Inserting branding elements

• US 7,631,330 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yahoo AD Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Lightningcast LLC
• Inventors: Des Jardins, G. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury; Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US11/362,351
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 725/34, 725/91, 725/44, 725/40, 725/42, 725/43, 725/45, 725/49, 725/51, 725/60, 725/41, 705/60, 715/205
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44012 involving rendering scenes according to scene graphs, e.g. MPEG-4 scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Techniques are described that permit the flexible introduction of branding elements into or around video rendered by a media player. One or more sets of metadata related to the presentation of branding elements may be collected, and then one or more sets of the metadata may be selected based on business rules when the media player requests a particular piece of content. The selected metadata may indicate what branding element is to be displayed, and how it is to be displayed (e.g., position of element in video rendering window). The media player is then instructed based on the metadata to access and appropriately place the branding elements in or outside of the video rendering window (e.g., overlayed on top of the video content).

Claims

1. A method comprising executing instructions on one or more processing devices such that the one or more processing devices perform the following:

associating one or more sets of branding metadata with a segment of video content, each of the sets of branding metadata including information related to presenting at least one branding element in association with the segment of video content;

associating one or more sets of content metadata with the segment of video content, each of the sets of content metadata including information related to presenting the segment of video content;

storing business rules for selecting at least one of the sets of branding metadata and for selecting at least one of the sets of content metadata;

receiving a request that indicates the segment of video content; and

in response to receiving the request;

selecting at least one set of branding metadata associated with the segment of video content based on the business rules, the selected set of branding metadata indicating a first set of parameters for presenting the branding element when the segment of video content is presented in a first presentation state, and a second, different set of parameters for presenting the branding element when the segment of video content is presented in a second presentation state;

selecting at least one of the sets of content metadata associated with the segment of video content based on the business rules; and

instructing and based on the selected set of branding metadata and the selected set of content metadata, a client system to generate a presentation that includes the segment of video content and the branding element such that the client system presents the branding element in accordance with the first set of parameters when the segment of video content is presented on the client system in the first presentation state and presents the branding element in accordance with the second set of parameters when the segment of video content is presented on the client system in the second presentation state.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the content metadata indicates that the segment of video content should be presented in a fullscreen mode and instructing the client system to generate the presentation includes instructing the client system to generate the presentation such that the segment of video content and the branding element are presented together in a fullscreen video rendering window.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein instructing the client system to generate the presentation such that the segment of video content and the branding element are presented together in the fullscreen video rendering window includes instructing the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is overlayed on top of the segment of video content.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first presentation state is a fullscreen mode and the first set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be overlayed on top of the segment of video content, such that instructing the client system to generate the presentation includes instructing the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is overlayed on top of the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the fullscreen mode.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second presentation state is a non-fullscreen mode and the second set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be presented in an area around the segment of video content, such that instructing the client system to generate the presentation includes instructing the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is presented in the area surrounding the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the non-fullscreen mode.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a change in a state of the presentation from the first presentation state to the second presentation state,

wherein instructing the client system to generate a presentation includes instructing the client system to generate a presentation that includes the segment of video content and the branding element such that the client system presents the branding element in accordance with the first set of parameters.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a change in a state of the presentation from the second presentation state to the first presentation state,

wherein instructing the client system to generate a presentation includes instructing the client system to generate a presentation that includes the segment of video content and the branding element such that the client system presents the branding element in accordance with the second set of parameters.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the business rules include business rules for selecting one of the sets of branding metadata and one of the sets of content metadata based on one or more of the following:

a surface point from which the segment of video content was selected, user specific information, a content category of the segment of video content, or an identity of the segment of video content.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the branding element includes one or more of the following:

a branding/advertising element, a playlist contextual element, an environmentally targeted contextual element, or a program contextual element.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein instructing the client system to generate the presentation includes instructing the client system to access and present the branding element while the segment of video content is presented.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein instructing the client system to generate the presentation includes instructing the client system to blend together the branding element and the segment of video content to create a single video file.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the content metadata includes a playlist of media items, one of the media items being the segment of video content.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the selected branding metadata indicates that the branding element is a playlist contextual element and that information presented by the playlist contextual element is to be obtained from the playlist.

14. A method comprising executing instructions on one or more processing devices such that the one or more processing devices perform the following:

storing one or more sets of branding metadata, each of the sets of branding metadata including information related to presenting at least one branding element in association with a segment of video content;

storing business rules for selecting at least one of the sets of branding metadata;

selecting at least one set of branding metadata associated with the segment of video content based on the business rules, the selected set of branding metadata indicating a first set of parameters for presenting the branding element when the segment of video content is presented in a first presentation state, and a second, different set of parameters for presenting the branding element when the segment of video content is presented in a second presentation state; and

instructing and based on the selected set of branding metadata, a client system to generate a presentation that includes the segment of video content and the branding element such that the client system presents the branding element in accordance with the first set of parameters when the segment of video content is presented on the client system in the first presentation state and presents the branding element in accordance with the second set of parameters when the segment of video content is presented on the client system in the second presentation state.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first presentation state is a fullscreen mode and the first set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be overlayed on top of the segment of video content, such that instructing the client system to generate the presentation includes instructing the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is overlayed on top of the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the fullscreen mode.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the second presentation state is a non-fullscreen mode and the second set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be presented in an area around the segment of video content, such that instructing the client system to generate the presentation includes instructing the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is presented in the area surrounding the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the non-fullscreen mode.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the first presentation state is a fullscreen mode and the first set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be overlayed on top of the segment of video content, such that instructing the client system to generate the presentation includes instructing the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is overlayed on top of the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the fullscreen mode, and

the second presentation state is a non-fullscreen mode and the second set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be presented in an area around the segment of video content, such that instructing the client system to generate the presentation includes instructing the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is presented in the area surrounding the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the non-fullscreen mode.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the business rules include business rules for selecting one of the sets of branding metadata based on one or more of the following:

a surface point from which the segment of video content was selected, user specific information, a content category of the segment of video content, or an identity of the segment of video content.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the branding element includes one or more of the following:

a branding/advertising element, a playlist contextual element, an environmentally targeted contextual element, or a program contextual element.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the selected branding metadata indicates that the branding element is a playlist contextual element and that information presented by the playlist contextual element is to be obtained from a playlist that includes the segment of video content.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

storing one or more sets of content metadata, each set of content metadata including information related to presenting the segment of video content;

storing business rules for selecting one of the sets of content metadata; and

selecting one of the sets of content metadata associated with the segment of video content based on the business rules for selecting one of the sets of content metadata,

wherein instructing the client system to generate a presentation includes instructing the client system to generate the presentation based on the selected branding metadata and the selected content metadata.

22. A computer useable medium, the computer useable medium storing instructions for causing a processing device to:

store one or more sets of branding metadata, each of the sets of branding metadata including information related to presenting at least one branding element in association with a segment of video content;

store business rules for selecting at least one of the sets of branding metadata;

select at least one set of branding metadata associated with the segment of video content based on the business rules, the selected set of branding metadata indicating a first set of parameters for presenting the branding element when the segment of video content is presented in a first presentation state, and a second, different set of parameters for presenting the branding element when the segment of video content is presented in a second presentation state; and

instruct, based on the selected set of branding metadata, a client system to generate a presentation that includes the segment of video content and the branding element such that the client system presents the branding element in accordance with the first set of parameters when the segment of video content is presented on the client system in the first presentation state and presents the branding element in accordance with the second set of parameters when the segment of video content is presented on the client system in the second presentation state.

23. The computer useable medium of claim 22 wherein the first presentation state is a fullscreen mode and the first set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be overlayed on top of the segment of video content, such that the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is overlayed on top of the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the fullscreen mode.

24. The computer useable medium of claim 22 wherein the second presentation state is a non-fullscreen mode and the second set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be presented in an area around the segment of video content, such that the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is presented in the area surrounding the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the non-fullscreen mode.

25. The computer useable medium of claim 22 wherein:

the first presentation state indicates a video rendering window presents the segment of video content in a fullscreen mode and the first set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be overlayed on top of the segment of video content, such that the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is overlayed on top of the segment of video content when a video rendering window presenting the segment of video content is in the fullscreen mode, and

the second presentation state indicates a video rendering window presents the segment of video content in a non-fullscreen mode and the second set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be presented in an area around a video rendering window, such that the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is presented in the area surrounding a video rendering window when a video rendering window presenting the segment of video content is in the non-fullscreen mode.

26. The computer useable medium of claim 22 wherein the business rules include business rules for selecting one of the sets of branding metadata based on one or more of the following:

a surface point from which the segment of video content was selected, user specific information, a content category of the segment of video content, or an identity of the segment of video content.

27. The computer useable medium of claim 22 wherein the branding element includes one or more of the following:

a branding/advertising element, a playlist contextual element, an environmentally targeted contextual element, or a program contextual element.

28. The computer useable medium of claim 22 wherein the selected branding metadata indicates that the branding element is a playlist contextual element and that information presented by the playlist contextual element is to be obtained from a playlist that includes the segment of video content.

29. The computer useable medium of claim 22 wherein the computer useable medium further stores instructions for causing a processing device to:

store one or more sets of content metadata, each set of content metadata including information related to presenting the segment of video content;

store business rules for selecting one of the sets of content metadata; and

select one of the sets of content metadata associated with the segment of video content based on the business rules for selecting one of the sets of content metadata,

wherein the instructions for causing the process device to instruct the client system to generate a presentation include instructions for causing the process device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation based on the selected branding metadata and the selected content metadata.

30. A computer useable medium, the computer useable medium storing instructions for causing a processing device to:

associate one or more sets of branding metadata with a segment of video content, each of the sets of branding metadata including information related to presenting at least one branding element in association with the segment of video content;

associate one or more sets of content metadata with the segment of video content, each of the sets of content metadata including information related to presenting the segment of video content;

store business rules for selecting at least one of the sets of branding metadata and for selecting at least one of the sets of content metadata;

receive a request that indicates the segment of video content; and

in response to receiving the request;

select at least one set of branding metadata associated with the segment of video content based on the business rules, the selected set of branding metadata indicating a first set of parameters for presenting the branding element when the segment of video content is presented in a first presentation state, and a second, different set of parameters for presenting the branding element when the segment of video content is presented in a second presentation state;

select at least one of the sets of content metadata associated with the segment of video content based on the business rules; and

instruct, based on the selected set of branding metadata and the selected set of content metadata, a client system to generate a presentation that includes the segment of video content and the branding element such that the client system presents the branding element in accordance with the first set of parameters when the segment of video content is presented on the client system in the first presentation state and presents the branding element in accordance with the second set of parameters when the segment of video content is presented on the client system in the second presentation state.

31. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the content metadata indicates that the segment of video content should be presented in a fullscreen mode and the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation such that the segment of video content and the branding element are presented together in a fullscreen video rendering window.

32. The computer useable medium of claim 31 wherein the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation such that the segment of video content and the branding element are presented together in the fullscreen video rendering window include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is overlayed on top of the segment of video content.

33. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the first presentation state is a fullscreen mode and the first set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be overlayed on top of the segment of video content, such that the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is overlayed on top of the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the fullscreen mode.

34. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the second presentation state is a non-fullscreen mode and the second set of parameters indicates that the branding element should be presented in an area around the segment of video content, such that the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation such that the branding element is presented in the area surrounding the segment of video content when the segment of video content is presented in the non-fullscreen mode.

35. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the computer useable medium further stores instructions for causing a processing device to:

detect a change in a state of the presentation from the first presentation state to the second presentation state,

wherein the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate a presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate a presentation that includes the segment of video content and the branding element such that the client system presents the branding element in accordance with the first set of parameters.

36. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the computer useable medium further stores instructions for causing a processing device to:

detect a change in a state of the presentation from the second presentation state to the first presentation state,

wherein the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate a presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate a presentation that includes the segment of video content and the branding element such that the client system presents the branding element in accordance with the second set of parameters.

37. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the business rules include business rules for selecting one of the sets of branding metadata and one of the sets of content metadata based on one or more of the following:

a surface point from which the segment of video content was selected, user specific information, a content category of the segment of video content, or an identity of the segment of video content.

38. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the branding element includes one or more of the following:

a branding/advertising element, a playlist contextual element, an environmentally targeted contextual element, or a program contextual element.

39. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to access and present the branding element while the segment of video content is presented.

40. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to generate the presentation include instructions for causing a processing device to instruct the client system to blend together the branding element and the segment of video content to create a single video file.

41. The computer useable medium of claim 30 wherein the content metadata includes a playlist of media items, one of the media items being the segment of video content.

42. The computer useable medium of claim 41 wherein the selected branding metadata indicates that the branding element is a playlist contextual element and that information presented by the playlist contextual element is to be obtained from the playlist.