Promotion server using video on demand channel

• US 7,237,250 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navic Systems, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanojia, Chaitanya, Fagnani, Mark, Wetzel, Darren, Swartz, Terri
• Primary Examiner(s): SALCE, JASON P
• Application Number:
  US10/003,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20020066106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725 34- 36, 725/9, 725/22, 725/114, 725/116, 725/118, 725/138, 725/144, 725/146, 725/148
• US Class Current: 725/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

Idle Video-On-Demand (VOD) channel capacity is used to deliver promotional content to selected set-top boxes (STBs) in a cable television network. Commercial segment cues are used to instruct a set-top box to switch away from a broadcast program to the VOD channel during a commercial segment, and then switch back again to the original broadcast program at the end of the segment.

More particularly, a promotion server determines an asset to be distributed such as a targeted promotion item (e.g., a commercial), and a list of STBs that are to receive it. The promotion server causes the video promotion content to be stored in VOD servers located at the head ends. A scheduler process then delivers schedule messages to head end message servers which identify each promotion asset, and an STB which is to receive it. The head end message server notifies its associated VOD server which then cues the asset by loading the asset, starting the asset, but pausing it. Prior to the occurrence of a commercial slot in a broadcast program, an asset trigger is inserted into the broadcast stream at the head end. This asset trigger contains general information concerning the asset to be sent, and an idle VOD channel number. The STB receives the asset trigger and readies itself to tune to the VOD channel when cued for at the beginning of a commercial segment, but does not yet tune to the VOD channel. Upon detection of a commercial cue tone in the broadcast channel, the head end message server sends a tune away trigger to the STB, and also instructs the VOD server to start playing the cued promotion. When the STB receives a tune away trigger, it switches from the broadcast channel being played to the selected idle VOD channel, and the promotion is viewed.

Claims

1. In a cable television network system that connects set-top boxes (STBs) to receive video broadcast program content from cable network head end distribution points via a cable network, a method for delivery of a promotional content stream to the STBs, the system further comprising a promotion server subsystem that includes a promotion scheduler, a message routing server, and one or more message routers located at a central location, head ends comprising a head end router, a head end message server, a trigger inserter, a Video on Demand (VOD) streaming server, and Radio Frequency (RF) distribution equipment for distributing broadcast signals to the STBs, the head end message server connected to the message routing server via a data network, the method comprising the steps of:

at the promotion server subsystem,

assigning a promotion asset to a list of specific STBs that are expected to receive the promotion asset;

creating a promotion schedule message (PSM) for each promotion and each particular STB scheduled to view that promotion, such that a PSM is created for each instance of a promotion to be viewed at a specific STB, each PSM indicating an identifier of the promotion, the specific STB, and a time by which the promotion is to be viewed on the STB;

sending the PSMs to the head ends via the data network;

at the head end message server,

receiving a PSM;

sending a message to the VOD server, the message requesting playback of the promotion;

receiving, from the VOD server, an indication of a VOD channel number on which the indicated promotion will be played;

sending a plurality of messages to the specific STBs associated with the promotion, the message including an identifier for the promotion to be returned to the head end message server after the promotion is played back at the STB, but the message not indicating a VOD channel number;

at a later time, inserting an asset trigger in a broadcast signal sent to the STBs, the asset trigger indicating an identifier for the promotion and a VOD channel number, but the asset trigger not yet causing playback of the promotion;

at a still later time, detecting a commercial cue in a broadcast signal as received from a broadcast network, and in response thereto, sending a tune away trigger to the STBs;

at the STB,

upon receipt of the tune away trigger, tuning to the VOD channel that was indicated in the asset trigger, to cause the promotion to be displayed.

2. A method as in claim 1 additionally comprising:

at the head end,

detecting a commercial end tone signal; and

sending a tune back trigger to the STBs;

at the STBs,

receiving a tune back trigger from the head end, indicating that playback of the promotion is complete.

3. A method as in claim 2 additionally comprising:

after receiving the tune back trigger, reporting the identifier of the promotion to the head end server.