Video media distribution network apparatus and method
DCFirst Claim
1. A video media distribution network comprising:
- a central distribution center having means for transmitting a network-wide video program and market-specific segments to a plurality of receiving sites in stores each having an associated address, said market-specific segments including a destination address and a set of control data encoded therein, wherein the receiving sites comprise;
means for receiving said network-wide video program and said market-specific segments;
means for reading the destination address in said market-specific segments;
means operative when the destination address matches the associated address of the receiving site for inserting the market-specific segments into the network-wide video program according to commands contained in the control data to produce a customized program; and
means for displaying the customized program on television monitors in said stores.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a distribution network for full motion video media, usually in the form of advertisements, allowing video programs to be transmitted from a distribution center (DC) to a multitude of receiving sites (RS), typically retail stores, dispersed over a wide geographic area. Preferably, programs are transmitted via satellite (8) and are receivable via antennae (10) at the receiving sites (RS). Television monitors (14) located at selected points in the receiving sites display the programs to an audience, which usually will include shoppers in the course of shopping. The invention provides for "customizing" video programs for particular target audiences or markets, such that the series of programs played in one receiving site could be quite different from that played in another. The distribution network provides automatic insertion of custom, store-specific video segments (22) into a general, network-wide video program (20) without the need for operational involvement of personnel at the receiving site (RS) through the use of control data encoded into the video signal at the distribution center (DC). An insertion control unit (56) at each receiving site (RS) reads the control data and switches a receiver (54) among channels carrying the network-wide program (20) and market specific segments (22) according to the control data.
457 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A video media distribution network comprising:
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a central distribution center having means for transmitting a network-wide video program and market-specific segments to a plurality of receiving sites in stores each having an associated address, said market-specific segments including a destination address and a set of control data encoded therein, wherein the receiving sites comprise; means for receiving said network-wide video program and said market-specific segments; means for reading the destination address in said market-specific segments; means operative when the destination address matches the associated address of the receiving site for inserting the market-specific segments into the network-wide video program according to commands contained in the control data to produce a customized program; and means for displaying the customized program on television monitors in said stores. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A network for distributing video programs from a central distribution center to geographically dispersed retail stores, each store having an associated address, the network comprising:
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means in the distribution center for playing back a network-wide program over a first channel; means in the distribution center for playing back market-specific segments over at least a second channel; means in the distribution center for encoding the market specific segments with a destination address and a set of control data; means for transmitting the network-wide program and market-specific segments to the stores; a receiver in each store for receiving the network-wide program and market-specific segments, the receiver having means for switching between said first and second channels; a controller coupled to the receiver, the controller having means for reading the destination address and means for directing the receiver to switch between said first and second channels when the market-specific segments have a destination address corresponding to the store'"'"'s associated address; and at least one video display device coupled to the receiver for displaying the network-wide program with the market specific segments having the store'"'"'s associated address inserted therein. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A network for distributing video programs from a distribution center to geographically dispersed retail stores, each store having an associated address, the network comprising:
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means in the distribution center for playing back a network-wide program over a first .channel; means in the distribution center for playing back market-specific segments over at least a second channel; means in the distribution center for encoding the market specific segments with a destination address and a set of control data, the means for encoding further encoding the destination address in the network-wide program at a point coinciding with the position of the destination address in the market-specific segments; means for transmitting the network-wide program and market-specific segments to the stores; a receiver in each store for receiving the network-wide program and market-specific segments, the receiver having means for switching between said first and second channels; a controller coupled to the receiver, the controller having means for reading the destination address and means for directing the receiver to switch between said first and second channels when the market-specific segments have a destination address corresponding to the store'"'"'s associated address; and at least one video display device coupled to the receiver for displaying the network-wide program with the market specific segments having the store'"'"'s associated address inserted therein.
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39. A method of broadcasting a plurality of customized video programs to a plurality of receiving sites in stores each having an associated address, the method comprising:
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encoding each of a plurality of market-specific segments with a destination address; transmitting a network-wide program and the market-specific segments to the receiving sites in said stores, the network-wide program being transmitted on a first channel and the market-specific segments being transmitted on a second channel; receiving the network-wide program and market-specific segments at each site; reading the destination address in each market-specific segment; inserting the market-specific segments having a destination address matching the associated address into the network-wide program to produce the customized program; and playing the segments on television monitors in said stores. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification