Methods And Systems For Providing Content

• US 20150294374A1
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Mlodzinski, Walter
• Application Number:
  US14/250,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20150294374A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8541 involving branching, e.g. to different story endings

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing content are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving and/or storing first content comprising a first break point, receiving and/or storing second content comprising a second break point, providing the first content, and providing the second content at the second break point in place of the first content at the first break point. In an aspect, the first and second content can be first and second episode of a television show. The first content and the second content can comprise portions that may be commercials, alternate scenes, previews. The portions in the second content can be received at a later time. For example, the portions in the second content can be a newer version or updated version of the respective portions in the first content. The portions in the second content can be played when the first content is provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving first content comprising a first break point;

receiving second content comprising a second break point;

providing the first content; and

providing the second content at the second break point in place of the first content at the first break point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content comprises a third break point and the second content comprises a fourth break point.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing the first content at the third break point in place of the second content at the fourth breakpoint.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first break point comprises a start point for an advertisement in the first content.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second break point comprises a start point for an advertisement in the second content.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the third break point comprises an end point for an advertisement in the first content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fourth break point comprises an end point for an advertisement in the second content.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the advertisement in the second content is more recent in time than the advertisement in the first content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content comprises metadata of the first content and the second content comprises metadata of the second content.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the first break point comprises a start point for an alternative scene in the first content.

11. A method comprising:

receiving first content comprising a first portion;

receiving second content comprising a second portion;

generating a playlist comprising data related to the first and second portions;

providing the first content;

accessing the playlist to determine availability of the second portion; and

providing the second portion of the second content in lieu of the first portion of the first content.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first portion is an advertisement and the second portion is an advertisement.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second portion is more recent in time than the first portion.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing third content comprising a third portion; and

updating the playlist with data relating to the third portion.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first portion is an alternative scene and the second portion is an alternative scene.

16. A method comprising:

receiving first content comprising a first break point at a gateway;

receiving second content comprising a second break point at the gateway;

providing the first content; and

providing the second content at the second break point in place of the first content at the first break point.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first content comprises a third break point and the second content comprises a fourth break point.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing the first content at the third break point in place of the second content at the fourth breakpoint.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first break point comprises a start point for an advertisement in the first content, and wherein the second break point comprises a start point for an advertisement in the second content.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the gateway is located at a user premises.