U.S. patent application number 12/965546 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-03 for time-adapted content delivery system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to NBC Universal, Inc.. Invention is credited to Daniel Berkowitz, Christopher J. Falkner, Sheau Bao Ng, Glenn A. Reitmeier.
Application Number | 20120110627 12/965546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45998140 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120110627 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reitmeier; Glenn A. ; et
al. |
May 3, 2012 |
TIME-ADAPTED CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
A system for coordinated playback of time-shifted content with
time-adapted complimentary content is provided. The time-shifted
content may be played back from storage media, both local and
remote. Time-shifting may occur by independent playback such as
from optical discs and other memory devices, as well as from user
manipulation of features in a playback system based upon real-time
or near real-time content distribution. The content is identified,
along with timing information identifying where in the content the
playback is occurring. Time-adapted complimentary content may then
be selected and transmitted to the playback system. Such
time-adapted content may include advertisement, product and service
offerings, complimentary information, audio and/or video content,
and so forth.
Inventors: |
Reitmeier; Glenn A.;
(Yardley, PA) ; Berkowitz; Daniel; (New York,
NY) ; Falkner; Christopher J.; (Hoboken, NJ) ;
Ng; Sheau Bao; (Wayland, MA) |
Assignee: |
NBC Universal, Inc.
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
45998140 |
Appl. No.: |
12/965546 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61408400 |
Oct 29, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/76 20130101; H04N
21/4147 20130101; H04N 21/6581 20130101; H04N 21/23424 20130101;
H04N 21/44016 20130101; H04N 5/91 20130101; H04N 21/8352 20130101;
H04N 5/765 20130101; H04N 21/812 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/93 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/173 20110101
H04N007/173 |
Claims
1. A system for delivery of digital content, comprising: a content
identification component configured to identify digital content
played back in a time-shifted manner; and a content delivery
component configured to transmit time-adapted content based upon
the identified time-shifted digital content.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the content delivery component is
configured to transmit the time-adapted content during the
time-shifted playback of the digital content.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the time-adapted content is
synchronized with the time-shifted digital content.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the content delivery component
also delivers the time-shifted digital content.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital content is identified
by reference to metadata stored or transmitted with the digital
content.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital content is identified
by reference to a digital watermark in the digital content.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital content is identified
by reference to a digital fingerprint generated based upon the
digital content.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the time-adapted content
comprises a time-adapted transactional offer relevant to the
time-shifted digital content.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the time-shifted digital content
is stored on a receiver or playback system.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the time-shifted digital content
is stored at least partially on a system remote from the receiver
and playback system.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the content identification
component at least partially comprises a component of a receiver or
playback system.
12. A method for delivery of digital content, comprising:
determining an identity of digital content played back in a
time-shifted manner; and transmitting time-adapted content based
upon the identified time-shifted digital content.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the identity of the content is
determined at least partially by analysis of the time-shifted
digital content by a component of a receiver or playback
system.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the identity of the content is
determined at least partially by analysis of the time-shifted
digital content to determine identifying data, and by comparison of
the identifying data with a database of known content.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the time-adapted content is
transmitted during time-shifted playback of the digital
content.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the time-adapted content is
adapted by reference to at least one of the time and date of
time-shifted playback of the time-shifted content.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the time-shifted content is
time-shifted by interaction of the user with a remote control
device of a receiver or playback system.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the time-adapted content is
transmitted to be displayed or played back with the digital content
in a synchronized manner.
19. A method for delivery of digital content, comprising:
determining an identity of digital content played back in a
time-shifted manner; and transmitting time-adapted content based
upon the identified time-shifted digital content during
time-shifted playback of the digital content for play back with the
time-shifted digital content.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the time-adapted content is
selected to be synchronized with time-shifted playback with the
time-shifted digital content.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Non-Provisional Application of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/408,400, entitled
"Time-Adapted Content Delivery System and Method", filed Oct. 29,
2010, which is herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present application relates generally to the field of
digital content distribution, and more particularly to a technique
for distributing time-adapted content for combination with
time-shifted content played back by a user.
[0003] A wide range of systems have been developed and are
presently in use for distributing and playing back digital content.
Historically, such content was provided by broadcast channels and
played back in real-time by viewers equipped with an appropriate
receiver, typically a television or radio. Increasingly, however,
competing media allow for both real-time enjoyment of linear
transmissions and time-shifted playback. Real-time multi-media
content is most often viewed by transmission over the airwaves
(traditional broadcast), or by cable transmissions, satellite
transmissions, and, increasingly, digital Internet-based media. In
many cases, however, audiences enjoy content by purchasing physical
supports such as optical discs on which the content is temporarily
or permanently stored. Similarly, time-shifting is provided by
allowing for recording, at a receiver side or at a provider side,
of specific programming at the request of users. Still further,
time-shifting occurs when a user can execute such functions as
pause, rewind, and fast forward of currently disseminated
programming, such as with capable set-top boxes, receivers, cable
boxes and so forth.
[0004] Various techniques have developed in parallel, with the
ability to selectively convey complementary content that is
intended to enhance the audience experience. Such content may
include, for example, information regarding current programming,
targeted advertisements regarding current programming,
informational inserts regarding later programmed offerings, and so
forth. These complementary components are often transmitted in a
data stream with the underlying content, and are often designed to
complement or supplement the content as it is played back in
real-time. Similarly, efforts have been made to provide for
advertising and other information to complement content that is
sold for later playback, such as on optical discs.
[0005] However, little or no advancement has been made for
providing complementary content for time-shifted viewing. Technical
difficulties arise in such situations insomuch as the degree of
time-shifting is often completely unknown and unknowable, the user
being virtually in complete control of the timing of playback.
There is a need, therefore, for improved techniques that may allow
for the provision of complementary content even when underlying
content is played back in a time-shifted manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a novel technique designed to
respond to such needs. The technique may be employed with any range
of content disseminated by broadcast media, satellite, cable, the
Internet, or any other mechanism. The technique may also be used
with stored content that is subsequently played back by a viewing
audience. The invention allows for the supply of time-adapted
complimentary content that is coordinated with the time-shifted
playback. The complimentary content may comprise advertisements,
supplemental information, product offerings, informational data,
audio and/or video accompaniment, and so forth, to mention only a
few.
[0007] Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, a system for
delivery of digital content comprises a content identification
component configured to identify digital content played back in a
time-shifted manner and a content delivery component configured to
transmit time-adapted content based upon the identified
time-shifted digital content.
[0008] The invention also provides a method for delivery of digital
content that includes determining an identity of digital content
played back in a time-shifted manner, and transmitting time-adapted
content based upon the identified time-shifted digital content.
[0009] In one embodiment of the method, an identity of digital
content played back in a time-shifted manner is determined,
time-adapted content is delivered based upon the identified
time-shifted digital content during time-shifted playback of the
digital content for play back with the time-shifted digital
content.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood when the following
detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout
the drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical representation of a content
distribution and processing system in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical representation of coordinated
transmission of time-adapted streams with time-shifted playback;
and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary logic in the
coordination of time-adapted content with time-shifted
playback.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Turning now to the drawings, and referring first to FIG. 1,
a digital content distribution and processing system 10 is
illustrated that allows providers 12 to transmit content 14 to
audience playback systems 16. The providers 12 may include a range
of providers that transmit the content in accordance with existing
technologies. In the illustrated embodiment these include satellite
providers 18, broadcast providers 20, cable providers 22, Internet
providers 24, and other providers 26. The latter group may include
providers that offer digital content via such media as cellular
telephone networks, but also conventional distribution channels
such as movie rental houses, retail sales establishments (e.g.,
providing content on optical discs and other supports), and so
forth. The providers 12 may transmit content from their own
proprietary libraries, but most often will transmit or distribute
content from one or more content providers 28. Such content
providers may be partially or fully integrated with one or more of
the providers 12, and may themselves be production houses, content
repositories, television or movie studios, multi-media content
producers, and so forth. In many cases, the content 14 may include
television and movie programming, but may also include both video,
audio, multi-media and other programming that may be transmitted on
a regular schedule or upon user command (e.g., for Internet website
delivery).
[0015] The playback system 16 may include a range of conventional
equipment but is particularly adapted for use in the present
technique as described below. In the illustrated embodiment, the
playback system 16 includes a receiver/tuner component 30 that may
be similar to conventional receivers, set-top boxes, cable boxes,
and the like. The receiver/tuner component 30 will typically be
coupled to a monitor 32 capable of reconstructing and displaying
video based upon the received signals. In certain systems, the
receiver/tuner component may be integrated into the monitor
component, and/or may be or include circuitry for receiving and
decoding satellite signals, broadcast signals, cable signals,
Internet transmissions, or any other content encoding. In the
illustrated embodiment, a content display section 34 is illustrated
along with a section 36 for the display of other content. As will
be described in greater detail below, such other content may
include advertisements, information, complimentary product and
service offerings, and so forth. However, such content may also
include general video content, audio content, a combination of
audio and video content, and so forth. The other content played
back, as indicated by reference numeral 36 should, therefore, not
be considered to be limited to advertisements or any other specific
content that is displayed in a portion or section of the monitor,
but more generally any content that bears some desired relation to
the primary content being played. As indicated by reference numeral
38, the playback system 16 will also typically include one or more
speakers for reproducing an audio portion of the desired content.
As described more fully below, this audio portion may, also,
comprise the complementary content that is to be distributed for
playback.
[0016] It should be noted that the other content added to the basic
content may have a temporal element rather than or in addition to a
spatial aspect. That is, the other content may be played back at a
desired time in the basic content, may be spliced into the basic
content, may be superimposed over or replace a portion of the basic
content, may correspond to one or more times for insertion into the
basic content, and so forth. It may be noted that, in a presently
contemplated embodiment, such superimposed or replaced portions of
the content may be inserted in accordance with screen coordinates,
which may be stored, for example, in a database for the content, as
described below. Moreover, any time synchronization performed with
respect to the basic content may include times for appearance
(addition/replacement) and disappearance (removal/return to basic
content).
[0017] In addition to playing back content received in real-time or
near real-time, the playback system 16 is adapted for time-shifted
playback of content. In the illustrated embodiment, for example,
two types of time-shifted content may be routinely played back,
including content that is stored in the system, and content that is
transmitted from a provider, both indicated by reference numeral 40
in FIG. 1. The stored content may take any suitable form, such as
content stored on optical discs and other temporary or permanent
supports, computer memory, and so forth. Transmitted time-shifted
content may include stored content that is kept by a provider at
the request of the user, as well as content that is time-shifted by
manipulation of the playback system (e.g., execution of pause,
rewind, and fast forward commands on a remote control device). It
should be noted that the present technique is not limited to the
location or particular system component that performs the
time-shifting. Thus, certain time-shifting operations may be
performed on the playback system 16, while others are performed by
the service provider or by a third party. Where the playback system
16 locally stores and plays back content, a special playback
component 42 is generally provided, such as a optical disc player,
computer memory, or another system-level device.
[0018] It should be noted that the term "time-shifted" in the
present context may be contrasted with "linear" playback in which
content is sent by a provider to a collective audience, typically
based on a set schedule, and simply played back at the same time,
or nearly the same time by the collective audience with little or
no control over the timing by the audience members. While some
time-shifted content may be transmitted, or will have been
transmitted at some earlier time (in come cases as part of linear
programming), the present context does not require that such
time-shifted content ever was transmitted over airwaves, cable,
satellite transmission, network or otherwise by a provider. For
example, some such content may be stored on disc or other memory
devices. In this sense, the time-shifted content may be thought of
as "on demand" content, the playback of which will often be at the
control of an individualized audience.
[0019] The system allows for the provision of complementary content
that may enhance the audience experience in much the same way as
contemporaneously transmitted complimentary content may do for
real-time viewing. To permit the provision of such content, the
system allows for identification of the time-shifted content at the
time of playback such that the complimentary content can be
coordinated with the playback. In the illustrated embodiment, a
content identification recognition component 44 is provided that
may be incorporated into one or more components of the playback
system 16 and/or that may be provided by a third party. In
particular, several techniques may be contemplated for recognizing
what content is being played back, along with the section or
chapter of the content, timing of the content, frames of the
content, and so forth. Such techniques may include, for example,
reference to metadata that is stored or accessible with or from the
content, typically descriptive of the content title, version,
section or temporal point in the playback, and so forth. Such
metadata may also include information relating to the date of
original transmission, the time of original transmission, and so
forth. In other techniques, the content may be identified from
analysis of the digital content data, such as for digital
watermarks. Still further, the content may be analyzed for
real-time or near real-time generation of digital signatures or
fingerprints that are descriptive of content, individual frames or
sections in the content, and so forth.
[0020] Based upon this content identification recognition
component, a content recognition component 46 may make reference to
a database 48 that allows for identification of the specific
content, and, if desired, a temporal position of the playback in
the content. Here again, the content recognition component 46 may
be included in the playback system 16 but may also be defined by
one or more programmed computers or other devices in one or more of
the providers 12, content provider 28, or any third party. The
content database 48 may cross-reference various information
available for identifying the content with known transmissions,
libraries, collections of content, and so forth. Based upon
comparisons made by the content recognition component 46, then, a
content identification is made as indicated by reference numeral
50. It should be noted that the content database may be, at least
partially, located on the playback system, or on any desired
component. For example, the data used for identification may be
proprietary to and/or in the same location as the time-adapted
content provider. In other cases, the data may be maintained
remotely by an unrelated third party.
[0021] The content identification 50 is used to determine
time-adapted content that may be provided by a time-adapted content
provider 52. Such content may include any desired complimentary
content both visual, audible, or a combination. The time-adapted
content provider 52, moreover, may be the same as content provider
28, the same as one or more of the providers 12, or may be a third
party. For example, the time-adapted content provider 52 may offer
advertisements, product offerings, service offerings, transactional
offers, and so forth that bear some relevance to the content being
played back in a time-shifted manner. However, the time-adapted
content provider 52 is not limited to product or service offerings.
Rather, the time-adapted content provider 52 may provide audio
content that is coordinated with the time-shifted content, such as
for musical, foreign language, and other accompaniment. Similarly,
closed captioned content may be provided that is coordinated with
the underlying time-shifted content. Where product and service
offerings are provided, these may be adapted based upon the time
and date of the playback, as opposed to the original time and date
of the transmission of the underlying content, or any date of
stored content. This technique may allow for specific targeting of
audiences for such offerings based upon the date of playback, the
time of playback, renew product and service offerings that have
been developed since the content was originally distributed, new or
changed premiums or discounts for such offerings, and so forth.
Based upon the contribution from the time-adapted content provider
52, then, one or more of the providers 12 will distribute
time-adapted content 54 for combination with the time-shifted
playback on the playback system 16.
[0022] It should be noted, however, that the time-adapted content
need not be transmitted from the provider in real-time (sometimes
referred to as "linearly") as the main content is being played
back. A device that is part of or local to the playback system
(e.g. set-top box) might contain a library of additional content
(refreshed from time-to-time by the time-adapted content provider),
and it may be the local device that selects the additional content
to be displayed to the user based on the content identification.
The local device may keep track of which additional content was
actually displayed and transmit reports back to the time-adapted
content provider.
[0023] It should also be noted that in many cases the additional
content will complement in some way, or be relevant to the main
content being played back. However, such is not necessarily the
case. For example, such additional content may be customized to an
individual audience profile and/or preferences. In that case
metadata, fingerprints, etc. may simply be used to determine the
appropriate temporal or spatial locations for inserting the
audience-customized content, advertisements, offers, and so
forth.
[0024] Still further, it is presently contemplated that any one of
several scenarios may be envisaged for the "provision" of the
time-shifted and the time-adapted content. For example, both the
time-shifted content and the time-adapted content may be
transmitted by one or more providers to the playback system.
Alternatively, one of the time-shifted content and the time-adapted
content may be transmitted by a provider, and the other may be
stored and accessed by the playback system or a component
accessible by it. Still further, in some cases both the
time-shifted content and the time-adapted content may be stored and
accessed by the playback system or a component accessible by
it.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary data streams that may be
determined by the system of FIG. 1 for coordination of time-shifted
playback with time-adapted content. In the illustration of FIG. 2,
a time-shifted playback stream 56 comprises data which is converted
by the playback system to video, audio, or both. The time-shifted
playback stream has, coordinated with it, time-adapted streams 58
and 60. In practice, a single or a multiple of such time-adapted
streams may be provided. For the purposes of explanation, the
time-shifted playback stream 56 may be considered to include
multiple successive frames 62 of content. In practice, these may be
defined by progressive scanning of lines on a video monitor, and in
the case of audio content these may consist of continuous streams
of data defining audio playback. Several different types of events
may occur during the time-shifted playback, such as breaks or
pauses as indicated by reference numeral 64, continuing the stream
in subsequent frames 66. Similarly, fast forward commands 68 may
effectively skip certain content and move to subsequent frames 70.
Similar time-shifting events may occur for rewind, still frame
viewing, and so forth.
[0026] As noted above, the system described with respect to FIG. 1
allows for identification of the content being played back in a
time-shifted manner and, where desired, the specific frame or time
location within the content. A time-adapted content stream 58 may
thus be defined by the time-adapted content provider and supplied
for playback with the time-shifted content. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, an advertising stream is
coordinated with the time-shifted playback stream such that a first
ad 72 is placed in a first section of the playback while a second
ad 74 is placed in a second section. The ads may occur in any
suitable conventional manner, such as being displayed in lieu of
the underlying principal content, superimposed on the content, and
so forth. Again, as noted above, the particular selection of the
time-adapted advertisements may take into account the time of the
playback, the date of the playback, the profile of the user, and so
forth. The third data stream illustrated in FIG. 2 is a
time-adapted audio stream. Such audio streams may include music,
sounds of various types, but may particularly include alternate
languages that may be selected by the user, and so forth. Where a
frame-by-frame matching of the audio content is desired, sections
76, 78 and 80 may be transmitted that correspond to frames 62, 66
and 70 of the principal time-shifted playback stream 56,
respectively.
[0027] It should be noted that the time-adapted streams may be
sourced from any suitable media. This media need not be the same as
that used for the time-shifted playback. Indeed, in cases where the
contents of the media containing the time-shifted playback content
is fixed, (such as in the case of optical discs or other memory
supports), the time-adapted streams will be sourced from different
media. Where desired, then, time-shifted playback content may be
transmitted, for example, from a provider memory (separate from the
playback system) with the time-adapted data being integrated into
or combined with the time-shifted playback content. In other
embodiments, the time-shifted playback may be sent by one provider
or by first medium, with the time-adapted streams being sent by a
different provider or by a different medium.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary logic for carrying out such
time-adapted coordinated content delivery. The exemplary logic,
indicated by reference numeral 82 in FIG. 3, begins with
time-shifted playback of content as indicated by reference numeral
84. Again, this may be done from various storage devices, but also
by systems that permit recording and/or time shifting of current
programming. At step 86, then, information indicative of the
content and the timing of playback of the content is generated or
recognized. Based upon such identifying information, the content
and the temporal location in the content is identified as indicated
at step 88. Time-adapted complimentary content is then accessed and
transmitted as indicated at step 90.
[0029] It should be noted that, while the present discussion refers
to "transmission" of time-adapted content, that term should be
interpreted to mean that such content is provided to the playback
system or accessed by the playback system for playback with the
time-shifted content. That is, the time-adapted content may be sent
by a provider during playback of the time-shifted content. In other
cases, the time-adapted content may be stored on some component of
the playback system, or on a component accessible (typically via a
network) by the playback system, and accessed based upon the
identification made of the time-shifted content.
[0030] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ
from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
* * * * *