Interface Device Having Multiple Software Clients to Facilitate Display of Targeted Information
First Claim
1. A method of processing targeted information delivered to a user interface device in a signal distribution system, the user interface device comprising at least first and second software clients and a video buffer, the method comprising the steps of:
- the first software client receiving packets associated with a first media stream; and
the second software client receiving packets associated with a second media stream containing the targeted information;
wherein the user interface device switches from the first media stream to the second media stream based on timing information;
wherein the first software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the first media stream to the video buffer; and
wherein the second software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the second media stream to the video buffer while one or more packets of the first media stream are still in the video buffer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, a user interface device comprises at least first and second software clients and a video buffer. The first software client receives packets associated with a first media stream, and the second software client receives packets associated with a second media stream containing the targeted information. The first software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the first media stream to the video buffer. The second software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the second media stream to the video buffer while one or more packets of the first media stream are still in the video buffer. The user interface device switches from the first media stream to the second media stream based on timing information which may be received from an external detection server.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of processing targeted information delivered to a user interface device in a signal distribution system, the user interface device comprising at least first and second software clients and a video buffer, the method comprising the steps of:
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the first software client receiving packets associated with a first media stream; and the second software client receiving packets associated with a second media stream containing the targeted information; wherein the user interface device switches from the first media stream to the second media stream based on timing information; wherein the first software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the first media stream to the video buffer; and wherein the second software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the second media stream to the video buffer while one or more packets of the first media stream are still in the video buffer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A user interface device for a signal distribution system, the user interface device comprising:
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a memory comprising a video buffer; a processor coupled to a memory; and interface circuitry configured to receive media streams from at least one network element of the signal distribution system; wherein the processor implements first and second software clients; the first software client receiving packets associated with a first media stream; and the second software client receiving packets associated with a second media stream containing targeted information; wherein the user interface device switches from the first media stream to the second media stream based on timing information; wherein the first software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the first media stream to the video buffer; and wherein the second software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the second media stream to the video buffer while one or more packets of the first media stream are still in the video buffer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable storage medium having executable program code embodied therein, wherein the program code when executed in a user interface device implements at least first and second software clients;
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the first software client receiving packets associated with a first media stream; the second software client receiving packets associated with a second media stream containing targeted information; wherein the user interface device switches from the first media stream to the second media stream based on timing information; wherein the first software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the first media stream to a video buffer of the user interface device; and wherein the second software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the second media stream to the video buffer while one or more packets of the first media stream are in the video buffer.
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Specification