CUSTOMIZED PROGRAM INSERTION SYSTEM

• US 20080168489A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Schraga
• Original Assignee: Steven Schraga
• Inventors: SCHRAGA, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• 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 21/2668 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 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A customized consumer advertisement module and process are provided for inserting a user selected object into a user selected category of program. The user stores model objects locally at the user site, or communicates the model objects to a remotely located broadcaster for storage at a broadcaster site. The user selects categories of programs in which the model objects, or portions thereof, will be inserted. The customized consumer advertisement module inserts the model objects, or portions thereof, into the selected categories of programs.

Claims

1. An object insertion apparatus for inserting a model object into at least one program, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing the model object;

a selector for receiving selection of the model object and a category of program, the category of program comprising the at least one program; and

an inserter for inserting the model object into the at least one program based on the selection of the category of program.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is located at a broadcaster site that transmits the at least one program to a user site.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a communicator for communicating with the user site, the communicator receiving the selected model object and the category of program from the user site.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, the inserter comprising:

an object extractor for extracting a portion of an object field signal from the at least one program;

a feature extractor for extracting a feature from the extracted portion of the object field signal; and

an object processor that modifies the model object based on the extracted portion of the object field signal and the extracted feature from the extracted portion of the object field signal,

wherein the object processor is adapted to insert the modified model object in the object field signal.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the feature extractor generates at least one motion vector for the extracted portion of the object field signal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a decryptor for decrypting a multimedia signal representing the program;

a decoder for decoding the decrypted multimedia signal; and

a format converter for converting the decoded multimedia signal to a base composite signal, the base composite signal comprising the object field signal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the model object comprises an image, and the at least one program comprises an advertisement.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the model object comprises a sound, and the at least one program comprises an advertisement.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

an encryptor for encrypting a base composite signal, comprising the object field signal;

an encoder for encoding the base composite signal; and

a format converter for converting the base composite signal to a multimedia signal.

10. An object insertion method for inserting a selected object into at least one program, the at least one program being associated with one of a plurality of categories of programs, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a category of program from the plurality of categories of programs, the selected category of program comprising the at least one program;

receiving a selection of a model object from one or more stored model objects; and

inserting the selected model object in the at least one program based on the selected category of program.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the model object comprises an image, and the at least one program comprises an advertisement.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the inserting is performed at a broadcaster site that transmits the at least one program to a user site.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a selection of at least one of an insert mode or an overlay mode.

14. The method according to claim 12, the receiving of at least one of the category of program or the model image comprising receiving a survey or questionnaire from a subscriber via physical mail or electronic mail.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the inserting comprises:

extracting a portion of an object field signal of the at least one program;

extracting one or more features from the extracted portion of the object field signal;

modifying the selected model object based on the extracted portion of the object field signal and the extracted one or more features from the extracted portion of the object field signal; and

inserting the modified model object in the object field signal.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the model object comprises a sound, and the at least one program comprises an advertisement.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

generating one or more motion vectors for the extracted portion of the object field signal.

18. A computer readable medium for storing a program that inserts a selected object into at least one program, the at least one program being associated with one of a plurality of categories of programs, the medium comprising:

a category selection receiving code segment for receiving selection of a category of program from the plurality of categories of programs, the selected category of program comprising the at least one program;

a model object selection receiving code segment for receiving selection of a model object from one or more stored model objects based on the selected category of program;

an inserting code segment for inserting the selected model object in the at least one program

19. The medium according to claim 18, further comprising:

a mode receiving code segment for receiving selection of at least one of an insert mode or an overlay mode.

20. The medium according to claim 18, further comprising:

a portion extracting code segment for extracting a portion of an object field signal of the at least one program;

a feature extracting code segment for extracting a feature from the extracted portion of the object field signal; and

a modifying code segment for modifying the selected model object based on the extracted portion of the object field signal and the extracted feature from the extracted portion of the object field signal.