APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED HIGHLIGHT REEL CREATION IN A CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK

• US 20130268620A1
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Osminer, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,467,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/251 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for the automated creation of targeted or focused content extractions and/or compilations (e.g., highlight reels). In one embodiment, the extractions or compilations are created for use in a content delivery network. In one variant, incoming live feeds are recorded. Time-stamped metadata from sources (either internal or external) able to identify moments and events of interest is used to parse or select portions of the live feeds to generate clips related thereto. Those clips are then sent to users (including optionally their mobile devices) for viewing. In some embodiments, a recommendation engine is used to select clips matching interests of a particular user or group of users. Varied sources of metadata may be used, and networked resources may be utilized to in the implementation of internal “excitement” monitoring systems. Myriad configurations may be implemented including server or head-end based configurations, consumer premises based deployments, and/or distributed implementations.

Claims

1. A method for identification of exciting content in a content delivery network, said method comprising:

receiving metadata from one or more sources;

comparing said metadata to data related to a plurality of available content; and

based at least in part on said act of comparing, identifying individual ones of said plurality of available content related to said metadata;

wherein said metadata comprises information indentifying an exciting event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said information comprises a time-stamp;

and

wherein said data related to said plurality of available content comprises a dates and times of creation for individual ones of said plurality of available content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said information further comprises a content source identifier;

and

wherein said act of comparing further comprises comparing said identifier with content sources associated with said individual ones of said plurality of content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more sources comprise an excitement monitoring application running on a processor disposed on a content server entity in said content delivery network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more sources comprise an RSS feed associated with an excitement identification engine.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said excitement identification engine comprises a THUUZ engine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more sources comprise a web application associated with a social networking site.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said exciting event comprises a portion of a sporting event.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said portion comprises an individual play within said sporting event.

10. A method for identification of exciting content in a content delivery network, said method comprising:

measuring an excitement metric;

generating metadata based on results from said act of measuring;

adding time data associated with said act of measuring to said metadata; and

adding, to said metadata, information enabling identification of one or more of (i) a particular one of a plurality of content, and (ii) a content source.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said time data comprises a time at which said act of measuring was performed.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said time data comprises a start time comprising a first time at which a previous measurement of said excitement metric was made and an end time comprising a second time at which said act of measuring was performed.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said excitement metric comprises an acoustic metric associated with noise generated by a crowd.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said excitement metric comprises a score point differential.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said excitement metric comprises a total number of posts on a social media website.

16. A content server apparatus operative to generate content having a particular attribute for delivery over a content distribution network, said apparatus comprising:

a storage device;

a plurality of interfaces configured to;

receive one or more feeds from one or more content sources;

receive metadata from an identification source, the identification source configured to identify content having said particular attribute; and

transmit a content stream to a target device; and

a processing entity in data communication with said plurality of interfaces and said storage device, said processing entity configured to run an application thereon, said application comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed;

record a portion of said one or more feeds;

store said portion on said storage device;

compare time data present within said metadata to a time associated with said recorded portion;

based on said comparison, associate said metadata with said recorded portion;

evaluate at least one criterion based at least in part on said associated metadata; and

if said evaluation indicates that said one or more criterion is/are met, add said recorded portion to said content stream.

17. The content server apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more criterion comprises meeting a threshold, the threshold specified in a request from said target device.

18. The content server apparatus of claim 16, wherein said evaluation comprises extracting a value comprises a rating, said rating indicating a likelihood that said recorded portion possesses said particular attribute.

19. The content server apparatus of claim 18, wherein said particular attribute comprises excitement.

20. The content server apparatus of claim 16, wherein said target device comprises a mobile wireless device.

21. The content server apparatus of claim 16, wherein said content stream comprises a video-on-demand (VoD) session.

22. A mobile device enabled for receipt and management of exciting content, said device comprising:

a user interface configured to;

accept input from a user identifying an excitement level threshold;

present a list containing a plurality content with an excitement level above said threshold;

allow said user to browse said list; and

receive from said user a request for a particular one of said plurality of content; and

a wireless interface configured to transmit said user request to a content server apparatus.

23. The mobile device of claim 22, wherein said list is generated using excitement metadata from an excitement identification source.

24. The mobile device of claim 22, wherein said wireless interface comprises an LTE-compliant transceiver, and the user interface comprises a capacitive touch screen display and input device.

25. Apparatus for generation of highlight reels in a content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:

one or more interfaces for receiving metadata from one or more sources;

one or more interfaces for receiving content from one or more feeds; and

a content server entity with a processing unit associated therewith, said processing unit in data communication with at least one storage device, said processing unit configured to run a computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions configured to, when executed;

record at least one content element received over said one or more feeds;

store said at least one recorded feed on said storage device;

identify metadata related to said at least one recorded feed, said identified metadata having been received over at least one of. said one or more sources;

compare said metadata to information related to said at least one recorded feed; and

based at least in part on said comparison, cause provision of at least of portion of said at least one recorded feed at least one client device of said network;

wherein said metadata comprises data related to an occurrence of an exciting event.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said one or more sources of metadata comprise an internal source disposed within said content delivery network.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said one or more sources of metadata comprise an external source in data communication with said content server entity via an Internet connection.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said metadata and said information comprise time stamps, and said comparison identifies similarities between said time stamps.