Method and system for pause ads

• US 8,078,493 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Scott A., Self, Matthew H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIGMOND, BENNETT M
• Application Number:
  US09/978,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20020100041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,711 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 707/87, 707/101, 725/32, 725/34, 725/42
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 : with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 : the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

A system and method for displaying ads on a client-side video replay system during a pause mode. The method may comprise determining that the video replay system should enter a pause mode, obtaining an ad, and displaying the ad on a display of the video replay system during the pause mode. Determining that the system should enter pause mode may include detecting that a user has pressed a pause button located on a remote control or a display screen. The system may comprise a display, a processor, memory, and software applications configured to (i) determine that the system should enter a pause mode, (ii) obtain an ad, and (iii) display the ad on the display.

Claims

1. A method of displaying an ad on a video replay system, the method comprising:

obtaining a first ad;

displaying, on a display of the video replay system, user selected program content stored at a storage medium of the video replay system;

while the user selected program content is being displayed on the display of the video replay system, entering a pause mode in response to a user action that comprises pressing a pause key;

upon entering the pause mode, the video replay system starting a timer and subsequently using the timer to determine whether a time delay greater than zero seconds has elapsed;

after starting the timer but prior to the video replay system determining that the time delay has elapsed, continuing to display the user selected program content on the display of the video replay system, wherein the user selected program content displayed during the time delay is paused; and

after the video replay system determines that the time delay has elapsed, displaying, on the display of the video replay system, the first ad instead of the user selected program content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing a user to set the time delay.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is a commercial ad.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is a user-selected picture.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is a user-selected still photograph.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is a user-selected video clip.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is a still commercial ad.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is a commercial ad containing a video clip.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is a video animation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is obtained from an ad placement engine.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is obtained from external storage.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is downloaded from a computer connected to the video replay system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad is a full-page ad.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ad occupies less than all of the display.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the pause key is on the video replay system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the pause key is on the display of the video replay system.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the pause key is on a remote control.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the video replay system is a handheld video player.

19. The method of claim 1,

wherein the user selected program content comprises a selected television program, the method further comprising:

prior to displaying the user selected program content;

(i) receiving the selected television program content at the video replay system; and

(ii) storing the selected television program content at the storage medium of the video replay system.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the display of the video replay system comprises a television set.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the display of the video replay system comprises a cellular device.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the video replay system determining that the first ad has been displayed for a predetermined time period during the pause mode and the video replay system obtaining a second ad and causing the display of the video replay system to display the second ad instead of the first ad.