Abstract: A video effect is created that provides an experience to a viewer of freezing time during an event that is the subject of a video presentation, investigating the event during that frozen moment in time, and (optionally) resuming the action of the event. During that frozen moment in time, the video can move around the scene of the event and/or zoom in (or out) to better highlight an aspect of the event. In one embodiment, there will be a transition from video captured by a broadcast camera (or another camera) to a high resolution still image, movement around the high resolution still image, and a transition from the high resolution still image back to video from the broadcast camera (or another camera).

Abstract: A video effect is created that provides an experience to a viewer of freezing time during an event that is the subject of a video presentation, investigating the event during that frozen moment in time, and (optionally) resuming the action of the event. During that frozen moment in time, the video can move around the scene of the event and/or zoom in (or out) to better highlight an aspect of the event. In one embodiment, there will be a transition from video captured by a broadcast camera (or another camera) to a high resolution still image, movement around the high resolution still image, and a transition from the high resolution still image back to video from the broadcast camera (or another camera).

Abstract: Promotions may be targeted to one or more device groups. A promotion/device group set relation is maintained for each promotion indicating the device groups to which each promotion should be sent. A device group corresponds to a statistically categorized group of end node devices (e.g. set top boxes) based on demographics or viewership history. A device group may be further subcategorized to include one or more transmission groups corresponding to the physical characteristics of the end node devices (e.g. hardware, memory capacity). A promotion server creates a package containing the promotion for each transmission group of the device group. If a package for a particular transmission group is already created and has sufficient available space, the promotion is simply added to the package. Therefore, a package created for a transmission group may hold promotions intended for different device groups even though not all of the promotions are targeted for the same devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to routing promotion content files to groups of end node devices having the same or similar device attributes, such as data storage capacity, called transmission groups. Specifically, a promotion is assembled into one or more data packages, with a package being created for each different transmission group. Promotions may be aggregated, with multiple promotions being placed in each package. The packages may include information such as promotion identification, start time, end time, duration, port number, multicast or broadcast address to facilitate bulk data routing via broadcast or multicast. The packages are then used to generate and deliver promotion schedules to each device of a transmission group and to schedule bulk data transmissions to the respective transmission groups via separate broadcast or multicast for each package.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to routing promotion content files to groups of end node devices having the same or similar device attributes, such as data storage capacity, called transmission groups. Specifically, a promotion is assembled into one or more data packages, with a package being created for each different transmission group. Promotions may be aggregated, with multiple promotions being placed in each package. The packages may include information such as promotion identification, start time, end time, duration, port number, multicast or broadcast address to facilitate bulk data routing via broadcast or multicast. The packages are then used to generate and deliver promotion schedules to each device of a transmission group and to schedule bulk data transmissions to the respective transmission groups via separate broadcast or multicast for each package.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to routing promotion content files to groups of end node devices having the same or similar device attributes, such as data storage capacity, called transmission groups. Specifically, a promotion is assembled into one or more data packages, with a package being created for each different transmission group. Promotions may be aggregated, with multiple promotions being placed in each package. The packages may include information such as promotion identification, start time, end time, duration, port number, multicast or broadcast address to facilitate bulk data routing via broadcast or multicast. The packages are then used to generate and deliver promotion schedules to each device of a transmission group and to schedule bulk data transmissions to the respective transmission groups via separate broadcast or multicast for each package.

Abstract: Synchronization of bulk data transfers to end node devices in a multimedia network involves sending an initial schedule message prior to broadcast or multicast of a content file. The content file could be a promotion or other file that must be efficiently sent to a large number of end node devices, such as television set top boxes. The schedule message contains at least a data transmission time for the content file so that an end node device is aware of when to listen for the later bulk data transmission of the content file. The schedule message may contain other parameters such as promotion identification, message duration, frequency, multicast address and UDP port.

Abstract: Promotions may be targeted to one or more device groups. A promotion/device group set relation is maintained for each promotion indicating the device groups to which each promotion should be sent. A device group corresponds to a statistically categorized group of end node devices (e.g. set top boxes) based on demographics or viewership history. A device group may be further subcategorized to include one or more transmission groups corresponding to the physical characteristics of the end node devices (e.g. hardware, memory capacity). A promotion server creates a package containing the promotion for each transmission group of the device group. If a package for a particular transmission group is already created and has sufficient available space, the promotion is simply added to the package. Therefore, a package created for a transmission group may hold promotions intended for different device groups even though not all of the promotions are targeted for the same devices.

Abstract: This is a system and method for managing data transmission to the set top boxes from a central system server, such as a promotion server which distributes promotion content. A precasting technique is used for transmitting promotion content files prior to promotion activation which takes into account the device attributes of the destination end node devices. More specifically, promotion content files are associated with an expected display or activation start time at the end node devices, such as a cable set top box. A package transmission lead time is calculated which depends upon the memory capacity of a specific group of end node devices, called a “transmission group,” to which the promotion file is to be sent. The package transmission lead time is then taken into account to determine exactly when to send the promotion content. The promotion content is then sent at the designated time via broadcast or multicast transmissions.

Abstract: A multimedia network involves sending an initial schedule message prior to broadcast or multicast of a content file. The content file could be a promotion or other file that must be efficiently sent to a large number of end node devices, such as television set top boxes. The schedule message contains at least a bulk transfer end time for the content file so that the end node devices are aware of when the later bulk data transmission of the content file should be completed. The schedule message may contain other parameters such as promotion identification, message start time, duration, frequency, multicast address and port number. The bulk message containing the promotion is then sent using an efficient bulk transfer messaging technique, such as a multicast Universal Data Protocol (UDP) message which does not require acknowledgment of individual packets or individual addresses of the end node devices to be maintained.