U.S. patent application number 17/726243 was filed with the patent office on 2022-08-04 for content-modification system with supplemental content stitching feature.
The applicant listed for this patent is Roku, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steven Michael Cormie, Matthew George Grover, Stefanos Christakis Liassides.
Application Number | 20220248075 17/726243 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220248075 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cormie; Steven Michael ; et
al. |
August 4, 2022 |
Content-Modification System with Supplemental Content Stitching
Feature
Abstract
In one aspect, a method includes receiving from a
content-presentation device a request for first supplemental
content for presentation during first content-modification
operation, and transmitting to the content-presentation device a
link to a set of content items in a playlist including the first
supplemental content. A request may be received from the
content-presentation device for second supplemental content for
presentation during a second content-modification operation. A
determination may be made that the second content-modification
operation is scheduled immediately after the first
content-modification operation. Responsive to the determination,
the playlist may be modified to include the second supplemental
content positioned immediately after the first supplemental
content. The link may be configured for retrieving the first and
second supplemental content by the content-presentation device, and
for performance of the first content-modification operation and the
second content-modification operation immediately after performance
of the first content-modification operation.
Inventors: |
Cormie; Steven Michael;
(Cambridge, GB) ; Grover; Matthew George;
(Cardiff, GB) ; Liassides; Stefanos Christakis;
(Cardiff, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Roku, Inc. |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/726243 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16866005 |
May 4, 2020 |
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17726243 |
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62858870 |
Jun 7, 2019 |
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International
Class: |
H04N 21/262 20060101
H04N021/262; H04N 21/234 20060101 H04N021/234; H04N 21/431 20060101
H04N021/431; H04N 21/84 20060101 H04N021/84 |
Claims
1. A method carried out among one or more devices that are remotely
located from a content-presentation device, the method comprising:
receiving from the content-presentation device a request for first
supplemental content and second supplemental content for
presentation by the content-presentation device as part of
respective first and second content-modification operations,
wherein the content-presentation device is configured for receiving
and presenting content, wherein the first and second
content-modification operations comprise one or more operations for
modifying received content presented during first and second
upcoming time intervals; making a determination that the
content-presentation device has scheduled carrying out of the
second content-modification operation immediately after carrying
out the first content-modification operation; responsive to making
the determination, configuring buffer memory to include first media
content corresponding to the first supplemental content followed
immediately by second media content corresponding to the second
supplemental content; and transmitting to the content-presentation
device a link that points to the buffer memory, wherein the link is
configured for retrieval of both the first supplemental content and
the second supplemental content by the content-presentation device
in a single download operation.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted link is
associated with the content-presentation device, and wherein
transmitting the link to the content-presentation device comprises
transmitting the link only to a particular content-presentation
device, the particular content-presentation device being the
content-presentation device.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving first
metadata that specifies scheduling data related to the first
content-modification operation; receiving second metadata that
specifies scheduling data related to the second
content-modification operation, and wherein making the
determination comprises using at least the received first metadata
and the received second metadata to determine that the
content-presentation device has scheduled carrying out of the
second content-modification operation immediately after carrying
out the first content-modification operation.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the buffer memory to
include the first media content corresponding to the first
supplemental content followed immediately by the second media
content corresponding to the second supplemental content comprises
appending, within the buffer memory, the second media content to
the first media content, thereby concatenating the second
supplemental content to the end of the first supplement content
together within the buffer memory.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting to the
content-presentation device a message indicating that the link
points to both the first supplemental content and the second
supplemental content, the message facilitating retrieval of both
the first supplemental content and the second supplemental content
by the content-presentation device, for carrying out by the
content-presentation device of the first content-modification
operation, and of the second content-modification operation
immediately after carrying out of the first content-modification
operation.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving from the
content-presentation device a content request for the first
supplement content, the content request for the first supplement
content including the link; responsive to receiving the content
request for the first supplemental content, using the link to
retrieve the first supplemental content from the buffer memory;
transmitting the first supplemental content to the
content-presentation device; receiving from the
content-presentation device a content request for the second
supplement content, the content request for the second supplement
content including the link; responsive to receiving the content
request for the second supplemental content, using the link to
retrieve the second supplemental content from the buffer memory;
and transmitting the second supplemental content to the
content-presentation device.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the content request for the first
supplemental content and the content request for the second
supplemental content are received in one of (i) the same request
message, or (ii) two different request messages.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein using the link to retrieve the
second supplemental content from the modified playlist comprises:
based at least on a determination that the link was also received
in the content request for the first supplemental content,
determining that the second media content is also in the buffer
memory and positioned immediately after the first media
content.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting the second
supplemental content to the content-presentation device comprises
transmitting the second supplemental content to the
content-presentation device in one of (i) a single transmission
including the second supplemental content concatenated to the end
of the first supplemental content, or (ii) a separate transmission
immediately following a transmission of the first supplemental
content to the content-presentation device.
10. A computing system remotely located from a content-presentation
device, the computing system comprising: one or more processors;
and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored
thereon program instructions that, upon execution by the one or
more processors, cause the computing system to carry out operations
including: receiving from the content-presentation device a request
for first supplemental content and second supplemental content for
presentation by the content-presentation device as part of
respective first and second content-modification operations,
wherein the content-presentation device is configured for receiving
and presenting content, wherein the first and second
content-modification operations comprise one or more operations for
modifying received content presented during first and second
upcoming time intervals; making a determination that the
content-presentation device has scheduled carrying out of the
second content-modification operation immediately after carrying
out the first content-modification operation; responsive to making
the determination, configuring buffer memory to include first media
content corresponding to the first supplemental content followed
immediately by second media content corresponding to the second
supplemental content; and transmitting to the content-presentation
device a link that points to the buffer memory, wherein the link is
configured for retrieval of both the first supplemental content and
the second supplemental content by the content-presentation device
in a single download operation.
11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the transmitted link
is associated with the content-presentation device, and wherein
transmitting the link to the content-presentation device comprises
transmitting the link only to a particular content-presentation
device, the particular content-presentation device being the
content-presentation device.
12. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the operations
further include: receiving first metadata that specifies scheduling
data related to the first content-modification operation; receiving
second metadata that specifies scheduling data related to the
second content-modification operation, and wherein making the
determination comprises using at least the received first metadata
and the received second metadata to determine that the
content-presentation device has scheduled carrying out of the
second content-modification operation immediately after carrying
out the first content-modification operation.
13. The computing system of claim 10, wherein configuring the
buffer memory to include the first media content corresponding to
the first supplemental content followed immediately by the second
media content corresponding to the second supplemental content
comprises appending, within the buffer memory, the second media
content to the first media content, thereby concatenating the
second supplemental content to the end of the first supplement
content together within the buffer memory.
14. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the operations
further include: transmitting to the content-presentation device a
message indicating that the link points to both the first
supplemental content and the second supplemental content, the
message facilitating retrieval of both the first supplemental
content and the second supplemental content by the
content-presentation device, for carrying out by the
content-presentation device of the first content-modification
operation, and of the second content-modification operation
immediately after carrying out of the first content-modification
operation.
15. The computing system of claim 14, wherein the operations
further include: receiving from the content-presentation device a
content request for the first supplement content, the content
request for the first supplement content including the link;
responsive to receiving the content request for the first
supplemental content, using the link to retrieve the first
supplemental content from the buffer memory; transmitting the first
supplemental content to the content-presentation device; receiving
from the content-presentation device a content request for the
second supplement content, the content request for the second
supplement content including the link; responsive to receiving the
content request for the second supplemental content, using the link
to retrieve the second supplemental content from the buffer memory;
and transmitting the second supplemental content to the
content-presentation device.
16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the content request
for the first supplemental content and the content request for the
second supplemental content are received in one of (i) the same
request message, or (ii) two different request messages, and
wherein transmitting the second supplemental content to the
content-presentation device comprises transmitting the second
supplemental content to the content-presentation device in one of
(i) a single transmission including the second supplemental content
concatenated to the end of the first supplemental content, or (ii)
a separate transmission immediately following a transmission of the
first supplemental content to the content-presentation device.
17. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the one or more
processors are distributed among at least two computing devices
communicatively connected by a network.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored
thereon program instructions that, upon execution by one or more
processors of a computing system that is remotely located from a
content-presentation device, cause the computing system to carry
out operations including: receiving from the content-presentation
device a request for first supplemental content and second
supplemental content for presentation by the content-presentation
device as part of respective first and second content-modification
operations, wherein the content-presentation device is configured
for receiving and presenting content, wherein the first and second
content-modification operations comprise one or more operations for
modifying received content presented during first and second
upcoming time intervals; making a determination that the
content-presentation device has scheduled carrying out of the
second content-modification operation immediately after carrying
out the first content-modification operation; responsive to making
the determination, configuring buffer memory to include first media
content corresponding to the first supplemental content followed
immediately by second media content corresponding to the second
supplemental content; and transmitting to the content-presentation
device a link that points to the buffer memory, wherein the link is
configured for retrieval of both the first supplemental content and
the second supplemental content by the content-presentation device
in a single download operation.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim
18, wherein the operations further include: receiving first
metadata that specifies scheduling data related to the first
content-modification operation; receiving second metadata that
specifies scheduling data related to the second
content-modification operation, and wherein making the
determination comprises using at least the received first metadata
and the received second metadata to determine that the
content-presentation device has scheduled carrying out of the
second content-modification operation immediately after carrying
out the first content-modification operation.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim
18, wherein the operations further include: transmitting to the
content-presentation device a message indicating that the link
points to both the first supplemental content and the second
supplemental content, the message facilitating retrieval of both
the first supplemental content and the second supplemental content
by the content-presentation device, for carrying out by the
content-presentation device of the first content-modification
operation, and of the second content-modification operation
immediately after carrying out of the first content-modification
operation.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/866,005, filed May 4, 2020, which claims
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/858,870, filed on Jun. 7, 2019, which is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
USAGE AND TERMINOLOGY
[0002] In this disclosure, unless otherwise specified and/or unless
the particular context clearly dictates otherwise, the terms "a" or
"an" mean at least one, and the term "the" means the at least
one.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one aspect, a method includes receiving from a
content-presentation device a request for first supplemental
content for presentation by the content-presentation device as part
of a first content-modification operation; transmitting to the
content-presentation device a link that points to a set of content
items arranged in a playlist, wherein the playlist incudes the
first supplemental content; receiving from the content-presentation
device, a request for second supplemental content for presentation
by the content-presentation device as part of a second
content-modification operation; making a determination that the
content-presentation device is scheduled to perform the second
content-modification operation immediately after performing the
first content-modification operation; and responsive to making the
determination, modifying the playlist to further include the second
supplemental content positioned immediately after the first
supplemental content, wherein the link is configured (i) for
retrieval of both the first supplemental content and the second
supplemental content by the content-presentation device, and (ii)
for performance by the content-presentation device of the first
content-modification operation and of the second
content-modification operation immediately after performance of the
first content-modification operation.
[0004] In another aspect, a computing system includes one or more
processors; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by
the one or more processors, cause the computing system to carry out
operations including: receiving from a content-presentation device
a request for first supplemental content for presentation by the
content-presentation device as part of a first content-modification
operation; transmitting to the content-presentation device a link
that points to a set of content items arranged in a playlist,
wherein the playlist incudes the first supplemental content;
receiving from the content-presentation device, a request for
second supplemental content for presentation by the
content-presentation device as part of a second
content-modification operation; making a determination that the
content-presentation device is scheduled to perform the second
content-modification operation immediately after performing the
first content-modification operation; and responsive to making the
determination, modifying the playlist to further include the second
supplemental content positioned immediately after the first
supplemental content, wherein the link is configured (i) for
retrieval of both the first supplemental content and the second
supplemental content by the content-presentation device, and (ii)
for performance by the content-presentation device of the first
content-modification operation and of the second
content-modification operation immediately after performance of the
first content-modification operation.
[0005] In another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable
storage medium having stored thereon program instructions that,
upon execution by one or more processors of a computing system,
cause the computing system to carry out operations. The operations
include: receiving from a content-presentation device a request for
first supplemental content for presentation by the
content-presentation device as part of a first content-modification
operation; transmitting to the content-presentation device a link
that points to a set of content items arranged in a playlist,
wherein the playlist incudes the first supplemental content;
receiving from the content-presentation device, a request for
second supplemental content for presentation by the
content-presentation device as part of a second
content-modification operation; making a determination that the
content-presentation device is scheduled to perform the second
content-modification operation immediately after performing the
first content-modification operation; and responsive to making the
determination, modifying the playlist to further include the second
supplemental content positioned immediately after the first
supplemental content, wherein the link is configured (i) for
retrieval of both the first supplemental content and the second
supplemental content by the content-presentation device, and (ii)
for performance by the content-presentation device of the first
content-modification operation and of the second
content-modification operation immediately after performance of the
first content-modification operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example
content-modification system in which various described principles
can be implemented.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing
system in which various described principles can be
implemented.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a diagram of example linear sequences of content
and related concepts.
[0009] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F collectively make up a
table showing example time-periods and corresponding operations
that can be performed in connection with the example
content-modification system.
[0010] FIG. 5A is an illustration of operations relating to
stitching of content, in accordance with example embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 5B in an illustration of operations relating to
unscheduling of a content-modification operation, in accordance
with example embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an example method.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of another example method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
I. Overview
[0014] To deliver and present content to end-users, a content
provider can transmit the content to one or more
content-distribution systems, each of which can in turn transmit
the content to one or more respective content-presentation devices
to be output for presentation to respective end-users. Such a
hierarchical arrangement can facilitate convenient, widespread
distribution of content.
[0015] By way of example, in order for a video content provider to
deliver video content to end-users throughout the United States,
the video content provider can transmit the video content by
satellite or another medium to content-distribution systems that
serve respective designated market areas (DMAs) within the United
States. Each such content-distribution system can therefore receive
the national satellite feed carrying the video content and can
transmit the video content to television sets and/or set-top boxes
in the content-distribution system's DMA, such that the video
content can be output for presentation to respective end-users in
that DMA. In practice, these content-distribution systems and their
means of transmission to content-presentation devices can take
various forms. For instance, a content-distribution system can be
associated with a cable-television provider and can transmit video
content to content-presentation devices of end-users who are
cable-television subscribers through hybrid fiber/coaxial cable
connections.
[0016] As such, in various scenarios, a content-distribution system
can transmit content to a content-presentation device, which can
receive and output the content for presentation to an end-user. In
some situations, even though the content-presentation device
receives content from the content-distribution system, it can be
desirable for the content-presentation device to perform a
content-modification operation so that the content-presentation
device can output for presentation alternative content instead of
at least a portion of that received content.
[0017] For example, in the case where the content-presentation
device receives a linear sequence of content segments that includes
a given advertisement segment positioned somewhere within the
sequence, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device
to replace the given advertisement segment with a different
advertisement segment that is perhaps more targeted to the end-user
(e.g., more targeted to the end-user's interests, demographics,
etc.). As another example, it can be desirable for the
content-presentation device to overlay on the given advertisement
segment, overlay content that enhances the given advertisement
segment in a way that is again perhaps more targeted to the
end-user. The described content-modification system can facilitate
providing these and other related features.
[0018] Content modification may involve identifying a segment of
content as being modifiable, and modifying the identified content
either by replacing with supplemental content, or by overlaying
supplemental content on it. In either case, a modification
operation may entail presenting the supplemental content during a
time interval originally scheduled for presentation of the single
segment of content by a content-presentation device. In practice,
there can be circumstances in which two or more segments of
supplemental content may be identified for consecutive,
back-to-back content-modification operations by a given
content-presentation device. Thus, instead of modification of a
single segment of content, two or more consecutive segments of
content may be subject to two or more consecutive
content-modification operations by a content-presentation device.
In order to accommodate such situations with efficiency and in a
streamlined fashion, further operations may be used to "stitch"
together, or concatenate, two or more segments of supplemental
content so as to ensure contiguous download and delivery of
multiple supplemental content segments to the content-presentation
device, and to facilitate consecutive content-modification
operations with the multiple supplemental content segments.
[0019] Content modification with content stitching may require
timing circumstance in which the entirety of second supplemental
content is received by the content-presentation device in
sufficient time to be available for completion of a second
presentation modification operation. However, this circumstance may
not necessarily be guaranteed. For example, transmission and/or
network delays could cause download to the content-presentation
device of the second supplemental content to take too long to
complete in time to be available for the complete second
content-modification operation. In particular, if the second
presentation-modification operation is a full segment replacement,
and the entire second supplemental content is not received by end
of the segment being replaced, there can be a gap during which no
content at all is available for playout (presentation). To address
this scenario, the content-presentation device may carry out
additional and/or modified operations to unschedule a second
content-modification operation if it determines that second
supplemental content will not be fully received in time.
[0020] Accordingly, example embodiments described herein that both
accommodate content stitching in content-modification operations,
and unscheduling of content-modification operations to avoid
potential deleterious effects of incomplete receipt of supplemental
content prior to completion of content-modification operations.
II. Architecture
[0021] A. Content-Modification System
[0022] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example
content-modification system 100. The content-modification system
100 can include various components, such as a content-distribution
system 102, a content-presentation device 104, a
fingerprint-matching server 106, a content-management system 108, a
data-management system 110, and/or a supplemental-content delivery
system 112.
[0023] The content-modification system 100 can also include one or
more connection mechanisms that connect various components within
the content-modification system 100. For example, the
content-modification system 100 can include the connection
mechanisms represented by lines connecting components of the
content-modification system 100, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0024] In this disclosure, the term "connection mechanism" means a
mechanism that connects and facilitates communication between two
or more components, devices, systems, or other entities. A
connection mechanism can be or include a relatively simple
mechanism, such as a cable or system bus, and/or a relatively
complex mechanism, such as a packet-based communication network
(e.g., the Internet). In some instances, a connection mechanism can
be or include a non-tangible medium, such as in the case where the
connection is at least partially wireless. In this disclosure, a
connection can be a direct connection or an indirect connection,
the latter being a connection that passes through and/or traverses
one or more entities, such as a router, switcher, or other network
device. Likewise, in this disclosure, communication (e.g., a
transmission or receipt of data) can be a direct or indirect
communication.
[0025] The content-modification system 100 and/or components
thereof can take the form of a computing system, an example of
which is described below.
[0026] Notably, in practice, the content-modification system 100 is
likely to include many instances of at least some of the described
components. For example, the content-modification system 100 is
likely to include many content-distribution systems and many
content-presentation devices.
[0027] B. Computing System
[0028] FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing
system 200. The computing system 200 can be configured to perform
and/or can perform one or more operations, such as the operations
described in this disclosure. The computing system 200 can include
various components, such as a processor 202, a data-storage unit
204, a communication interface 206, and/or a user interface
208.
[0029] The processor 202 can be or include a general-purpose
processor (e.g., a microprocessor) and/or a special-purpose
processor (e.g., a digital signal processor). The processor 202 can
execute program instructions included in the data-storage unit 204
as described below.
[0030] The data-storage unit 204 can be or include one or more
volatile, non-volatile, removable, and/or non-removable storage
components, such as magnetic, optical, and/or flash storage, and/or
can be integrated in whole or in part with the processor 202.
Further, the data-storage unit 204 can be or include a
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored
thereon program instructions (e.g., compiled or non-compiled
program logic and/or machine code) that, upon execution by the
processor 202, cause the computing system 200 and/or another
computing system to perform one or more operations, such as the
operations described in this disclosure. These program instructions
can define, and/or be part of, a discrete software application.
[0031] In some instances, the computing system 200 can execute
program instructions in response to receiving an input, such as an
input received via the communication interface 206 and/or the user
interface 208. The data-storage unit 204 can also store other data,
such as any of the data described in this disclosure.
[0032] The communication interface 206 can allow the computing
system 200 to connect with and/or communicate with another entity
according to one or more protocols. Therefore, the computing system
200 can transmit data to, and/or receive data from, one or more
other entities according to one or more protocols. In one example,
the communication interface 206 can be or include a wired
interface, such as an Ethernet interface or a High-Definition
Multimedia Interface (HDMI). In another example, the communication
interface 206 can be or include a wireless interface, such as a
cellular or WI-FI interface.
[0033] The user interface 208 can allow for interaction between the
computing system 200 and a user of the computing system 200. As
such, the user interface 208 can be or include an input component
such as a keyboard, a mouse, a remote controller, a microphone,
and/or a touch-sensitive panel. The user interface 208 can also be
or include an output component such as a display device (which, for
example, can be combined with a touch-sensitive panel) and/or a
sound speaker.
[0034] The computing system 200 can also include one or more
connection mechanisms that connect various components within the
computing system 200. For example, the computing system 200 can
include the connection mechanisms represented by lines that connect
components of the computing system 200, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0035] The computing system 200 can include one or more of the
above-described components and can be configured or arranged in
various ways. For example, the computing system 200 can be
configured as a server and/or a client (or perhaps a cluster of
servers and/or a cluster of clients) operating in one or more
server-client type arrangements, for instance.
[0036] As noted above, the content-modification system 100 and/or
components thereof can take the form of a computing system, such as
the computing system 200. In some cases, some or all these entities
can take the form of a more specific type of computing system. For
instance, in the case of the content-presentation device 104, it
can take the form of a desktop computer, a laptop, a tablet, a
mobile phone, a television set, a set-top box, a television set
with an integrated set-top box, a media dongle, or a television set
with a media dongle connected to it, among other possibilities.
III. Example Operations
[0037] The content-modification system 100 and/or components
thereof can be configured to perform and/or can perform one or more
operations. Examples of these operations and related features will
now be described.
[0038] As noted above, in practice, the content-modification system
100 is likely to include many instances of at least some of the
described components. Likewise, in practice, it is likely that at
least some of described operations will be performed many times
(perhaps on a routine basis and/or in connection with additional
instances of the described components).
[0039] A. Operations Related to the Content-Distribution System
Transmitting Content and the Content-Presenting Device Receiving
and Outputting Content
[0040] For context, general operations and examples related to the
content-distribution system 102 transmitting content and the
content-presentation device 104 receiving and outputting content
will now be described.
[0041] To begin, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit
content (e.g., that it received from a content provider) to one or
more entities such as the content-presentation device 104. Content
can be or include audio content and/or video content, for example.
In some examples, content can take the form of a linear sequence of
content segments (e.g., program segments and advertisement
segments) or a portion thereof. In the case of video content, a
portion of the video content may be one or more frames, for
example.
[0042] The content-distribution system 102 can transmit content on
one or more channels (sometimes referred to as stations or feeds).
As such, the content-distribution system 102 can be associated with
a single channel content distributor or a multi-channel content
distributor such as a multi-channel video program distributor
(MVPD).
[0043] The content-distribution system 102 and its means of
transmission of content on the channel to the content-presentation
device 104 can take various forms. By way of example, the
content-distribution system 102 can be or include a
cable-television head-end that is associated with a
cable-television provider and that transmits the content on the
channel to the content-presentation device 104 through hybrid
fiber/coaxial cable connections. As another example, the
content-distribution system 102 can be or include a
satellite-television head-end that is associated with a
satellite-television provider and that transmits the content on the
channel to the content-presentation device 104 through a satellite
transmission. As yet another example, the content-distribution
system 102 can be or include a television-broadcast station that is
associated with a television-broadcast provider and that transmits
the content on the channel through a terrestrial over-the-air
interface to the content-presentation device 104. In these and
other examples, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit
the content in the form of an analog or digital broadcast stream
representing the content.
[0044] The content-presentation device 104 can receive content from
one or more entities, such as the content-distribution system 102.
In one example, the content-presentation device 104 can select
(e.g., by tuning to) a channel from among multiple available
channels, perhaps based on input received via a user interface,
such that the content-presentation device 104 can receive content
on the selected channel.
[0045] In some examples, the content-distribution system 102 can
transmit content to the content-presentation device 104, which the
content-presentation device 104 can receive, and therefore the
transmitted content and the received content can be the same.
However, in other examples, they can be different, such as where
the content-distribution system 102 transmits content to the
content-presentation device 104, but the content-presentation
device 104 does not receive the content and instead receives
different content from a different content-distribution system.
[0046] The content-presentation device 104 can also output content
for presentation. As noted above, the content-presentation device
104 can take various forms. In one example, in the case where the
content-presentation device 104 is a television set (perhaps with
an integrated set-top box and/or media dongle), outputting the
content for presentation can involve the television set outputting
the content via a user interface (e.g., a display device and/or a
sound speaker), such that it can be presented to an end-user. As
another example, in the case where the content-presentation device
104 is a set-top box or a media dongle, outputting the content for
presentation can involve the set-top box or the media dongle
outputting the content via a communication interface (e.g., an HDMI
interface), such that it can be received by a television set and in
turn output by the television set for presentation to an
end-user.
[0047] As such, in various scenarios, the content-distribution
system 102 can transmit content to the content-presentation device
104, which can receive and output the content for presentation to
an end-user. In some situations, even though the
content-presentation device 104 receives content from the
content-distribution system 102, it can be desirable for the
content-presentation device 104 to perform a content-modification
operation so that the content-presentation device 104 can output
for presentation alternative content instead of at least a portion
of that received content.
[0048] For example, in the case where the content-presentation
device 104 receives a linear sequence of content segments that
includes a given advertisement segment positioned somewhere within
the sequence, it can be desirable for the content-presentation
device 104 to replace the given advertisement segment with a
different advertisement segment that is perhaps more targeted to
the end-user (i.e., more targeted to the end-user's interests,
demographics, etc.). As another example, it can be desirable for
the content-presentation device 104 to overlay on the given
advertisement segment, overlay content that enhances the given
advertisement segment in a way that is again perhaps more targeted
to the end-user. The described content-modification system 100 can
facilitate providing these and other related features.
[0049] As noted above, in one example, content can take the form of
a linear sequence of content segments. As such, in one example, the
content-distribution system 102 can transmit a linear sequence of
content segments. This is referred to herein as a "transmission
sequence." Likewise, the content-presentation device 104 can
receive a linear sequence of content segments. This is referred to
herein as a "receipt sequence." In line with the discussion above,
the transmission sequence and the receipt sequence can be the same
or they can be different.
[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates some examples of these concepts. In one
example, the transmission sequence is the TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE 302
shown in FIG. 3. As shown, the TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE 302 includes a
PROGRAM SEGMENT A 302-A, followed by an AD SEGMENT B 302-B,
followed by AD SEGMENT C 302-C.
[0051] Likewise, in one example, the receipt sequence is the
RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304 shown in FIG. 3. In this example, the
content-distribution system 102 transmits the TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE
302 to the content-presentation device 104, which the
content-presentation device 104 receives as the RECEIPT SEQUENCE
304, and therefore the TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE 302 and the RECEIPT
SEQUENCE 304 are the same. As such, as shown, the RECEIPT SEQUENCE
304 also includes the PROGRAM SEGMENT A 304-A, followed by the AD
SEGMENT B 304-B, followed by the AD SEGMENT C 302-C.
[0052] In FIG. 3, the transmission time of the TRANSMISSION
SEQUENCE 302 and the receipt time of the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304 are
shown by way of their relationship to a TIMELINE 350. Notably, the
transmission time and the receipt time are offset from each other
due to a content-transmission delay, which is described in greater
detail below.
[0053] As noted above, in some situations, even though the
content-presentation device 104 receives content from the
content-distribution system 102, it can be desirable for the
content-presentation device 104 to perform a content-modification
operation so that the content-presentation device 104 can output
for presentation alternative content instead of at least a portion
of that received content. For example, in the case where the
content-presentation device 104 receives the receipt sequence,
rather than outputting for presentation the receipt sequence, the
content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation a
modified version of the receipt sequence instead. This is referred
to herein as a "modified sequence."
[0054] For example, in the case where the receipt sequence includes
a given advertisement segment positioned somewhere within the
receipt sequence, it can be desirable for the content-presentation
device 104 to replace the given advertisement segment with a
different advertisement segment that is perhaps more targeted to
the end-user (i.e., more targeted to the end-user's interests,
demographics, etc.), thereby resulting in a modified sequence that
the content-presentation device 104 can output for
presentation.
[0055] To illustrate this, in one example, the modified sequence is
the FIRST MODIFIED SEQUENCE 306 shown in FIG. 3. As shown, the
FIRST MODIFIED SEQUENCE 306 includes the PROGRAM SEGMENT A 306-A,
followed by the AD SEGMENT D 306-D (which replaced the AD SEGMENT B
304-B), followed by AD SEGMENT C 306-C.
[0056] As another example, it can be desirable for the
content-presentation device 104 to overlay, on the given
advertisement segment, overlay content that enhances the given
advertisement segment in a way that is again perhaps more targeted
to the end-user, thereby resulting in a modified sequence that the
content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation.
[0057] To illustrate this, in another example, the modified
sequence is the SECOND MODIFIED SEQUENCE 308 shown in FIG. 3. As
shown, the SECOND MODIFIED SEQUENCE 308 includes the PROGRAM
SEGMENT A 308-A, followed by the AD SEGMENT B' 308-B' (which is the
AD SEGMENT B 304-B modified with overlay content), followed by AD
SEGMENT C 308-C.
[0058] Other portions of FIG. 3 will be described later in this
disclosure as related concepts are introduced and described.
[0059] Moving on in view of the context provided above, FIGS. 4A,
4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F, collectively make up a table showing example
time-periods and corresponding operations that can be performed in
connection with the content-modification system 100. These and
other related operations will now be described.
[0060] B. Operations Related to the Content-Distribution System
Transmitting First Content on a Channel
[0061] During a time-period T1, the content-distribution system 102
can transmit content on a channel to the content-presentation
device 104. This content is referred to herein as "first content."
In one example, the first content is the FIRST CONTENT 310 shown in
FIG. 3.
[0062] During a time-period T2, the content-distribution system 102
can generate fingerprint data representing the first content. This
fingerprint data is referred to herein as "first fingerprint data."
The content-distribution system 102 can generate the first
fingerprint data using any content fingerprinting process now known
or later developed. An example fingerprint generation technique is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,495,451 issued Nov. 15, 2016, the
entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The
content-distribution system 102 can generate first fingerprint data
at a given rate, such as at the rate of one fingerprint per frame
of the first content. The first fingerprint data can be or include
some or all of these generated fingerprints.
[0063] The content-distribution system 102 can access the first
content at various points within the content-distribution system
102. As one example, the content-distribution system 102 can access
the first content after it is output by a distribution amplifier
within the content-distribution system 102.
[0064] Also during the time-period T2, the content-distribution
system 102 can generate metadata associated with the first content
and/or the first fingerprint data. This metadata is referred to
herein as "first metadata." In one example, the first metadata can
be or include a transmission time-stamp, which represents a
time-point at which the content-distribution system 102 transmitted
the first content. The content-distribution system 102 can
determine the transmission time-stamp in various ways, such as
based on a time clock that is synchronized to a reference
clock.
[0065] As another example, the first metadata can be or include a
channel identifier, which identifies the channel on which the
content-distribution system 102 is transmitting the first content.
The content-distribution system 102 can determine the channel
identifier in various ways such as based on mapping data that maps
the content-distribution system 102 and/or physical inputs and/or
outputs within the content-distribution system 102 to respective
channel identifiers. In one example, in the case where the
content-distribution system 102 transmits content A on channel A,
content B on channel B, and content C on channel C, the mapping
data can specify which of three different outputs (perhaps on three
different distribution amplifiers) maps to which channel
identifier, such that the content-distribution system 102 can
determine the appropriate channel identifier for content of a given
channel.
[0066] As another example, the first metadata can be or include
SCTE-104 data, a watermark, or a similar type of metadata, any of
which can themselves encode other metadata, such as a program
identifier, an advertisement identifier (e.g., an industry standard
coding identification (ISCI) key), a program genre, or another type
of textual or numeric metadata, for instance.
[0067] The content-distribution system 102 can associate the first
fingerprint data with the first metadata in various ways. For
instance, in the case where the first fingerprint data includes
multiple fingerprints with each fingerprint representing a
corresponding frame of the first content, the content-distribution
system 102 can associate each fingerprint with a corresponding
transmission time-stamp and/or with other corresponding first
metadata.
[0068] During a time-period T3, the content-distribution system 102
can transmit the first fingerprint data and the first metadata to
the fingerprint-matching server 106. The content-distribution
system 102 can transmit the first fingerprint data and the first
metadata at a given interval. For example, every two seconds, the
content-distribution system 102 can transmit the first fingerprint
data and the first metadata that it generated during that most
recent two-second time-period.
[0069] C. Operations Related to the Content-Presentation Device
Receiving Second Content
[0070] During a time-period T4, the content-presentation device 104
can receive content from the content-distribution system 102. This
content is referred to herein as "second content." In one example,
the second content is the SECOND CONTENT 312 shown in FIG. 3.
[0071] During a time-period T5, the content-presentation device 104
can generate fingerprint data representing the second content. This
fingerprint data is referred to herein as "second fingerprint
data." The content-presentation device 104 can generate the second
fingerprint data using any content fingerprinting process now known
or later developed. The content-presentation device 104 can
generate the second fingerprint data at various rates, such as at
the rate of one fingerprint per frame of the second content. The
second fingerprint data can be or include some or all of these
generated fingerprints.
[0072] The content-presentation device 104 can access the second
content at various points within the content-presentation device
104. As one example, the content-presentation device 104 can access
the second content as it is being received by an input buffer
(e.g., an HDMI buffer) of the content-presentation device 104. In
another configuration, the content-presentation device 104 can
access the second content as it is being received by a display
buffer of the content-presentation device 104. In this
configuration, the second content can therefore be content that the
content-presentation device 104 not only receives, but also outputs
for presentation.
[0073] Also during the time-period T5, the content-presentation
device 104 can generate metadata associated with the second content
and/or the second fingerprint data. This metadata is referred to
herein as "second metadata." As one example, the second metadata
can be or include a receipt time-stamp, which represents a
time-point at which the content-presentation device 104 received
the second content. The content-presentation device 104 can
determine the receipt time-stamp in various ways, such as based on
a time clock that is synchronized to a reference clock. As noted
above, the content-presentation device 104 can access the second
content at various points within the content-presentation device
104. In one example, the point at which the second content is
accessed can be considered the "receipt" point for purposes of
determining the receipt time-stamp.
[0074] In practice, while the first metadata is likely to be or
include a channel identifier, the second metadata is likely to not
be nor include a channel identifier.
[0075] The content-presentation device 104 can associate the second
fingerprint data with the second metadata in various ways. For
instance, where the second fingerprint data includes multiple
fingerprints with each fingerprint representing a corresponding
frame of second content, the content-presentation device 104 can
associate each second fingerprint with a corresponding receipt
time-stamp and/or other corresponding metadata.
[0076] During a time-period T6, the content-presentation device 104
can transmit the second fingerprint data and the second metadata to
the fingerprint-matching server 106. The content-presentation
device 104 can transmit the second fingerprint data and the second
metadata at a given interval. For example, every two seconds, the
content-presentation device 104 can transmit the second fingerprint
data and the second metadata that it generated during that most
recent two-second time-period.
[0077] D. Operations Related to Identifying a Channel on which the
Content-Presentation Device is Receiving the Second Content
[0078] During a time-period T7, the fingerprint-matching server 106
can receive the first fingerprint data and the first metadata from
the content-distribution system 102. As noted above, the first
fingerprint data represents the first content transmitted by the
content-distribution system 102 on the channel. As noted above, the
first metadata can, and for the purposes of this described example
does, identify the channel. In this way, the first content can be
considered as content being transmitted on an identified
channel.
[0079] During a time-period T8, the fingerprint-matching server 106
can receive the second fingerprint data and the second metadata
from the content-presentation device 104. As noted above, the
second fingerprint data represents the second content received by
the content-presentation device 104. However, as noted above, the
associated metadata may not, and for the purposes of this described
example does not, identify the channel. In this way, the second
content can be considered as content being received on an
unidentified channel.
[0080] During a time-period T9, the fingerprint-matching server 106
can compare the first fingerprint data and the second fingerprint
data to determine whether there is a match. In this disclosure,
this type of match attempt, namely a match attempt between (i)
reference fingerprint data representing content being transmitted
on an identified channel and (ii) query fingerprint data
representing content being received on an unidentified channel, is
referred to herein as a "cold match attempt."
[0081] During a time-period T10, based on the comparing, the
fingerprint-matching server 106 can detect a match between the
first fingerprint data and the second fingerprint data. The
fingerprint-matching server 106 can compare and/or detect a match
between fingerprint data using any content fingerprint comparing
and matching technique now known or later developed. An example
fingerprint comparing and matching technique is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 9,146,990 issued Sep. 29, 2015, the entirety of which is
hereby incorporated by reference herein.
[0082] To effectively compare the first fingerprint data and the
second fingerprint data, the fingerprint-matching server 106 may
need to account for a content-transmission delay. For context, in
the case where the content-distribution system 102 transmits a
given frame of content on a given channel at a time-point A, for
various reasons, the content-presentation device 104 may not
receive that frame until a time-point B that is later (e.g., ten
seconds later) than the time-point A. This type of delay is
referred to herein as a "content-transmission delay."
[0083] In one example, the time-point A, the time-point B, and the
content-transmission delay can be the TIME-POINT A 314, the
TIME-POINT B 316, and the CONTENT-TRANSMISSION DELAY 318,
respectively, shown FIG. 3. Note that FIG. 3 is for illustration
purposes and is not necessarily to scale at least with respect to
time. In practice, the actual amount of content-transmission delay
may be different from the amount shown.
[0084] To help the fingerprint-matching server 106 effectively
compare the first fingerprint data with the second fingerprint
data, the fingerprint-matching server 106 may need to account for
such a content-transmission delay. In one example, the
fingerprint-matching server 106 can do this by comparing the first
fingerprint data that it receives at a receipt time-point with the
second fingerprint data that it receives during a time-period
defined by a starting time-point and an ending time-point. The
starting time-point can be the receipt time-point plus an offset
representing an anticipated content-transmission delay (e.g., ten
seconds), minus a tolerance a time-period (e.g., two seconds). The
ending time-point can be the receipt time-point plus the offset
(e.g., ten seconds), plus the tolerance a time-period (e.g., two
seconds). As such, in one example where the anticipated
content-transmission delay is 10 seconds, the fingerprint-matching
server 106 can compare first fingerprint data that it receives at a
receipt time-point with second fingerprint data that it receives
during a time-period between (i) the receipt time-point plus eight
seconds and (ii) receipt time-point plus twelve seconds.
[0085] In some cases, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can
determine a content-transmission delay, which it can use to select
an appropriate offset for use in determining the starting and
ending time-points, as described above. The fingerprint-matching
server 106 can determine the content-transmission delay in various
ways. For example, after the fingerprint-matching server 106
detects a match based on a cold match attempt, the
fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the
content-transmission delay as a difference between the
corresponding transmission time-stamp (of the first metadata) and
the corresponding receipt time-stamp (of the second metadata), for
example. Notably, the content-transmission delay can vary from
channel to channel.
[0086] During a time-period T11, based on the detected match, the
fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify the channel on which
the second content is being received by the content-presentation
device 104. In one example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can
identify the channel based on the channel identifier metadata
associated with the first fingerprint data used to detect the
match.
[0087] Notably, in practice, since there are likely to be multiple
potential channels on which the content-presentation device 104 is
receiving the second content, the fingerprint-matching server 106
is likely to compare the second fingerprint data with multiple
instances of first fingerprint data (each representing a different
respective instance of first content on a different respective
channel), to determine which of those multiple instances matches
the second fingerprint data.
[0088] Also, in some cases, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can
detect a match between the second fingerprint data and each of
multiple instances of first fingerprint data (each representing a
different respective instance of first content on a different
respective channel). This is referred to herein as a "multimatch
scenario" and can occur for various reasons. For example, this can
occur when the content-distribution system 102 is transmitting the
same or similar content on more than one channel at or about the
same time. In this scenario, the fingerprint-matching server 106
can perform additional operations to identity, from among the
multiple channels associated with the multimatch scenario, on which
specific channel the content-presentation device 104 is receiving
the second content. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can do this
using any channel multimatch disambiguation technique now known or
later developed. An example channel multimatch disambiguation
technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,992,533 issued Jun. 5,
2018, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference
herein.
[0089] E. Operations Related to Determining Historical Content
Consumption Data
[0090] During a time-period T12, the fingerprint-matching server
106 can generate metadata associated with the identified channel.
For example, the metadata can be or include a channel
identification time-stamp. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can
determine the channel identification time-stamp in various ways,
such as based on a time clock that is synchronized to a reference
clock. In another example, the metadata can be or include a device
identifier that identifies the content-presentation device 104 that
is receiving content on the identified channel. The
fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the device identifier
in various ways, such as by receiving it from the
content-presentation device 104. In another example, the
fingerprint-matching server 106 can receive data (e.g., device
registration data) from the content-presentation device 104 and can
use mapping data to map the received data to determine the device
identifier.
[0091] During a time-period T13, the fingerprint-matching server
106 can transmit an indication of the identified channel and the
associated metadata to the data-management system 110.
[0092] During a time-period T14, the data-management system 110 can
receive the indication of the identified channel and the associated
metadata from the fingerprint-matching server 106.
[0093] The data-management system 110 can use the received
indication of the identified channel and the associated metadata,
perhaps with other data, to determine when the content-presentation
device 104 has received content on the identified channel, what
specific content the content-presentation device 104 has received,
etc. This type of data is referred to herein as "historical content
consumption data."
[0094] As such, during a time-period T15, the data-management
system 110 can determine historical content consumption data
associated with the content-presentation device 104.
[0095] F. Operations Related to the Content-Distribution System
Transmitting Third Content
[0096] As noted above, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can
identify the channel on which the content-presentation device 104
is receiving the second content.
[0097] During a time-period T16, the content-distribution system
102 can transmit content on the identified channel to the
content-presentation device 104. This content is referred to herein
as "third content." In one example, the third content is the THIRD
CONTENT 320 shown in FIG. 3. In practice, the content-distribution
system 102 is likely to transmit the third content shortly after
(e.g., immediately after or a few seconds or minutes after)
transmitting the first content.
[0098] During a time-period T17, the content-distribution system
102 can generate fingerprint data representing the third content.
This fingerprint data is referred to herein as "third fingerprint
data."
[0099] Also during the time-period T17, the content-distribution
system 102 can generate metadata associated with the third content
and/or the third fingerprint data. This metadata is referred to
herein as "third metadata." The content-distribution system 102 can
also associate the third fingerprint data with the third
metadata.
[0100] During a time-period T18, the content-distribution system
102 can transmit the third fingerprint data and the third metadata
to the fingerprint-matching server 106.
[0101] The content-distribution system 102 can transmit the third
content, generate the third fingerprint data, generate the third
metadata, associate the third fingerprint data with the third
metadata, and transmit the third fingerprint data and the third
metadata in various ways, such as ways that are the same as or
similar to those described above in connection with transmitting
the first content, generating the first fingerprint data,
generating the first metadata, associating the first fingerprint
data with the first metadata, and transmitting the first
fingerprint data and the first metadata.
[0102] G. Operations Related to the Content-Management System
Receiving a Modifiable Content-Segment
[0103] During a time-period T19, the content-management system 108
can receive content in the form of a content segment that has been
identified as a candidate to be modified. This content is referred
to herein as a "modifiable content-segment" or "fourth content." In
one example, the modifiable content-segment is the MODIFIABLE
CONTENT-SEGMENT 322 shown in FIG. 3.
[0104] The modifiable content-segment can take various forms. For
example, the modifiable content-segment can be an advertisement
segment (e.g., a commercial) or a program segment. As such, in one
example, the modifiable content-segment can be an advertisement
segment that has been identified as a candidate to be modified,
perhaps by way of being replaced with a different advertisement
segment, and/or by way of having content overlaid thereon.
[0105] In one example, a user, perhaps associated with the
content-distribution system 102, can facilitate uploading the
modifiable content-segment to the content-management system 108,
such that the content-management system 108 can receive it in this
way.
[0106] During a time-period T20, the content-management system 108
can generate fingerprint data representing the modifiable
content-segment. This fingerprint data is referred to herein as
"fourth fingerprint data." The content-management system 108 can
generate the fourth fingerprint data using any fingerprint
generation technique now known or later developed. The
content-management system 108 can generate the fourth fingerprint
data at a given rate, such as at the rate of one fingerprint per
frame of the fourth content. The fourth fingerprint data can be or
include some or all of these generated fingerprints.
[0107] Also during the time-period T20, the content-management
system 108 can generate metadata associated with the modifiable
content-segment and/or the fourth fingerprint data. This metadata
is referred to herein as "fourth metadata." As one example, the
fourth metadata can be or include a duration of the modifiable
content-segment. The content-management system 108 can determine
the duration in various ways, such as based on the fingerprint
generation process. For example, in the case where the
content-management system 108 generating the fourth fingerprint
data involves generating one fingerprint per frame, where the
modifiable content-segment has a frame rate of 30 frames per
second, and where the fingerprinting process results in 300
fingerprints being generated, the content-management system 108 can
deduce that the modifiable content-segment has a duration of ten
seconds. The metadata can also be or include other information
about the modifiable content-segment, such as a content segment
identifier, a title, and/or specifics about permissible ways in
which the modifiable content-segment can be modified, etc.
[0108] During a time-period T21, the content-management system 108
can transmit the fourth fingerprint data and the fourth metadata to
the fingerprint-matching server 106.
[0109] In practice, the content-management system 108 is likely to
receive many modifiable content-segments. In such situations, the
content-management system 108 can perform one or more of the
operations described above, as appropriate for each of the many
received modifiable content-segments. As such, the
content-management system 108 can transmit many instances of fourth
fingerprint data, each corresponding with a different respective
modifiable content-segment, to the fingerprint-matching server
106.
[0110] H. Operations Related to the Fingerprint-Matching Server
Identifying an Upcoming Content-Modification Opportunity on the
Identified Channel
[0111] During a time-period T22, the fingerprint-matching server
106 can receive the third fingerprint data and the third metadata
from the content-distribution system 102. As noted above, the third
fingerprint data represents the third content transmitted by the
content-distribution system 102 on the identified channel.
[0112] During a time-period T23, the fingerprint-matching server
106 can receive the fourth fingerprint data and the fourth metadata
from the content-management system 108. As noted above, the fourth
fingerprint data represents the modifiable content-segment.
[0113] During a time-period T24, the fingerprint-matching server
106 can compare at least a portion of the third fingerprint data
with at least a portion of the fourth fingerprint data to determine
whether there is a match.
[0114] During a time-period T25, based on the comparing, the
fingerprint-matching server 106 can detect a match between the at
least a portion of the third fingerprint data and the at least a
portion of the fourth fingerprint data. The fingerprint-matching
server 106 can compare and/or detect a match between fingerprint
data using any content fingerprint comparing and matching process
now known or later developed.
[0115] During a time-period T26, based on the detected match, the
fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine that at least a
portion of the modifiable content-segment is included within the
third content, and therefore can identify an upcoming
content-modification opportunity on the identified channel. For
example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine that at
least a beginning portion of the MODIFIABLE CONTENT-SEGMENT 322 is
included within the THIRD CONTENT 320, as shown in FIG. 3, and
therefore can identify an upcoming content-modification
opportunity.
[0116] As noted above, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can
generate third metadata, which can be the same as or similar to the
first metadata. As such, the third metadata can be or include a
transmission time-stamp and/or a channel identifier, for example.
However, the third metadata can also be or include a position of at
least a portion of the modifiable content-segment within the third
content. In one example, the metadata can specify this using a
starting frame marker and an ending frame market, each
corresponding with a respective frame of the third content. The
fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the starting frame
marker and the ending frame marker based on the matching.
[0117] Notably, in practice, since there are likely to be multiple
potential modifiable content-segments where portions thereof could
be included within the third content, the fingerprint-matching
server 106 is likely to compare at least a portion of the third
fingerprint data with at least a portion of multiple instances of
fourth fingerprint data (each representing a different respective
instance of a modifiable content-segment), to determine which of
those multiple instances of the fourth fingerprint data has a
portion that matches the at least a portion of the third
fingerprint data.
[0118] I. Operations Related to Preparing the Content-Presentation
Device to Perform a Content-Modification Operation in Connection
with the Identified Upcoming Content-Modification Opportunity
[0119] During a time-period T27, based on the detected match, the
fingerprint-matching server 106 can transmit the third fingerprint
data and the third metadata to the content-presentation device 104
data to facilitate preparing the content-presentation device 104 to
perform a content-modification operation in connection with the
identified upcoming content-modification opportunity.
[0120] During a time-period T28, the content-presentation device
104 can receive the third fingerprint data and the third metadata
from the fingerprint-matching server 106.
[0121] During a time-period T29, the content-presentation device
104 can receive content on the identified channel. This content is
referred to herein as "fifth content." In one example, the fifth
content is the FIFTH CONTENT 324 shown in FIG. 3.
[0122] For various reasons (e.g., due to a transmission delay
associated with transmitting fingerprint data and metadata being
shorter that the content-transmission delay), the
content-presentation device 104 can receive the third fingerprint
data and the third metadata from the fingerprint-matching server
106 before receiving the fifth content from the
content-distribution system 102. In this way, the
content-presentation device 104 can receive fingerprint data
representing content that the content-presentation device 104 is
expecting to receive shortly thereafter, and that the
content-presentation device should actually receive shortly
thereafter unless an interruption event (e.g., a channel-change
event) occurs.
[0123] In practice, similar to how the content-distribution system
102 is likely to transmit the third content shortly after (e.g.,
immediately after or a few seconds or minutes after) transmitting
the first content, the content-presentation device 104 is likely to
receive the fifth content shortly after (e.g., immediately after or
a few seconds or minutes after) receiving the second content.
[0124] During a time-period T30, the content-presentation device
104 can output for presentation at least a portion of the fifth
content. For example, referring to FIG. 3, the content-presentation
device can output for presentation the portion of the FIFTH CONTENT
324 that is the end portion of the PROGRAM SEGMENT A 304-A.
[0125] As noted above, in some situations, even though the
content-presentation device 104 receives content from the
content-distribution system 102, it can be desirable for the
content-presentation device 104 to perform a content-modification
operation so that the content-presentation device 104 can output
for presentation alternative content instead of at least a portion
of the received content.
[0126] As such, even though the content-presentation device 104
receives the fifth content and outputs for presentation at least a
portion of the fifth content, it can be desirable for the
content-presentation device 104 to perform a content-modification
operation so that the content-presentation device 104 can also
output for presentation alternative content instead of at least
another portion (e.g., the remaining portion) of the fifth content.
For example, referring to FIG. 3, it can be desirable for the
content-presentation device 104 to replace at least a portion of
the AD SEGMENT B 304-B with at least a portion of a different
advertisement segment that is perhaps more targeted to the
end-user. As another example, it can be desirable for the
content-presentation device 104 to overlay on at least a portion of
the AD SEGMENT B 304-B, overlay content that enhances at least a
portion of the AD SEGMENT B 304-B in a way that is again perhaps
more targeted to the end-user.
[0127] During a time-period T31, the content-presentation device
104 can generate fingerprint data representing the fifth content.
This fingerprint data is referred to herein as "fifth fingerprint
data." The content-distribution system 102 can generate the fifth
fingerprint data using any content fingerprinting process now known
or later developed. The content-presentation device 104 can
generate the fifth fingerprint data at various rates, such as at
the rate of one fingerprint per frame of the fifth content. The
fifth fingerprint data can be or include some or all of these
generated fingerprints.
[0128] Also during the time-period T31, the content-presentation
device 104 can generate metadata associated with the fifth content
and/or the fifth fingerprint data. This metadata is referred to
herein as "fifth metadata."
[0129] The content-presentation device 104 can receive the fifth
content, generate the fifth fingerprint data, generate the fifth
metadata, associate the fifth fingerprint data with the fifth
metadata in various ways, such as ways that are the same as or
similar to those described above in connection with receiving the
second content, generating the second fingerprint data, generating
the second metadata, and associating the second fingerprint data
with the second metadata.
[0130] As noted above, the content-presentation device 104 can
receive the third fingerprint data from the fingerprint-matching
server 106 and can generate the fifth fingerprint data.
[0131] During a time-period T32, the content-presentation device
104 can compare the third fingerprint data and the fifth
fingerprint data to determine whether there is a match.
[0132] During a time-period T33, based on the comparing, the
content-presentation device 104 can detect a match between the
third fingerprint data and the fifth fingerprint data. In this
disclosure, this type of match attempt, namely a match attempt
between (i) reference fingerprint data representing content
transmitted by the content-distribution system 102 on an identified
channel (at least based on the most recent channel identification
analysis), and (ii) query fingerprint data representing content
being received by the content-presentation device 104 on the same
identified channel, is referred to herein as a "hot match attempt."
The fingerprint-matching server 106 can compare and/or detect a
match between fingerprint data using any content fingerprint
comparing and matching process now known or later developed.
[0133] During a time-period T34, based on the detected match, the
content-presentation device 104 can determine a time-point at which
the identified upcoming modification opportunity starts. This is
referred to herein as the "modification start-time." In one
example, the modification start-time is the MODIFICATION START-TIME
326 as shown FIG. 3.
[0134] In one example, the content-presentation device 104 can
determine the modification start-time by starting with the
transmission time-stamp associated with the starting frame marker
(which, as described above, can be or be included in the third
metadata) and adding the content-transmission delay to that
transmission time-stamp, to arrive at the modification
start-time.
[0135] As another example, the content-presentation device 104 can
determine the modification start-time by first establishing a
synchronous lock between the third content, the third fingerprint
data, and/or the third metadata on the one hand, and the fifth
content, the third fifth fingerprint data, and/or the fifth
metadata, on the other hand. The content-presentation device 104
can establish the synchronous lock using any synchronous lock
technique now known or later developed. An example synchronous lock
technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,506,275 issued Dec. 10,
2019, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference
herein. Another example synchronous lock technique is described in
U.S. Pat. App. Pub.
[0136] No. 2020/0029108 published Jan. 23, 2020, the entirety of
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
[0137] The content-presentation device 104 can then determine the
modification start-time by determining a time-period between (i) a
current receipt time-stamp associated with a first portion of the
fifth content that the content-presentation device 104 is currently
receiving and (ii) based on the synchronous lock, an anticipated
receipt time-stamp associated with a second portion of the fifth
content that is the start of the modifiable content-segment, and
then adding the determined time-period to the current receipt
time-stamp, to arrive at the modification start-time.
[0138] Also during the time-period T34, based on the detected
match, the content-presentation device 104 can determine a
time-point at which the identified upcoming modification
opportunity ends. This is referred to herein as the "modification
end-time." In one example, the modification end-time is the
MODIFICATION END-TIME 328 as shown FIG. 3.
[0139] In one example, the content-presentation device 104 can
determine the modification end-time by starting with the
modification start-time and adding the duration of the modifiable
content-segment (which, as described above, can be or be included
in the fourth metadata) to the modification start-time, to arrive
at the modification end-time.
[0140] Notably, if the content-presentation device 104 performs a
hot match attempt and does not detect a match, the
content-presentation device 104 can determine that the
content-presentation device 104 is no longer receiving content on
the most recently identified channel. In response, the
content-presentation device 104 can repeat one or more of the
operations described above so that the fingerprint-matching server
106 can perform another cold match attempt, to attempt to identify
the channel again.
[0141] During a time-period T35, the content-presentation device
104 can transmit a request for content for use in connection with
performing the content-modification operation, to the
content-management system 108. This content is referred to herein
as "supplemental content." In one example, the content-presentation
device 104 can transmit the request before the modification
start-time (e.g., ten seconds before). In some cases, the request
can include selection criteria for the supplemental content, which
the content-presentation device 104 can determine based on the
third metadata that the content-presentation device 104 receives
from the fingerprint-matching server 106, for instance.
[0142] For example, the selection criteria can specify a requested
type of content (e.g., a replacement content segment or overlay
content), duration (e.g., 15 seconds, 30 seconds, or 60 seconds),
aspect ratio (e.g., 4:3 or 16:9), and/or resolution (e.g., 720p or
1080p).
[0143] During a time-period T36, the content-management system 108
can receive the request and use it as a basis to select
supplemental content from among multiple supplemental content items
that are available for selection. In some cases, the
content-management system 108 can receive and consider various data
to help inform which supplemental content to select. For example,
the content-management system 108 can receive historical content
consumption data for the content-presentation device 104 from the
data-management system 110 and/or the content-management system 108
can receive demographic data from a demographic data provider. The
content-management system 108 can then use at least the received
historical content consumption data and/or the received demographic
data as a basis to select the supplemental content.
[0144] The content-management system 108 can cause the selected
supplemental content to be transmitted to the content-presentation
device 104. In one example, the content-management system 108 can
do this by communicating with a supplemental-content delivery
system 112 that can host the supplemental content. The
supplemental-content delivery system 112 can take various forms and
can include various components, such as a content distribution
network (CDN).
[0145] During a time-period T37, the content-management system 108
can transmit a request for a link (e.g., a Uniform Resource
Identifier (URI) or a Uniform Resource
[0146] Locator (URL)) pointing to the hosted supplemental content,
to the supplemental-content delivery system 112.
[0147] During a time-period T38, the supplemental-content delivery
system 112 can receive and respond to the request for the link by
transmitting the requested link to the content-management system
108.
[0148] During a time-period T39, the content-management system 108
can then in turn transmit the link to the content-presentation
device 104.
[0149] During a time-period T40, the content-presentation device
104 can receive the link, which it can use to retrieve the
supplemental content from the supplemental-content delivery system
112, such that the content-presentation device 104 can use the
retrieved supplemental content in connection with performing the
content-modification operation. In one example, the
content-presentation device 104 can retrieve the supplemental
content and store the supplemental content in a data-storage unit
of the content-presentation device 104.
[0150] As such, in some examples, the content-presentation device
104 can receive the modifiable content-segment from one source
(e.g., the content-distribution system 102), and the supplemental
content from another source (e.g., the supplemental-content
delivery system 112). These segments can be transmitted to, and
received by, the content-presentation device 104 in different ways.
For example, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit, and
the content-presentation device 104 can receive, the modifiable
content-segment as a broadcast stream transmission, whereas the
supplemental-content delivery system 112 can transmit, and the
content-presentation device 104 can receive, the supplemental
content as an over-the-top (OTT) transmission. In this context, in
one example, the content-distribution system 102 can receive the
modifiable content-segment via one communication interface (e.g.,
an HDMI interface), and the content-presentation device 104 can
receive the supplemental content via a different communication
interface (e.g., an Ethernet or WI-FI interface).
[0151] J. Operations Related to the Content-Presentation Device
Performing a Content-Modification Operation
[0152] At a time-period T41, the content-presentation device 104
can perform the content-modification operation. The
content-presentation device 104 can do this in various ways,
perhaps depending on the type of content-modification operation to
be performed.
[0153] In one example, the content-presentation device 104
performing a content-modification operation can involve the
content-presentation device 104 modifying the modifiable
content-segment by replacing it with supplemental content. This is
referred to herein as a "content-replacement operation." For
example, in this scenario, the content-presentation device 104 can
receive a linear sequence of content segments that includes the
modifiable content-segment and the associated metadata, and can
also receive the supplemental content segment, as described above.
The content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation the
sequence of content segments up until the modification start-time
(which corresponds to the start of the modifiable content-segment),
at which time the content-presentation device 104 can switch to
outputting for presentation the supplemental content instead. Then,
at the modification end-time (which corresponds to the end of the
modifiable content-segment), the content-presentation device 104
can switch back to outputting for presentation the content that
follows in the linear sequence of content segments (or perhaps to
other content, such as additional supplemental content that is
replacing another modifiable content-segment).
[0154] In one example, the operation of the content-presentation
device 104 switching from outputting the sequence of content
segments to outputting the supplemental content can involve using
various buffers of the content-presentation device 104. For
example, this can involve the content-presentation device 104
switching from using first data in a first input buffer where the
sequence of content segments is being received to using second data
in a second input buffer where the supplemental content is being
received, to populate a display buffer.
[0155] As such, according to one example as illustrated in FIG. 3,
by performing a content replacement operation, the
content-presentation device 104 can replace the AD SEGMENT B 302-B
with the AD SEGMENT B 304-B. As a result, rather than outputting
for presentation the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304, the content-presentation
device can instead output for presentation the FIRST MODIFIED
SEQUENCE 306.
[0156] In another example, the content-presentation device 104
performing a content-modification operation can involve the
content-presentation device 104 modifying a modifiable
content-segment by overlaying on the modifiable content-segment,
overlay content (referred to herein as a "content overlay
operation"). For example, in this scenario, the
content-presentation device 104 can again receive a linear sequence
of content segments that includes the modifiable content-segment
and the associated metadata, and the content-presentation device
104 can also receive the supplemental content, as described
above.
[0157] The content-presentation device 104 can then output for
presentation the modifiable content-segment as it ordinarily would,
except that starting at the modification start-time, the
content-presentation device 104 can start overlaying the
supplemental content on the modifiable content-segment. The
content-presentation device 104 can continue overlaying the
supplemental content until the modification end-time. In this way,
the content-presentation device 104 can overlay the supplemental
content during at least some temporal portion of the modifiable
content-segment.
[0158] In one example, the operation of the content-presentation
device 104 overlaying supplemental content on the modifiable
content-segment can involve using various buffers of the
content-presentation device 104. For example, this can involve the
content-presentation device 104 using a portion of first data in a
first input buffer where the sequence of content segments is being
received together with second data in a second input buffer where
the supplemental content is being received, for the purposes of
populating a display buffer. In this way, the content-presentation
device can combine relevant portions of the modifiable
content-segment (i.e., all portions except those representing
region where the supplemental content is to be overlaid) together
with the supplemental content to be used as an overlay, to create
the desired modifiable content-segment plus the supplemental
content overlaid thereon.
[0159] As such, according to one example as illustrated in FIG. 3,
by performing a content overlay operation, the content-presentation
device 104 can overlay supplemental content on the AD SEGMENT B
302-B, thereby modifying it to AD SEGMENT B 304-B'. As a result,
rather than outputting for presentation the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304,
the content-presentation device can instead output for presentation
the SECOND MODIFIED SEQUENCE 308.
[0160] K. Tracking and Reporting Operation-Related Data
[0161] To help facilitate performance of various operations such as
the content-presentation device 104 performing a
content-modification operation and to help allow for the tracking
and reporting of such operations, the content-modification system
100 and/or components thereof can track and report various
operation-related data at various times and in various ways.
[0162] As just a few illustrative examples, responsive to certain
operations being performed, such as those described herein, the
fingerprint-matching server 106, the content-presentation device
104, and/or another entity can generate, store, and/or transmit
messages that indicate (i) that a modifiable content-segment has
been identified, (ii) that a channel has been identified/confirmed
(perhaps based on a match detected as a result of a cold or hot
match attempt), (iii) that an upcoming content-modification
opportunity on the identified channel has been identified, (iv)
that supplemental content has been requested, (v) that supplemental
content has been received, (vi), that a content-modification
operation has started, (vii) that a content-modification operation
has ended, and/or (viii) that a scheduled content-modification
operation was aborted and/or not performed for any given reason. In
some cases, these messages can include other metadata related to
these operations. For example, the metadata can specify relevant
timing information, device identifiers, channel identifiers,
content segment identifiers, etc.
[0163] L. Watermark-Based Techniques
[0164] Although this disclosure has described the
content-modification system 100 using fingerprint-based technology
to perform various operations and to provide various features, in
some examples, the content-modification system 100 can use
watermark-based techniques instead of, or in addition to,
fingerprint-based techniques, to perform these and other operations
and to provide these and other features.
[0165] For example, as an alternative to the fingerprint-based
technique described above in which the fingerprint-matching server
106 identifies the channel on which the second content is being
received by the content-presentation device 104, the
content-distribution system 102 or another entity can insert a
channel identifier in the form of a watermark into the second
content, such that the fingerprint-matching server 106, the
content-presentation device 104, or another entity can extract the
channel identifier and use it to identify the channel on which the
second content is being received by the content-presentation device
104.
[0166] In this context, the content-modification system 100 can
employ any watermark technique now known or later developed.
[0167] M. Operations Related to Concatenation of Multiple
Supplemental Content Segments
[0168] Content modification as described above by way of example
illustrates various operations for modification of a single segment
of content that has been identified as modifiable, either by
replacing the single segment with supplemental content, or by
overlaying supplemental content on the single segment. In either
case, the modification operation entails presenting the
supplemental content during a time interval originally scheduled
for presentation of the single segment of content by the
content-presentation device 104. In practice, there can be
circumstances in which two or more segments of supplemental content
may be identified for consecutive, back-to-back
content-modification operations by a given content-presentation
device. Thus, instead of modification of a single segment of
content, two or more consecutive segments of content may be subject
to two or more consecutive content-modification operations by a
content-presentation device. In order to accommodate such
situations with efficiency and in a streamlined fashion, further
operations may be used to "stitch" together, or concatenate, two or
more segments of supplemental content so as to ensure contiguous
download and delivery of multiple supplemental content segments to
the content-presentation device, and to facilitate consecutive
content-modification operations with the multiple supplemental
content segments.
[0169] Various operations relating to content "stitching" are now
described. By way of example, stitching operations are illustrated
for the case of two consecutive supplemental content segments. The
two supplemental content segments are referred below as "first
supplemental content" and "second supplemental content." Similarly,
the content-modification operations corresponding to the first and
second supplemental content are referred to as a "first
content-modification operation" and "second content-modification
operation." It should be understood that the example operations
could be extended for more than two supplemental content segments,
and that the illustration of two supplemental content segments is
not limiting with respect to example embodiments described
herein.
[0170] Accordingly, in another aspect of the disclosure, the
content-management system 108 and the content-presentation device
104 can perform acts to facilitate the content-presentation device
104 using a link to retrieve first and second supplemental content,
which the content-presentation device 104 can use in connection
with performing first and second content-modification operations,
where the second content-modification operation is performed
immediately after the first content-modification operation is
performed. Examples of content stitching will first be described in
general terms, after which a more detailed description is
presented, also by way of example.
[0171] In one example configuration, the content management-system
108 can receive from the content-presentation device 104, a request
for first supplemental content for use by the content-presentation
device 104 in connection with performing a first
content-modification operation.
[0172] The content-management system 108 can transmit to the
content-presentation device 104, a link that points to a set of
content items defined by a playlist, where the playlist incudes
first supplemental content. In one example, the transmitted link is
associated with the content-presentation device 104 and is
transmitted to only one content-presentation device, which is the
content-presentation device 104. In this way, the transmitted link
can be a device-specific link.
[0173] The content-management system 108 can receive from the
content-presentation device 104, a request for second supplemental
content for use by the content-presentation device 104 in
connection with performing a second content-modification
operation.
[0174] The content-management system 108 can determine that the
content-presentation device 104 is scheduled to perform the second
content-modification operation immediately after performing the
first content-modification operation. In one example, the
content-management system 108 can receive first metadata that
specifies scheduling data related to the first content-modification
operation and can receive second metadata that specifies scheduling
data related to the second content-modification operation. In this
case, the content-management system 108 determining that the
content-presentation device 104 is scheduled to perform the second
content-modification operation immediately after performing the
first content-modification operation can involve the
content-management system 108 using at least the received first
metadata and the received second metadata to determine that the
content-presentation device 104 is scheduled to perform the second
content-modification operation immediately after performing the
first content-modification operation.
[0175] Responsive to determining that the content-presentation
device 104 is scheduled to perform the second content-modification
operation immediately after performing the first
content-modification operation, the content-management system 108
can cause the playlist to be modified such that that modified
playlist further includes the second supplemental content
positioned immediately after the first supplemental content. In one
example, this can involve the content-management system 108
appending or concatenating, within a memory buffer, the second
supplemental content to the first supplemental content, thereby
stitching together the first supplemental content and the second
supplement content together, in that order, within the memory
buffer.
[0176] The content-management system 108 can cause the playlist to
be modified as described above, to facilitate the
content-presentation device 104 (i) using the link to retrieve the
first supplemental content and the second supplemental content,
(ii) performing the first content-modification operation, and (iii)
performing the second content-modification operation immediately
after performing the first content-modification operation. In some
instances, the content-management system 108 can also transmit to
the content-presentation device, a message indicating that the link
points to the first supplemental content and the second
supplemental content, to facilitate the content-presentation device
104 performing one or more of the acts described above.
[0177] From the content-presentation device 104 perspective, the
content-presentation device 104 can transmit a request for first
supplemental content and can transmit a request for second
supplemental content. The content-presentation device 104 can also
receive a link that points to a set of content items defined by a
playlist, wherein the playlist includes the requested first
supplemental content and the requested second supplemental content
positioned immediately after the first supplemental content. The
content-presentation device 104 can (i) use the received link to
retrieve the first supplemental content and the second supplemental
content, (ii) use the retrieved first supplemental content in
connection with performing a first content-modification operation;
and (iii) use the retrieved second supplemental content in
connection with performing a second content-modification operation
immediately after the first content-modification operation is
performed.
[0178] In one example, the content-presentation device 104 can
receive a message indicating that the received link points to the
first supplemental content and the second supplemental content. In
this case, the content-presentation device 104 can perform one or
more of the acts described above, in response to receiving the
message.
[0179] A more detail example of content stitching is illustrated in
FIG. 5A, which shows certain example operations that may be carried
out by the content-presentation device 104, the
fingerprint-matching server 106, the content-management system 108,
and the supplemental-content delivery system 112, for example. The
example operations are represented in terms of a message flow or
communication flow between the example system elements. In FIG. 5A,
time increases downward, thus setting a temporal order of messages
or communication between the example elements. It should be
appreciated that the temporal spacing between messages is not
necessarily intended to indicate an actual amount of time, nor are
the relative sizes of the spacings as illustrated in the figure
intended to indicate actual relative sizes. Further, it should be
noted that the specific relative orderings of at least some of the
messages are illustrative, and other orderings are possible.
[0180] For context, the messages and steps, labeled M1, . . . ,
M16, correspond approximately to operations in T27-T41 of FIGS.
4D-4F described above, but with modifications or additions for
implementation of content stitching.
[0181] In accordance with example embodiments, the
fingerprint-matching server 106 may send message M1 to the
content-presentation device 104 including fingerprint and metadata
of first supplemental content that has been identified as
replacement content for broadcast content during a first upcoming
temporal interval. Message M1 may correspond to operations in time
T27. In an example, the first supplemental content may also be
identified as specific to the content-presentation device 104.
[0182] In response to message M1, the content-presentation device
104 may send a message M2 to the content-management system 108
requesting the first supplemental content. The message may include
metadata associated with the first supplemental content, such that
the content-management system 108 may determine when the first
supplemental content is scheduled to be presented by the
content-presentation device 104 as replacement content. Message M2
may correspond to operations in time T35.
[0183] In response to message M2, the content-management system 108
may send a message M3 to the supplemental-content delivery system
112 requesting a link to a playlist that includes the first
supplemental content. Message M3 may correspond to operations in
time T37.
[0184] Note that the term "playlist" as used in the present
illustration may be taken to a computer-readable storage location
containing actual content, possibly as well as associated metadata.
This arrangement may differ from some customary ones in which a
playlist may contain only metadata and/or logical pointers to
locations from which associated content may be accessed or
retrieved. It should be understood, however, that the example
operation described herein could be modified and/or extended to
work with such customary playlist arrangements. For example, the
supplemental-content delivery system could be or include a
content-delivery network (CDN) in which actual content may be
stored in multiple, possibly distributed, locations. In this
arrangement, a playlist could be a list of pointers to addressable
locations containing actual content associated with the pointers.
However, the link to the playlist may make details of the actual
content storage transparent to an entity or device that may use the
link to access and/or retrieve the content. In this sense, the link
to the playlist may be considered effectively a link to the content
represented in the playlist, whether directly contained or
indirectly pointed to.
[0185] In response to message M3, the supplemental-content delivery
system 112 may send a message M4 to the content-presentation device
104 including a link to the playlist, and thus to the first
supplemental content. Although not necessarily shown, the
content-presentation device 104 may also schedule a first
content-modification operation for presentation of the first
supplemental content. Message M3 may correspond approximately to
operations in time T38. More particularly, in the operations
illustrated in FIGS. 4E and 4F, the link sent from the
supplemental-content delivery system 112 is received by the
content-management system 108, which then sends the link to the
content-presentation device. In the present illustration, the
supplemental-content delivery system 112 sends the link directly to
the content-presentation device 104. This is an example of a
possible variation of operations that may achieve the same
ends.
[0186] Next, the fingerprint-matching server 106 may send message
M5 to the content-presentation device 104 including fingerprint and
metadata of second supplemental content that has been identified as
replacement content for broadcast content during a second upcoming
temporal interval that immediately follows the first temporal
interval. Message M5 may correspond to a second set of operations
in time T27, this time relating to the second supplemental content.
In an example, the second supplemental content may also be
identified as specific to the content-presentation device 104.
[0187] In response to message M5, the content-presentation device
104 may send a message M6 to the content-management system 108
requesting the second supplemental content. The message may include
metadata associated with the second supplemental content, such that
the content-management system 108 may determine when the second
supplemental content is scheduled to be presented by the
content-presentation device 104 as replacement content. In
particular, the content-management system 108 may determine that
the second supplemental content is scheduled to be presented by the
content-presentation device 104 immediately following presentation
of the first supplemental content. Message M6 may correspond to a
second set of operations in time T35, this time relating to the
second supplemental content.
[0188] In response to receiving message M6, and determining that
the second supplemental content is scheduled to be presented by the
content-presentation device 104 immediately following presentation
of the first supplemental content the content-management system
108, the content-management system 108 may send a message M7 to the
supplemental-content delivery system 122 instructing the
supplemental-content delivery system to stitch the second
supplemental content to the end of the first supplemental content.
In this way, the supplemental-content delivery system 112 may cause
the second supplemental content to be positioned immediately
following the first supplemental content in the playlist. Since the
link sent in message M4 to the content-presentation device points
to the playlist, the same link may now be used to retrieve both the
first and second supplemental content from the supplemental-content
delivery system.
[0189] In response to receiving message M7, the
supplemental-content delivery system 112, may carry out operation
M8, which entails concatenating, or stitching, the second
supplemental content to the first supplemental content. The
operation may be done in an internal buffer or other memory storage
of the supplemental-content delivery system used, for example, for
staging download of the first and second supplemental content from
the supplemental-content delivery system 112 to the
content-presentation device 104. As such, the second supplemental
content may be positioned immediately following the first
supplemental content in the internal buffer. Further, the link
pointing to the playlist may ultimately be pointing, directly or
indirectly to the internal buffer.
[0190] Considering again various implementations of playlists, the
operation of stitching or concatenating the second supplemental
content to the end of the first supplemental content could involve
either relative positioning of actual content in memory or relative
positioning of pointers in playlist memory to actual content
locations in content memory. In an example implementation in which
the playlist contains actual content, positioning the second
supplemental content immediately after the first supplemental
content in a buffer or other form of memory may entail positioning
the actual data making up the second supplemental content
immediately after the actual data making up the first supplemental
content. In an example implementation in which the playlist
contains pointers to the content locations containing the actual
data of the first and second supplemental content, positioning the
second supplemental content immediately after the first
supplemental content in a buffer or other form of memory may entail
positioning in the playlist a pointer to the actual second
supplemental content immediately following a pointer to the actual
first supplemental content. In the pointer implementation of the
playlist, the actual locations of the first and second supplemental
content could contiguous in memory, or separate.
[0191] Having sent message M7 to the supplemental-content delivery
system 112, the content-management system 108 may then send a
message M9 to the content-presentation device 104 indicating or
notifying that the link points to both the first and second
supplemental content. In the present illustration, the
content-presentation device 104 already obtained the link in
message M4.
[0192] In operation M10, the content-presentation device 104
schedules a second presentation-modification operation for
presentation of the second supplemental content immediately
following the first content-modification operation. That is, the
first and second content-modification operation are scheduled
back-to-back.
[0193] The content-presentation device 104 may then send a message
M11 including the link to the supplemental-content delivery system
112 in a request to download the first supplemental content and the
second supplemental content. In the present illustration, message
M11 contains a single request for downloading both the first and
second supplemental content. In an alternative operation described
below in connection with FIG. 5B, a separate request may be sent
for downloading the first and second supplemental content.
[0194] In response to message M11, the supplemental-content
delivery system 112 may start downloading, and the
content-presentation device 104 may start receiving, the first
supplemental content in operation M12.
[0195] At some time after the download of the first supplemental
content begins, the content-presentation device 104 may start the
first presentation modification operation in operation M13. In the
present illustration, the first content-modification operation may
be a replacement operation in which the first supplemental content
is the replacement content. In practice, the content-presentation
device 104 may receive a sufficient amount of the first
supplemental content prior to the scheduled start time of the
replacement operation, such that the first supplemental content is
available for the complete content replacement of the first
content-modification operation.
[0196] The supplemental-content delivery system 112 may start
downloading, and the content-presentation device 104 may start
receiving, the second supplemental content in operation M14. Since
the second supplemental content is concatenated to the end of the
first supplemental content in the playlist, the start of the
download of the second supplemental content may be continuous with
the completion of the download of the first supplemental content.
Since M14 occurs prior to completion of the first
content-modification operation, it may be seen that the first
supplemental content is completely received in time to be fully
available for the replacement operation of the first
content-modification operation.
[0197] At some time after the download of the second supplemental
content begins, the content-presentation device 104 may start the
second presentation-modification operation in operation M15. In the
present illustration, the second content-modification operation may
be a replacement operation in which the second supplemental content
is the replacement content. In the present illustration, the
content-presentation device 104 may be assumed to receive a
sufficient amount of the second supplemental content prior to the
scheduled start time of the replacement operation, such that the
second supplemental content is available for the complete content
replacement of the second content-modification operation.
[0198] The download of the second supplemental content may complete
at operation M16. Thus, in the present illustration, the second
supplemental content is completely received in time to be fully
available for the replacement operation of the second
content-modification operation. This timing circumstance may not
always be guaranteed. Example operation discussed below in
connection with FIG. 5B address timing circumstance where this is
not the case.
[0199] N. Operations Related to Unscheduling Content-Modification
Operations of Concatenated Supplemental Content Segments
[0200] The example content stitching operations described above
apply, at least implicitly, to a timing circumstance in which the
entirety of the second supplemental content is received by the
content-presentation device 104 in sufficient time to be available
for completion of the second presentation modification operation.
This is illustrated by message M15, which marks completion of the
second supplemental content download prior to completion of the
second presentation-modification operation, M16. That is, although
the second presentation-modification operation begins before the
download of the second supplemental content is complete, the
download evidently, and by way of example, completes in time for
successful performance of the second presentation-modification
operation. However, this circumstance may not necessarily be
guaranteed. For example, for a supplemental-content delivery system
112 implemented as a CDN or the like, transmission and/or network
delays could cause download to the content-presentation device of
the second supplemental content to take too long to complete in
time to be available for the complete second content-modification
operation. The content-stitching operations as described in FIG. 5A
alone may not necessarily account such situations of excessive
download delays.
[0201] In particular, if the second presentation-modification
operation is a full segment replacement, and the entire second
supplemental content is not received by end of the segment being
replaced, there can be a gap during which no content at all is
available for playout (presentation). To address this scenario, the
content-presentation device 104 may carry out additional and/or
modified operations that, prior to the completion of the first
presentation-modification operation, compare the progress of the
download of the second supplemental content with the scheduled
start time of the second content-modification start time. If less
than a threshold portion of the first content-modification
operation remains to be completed while, at the same time, the
download of the second supplemental content has not yet completed,
then the content-presentation device 104 may unscheduled--or
effectively cancel--the second content-modification operation. In
this instance, the content-presentation device 104 can revert to
presenting the originally scheduled content during the time slot
that the second content-modification operation had been scheduled
in. Further, the content-presentation device 104 may modify playout
(presentation) of the originally scheduled content with overlay
content, if such overlay content is available and the timing
requirements of the overlay content can be accommodated within the
time slot.
[0202] Accordingly, in another aspect of the disclosure, the
content-presentation device 104 can perform acts to facilitate
unscheduling a content-modification operation. Examples of
unscheduling a content-modification operation will first be
described in general terms, after which a more detailed description
is presented, also by way of example. A number of the operations
involved may be the same or similar to operations of content
stitching, particular those relating to receiving first and second
supplemental content, and scheduling first and second
content-modification operations. However, by way of example, some
of the operations of unscheduling are described with a different
ordering than similar operations of content stitching. These
differences at least illustrate variations that may be accommodated
by and/or that may characterize different embodiments.
[0203] In one example configuration, the content-presentation
device 104 can receive a link that points to a set of content items
defined by a playlist, wherein when the link is received, the
playlist includes first supplemental content, and wherein after the
playlist is received, the playlist is modified to include second
supplemental content positioned immediately after the first
supplemental content. The content-presentation device 104 can use
the received link to retrieve the first supplemental content and
can perform a first content-modification operation that involves
outputting for presentation the retrieved first supplemental
content.
[0204] Before completing performing the first content-modification
operation, the content-presentation device 104 can (i) use the
received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content
for use in connection with a second content-modification operation
that the content-presentation device 104 is scheduled to perform
immediately after performing the first content-modification
operation, and (ii) determine that while a less than a threshold
portion of the first content-modification operation remains to be
performed, the content-presentation device 104 has not completed
retrieving the second supplemental content. Responsive to
determining this, the content-presentation device can unschedule
the second content-modification operation.
[0205] In one example, the second content-modification operation
can be a content replacement operation. In this example, the
content-presentation device 104 unscheduling the second
content-modification operation can involve the content-presentation
device 104 replacing the scheduled second content-modification
operation with a third content-modification operation that is a
content overlay operation.
[0206] In some cases, the content-presentation device 104 can
receive a message indicating that the link points to the second
supplemental content. In such cases, the content-presentation
device 104 can determine that while less than the threshold portion
of the first content-modification operation remains to be
performed, the content-presentation device 104 has not completed
retrieving the second supplemental content is performed, responsive
to receiving the message.
[0207] A more detail example of unscheduling a content-modification
operation is illustrated in FIG. 5B, which shows certain example
operations that may be carried out by the content-presentation
device 104, for example. The format of FIG. 5B is the same as that
of FIG. 5A. In particular, operations M1-M10 of content stitching
shown if FIG. 5A are taken to the same as in the unscheduling shown
in FIG. 5B. For the sake of brevity in FIG. 5B, operations M2-M8
are omitted, represented instead by vertical ellipses. The
operations specific to unscheduling are then shown in operations
N11-N16, although some may be the same or similar to the stitching
operations described above.
[0208] After scheduling in M10 the second content-modification
operation in operation for presentation of the second supplemental
content immediately following the first content-modification
operation, the content-presentation device 104 may then send a
message N11 including the link to the supplemental-content delivery
system 112 in a request to download the first supplemental content.
In the present illustration, message N11 contains a single request
for downloading just the first supplemental content.
[0209] In response to message N11, the supplemental-content
delivery system 112 may start downloading, and the
content-presentation device 104 may start receiving, the first
supplemental content in operation N12.
[0210] At some time after the download of the first supplemental
content begins, the content-presentation device 104 may start the
first presentation-modification operation in operation M13. In the
present illustration, the first content-modification operation may
be a replacement operation in which the first supplemental content
is the replacement content. In practice, the content-presentation
device 104 may receive a sufficient amount of the first
supplemental content prior to the scheduled start time of the
replacement operation, such that the first supplemental content is
available for the complete content replacement of the first
content-modification operation.
[0211] Prior to completion of the first presentation-modification
operation, the content-presentation device 104 may then send a
message N14 including the link to the supplemental-content delivery
system 112 in a request to download the second supplemental
content. In the present illustration, message N14 contains a single
request for downloading just the second supplemental content.
[0212] The supplemental-content delivery system 112 may start
downloading, and the content-presentation device 104 may start
receiving, the second supplemental content in operation M15. Since
the second supplemental content is concatenated to the end of the
first supplemental content in the playlist, the start of the
download of the second supplemental content may be continuous with
the completion of the download of the first supplemental content.
Since M15 occurs prior to completion of the first
content-modification operation, it may be seen that the first
supplemental content is completely received in time to be fully
available for the replacement operation of the first
content-modification operation.
[0213] Prior to completion of the first presentation-modification
operation, the content-presentation device 104 may perform
operation N16 in which it determines that less than a threshold
portion of the first presentation-modification remains to be
completed, while the download of the second supplemental content
has not yet completed. This may indicate that, although a portion
of the second supplemental content has been received, the entirety
of the second supplemental content may not be received in time to
be available for the complete second content-modification
operation. In response to this determination, the
content-presentation device may unscheduled the second
content-modification operation. This action may effectively cancel
the second content-modification operation in order to avoid or
avert a situation in which the second supplemental content "runs
out" before the second content-modification operation is
complete.
[0214] Since completion of the first content-modification operation
coincides with the end of the temporal interval of the replacement
operation of the first content-modification operation, the
threshold portion used in the determination could be a fraction of
that temporal interval or a specific amount of time. For example,
the threshold could be 0.1 (or 10%) of the temporal interval, or a
value such a 5 or 10 seconds. Other fractions and/or values could
be used as well. The threshold test may be viewed as a check of how
soon the first content-modification operation will complete and the
second content-modification operation, scheduled immediately
thereafter, will begin. If the download of the second supplemental
content has not yet completed by the time there is less than the
threshold portion remaining, it may be deemed that the download
will not complete prior to the end of the second temporal interval
in which the second supplemental content is scheduled to be used as
replacement content. Thus, unscheduling the second
content-modification operation can avoid a gap in available content
for presentation that would otherwise occur during the second
temporal interval.
[0215] Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 5B, the
content-presentation device 104 may still modify content during the
second temporal interval using an overlay operation. The may be
possible, for example, if the content-presentation device has
previously received and stored third supplemental content that may
be suitable for overlaying on original content. Such an overlay
operation may not be subject to the more strict timing
considerations of a replacement operation.
[0216] As illustrated by way of example, some of the operations of
FIGS. 5A and 5B that achieve roughly the same ends may differ. For
example, in FIG. 5A, message M11 includes a single request for
download of both the first and second supplemental content, while
in FIG. 5B, separate requests, messages N11 and N14, are used for
the two downloads. These differences should not viewed or taken as
the cause or reason the different timing circumstances of the
download of the second supplemental content in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
Rather, they are illustrative of variations of message construction
and order that could be used in either scenario. IV. Example
Methods
[0217] FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts of example methods 600 and 700
of content modification with stitching of supplemental content,
such as that described above. The example method 600 illustrates
operations carried out on a network side by the content-management
system 108 and/or the supplemental-content delivery system 112, for
example. The example method 700 illustrates operations carried out
on a client side by the content-presentation device 104, for
example. Both of example methods 600 and 700 are now described,
beginning first with example method 600, followed by example method
700.
[0218] Example method 600 could be implemented on and/or carried
out by a computing system, such as computing system 200 described
above. Non-limiting examples of such computing system include the
content-management system 108 and/or the supplemental-content
delivery system 112, for example. In particular, the example method
600 could be implemented on and/or carried out by the
content-management system 108 and/or the supplemental-content
delivery system 112 that may include one or more processors, and a
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored
thereon program instructions that, upon execution by the one or
more processors, cause the content-management system 108 and/or the
supplemental-content delivery system 112 to carry out operations
including operations of example method 600.
[0219] At block 602, the method 600 includes receiving from a
content-presentation device a request for first supplemental
content for presentation by the content-presentation device as part
of a first content-modification operation. This could correspond to
message M2 in FIG. 5A, for example.
[0220] At block 604, the method 600 includes transmitting to the
content-presentation device a link that points to a set of content
items arranged in a playlist, where the playlist incudes the first
supplemental content. This could correspond to message M4 in FIG.
5A, for example.
[0221] At block 606, the method 600 includes receiving from the
content-presentation device, a request for second supplemental
content for presentation by the content-presentation device as part
of a second content-modification operation. This could correspond
to message M6 in FIG. 5A, for example.
[0222] At block 608, the method 600 includes making a determination
that the content-presentation device is scheduled to perform the
second content-modification operation immediately after performing
the first content-modification operation.
[0223] Finally, at block 610, the method 600 includes responsive to
making the determination, modifying the playlist to further include
the second supplemental content positioned immediately after the
first supplemental content. In accordance with example embodiments,
the link may be configured (i) for retrieval of both the first
supplemental content and the second supplemental content by the
content-presentation device, and (ii) for performance by the
content-presentation device of the first content-modification
operation and of the second content-modification operation
immediately after performance of the first content-modification
operation.
[0224] In accordance with example embodiments, the transmitted link
may be associated exclusively with the content presentation-device,
and transmitted only to the content-presentation device.
[0225] In accordance with example embodiments, the example method
600 may further involve receiving first metadata that specifies
scheduling data related to the first content-modification
operation, and receiving second metadata that specifies scheduling
data related to the second content-modification operation. This
could correspond to the content-management system 108 receiving the
metadata in the requests of M2 and M6, for example. Making the
determination that the content-presentation device is scheduled to
perform the second content-modification operation immediately after
performing the first content-modification operation may then
involve using at least the received first metadata and the received
second metadata to determine that the content-presentation device
is scheduled to perform the second content-modification operation
immediately after performing the first content-modification
operation.
[0226] In accordance with example embodiments, modifying the
playlist to further include the second supplemental content
positioned immediately after the first supplemental content may
involve appending the second supplemental content to the first
supplemental content within a memory buffer. This action may entail
concatenating the second supplemental content to the end of the
first supplement content together within the memory buffer.
[0227] In accordance with example embodiments, the example method
600 may further involve transmitting to the content-presentation
device a message indicating that the link points to both the first
supplemental content and the second supplemental content. This
could correspond to message M9 in FIG. 5A, for example. This
message, or the information it conveys, may thus facilitate
retrieval of both the first supplemental content and the second
supplemental content by the content-presentation device. Retrieval
of the first and second supplemental content may thus be used for
performance by the content-presentation device of the first
content-modification operation, and of the second
content-modification operation immediately after performance of the
first content-modification operation.
[0228] In accordance with example embodiments, the example method
600 may further involve receiving from the content-presentation
device a content request for the first supplement content, where
the content request for the first supplement content includes the
link. In response to receiving the content request for the first
supplemental content, the link may be used to retrieve the first
supplemental content from the modified playlist and to transmit the
first supplemental content to the content-presentation device. This
could correspond to message M12 in FIG. 5A, for example. The
example method 600 could also further involve receiving from the
content-presentation device a content request for the second
supplement content, where the content request for the second
supplement content includes the link. In response to receiving the
content request for the second supplemental content, the link may
be used to retrieve the second supplemental content from the
modified playlist, and to transmit the second supplemental content
to the content-presentation device. This could correspond to
message M14 in FIG. 5A, for example.
[0229] In accordance with example embodiments, the content request
for the first supplemental content and the content request for the
second supplemental content may be received in a single request
message, as in message M11 in FIG. 5A for example. In another
example, the requests could be received in separate messages, and
in messages N11 and N14 in FIG. 5B, for example.
[0230] In accordance with example embodiments, using the link to
retrieve the second supplemental content from the modified playlist
may involve determining that the second supplemental content is
also in the playlist and positioned immediately after the first
supplemental content, based at least on a determination that the
link was also received in the content request for the first
supplemental content.
[0231] In accordance with example embodiments, transmitting the
second supplemental content to the content-presentation device may
involve transmitting the second supplemental content to the
content-presentation device in one of (i) a single transmission
including the second supplemental content concatenated to the end
of the first supplemental content, or (ii) a separate transmission
immediately following a transmission of the first supplemental
content to the content-presentation device.
[0232] The example method 700 is described next.
[0233] Example method 700 could be implemented on and/or carried
out by a computing system, such as computing system 200 described
above, which may be configured to carry out content-presentation
operations also described above. A non-limiting example of such
computing system include the content-presentation device 104, for
example. In particular, the example method 700 could be implemented
on and/or carried out by an example content-presentation device 104
that may include one or more processors, and a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program
instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors,
cause the content-presentation device 104 to carry out operations
including operations of example method 700.
[0234] At block 702, the method 700 includes the
content-presentation device making a determination of an upcoming
first temporal interval and an immediately following second
temporal interval during both of which the presentation of the
received content is modifiable. This determination may be made
while the content-presentation device is receiving content for
presentation, and could correspond to the content-presentation
device evaluating fingerprint and metadata received in messages M1
and M5 in FIG. 5A, for example.
[0235] At block 704, the method 700 includes the
content-presentation device transmitting a request for first
supplemental content. This could correspond to message M2 in FIG.
5A, for example.
[0236] At block 706, the method 700 includes the
content-presentation device transmitting a request for second
supplemental content. This could correspond to message M6 in FIG.
5A, for example.
[0237] At block 708, the method 700 includes the
content-presentation device receiving a link that points to a set
of content items arranged in a playlist, where the playlist
includes the requested first supplemental content and the requested
second supplemental content positioned immediately after the first
supplemental content. This could correspond to message M4 in FIG.
5A, for example.
[0238] At block 710, the method 700 includes the
content-presentation device using the received link to retrieve the
first supplemental content and the second supplemental content.
This could correspond to a single message, as in message M11 in
FIG. 5A, for example. Alternatively, it could correspond to
separate messages N11 and N14 in FIG. 5B, for example.
[0239] At block 712, the method 700 includes the
content-presentation device using the retrieved first supplemental
content in a first content-modification operation to modify
presentation during the first temporal interval of the received
content. This could correspond to operation M13 in FIG. 5A, for
example.
[0240] Finally, at block 714, the method 700 includes the
content-presentation device using the retrieved second supplemental
content in a second content-modification operation immediately
following the first content-modification operation to modify
presentation during the second temporal interval of the received
content. This could correspond to operation M15 in FIG. 5A, for
example.
[0241] In accordance with example embodiments, the example method
700 could further involve the content-presentation device receiving
a message indicating that the received link points to the first
supplemental content and the second supplemental content. This
could correspond to message M9 in FIG. 5A, for example. Further,
using the received link to retrieve the first supplemental content
and the second supplemental content, using the retrieved first
supplemental content in the first content-modification operation,
and using the retrieved second supplemental content in the second
content-modification operation immediately following the first
content-modification operation, may all be performed responsive to
receiving the message.
[0242] In accordance with example embodiments, using the retrieved
first supplemental content in the first content-modification
operation to modify presentation during the first temporal interval
of the received content may involve presenting the retrieved first
supplemental content during the first temporal interval as a
replacement content of the received content, or as overlaid content
on the received content. Similarly, and using the retrieved second
supplemental content in the second content-modification operation
immediately following the first content-modification operation to
modify presentation during the second temporal interval of the
received content may involve presenting the retrieved second
supplemental content during the second temporal interval as a
replacement content of the received content, or as overlaid content
on the received content.
V. Example Variations
[0243] Although the examples and features described above have been
described in connection with specific entities and specific
operations, in practice, there are likely to be many instances of
these entities and many instances of these operations being
performed, perhaps contemporaneously or simultaneously, on a
large-scale basis. Indeed, in practice, the content-modification
system 100 is likely to include many content-distribution systems
(each potentially transmitting content on many channels) and many
content-presentation devices, with some or all of the described
operations being performed on a routine and repeating basis in
connection with some or all of these entities.
[0244] In addition, although some of the operations described in
this disclosure have been described as being performed by a
particular entity, the operations can be performed by any entity,
such as the other entities described in this disclosure. Further,
although the operations have been recited in a particular order
and/or in connection with example temporal language, the operations
need not be performed in the order recited and need not be
performed in accordance with any particular temporal restrictions.
However, in some instances, it can be desired to perform one or
more of the operations in the order recited, in another order,
and/or in a manner where at least some of the operations are
performed contemporaneously/simultaneously. Likewise, in some
instances, it can be desired to perform one or more of the
operations in accordance with one more or the recited temporal
restrictions or with other timing restrictions. Further, each of
the described operations can be performed responsive to performance
of one or more of the other described operations. Also, not all of
the operations need to be performed to achieve one or more of the
benefits provided by the disclosure, and therefore not all of the
operations are required.
[0245] Although certain variations have been described in
connection with one or more examples of this disclosure, these
variations can also be applied to some or all of the other examples
of this disclosure as well and therefore aspects of this disclosure
can be combined and/or arranged in many ways. The examples
described in this disclosure were selected at least in part because
they help explain the practical application of the various
described features.
[0246] Also, although select examples of this disclosure have been
described, alterations and permutations of these examples will be
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Other changes,
substitutions, and/or alterations are also possible without
departing from the invention in its broader aspects as set forth in
the following claims.
* * * * *