Meta channel media system control and advertisement technology

• US 8,726,310 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PurpleComm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PurpleComm Incorporated
• Inventors: Chang, Jack H., Sheu, William H., Tuan, Sherman
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US12/366,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20100199299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/34
• 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 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• 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 21/4622 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 21/4755 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Media system control technology, in which an advertisement on a selected content channel being experienced by a user using a media system is detected, advertisement preferences of the user are accessed from electronic storage, and secondary content is selected based on the accessed advertisement preferences of the user. The secondary content is substituted for the advertisement on the selected content channel, and the media system is controlled to output the secondary content instead of the advertisement.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a media system in handling advertisements, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user of a media system, a selection of a first meta-channel from among options including at least;

the first meta-channel including first content entries assigned to the first meta-channel by a first channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the first channel service provider, the first content entries including at least a first content entry related to content provided by a first service provider and a second content entry related to content provided by a second service provider, and

a second meta-channel including second content entries assigned to the second meta-channel by a second channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the second channel service provider, the second content entries including at least a third content entry related to content provided by a third service provider and a fourth content entry related to content provided by a fourth service provider;

based on the selection of the first meta-channel, determining that, according to the order defined by the first channel service provider, the first meta-channel defines the first content entry to be presented at a time of the selection of the first meta-channel;

based on the determination that the first meta-channel defines the first content entry, controlling the media system to output the content provided by the first service provider;

determining that, according to the order defined by the first channel service provider, the first meta-channel defines the second content entry to be presented at an end of the first content entry;

based on the determination that the first meta-channel defines the second content entry to be presented at the end of the first content entry, controlling, at the end of the first content entry, the media system to transition from outputting the content provided by the first service provider to outputting the content provided by the second service provider;

at a time when the first meta-channel is selected, detecting an advertisement;

accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user;

selecting the second meta-channel as a source for secondary content to output during the advertisement based on the accessed advertisement preferences of the user;

based on the selection of the second meta-channel and the detection of the advertisement;

determining that, according to the order defined by the second channel service provider, the second meta-channel defines the third content entry to be presented at a time of the advertisement, and

based on the determination that the second meta-channel defines the third content entry to be presented at a time of the advertisement, controlling the media system to output the content provided by the third service provider,

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user comprises accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences that include a content channel priority list; and

wherein selecting the second meta-channel as a source for secondary content to output during the advertisement based on the accessed advertisement preferences of the user comprises;

determining that the second meta-channel is providing non-advertisement programming at a time of the advertisement,

determining that the second meta-channel is a highest ranked channel within the content channel priority list that is providing non-advertisement programming at a time of the advertisement, and

selecting the second meta-channel as the source for secondary content to output during the advertisement based on the determination that the second meta-channel is the highest ranked channel within the content channel priority list that is providing non-advertisement programming at a time of the advertisement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user comprises accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user that indicate the user prefers non-advertisement programming to at least some advertisements.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

controlling the media system to output the content provided by the first service provider comprises controlling a media adapter within the media system to download Internet content provided by the first service provider from a remote server operated by the first service provider, decode the Internet content provided by the first service provider, and output the Internet content provided by the first service provider to an output device within the media system,

controlling the media system to transition from outputting the content provided by the first service provider to outputting the content provided by the second service provider comprises controlling the output device to change an input source setting of the output device from a first setting configured to render content from the media adapter outputting the Internet content provided by the first service provider to a second setting configured to render content from a receiver outputting broadcast content provided by the second service provider, and

controlling the media system to output the content provided by the third service provider comprises;

controlling the output device to change the input source setting of the output device from the second setting configured to render content from the receiver outputting the broadcast content provided by the second service provider to the first setting configured to render content from the media adapter, and

controlling the media adapter to download Internet content provided by the third service provider from a remote server operated by the third service provider, decode the Internet content provided by the third service provider, and output the Internet content provided by the third service provider to the output device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user comprises accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user that indicate the user prefers local advertisements and that include stationary geographic location information for the media system of the user, the method further comprising:

during output of broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider, detecting a national advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider;

selecting, by a meta-channel service provider that is different than the fourth service provider, a local advertisement based on the stationary geographic location information for the media system of the user;

substituting the local advertisement for the national advertisement; and

controlling the media system to output the local advertisement instead of the national advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider by;

serving, by the meta-channel service provider over a network, the local advertisement,

controlling a media adapter included in the media system to download the local advertisement being served by the meta-channel service provider and output the local advertisement to an output device included in the media system, and

controlling the output device to change an input source setting of the output device from a first setting configured to render content from a receiver outputting the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider to a second setting configured to render content from the media adapter outputting the local advertisement.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user comprises accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user that indicate at least one type of advertisement preferred by the user, the method further comprising:

during output of broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider, detecting an advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider;

determining that the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider is not a type of advertisement preferred by the user based on the at least one type of advertisement preferred by the user;

in response to the determination that the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider is not a type of advertisement preferred by the user, selecting, from among multiple potential advertisements by a meta-channel service provider that is different than the fourth service provider, a preferred advertisement based on the at least one type of advertisement preferred by the user;

substituting the preferred advertisement for the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider; and

controlling the media system to output the preferred advertisement instead of the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider by;

serving, by the meta-channel service provider over a network, the preferred advertisement,

controlling a media adapter included in the media system to download the preferred advertisement being served by the meta-channel service provider and output the preferred advertisement to an output device included in the media system, and

controlling the output device to change an input source setting of the output device from a first setting configured to render content from a receiver outputting the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider to a second setting configured to render content from the media adapter outputting the preferred advertisement.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider is at least one video-based advertisement that includes video of a first length of time;

selecting, from among multiple potential advertisements, the preferred advertisement based on the at least one type of advertisement preferred by the user comprises selecting an alternative video-based advertisement that includes video of a second length of time that is less than the first length of time and a non-video advertisement filler;

substituting the preferred advertisement for the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider comprises substituting a combination of the alternative video-based advertisement and the non-video advertisement filler for the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider; and

controlling the media system to output the preferred advertisement instead of the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider comprises controlling the media system to output the alternative video-based advertisement for the second length of time and controlling the media system to output the non-video advertisement filler for the remainder of the first length of time.

7. The method of claim 1:

wherein the first meta-channel includes first content entries assigned to the first meta-channel by the first channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the first channel service provider, the first content entries including at least a first content entry related to Internet content provided by the first service provider and a second content entry related to broadcast content provided by the second service provider,

wherein the second meta-channel includes second content entries assigned to the second meta-channel by the second channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the second channel service provider, the second content entries including at least a third content entry related to Internet content provided by the third service provider and a fourth content entry related to broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider,

wherein controlling the media system to output the content provided by the first service provider comprises controlling the media system to output the Internet content provided by the first service provider,

wherein controlling, at the end of the first content entry, the media system to transition from outputting the content provided by the first service provider to outputting the content provided by the second service provider comprises controlling, at the end of the first content entry, the media system to transition from outputting the Internet content provided by the first service provider to outputting the broadcast content provided by the second service provider,

wherein detecting an advertisement comprises detecting an advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the second service provider, and

wherein controlling the media system to output the content provided by the third service provider comprises controlling the media system to transition from outputting the broadcast content provided by the second service provider to outputting the Internet content provided by the third service provider.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the media system to display a meta-channel guide provided by a meta-channel service provider, the meta-channel guide identifying at least:

the first meta-channel including first content entries assigned to the first meta-channel by the first channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the first channel service provider, the first content entries including at least the first content entry related to content provided by the first service provider and the second content entry related to content provided by the second service provider, and

the second meta-channel including second content entries assigned to the second meta-channel by the second channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the second channel service provider, the second content entries including at least the third content entry related to content provided by the third service provider and the fourth content entry related to content provided by a fourth service provider,

wherein receiving, from the user of the media system, the selection of the first meta-channel comprises receiving, from the user of the media system, a selection of the first meta-channel from the meta-channel guide.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the meta-channel service provider, the first channel service provider, the first service provider, the second service provider, the second channel service provider, the third service provider, and the fourth service provider all are different entities.

10. A system comprising:

at least one electronic storage device configured to store advertisement preferences of a user; and

at least one processor configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a user of a media system, a selection of a first meta-channel from among options including at least;

the first meta-channel including first content entries assigned to the first meta-channel by a first channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the first channel service provider, the first content entries including at least a first content entry related to content provided by a first service provider and a second content entry related to content provided by a second service provider, and

a second meta-channel including second content entries assigned to the second meta-channel by a second channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the second channel service provider, the second content entries including at least a third content entry related to content provided by a third service provider and a fourth content entry related to content provided by a fourth service provider;

based on the selection of the first meta-channel, determining that, according to the order defined by the first channel service provider, the first meta-channel defines the first content entry to be presented at a time of the selection of the first meta-channel;

based on the determination that the first meta-channel defines the first content entry, controlling the media system to output the content provided by the first service provider;

determining that, according to the order defined by the first channel service provider, the first meta-channel defines the second content entry to be presented at an end of the first content entry;

based on the determination that the first meta-channel defines the second content entry to be presented at the end of the first content entry, controlling, at the end of the first content entry, the media system to transition from outputting the content provided by the first service provider to outputting the content provided by the second service provider;

at a time when the first meta-channel is selected, detecting an advertisement;

accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user;

selecting the second meta-channel as a source for secondary content to output during the advertisement based on the accessed advertisement preferences of the user;

based on the selection of the second meta-channel and the detection of the advertisement;

determining that, according to the order defined by the second channel service provider, the second meta-channel defines the third content entry to be presented at a time of the advertisement, and

based on the determination that the second meta-channel defines the third content entry to be presented at a time of the advertisement, controlling the media system to output the content provided by the third service provider,

wherein accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user comprises accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences that include a content channel priority list; and

wherein selecting the second meta-channel as a source for secondary content to output during the advertisement based on the accessed advertisement preferences of the user comprises;

determining that the second meta-channel is providing non-advertisement programming at a time of the advertisement,

determining that the second meta-channel is a highest ranked channel within the content channel priority list that is providing non-advertisement programming at a time of the advertisement, and

selecting the second meta-channel as the source for secondary content to output during the advertisement based on the determination that the second meta-channel is the highest ranked channel within the content channel priority list that is providing non-advertisement programming at a time of the advertisement.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein:

accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user comprises accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user that indicate the user prefers non-advertisement programming to at least some advertisements.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

controlling the media system to output the content provided by the first service provider comprises controlling a media adapter within the media system to download Internet content provided by the first service provider from a remote server operated by the first service provider, decode the Internet content provided by the first service provider, and output the Internet content provided by the first service provider to an output device within the media system,

controlling the media system to transition from outputting the content provided by the first service provider to outputting the content provided by the second service provider comprises controlling the output device to change an input source setting of the output device from a first setting configured to render content from the media adapter outputting the Internet content provided by the first service provider to a second setting configured to render content from a receiver outputting broadcast content provided by the second service provider, and

controlling the media system to output the content provided by the third service provider comprises;

controlling the output device to change the input source setting of the output device from the second setting configured to render content from the receiver outputting the broadcast content provided by the second service provider to the first setting configured to render content from the media adapter, and

controlling the media adapter to download Internet content provided by the third service provider from a remote server operated by the third service provider, decode the Internet content provided by the third service provider, and output the Internet content provided by the third service provider to the output device.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user comprises accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user that indicate the user prefers local advertisements and that include stationary geographic location information for the media system of the user, the method further comprising:

during output of broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider, detecting a national advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider;

selecting, by a meta-channel service provider that is different than the fourth service provider, a local advertisement based on the stationary geographic location information for the media system of the user;

substituting the local advertisement for the national advertisement; and

controlling the media system to output the local advertisement instead of the national advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider by;

serving, by the meta-channel service provider over a network, the local advertisement,

controlling a media adapter included in the media system to download the local advertisement being served by the meta-channel service provider and output the local advertisement to an output device included in the media system, and

controlling the output device to change an input source setting of the output device from a first setting configured to render content from a receiver outputting the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider to a second setting configured to render content from the media adapter outputting the local advertisement.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user comprises accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user that indicate at least one type of advertisement preferred by the user, the method further comprising:

during output of broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider, detecting an advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider;

determining that the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider is not a type of advertisement preferred by the user based on the at least one type of advertisement preferred by the user;

in response to the determination that the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider is not a type of advertisement preferred by the user, selecting, from among multiple potential advertisements by a meta-channel service provider that is different than the fourth service provider, a preferred advertisement based on the at least one type of advertisement preferred by the user;

substituting the preferred advertisement for the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider; and

controlling the media system to output the preferred advertisement instead of the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider by;

serving, by the meta-channel service provider over a network, the preferred advertisement,

controlling a media adapter included in the media system to download the preferred advertisement being served by the meta-channel service provider and output the preferred advertisement to an output device included in the media system, and

controlling the output device to change an input source setting of the output device from a first setting configured to render content from a receiver outputting the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider to a second setting configured to render content from the media adapter outputting the preferred advertisement.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider is at least one video-based advertisement that includes video of a first length of time;

selecting, from among multiple potential advertisements, the preferred advertisement based on the at least one type of advertisement preferred by the user comprises selecting an alternative video-based advertisement that includes video of a second length of time that is less than the first length of time and a non-video advertisement filler;

substituting the preferred advertisement for the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider comprises substituting a combination of the alternative video-based advertisement and the non-video advertisement filler for the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider; and

controlling the media system to output the preferred advertisement instead of the advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider comprises controlling the media system to output the alternative video-based advertisement for the second length of time and controlling the media system to output the non-video advertisement filler for the remainder of the first length of time.

16. The system of claim 10:

wherein the first meta-channel includes first content entries assigned to the first meta-channel by the first channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the first channel service provider, the first content entries including at least a first content entry related to Internet content provided by the first service provider and a second content entry related to broadcast content provided by the second service provider,

wherein the second meta-channel includes second content entries assigned to the second meta-channel by the second channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the second channel service provider, the second content entries including at least a third content entry related to Internet content provided by the third service provider and a fourth content entry related to broadcast content provided by the fourth service provider,

wherein controlling the media system to output the content provided by the first service provider comprises controlling the media system to output the Internet content provided by the first service provider,

wherein controlling, at the end of the first content entry, the media system to transition from outputting the content provided by the first service provider to outputting the content provided by the second service provider comprises controlling, at the end of the first content entry, the media system to transition from outputting the Internet content provided by the first service provider to outputting the broadcast content provided by the second service provider,

wherein detecting an advertisement comprises detecting an advertisement within the broadcast content provided by the second service provider, and

wherein controlling the media system to output the content provided by the third service provider comprises controlling the media system to transition from outputting the broadcast content provided by the second service provider to outputting the Internet content provided by the third service provider.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise controlling the media system to display a meta-channel guide provided by a meta-channel service provider, the meta-channel guide identifying at least:

the first meta-channel including first content entries assigned to the first meta-channel by the first channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the first channel service provider, the first content entries including at least the first content entry related to content provided by the first service provider and the second content entry related to content provided by the second service provider, and

the second meta-channel including second content entries assigned to the second meta-channel by the second channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the second channel service provider, the second content entries including at least the third content entry related to content provided by the third service provider and the fourth content entry related to content provided by a fourth service provider,

wherein receiving, from the user of the media system, the selection of the first meta-channel comprises receiving, from the user of the media system, a selection of the first meta-channel from the meta-channel guide.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the meta-channel service provider, the first channel service provider, the first service provider, the second service provider, the second channel service provider, the third service provider, and the fourth service provider all are different entities.