Synchronizing broadcast content with corresponding network content

• US 8,407,752 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Levy, Kenneth L., Stager, Reed R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): STRONCZER, RYAN S
• Application Number:
  US10/804,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,295 Days
• Field of Search: 725/113
• US Class Current: 725/113
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

This disclosure describes methods and systems for synchronizing broadcast and network content, such as web content. It also describes related technology for facilitating linking from broadcast content to related information and e-commerce on a network. One method detailed in this disclosure synchronizes broadcast content with dynamic network content at a network address. This method embeds an identifier in a broadcast, extracts the identifier embedded in broadcast content, and uses the identifier to identify corresponding network content. The method then posts the corresponding network content on a network device located at the network address (e.g., a web page at the URL of the broadcaster). The network device (e.g., web server) is responsive to requests sent to the network address to provide the network content over a network. Using this method, the broadcast content is synchronized with the corresponding network content. This approach enables the content at the broadcaster'"'"'s fixed web site URL to change dynamically with the broadcast. This approach is transparent to the user, who simply visits the same URL to get more information about current programming or purchase a product currently advertised in current programming.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing broadcast content with dynamic network content at a network address, the method comprising:

extracting an identifier embedded in broadcast content;

using the identifier to identify corresponding network content; and

after the corresponding network content thereby has been identified, posting the corresponding network content on a network device located at the network address, the network device being responsive to requests sent to the network address to provide the network content over a network;

wherein the broadcast content is synchronized with the corresponding network content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast content comprises a video program, and the identifier is embedded in the video program.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the identifier is embedded in a video track of the video program with a video watermark that modifies frames of video data to encode the identifier in the video frames in a substantially imperceptible manner.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the identifier is embedded in an audio track of the video program with an audio watermark that modifies an audio signal to encode the identifier in the audio signal in a substantially imperceptible manner.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier triggers automatic posting of the corresponding network content.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic network content comprises sets of HTML content, each set corresponding to a particular item, each set being prepared prior to broadcast of programs relating to the particular items.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the particular items comprise products or services, and the programs comprise shopping programs that are broadcast to sell the products or services.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the broadcast of the programs are live broadcasts, and the identifiers are embedded in the live broadcasts to synchronize the live broadcasts with dynamic HTML content accessible at the network address.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast content comprises a radio broadcast.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the broadcast content comprises a satellite radio broadcast.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifiers enable synchronizing of dynamic network content accessed by users at a single URL with broadcast content, and also provide a link to network information about the broadcast content.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the link is used to return content relating to the broadcast to a user'"'"'s device in response to a request from the user.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the content returned to the user'"'"'s device enables the user to conduct an electronic transaction relating to the program.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the electronic transaction comprises an electronic order to purchase an item that is advertised in the program.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the request from the user is generated in part based on extracting the identifier from the broadcast content.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the extracting of the identifier used to generate the request is performed on the user'"'"'s device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the user'"'"'s device is a cell phone.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the user'"'"'s device includes a process for extracting identifiers embedded in broadcast content received on the user'"'"'s device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the process for extracting identifiers comprises a digital watermark decoding process for extracting digital data that is substantially imperceptibly embedded in audio or video signals of broadcast programs.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the user'"'"'s device provides information about the user'"'"'s device to enable information returned to the user to be customized to the user'"'"'s device.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the user'"'"'s device provides information about the user to enable information returned to the user to be customized to the user.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the information about the user provides an account number to facilitate electronic transactions on the device relating to the broadcast content.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier is used to notify a network operator that network content is not properly synchronized with the broadcast content.