Automatic digital information and content scheduling and barkering system

• US 6,564,381 B1
• Filed: 09/25/1998
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VXL Capitol Partners Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: VXL Capitol Partners Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Kamm, Robert M., Taylor, Lawrence E., Hench, David L., Hodge, Winston H., Schuberth, Pierre A., Yam, Kang Tsi, Seaton, Gary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/161,324
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/97, 725/98, 725/87, 725/35, 725/45, 725/46, 705/14
• US Class Current: 725/97
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26603 for automatically generating descriptors from content, e.g. when it is not made available by its provider, using content analysis techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A method and apparatus for scheduling the distribution of information so as to maximize the viewer ship of the same and, therefore, profits. Dynamic scheduling of distribution of subportions of the information, referred to as descriptors that typically correspond to a motion picture program, is achieved so that the subportions may be transmitted to end users having a high probability of perceiving the same. A subgroup of the descriptors have a weighting value assigned thereto with said subgroup of said plurality of descriptors having a weighting value differing from the weighting value associated with the remaining descriptors of said subgroup. The weighting value is a function of predetermined parameters associated with said motion picture program, such as revenue generated when released in movie theaters, comments by professional critics and contractual constraints placed upon the distributor by holders of the ownership rights of the motion picture program. Viewing population numbers are assigned to segments of a predetermined period of time, typically the different hours of the day. The descriptors are then scheduled to be transmitted to end users so that the descriptors with the greatest weighting value is transmitted during a segment which has the greatest viewing population number.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically scheduling distribution of information, said method comprising steps of:

creating a plurality of descriptors, each of which corresponds to a subportion of said information;

assigning a weighting value to a subgroup of said plurality of descriptors, with said subgroup of said plurality of descriptors having a weighting value differing from the weighting value associated with the remaining descriptors of said subgroup;

assigning a plurality of viewing population numbers to a predetermined period of time with each of said plurality of viewing population numbers corresponding to a segment of said period; and

scheduling said descriptors of said subgroup for transmission so that the descriptor of said subgroup having a greatest weighting value, defining a primary descriptor, is transmitted during the segment having a greatest viewing population number associated therewith.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further including a step of distributing said primary descriptor to an end user.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said scheduling step includes scheduling each of said descriptor of said subgroup to be transmitted during a plurality of segments, and further including a step of varying said weighting value associated with one of said descriptors of said subgroup so as to be inversely proportional to a quantity of segments during which said one of said descriptors is transmitted.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said descriptors subportion of information includes a motion picture program having video and audio information associated therewith, with said scheduling step includes scheduling each of said descriptors of said subgroup to be transmitted during a plurality of segments, and further including a step of varying said weighting value as a function of predetermined parameters associated with said motion picture program.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said parameters include revenue generated by said motion picture program.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said parameters include historical sales figures for said motion picture program.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said scheduling step includes scheduling said descriptors of said subgroup for transmission to a plurality of groups of end users, with one said groups having a differing viewing population number for a given segment which differs from the viewing population number associated with the remaining groups, so that the primary descriptor is transmitted to one of said groups during a peak segment associated therewith, said viewing population number associated with any one of said groups being dependent upon profiles of the users associated therewith.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said profiles includes data concerning weather conditions in the area in which users associated with said profiles are located.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said profiles includes data concerning socioeconomic status of users.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said period of time consists of a twenty four hour day and said segments consist of hours.

11. A method of dynamically scheduling distribution of information said method comprising steps of:

creating a plurality of descriptors, each of which corresponds to a subportion of said information;

assigning a weighting value to a subgroup of said plurality of descriptors, with said subgroup of said plurality of descriptors having a weighting value differing from the weighting value associated with the remaining descriptors of said subgroup, with said subportion of information including a motion picture program having video and audio information associated therewith, with said weighting value being a function of predetermined parameters associated with said motion picture program, said parameters including revenue previously generated by said motion picture program.

assigning a plurality of viewing population numbers to a predetermined period of time with each of said plurality of viewing population numbers corresponding to a segment of said period; and

scheduling said descriptors of said subgroup for transmission to a plurality of groups of end users, with one said groups having a differing viewing population number for a given segment which differs from the viewing population number associated with the remaining groups so that the descriptor of said subgroup having a greatest weighting value, defining a primary descriptor, is transmitted to one of said plurality of groups during the segment, associated with said one of said plurality of groups, having a greatest viewing population number associated therewith, said viewing population number associated with any one of said groups being dependent upon profiles of the users associated therewith.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 further including a step of distributing said primary descriptor to an end user.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 further including a step of selectively varying said weighting factors associated with said descriptors.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said profiles includes data concerning weather conditions in the area in which users associated with said profiles are located.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said profiles includes data concerning socio-economic status of users.

16. A system for dynamically scheduling distribution of information, said system comprising:

a server for storing said information as a plurality of descriptors, with each of said plurality of descriptors being associated with a subportion of said information;

a first memory to store code to assign a weighting value to a subgroup of said plurality of descriptors, with said weighting value being a function of predetermined parameters associated with said motion picture program, with said parameters including revenue previously generated by said descriptors;

a second memory to store code to assign a plurality of viewing population numbers to a predetermined period of time with each of said plurality of viewing population numbers corresponding to a segment of said period;

a microprocessor in communication with said first and second memories to operate on the code contained therein to schedule said descriptors of said subgroup for transmission to a plurality of groups of end users, with one said groups having a differing viewing population number for a given segment which differs from the viewing population number associated with the remaining groups so that the descriptor of said subgroup having a greatest weighting value, defining a primary descriptor, is transmitted to one of said plurality of groups during the segment, associated with said one of said plurality of groups, having a greatest viewing population number associated therewith, said viewing population number associated with any one of said groups being dependent upon profiles of the users associated therewith.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said server is a video-on-demand server.

18. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said server is a near-video-on-demand server.

19. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said server is a pay-per-view server wherein each time one of said descriptors is scheduled to be transmitted revenue is generated and an amount of said revenue is stored on said server.

20. The system as recited in claim 19 wherein said parameters include said revenue generated by descriptor.

21. A method of dynamically scheduling distribution of a plurality of information files, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of groups of descriptors, each group of said groups of descriptors corresponding to one of said information files;

determining a weighting value to each group of descriptors;

determining a viewing population number to a time segment of a time period when any of said plurality of information files can be distributed; and

scheduling transmission of said information files so that one information file corresponding to said group of descriptors having a greatest weighting value is scheduled to be transmitted during said time segment having said greatest viewing population number.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein scheduling comprises scheduling each of said information files to be transmitted during a plurality of segments, and the method further comprising updating said weighting value associated with each of said groups of descriptors so as to be inversely proportional to a number of segments during which said information file, to which said group of descriptors corresponds, is transmitted.

23. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein at least some of said plurality of information files are motion picture programs having video and audio information associated therewith and said groups of descriptors are predetermined parameters associated with one of said motion picture programs.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said predetermined parameters comprise revenue generated by said motion picture program during theatre play, a time of a previous segment when said motion picture program was scheduled for transmission, and a length of said motion picture program.

25. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein at least some of said plurality of information files are trailers for motion picture programs.

26. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein determining said weighting value comprises determining a plurality of weighting values each associated with a subgroup of said group of descriptors and said weighting value is determined based upon said plurality of weighting values.

27. A method of dynamically scheduling distribution of a plurality of information files in a plurality of time segments, the method comprising:

determining a weighting value corresponding to each information file of said plurality of information files;

determining a viewing population number corresponding to each time segment of said plurality of time segments; and

scheduling transmission of at least some of said plurality information files based upon said weighting value and said viewing population number, so that information files corresponding to greater weighting values are scheduled for transmission during time segments corresponding to greater viewing population numbers.

28. The method as recited in claim 27 wherein said one information file comprises a motion picture.

29. The method as recited in claim 28 wherein determining said weighting value comprises determining said weighting value based upon parameters selected from a group consisting of film critic rankings, theater gross sales, number of available channels for transmission of said motion picture, a duration of said motion picture, a time when said motion picture was last transmitted on one said available channels, a contractual requirement with a licensor of said motion picture, predicted weather in a geographic area where said motion picture is to be distributed, and a time when said motion picture finished being played in theatres.

30. The method as recited in claim 27 wherein determining said weighing value comprises determining a plurality of weighing values each associated with a subgroup of a group of parameters and said weighing value is determined based upon said plurality of weighting values.

31. The method as recited in claim 27 wherein said one information file comprises one of a plurality of trailers for a motion picture.

32. The method as recited in claim 27 wherein determining said weighting value comprises determining said weighting value based upon parameters selected from a group consisting of film critic rankings, theater gross sales, number of available channels for transmission of said motion picture, a duration of said motion picture, a time when said motion picture was last transmitted on one said available channels, a contractual requirement with a licensor of said motion picture, predicted weather in a geographic area where said motion picture is to be distributed, and a time when said motion picture finished being played in theatres.