National insertion of targeted advertisement

• US 8,776,115 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Sheehan, Patrick, Cristofalo, Michael, Anderson, Bruce J., Wilson, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MUSHFIKH I
• Application Number:
  US12/536,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20100037253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32- 36
• US Class Current: 725/36
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• 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 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/2668 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 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that allow for providing targeted asset/advertisements for broadcast-wide programming feeds. The systems and methods allow network platforms to select among asset options provided with a content stream and/or replace assets in the content stream. In one arrangement, after selecting an asset, the asset is inserted into the content stream and the content stream is disseminated to subsequent network platforms (e.g., local platforms). At this time, the local platforms may insert local assets into the content stream in predetermined local asset insertion spots.

Claims

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

generating a content stream including programming segments and at least a first asset insertion spot and first cue for use with a first level of network insertion systems of the broadcast network, wherein said first level network insertion systems comprise affiliates, said first level of network insertion systems being controlled by one or more first stakeholders authorized to control one or more first assets that are inserted in said first asset insertion spot, and at least a second asset insertion spot and second cue for use with a second level of network insertion systems of the broadcast network, wherein said second level network insertion systems are network operators that receive the modified content stream from affiliates, said second level of network insertion systems being controlled by one or more second stakeholders, different than said first stakeholders who are authorized to control one or more second assets that are inserted in said second asset insertion spot;

providing a mechanism for securing access to at least one of said first cue and said second cue such that said first stakeholder controls insertion with respect to said first asset insertion spot and said second stakeholder controls insertion with respect to said second asset insertion spot;

providing an authorization to at least one of said first and second stakeholders, in connection with acquiring rights to insert one or more assets in at least one of said first and second asset insertion spots, said authorization allowing use of at least one of said first and second cues;

transmitting said content stream in said broadcast network such that said first level network insertion systems can control asset insertion for said first asset insertion spot and said second level network insertion systems can control asset insertion for said second asset insertion spot;

providing at least two asset options for said first asset insertion spot of said content stream, wherein at least a portion of said first level network insertion systems is operative to;

a) identify said first cue for use with said first level network insertion systems; and

b) in response to said first cue, select one of said first assets for delivery in said first asset insertion spot; and

providing at least two asset options for said second asset insertion spot of said content stream, wherein at least one of said second level network insertion systems is operative to;

a) identify said second cue for use with said second level network insertion systems;

b) select one of said second assets based on information specific to a particular subscriber of said broadcast network; and

c) deliver said selected one of said second assets to said particular subscriber of said broadcast network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first level network insertion systems are further operative to erase said first cue, wherein said modified content stream is disseminated free of said first cue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing said at least two asset options for said first asset insertion spot comprises providing said asset options in synchrony with said content stream.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of said asset options is provided in a parallel transmission band to said content stream.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing said at least two asset options for said first asset insertion spot comprises:

forwarding said asset options to said first level network insertion systems prior to said delivering of said content stream to said first level network insertion systems.

6. The method of claim 1,

encrypting said first cue prior to delivery to the first level network insertion systems.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said second level network insertion systems are operative to insert content into said second asset insertion spot in said content stream.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving network user information from at least one of said first or second level network platforms; and

using said network user information to select said asset options.

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

receiving a content stream from a content provider at a first level network insertion system that is operative to pass to one or more second level network insertion systems that subsequently disseminate said content stream to a plurality of network regions;

identifying a first cue type and a second cue type in the content stream received from the content provider, wherein said first cue type is for to use by said first level network insertion system and identifies a first asset insertion spot in said programming stream for a first asset type, said first level network insertion system being controlled by one or more first stakeholders authorized to control one or more first assets that are inserted in said first asset insertion spot, wherein said first level network insertion systems comprise affiliates, and said second level network insertion systems being controlled by one or more second stakeholders, different than said first stakeholders who are authorized to control one or more second assets that are inserted in said second asset insertion spot, wherein said second level network insertion systems are network operators that receive the modified content stream from affiliates;

inserting a first asset based at least in part on a regional targeting criterion into said first asset insertion spot;

erasing the first cue type from the content stream;

passing the content stream, first asset and second cue type to said one or more second level network insertion systems for subsequent dissemination to network users, wherein the content stream and first asset are broadcast free of the first cue type and at least one of said second stakeholders has an authorization provided in connection with acquiring rights to insert one or more assets in said second asset insertion spot, said authorization allowing use of said second cue; and

operating at least one of said second level network insertion systems to;

a) identify said second cue for use with said second level network insertion systems;

b) select a second asset based on information specific to a particular subscriber of said broadcast network; and

c) deliver said selected second asset to said particular subscriber of said broadcast network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said receiving is performed at a network affiliate platform.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

replacing the first cue type with the second cue type, wherein a downstream network platform is operative to identify said second cue type.