Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, systems and methods that allow a television broadcast facility or a headend to insert in-band messages, where the inserted message allow receivers to switch to, insert, or otherwise show addressable advertisements to its viewers.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an information management application that provides users with the ability to create and customize matrix displays of information relating to a particular product or service for navigation by other users is provided.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting video asset information to a viewer to assist the view in selecting a video asset for viewing. The video assets can be available from a plurality of different video asset sources, such as VOD (video on demand), PVR (personal video recorders) and broadcast (including over the air, cable, and satellite). Images from the video assets are displayed in a uniform manner, along with information about the video assets. The information includes data in a metadata category. The view can select one of the video assets for viewing, but also can navigate using metadata categories such as genre, actors, director etc. This allows a much easier and natural navigating and selection process for viewers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for push-based dynamic bandwidth allocation deliver addressable, advertising content in a digital network. Bandwidth is allocated on a push basis in response to receiving a trigger from a content distribution stream. The trigger contains data indicating an addressable break. A portion of bandwidth is then allocated to an addressable content stream based on the data of the trigger. The addressable content stream is then streamed to a receiver during the addressable break and the receiver is tuned from the broadcast stream to the addressable content stream for the duration of the addressable break. The additional bandwidth is de-allocated at the end of the addressable break.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that for monitoring the physiological state of nutrition of an individual and adaptively analyze that data input to anticipate the individual's nutritional needs. A satiety meter may be employed to analyze a user's profile including nutritional state and determine when and how much a user should consume to prevent the onset of hunger and communicate is to a decision engine. The decision engine may generate and communicate a message to the user via the client device to prescribe prophylactic intake of nutrition to the individual prior to the onset of hunger based on the user's nutrition plan and/or regimen.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable storage media for storing or caching targeted content on a receiver device using existing bandwidth within a media network are described. For example, unused bandwidth within a transport stream may be detected and targeted content may be inserted into the transport stream within the unused bandwidth. The targeted content may include targeted advertisements for a household addressable media network. The transport stream may be transmitted to the receiver device which may access and store the targeted content responsive to various targeted content signals. For instance, the transport stream may include targeted content signals configured to trigger the receive device to access and store the targeted content. The transport stream may include a commercial feed transport stream.

Abstract: Systems and procedures which allow for the placement of advertisements in an optimized manner are presented. Systems may be provided which may be configured to optimize a media plan (either automatically or manually, or a combinations of both) using demographic vectors, and may display the optimization results in a quantifiable manner using terms and numbers.

Abstract: A method of preparing data streams to facilitate seamless switching between such streams by a switching device to produce an output data stream without any switching artifacts. Bi-directional switching between any plurality of data streams is supported. The data streams are divided into segments, wherein the segments include synchronized starting points and end points. The data rate is increased before an end point of a segment, to create switch gaps between the segments. Increasing the data rate can include increasing a bandwidth of the plurality of data streams, for example by multiplexing, or compressing the data. The present invention can be used, for example, with MPEG or AC-3 encoded audio and MPEG encoded video segments that are multiplexed into MPEG-2 transport streams. Also included are specific methods for preparing MPEG video streams and multiplexing MPEG video with MPEG or AC-3 audio streams to allow a receiver to create seamless transitions between individually encoded segments.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting video asset information to a viewer to assist the view in selecting a video asset for viewing is described. The video assets can be available from a plurality of different video asset sources, such as VOD (video on demand), PVR (personal video recorders) and broadcast (including over the air, cable, and satellite). Images from the video assets are displayed in a uniform manner, along with information about the video assets. The information includes data in a metadata category. The view can select one of the video assets for viewing, but also can navigate using metadata categories such as genre, actors, director etc. Moreover, the system and method includes an on-screen remote control that can be utilized in conjunction with a physical input device for navigation and viewing one or more video assets. This allows a much easier and natural navigating and selection process for viewers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for packaging media and data for transmission over a broadband communications network link for display at a terminal destination. Features of the method included creating desired media segments for transmission to the terminal destination and for creating targeting information, for example in whole or in part in the form of metadata, for transmission to the terminal destination. Other features include packaging the created media segments and the created targeting information in a single package and unpacking the single package for display of the targeted media at the terminal destination.

Abstract: A system and method for the simultaneous creation, assembly and transmission of synchronous multiple personalized messages to specific targeted individuals or other entities. The system can send rich media distinctly personalized messages such as commercials to a small or large group of selected individuals through any appropriate distribution media. A personalized message is created based on segmenting a message into multiple slots, and providing different selectable segments for each slot. The multiple segments are then simultaneously broadcasted over multiple data streams to a receiver, wherein the receiver switches between the data streams to assemble the personalized message in a just-in-time fashion. Other data including overlays, animation, frame transitions etc. may also be transmitted and used to assemble the personalized message.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media for a decentralized application system that enables participating parties to automate the buying and selling of TV media units and/or aggregated TV and premium video audiences is described. The value-based TV/premium video media exchange application system allows the participants to interact with the system directly and/or automate transactions and execution between systems, while ensuring proper governance over each participants own rules and economics associated with the transactions, as well as individual campaign constraints and requirements. The decentralized application system significantly lowers current transaction and execution barriers, timing and costs, while providing a highly accountable and trusted system across all of the exchange participants.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the optimized allocation of content within a universe of inventory are described. For example, a method may include receiving content comprising at least one characteristic and at least one goal. A universe of inventory may be accessed that comprises a plurality of targets which may be assigned into a plurality of segments based on at least one demographic vector. An allocation optimization model may be generated based on the at least one content characteristic, the at least one goal and the plurality of segments. The content may be presented to the targets based on the allocation optimization model. Viewing data may be received that comprises data associated with target consumption of the content and the allocation optimization module may be re-optimized based on the viewing data. Additional factors, such as resource constraints and/or filtering rules, may be used when re-optimizing the allocation optimization module.

Abstract: Systems and methods for frequency capping of content are described herein. For example, frequency cap information may be configured to indicate a content exposure limit for a content presentation. The number of exposures to the content presentation at a particular household may be monitored. If the number of exposures is equal to or greater than the content exposure limit, the content may be prevented from being presented to the household. The frequency cap information may be used alone or in combination with other information, such as household demographic, timeframe, and day-part information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for compressing video content are presented. The methods and systems include analyzing a sequence of media frames stored in the memory device and calculating a displacement level of each of the media frames. The displacement level indicates how different each of the media frames is to a previous media frame. The sequence of media frames is divided into a plurality of cuts where each cut ends at a media frame having a substantially high displacement level. Frames to be removed from the sequence of media frames are identified in each cut based upon the frame's displacement level. The identified frames are then removed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for push-based dynamic bandwidth allocation deliver addressable, advertising content in a digital network. Bandwidth is allocated on a push basis in response to receiving a trigger from a content distribution stream. The trigger contains data indicating an addressable break. A portion of bandwidth is then allocated to an addressable content stream based on the data of the trigger. The addressable content stream is then streamed to a receiver during the addressable break and the receiver is tuned from the broadcast stream to the addressable content stream for the duration of the addressable break. The additional bandwidth is de-allocated at the end of the addressable break.

Abstract: A system and method for stitching separately encoded MPEG video fragments, each representing a different rectangular area of the screen together into one single full-screen MPEG encoded video fragment.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, systems and methods that allow a television broadcast facility or a headend to insert in-band messages, where the inserted message allow receivers to switch to, insert, or otherwise show addressable advertisements to its viewers.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a media generation application that allows a user to create and customize a commercial based on microtrend information and/or feedback information is provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable storage media for storing or caching targeted content on a receiver device using existing bandwidth within a media network are described. For example, unused bandwidth within a transport stream may be detected and targeted content may be inserted into the transport stream within the unused bandwidth. The targeted content may include targeted advertisements for a household addressable media network. The transport stream may be transmitted to the receiver device which may access and store the targeted content responsive to various targeted content signals. For instance, the transport stream may include targeted content signals configured to trigger the receive device to access and store the targeted content. The transport stream may include a commercial feed transport stream.