Systems and methods for providing non-intrusive advertising content to set-top boxes

• US 9,781,491 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yahoo AD Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Jeffrey Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US15/367,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• 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 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/2668 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/44226 on social networks
• 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing non-intrusive advertising content to users. The method includes receiving user input reflecting user content preferences for receiving desired content related to specific topics in lieu of standard advertising slots while watching playable media content via a set-top box. The method may further include receiving a request for playable media content and then retrieving desired content based on user content preferences. Thereafter, the method may include choosing non-intrusive advertising content and generating datagrams that include the desired content and the non-intrusive advertising content. The datagrams may be concatenated with the playable media content to generate displayable content. The display content may then be provided for displaying.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing advertising content, the method comprising:

receiving, using at least one processor, a user'"'"'s input reflecting the user'"'"'s content preferences for receiving desired content in lieu of standard advertising content;

retrieving desired content to include in advertising slots in lieu of standard advertising content based on the user'"'"'s input of user content preferences;

choosing non-intrusive advertising content to include along with the retrieved desired content in a datagram;

generating one or more datagrams including the retrieved desired content and the chosen non-intrusive advertising content;

storing the generated one or more datagrams in a database;

upon receiving, from a set-top box of the user, a request for playable media content, concatenating the playable media content and the previously generated one or more datagrams stored in the database; and

streaming the playable media content and the one or more datagrams to the set-top box for display to the user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the desired content is watermarked with the non-intrusive advertising content to generate the one or more datagrams.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein choosing non-intrusive advertising content to include in the desired content comprises choosing the non-intrusive advertising content to embed in the desired content based on a user profile associated with the user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein choosing the non-intrusive advertising content to embed in the desired content is further based on a target audience for advertising content.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:

the user profile is based on one or more of a unique identity associated with the set-top box, a unique identify associated with the user, user demographic data, and user preferences.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:

the user profile is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with Internet content or Internet advertising viewed on a computer or mobile device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a message to a user for soliciting user input reflecting user content preferences for receiving the desired content related to specific topics in lieu of standard advertising content.

8. A system for providing advertising content, the system comprising:

a data storage device storing instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method comprising;

receiving a user'"'"'s input reflecting the user'"'"'s content preferences for receiving desired content in lieu of standard advertising content;

retrieving desired content to include in advertising slots in lieu of standard advertising content based on the user'"'"'s input of user content preferences;

choosing non-intrusive advertising content to include along with the retrieved desired content in a datagram;

generating one or more datagrams including the retrieved desired content and the chosen non-intrusive advertising content;

storing the generated one or more datagrams in a database;

upon receiving, from a set-top box of the user, a request for playable media content, concatenating the playable media content and the previously generated one or more datagrams stored in the database; and

streaming the playable media content and the one or more datagrams to the set-top box for display to the user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the desired content is watermarked with the non-intrusive advertising content to generate the one or more datagrams.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein choosing non-intrusive advertising content to include in the desired content comprises choosing the non-intrusive advertising content to embed in the desired content based on a user profile associated with the user.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein choosing the non-intrusive advertising content to embed in the desired content is further based on a target audience for advertising content.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the user profile is further based on one or more of a unique identity associated with the set-top box, a unique identify associated with the user, user demographic data, and user preferences.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the user profile is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with Internet content or Internet advertising viewed on a computer or mobile device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

transmitting a message to a user for soliciting user input reflecting user content preferences for receiving the desired content related to specific topics in lieu of standard advertising content.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions, when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving, using at least one processor, a user'"'"'s input reflecting the user'"'"'s content preferences for receiving desired content in lieu of standard advertising content;

retrieving desired content to include in advertising slots in lieu of standard advertising content based on the user'"'"'s input of user content preferences;

choosing non-intrusive advertising content to include along with the retrieved desired content in a datagram;

generating one or more datagrams including the retrieved desired content and the chosen non-intrusive advertising content;

storing the generated one or more datagrams in a database;

upon receiving, from a set-top box of the user, a request for playable media content, concatenating the playable media content and the previously generated one or more datagrams stored in the database; and

streaming the playable media content and the one or more datagrams to the set-top box for display to the user.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the desired content is watermarked with the non-intrusive advertising content to generate the one or more datagrams.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein choosing non-intrusive advertising content to include in the desired content comprises choosing the non-intrusive advertising content to embed in the desired content based on a user profile associated with the user.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein choosing the non-intrusive advertising content to embed in the desired content is further based on a target audience for advertising content.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein:

the user profile is based on one or more of a unique identity associated with the set-top box, a unique identify associated with the user, user demographic data, and user preferences.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein:

the user profile is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with Internet content or Internet advertising viewed on a computer or mobile device.