System and method for delivering audio and video content to remote facilities based upon input advertising content selections

• US 8,095,950 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClubCom, LLC
• Original Assignee: ClubCom, LLC
• Inventors: Lapcevic, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen-Ba, Hoang-Vu A
• Application Number:
  US10/627,574
• Time in Patent Office: 3,092 Days
• Field of Search: 725/36, 725/28, 725/74, 725/80, 725/82, 725/85, 725/86, 705/14.4, 705/14.43, 705/14.47, 705/14.49, 705/14.53, 705/14.55, 705/14.6, 705/14.66, 705/14.67, 705/14.72, 705/14.73, 709/203, 709/217, 709/223
• US Class Current: 725/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0263 based upon Internet or website rating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A computer-assisted method of preparing video and audio content for playback at a plurality of facilities. The method includes transferring the content from a central network computer to at least one remote playback system located in each of the facilities. The method also includes generating, using the central network computer, at least one playlist for each of the facilities, the playlist for determining an order of playback of the content and transferring each of the playlists from the central network computer to the playback system in each of the facilities.

Claims

1. A computer-assisted method of preparing video and audio content for playback at a plurality of facilities, comprising:

receiving input at a central network computer from advertisers via a website, the input including advertising content selections and a restrictive rating for each advertising content selection;

processing the input to verify pre-approval of the advertising content selections by the advertisers;

processing the input to identify the presence of the restrictive rating;

transferring the advertising content from the central network computer to at least one remote playback system located in each of the facilities based upon the pre-approval and the restrictive rating of the advertising content selections;

generating, using the central network computer, at least one playlist for each of the facilities, the playlist for determining an order of playback of the advertising content including the advertising content selection based upon the restrictive rating; and

transferring each of the playlists from the central network computer to the playback system in each of the facilities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the advertising content includes transferring content of at least one advertisement selected from the group consisting of movie advertisements, movie trailers, and music video advertisements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least one playlist includes generating at least one playlist based on user preferences.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least one playlist includes generating at least one playlist based on at least one index associated with each of a portion of the advertising content.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the advertising content on the central network computer.

6. A method of preparing video and audio content for playback at a plurality of facilities, comprising:

receiving input at a central network computer from advertisers via a website, the input including advertising content selections and a restrictive rating for each advertising content selection;

processing the input to verify pre-approval of the advertising content selections by the advertisers;

processing the input to identify the presence of the restrictive rating;

transferring a first portion of the advertising content from the central network computer to at least one remote playback system located in each of the facilities based upon the pre-approval and the restrictive rating of the advertising content selections;

generating, using the central network computer, a second portion of the advertising content, including the advertising content selections, for each of the facilities, a second portion of the advertising content including customized information; and

transferring the second portion of the advertising content from the central network computer to the playback system in each of the facilities based upon the pre-approval and the restrictive rating of the advertising content selections.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein transferring a first portion of the advertising content includes transferring at least one non-specific video advertisement.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein generating a second portion of the advertising content includes generating a specific advertiser identification.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein transferring a first portion of the advertising content includes transferring a first portion of the advertising content using the Internet.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein transferring the second portion of the advertising content includes transferring the second portion of the advertising content using the Internet.

11. A method of transferring video and audio content from a central network computer to at least one playback system at a plurality of facilities, comprising:

receiving input at the central network computer from advertisers via a web site, the input including advertising content selections and a restrictive rating for each advertising content selection;

processing the input to verify pre-approval of the advertising content selections by the advertisers;

processing the input to identify the presence of the restrictive rating;

transferring entertainment content TV playback system in each of the facilities;

transferring advertising content, including the advertising content selections, to the playback system in each of the facilities based upon the pre-approval and the restrictive rating of the advertising content selections;

generating a playlist for the advertising content and the entertainment content for each of the facilities using the central network computer;

generating customized advertising content for each of the facilities using the central network computer;

transferring each of the playlists to the playback system at each of the facilities; and

transferring each of the customized advertising content to the playback system at each of the facilities.

12. A system, comprising:

means for receiving input at a central network computer from advertisers via a website, the input including advertising content selections and a restrictive rating for each advertising content selection;

means for processing the input to verify pre-approval of the advertising content selections by the advertisers;

means for processing the input to identify the presence of the restrictive rating;

means for transferring video and audio content from the central network computer to at least one remote playback system located in each of a plurality of facilities based upon the pre-approval and the restrictive rating of the advertising content selections;

means for generating, using the central network computer, at least one playlist for each of the facilities, the playlist for determining an order of playback of the advertising content based upon the restrictive rating; and

means for transferring each of the playlists from the central network computer to the playback system in each of the facilities.

13. A system, comprising:

means for receiving input at a central network computer from advertisers via a website, the input including advertising content selections and a restrictive rating for each advertising content selection;

means for processing the input to verify pre-approval of the advertising content selections by the advertisers;

means for processing the input to identify the presence of the restrictive rating;

means for transferring a first portion of video and audio content from the central network computer to at least one remote playback system located in each of a plurality of facilities based upon the pre-approval and the restrictive rating of the advertising content selections;

means for generating, using the central network computer, a second portion of the advertising content for each of the facilities, a second portion of the advertising content including customized information; and

means for transferring the second portion of the advertising content from the central network computer to the playback system in each of the facilities.

14. A system, comprising:

a central network computer in communication with a communications medium, the central network computer for generating a plurality of customized video and audio content elements, wherein the central network computer receives advertising content selections from advertisers via a website and processes the advertising content selections to verify pre-approval of the advertising content selections and a restrictive rating for each advertising content selection by the advertisers;

a plurality of playback systems in communication with the communications medium, each of the playback systems having stored thereon video and audio content including at least one of the customized video and audio content elements; and

exercise machines, each exercise machine including at least one video monitor in communication with each of the playback systems.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a content database in communication with the central network computer.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one of a kiosk and a computer in communication with each of the playback systems.

17. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a processor to perform the steps of:

receiving input at a central network computer from advertisers via a website, the input including advertising content selections and a restrictive rating for each advertising content selection;

processing the input to verify pre-approval of the advertising content selections by the advertisers;

processing the input to identify the presence of the restrictive rating;

transferring a first portion of audio and video content from the central network computer to at least one remote playback system located in each of a plurality of facilities based upon the pre-approval and the restrictive rating of the advertising content selections;

generating, using the central network computer, a second portion of the advertising content for each of the facilities, the second portion of the advertising content including customized information; and

transferring the second portion of the advertising content from the central network computer to the playback system in each of the facilities based upon the pre-approval and the restrictive rating of the advertising content selections.

18. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a processor to perform the steps of:

receiving input at a central network computer from advertisers via a website, the input including advertising content selections and a restrictive rating for each advertising content selection;

processing the input to verify pre-approval of the advertising content selections by the advertisers;

processing the input to identify the presence of the restrictive rating;

transferring audio and video content from the central network computer to a least one remote playback system located in each of a plurality of facilities based upon the pre-approval and the restrictive rating of the advertising content selections;

generating, using the central network computer, at least one playlist for each of the facilities, the playlist for determining an order of playback of the advertising content; and

transferring each of the playlists from the central network computer to the playback system in each of the facilities.