CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR GENERATING CONTENT STREAMS TO SUIT DIFFERENT USERS AND FACILITATING E-COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS USING BROADCAST CONTENT METADATA
First Claim
1. A method of generating data streams with dynamically selected content for users comprises:
- generating a first content stream packetized into logical content blocks of different types comprising content blocks, reference content blocks and floating reference content blocks, said content blocks comprising at least one of metadata and content, said reference content blocks comprising a reference to another content block, and said floating reference content block being initially empty and later resolved to a content block or reference content block;
transmitting said first content stream and metadata, said metadata describing the content and how the content can be used, said metadata being transmitted via at least one of in-band transmission by embedding in said first content stream and out-of-band transmission;
using said metadata to select content for transmission to at least one user; and
dynamically replacing at least one floating reference content block in said first content stream with at least one of the selected content and a reference to content blocks that correspond to the selected content.
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Abstract
A content distribution system is provided to facilitate e-commerce transactions for products and services associated with distributed content. A content stream comprising content blocks, reference content blocks and floating reference content blocks uses metadata to identify products and services associated with content blocks. The metadata and floating reference content blocks are used to substitute dynamically selected content for content blocks based on one or more of profiles of user(s), the broadcast station, the advertisement spot defined in the stream, content available for substitution, among other criteria. A market server can determine optimal matches to support content substitution, and perform brokerage and bidding functions among suppliers of products or services associated with content selected by users.
59 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of generating data streams with dynamically selected content for users comprises:
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generating a first content stream packetized into logical content blocks of different types comprising content blocks, reference content blocks and floating reference content blocks, said content blocks comprising at least one of metadata and content, said reference content blocks comprising a reference to another content block, and said floating reference content block being initially empty and later resolved to a content block or reference content block; transmitting said first content stream and metadata, said metadata describing the content and how the content can be used, said metadata being transmitted via at least one of in-band transmission by embedding in said first content stream and out-of-band transmission; using said metadata to select content for transmission to at least one user; and dynamically replacing at least one floating reference content block in said first content stream with at least one of the selected content and a reference to content blocks that correspond to the selected content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification