Apparatus and methods for selective enforcement of secondary content viewing

• US 9,854,280 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stern, Peter, Lajoie, Michael L., Angus, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dubasky, Gigi L
• Application Number:
  US13/676,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20140020017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32, 725 34, 725 36, 725 88
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23611 Insertion of stuffing data into a multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bitrate synchronisation arrangements in time-division multiplex systems using bit stuffing for systems with different or fluctuating information rates H04J3/073
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• 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 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• 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

Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to provide interactive functionality to a user thereof, said apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in data communication with said processor, said storage device comprising at least one computer program executable on said processor, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed cause said apparatus to;

during trick mode operation during display of a primary content, evaluate content being rendered for said user to identify at least one instance of secondary content;

determine whether each instance of secondary content queued to be rendered during a duration of said primary content has been previously rendered for said user;

based at least in part on said determination that each instance of secondary content queued to be rendered during said duration of said primary content has been previously rendered for said user, provide said user with at least one option to remove said each instance of secondary content queued to be rendered during said display of said primary content;

receive a user selection of said at least one option, said at least one option configured to, based on network-predetermined temporal criteria, provide said user with an ability to select from a plurality of options for treatment of said at least one instance of secondary content; and

implement said received user selection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a network-based device disposed at a headend of a content distribution network and in communication with a network-based recording device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a recording device disposed at a user'"'"'s premises.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one instance of secondary content comprises an advertisement or promotion, said trick mode operation comprises fast forward (FF) operation, and said provision of said at least one option comprises provision thereof via an on-screen menu.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said implementation of said selection comprises deferring a playback of an entirety of said secondary content to a later time.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one program is further configured to suspend said trick mode operation until said selection is received.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said content comprises at least one digital watermark disposed in an audio track of said at least one instance of secondary content.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said network-predetermined temporal criteria is further configured to be adjustable.

9. A computer readable apparatus comprising media configured to store a computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed:

during trick mode operation, examine a content stream comprising at least primary and secondary content sent to a user via a content distribution network;

evaluate whether each instance of said secondary content queued to be rendered during a duration of said primary content has been previously rendered for said user;

based at least in part on said evaluation, generate at least one option to remove said each instance of secondary content queued to be rendered during said display of said primary content, said generation based on network-predetermined temporal criteria;

receive a user selection of said at least one option; and

apply said received user selection.

10. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9, wherein said generation of said at least one option further comprises a display of an on-screen menu.

11. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9, wherein said at least one option further comprises a preview section function, and said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, allow said user to preview at least a portion of said secondary content so as to permit said user to decide if they wish to watch an entirety of said secondary content.

12. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when said user selection is not received, (i) play said secondary content, (ii) fast forward said secondary content, and/or (iii) skip said secondary content, based on a previous treatment of said secondary content by said user.

13. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9, wherein when said user selection of said at least one option further comprises selection of a bypass function, said plurality of instructions being further configured to, when executed, adjust a frame rate of a video portion of said secondary content, adjust an audio portion of said secondary content, and cause said adjusted audio and video portions to be delivered to said user.

14. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9, wherein said content distribution network comprises a managed network, and said content is sent to said user via said content distribution network via a headend device of said managed network.

15. The computer readable apparatus of claim 14, wherein said headend device comprises at least one of a (i) network DVR;

and/or (ii) network server.

16. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9, wherein said content stream further comprises at least one digital watermark disposed in an audio track of said secondary content.

17. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, generate said at least one option based on adjustable temporal criteria.