Methods and systems for redirecting content players are described. A request for content may be received by a network device from a user device. A session ID may be generated to track both the current and subsequent request for the content. The network device may redirect the user device to an initial segment of an advertisement. For an initial request by the content player that requests a segment of the content not associated with an initial segment of the advertisement, the content player can be redirected to the initial segment of the advertisement. For subsequent request for the content, the content player can be provided the particular segment of the content initially requested without redirection.
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
H04N 21/6377 - Control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components directed to server
Methods and systems are described for generating content identification files, such as manifest files, for ensuring content and advertising continuity when changes occur during playback. A user device can request content at a particular bitrate, and a first manifest file comprising references to the content and selected associated content such as advertisements can be created in response to the request. While one of the advertisements is being displayed, the user device can request a change, such as for a different bitrate. A computing device, such as a manifest server can access the first manifest file to determine the content and the associated content, such the advertisements, that were intended for the user. The manifest server can then create a second manifest file in response to the request, where second manifest file can be created with the associated content, for example, the advertisements in the first manifest file.
Systems and methods for providing playback features to a device are disclosed. In an aspect, one method can comprise transmitting a manifest and a state file to a recipient device, wherein processing of the manifest facilitates access to content and wherein processing of the state file facilitates one or more playback features associated with the content.
H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
H04N 21/2387 - Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
H04N 19/70 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
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.
H04N 21/6543 - Transmission by server directed to the client for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording
H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
H04N 21/6587 - Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands or viewpoint selection
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 inventory service (POIS) communicatively connected to the second content provider. The server transmits the second inventory policy to a placement opportunity inventory service (POIS) communicatively connected to the first content provider.
H04N 21/231 - Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers or prioritizing data for deletion
H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream requests
H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
6.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENT MANIFEST MANIPULATION
A method and system for manipulating a manifest is disclosed. A server receives a smart appliance a request for a manifest corresponding to a session identifier. The server retrieves from a session server a session manifest based on the session identifier. The server adjusts a session offset based on a difference in a session length represented by the session manifest from a session length represented by a previous session manifest corresponding to the session. When the session manifest comprises an address of an ad break, the server identifies in a cache at least one advertisement to be inserted into the session and replaces at least one address corresponding to at least one segment of the at least one advertisement in the session manifest based on the difference. The server transmits the session manifest to the smart appliance.
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
H04H 40/09 - Arrangements for receiving desired information automatically according to timetables
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. 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.
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
H04N 21/6338 - Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to network
H04N 21/85 - Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
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.
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/2668 - Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. by inserting targeted commercials into a video stream based on end-user profiles
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
9.
METHOD FOR ADVERTISING DECISION RESOLUTION ACCELERATION BASED ON LOOKAHEAD OPPORTUNITY TRIGGERING
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.accelerating advertising decision resolution
H04N 21/231 - Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers or prioritizing data for deletion
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
A system for providing a user-specific list of programs for online viewing based on a user profile stored in a DVR of a user, said system comprising: (a) a preference server linked to a wide area network and in communication with said DVR and at least one content server having a library of programs available for online delivery to a remote device; and (b) a User Menu hosted by said preference server and particular to said user, said User Menu providing said user-specific list of programs based on said user profile stored in said DVR.
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
11.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CUSTOMIZING METADATA IN TV NETWORK
A method for customizing metadata in a content delivery network, said method comprising: (a) storing customized metadata for a program, said customized metadata being inputted by a user; (b) modifying default metadata with said customized metadata and providing said modified metadata to said EPG; and (c) displaying program information based on said modified metadata.
H04H 60/02 - Arrangements for generating broadcast information; Arrangements for generating broadcast-related information with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for simultaneous generation of broadcast information and broadcast-related information
H04N 21/20 - Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
A method and apparatus for enabling multiple application programs to control a system's physical resources by way of multiple resource proxies, while still enabling exclusive control of the physical resource by one application program. Control tokens are used to limit control to one proxy. The proxy having the control token is tracked in an access control list. Java API methods that can alter the state of a physical resource are marked with an access control attribute during grinding. A resource management module intercepts API methods attempting to obtain control of the physical resource. If a proxy controlled by the application program invoking the intercepted method has control the method is allowed to use the proxy to control the physical resource.
A system, method and data structure for processing basic client application data types to add thereto extension types and priority levels adapted for use by each of a plurality of set top box classes.
H04N 21/254 - Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server or rights management server
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
16.
METHOD AND APPARATUS ENABLING MULTIPLE APPLICATION SHARING OF CLASSES
The invention comprises a method adapted to manage access to information elements such as classes, data files, objects and methods within a shared library by each of a plurality of applications operating within a respective context. Library contexts including requested information elements are instantiated as necessary for each access requesting application. Location information pertaining to the instantiated library contexts is added to a corresponding location parameter of the requesting applications.
A method for processing a resource allocation request associated with an application running at a set top box, by identifying all resources required to complete the resource allocation request and acquiring all the identified resources if the resources are available.
A method, system, API and computer product for adapting reverse data channel (RDC) utilization by selectively restricting the reporting of statistics data from client devices using a client-side filter adapted in response to configuration data from a file or other source file.
A method includes processing data associated with event and service information to create a base data block and an index table. The base data block has an array of objects, and each object in the array may have at least one attribute. The index table also has an array of objects, and each object in the index table relates to an object in the base data block. The method of processing data may be performed by a server located at a cable headend. In one embodiment, the present invention also comprises a storage medium having a representation of a data structure produced by the data processing. In one embodiment, a STB may receive and utilize the processed data.
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
G06F 13/00 - Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 7/16 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
20.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALLOCATING CLIENT RESOURCES TO MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS
A quota management system for Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) in which the storage space available on connected storage devices is shared between multiple content providers or multiple software programs.
patents
