SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSERTING MEDIA BASED ON KEYWORD SEARCH

• US 20070288950A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Downey, David, Boulet, Daniel, Wilson, Daniel, Anderson, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/33 by plural channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• 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 21/25866 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/440236 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text
• 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 for displaying subtitles
• 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 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A system and method (i.e., utility) is provided for use in connection with delivering content that is targeted to users of a broadcast network. More specifically a utility is provided for inserting targeted content into a broadcast content stream based at least in part on information associated with content of the programming that will be provided via a broadcast network. In this regard, one or more textual fields associated with the programming is monitored (2004) or otherwise reviewed. Based on the textual information from the at least one textual field of the programming, targeted content or ‘assets’ are identified (2008) (i.e., from a collection of assets) that have at least partially matching textual constraints. At least one of the identified assets may then be inserted (2010) into a content stream of the broadcast network and provided in conjunction with the programming.

Claims

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

monitoring at least one textual field associated with programming for delivery via said broadcast network;

based on textual information from the at least one textual field, identifying assets from a collection of assets having at least partially matching textual constraints; and

inserting a selected one of the identified assets into a content stream of the broadcast network, wherein said selected asset is broadcast in conjunction with said programming.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring is performed while said programming is broadcast via the broadcast network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring is performed prior to said programming being broadcast via the broadcast network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring comprises monitoring the electronic program guide entry for said programming.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring comprises monitoring closed captioning of the programming.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying comprises:

matching text from said at least one textual field with textual constraints of each asset and generating a goodness of fit value for each said asset.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein matching text further comprises:

matching text from a predetermined textual field of the programming with the textual constraints of each asset, wherein said predetermined textual fields are selected by an asset provider.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said textual constraints comprise at least one of:

the presence of at least one specified keyword;

the presence of a predetermined minimum number of specified keywords;

presence of at least one mandatory keyword and at least one optional keyword;

the absence of at least one keyword in said textual field; and

the presence of at least first and second specified keywords in said textual field, wherein said first and second keywords are within a predetermined proximity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting further comprises:

selecting between a plurality of assets having at least partially matching textual constraints.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting further comprises:

selecting an asset having a higher goodness of fit value.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting further comprises:

utilizing information associated with said programming to select between said plurality of assets having matching textual constraints.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein utilizing said information comprises:

comparing at least a first targeting criteria of each said asset with said audience classification information for said programming.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said targeting criteria information relates to at least one of age, gender, income, geographic locale, and personal interest.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein utilizing said information comprises:

comparing at least a first temporal targeting criteria of each said asset with temporal information associated with said programming.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting comprises:

replacing a default asset in the content delivery stream with the selected asset.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein, inserting comprises:

transmitting instructions to at least a portion of UEDs within the broadcast network to play the selected asset during an asset delivery spot associated with said programming, wherein said selected asset has previously been stored in storage associated with said UEDs.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting comprises:

inserting the selected asset associated into a parallel content stream that is broadcast in synchrony with a content stream including the programming.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing information to at least a portion of UEDs in said broadcast network regarding the availability of said selected asset on said parallel content stream.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

inserting a second of the identified assets into a second parallel content stream that is broadcast in synchrony with a content stream including the programming.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving asset delivery notifications from at least a portion of UEDs in the broadcast network, said asset delivery notifications providing indication of actual deliveries of said selected asset to network users.

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

receiving a broadcast content stream at a UED of a network user;

monitoring textual information associated with said broadcast content stream;

based on said textual information, selecting an asset for delivery; and

delivering said asset during an asset delivery spot associated with said broadcast content stream.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein selecting comprises selecting between at least first and second content streams having first and second assets, wherein said first and second assets are different.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

prior to said asset delivery spot, receiving textual constraints for said first and second assets.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

comparing said textual information with said textual constraints of said assets to determine a goodness of fit value for each of said first and second assets.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

selecting one of said assets based at least in part on said goodness of fit value.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

comparing at least a first targeting criteria of each said asset with classification information for said UED.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said targeting criteria relates to at least one of age, gender, income, geographic locale, and personal interest.

28. The method of claim, 21, wherein selecting an asset comprises:

selecting an asset from a plurality of stored assets, wherein said stored assets are accessible by said UED.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

comparing said textual information with said textual constraints of said plurality of stored assets to determine a goodness of fit value for at least a portion of said stored assets, wherein one of said stored assets in selected based at least in part on said goodness of fit value.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

comparing targeting criteria of each said stored asset with classification information for said UED wherein one of said assets is selected based at least in part on said targeting criteria.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said targeting criteria relates to at least one of age, gender, income, geographic locale, and personal interest.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein monitoring comprises monitoring the electronic program guide entry for programming associated with said broadcast content stream.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein monitoring comprises monitoring closed captioning of the broadcast content stream.

34. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting a delivery notification from said UED to a platform in the broadcast network, wherein said delivery notification identifies the asset delivered during the asset delivery spot.

35. A system that delivers content to users of a broadcast network, said broadcast network primarily involving synchronized distribution of content to multiple users, said system comprising:

a platform for providing an interface for receiving textual constraints from asset providers, said interface allowing the receipt of one or more textual constraints for use in disseminating assets of said asset providers;

a processor operative to compare said textual constraints of said assets with textual information associated with programming.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said platform is further operative for receiving additional targeting constraints related to disseminating said assets.

37. The system of claim 36. wherein said additional targeting constraints include at least one of temporal constraints, demographic constraints and network constraints.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein said processor is further operative to calculate a goodness of fit score for each said asset and select one of said assets for presentation with said programming.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

an inserter for inserting the selected asset into a content stream associated with an asset delivery spot of said programming.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein said interface is a graphical user interface.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein said interface is a system-to-system interface.

42. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

an asset database, wherein said asset database includes a plurality of assets of a plurality of asset providers.

43. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

a storage medium for storing historical textual information, wherein said historical textual information includes information associated with the inclusion of specified keyword with programming.

44. A system that delivers content to users of a broadcast network, said broadcast network primarily involving synchronized distribution of content to multiple users, said system comprising:

a network interface for receiving a content stream from a broadcast network;

a processor for;

monitoring textual information associated with programming received via the network interface;

comparing said textual information with textual constraints associated with two or more assets; and

selecting one of said assets for presentation in conjunction with said programming.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a storage medium for storing said assets and said textual constraints associated with the assets, wherein said assets are received via the network interface.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor further comprises:

a storage medium for storing logic instructions for use in comparing said textual information with said textual constraints.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein said processor is further operative to:

receive said textual constraints for two or more assets in conjunction with receiving said programming;

select one of said assets; and

switch between content streams during an asset delivery spot of said programming, wherein a selected one of said assets is output to a network user during said asset delivery spot.

48. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a report generator for generating a report indicative of assets delivered to a network user, wherein said report is provided to a network platform via the network interface.