Intermission content

• US 7,159,231 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clark, James Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/921,258
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: 725/31, 725/32, 725/36, 725/42, 725/111, 725/112, 709217-219
• US Class Current: 725/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Method and apparatus to provide alternative content during an intermission in a main content experience. The method includes receiving a pause signal and starting a pause interval. When the pause interval exceeds a predetermined length, alternative content is provided to the user. A network termination unit receives the pause signal and includes a controller that ceases distribution of the main content and starts a timer to time the pause interval. The network termination unit has a content source that may include a local store of main content, alternative content, or both. It may also include a port operable to pull content from a content server.

Claims

1. A network termination unit, comprising:

a port to connect the unit to a cable network;

a detector to detect received signals from a user and to determine when the received signals include a pause signal;

a timer to time a pause interval initiated at reception of the pause signal;

a source of alternative content, wherein the alternative content is selected from the group comprising;

music, advertisements, movie trailers, video on demand, and recorded programs; and

a controller to;

control access to content;

insert an indicator describing the content in packets containing the content; and

provide alternative content to the viewer when the pause interval exceeds a predetermined time period.

2. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network termination unit comprises one of a digital video recorder or a cable modem.

3. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises one of a processor or a microcontroller.

4. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller and timer are provided by a central processing unit.

5. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source of alternative content comprises one of a memory located in the network termination unit or a connection to a remote server on the cable network.

6. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a selection of the source of alternative content is programmable by the user.

7. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 1, the controller to provide alternative content further to provide alternative content based upon one of user preferences, a predetermined selection, and the content being viewed as indicated by the indicators.

8. A network termination unit, comprising:

a means for connecting the unit to a cable network;

a means for detecting received signals from a user and to determine when the received signals include a pause signal;

a means for timing a pause interval initiated at reception of the pause signal;

a means for providing alternative content, wherein the alternative content is selected from the group comprising;

music, advertisements, movie trailers, video on demand, and recorded programs; and

a means for;

controlling access to content;

inserting an indicator describing the content in packets containing the content; and

providing alternative content to the viewer when the pause interval exceeds a predetermined time period.

9. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the network termination unit comprises one of a digital video recorder or a cable modem.

10. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for controlling comprises one of a processor or a microcontroller.

11. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for controlling and the means for timing are provided by a central processing unit.

12. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for providing alternative content comprises one of a memory located in the network termination unit or a connection to a remote server.

13. The network termination unit as claimed in claim 8, the means for providing alternative content further for providing alternative content based upon one of user preferences, a predetermined selection, and the content being viewed as indicated by the indicators.

14. A method of providing content to a user, comprising:

providing main content to a user through a viewing device;

inserting indicators in packets containing the content, wherein the indicators provide information about the content;

receiving a pause signal from the user;

starting a timer to time a pause interval;

accessing a source of alternative content based upon one of user preferences, predetermined selections and the main content; and

displaying the alternative content to the user, if the pause interval exceeds a predetermined length.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein accessing the source of alternative content comprises accessing the source of alternative content based upon indicator in the packets of the main content.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein accessing the source of alternative content further comprises accessing a local store of alternative content.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein accessing the source of alternative content further comprises accessing a remote store of alternative content, wherein the remote store is located on the cable network.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising providing a user interface to the user and receiving a user preference for the source of alternative content.