DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SERVICE INSERTION DURING CONTENT DISPLAY

• US 20110296478A1
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rogers Communications Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rogers Communications Inc.
• Inventors: Jin, Luojun
• Granted Patent: US 8,910,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/109
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613

Abstract

A system, device and method for service insertion during a video display. A client device detects a video request input, and in response, selects and initiates an advanced service asset while the player buffers the requested video data. The output of the player is displayed in a background field while the media display data of the advanced service asset is displayed in a foreground field. The player display data may be brought to the foreground after a preset time or when the player is ready to display the requested video.

Claims

1. A client device, comprising:

an input port for receiving a video request;

a network interface for receiving a transmitted video over a network in response to the video request;

a player configured to play the transmitted video, including a buffer for storing frames of the transmitted video prior to outputting video for display, wherein the player is configured to output player display data;

a memory storing an advanced service asset, wherein the advance service asset is configured to output media display data;

a display driver for controlling output to a display device; and

a service insertion agent configured to detect the video request and, in response, initiate the advanced service asset and instruct the display driver to put the player display data in a background field of display and put the media display data in a foreground field of display.

2. The client device claimed in claim 1, wherein the video request comprises a channel change request.

3. The client device claimed in claim 2, wherein the client device comprises a television receiver, the transmitted video comprises digital broadcast television, and the network comprises a cable television network.

4. The client device claimed in claim 2, wherein the client device comprises an IPTV receiver, the transmitted video comprises digital broadcast television, and the network comprises a cable IPTV network.

5. The client device claimed in claim 1, wherein the client device comprises a mobile device, and the network comprises a MobileTV network.

6. The client device claimed in claim 1, wherein the advanced service asset comprises an advertisement.

7. The client device claimed in claim 1, wherein the advanced service asset comprises an interactive media service.

8. The client device claimed in claim 1, wherein the service insertion agent is further configured to monitor inputs and record user selection history, and wherein the service insertion agent is configured to transmit the user selection history to a server over the network, and wherein the service insertion agent is configured to receive a new advanced service asset selected by the server based upon the user selection history.

18. A system, comprising:

the client device claimed in claim 1;

the network; and

a server connected to the network and being configured for communication with the client device over the network,

wherein the client device is configured to, in response to detecting the video request, transmit the video request and user behaviour data to the server,

and wherein the server is configured to identify the advanced service asset to be initiated based on the user behaviour, and to inform the client device of the identity of the advanced service asset to be initiated.

19. The system claimed in claim 18, wherein the server is further configured to determine whether the advanced services asset is stored locally on the client device and, if not, then transmit the advanced services asset to the client device to be initiated.

9. A method of operating a client device for displaying video, the client device having a network interface for receiving video transmissions, a player for buffering and outputting video frames for display, and a memory storing an advanced service asset, the method comprising:

detecting a video request input to the client device;

the player receiving and buffering video data based on the video request, wherein the player is configured to output player video data; and

in response to detecting the video request,

initiating the advanced service asset, wherein the advanced service asset is configured to output media display data,

placing the player video data from the player to a background field of display, and

placing the media display data from the advance service asset to a foreground field of display.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting when the player is ready to output a requested video as player video data; and

in response to said detection, setting the media display data to the background field and setting the player display data into the foreground field.

11. The method of claim 10, further including terminating the advanced service asset after a predetermined duration in the background unless an input selection activating the advanced service asset is received within the predetermined duration.

12. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein the media service asset has a predetermined duration and further comprising switching the player display data to the foreground after the predetermined duration.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein a plurality of advanced service assets are stored in the client device, and further including selecting one of the plurality of advanced service assets for initiation in response to detecting the video request.

14. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein the video request comprises a channel change request.

15. The method claimed in claim 9, further comprising monitoring inputs and recording user selection history, transmitting the user selection history to a server over the network, and receiving and storing a new advanced service asset selected by the server based upon the user selection history.

16. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein, in response to detecting the video request, the client device transmits the video request and user behaviour data to an advanced services server, and the advanced services server identifies the advanced service asset to be initiated based on the user behaviour data.

17. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the advanced services server further determines whether the advanced services asset is stored locally on the client device and, if not, then transmitting the advanced services asset to the client device to be initiated.