Content discovery and differential advertising in video distribution networks
First Claim
1. A network termination unit, comprising:
- a port operable to receive content signals;
a demodulator operable to demodulate the content signals into demodulated content signals;
a decoder operable to decode the demodulated content signals into display signals; and
a module operable to;
extract content identifying data associated with a particular content signal of the content signals from that particular content signal,detect use patterns of a user viewing display signals on a viewing device,transmit the use patterns as use pattern packets,detect services available information, the services available information indicating an availability of services at the network termination unit, andtransmit the services available information in the use pattern packets.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring use patterns or services available information in video distribution networks. A network termination unit receives the video content through a port, demodulates and decodes the signals to produce display signals. The display signals are displayed on a viewing device connected to the network termination unit and the network termination unit monitors the use patterns and/or services available information of the viewing device. The unit then formats the use patterns or services available information into use pattern network packets and transmits them. A content analyzer receives use pattern packet from a network termination unit and decode them to access the data. The content analyzer then analyzes the use patterns and/or services available information and characterizes the unit. The characterization of the unit is then used to target content to that unit.
21 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A network termination unit, comprising:
-
a port operable to receive content signals; a demodulator operable to demodulate the content signals into demodulated content signals; a decoder operable to decode the demodulated content signals into display signals; and a module operable to; extract content identifying data associated with a particular content signal of the content signals from that particular content signal, detect use patterns of a user viewing display signals on a viewing device, transmit the use patterns as use pattern packets, detect services available information, the services available information indicating an availability of services at the network termination unit, and transmit the services available information in the use pattern packets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
8. A content analyzer, comprising:
-
a port operable to receive use pattern packets from a network termination unit; a decoder operable to decode the use pattern packets into data; a processor operable to; analyze the data to derive viewing information; monitor services available information, the services available information indicating an availability of services at the network termination unit; and characterize the network termination unit by that viewing information. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
13. A method of transmitting use patterns, the method comprising:
-
tracking use patterns of a viewing device, based upon selection of content on the viewing device; tracking services available information, the services available information indicating an availability of services for the viewing device; formatting data representative of the use patterns or services available information into network packets as payload data; setting a network packet header to identify the payload as use patterns, forming a use pattern packet; and transmitting the use pattern packet. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A network termination unit, comprising:
-
a means for receiving video content signals; a means for demodulating the video content signals into demodulated video content signals; a means for decoding the demodulated video content signals into display signals; a means for displaying the display signals; a means for extracting content identifying data associated with a particular video content signal of the video content signals from that particular video content signal, and a means for detecting use patterns of a user viewing display signals on the viewing device; a means for detecting services available information, the services available information indicating an availability of services at the network termination unit; and a means for transmitting the use patterns and services available information as use pattern packets. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A content analyzer, comprising:
-
a means for receiving use pattern packets from a network termination unit; a means for decoding the use pattern packets into data; and a processing means operable to; analyze the data to derive viewing information; monitor the data for services available information, the services available information indicating an availability of services at the network termination unit; and characterize the network termination unit by the viewing information and the services available information. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. An article containing machine-readable code that, when executed, causes the machine to:
-
track use patterns or services available information of a viewing device, based upon selection of video content on the viewing device; track services available information, the services available information indicating an availability of services for the viewing device; format data representative of the use patterns or services available information into network packets as payload data; set a network packet header to identify the payload as use patterns, forming a use pattern packet; and transmit the use pattern packet. - View Dependent Claims (28)
-
Specification