Abstract: Disclosed is a process for an advertising bidding system in which advertisers can bid on advertising time slots or enhanced ads that can be inserted in either prerecorded or live television programming. A high degree of flexibility is provided by allowing embedded ads to be purchased and displayed in a very short time period. This allows TV broadcasters to increase revenues and allows advertisers to have more flexibility in advertising. Objects can be inserted in the display video broadcast using enhancements such as by using mark-up language overlay pages or by video combination techniques. The effect of these ads can be evaluated for advertising campaigns.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that optimizes transmission bandwidth of a broadband transmission system such as a cable television, satellite system, or wireless information service. Requests for content items from users are employed to add or delete content items from a list. Content items in the list are ranked relative to the number of requests received or by rate of request. Package groups are created with most requested content items being broadcast more frequently than less requested content items. Transmit groups are produced from package groups and placed in a broadcast queue. A transmit process transmits groups retrieved from the queue.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that optimizes transmission bandwidth of a broadband transmission system such as a cable television, satellite system, or wireless information service. Requests for content items from users are employed to add or delete content items from a list. Content items in the list are ranked relative to the number of requests received or by rate of request. Package groups are created with most requested content items being broadcast more frequently than less requested content items. Transmit groups are produced from package groups and placed in a broadcast queue. A transmit process transmits groups retrieved from the queue.

Abstract: A data modification system and method for selective insertion of local meta data into an incoming data stream, the incoming data stream having a video data component and a meta data component. The data modification system comprises an incoming data terminal, a local data terminal, and a data modification unit coupled to the incoming data terminal and the local data terminal, wherein the data modification unit is adapted to selectively combine data from the incoming data terminal and the local data terminal. The method comprises receiving a data signal, the data signal comprising a first data component and a second data component, separating the first data component from the second data component, determining whether to modify the second data component, retrieving a third data component from a database, merging the third data component with the first data component, and outputting the third data component and the first data component to a distribution terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system in which “labels,” comprising supplemental information such as advertising, promotional, or informational elements including interactive elements, may be superimposed post-production into a video stream. This can be done by using overlay screens including interactive overlay screens or by combining video segments. As such, the labels do not have to physically be part of the actual scene during filming. Once a video stream is created, a space for available advertising is designated either manually or automatically by pattern recognition techniques. A list of available advertising space is generated. During viewing of television broadcasts, advertisements are placed in the video signal. Labels are displayed by superimposing an HTML page that is blank except for the advertisement onto the video signal. Advertisements can be superimposed post-production, and can be personalized and localized. The advertisements can be customized on a per-household basis.

Abstract: In response to an advertising event signal, rendering of an active media stream is automatically paused. A new window is opened and forced to full screen size. Advertising is presented in the new window. Some window controls may be disabled such that the advertising window may not be easily resized, closed, or obscured by another window. When advertising is complete, the new window is closed. Rendering of the media stream is resumed. Alternatively, advertising is presented in a video presentation window wherein the size of the window may be adjusted and controls disabled during presentation of an advertising message. Advertising may also comprise text, graphics and images that overlay a video image. As such, the video image may be adjusted to a predetermined size and video presentation window controls may be disabled.

Abstract: A media player, as may be employed in conjunction with a streaming media enhancement authoring application, is embedded in a browser window. A software program, operable to detect and extract information describing enhancements contained within an enhanced streaming media file and operable to generate HTML or other browser enhancement code to render the enhancements within the browser window as the enhanced streaming media file is played, is also embedded in the browser. The software program may be further operable, in response to enhancement information contained in a streaming media file, to pause a streaming media presentation, open a separate browser window, display a streaming media advertisement in the window, close the window, and resume display of the streaming media presentation. An editor is employed to perform any changes and the modified enhancement may be again viewed prior to viewing a next enhancement.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system in which “labels,” comprising supplemental information such as advertising, promotional, or informational elements including interactive elements, may be superimposed post-production into a video stream. This can be done by using overlay screens including interactive overlay screens or by combining video segments. As such, the labels do not have to physically be part of the actual scene during filming. Once a video stream is created, a space for available advertising is designated either manually or automatically by pattern recognition techniques. A list of available advertising space is generated. During viewing of television broadcasts, advertisements are placed in the video signal. Labels are displayed by superimposing an HTML page that is blank except for the advertisement onto the video signal. Advertisements can be superimposed post-production, and can be personalized and localized. The advertisements can be customized on a per-household basis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for inserting indicators, such as tags and markers, in a video stream. The tags and markers can be inserted automatically using a database, or manually using an operator input station that supplies standard tags and markers for easy insertion. The information can be accessed with the database functioning as a look-up table, or using a comparator that compares a time code with stored table information. Also disclosed is the generation of supplemental video signals that can be combined with a video signal to provide supplemental information that varies on a regional basis. The present invention also discloses the use of indicators to access Internet web sites to generate enhanced video signals. The indicators can be transmitted by embedding them in the streaming video, in the video blanking interval, encoding them as a separate data PID or placing them on a back channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for generating a graphics window that is capable of emulating enhanced video from a combined video and interactive content stream. The set-top emulator can randomly access the combined video and interactive content stream to provide an easy manner of randomly accessing portions of the combined video and interactive stream for quality control purposes. Random access allows selective viewing of the enhanced video which saves time. Additionally, the combined video and interactive content stream can be simultaneously viewed as it is being produced to allow immediate feedback to an interactive television producer.

Abstract: A text based script file describing enhancements is parsed to produce platform dependent enhancement files that may be employed to produce enhancements on a set top box, enhanced television, or computer display. A script file may be of XML format and a parser may be an XSL translator. A parser may import HTML and Javascript from other applications. A parser may support a media player for emulation to view video and enhancements. Trigger data for rendering enhancements may be formatted into a javascript array. Trigger events may be employed to replace graphic pointers or text values. Multiple parsers, each supporting a specific platform, allow a single script file to be employed across multiple platforms. New platforms or versions of platforms are supported through new or updated parsers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method that provides rate controlled insertion of asynchronous data into a synchronous stream in a broadcast system. A calculation of the transmission time for an asynchronous data file is determined from the file size, available data transfer rate, redundancy transmission factor, bandwidth scale factor and connect time latency. Transmission time may be employed to schedule transmission of asynchronous data for use at a predetermined time. Transmission time for multiple files may be combined to determine a transmission start time for a first file such that a last asynchronous file is transmitted by a predetermined time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that permits a variable number of disparate streams of data to be packaged together as content into a single distinct program referred to as an omnimedia package. A framework definition may be specified and created for the omnimedia package to allow a client set top box to decode the information and provide access to streams comprising video, audio and metadata information. The framework definition may be employed by a broadcast system to create a broadcast stream. A mechanism is described that permits a content provider to define a framework for delivering a package of related content. The framework definition encapsulates information necessary to build, format, transmit and display the disparate content streams. Data may be downloaded to a receiver prior to the broadcast of an associated program. The present invention may be implemented on terrestrial, cable, satellite, VDSL and other transport systems, including those that support upstream communication.

Abstract: A graphical user interface, providing local drag and drop functions, is employed to position text and graphic elements on a video frame image. Frame number, element position, and element attributes are employed to create an enhancement file. The enhancement file is employed to embed a trigger, comprising information that identifies a video frame to be enhanced and a locator indicating where enhancement information may be accessed, into a streaming media file to create and enhanced streaming media file. An HTML/Javascript page embeds a media player and includes software to detect a trigger, access enhancement information, and to render the enhancement information in response to the trigger.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a platform independent enhancement file for television employs a web based editor with local functions for repositioning and sizing of displayable elements. Elements comprise text, graphics, images, or imported HTML files. Trigger information associated with elements controls the time and actions performed when rendering the displayable elements. A database comprises data representing elements, element attributes, trigger information and project information. A file generation process queries the database and produces a platform independent XML compatible script file. The script file may be parsed and the resultant HTML/Javascript file may be previewed employing a web browser. The script file may be parsed with other tools to provide HTML files for specific platforms without modification of the script file.