Method, System, and Computer Program Product for Providing Multi-tiered Broadcasting Services

• US 20080163291A1
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhong, Eric, Fishman, David A., Jones, Raymond K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/33 by plural channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/19 digital satellite radio [DSR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/40 characterised in that additional data relating to the broadcast data are available via a different channel than the broadcast channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information

Abstract

A secondary satellite radio or broadcast channel is used to broadcast advertisement clips (e.g., audio clips) to a receiver for subsequent decoding and playback. The receiver is configured for different tiers of service, e.g., one that delivers substantially advertising-free content and another that delivers content that includes more significant amounts of advertising. The content delivered to both is the same content; however, for the service tier that includes more advertising, the advertisements broadcast on the secondary channel are interleaved into the content, preferably in such a way that the continuity of the content being delivered is not compromised.

Claims

1. A method for providing multi-tiered broadcasting services to subscribers, comprising the steps of:

broadcasting primary content over one or more primary content channels;

broadcasting secondary content over one or more secondary-content channels;

enabling reception of a first tier broadcasting service whereby subscribers subscribing to said first tier receive only said primary content; and

enabling reception of a second tier broadcasting service whereby subscribers subscribing to said second tier receive both said primary content and said secondary content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said primary content comprises substantive programming content and said secondary content comprises promotional content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said promotional content comprises commercial advertising.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said primary content channels is associated with at least one secondary-content channel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of said primary content channels is associated with a different secondary content channel.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein each of said primary content channels is associated with the same secondary content channel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said same secondary-content channel is part of a service channel serving all of said primary content channels.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

requiring that second tier subscribers play at least a portion of said secondary content before being able to play said primary content.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

tracking how much of said secondary content has been played by said second-tier subscriber; and

discontinuing the requirement that said second-tier subscribers play back said secondary content upon the occurrence of a first predetermined triggering event.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first predetermined triggering event comprises the reaching of a threshold-level of playing of said secondary content.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

reinstating the requirement that said second-tier subscribers play back said secondary content upon the occurrence of a second predetermined triggering event.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said second predetermined triggering event comprises the reaching of a threshold-level of playing of said primary content.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said second predetermined triggering event comprises the changing from one primary content channel to another primary content channel by a second-tier subscriber.

14. A system for providing multi-tiered broadcasting services to subscribers, comprising:

means for broadcasting primary content over one or more primary content channels;

means for broadcasting secondary content over one or more secondary-content channels;

means for enabling reception of a first tier broadcasting service whereby subscribers subscribing to said first tier receive only said primary content; and

means for enabling reception of a second tier broadcasting service whereby subscribers subscribing to said second tier receive both said primary content and said secondary content.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said primary content comprises substantive programming content and said secondary content comprises promotional content.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said promotional content comprises commercial advertising.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein each of said primary content channels is associated with at least one secondary-content channel.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of said primary content channels is associated with a different secondary content channel.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein each of said primary content channels is associated with the same secondary content channel.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said same secondary-content channel is part of a service channel serving all of said primary content channels.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for requiring that second tier subscribers play at least a portion of said secondary content before being able to play said primary content.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for tracking how much of said secondary content has been played by said second-tier subscriber; and

means for discontinuing the requirement that said second-tier subscribers play back said secondary content upon the occurrence of a first predetermined triggering event.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said first predetermined triggering event comprises the reaching of a threshold-level of playing of said secondary content.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for reinstating the requirement that said second-tier subscribers play back said secondary content upon the occurrence of a second predetermined triggering event.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said second predetermined triggering event comprises the reaching of a threshold-level of playing of said primary content.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said second predetermined triggering event comprises the changing from one primary content channel to another primary content channel by a second-tier subscriber.

27. A computer program product for providing multi-tiered broadcasting services to subscribers, comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code that controls the broadcasting of primary content over one or more primary content channels;

computer-readable program code that controls the broadcasting of secondary content over one or more secondary-content channels;

computer-readable program code that enables reception of a first tier broadcasting service whereby subscribers subscribing to said first tier receive only said primary content; and

computer-readable program code that enables reception of a second tier broadcasting service whereby subscribers subscribing to said second tier receive both said primary content and said secondary content.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein said primary content comprises substantive programming content and said secondary content comprises promotional content.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein said promotional content comprises commercial advertising.

30. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein each of said primary content channels is associated with at least one secondary-content channel.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein each of said primary content channels is associated with a different secondary content channel.

32. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein each of said primary content channels is associated with the same secondary content channel.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein said same secondary-content channel is part of a service channel serving all of said primary content channels.