Asset conflict resolution for content on demand asset insertion

• US 9,386,349 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2012
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Canoe Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Farb, Jonathan E., Moretto, Thomas M., Dilger, Bruce C., Whitton, Timothy R., Rippe, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Featherstone, Mark D
• Application Number:
  US13/628,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20140089968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Systems and methods presented herein provide for conflict resolution of assets selected for insertion into COD content. In one embodiment, the system includes an interface operable to process a request for asset insertion into the COD content selection. The system also includes an asset conflict resolution module operable to identify asset timeslots within the COD content selection from the request, to evaluate the assets to determine conflicts among the assets, to remove conflicting assets, and to select at least a portion of the remaining assets for insertion in the asset timeslots of the COD content selection. For example, the asset conflict resolution module may determine that conflicts exist between certain assets based on various identifiers associated with the assets and/or content such that the conflicts between the assets may be resolved with the removal of one or more of the assets from potential asset insertion selection.

Claims

1. A system operable to select from a plurality of assets for insertion into a Content On Demand (COD) content selection, the system comprising:

a processor that interfaces between a content provider and asset providers, wherein the processor is operable to receive the COD content selection having availability for asset insertion from the content provider, to process campaign items of the asset providers, the campaign items having one or more assets, to qualify the campaign items for the COD content selection, and to rank the qualified campaign items; and

an asset conflict resolution module operable to identify asset timeslots within the COD content selection, to evaluate the campaign items in the order of the rank of the campaign items, and to exclude assets of a campaign item from insertion when the campaign item violates brand separation rules of recently inserted assets;

for a campaign item that does adhere to brand separation rules of recently inserted assets, the asset conflict resolution module further operable to evaluate each individual asset of that campaign item, and to include assets that are validated based on the evaluation in a selection list; and

the asset conflict resolution further configured to rank assets included in the selection list, and to direct the processor to place assets in the COD content selection based on the rank of assets included in the selection list.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the asset conflict resolution module is further operable to determine conflicts among assets based on a multidimensional asset separation criteria according to an asset brand, an asset product category, or a combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the asset conflict resolution module is, for at least one of the assets, further operable to;

validate a break position for the asset;

validate an asset separation of the asset;

validate an asset definition of the asset;

validate an asset duration of the asset;

determine whether the asset is available on an Asset Decision Manager;

determine whether the asset is available in a target window;

determine whether the asset is available in a license window;

or perform a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the asset conflict resolution module is further operable to determine values of assets to the content provider of the COD content selection.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the asset conflict resolution module is further operable to identify at least two assets in the selection list that have a combined presentation duration corresponding to one of the asset timeslots, and to direct insertion of the at least two assets into the one asset timeslot.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the asset conflict resolution module is further operable to identify an owner of a first asset to determine a conflict with a second asset and to remove the first asset from insertion selection based on the owner of the first asset.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the asset conflict resolution module is further operable to determine a separation period for the asset timeslots of the COD content selection based on the selection list, and to remove one or more assets from the selection list based on the separation period.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the asset conflict resolution module is further operable to communicate with the content provider of the COD content selection to provide a report of assets inserted into the asset timeslots of the COD content selection.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the asset conflict resolution module is further operable to direct the processor to place the assets into the asset timeslots within the COD content selection based at least in part on the determined values of the assets.

10. A method of selecting from a plurality of assets for insertion into a Content On Demand (COD) content selection, the method comprising:

interfacing, with a processor, between a content provider and asset providers;

receiving the COD content selection having availability for asset insertion from the content provider;

processing campaign items of the asset providers, the campaign items having one or more assets;

qualifying the campaign items for the COD content selection;

ranking, with the processor, the assets of the qualified campaign items;

identifying, with an asset conflict resolution module, asset timeslots within the COD content selection;

evaluating the campaign items in the order of the rank of the campaign items;

excluding assets of a campaign items from insertion when the campaign item violates brand separation rules of recently inserted assets;

for a campaign item that does adhere to brand separation rules of recently inserted assets;

evaluating each individual assets of that campaign item; and

including assets that are validated based on the evaluation in a selection list;

ranking assets included in the selection list; and

directing, with the asset conflict resolution module, insertion of assets in the COD content selection based on the rank of assets included in the list.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining conflicts among assets based on a multidimensional asset separation criteria according to an asset brand, an asset product category, or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising, for at least one of the assets:

validating a break position for the asset;

validating an asset separation of the asset;

validating an asset definition of the asset;

validating an asset duration of the asset;

determining whether the asset is available on an Asset Decision Manager;

determining whether the asset is available in a target window;

determining whether the asset is available in a license window;

or

performing a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining values of assets to the content provider of the COD content selection.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying at least two assets in the selection list that have a combined presentation duration corresponding to one of the asset timeslots; and

directing insertion of the at least two assets into the one asset timeslot.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying an owner of a first asset to determine a conflict with a second asset and to remove the first asset from insertion selection based on the owner of the first asset.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a separation period for the asset timeslots of the COD content selection based on the selection list; and

removing one or more assets from the selection list based on the separation period.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

communicating with the content provider of the COD content selection to provide a report of assets inserted into the asset timeslots of the COD content selection.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

directing placement of the assets into the asset timeslots within the COD content selection based at least in part on the determined values of the assets.

19. A non transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, direct the processor to select from a plurality of assets for insertion into a Content On Demand (COD) content selection, the instructions further directing the processor to:

interface, with a processor, between a content provider and asset providers;

receive the COD content selection having availability for asset insertion from the content provider;

process campaign items of the asset providers, the campaign items having one or more assets;

qualify the campaign items for the COD content selection;

rank, with the processor, the assets of the qualified campaign items;

identify, with an asset conflict resolution module, asset timeslots within the COD content selection;

evaluate the campaign items in the order of the rank of the campaign items;

for a campaign item that does adhere to brand separation rules of recently inserted assets;

evaluate each individual assets of that campaign item; and

include assets that are validated based on the evaluation in a selection list;

rank assets included in the selection list; and

direct, with the asset conflict resolution module, insertion of assets in the COD content selection based on the rank of assets included in the list.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further directing the processor to:

determine conflicts among assets based on a multidimensional asset separation criteria according to an asset brand, an asset product category, or a combination thereof.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further directing the processor to, for at least one of the assets:

validate a break position for the asset;

validate an asset separation of the asset;

validate an asset definition of the asset;

validate an asset duration of the asset;

determine whether the asset is available on an Asset Decision Manager;

determine whether the asset is available in a target window;

determine whether the asset is available in a license window;

or

perform a combination thereof.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further directing the processor to:

determine values assets to the content provider of the COD content selection.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further directing the processor to:

identify at least two assets in the selection list that have a combined presentation duration corresponding to one of the asset timeslots; and

direct insertion of the at least two assets into the one asset timeslot.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further directing the processor to:

identify an owner of a first asset to determine a conflict with a second asset and to remove the first asset from insertion selection based on the owner of the first asset.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further directing the processor to:

determine a separation period for the asset timeslots of the COD content selection based on the selection list; and

remove one or more assets from the selection list based on the separation period.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further directing the processor to:

communicate with the provider of the COD content selection to provide a report of assets inserted into the asset timeslots of the COD content selection.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 22, the instructions further directing the processor to:

direct placement of the assets into the asset timeslots within the COD content selection based at least in part on the determined values of the assets.