Scheduling content insertion opportunities in a broadcast network

• US 20060287915A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Boulet, Daniel A., Anderson, Bruce J., Wilson, Daniel C.
• Application Number:
  US11/332,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.610
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/18 Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/22 Arrangements for broadcast of identical information via plural broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/33 by plural channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 : characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/80 : characterised in that motion picture association of America [MPAA] ratings are used
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 : Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 : Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 : on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/17 : on recording information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 : Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 : Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 : Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 : for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 : Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 : for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 : for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 : for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 : for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 : for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 : of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 : for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 : for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 : the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/97 : using uplink of the CATV systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 : Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/18 : Delegation of network management function, e.g. customer network management [CNM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 : Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 : wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 : being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• 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 21/2365 : Multiplexing of several video streams
• 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 21/252 : Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 : Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 : Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/25891 : 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 21/262 : Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 : the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 : involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26225 : involving billing parameters, e.g. priority for subscribers of premium services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26233 : involving content or additional data duration or size, e.g. length of a movie, size of an executable file
• 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 21/44016 : involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 : Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 : for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method is provided to dynamically insert content into programming breaks of at least a first programming channel. In order to dynamically insert such content, status information regarding a current status of a programming channel is procured. Based on the status information, a plurality of available insertion options (e.g., assets) may be identified. Using the identified asset options, an asset insertion schedule is developed for least one subsequent programming break of the programming channel. Upon identifying the beginning of the at least one subsequent programming break, the selected assets may be inserted into a content stream (e.g., associated with the programming channel) according to the insertion schedule. Generally, to provide such dynamic insertion, the status of the programming channel may be monitored periodically and/or continuously such that assets that are suited for current network conditions may be selected and inserted into one or more programming breaks.

Claims

1. A method for use in connection with delivering selected content to users of a broadcast network, said broadcast network primarily involving synchronized distribution of broadcast content to multiple users, said method comprising the steps of:

procuring status information regarding a current status of a programming channel;

identifying a plurality of asset options based on said status information;

developing an asset insertion schedule for at least one subsequent programming break of said programming channel involving at least a portion of said asset options; and

upon identifying a beginning of said at least one subsequent programming break, inserting assets into a content stream associated with said programming channel, wherein said assets are inserted according to said asset insertion schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a status of said programming channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said status information comprises information regarding a current audience of said programming channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said status information includes information regarding a size of said current audience.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said status information includes information regarding an audience segment associated with at least a first demographic parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least a first demographic parameter relates to at least one of:

gender;

age;

income;

locale; and

personal interest.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

developing a plurality of different asset insertion schedules for said subsequent programming break, wherein said plurality of asset insertion schedules include at least partially different sets of assets selected from said plurality of asset options.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

inserting said at least partially different sets of assets into a plurality of parallel content streams during said subsequent programming break, wherein each of said at least partially different sets of assets are inserted into a corresponding one of said parallel content streams according to one of said plurality of asset insertion schedules.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said plurality of asset insertion schedules include a first schedule of first assets and a second schedule of second assets targeted to first and second different demographic groups, respectively.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein procuring said status information comprises receiving a plurality inputs from a plurality of customer premise equipment devices (CPEs) via a network interface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said plurality of inputs comprise a statistical sample of a larger set of CPEs of interest.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of inputs comprises information associated with at least one network user associated with one of said CPEs.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

processing said plurality of inputs to identify at least first and second different sets of assets targeted to at least first and second demographically distinct sets of viewers.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving said plurality of inputs comprises receiving votes regarding the suitability of available asset options.

15. A method for use in connection with delivering selected content to users of a broadcast network, said broadcast network primarily involving synchronized distribution of broadcast content to multiple users, said method comprising the steps of:

providing asset option information to equipment of broadcast network users;

receiving selection information at the broadcast network from at least a portion of the equipment of broadcast network users;

processing said selection information at the broadcast network to determine assets for transmission via the broadcast network; and

developing an asset insertion schedule for at least a portion of said assets.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

broadcasting said assets according to said asset insertion schedule during a subsequent programming period of at least a first programming transmission band, wherein said assets are available via the equipment of broadcast network users.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said assets are broadcast during a break in a programming period.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said selection information is received during said programming period prior to said break.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of said assets are inserted in a content stream of said first programming transmission band.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of said assets are inserted into at least a second transmission band.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said asset insertion schedule comprises at least first and second asset insertion schedules for first and second sets of assets.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

simultaneously broadcasting at least said first and second sets of assets according to said first and second asset insertion schedules during a subsequent programming period of at least a first programming transmission band, wherein said first and second sets of assets are selectively available via the equipment of broadcast network users.

23-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A system for use in connection with delivery of selected content to users of a broadcast network, wherein the broadcast network primarily involves synchronized distribution of broadcast content to multiple users, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving status information from customer premise equipment devices (CPEs) of users of the broadcast network;

a content selection processor in operative communication with said receiver and being operative to;

process said status information originating from said CPEs; and

identify asset options based at least in part on the processed status information; and

a scheduler for generating an asset insertion schedule for a subsequent programming break, wherein said asset insertion schedule utilizes at least a portion of said identified assets options.

44. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

an inserter for inserting assets into a content stream associated with said subsequent programming break, wherein said assets are inserted according to said asset insertion schedule.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a network interface for broadcasting the content stream.

46. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

an interface for accessing a repository of available asset options.

47. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

a demographic database including demographic information associated with the broadcast network, wherein the demographic information is accessible by the content selection processor for use in identifying said asset options.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein said receiver is operative to receive said status information from said CPEs via a communications link through which said CPEs receive broadcast content.

49. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting information signals to CPEs within the broadcast network.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said transmitter broadcasts said content information signals to said CPEs via a communications link through which said CPEs receive broadcast content.

51-54. -54. (canceled)