Abstract: A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing metadata-selected advertisements are provided. These systems and methods may receive metadata and other media, select an object, read metadata attached to or associated with the selected object, select an advertisement based on the metadata, and display the selected advertisement. In addition, monitoring, collecting, and recording of predefined data concerning metadata selected advertisements may be provided. The invention also provides a receiver for receiving signals and/or data (e.g., programs, advertisements, program guides, metadata, etc.) and a processor for accepting a user's input signal, selecting an object, reading metadata attached to or associated with a selected object, selecting an advertisement, and displaying the selected advertisement.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing targeted content delivery, including advertising, to mobile devices. A content organization and distribution system may be configured to receive content from a plurality of publishers and provide targeted content to a plurality of users having mobile devices, where the mobile devices are connected to the content organization and distribution system through a plurality of carriers. The provided content may be based on one or more user customization criteria.

Abstract: An advertising system is described. An advertising system includes a storage module to store video advertising content. The advertising system also includes a server coupled with the storage module. The server to deliver a continuous feed of video advertising content to an interactive device and to adapt the video advertising content responsive to input received from the interactive device.

Abstract: A method of determining advertising content to be included in a broadcast is disclosed. An inclusion criterion is received for each of a plurality of items of advertising content to be used to determine one or both of whether and how that item of advertising content is to be included in a broadcast. Stored user profile data associated with a plurality of users who provided within an observation period an indication that the user was consuming the broadcast is processed, and the respective inclusion criteria of the items of advertising content, to select and integrate into the broadcast selected ones of the items of advertising content.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for inserting second contents stored in a storage medium of a host while first contents input from an external provider are played includes: searching, by a searching unit, for the second contents using location information which indicates a location of the second contents stored in the storage medium; detecting, by a signal information detecting unit, signaling information from the first contents, the signaling information indicating a section in the first contents in which insertion of the second contents is allowed; and playing, by a playing unit, the searched, second contents in the allowed section of the first contents which are being played, based on the signaling information.

Abstract: A virtual content store may be provided. Upon receiving a request for a content stream from a subscriber at a regional headend, a central content vault may be examined to determine whether the content stream is available. Once the content stream is determined to be available in the central content vault, a streaming session may be established to the subscriber from the regional headend. The content stream may be retrieved from the central content vault and provided to the subscriber via the streaming session.

Abstract: An iTV user interface includes a navigable menu area through which a user can select from among a variety of services and a content display area in which formatted data associated with a selected menu service are displayed to the user. The formatted data is displayed in a rotating or ticker fashion having both a passive mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence independent of any selection operations by a television viewer, and active mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence that depends on selection operations by the television viewer. Advertisements and/or promotions may be interspersed among the content items. The navigable menu area and the content display area may be displayed to the viewer at the same time as television programming is displayed on the television.

Abstract: A content reproduction device including: an obtaining unit configured to obtain the content including plural segments on a per segment basis from a server through a communication network, each of the segments being assigned with a priority; and a reproduction controlling unit configured to reproduce the content on the per segment basis by displaying the content on a display device on the per segment basis, in which the reproduction controlling unit is configured to control reproduction of a target segment based on an amount of delay and a priority of the target segment, the amount of delay being a difference between a distributable position indicating a position of a latest segment distributable by the server and a first reproduction position in the content that is currently reproduced.

Abstract: Assets of broadcast network content are targeted to network users of interest based on location information regarding user equipment devices. Asset providers can specify location targeting criteria via a graphical user interface displaying mapping information. This location targeting criteria can then be compared to location information regarding user equipment devices so that assets are delivered to appropriate devices. The comparison of the location targeting criteria to the device location information can be performed at the user equipment devices or at another location. In the latter case, the assets can be addressed to appropriate user equipment devices or appropriate user equipment devices can be directed to select the asset, which is broadcast via the network. In this manner, assets can be targeted to individual network users on a basis independent of network topology.

Abstract: Computer-based systems and methods for advertising by pushing video to recipients. The subject matter of the videos may be targeted to the affinities of the recipients. The videos embedded in the emails may comprise a short commercial that the recipients view when viewing the video. A computerized host data center may track the recipients' interaction with the video. Advertisers may be charged advertising rates based on the recipients' interactions with the video email. The video may be continually pushed to various recipients. The recipients may watch the videos when it is convenient for them simply by opening, for example, an email that included the video in various embodiments. Further, the recipients may be presented with an opportunity to subscribe to ongoing video emails. Also, personalized web sites may be hosted for the recipients when the recipients can view videos pertaining to their areas of interest. The videos at the web site may similarly have commercials therein.

Abstract: A content insertion system helps digital media providers insert replacement content (e.g., localized commercials) at precisely the right places in the video streams delivered to downstream players. Specifically, with frame accuracy, the system inserts content insertion triggers into the delivered video streams. From a source video input, the system determines the trigger positions at which insertion triggers exist with reference to house timecode. The system then locates the corresponding trigger positions in the output video stream with reference to a framecount of frames generated by a digital encoder. The system inserts corresponding content insertion triggers into the delivered video stream when it locates the corresponding trigger positions.

Abstract: A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc.

Abstract: An interactive television system is provided in which targeted messages may be sent to users. The interactive television system may use an interactive television program guide or other interactive applications to provide interactive television services to users. An e-mail or other messaging application may be used to receive the messages. The messaging application may be separate from the program guide or other interactive television application or may be part of the program guide or other interactive television application. Messages may be targeted based on the television channels to which the user subscribes or based on which settings the user has established in the program guide or other application or based on any other suitable criteria.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for defining ad space in a video. For example, a computer can receive an identification of a video and an advertisement space definition that includes a time stamp for the advertisement space in the video and an advertisement length. The computer can receive a request to view the video. The computer can determine an advertisement to play in the advertisement space such that the advertisement is not longer than the advertisement length included in the video's advertisement space definition. The computer can provide access to the video, and when the video reaches the time stamp, the advertisement is played in the advertisement space.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a tangible computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to receive from a media processor a time-sensitive code embedded in a video stream received and presented by the media processor at a presentation device, retrieve collateral information associated with a scene of the video stream according to the time-sensitive code, and transmit the collateral information to a mobile communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a broadcast stream, and a method for use of the apparatus, are disclosed. The apparatus includes an application portal for launching a predefined application. The apparatus receives application information including identification ID information which identifies an application and protocol information which indicates a protocol to be used to launch the identified application, and launches the predefined application from the application portal in response to the ID information identifying the predefined application and the protocol information indicating the application portal. The apparatus may be arranged to only launch the identified application from the portal in response to the predefined application has at least the minimum version number. The application information can be received as an Application Information Table (AIT), and the ID information can be provided as organization_id and application_id fields in the AIT.

Abstract: A television broadcasting system is described in which a transmission unit controls the presentation of items of enhanced content during a running program. The presentation of the items of enhanced content is triggered in response to receipt by the transmission unit of periodic indications embedded in the running program. For each periodic indication, a criterion indicative of the quality of that periodic indication is measured and stored by the transmission unit as quality data. During the running program, if no indication is received by the transmission unit for a predetermined time, the transmission unit accesses the quality data to determine an expected indication quality. If the expected indication quality is above a threshold quality level, the triggering of enhanced content is suspended. On the other hand, if the expected indication quality is below the threshold, the presentation of enhanced content continues to be triggered.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network device having a controller programmed to receive a video program in an editable digital format having a repetitive portion that plays every time the video program is played; store video content used in modifying the repetitive portion of the video program; store descriptor files containing instructions for modifying the repetitive portion; and automatically morph the repetitive portion using the video content based on the instructions, the automatic morphing being performed for each instance the repetitive portion is presented. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for estimating demographic compositions of television audiences from audience similarities. In an aspect, pairwise cosine similarities of segment of viewers of rated and unrated television programs are determined, demographic information of rated programs is attributed to the unrated programs from the cosine similarity measures and demographic information for the rated programs.

Abstract: A computing system can include an interface that receives a URL responsive to a user activating an Internet link via an application where the URL includes metadata for an item specified by a country-based Internet store; circuitry that identifies a base country of the user by resolving an Internet Protocol address associated with the user; circuitry that decides if the base country of the user differs from the country of the country-based Internet store; and circuitry that formulates, if the base country differs, a URL for redirecting the user to a country-based Internet store for a country that corresponds to the base country of the user. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may receive, at a server, user profile data associated with one or more set top boxes via a network. The system and method may then search for and select local advertisement content based on at least the user profile data. Further, the system and method may transmit, to the one or more set top boxes, the selected local advertisement content.

Abstract: A user is given the ability to control the display of content items such as advertisements, by for example skipping over content items that are not of interest. Metadata tags associated with non-skipped viewings of content are stored and tracked. Subsequently, candidate content items are scored according to their metadata tags, giving higher scores to candidate content items associated with higher occurrences of non-skipped viewings. The higher-scoring candidate content items can then be favored over other candidate content items. Thus, based on the choices the user makes with respect to skipping or not skipping particular content items, inferences are made as to the user's level of interest in various subjects, and subsequent content items are delivered in a personalized manner to the user.

Abstract: A method may include and/or involve identifying a received signal as an indication that advertising content should be provided, determining ad content to provide in response to the signal, specifying a playlist file as a file to provide the ad content, the playlist file including identifications of multiple digital content files including the ad content, and streaming the multiple content files as a Single Program Transport Stream.

Abstract: A method for bitstream editing is provided. The method includes steps of: fetching a first original image from a source multimedia bitstream; performing variation processing on the first original image to generate a plurality of transformed pictures; performing keypoint extraction according to comparison results of the transformed pictures to obtain a plurality of candidate pixels; locating a first advertisement bitstream from an advertisement bitstream database according to the plurality of candidate pixels; and inserting the first advertisement bitstream to the source multimedia bitstream.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, receive television broadcast data for a plurality of television channels including caption data that includes text that corresponds to audio content of programming portions and advertising portions, and frame data defining video frames; identify as repeated caption data caption data that has been received at least a threshold number of times and received over at least a threshold number of channels; identify, from the repeated caption data, portions of broadcast data that correspond to the repeated caption data; select video frames from the portions; provide the selected video frames to a video processing system that identifies objects in the video frames and receiving from the video processing system the objects; and for at least one object, associate the object with the repeated caption data that corresponds to the video frame from which the object was identified.

Abstract: A system for performing closed captioning enables a caption prepared remotely by a captioner to be repositioned by someone other than the captioner, such as by a program originator. This capability is particularly useful when, for example, the program originator wishes to include a banner in a video but also wishes to avoid having a closed caption interfere with the banner. In one illustrative system, the program originator is a broadcast station that includes a conventional encoder and a broadcast station computer. In one arrangement, control data generated at the station computer is incorporated into the caption data by the station computer. In another arrangement, the control data is sent from the station computer to the captioner computer, which incorporates the control data into the caption data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system to communicate primary and secondary content streams to at least one remote unit, for example, via a television channel in a targeted television environment. The secondary content stream comprises a plurality of tertiary content streams (e.g., video streams) providing commercials, advertisements or any other content. The tertiary content streams are included in the secondary content stream as a mosaic so that each tertiary content stream is a subset or portion of an active display area or frame provided by the single secondary content stream. In on exemplary embodiment, the method and system provide targeted or specific commercial advertisements to demographically selected audiences.

Abstract: A user interaction request is received during playback of video content. The user interaction request can be received independent of any indication from the video content that user interaction is possible. In response to receiving the interaction request, one or more menus are displayed allowing the user to select one or more reaction options and to select whether the selected one or more reaction options are to be communicated to another user or to a content provider.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking of advertisements. The system includes a user interface for accessing information associated with commercial breaks and advertisements. The system also includes one or more edge devices for recording advertisements aired during commercial breaks on a television or radio channel. Further, the system includes a media server. The media server includes a memory, and a processor for storing recorded advertisements along with a stamp of region, channel, program and time of insertion associated with the advertisements in a repository of a media server, and providing access to the recorded advertisements for the advertisers. The method includes recording advertisements aired during commercial breaks on the television or the radio channel, storing recorded advertisements along with a stamp of region, channel, program and time of insertion associated with the advertisements in a repository of a media server, and providing access to the recorded advertisements for the advertisers.

Abstract: An improved computerized process for an AUTOMATED UNOBTRUSIVE ANCILLARY INFORMATION INSERTION INTO A VIDEO is described that inserts an advertisement into a moving object in a video selected by a user by an algorithm which requires no manual operations by the advertising business entity. A user who has access to any computer hardware device chooses his selected video but sees on his monitor that selected video with an advertising segment inserted in some optimum placement on that moving object in the selected video by an optimizing subroutine so that the insertion-does not distract from the -content of interest to the viewer.

Abstract: A digital video program is obtained. The program includes: (i) at least one broadcast segmentation message specifying at least one location for at least one broadcast advertisement, and (ii) at least one time-shifted segmentation message specifying at least one location for at least one time-shifted advertisement. The program is broadcast with at least one broadcast advertisement in accordance with the at least one broadcast segmentation message, and is made available to a subscriber at a time after the broadcasting, with at least one time-shifted advertisement in accordance with the at least one time-shifted segmentation message.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to playback of video/audio streaming media data. The media stream is available from the network at multiple bit rates. When a seek operation is performed, a playback device requests a lower bit rate media stream in order to quickly fill a playback buffer so that playback can commence more readily. After a seek start-up period is complete, the playback device can return to downloading the media stream associated with higher bit rates in order to increase the quality of the playback.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identification and insertion of content targeted to a particular audience within a content-based network, such as a cable television or satellite network. In one embodiment of the invention, audience qualities are identified and distributed to an advertisement decision maker, which uses the information to fulfill advertisement placement opportunities. Qualifiers about an existing or projected audience are classified utilizing an algorithm for qualifier weight and variance in order to determine the proximity any given qualifier may be to a target audience for an advertisement. Subscriber privacy and anonymity is also optionally maintained via e.g., hashing or encrypting data relating to the CPE and/or subscriber, thus ensuring that audience data is not traceable to a specific user account. Business methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing pictures intended to insert an advertising clip at a point, called insertion, between two pictures of a sequence of video pictures, called video sequence, comprising the following steps: generating a salience map representing the salience of the video sequence preceding the insertion point, generating, for each advertising clip of a set of advertising clips, a salience map, determining, for each advertising clip of said set of advertising clips, a degree of similarity between the salience map of the video sequence and the salience map of said advertising clip, said degree of similarity being representative of the comparison between the location of the salience zones on both said maps, selecting, among said set of advertising clips, the advertising clip having the highest degree of similarity, and inserting the advertising clip selected into the video sequence at the insertion point.

Abstract: A system for real time distribution of data and media is disclosed. The system may include a processor that executes instructions to authenticate an employee into an application based on login information received for the employee. The processor may enable the employee to access the application if the employee is authenticated. Once the employee is logged in, the processor may receive media content and information associated with a customer and may transmit the media content and the information to a device of a manager for approval. After the media content and the information are transmitting to the device of the manager, the processor may receive the approval of the media content and the information from the device of the manager. The processor may then proceed to interrupt currently displayed media content on a display device to display video content including the media content and the information associated with the customer.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for the directed insertion of assets in Content On Demand content across a plurality of computing devices. One system includes a database operable to maintain campaign data of the assets and an asset insertion decision system operable to instantiate on a plurality of computing devices and to periodically access the database to provide the campaign data to the instantiations of the asset insertion decision system on the computing devices. For example, the asset insertion decision system may establish a recording period in which each instantiation of the asset insertion decision system is operable to direct insertion of a portion of the assets in Content On Demand content selections upon request and to record the asset insertions between accesses to the database. The asset insertion decision system is also operable to process the asset insertions recorded by the instantiations to synchronize the campaign database.

Abstract: A system and method for operating an ad extraction and reconciliation system for a broadcast system includes an extraction manager module that receives an advertisement schedule for an advertisement from an ad sales module. The system also includes a controller module that receives broadcast channel schedule data for broadcast channel signal from a broadcast channel system and generating an advertising content data request signal for advertising content data including an advertisement content identifier for the advertisement. The ad extraction manager module forms an advertisement insertion schedule having advertisement content identifier and an advertising insertion spot associated with the advertising content identifier. The controller communicates the advertisement insertion schedule to a broadcast scheduling system.

Abstract: A system and method (the “Channel Dancer”) of delivering broadband content that has been personalized for a recipient user is disclosed. By excelling in the personalization of the user's view of broadband content on the Internet and otherwise, the system and method develop “stickiness” with the user that maximizes the benefits and effectiveness of advertising and related activities. The system preferably comprises a network operations center (“NOC”) that receives and packages content, with promotional materials, on virtual channels, a transmission medium that transmits the virtual channels, a broadband ISP with a point-of-presence (“POP”) server that receives the virtual channels and routs virtual channels to a user machine, based on requests received from client software (the “client”) resident on the user machine and filtering performed by the client based on a personal profile of the user.

Abstract: A data driven test system for web service or other service dependent on message exchange between service points or other communicating entities is contemplated. The testing system may be configured as a multi-stage tester having capabilities to conduct sequence, structure, and content test in order to narrowly identify errors of service points while subjected to a test protocol.

Abstract: A screen time control device includes a source interface for receiving a video signal, a processor connected to the video source interface for overlaying the video signal with a translucent signal to produce an overlaid video signal, and a device interface connected to the processor for receiving the overlaid video signal and providing the overlaid video signal to the display device. The processor substitutes the translucent signal in the overlaid video signal with a parental signal, where the parental signal can be a substantially opaque overlay signal that masks an image on the screen of the display device to prohibit viewing of the screen, a textual message, or a combination of both.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing a traffic log having an optional-promotion log entry. An example method involves (i) accessing a stored traffic log, wherein the traffic log includes multiple ordered log entries including at least a first log-entry and a second log-entry; (ii) making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live news program; (iii) making a second determination that the second log-entry corresponds to an initial show-segment VC of a show, wherein the show is scheduled to follow the live news program; (iv) identifying, among log entries scheduled between the first log-entry and the second log-entry, a set of optional-promotion log entries, each such optional-promotional log entry having a duration; (v) determining a cumulative duration of the optional-promotion log entries in the identified set; and (vi) providing the determined cumulative-duration to an output device for presentation.

Abstract: A system for providing audio/video content to a user is disclosed. The system includes a set-top box device configured to provide audio/video content to a presentation device, and at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the set-top box device, the at least one sensor configured to provide sensor data to the set-top box device. The system also includes a sensor data processing module configured to process the sensor data to determine a probable activity type for the user, and a controller coupled to the sensor data processing module. The controller is configured to select particular audio/video content for playback at the presentation device, where the particular audio/video content is influenced by the probable activity type. Related operating methods are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for advertisement insertion into streaming media content are described. In one method, an advertisement insertion tool receives a first indication of a start time of where an advertisement is to be inserted into media content and a second indication comprising at least one of an end time of the advertisement or a duration of the advertisement. The advertisement insertion tool inspects a first original slice of the media content that contains the media content at the start time to locate a first key frame at or prior to the start time and creates a first new slice comprising the media content of the first original slice up to the start time. The advertisement insertion tool inspects a second original slice of the media content that contains the media content at the end time to locate a second key frame at or prior to the end time and creates a second new slice comprising the media content of the second original slice after the end time until an end of the second original slice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for broadcasting at least one complementary element corresponding to a content broadcast to a terminal. The method includes: applying, to at least one portion of the content, at least one index detection function, stored in a database, the detection function delivering an information cue regarding the presence or absence of the index, providing at least one complementary element associated with the index, if a presence cue is emitted; and combining the content and the at least one complementary element, thereby delivering a complete content.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining identified impressions that are detected from consumption data collected from a group of media processors where the identified impressions represent viewing of selected content and where the consumption data indicates channel tuning events at the group of media processors including changing of channels, applying a ridge regression analysis to the identified impressions to determine a predicted number of target impressions per advertisement slot, and generating a media plan based on a ratio of an advertisement slot cost to the predicted number of target impressions per advertisement slot. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer from the storage device. Tags indicate the start and end points of a program segment. Program segments such as commercials are automatically replaced by the receiver with new program segments that are selected based on various criteria.

Abstract: A device for rendering content from a first source comprising a first input for receiving the content from the first source, a second input for receiving a substitution content item from a second source, a substitution module for substituting a segment of the content with the substitution content item, and rendering means for rendering the content wherein the segment is substituted with the substitution content item. The rendering device has monitoring module for monitoring the reception of the segment, and controlling the substitution module dependent on whether the segment is being received, such that the substitution module ceases the substitution upon failure to receive the segment.

Abstract: Methods and systems to insert advertisements and/or other supplemental or replacement content into a stream of video content are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems receive a request to replace a portion of video content currently playing at a client device with supplemental video content, such as an advertisement. In response to the request, the methods and systems determine one or more fingerprints of the video content plating at the client device, identify one or more frames of the video content at which to insert the supplemental video content based on the one or more fingerprints, and insert the supplemental video content at the identified one or more frames of the video content.