System and method to communicate targeted information

• US 9,094,802 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC
• Inventors: White, Russell W., Imes, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US14/168,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20140207581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/02 with automatic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 : for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 : file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method for targeted advertising is disclosed. The method includes accessing at least one piece of demographic information associated with a user of a portable device, selecting an advertisement to be delivered to the user based at least in part on the demographic information, and initiating communication of a version of the advertisement configured for presentation at the portable device.

Claims

1. A method to deliver media, comprising:

organizing an available media into a plurality of independent segment files to facilitate delivery;

formatting a given segment to facilitate an outputting of the given segment at a given rate;

formatting a different segment to facilitate an outputting of the different segment at a different rate, wherein the different rate is slower than the given rate;

generating a list that includes an address for each of the plurality of independent segment files;

receiving an HTTP communication that indicates a desire to access the available media;

sending the list in response to receiving the HTTP communication;

sending the given segment; and

sending the different segment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an advertisement.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the plurality of independent segment files in a storage medium means for storing files, wherein formatting the different segment comprises compressing the different segment into a format that is configured to facilitate an outputting at a playback device at or near the different rate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the available media is a video and the HTTP communication was received from an electronic device comprising an internal battery, a recharging circuit for the internal battery, a display, and an application stored at the electronic device to output the video on the display.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a link to the available media on a website.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a link to the available media on a website;

associating demographic information about a user with the user; and

communicating an advertisement targeted to the user based at least in part on the demographic information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the demographic information is selected from a group consisting of an age group demographic, a location demographic, and a gender group demographic, further wherein the HTTP communication is received from a requesting device that is a home media system component.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the available media is selected from a group consisting of a stored media and a near real time broadcasted media.

9. A streaming method comprising:

receiving an HTTP communication at a media delivery resource that comprises a request for a listing of network locations for segments of available media, further wherein the request is from a device having a buffer, a non-volatile memory, and a collection of instructions stored in the non-volatile memory that are operable;

(1) to request a media segment with a formatting that allows the media segment to be delivered from the media delivery resource at a given rate, (2) to consider an amount of information stored in the buffer, and (3) to request a different segment with a different formatting that allows the different segment to be delivered from the media delivery resource at a different rate, wherein the at least two rates are rates at which a streaming media can be output;

sending a message comprising a plurality of network locations for different segments of the available media;

sending a requested segment of the available media, wherein the requested segment has a compression format that allows for use at the given rate; and

sending a different requested segment of the available media, wherein the different requested segment has a different compression format.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the available media is a video configured for presentation by an application stored at the device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the compression format has an outputting characteristic that is measured in bits per second.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the video is selected from a group consisting of a network stored media and a near real time broadcasted media.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

organizing the available media into a plurality of segments to facilitate delivery;

saving each of the plurality of segments such that each can be individually retrieved; and

periodically sending a requested next segment to the device.

14. A system that facilitates delivery of media, comprising:

a media available for delivery as a series of segments, wherein at least a given one of the segments is configured to allow delivery to a requesting device via a network link capable of communicating information at a first rate and at least another segment is configured to allow delivery to the requesting device via a link capable of communicating information at a different rate;

a media playlist for the available media that includes a network location for a file representing the given one of the segments and a different network location for a different file representing the other segment; and

a delivery resource configured to respond to a plurality of file requests by transmitting information to the requesting device in a manner that facilitates a continuous outputting of the available media by the requesting device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first rate is slower than the different rate.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the given one of the segments has a format that is designed to be output at or below a given rate measured in bits per second and the format is a way in which the given one of the segments is configured to allow delivery to the requesting device via the network link.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the delivery resource comprises a formatting engine that puts the given one of the segments into the format.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the media available for delivery comprises a video, the system further comprising:

a collection of instructions stored in a non-volatile memory and configured to be executed by an electronic device that has an independent power supply and a display, the collection of instructions operable when executed to direct the electronic device to continuously output the video and to periodically request a next file included on the media playlist.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

an advertising module configured to send a targeted advertisement to the electronic device.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the delivery resource is configured to recognize if a requesting device is a mobile device necessitating a delivery path that comprises at least one wireless link.