Dynamic personalized content resolution for a media server

• US 6,944,585 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Pawson, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARCIA OTERO, EDUARDO
• Application Number:
  US09/653,928
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 703/22, 348/14.01, 725/34, 725/39, 709/25
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18

Abstract

A streaming media server is provided for dynamically resolving a request for digital content based upon the identity of the requester. The digital content may be specifically tailored to the demographics of the viewer, and need not be physically stored in sequence. Information about a viewer of digital video is stored within a user profile. The collection of all user profiles is maintained by a profile manager. When a viewer requests a digital data stream from the media server, a content resolver, coupled to the media server, determines how to service the request based upon the appropriate user profile. In certain embodiments, the content resolver may be configured to send targeted advertisements towards the requester of the digital data stream. In other embodiments, the content resolver may be configured to send personalized information pertaining to the requesting user. In other embodiments, the content resolver may personalize the requested content according to the user profile.

Claims

1. A method for constructing digital data streams at a media server, comprising:

at said media server, receiving a first request for specified content from a first user, wherein said specified content includes data representing an original series of frames of digital information;

consulting a first user profile associated with said first user;

determining the composition of a first digital data stream to send to said first user from said media server based upon said first user profile and said specified content;

constructing said first customized digital data stream, where the step of constructing said first customized digital data stream includes performing at least one of;

removing, from said original series of frames, one or more frames, wherein said removed frames are selected based on said first user profile,

modifying audio information, associated with one or more of said original series of frames, based on said first user profile, and

inserting additional frames of video, into said original series of frames, based on said first user profile, wherein said additional frames of video do not modify any frame in the original series of frames;

sending said first customized digital data stream from said media server to said first user;

at said media server, receiving a second request for said specified content from a second user;

consulting a second user profile associated with said second user;

determining the composition of a second digital data stream to send to said second user from said media server based upon said second user profile and said specified content;

constructing said second customized digital data stream, where the step of constructing said second customized digital data stream includes performing at least one of;

removing, from said original series of frames, one or more frames, wherein said removed frames are selected based on said second user profile,

modifying audio information, associated with one or more of said original series of frames, based on said second user profile, and

inserting additional frames of video, into said original series of frames, based on said second user profile, wherein said additional frames of video do not modify any frame in the original series of frames; and

sending said second customized digital data stream from said media server to said second user,

wherein said first customized digital data stream is different than said second customized digital data stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sending said first customized digital data stream and said step of sending said second customize digital data stream are performed over a network in real time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sending delivering said first customized digital data stream to said first user comprises:

storing said first customized digital data stream in a fixed storage medium; and

allowing said first user to access said fixed storage medium.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said additional frames of video include both audio and visual information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sending said first customized digital data stream from said media server to said first user includes:

presenting said additional frames of video to said first user concurrently with said specified content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of constructing said first customized digital data stream is performed by consulting a set of stored rules regarding at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

identity of the first user, purchasing habits of the first user, service status of the first user, and viewing preferences indicated in said first user profile.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said additional frames of video include

at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

advertisements, personalized statements regarding said first user'"'"'s bill, and information regarding special promotions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said original series of frames of digital information are physically stored in more than one file.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first customized digital data stream includes video information corresponding to closed captioned text in a language indicated in said first user profile.

10. The method of claim 1, where said first customized digital data stream includes audio translations in a language indicated in said first user profile.

11. The method of claim 1, where said first customized digital data stream includes video information corresponding to a letterbox version of said specified content.

12. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for constructing digital data streams at a media server, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

at said media server, receiving a first request for specified content by said from a first user, wherein said specified content includes data representing an original series of frames of digital information;

consulting a first user profile associated with said first user;

determining the composition of a first digital data stream to send to said first user from said media server based upon said first user profile and said specified content;

constructing said first customized digital data stream, where the step of constructing said first customized digital data stream includes performing at least one of;

removing, from said original series of frames, one or more frames, wherein said removed frames are selected based on said first user profile,

modifying audio information, associated with one or more of said original series of frames, based on said first user profile, and

inserting additional frames of video, into said original series of frames, based on said first user profile, wherein said additional frames of video do not modify any frame in the original series of frames;

sending said first customized digital data stream from said media server to said first user;

at said media server, receiving a second request for said specified content from a second user;

consulting a second user profile associated with said second user;

determining the composition of a second digital data stream to send to said second user from said media server based upon said second user profile and said specified content;

constructing said second customized digital data stream, where the step of constructing said second customized digital data stream includes performing at least one of;

removing, from said original series of frames, one or more frames, wherein said removed frames are selected based on said second user profile,

modifying audio information, associated with one or more of said original series of frames, based on said second user profile, and

inserting additional frames of video, into said original series of frames, based on said second user profile, wherein said additional frames of video do not modify any frame in the original series of frames; and

sending said second customized digital data stream from said media server to said second user,

wherein said first customized digital data stream is different than said second customized digital data stream.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said step of sending said first customized digital data stream and said step of sending said second customized digital data stream is performed over a network in real time.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said step of sending said customized digital data stream to said first user comprises:

storing said first customized digital data stream in a fixed storage medium; and

allowing said first user to access said fixed storage medium.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said additional frames of video include both audio and visual information.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said step of sending said first customized digital data stream from said media server to said first user includes:

presenting said additional frames of video to said first user concurrently with said specified content.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said step of constructing said first customized digital data stream is performed by consulting a set of stored rules regarding at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

identity of the first user, purchasing habits of the first user, service status of the first user, and viewing preferences indicated in said first user profile.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said additional frames of video include

at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

advertisements, personalized statements regarding said first user'"'"'s bill, and information regarding special promotions.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said original series of frames of digital information are physically stored in more than one file.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said first customized digital data stream includes video information corresponding to closed captioned text in a language indicated in said first user profile.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, where said first customized digital data stream includes audio translations in a language indicated in said first user profile.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, where said first customized digital data stream includes video information corresponding to a letterbox version of said specified content.