Synchronization of supplemental digital content

• US 9,374,606 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NBC Universal Media LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NBC Universal Media LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: McKenna, Matthew, Einstein, Myra
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOYD, ALEXANDER L
• Application Number:
  US14/046,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20150100999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725143-146
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43079 of additional data with content streams on multiple devices
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content

Abstract

Supplemental digital content is provided to be played in synchronization with primary digital content on a media device, such as a television, handheld device, smart phone, computer, and so forth. The supplemental digital content is timed to a long-form version of the primary content and is then synchronized based upon a linearized content (e.g., broadcast) schedule of the long-form content with populated pods.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing primary digital content and supplemental digital content, comprising:

timing the supplemental digital content to a long-form version of the primary digital content, wherein the long-form version comprises a version of the primary content comprising segment definitions where additional content may be inserted for a broadcast of the primary digital content and, optionally, content placeholder pods;

creating a long-form timing script interpretable by a machine to create supplemental content triggers timed to the long-form version of the primary digital content;

scheduling provision of a linearized program feed comprising the long-form version and the additional content, inserted at the segment definitions;

creating a broadcast schedule for the linearized program feed; and

creating a linearized content script based upon the broadcast schedule and the long-form timing script, wherein the linearized content script times the supplemental content triggers of the long-form timing script to the scheduled linearized program feed.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving the long-form version; and

authoring the supplemental digital content based upon the long-form version of the primary digital content.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving the supplemental content at a supplemental content consumption device; and

presenting, at the supplemental content consumption device, the supplemental content at timeframes of playback of the linearized program feed based on the linearized content script.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising authoring the long-form version at a primary content production facility.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising creating the linearized content script based upon a long-form schedule definition that defines start and stop points of segments of the long-form program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental digital content comprises, audio, video, text, images, computer-implemented instructions, or any combination thereof.

7. A system for synchronizing digital content, comprising:

a primary content playback circuitry configured to present a linearized program feed of primary digital content;

a supplemental content playback circuitry configured to present supplemental content associated with the linearized program feed of primary digital content;

a linearized content script that times particular trigger points for supplemental content events to a scheduled broadcast of the linearized program feed of primary digital content, wherein the linearized content script is generated based upon a long-form timing script that times the particular trigger points to a long-form version of the primary digital content, wherein the long-form version of the primary digital content comprises segment definitions where additional content may be inserted for a broadcast of the primary digital content and, optionally, content placeholder pods; and

a sequencing component, comprising circuitry configured to trigger presentation of the supplemental content based upon the linearized content script, wherein the linearized program feed comprises the long-form version of the primary digital content and the additional content, inserted at the segment definitions.

8. The system of claim 7, comprising processing circuitry configured to:

monitor primary content playback characteristics of the primary content playback circuitry; and

modify presentation of the supplemental content based upon the primary content playback characteristics.

9. The system of claim 7, comprising interface circuitry configured to:

receive the supplemental content from a supplemental content provider; and

receive the linearized content script from a supplemental content sequencing provider.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the supplemental content provider and the supplemental sequencing provider are one and the same.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the primary content playback circuitry is configured to receive the primary digital content as a linearized program feed from cable communications, Internet communications, broadcast communications, satellite communications, cellular communications, wireless communications, or any combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 7, comprising:

a television comprising the primary content playback circuitry, the supplemental content playback circuitry, and the sequencing component.

13. The system of claim 7, comprising:

a time-shift device configured to cause playback of the linearized program feed of the primary content at an unscheduled time;

wherein the sequencing component is configured to trigger presentation of the supplemental content based upon the linearized content script and a reference time point related to the unscheduled time.

14. A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising:

a linearized content script configured to;

specify timings for one or more particular supplemental content event triggers with reference to a scheduled linearized program feed broadcast of primary digital content,

wherein the linearized content script is generated based upon a long-form timing script configured to;

specify timings for the one or more particular supplemental content event triggers with reference to a long-form version of the primary digital content, wherein the long-form version comprises a version of the primary content comprising segment definitions where additional content may be inserted for a broadcast of the primary digital content;

wherein the linearized program feed broadcast comprises the long-form version and the additional content, inserted at the segment definitions.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the one or more particular supplemental content event triggers comprise sequential event triggers configured to require a first trigger to activate a first supplemental content event prior to a second trigger activating a second supplemental content event.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the linearized content script comprises:

one or more rules configured to dynamically add, remove, or alter one or more of the particular supplemental content event triggers.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more rules are configured to add, remove, or alter the one or more of the particular supplemental content event triggers based upon whether previous supplemental content event triggers executed a supplemental content event.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more rules are configured to add, remove, or alter the one or more of the particular supplemental content event triggers based upon one or more characteristics of the playback of the primary content.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more rules are configured to dynamically move a supplemental content trigger associated with a segment of the long-form version to a supplemental content trigger associated with pod content of the scheduled broadcast upon the occurrence of a playback event.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the linearized content script is configured to trigger supplemental content during playback of pod content.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the linearized content script comprises applicability dates for the supplemental content, configured to define a time period where the supplemental content is applicable, such that supplemental content that is not applicable during a playback time is not presented at a supplemental content consumption device.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the linearized content script is configured to trigger supplemental content branching events, wherein the supplemental content branching events are configured to present alternative supplemental content based upon interaction with previously presented primary content, supplemental content, or both.