Method and apparatus for creating a targeted integrated image

• US 8,522,268 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vecima Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Concurrent Computer Corporation
• Inventors: Tudisco, Mike, Chen, Michael, Birnbaum, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Chung, Jason J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US10/826,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20050081237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,420 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• 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 21/2668 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 21/4532 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 : Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A targeted integrated image is created for delivery to a user. Content of potential interest to the user is determined based on at least one user preference. This determination may be made prior to or during the user'"'"'s request for an image, such as video content, or while the user is receiving an image, such as a menu or programming guide. An image representing the content of potential interest to the user, such as a barker is selected and combined with another image of interest to the user to form a targeted integrated image for delivery to the user. The user preference may include information representing content viewing habits or content ordering habits of the user. The user preferences may be associated with the identity of the user.

Claims

1. A method for creating at least one targeted integrated image for delivery to a user, the method comprising:

determining content of potential interest to the user based on at least one user preference comprising content ordering habits of the user while the user is receiving a first image comprising a video file for viewing;

determining content previously ordered or viewed by the user;

determining whether the first image is a highest level of a menu comprising multiple levels;

when the first image is the highest level, selecting from a queue of available barker advertisements, each barker advertisement comprising metadata related to the highest level on the menu, a second image comprising a barker advertising the content of potential interest to the user based upon the metadata relating to the highest level; and

combining the second image comprising the barker advertising the content of potential interest to the user with the first image to form an integrated image for delivery to the user; and

delivering the integrated image to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein content ordering habits includes at least one of information indicating times at which the user previously viewed or ordered content, genres of content previously viewed or ordered by the user, characteristics of content previously viewed or ordered by the user, and menu selections made by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an identity of the user, wherein the content of potential interest to the user is determined based on an at least one user preference associated with the identity of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining images available in the queue.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

marking the second image delivered to the user as having been delivered; and

placing the marked image at the end of the queue, wherein the step of selecting selects images sequentially from the beginning of the queue.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining is initiated in response to the user accessing the menu or programming guide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining is repeated based on menu or programming guide selections made by the user as the user navigates through the menu or programming guide.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining is initiated responsive to the user requesting the video content.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the steps for creating at least one new integrated image for delivery to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps are repeated as the user continues to request or receive images.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps are recursively repeated for delivering new integrated images for delivery to the user.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising compressing at least one of the first image or the second image to forming the integrated image.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of combining includes inserting the second image within the first image, wherein the first image is adapted to appear to the user to be paused.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first image is adapted, for delivery to the user, to appear to be paused.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first image is adapted, upon delivery to the user, to appear to be paused.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the barker advertising the content of potential interest to the user has a first genre associated therewith, wherein the video file has a second genres associated therewith, wherein the determining content of potential interest to the user based on at least one user preference comprising content ordering habits of the user comprises selecting the first genre so as to be different from the second genre.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated image is configured to appear as a picture-in-picture display with the barker advertising the content of potential interest to the user presented as a first picture within a second picture of the video file.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated image is configured to appear as a picture-in-picture display in accordance with predetermined rules.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the predetermined rules comprise presenting the barker advertising the content of potential interest to the user during an introduction of the video file.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the predetermined rules comprise presenting the barker advertising the content of potential interest to the user during credits of the video file.

18. An apparatus for creating at least one targeted integrated image for delivery to a user, the apparatus comprising:

a processor for determining content of potential interest to the user based on at least one user preference, prior to or during the user'"'"'s request for a first image comprising a video file or while the user is receiving the first image;

determining content previously ordered or viewed by the user;

determining whether the first image is a predetermined level of a menu comprising multiple levels;

when the first image is the predetermined level, selecting from a queue of available barker advertisements, each barker advertisement comprising metadat indicatin a enre corresponding to content advertised b the each barker, a second image comprising a barker advertising the content of potential interest to the user from barker advertisements remaining in the queue, the selecting a function of the genre of the metadata and the first image being the predetermined level, and wherein the processor determines the content of potential interest to the user that has not previously been viewed by the user; and

a combiner for combining the second image with the first image to form an integrated image for delivery to the user, and wherein the combiner inserts the second image within the first image.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user preference includes information representing content viewing habits or content ordering habits of the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the information representing content viewing or content ordering habits includes at least one of information indicating times at which the user previously viewed or ordered content, genres of content previously viewed or ordered by the user, characteristics of content previously viewed or ordered by the user, and menu selections made by the user.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor determines content of potential interest to the user based on an at least one user preference associated with an identity of the user.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first image or the third image is adapted to appear as a picture-in-picture display with the barker advertising the content of potential interest to the user presented as a first picture within a second picture of the video file.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor determines content previously ordered or viewed by the user, determines images available in the queue, and removes removing images related to the previously ordered or viewed content from the queue.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor marks the second image delivered to the user as having been delivered, places the marked image at the end of the queue, and selects images sequentially from the beginning of the queue.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor begins determining content of potential interest to the user responsive to the user requesting the video content.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor begins determining content of potential interest to the user as the user receives the video content.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor repeatedly determines and selects content of potential interest, and the combiner repeatedly combines the selected content with an image for creating at least one new integrated image for delivery to the user.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least one new integrated image is created as the user continues to request or receive images.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least one new integrated image is recursively created for delivery to the user.

33. The apparatus of claim 18, the predetermined level comprising a highest level of the menu.