present recommendation options to the user for assembling a different version of the commercial, wherein the recommendation options include at least one of:

recommended media segments, recommended assembled commercials, a recommended advertisement group, a recommended time slot, a recommended television program, a recommended demographic.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating construction rules based on the received feedback.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from each of a plurality of information sources, at least one of;

information relating to user interactions with the information source, information relating to activity on the information source, and trend information relating to the information source;

analyzing the received information from the plurality of information sources; and

customizing the assembled commercial based on the analysis.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the analyzing further comprises:

applying a model to the received information, wherein the model comprises a plurality of calculations to simulate the changes to the assembled commercial; and

providing the user with an indication of an impact on the assembled commercial based at least in part on the application of the model to the received information.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an event from the information source, wherein the event is associated with updated media segments and instructions for relating the currently selected media segments; and

replacing the selected media segments with the updated media segments.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an event from the information source, wherein the event is associated with the assembled commercial; and

transmitting a query to the information source for at least one of;

updated media segments, updated information relating to the assembled commercial, and updated information relating to the media segments in the assembled commercial.

18. A system for providing commercials to an intended audience, the system comprising:

a processor at least partially executing a media generation application that is in communications with a database and is configured to;

receive a commercial template and a plurality of media segments for insertion into the commercial template, wherein the commercial template includes a plurality of media slots that accommodate one or more of the plurality of media segments;

receive, from an information source, at least one of;

information relating to user interactions with the information source, information relating to activity on the information source, and trend information relating to the information source;

select at least one media segment based on the received information from the information source;

instruct an assembly software package to assemble a commercial, wherein the selected media segment are retrieved from the database and inserted into one or more of the media slots; and

present the assembled commercial to an audience.

19. A system for providing commercials to an intended audience, the system comprising:

means for receiving, from a user, a commercial template and a plurality of media segments for insertion into the commercial template, wherein the commercial template includes a plurality of media slots that accommodate one or more of the plurality of media segments;

means for receiving, from an information source, at least one of;

information relating to user interactions with the information source, information relating to activity on the information source, and trend information relating to the information source;

means for selecting at least one media segment based on the received information from the information source;

means for instructing an assembly software package to assemble a commercial, wherein the selected media segment is inserted into one or more of the media slots; and

means for presenting the assembled commercial to an audience.