Content management of a content feed

• US 9,641,870 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sorenson Media, Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Inventors: Cormie, Steven M., Liassides, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US14/820,476
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0249 based upon budgets or funds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/47 Detecting features for summarising video content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/20 Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• 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 21/2668 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• 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 21/440245 the reformatting operation being performed only on part of the stream, e.g. a region of the image or a time segment
• 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 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 21/85 : Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 : by creating hot-spots

Abstract

A processing device and method are disclosed to manage content of a content feed is disclosed. The method can include receiving, from a content provider, media content. The method can also include analyzing the media content to determine targeting information. The method can further include receiving, from a client device, an overlay request requesting a media content overlay, where the overlay request includes a targeting parameter and an overlay parameter. The method can further include comparing the targeting parameter with overlay content stored in an overlay database to determine targeted overlay content. The method can further include retrieving, from the overlay database, the targeted overlay content. The method can further include comparing the overlay parameter with the targeted overlay content to identify an overlay configuration of the targeted overlay content. The method can further include delivering, to the client device, the targeted overlay content within the overlay configuration.

Claims

1. A server device comprising:

a memory device to store instructions for a content manager;

a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device, the processing device to execute the content manager;

the content manager comprising;

an overlay database in which to store overlay content;

an overlay decision engine to;

receive, from a client device, a request for a content overlay, wherein the request comprises a targeting parameter and an overlay parameter related to media content being received from a content provider;

compare the targeting parameter with the overlay content in the overlay database to determine targeted overlay content;

compare the overlay parameter with the targeted overlay content in the overlay database to determine an overlay configuration of the targeted overlay content, wherein the overlay configuration comprises a sequenced overlay format to direct the client device to display a first set of media frames and a second set of media frames of the targeted overlay content in a determined sequence, and wherein the first set of media frames is different than the second set of media frames; and

communicate, to the client device, the overlay configuration; and

an overlay server to deliver, to the client device, the targeted overlay content according to the overlay configuration for display on the client device, wherein the overlay decision engine is further to;

in response to the client device displaying the targeted overlay content, receive user feedback information from the client device; and

identify a third set of media frames in view of the user feedback information for the overlay server to deliver to the client device, wherein the third set of media frames is different than the first set of media frames and the second set of media frames.

2. The server device of claim 1, wherein the overlay configuration further comprises:

a video format directing the client device to display video content;

a restart format directing the client device to display the targeted overlay content with playback controls from which to restart a television program from a beginning thereof;

or

a broadcaster portal format directing the client device to display targeted overlay content received from the content provider.

3. The server device of claim 1, wherein the targeting parameter comprises:

language targeting information;

weather targeting information;

time of day targeting information;

viewing history targeting information;

demographic targeting information;

geographic targeting information;

or pollen level targeting information.

4. The server device of claim 1, wherein the overlay decision engine is further to:

receive, from the client device, information identifying the targeted overlay content and the overlay format;

retrieve, from the overlay database, the targeted overlay content; and

deliver, to the client device, the targeted overlay content and the overlay configuration as an overlay advertisement.

5. The server device of claim 1, wherein the overlay decision engine is further to communicate a display restart instruction to the client device, wherein the display restart instruction instructs the client device to restart displaying the media content from a beginning of the media content.

6. The server device of claim 5, wherein media content that is restarted is streaming encoded video.

7. The server device of claim 1, wherein the targeted overlay content received from the content provider comprises textual, graphical, or video content.

8. The server device of claim 1, further comprising a management engine is to:

associate the targeted overlay content and the overlay format with a universal resource locator (URL), wherein the URL indicates a source location of the targeted overlay content and the format of the overlay; and

communicate, to the client device, the URL for the client device to retrieve the targeted overlay content and the overlay format.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

receive media content of a television program from a content provider also being received by a client device;

receive, from the client device, an overlay request requesting overlay content, wherein the overlay request comprises an overlay parameter and a targeting parameter;

select overlay content for the overlay request;

determine that an amount remaining in a monetary budget, associated with the overlay request, exceeds a first amount;

determine that a number of times the overlay content has been displayed does not exceed a second amount;

determine that the overlay content matches the targeting parameter;

compare the overlay parameter with the overlay content stored in an overlay database to determine an overlay configuration for the overlay content, wherein the overlay configuration comprises a sequenced overlay format to direct the client device to display a first set of media frames and a second set of media frames of the overlay content in a determined sequence, and wherein the first set of media frames is different than the second set of media frames;

compare the targeting parameter with the overlay content to determine targeted overlay content; and

deliver, to the client device, the targeted overlay content within the overlay configuration.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the overlay configuration further comprises:

a video format directing the client device to display video content;

or

a broadcaster portal format directing the client device to display the overlay that shows other content received from the content provider.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the targeting parameter comprises at least one of:

language targeting information;

weather targeting information;

time of day targeting information;

viewing history targeting information;

demographic targeting information;

geographic targeting information;

or pollen level targeting information.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the overlay parameter comprises:

call-to-action options, wherein the call-to-action options comprises configuration information for a user interface of the client device that receives feedback associated with the targeted overlay content or the media content;

or

restriction information, wherein the restriction information restricts selection of targeted overlay content.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the call-to-action options comprise one or a combination of:

promotional codes option for the client device to display a promotional code;

click-to-vote option for the client device to display a voting interface;

click-to-buy option for the client device to display an interface for the user to buy a product or service;

click-to-call option for the client device to display calling information or a call interface;

click-to-text option for the client device to display texting information or a texting interface;

click-to-email option for the client device to display an email interface;

click-to-indicate-user-response option configuration information for the client device to display an interface to receive the user response;

or

click-to-remind option for the client device to display an interface element of a graphical user interface (GUI) to set a reminder.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the executable instructions further cause the processing device to:

receive, from an input device of the client device, user feedback information; and

send the user feedback information to a data engine of the processing device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the executable instructions further cause the processing device to:

receive, from the client device, user interaction information; and

send the user interaction information to a data engine of the processing device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the executable instructions further cause the processing device to:

receive, from the client device, a content identifier (ID);

send, to the client device, compatibility information associated with the targeted overlay content; and

receive, from the client device, the request when the client device is compatible with the targeted overlay content.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the executable instructions further cause the processing device to perform operations in which the processing device is integrated into a television or is set-top box device.

18. A method comprising:

receiving, from a content provider, media content;

analyzing the media content to determine targeting information;

receiving, from a client device, an overlay request requesting a media content overlay, wherein the overlay request comprises a targeting parameter and an overlay parameter;

select overlay content for the overlay request;

determining that an amount remaining in a monetary budget, associated with the overlay request, exceeds a first amount;

determining that a number of times the overlay content has been displayed does not exceed a second amount;

determining the overlay content matches the targeting parameter;

comparing the targeting parameter with overlay content stored in an overlay database to determine targeted overlay content;

retrieving, from the overlay database, the targeted overlay content;

comparing the overlay parameter with the targeted overlay content to identify an overlay configuration for the targeted overlay content, wherein the overlay configuration comprises a broadcaster portal format directing the client device to display an overlay comprising additional content received from the content provider to be superimposed onto the media content received from the content provider; and

delivering, to the client device, the targeted overlay content within the overlay configuration.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the targeting parameter comprises:

language targeting information;

weather targeting information;

time of day targeting information;

viewing history targeting information;

demographic targeting information;

geographic targeting information;

or pollen level targeting information.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the overlay configuration further comprises:

a sequenced overlay format directing the client device to display a plurality of media contents of the targeted overlay content in a determined sequence;

a video format directing the client device to display video content;

or

a restart format directing the client device to display the targeted overlay content with playback controls from which to restart a television program from a beginning thereof.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises sending a display restart instruction to the client device in response to receiving a selection of one of the playback controls, wherein the display restart instruction instructs the client device to restart displaying the media content from a beginning of the media content.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the overlay parameter comprises:

call-to-action options, wherein the call-to-action options are configuration information for a user interface of the client device that receives feedback associated with the targeted overlay content or the media content;

or

restriction information, wherein the restriction information is selected information used to focus or restrict overlay content selection.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the media content that is restarted is streaming encoded video, wherein the targeted overlay content received from the content provider comprises textual, graphical, or video content.