Apparatus and methods for multimedia coordination

• US 9,131,283 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Patel, Vipul, Gould, Kenneth, Chen, David
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US13/715,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20140173652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 725 33- 36, 725 86-118, 709217-232
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• 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 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing coordination between two or more different media distribution channels. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a server and associated client processes disposed ob various components of a managed content distribution network (e.g., cable or satellite network). The server process coordinates with the client processes to obtain user interactivity data useful is assessing the efficacy of certain secondary content (e.g., advertisements). In one variant, input is received from, and provided to, other associated media campaigns (e.g., print, online, and/or telephonic) so as to allow rapid and effective coordination between the campaigns. Mechanisms for improving user engagement to the secondary content are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a content distribution network having a plurality of users associated therewith, the method comprising:

providing at least one of the plurality of users with at least a primary content element and a secondary content element;

evaluating a duration of time that the at least one of the plurality of users has viewed the secondary content element; and

based upon the act of evaluating, electronically crediting an account associated with the at least one of the plurality of users with one or more forms of consideration when the duration of time meets a threshold, the threshold comprising an amount of time equal to a portion of the entire duration of the secondary content element;

wherein the one or more forms of consideration are configured to be negotiable for at least one of;

goods, services, and/or one or more second forms of consideration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a managed network, and the one or more forms of consideration comprise virtual consideration comprising points electronically credited to the account associated with the at least one of the plurality of users and maintained by an operator of the network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the virtual consideration comprises consideration that can be used by the one of the plurality of users to avoid or skip at least a portion of a secondary content element delivered by the distribution network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of evaluating comprises providing the at least one of the plurality of users with one or more questions relating to the secondary content element, and receiving an answer from the at least one of the plurality of users.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an output, based upon the act of evaluating, for use by another media channel in delivering advertising or promotional content relating to the secondary content element.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the output comprises a recommended action for the another media channel.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the output comprises a command for the another media channel to implement a removal and insertion action with respect to the delivery of advertising or promotional content relating to the secondary content element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluation further comprises receiving from the at least one of the plurality of users a correct answer to a question presented thereto.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluation further comprises (i) obtaining an input regarding whether the at least one of the plurality of users liked an advertisement;

and (ii) obtaining input regarding whether the at least one of the plurality of users would purchase a product or service.

10. A network server device configured to collect data relating to a user'"'"'s interaction with one or more content elements and distribute at least one of (i) a portion of the collected data;

and/or (ii) second data generated based at least in part on the collected data, the device comprising;

a network interface configured to receive the collected data from a content distribution network;

a processor in data communication with the network interface; and

logic in data communication with the processor, the logic configured to;

based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the one or more content elements, provide the user with a discount or promotion for use with a third party entity;

evaluate the collected data relating to the user'"'"'s interaction with the one or more content elements to identify one or more features thereof;

generate second data that is based at least in part on the collected data relating to the user'"'"'s interaction with the one or more content elements relating to the one or more features; and

collect third data from the third party entity relating to a use of the discount or promotion by the user;

distribute at least the generated second data and the third data to one or more evaluation entities for use in one or more correlated media advertising or promotion campaigns.

11. The network server device of claim 10, wherein the collected data is account, premises, and/or user-specific data, and the logic is further configured to anonymize at least portions of the data so as to preclude a correlation of individual ones of the collected data to a respective account, premises and/or user from which the individual ones of the data was collected.

12. The network server device of claim 11, wherein the anonymization comprises generation of a one-way cryptographic hash based on at least one of:

(i) a MAC address of a CPE associated with a subscriber account; and

/or (ii) an IP address associated with the subscriber account.

13. A user device configured to obtain data relating to interaction with one or more secondary content elements associated with a first program stream by a user thereof, the user device comprising:

a network interface configured to receive the one or more secondary content elements associated with the first program stream;

a storage device; and

a processor in data communication with the network interface, the processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, the computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed;

obtain data from one or more input devices associated with the user device, the data comprising information relating to an initiation of a trick mode functionality with respect to a first one of the one or more secondary content elements associated with the first program stream;

forward the obtained data to a network entity via the network interface;

receive a determination from the network entity that the first one of the secondary content elements is ineffective based, at least in part, on the obtained data relating to the initiation of the trick mode functionality; and

based, at least in part, on the reception of the determination that the first one of the secondary content elements is ineffective, receive a second program stream configured to have the first one of the one or more secondary content elements replaced with a second one of the one or more secondary content elements.

14. The user device of claim 13, wherein the user device comprises a leased device for use within a managed network.

15. The user device of claim 13, wherein the obtained data comprises at least one of:

(i) information relating to a user'"'"'s interaction with a telescoping function; and

/or (ii) information relating to a user having marked an individual one of the one or more secondary content elements as a favorite.

16. The user device of claim 13, wherein the obtained data comprises data relating to a selection of a command causing the user device to perform at least one of:

(i) a fast forward of the first one of the one or more secondary content elements associated with the first program stream;

(ii) a rewind of the first one of the one or more secondary content elements associated with the first program stream; and

/or (iii) a pause of the first one of the one or more secondary content elements associated with the first program stream.

17. The user device of claim 13, wherein the user device comprises a non-leased consumer device.

18. The user device of claim 17, further comprising extraction of the obtained data from a packetized stream carried over the network via a transport control protocol (TCP).

19. The user device of claim 18, wherein the packetized stream is further carried over the network via a multiplexed transport stream (MPTS).

20. The user device of claim 18, wherein the obtained data comprises data relating to a selection of a command causing the user device to perform at least one of:

(i) a fast forward of the first one of the one or more secondary content elements associated with the first program stream;

(ii) a rewind of the first one of the one or more secondary content elements associated with the first program stream; and

/or (iii) a pause of the first one of the one or more secondary content elements associated with the first program stream.

21. The user device of claim 13, wherein the network interface comprises a wireless interface configured for ad hoc communication with another wireless enabled device or access point.