Video promotion system with flexible local insertion capabilities
First Claim
1. A system for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising:
- means for providing the globally distributed promotional information;
a plurality of television distribution facilities, each having an operator, and each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the globally distributed promotional information and providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units; and
means for providing a given one of the television distribution facilities with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information, wherein durations of the local insertion opportunities are selected by the operator.
17 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for supplying globally distributed video promotional information to cable systems. The cable systems contain local promotion units that distribute the globally distributed promotional information to televisions via a dedicated television channel. The local promotion unit is used to locally insert advertisements and other local promotional information. Local insertion is accomplished during local insertion opportunities. Local insertion opportunities may be provided at varying start times and may have varying durations. Local insertions may be made using varying media types, such as video, graphics, and text.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A system for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising:
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means for providing the globally distributed promotional information; a plurality of television distribution facilities, each having an operator, and each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the globally distributed promotional information and providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units; and means for providing a given one of the television distribution facilities with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information, wherein durations of the local insertion opportunities are selected by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising:
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means for providing the globally distributed promotional information; a plurality of television distribution facilities, each having an operator, and each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the globally distributed promotional information and providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units; and means for providing a given one of the television distribution facilities with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of globally distributed promotional information, wherein start times of the local insertion opportunities are selected by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising:
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means for providing the globally distributed promotional information; a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the globally distributed promotional information and providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units; and means for providing a given one of the television distribution facilities with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information, wherein at least two of the local insertion opportunities for the given one of the television distribution facilities have different media types available for insertion, and wherein media types other than those available for insertion in a given local insertion opportunity may not be inserted by the given one of the television distribution facilities. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising the steps of:
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providing the globally distributed promotional information; receiving the globally distributed promotional information with a plurality of television distribution facilities, each having an operator, and each connected to a plurality of associated television units; providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units; providing a given one of the television distribution facilities with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information; and enabling the operator of the given one of the television distribution facilities to select durations of the local insertion opportunities. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising the steps of:
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providing the globally distributed promotional information; receiving the globally distributed promotional information with a plurality of television distribution facilities, each having an operator, and each connected to a plurality of associated television units; providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units; providing a given one of the television distribution facilities with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information; and enabling the operator of the given one of the television distribution facilities to select start times of the local insertion opportunities. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising the steps of:
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providing the globally distributed promotional information; receiving the globally distributed promotional information with a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to a plurality of associated television units; providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units; and providing a given one of the television distribution facilities with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information, wherein at least two of the local insertion opportunities for the given one of the television distribution facilities have different media types available for insertion, and wherein media types other than those available for insertion in a given local insertion opportunity may not be inserted by the given one of the television distribution facilities. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A system for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising:
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a transmitter for providing the globally distributed promotional information; and a plurality of television distribution facilities, each having an operator, and each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the globally distributed promotional information and providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units, wherein a given one of the television distribution facilities is provided with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information, wherein durations of the local insertion opportunities are selected by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A system for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising:
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a transmitter for providing the globally distributed promotional information; and a plurality of television distribution facilities, each having an operator, and each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the globally distributed promotional information and providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units, wherein a given one of the television distribution facilities is provided with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information, wherein start times of the local insertion opportunities are selected by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A system for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising:
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a transmitter for providing the globally distributed promotional information; and a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the globally distributed promotional information and providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units, wherein a given one of the television distribution facilities is provided with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information, wherein at least two of the local insertion opportunities for the given one of the television distribution facilities have different media types available for insertion, and wherein media types other than those available for insertion in a given local insertion opportunity may not be inserted by the given one of the television distribution facilities. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification