Systems and methods for generating media content using microtrends

• US 9,357,179 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FreeWheel Media Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visible World Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Haberman, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marandi, James R
• Application Number:
  US11/789,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,325 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• 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 21/6582 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 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a media generation application that allows a user to create and customize a commercial based on microtrend information and/or feedback information is provided.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing commercials to an intended audience, the method comprising, by a processor:

receiving over a network, from a user, a commercial template for a broadcast commercial and a plurality of video media segments for insertion into the commercial template, wherein the commercial template includes a plurality of sequential media slots that accommodate one or more of the plurality of media segments, wherein each of the plurality of video media segments are associated with metadata tags;

receiving microtrend data over the network from a third-party information source, the microtrend data being non-demographic data relating to information source users or information source entities not included in the intended audience, wherein the microtrend data comprises at least one of;

information relating to information source user or information source entity interactions with the information source, information relating to information source user or information source entity activity on the information source, and trend information relating to the information source;

selecting a plurality of media segments from the plurality of video media segments based on the received microtrend data from the third-party information source;

assembling a commercial, wherein the plurality of media segments are inserted into one or more of the plurality of sequential media slots in a sequence determined based on the metadata tags;

receiving feedback from the information source in response to broadcasting the commercial, the feedback comprising information relating to a product being advertised in the commercial; and

assembling a second commercial by inserting a different set of media segments into the media template based on the feedback.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the received commercial template and the plurality of media segments into a database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to upload at least one of the commercial template and the plurality of media segments into a database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information source is one of:

a website, a linked website, a third party website, and a cellular provider.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a query to the information source for the received information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the received information with at least one of;

the commercial template and the plurality of media segments; and

storing the receiving information in a database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback further comprises information that a user of the information source performed at least one of the following actions:

reviewed content, fast-forwarded through content, rewound content, paused content, paused content at a particular time, replayed content, played content for a particular time, created a link to content, and sent a link to content to another user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback further comprises inventory information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the received feedback to present recommendation options to the user for assembling a different version of the commercial, wherein the recommendation options include at least one of:

recommended media segments, recommended assembled commercials, a recommended advertisement group, a recommended time slot, a recommended television program, a recommended demographic.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating construction rules based on the received feedback.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from each of a plurality of information sources, at least one of;

information relating to user interactions with the information source, information relating to activity on the information source, and trend information relating to the information source;

analyzing the received information from the plurality of information sources; and

customizing the assembled commercial based on the analysis.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the analyzing further comprises:

applying a model to the received information, wherein the model comprises a plurality of calculations to simulate the changes to the assembled commercial; and

providing the user with an indication of an impact on the assembled commercial based at least in part on the application of the model to the received information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an event from the information source, wherein the event is associated with updated media segments and instructions for relating the currently selected media segments; and

replacing the selected media segments with the updated media segments.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an event from the information source, wherein the event is associated with the assembled commercial; and

transmitting a query to the information source for at least one of;

updated media segments, updated information relating to the assembled commercial, and updated information relating to the media segments in the assembled commercial.

15. A system for providing commercials to an intended audience, the system comprising:

a processor at least partially executing a media generation application that is in communications with a database and is configured to;

receive a commercial template and a plurality of video media segments for insertion into the commercial template, wherein the commercial template includes a plurality of sequential media slots that accommodate one or more of the plurality of media segments, wherein each of the plurality of video media segments are associated with metadata tags,

receive microtrend data over the network from a third-party information source, the microtrend data being non-demographic data relating to information source users or information source entities not included in the intended audience, wherein the microtrend data comprises at least one of;

information relating to information source user or information source entity interactions with the information source, information relating to information source user or information source entity activity on the information source, and trend information relating to the information source;

select a plurality of media segments from the plurality of video media segments based on the received microtrend data from the third-party information source,

instruct an assembly software package to assemble a commercial, wherein the plurality of media segments are inserted into one or more of the plurality of sequential media slots in a sequence determined based on the metadata tags

receiving feedback from the information source in response to broadcasting the commercial, the feedback comprising information relating to a product being advertised in the commercial; and

assembling a second commercial by inserting a different set of media segments into the media template based on the feedback.