公开(公告)号：US07237250B2

公开(公告)日：2007-06-26

申请号：US10003079

申请日：2001-11-02

申请人： Chaitanya Kanojia ,  Terri Swartz ,  Darren Wetzel ,  Mark Fagnani

发明人： Chaitanya Kanojia ,  Terri Swartz ,  Darren Wetzel ,  Mark Fagnani

IPC分类号： H04N7/10

CPC分类号： H04N21/235 ,  H04N7/088 ,  H04N7/165 ,  H04N21/2225 ,  H04N21/25883 ,  H04N21/2668 ,  H04N21/4383 ,  H04N21/6543 ,  H04N21/812

摘要： Idle Video-On-Demand (VOD) channel capacity is used to deliver promotional content to selected set-top boxes (STBs) in a cable television network. Commercial segment cues are used to instruct a set-top box to switch away from a broadcast program to the VOD channel during a commercial segment, and then switch back again to the original broadcast program at the end of the segment.More particularly, a promotion server determines an asset to be distributed such as a targeted promotion item (e.g., a commercial), and a list of STBs that are to receive it. The promotion server causes the video promotion content to be stored in VOD servers located at the head ends. A scheduler process then delivers schedule messages to head end message servers which identify each promotion asset, and an STB which is to receive it. The head end message server notifies its associated VOD server which then cues the asset by loading the asset, starting the asset, but pausing it. Prior to the occurrence of a commercial slot in a broadcast program, an asset trigger is inserted into the broadcast stream at the head end. This asset trigger contains general information concerning the asset to be sent, and an idle VOD channel number. The STB receives the asset trigger and readies itself to tune to the VOD channel when cued for at the beginning of a commercial segment, but does not yet tune to the VOD channel. Upon detection of a commercial cue tone in the broadcast channel, the head end message server sends a tune away trigger to the STB, and also instructs the VOD server to start playing the cued promotion. When the STB receives a tune away trigger, it switches from the broadcast channel being played to the selected idle VOD channel, and the promotion is viewed.

摘要翻译： 空闲视频点播（VOD）频道容量用于向有线电视网络中的选定机顶盒（STB）传送促销内容。 商业区段线索用于指示机顶盒在商业区段期间从广播节目切换到VOD频道，然后在该段的末尾再次切换回原始广播节目。 更具体地，促销服务器确定要分发的资产，例如目标促销项目（例如，商业广告）以及要接收它的STB的列表。 促销服务器使视频宣传内容存储在位于头端的VOD服务器中。 然后，调度器进程将调度消息传送到标识每个促销资产的头端消息服务器，以及要接收它的STB。 头端消息服务器通知其相关联的VOD服务器，然后通过加载资产来提示资产，启动资产，但暂停资产。 在广播节目中出现广告时隙之前，在头端插入广播流中的资产触发。 该资产触发器包含有关要发送的资产的一般信息，以及空闲VOD通道号。 STB接收资产触发，并且在商业广告段开始时被提醒时，自己调整到VOD频道，但尚未调到VOD频道。 在广播频道中检测到商业提示音后，头端消息服务器向STB发送调出触发信号，并指示VOD服务器开始播放提示。 当STB接收到远程触发触发时，它从被播放的广播频道切换到所选择的空闲VOD频道，并且观看促销。

公开(公告)号：US20080172690A1

公开(公告)日：2008-07-17

申请号：US11820286

申请日：2007-06-19

申请人： Chaitanya Kanojia ,  Terri Swartz ,  Darren Wetzel ,  Mark Fagnani

发明人： Chaitanya Kanojia ,  Terri Swartz ,  Darren Wetzel ,  Mark Fagnani

IPC分类号： H04N7/10

CPC分类号： H04N21/235 ,  H04N7/088 ,  H04N7/165 ,  H04N21/2225 ,  H04N21/25883 ,  H04N21/2668 ,  H04N21/4383 ,  H04N21/6543 ,  H04N21/812

摘要： Idle video-on-demand (VOD) and/or other streaming media channel capacity is used to deliver promotional content to selected set-top boxes (STBs) in a cable television network. Commercial segment cues are used to instruct a set-top box to switch away from a broadcast program to the streaming media channel during a commercial segment, and then switch back again to the original broadcast program at the end of the segment.More particularly, a promotion server determines an asset to be distributed such as a targeted promotion item (e.g., a commercial), and a list of STBs that are to receive it. The promotion server causes the video promotion content to be stored in VOD/streaming media servers located at the head ends. A scheduler process then delivers schedule messages to head end message servers which identify each promotion asset, and an STB which is to receive it. The head end message server notifies its associated VOD/streaming media server which then cues the asset by loading the asset, starting the asset, but pausing it. Prior to the occurrence of a commercial slot in a broadcast program, an asset trigger is inserted into the broadcast stream at the head end. This asset trigger contains general information concerning the asset to be sent, and an idle VOD/streaming media channel number. The STB receives the asset trigger and readies itself to tune to the VOD/streaming media channel when cued for at the beginning of a commercial segment, but does not yet tune to the VOD/streaming media channel. Upon detection of a commercial cue tone in the broadcast channel, the head end message server sends a tune away trigger to the STB, and also instructs the VOD/streaming media server to start playing the cued promotion. When the STB receives a tune away trigger, it switches from the broadcast channel being played to the selected idle VOD/streaming media channel, and the promotion is viewed.

摘要翻译： 空闲视频点播（VOD）和/或其他流媒体频道容量用于向有线电视网络中的选定机顶盒（STB）传送促销内容。 商业片段线索用于指示机顶盒在商业片段期间从广播节目切换到流媒体频道，然后再次切换到片段末尾的原始广播节目。 更具体地，促销服务器确定要分发的资产，例如目标促销项目（例如，商业广告）以及要接收它的STB的列表。 促销服务器使视频促销内容存储在位于头端的VOD /流媒体服务器中。 然后，调度器进程将调度消息传送到标识每个促销资产的头端消息服务器，以及要接收它的STB。 头端消息服务器通知其相关联的VOD /流媒体服务器，然后通过加载资产来提示资产，启动资产，但暂停。 在广播节目中出现广告时隙之前，在头端插入广播流中的资产触发。 该资产触发器包含有关要发送的资产的一般信息，以及空闲VOD /流媒体频道号码。 STB接收资产触发并自行调整到VOD /流媒体频道，在商业广告片段开始时提示，但尚未调到VOD /流媒体频道。 在广播频道中检测到商业提示音后，头端消息服务器向STB发送调出触发信号，并且指示VOD /流媒体服务器开始播放提示。 当STB接收到调出触发时，它从正在播放的广播频道切换到所选择的空闲VOD /流媒体频道，并且观看促销。