SATELLITE SWITCHING FOR ADDRESSABLE ASSET DELIVERY

• US 20180199079A1
• Filed: 01/11/2017
• Published: 07/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Daniel C., Anderson, Bruce J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,750,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• 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 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64 Addressing network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00; support for multicast or broadcast of one-way stream services H04L65/611
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Specific transmission mechanisms and processes are provided to support real-time addressable asset delivery in satellite broadcast networks including satellite television networks. A satellite network (100) includes a satellite (102) that transmits a satellite transmission (106) to a terrestrial receiver (104), such as a satellite dish. The satellite dish (104) is associated with a UED (108) such as a television with a set top box. The satellite transmission (106) includes a number of MUXs (107). One or more of the MUXs (107) includes a programming channel and associated asset channels. Addressable asset options can be delivered at UEDs by hopping from a programming channel to an asset channel at an asset delivery opportunity.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing addressable assets in a satellite broadcast network, comprising:

providing, in connection with said satellite television network, a satellite transmission having multiple multiplexes (MUXs) where each MUX includes multiple content channels;

inserting a first programming channel in a first MUX of said satellite transmission; and

inserting one or more first asset channels in said first MUX of said satellite transmission;

said first programming channel having an asset delivery opportunity occurring in a first time window and each of said first asset channels including an asset in said first time window.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

inserting a second programming channel in a second MUX of said satellite transmission the same as or different than said first MUX; and

inserting one or more second asset channels in said second MUX of said satellite transmission;

said second programming channel having an asset delivery opportunity occurring in a second time window and each of said second asset channels including an asset in said second time window.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first programming channel and said first asset channels define a first set of a group of channel sets, and said satellite transmission further includes a plurality of additional sets of said group of channel sets, each of said additional sets including a programming channel and one or more asset channels inserted in the same MUX, said satellite transmission being configured such that said group of channel sets are distributed across multiple MUXs of said satellite transmission.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein a distribution of said group of channel sets across said satellite transmission is based at least in part on a number of asset channels available in each of said MUXs.

5. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein a distribution of said group of channel sets across said satellite transmission is based at least in part on a priority of each programming channel for support by asset channels.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said priority is based on at least one of an audience size and a value of asset delivery for each said programming channel.

7. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein at least two channel sets of said group of channel sets are inserted into the same MUX.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of the asset channels of each of said two channel sets is statically assigned to a respective one of said two channel sets.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein a number of asset channels of each one of said two channel sets is determined based at least in part on a priority of said each one of said two channel sets for support by asset channels.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said priority is based on at least one of an audience size and a value of asset delivery for said each one of said two channel sets.

11. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said at least two channel sets share at least one shared asset channel.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said shared asset channel supports asset delivery opportunities of each of said two channel sets when said asset delivery opportunities occur at different times.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said shared asset channel supports an asset delivery opportunity of a selected channel set of said two channel sets when asset delivery opportunities of said two channel sets overlap.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said selected channel set is selected based at least in part on a priority of said each one of said two channel sets for support by asset channels.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said priority is based at least in part on at least one of an audience size and a value of asset delivery for said each one of said two channel sets.

16. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said priority is based at least in part on feedback concerning current network conditions.

17. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said shared asset channel is assigned to one of said two channel sets for a time period based at least in part on historical data concerning a probability of an asset delivery opportunity occurring in said time period.

18. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said two channel sets are selected based at least in part on a priority of each channel set of said group of channel sets for support by asset channels.

19. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said two channel sets are selected based at least in part on historical data concerning a probability of overlap of asset delivery opportunities of said two channel sets.

20-40. -40. (canceled)

41. An apparatus for use in providing addressable assets in a satellite broadcast network, comprising:

a transmitter for providing, in connection with said satellite television network, a satellite transmission having multiple multiplexes (MUXs) where each MUX includes multiple content channels; and

a controller, operatively associated with said transmitter, for;

inserting a first programming channel in a first MUX of said satellite transmission; and

inserting one or more first asset channels in said first MUX of said satellite transmission;

said first programming channel having an asset delivery opportunity occurring in a first time window and each of said first asset channels including an asset in said first time window.

42. An apparatus as set forth in claim 41, wherein said controller is further operative for:

inserting a second programming channel in a second MUX of said satellite transmission the same as or different than said first MUX; and

inserting one or more second asset channels in said second MUX of said satellite transmission;

said second programming channel having an asset delivery opportunity occurring in a second time window and each of said second asset channels including an asset in said second time window.

43. An apparatus as set forth in claim 41, wherein said first programming channel and said first asset channels define a first set of a group of channel sets, and said satellite transmission further includes a plurality of additional sets of said group of channel sets, each of said additional sets including a programming channel and one or more asset channels inserted in the same MUX, said satellite transmission being configured such that said group of channel sets are distributed across multiple MUXs of said satellite transmission.

44. An apparatus as set forth in claim 43, wherein a distribution of said group of channel sets across said satellite transmission is based at least in part on a number of asset channels available in each of said MUXs.

45. An apparatus as set forth in claim 43, wherein a distribution of said group of channel sets across said satellite transmission is based at least in part on a priority of each programming channel for support by asset channels.

46. An apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein said priority is based on at least one of an audience size and a value of asset delivery for each said programming channel.

47. An apparatus as set forth in claim 43, wherein at least two channel sets of said group of channel sets are inserted into the same MUX.

48. An apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein each of the asset channels of each of said two channel sets is statically assigned to a respective one of said two channel sets.

49. An apparatus as set forth in claim 48, wherein a number of asset channels of each one of said two channel sets is determined based at least in part on a priority of said each one of said two channel sets for support by asset channels.

50. An apparatus as set forth in claim 49, wherein said priority is based on at least one of an audience size and a value of asset delivery for said each one of said two channel sets.

51. An apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein said at least two channel sets share at least one shared asset channel.

52. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein said shared asset channel supports asset delivery opportunities of each of said two channel sets when said asset delivery opportunities occur at different times.

53. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein said shared asset channel supports an asset delivery opportunity of a selected channel set of said two channel sets when asset delivery opportunities of said two channel sets overlap.

54. An apparatus as set forth in claim 53, wherein said selected channel set is selected based at least in part on a priority of said each one of said two channel sets for support by asset channels.

55. An apparatus as set forth in claim 54, wherein said priority is based at least in part on at least one of an audience size and a value of asset delivery for said each one of said two channel sets.

56. An apparatus as set forth in claim 54, wherein said priority is based at least in part on feedback concerning current network conditions.

57. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein said shared asset channel is assigned to one of said two channel sets for a time period based at least in part on historical data concerning a probability of an asset delivery opportunity occurring in said time period.

58. An apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein said two channel sets are selected based at least in part on a priority of each channel set of said group of channel sets for support by asset channels.

59. An apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein said two channel sets are selected based at least in part on historical data concerning a probability of overlap of asset delivery opportunities of said two channel sets.