U.S. patent application number 09/775115 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-20 for methods and systems for forced advertisi.
Invention is credited to Corvin, Johnny B..
Application Number | 20010054181 09/775115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22657060 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010054181 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Corvin, Johnny B. |
December 20, 2001 |
Methods and systems for forced advertisi
Abstract
Methods and systems for forced advertising are provided. These
methods and systems determine when a forced advertisement is to be
presented, determine what forced advertisement is to be presented,
and control how the forced advertisement is to be presented. A
forced advertisement may be received prior to the time at which the
forced advertisement is to be presented or when needed. The forced
advertisement may be presented when certain broadcast
advertisements are being broadcast, at certain times of the day, or
at certain times within a program. The forced advertisements may be
selected based upon content of a replaced broadcast advertisement,
content of a nearby program, or independently of any
broadcast-related factors. Finally, forced advertisements may be
presented so that a television viewer cannot escape viewing the
advertisement by changing channels or turning off the
television.
Inventors: |
Corvin, Johnny B.; (Jenks,
OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & NEAVE
1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
50TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10020-1105
US
|
Family ID: |
22657060 |
Appl. No.: |
09/775115 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60179551 |
Feb 1, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/42 ;
348/E5.099; 348/E7.063; 386/E5.001 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/6587 20130101;
H04N 21/4331 20130101; H04N 21/4383 20130101; H04N 5/445 20130101;
H04N 21/44004 20130101; H04N 21/44 20130101; H04N 5/76 20130101;
H04N 21/812 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; H04N 21/6543 20130101;
H04N 5/775 20130101; H04N 21/478 20130101; H04N 7/165 20130101;
H04N 21/44016 20130101; H04N 21/458 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/42 |
International
Class: |
G06F 003/00; H04N
005/445; G06F 013/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for forcing a forced advertisement during a
presentation of a television program, comprising: determining a
point at which the forced advertisement is to be presented during
the presentation of a television program; selecting an
advertisement to be presented as the forced advertisement; and
presenting the forced advertisement at the point in the
presentation of the television program.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving the forced
advertisement in advance of the point in the presentation of the
television program; and storing the forced advertisement.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting the forced
advertisement at the point in the presentation of the television
program.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the point at which
the forced advertisement is to be presented during the presentation
of the television program comprises determining when a certain
advertisement is being broadcast.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the point at which
the forced advertisement is to be presented during the presentation
of the television program comprises determining when a certain time
of day occurs.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the point at which
the forced advertisement is to be presented during the presentation
of the television program comprises determining when a certain
point in the television program is reached.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the advertisement to be
presented as the forced advertisement comprises determining the
content of a broadcast advertisement that is being replaced by the
forced advertisement.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the advertisement to be
presented as the forced advertisement comprises determining the
content of the television program.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the forced
advertisement at the point in the presentation of the television
program comprises continuing to present the forced advertisement
after a television viewer attempts to change channels.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the forced
advertisement at the point in the presentation of the television
program comprises continuing to present the forced advertisement
after the television viewer turns off and on user equipment through
which the television program is being presented.
11. A method of presenting a forced advertisement to a television
viewer comprising: detecting the forced advertisement in an
incoming video stream; displaying the forced advertisement; and
preventing the television viewer from changing channels during
playing of the forced advertisement.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein presenting of the forced
advertisement comprises continuing to present the forced
advertisement after the television viewer turns on and off user
equipment on which the forced advertisement was being
presented.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein presenting of the forced
advertisement comprises storing the forced advertisement in the
user equipment on which the forced advertisement was being
presented.
14. A method of presenting a forced advertisement to a television
viewer comprising: detecting the forced advertisement in an
incoming video stream; displaying the forced advertisement; and
continuing to present the forced advertisement after the television
viewer turns on and off user equipment on which the forced
advertisement was being presented.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein presenting of the forced
advertisement comprises preventing the television viewer from
changing channels during playing of the forced advertisement.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein presenting of the forced
advertisement comprises storing the forced advertisement in the
user equipment.
17. A system for forcing a forced advertisement during a
presentation of a television program, comprising: a processor that
determines a point at which the forced advertisement is to be
presented during the presentation of the television program, and
selects an advertisement to be presented as the forced
advertisement; and a display that presents the forced advertisement
at the point in the presentation of the television program.
18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a storage device
that receives the forced advertisement in advance of the point in
the presentation of the television program and stores the forced
advertisement.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor requests the
forced advertisement at the point in the presentation of the
television program.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor, in determining
the point at which the forced advertisement is to be presented
during the presentation of the television program, determines when
a certain advertisement is being broadcast.
21. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor, in determining
the point at which the forced advertisement is to be presented
during the presentation of the television program, determines when
a certain time of day occurs.
22. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor, in determining
the point at which the forced advertisement is to be presented
during the presentation of the television program, determines when
a certain point in the television program is reached.
23. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor, in selecting the
advertisement to be presented as the forced advertisement,
determines the content of a broadcast advertisement that is being
replaced by the forced advertisement.
24. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor, in selecting the
advertisement to be presented as the forced advertisement,
determines the content of the television program.
25. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor, in causing the
display to present the forced advertisement at the point in the
presentation of the television program, causes the display to
continue to present the forced advertisement after a television
viewer attempts to change channels.
26. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor, in causing the
display to present the forced advertisement at the point in the
presentation of the television program, causes the display to
continue to present the forced advertisement after a television
viewer turns processor off and on.
27. A system for forcing a forced advertisement during a
presentation of a television program, comprising: a first processor
that determines a point at which the forced advertisement is to be
presented during the presentation of the television program; a
second processor that selects an advertisement to be presented as
the forced advertisement; and a display that presents the forced
advertisement at the point in the presentation of the television
program.
28. The system of claim 27, further comprising a storage device
that receives the forced advertisement in advance of the point in
the presentation of the television program and stores the forced
advertisement.
29. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first
processor and the second processor requests the forced
advertisement at the point in the presentation of the television
program.
30. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first
processor and the second processor, in determining the point at
which the forced advertisement is to be presented during the
presentation of the television program, determines when a certain
advertisement is being broadcast.
31. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first
processor and the second processor, in determining the point at
which the forced advertisement is to be presented during the
presentation of the television program, determines when a certain
time of day occurs.
32. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first
processor and the second processor, in determining the point at
which the forced advertisement is to be presented during the
presentation of the television program, determines when a certain
point in the television program is reached.
33. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first
processor and the second processor, in selecting the advertisement
to be presented as the forced advertisement, determines the content
of a broadcast advertisement that is being replaced by the forced
advertisement.
34. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first
processor and the second processor, in selecting the advertisement
to be presented as the forced advertisement, determines the content
of the television program.
35. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first
processor and the second processor, in causing the display to
present the forced advertisement at the point in the presentation
of the television program, causes the display to continue to
present the forced advertisement after a television viewer attempts
to change channels.
36. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first
processor and the second processor, in causing the display to
present the forced advertisement at the point in the presentation
of the television program, causes the display to continue to
present the forced advertisement after a television viewer turns
processor off and on.
37. A system for presenting a forced advertisement to a television
viewer comprising: a processor that determines the forced status of
an incoming advertisement and that prevents the television viewer
from changing channels during the play of the forced advertisement;
and a display that displays the forced advertisement.
38. The system of claim 37, wherein the processor also causes the
display to continue to present the forced advertisement after the
television viewer turns user equipment on and off on which the
forced advertisement was being presented.
39. The system of claim 37, further comprising a storage device
that receives the forced advertisement and stores the forced
advertisement.
40. A system for presenting a forced advertisement to a television
viewer comprising: a processor that determines the forced status of
an incoming advertisement and that continues to present the forced
advertisement after the television viewer turns on and off user
equipment on which the forced advertisement was being presented;
and a display that displays the forced advertisement.
41. The system of claim 40, wherein the processor also prevents the
television viewer from changing channels during playing of the
forced advertisement.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application No. 60/179,551, filed Feb. 1, 2000, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to television advertising. More
particularly, this invention relates to methods and systems for
providing forced advertisements to viewers.
[0003] Television viewers are currently exposed to a wide variety
of advertising when watching most non-premium television channels.
This advertising is typically presented to promote an advertiser's
products and services and, at the same time, sponsor or subsidize
the cost of providing television programming. Television
advertising in this way is generally viewed as a highly effective
means of promoting products and services, but is also recognized as
being very expensive.
[0004] One problem with television advertising is that television
viewers frequently change channels as soon as a television
advertisement appears. This act is colloquially known as "channel
surfing." Recent technologies have also facilitated skipping
commercials when programs are buffered by or stored on personal
video recorders which digitally store programs on disk drives. For
example, when a program is stored on a disk drive of a personal
video recorder, a television viewer may press a button that causes
the recorded program to jump in thirty second increments and
thereby skip the typical thirty second commercial.
[0005] Another problem with television advertising is that
television broadcasters typically have exclusive control of the
advertisements that are shown on a corresponding channel viewed by
a television viewer. This prevents a television distributors, such
as cable and satellite television companies, from being able to
provide alternate advertising to the television viewer.
[0006] Thus, it is desirable to provide methods and systems for
forcing advertisements on viewers. Such methods and systems
preferably facilitate preventing viewers from changing channels
away from, or skipping, television advertisements. These methods
and systems also preferably facilitate providing alternative
advertising from that provided by television broadcasters to
television viewers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in
accordance with the principle of the present invention by providing
methods and systems for forced advertising.
[0008] In accordance with the invention, these methods and systems
provide forced advertising by determining when a forced
advertisement is to be presented, by determining what forced
advertisement is to be presented, and by controlling how the forced
advertisement is to be presented. A forced advertisement may be
received prior to the time at which the forced advertisement is to
be presented. Alternatively, the forced advertisement may be
received when needed. The forced advertisement may be presented
when certain broadcast advertisements are being broadcast, at
certain times of the day, or at certain times within a program. The
forced advertisements may be selected based upon content of a
replaced broadcast advertisement, content of a nearby program, or
independently of any broadcast-related factors. Finally, forced
advertisements may be presented so that a television viewer cannot
escape viewing the advertisement by changing channels or turning
off the television.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and
upon reference to the drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating hardware that may be
used in various embodiments of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a process in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention in which a forced advertisement
is retained in a storage device contained within user
equipment;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a process in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention in which a forced advertisement
is transmitted from a forced advertising generation facility;
and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a process in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention in which an incoming
advertisement is designated as a forced advertisement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] An illustrative system 10 in accordance with the present
invention is shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, system 10 may include
a video stream generation facility 11, a forced advertisement
generation facility 12, communication links 13 and 14, user
equipment 15, and a user display 16. Video stream generation
facility 11 may be used to provide video streams. A video stream
may include television, cable, Internet or other suitable media
signals with video, audio, data, etc. components which, when
received by user equipment, may be used to provide suitable display
on a user display. Video stream generation facility 11 may include
television broadcast equipment, video tape players, video and data
servers, etc.
[0015] Forced advertisement generation facility 12 may be used to
provide forced advertisements. Like video streams, forced
advertisements may include television, cable, Internet or other
suitable media signals with video, audio, data, etc. components
which, when received by user equipment, may be used to provide
suitable display on a user display. Forced advertisement generation
facility 11 may include television broadcast equipment, video tape
players, video and data servers, etc.
[0016] System 10 may include multiple video stream generation
facilities 11 as well as multiple forced advertisement generation
facilities 12, but only one of each has been shown to avoid
over-complicating the drawing. Additionally, video stream
generation facility 11 and forced advertisement generation facility
12 may be at the same location, such as at a cable head-end, and/or
may be combined.
[0017] Communications links 13 and 14 may be used to transmit video
streams and forced advertisements to user equipment, and may
include, for example, a satellite link, a telephone network link, a
cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a
data-over-cable service interface specification link, a combination
of such links or any other suitable communications link.
[0018] The video streams and the forced advertisements, once
transmitted through links 13 and 14, may then be received by user
equipment 15. User equipment 15 may be implemented using a set-top
box, a personal computer, a set-top box, a personal video recorder,
or any other suitable equipment containing a processor or several
processors. If desired, a combination of such arrangements may be
used. Both the video streams and the forced advertisements may be
shown to a user on a user display 16. The user display 16 may be
integrated into the same enclosure as user equipment 15.
[0019] User equipment 15 may also include a storage device 17.
Storage device 17 may be any suitable storage device such as a hard
disk drive, a video tape drive, a rewritable compact disc or
combination of such devices suitable for storing forced
advertising. The storage device 17 may be capable of storing
several hours of video streams (e.g., movies, television shows,
sporting events, etc.) and forced advertisements (e.g., television
commercials including video and audio, barker channel promotions,
text, graphics, etc.).
[0020] One embodiment of a process 20 for forcing advertisements
that may be implemented using system 10 is shown in FIG. 2. As
illustrated, at step 21, a forced advertisement may be communicated
from forced advertisement generation facility 12 to storage device
17 in user equipment 15 at times such as initial set-up of user
equipment 15, when the user equipment 15 is turned on, at set time
intervals, etc. The forced advertisement may then be stored in
storage device 17 at step 22 for subsequent play. Next, at step 23,
user equipment 15 may wait for a video stream to be presented to
the television viewer. A video stream may be presented to a
television viewer upon the viewer tuning to a desired television
channel, for example. Once a video stream is being presented,
process 20 may determine at step 24 whether a forced advertisement
is to be presented.
[0021] Whether a forced advertisement is to be presented may be
based upon any suitable factor or factors. For example, a forced
advertisement may be presented whenever a certain advertisement is
included in the video stream--such as whenever a Pepsi
advertisement is detected. Advertisements may be detected using
programming tags or data, using close captioning data, or using any
other suitable method. As another example, a forced advertisement
may be presented at certain times within a broadcast--such as
approximately 15 minutes into a program or during the third
commercial break of a program. As still another example, a forced
advertisement may be presented at a certain time or certain times
of the day--such as at the top of each hour. Any other suitable
method for selecting when and which advertisements are to be
presented may be used.
[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the forced advertisement that
is presented may be the same advertisement or a slightly modified
version of the advertisement that is being replaced. For example,
the forced advertisement may be for the same advertiser as the
original advertisement or may be a version of the advertisement
that has been determined to be of higher interest to the specific
viewer or household.
[0023] Once a forced advertisement is determined to be presented at
step 24, process 20 may next select which forced advertisement to
be presented at step 25. Any suitable method for selecting which
forced advertisement is to be presented may be used. For example,
when certain advertisements are detected, a competitor
advertisement may then be selected to be presented as the forced
advertisement. Thus, when a Pepsi advertisement is detected, a Coca
Cola advertisement may be forced. As another example, forced
advertisements may be selected based upon program content that is
broadcast near in time to the forced advertisement. Thus, when a
forced advertisement is to be presented as the third advertisement
of every television program, the forced advertisement may be for
beer when presented during a football game and for golf clubs when
presented during a golf tournament. The content of the program may
be determined from program tags or guide data, from closed
captioning data, or using any other suitable method.
[0024] Finally, once a forced advertisement is selected at step 25,
the forced advertisement may be presented at step 26. Playing of
the forced advertisement at step 26 may include preventing the
television viewer from escaping the advertisement by switching
channels, or even turning off the user equipment. For example, if
the viewer attempts to switch to a different video stream channel
during a forced advertisement (e.g., channel surfing), the user
equipment may switch to the new channel but the forced
advertisement may continue to play until completion or,
alternatively, the advertisement play would have to be completed
before the channel switch can occur. As another example, if the
user turns off the user equipment 15 during the forced
advertisement display, when the user turns the user equipment 15
back on, the forced advertisement may continue to be displayed
until completion or it may replay from the beginning.
[0025] Forced advertisements may be presented at any point in a
television program irrespective of whether another advertisement is
being broadcast. To do this, a nearby television program may be
buffered in storage device 17. For example, if a forced
advertisement is to be presented at 7:15 pm during a television
program, but no other advertisement is to be aired at that time,
the invention may buffer the program while the forced advertisement
is being presented, and then later remove a broadcast advertisement
and unbuffer the program to make up the lost time.
[0026] Forced advertisements may be integrated into the video
and/or audio of a television program broadcast or may be presented
in a separate window. For example, a forced advertisement may be
presented in a normal commercial break so that the television
viewer has no idea that a forced advertisement is being presented.
Alternatively, as another example, a forced advertisement may be
presented in a window overlaying all or a portion of the television
program broadcast.
[0027] Turning to FIG. 3, another process 30 for forcing
advertisements that may be implemented using user equipment 15 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown.
As illustrated, at step 31, process 30 may wait for a video stream
to be received. Step 31 may be substantially the same as step 23
described above. Next, at step 32, process 30 may determine when a
forced advertisement is to be presented. Step 32 may be
substantially the same as step 24 described above. At step 33,
process 30 may then send a signal to forced advertisement
generation facility 12 requesting that a forced advertisement be
provided. Facility 12 may then select an advertisement to be
presented in any suitable fashion, for example, as explained in
connection with step 25 above. Then, at step 34, forced
advertisement generation facility 12 may transmit a forced
advertisement to user equipment 15. This forced advertisement may
finally be presented at step 35. Step 35 may present the forced
advertisement in substantially the same manner as described above
in connection with step 26.
[0028] Turning to FIG. 4, another process 40 for detecting a forced
advertisement in an incoming video stream for play or replay in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown.
As illustrated, at step 41, process 40 may wait for a video stream
to be received. Next, at step 42, an incoming advertisement which
has been designated as a forced advertisement may be received and
identified. The identification may be based upon detecting
designations in the forced advertisements, such as programming tags
or data or close captioning data, may be based upon information
stored in programming data, may be based upon a time at which an
advertisement is received, may be based upon a channel on which an
advertisement is received, etc., or any combination of the same. At
step 43, the forced advertisement may then be played. Playing of
the forced advertisement at step 43 may include preventing the
television viewer from switching channels while the forced
advertisement is playing. Additionally, at step 43, forced
advertisements may be stored in the storage device 17 of user
equipment 15, if desired. This may then allow the presentation of
the forced advertisement in substantially the same manner as step
26, that is, the forced advertisement play may recommence or
restart if the channel is switched or if the user equipment 15 is
turned on and off.
[0029] In addition to providing forced advertising, user equipment
15 may also be used to present an electronic program guide. In one
embodiment, the electronic program guide may be an interactive
television program guide in order to facilitate selecting programs
to be viewed. Illustrative interactive television program guides
are described, for example, in Knee et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,892,
issued Dec. 31, 1996, and Knudson et al. U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which are hereby
incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
[0030] Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in
accordance with the invention, a forced advertising system that
fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific
embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the
appended claims.
* * * * *