A/V PREMISES DECODER, A CONTENT MANAGER, A VIDEO INSERTION SYSTEM INCLUDING BOTH THE DECODER AND MANAGER, AND A METHOD OF INSERTING LOCAL CONTENT INTO A VIDEO STREAM AT A CUSTOMERS PREMISES

• US 20100211982A1
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Minkyu, Lee, Wonsuck
• Application Number:
  US12/388,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211982A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A multimedia (audio and video) insertion system, an A/V premises decoder, a content manager and a method of inserting local content into a multimedia stream at a customer'"'"'s premises. In one embodiment, the A/V premises decoder includes: (1) a signal converter configured to convert a received digital multimedia stream to an analog multimedia stream, and (2) a content inserter configured to insert secondary content in the analog multimedia stream based on control information associated with the secondary content.

Claims

1. An A/V premises decoder, comprising:

a signal converter configured to convert a received digital multimedia stream to an analog multimedia stream; and

a content inserter configured to insert secondary content in said analog multimedia stream based on control information associated with said secondary content.

2. The A/V premises decoder as recited in claim 1 wherein said digital multimedia stream is a network television stream.

3. The A/V premises decoder as recited in claim 2 wherein said secondary content is a local advertisement for a geographical area that includes the location of said A/V premises decoder.

4. The A/V premises decoder as recited in claim 1 further comprising a memory configured to store said secondary content.

5. The A/V premises decoder as recited in claim 4 wherein said content inserter is configured to insert said secondary content by selecting said memory as a multimedia source.

6. The A/V premises decoder as recited in claim 5 wherein said content inserter is configured to select said memory as a multimedia source based on said control information.

7. The A/V premises decoder as recited in claim 1 wherein said content inserter selects said secondary content for insertion based on a factor included in said control information, said factor selected from a list consisting of:

time of day,

operating status of viewer associated with said A/V premises decoder,

feedback,

day of week, and

date.

8. A content manager, comprising:

a content reservoir configured to store multiple secondary content;

a content controller configured to select at least one of said secondary content and generate control information therefore; and

a content transceiver configured to deliver said at least one of said secondary content and said associated control information to a remote A/V premises decoder.

9. The content manager as recited in claim 8 wherein said content controller is configured to select said at least one of said secondary content based on said remote A/V premises decoder.

10. The content manager as recited in claim 8 wherein said content manager is couplable to multiple remote A/V premises decoders.

11. The content manager as recited in claim 10 wherein said content controller is configured to select different secondary content to be delivered to different ones of said multiple remote A/V premises decoders.

12. The content manager as recited in claim 10 wherein said content controller is configured to maintain information on each of said multiple remote A/V premises decoders and employ said information to select said at least one of said secondary content.

13. The content manager as recited in claim 12 wherein said information is included in the list consisting of:

IP address,

viewer profiles,

bandwidth capabilities,

memory space, and

video decoding capabilities.

14. A multimedia insertion system, comprising:

an A/V premises decoder configured to receive a digital multimedia stream and convert said digital multimedia stream to an analog multimedia stream; and

a content manager configured to deliver secondary content and associated control information to said A/V premises decoder, said A/V premises decoder further configured to insert said secondary content in said analog multimedia stream based on said control information.

15. The multimedia insertion system as recited in claim 14 wherein said A/V premises decoder includes a memory configured to store said secondary content.

16. The multimedia insertion system as recited in claim 15 wherein said A/V premises decoder further comprises a content inserter configured to insert said secondary content by selecting said memory as a multimedia source.

17. The multimedia insertion system as recited in claim 16 wherein said content inserter is configured to select said memory as a multimedia source based on said control information.

18. The multimedia insertion system as recited in claim 14 wherein said content manager is couplable to multiple remote A/V premises decoders.

19. The multimedia insertion system as recited in claim 18 wherein said content controller is configured to select different secondary content to be delivered to different ones of said multiple remote A/V premises decoders.

20. The multimedia insertion system as recited in claim 18 wherein said content controller is configured to maintain information on each of said multiple remote A/V premises decoders and employ said information for said A/V premises decoder to select said secondary content.

21. A method of inserting local content into a primary multimedia stream at a customer'"'"'s premises, comprising:

selecting content to insert in said primary multimedia stream;

transmitting said selected content and control information associated therewith to said customer'"'"'s premises;

receiving said selected content and said control information at said customer'"'"'s premises; and

inserting said selected content into said primary multimedia stream at said customer'"'"'s premises employing said control information, wherein said inserting is performed in an analog domain.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said inserting is performed by switching from a source of said primary multimedia stream to a source of said selected content based on said control information.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said selected content is secondary content.

24. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising storing said selected content in a memory after said receiving.

25. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said primary multimedia stream was received at said customer'"'"'s premises as a digital television signal.