Abstract: A server receives metadata associated with an advertisement in a transport signal stream from an encoder, the metadata identifying a specified frame of the transport signal stream corresponding to a point in time of the advertisement. The server instructs an encoder, by a server, to insert a marker into the specified frame of the transport signal stream, the marker identifying the point in time of the advertisement. The server receives data from a smart appliance. The server detects the marker in the data. The server identifies the marker as the specified frame of the transport signal stream played by the smart appliance. The server maps the marker to the identified point in time of the advertisement.

Abstract: A server may receive metadata associated with specific content in a transport signal stream from a content information service. The metadata may identify a point in time of the transport signal stream. The server may instruct an encoder to insert a marker into the transport signal stream corresponding to the point in time of the transport signal stream. The marker may indicate control of a trick mode to be enforced by a delivery platform subsequent to the point in time of the transport signal stream. The server may record the marker in a data store associated with the server.

Abstract: A server receives metadata associated with an advertisement in a transport signal stream from an encoder, the metadata identifying a specified frame of the transport signal stream corresponding to a point in time of the advertisement. The server instructs an encoder, by a server, to insert a marker into the specified frame of the transport signal stream, the marker identifying the point in time of the advertisement. The server receives data from a smart appliance. The server detects the marker in the data. The server identifies the marker as the specified frame of the transport signal stream played by the smart appliance. The server maps the marker to the identified point in time of the advertisement.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for managing audience data for advertisement placements is disclosed. A server receives a source signal stream comprising metadata and an advertisement space. The server extracts from the metadata a channel identifier, a private client identifier, and information about an intended audience of interest to advertisers. The server identifies a placement opportunity including an owner of the advertisement space based on the channel identifier. The server purges at least some of the extracted information about the intended audience when the owner of the advertisement space is identified as a national network. The server identifies an amount of information about the intended audience to purge and subsequently to fetch for the national network based on a business arrangement between the national network and a service provider, which the server enforces and enables.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for enabling content providers to identify and customize placement opportunities is disclosed, comprising the steps of processing instructions to customize a pre-existing at least one of an audio and video datastream comprising at least one predefined time interval for content, identifying at least one time interval for a placement opportunity in the at least one of an audio and video datastream; altering at least one characteristic of the at least one time interval for a placement opportunity in accordance with the instructions; assembling the altered at least one time interval for a placement opportunity and at least one time interval for content into a list that represents an altered at least one of an audio and video datastream; and delivering the list to a distribution system for playing the altered at least one of an audio and video datastream.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting a percentage of an advertisement played by a smart appliance is disclosed. The server receives data from a smart appliance. The server detects a marker in the data corresponding to a segment of an advertisement of a session played by the smart appliance. The server maps the marker to a percentage played of the advertisement in the session by the smart appliance. The server reports the percentage played of the advertisement in the session by the smart appliance to at least one tracking element.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting a percentage of an advertisement played by a smart appliance is disclosed. The server receives data from a smart appliance. The server detects a marker in the data corresponding to a segment of an advertisement of a session played by the smart appliance. The server maps the marker to a percentage played of the advertisement in the session by the smart appliance. The server reports the percentage played of the advertisement in the session by the smart appliance to at least one tracking element.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting a percentage of an advertisement playable by a smart appliance is disclosed. A server receives metadata associated with an advertisement in a transport signal stream from an encoder. The server determines a length of the advertisement and a frame rate of the transport signal stream based on the received metadata. The server divides the advertisement into at least one segment based on the length and the frame rate. The server instructs the encoder to insert at least one marker into at least one frame of the advertisement corresponding to the at least one segment of the transport signal stream to create at least one marked segment.

Abstract: A method and system for verifying inventory splits is disclosed. A server retrieves from a memory a first inventory policy provided by a first content provider. The server retrieves from the memory a second inventory policy provided by the second content provider. The server verifies that the first inventory policy and the second inventory policy are in agreement for at least one stipulation pertaining to a percentage of compensation to the first content provider for inventory owned by the first content provider and played by the second content provider. The server transmits the first inventory policy to a placement opportunity information service (POIS) communicatively connected to the second content provider. The server transmits the second inventory policy to a placement opportunity information service (POIS) communicatively connected to the first content provider.

Abstract: A server receives a source signal stream comprising metadata and an advertisement space. The server extracts from the metadata a channel identifier, a private client identifier, and personal identifiable information about an intended audience of interest to advertisers. The server identifies at least one anonymous statistic of a national market and a placement opportunity including an owner of the advertisement space, the at least one anonymous statistic of a national market based in part on the channel identifier and the personal identifiable information. The server purges the personal identifiable information about the intended audience when the owner of the advertisement space is identified as a national network. The server targets an advertisement decision to the intended audience based on the at least one anonymous statistic of a national market.

Abstract: A server receives a source signal stream having a channel identifier and an indication that an advertisement placement opportunity is located in the signal stream a time period prior to an advertisement signal point. The server transmits the channel identifier to a session manager. The server receives from the session manager a list of sessions corresponding to a number of recipients currently viewing a channel corresponding to the channel identifier. The server transmits to an ad decision service an ad call for each session in the list. The server receives from the ad decision service a plurality of advertisements targeted to the list. The server stores the plurality of advertisements in at least one cache prior to expiration of the time period, where the advertisement signal point is detected by the programmed computer.

Abstract: A server receives a source signal stream comprising metadata and an advertisement space. The server extracts from the metadata a channel identifier, a private client identifier, and personal identifiable information about an intended audience of interest to advertisers. The server identifies at least one anonymous statistic of a national market and a placement opportunity including an owner of the advertisement space, the at least one anonymous statistic of a national market based in part on the channel identifier and the personal identifiable information. The server purges the personal identifiable information about the intended audience when the owner of the advertisement space is identified as a national network. The server targets an advertisement decision to the intended audience based on the at least one anonymous statistic of a national market.

Abstract: A server receives a source signal stream having a channel identifier and an indication that an advertisement placement opportunity is located in the signal stream a time period prior to an advertisement signal point. The server transmits the channel identifier to a session manager. The server receives from the session manager a list of sessions corresponding to a number of recipients currently viewing a channel corresponding to the channel identifier. The server transmits to an ad decision service an ad call for each session in the list. The server receives from the ad decision service a plurality of advertisements targeted to the list. The server stores the plurality of advertisements in at least one cache prior to expiration of the time period, where the advertisement signal point is detected by the programmed computer.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for accelerating advertising placement decisions is disclosed. A server receives a source signal stream having a channel identifier and an indication that an advertisement placement opportunity is located in the signal stream a time period prior to an advertisement signal point. The server identifies a list representative of a plurality of recipient signal streams having the channel identifier and at least one audience attribute prior to expiration of the time period. The server obtains a plurality of targeted advertisements corresponding to the list representative of the plurality of recipient signal streams. The server stores the plurality of advertisements in at least one cache.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for managing redundant signals are disclosed. At least one server receives a first signal stream with an identifier, the first signal stream having a first time associated with a first signal point. The at least one server receives a second signal stream with the identifier, the second signal stream having a second time associated with a second signal point, wherein the second time is after the first time. The at least one server compares the first time associated with the first signal stream with the second time associated with the second signal stream. The at least one server terminates transmission of the second signal stream and transmits the first signal stream when the comparison is determined to be within a time range tolerance. Both signal streams are transmitted when the comparison is determined not to be within a time range tolerance.