Video methods and arrangements

• US 9,282,353 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2011
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Davis, Bruce L., Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peng, Fred
• Application Number:
  US13/078,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 725/5, 725/32, 725 34- 36, 725/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Novel arrangements are detailed involving delivery of entertainment content, and commercial sponsorship of such content. Some arrangements enable viewers to control presentation of advertising in video, e.g., selecting what commercials are to be presented—if any, and also their order and timing. Ad presentation can also be made dependent on context. Other arrangements ensure that advertising is actually rendered, and is not skipped-over. In still other aspects, entertainment content that is now offered on a paid basis is made available for free to certain viewers. For example, viewers may receive free content as a perk for earlier patronage of certain content sponsors. Fees charged to advertisers can be tied to measured consumer responses (e.g., to correlated increases in sales of advertised products), or to the demographics of the responding viewers (e.g., engagement of affluent consumers merits higher fees). A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method comprising the acts:

sending video entertainment to a user smartphone device, the video entertainment being sponsored by a retail chain, but being presented to the user free of interrupting advertisements that promote the retail chain; and

assessing a variable charge to the user for the video entertainment, depending on the user'"'"'s status with the retail chain;

wherein said assessing of the user'"'"'s status includes;

receiving first data that identifies at least certain items purchased by the user at the retail chain;

receiving second data that identifies advertising messages provided to the user, the advertising messages promoting different items at the retail chain;

correlating the first and second data to indicate a relative measure of responsiveness of the user to advertising for particular items at the retail chain; and

determining a free or reduced cost to assess the user for the video entertainment, based on said correlation of the data concerning advertising messages promoting items at the retail chain, and the data identifying items purchased by the user at the retail chain.

2. The method of claim 1 that further includes comparing said correlation with statistical norms based on a group of users, to identify whether said user seems to be more or less responsive to advertising for a particular item at the retail chain than said group of users, and determining the cost to assess the user for the video entertainment based on said comparing.

3. The method of claim 1 that in which the first data is based on credit card data.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the first data is based on transaction data maintained by the user, which is employed with permission of the user.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the second data is compiled by a content distributor.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the second data is compiled by an audience survey service.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the act of determining said cost additionally depends on demographic affluence data about the user.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the act of determining said cost additionally depends on a score concerning said user, obtained from a third party service.

9. A method comprising the acts:

sending a set of video entertainment programs to both first and second recipients;

charging the first recipient a first fee for the programs, and charging the second recipient a different, lesser fee, or no fee;

wherein a difference in the fees is due to the second recipient'"'"'s patronage of a retail chain that sponsors the set of video entertainment programs; and

wherein the method includes determining the second recipient'"'"'s patronage of the retail chain by;

receiving first data that identifies plural types of different items purchased by the second recipient at the retail chain;

receiving second data that identifies advertising messages provided to the second recipient, the advertising messages promoting plural types of different items at the retail chain;

correlating the first and second data to indicate the second recipient'"'"'s responsiveness to advertising for plural different types of items at the retail chain; and

determining a fee to assess the second recipient, based on said correlation; and

wherein the video entertainment programs are presented to the second recipient free of interrupting advertisements that promote the retail chain.

10. The method of claim 9 that further includes comparing said correlation with statistical norms based on a group of recipients, to identify whether the second recipient seems to be more or less responsive to advertising for a particular item at the retail chain than said group of recipients, and determining the fee based on said comparing.

11. The method of claim 9 that in which the first data is based on credit card data.

12. The method of claim 9 in which the first data is based on transaction data maintained by the second recipient, which is employed with permission of the second recipient.

13. The method of claim 9 in which the second data is compiled by a content distributor.

14. The method of claim 9 in which the second data is compiled by an audience survey service.

15. The method of claim 9 in which the act of determining said fee additionally depends on demographic affluence data about the second recipient.

16. The method of claim 9 in which the act of determining said cost additionally depends on a score concerning said second recipient, obtained from a third party service.