System and method for delivering media content and advertisements across connected platforms, including targeting to different locations and devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016189232-A1
Application number	US-201414586761-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for delivery of media content and advertisement or other sponsor-directed content across a connected media environment. Playback can selectively follow a user from one location to another location, or from one media device to another media device, either maintaining a same session or switching sessions depending on the user's location, media device used, and user activity. Playback of advertisement or other sponsor-directed content can be synchronized between different areas of the connected media environment, or between different media devices, for example between a secondary device such as an audio speaker in a particular room, which is being controlled by a primary device such as a smartphone in another room.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for delivering media content and advertisements across a connected media environment, including targeting to different locations and devices, comprising:
a media server including a microprocessor, and a media server application executing thereon and adapted to receive requests from media devices for media content; and a media streaming logic adapted to provide the media content in response to the requests from the media devices, including
associating a request received from a media device with a plurality of media content items to be delivered as a media stream from the media server to the media device, and
providing, to one or more media devices, an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content inserted into the media stream by the media server, including synchronizing playback of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content between different locations or devices of the connected media environment.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the media server stores addresses for one or more media devices, and one or more user accounts, for using during a session, and uses the media device address and user account information in synchronizing playback of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content between different locations or devices of the connected media environment.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the media streaming logic causes the media server application to stream the media and advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, within the connected media environment, automatically as the media device or location thereof changes.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the media streaming logic inserts different advertisement or other sponsor-directed content into the media stream based on which of the first or second media device, or first or second location is being used.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the media streaming logic causes the media stream to selectively be delivered between one or more of a smartphone, computer, audio speaker, entertainment center, automobile, wearable device or other media device, including serially delivering the media stream initially to the first media device, and then to the second media device as the media device or location thereof changes, or manually as selected by the user.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the media streaming logic causes a first advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be streamed to a first media device and a companion advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to a second media device.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the companion advertisement provides more detailed information about the first advertisement, and is more appropriate for use by the second media device.

8 . A method for delivering media content and advertisements across a connected media environment, including targeting to different locations and devices, comprising:
providing, at a media server including a microprocessor, a media server application executing thereon and adapted to receive requests from media devices for media content; and providing a media streaming logic adapted to provide the media content in response to the requests from the media devices, including
associating a request received from a media device with a plurality of media content items to be delivered as a media stream from the media server to the media device, and
providing, to one or more media devices, an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content inserted into the media stream by the media server, including synchronizing playback of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content between different locations or devices of the connected media environment.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the media server stores addresses for one or more media devices, and one or more user accounts, for using during a session, and uses the media device address and user account information in synchronizing playback of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content between different locations or devices of the connected media environment.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the media streaming logic causes the media server application to stream the media and advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, within the connected media environment, automatically as the media device or location thereof changes, or manually as selected by the user.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the media streaming logic inserts different advertisement or other sponsor-directed content into the media stream based on which of the first or second media device, or first or second location is being used.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the media streaming logic causes the media stream to selectively be delivered between one or more of a smartphone, computer, audio speaker, entertainment center, automobile, wearable device or other media device, including serially delivering the media stream initially to the first media device, and then to the second media device as the media device or location thereof changes, or manually as selected by the user.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the media streaming logic causes a first advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to be streamed to a first media device and a companion advertisement or other sponsor-directed content to a second media device.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the companion advertisement provides more detailed information about the first advertisement, and is more appropriate for use by the second media device.

15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or more microprocessors, causes the one or more microprocessors to deliver media and/or advertisements by performing the steps comprising:
providing, at a media server, a media server application adapted to receive requests from media devices for media content; and providing a media streaming logic adapted to provide the media content in response to the requests from the media devices, including
associating a request received from a media device with a plurality of media content items to be delivered as a media stream from the media server to the media device, and
providing, to one or more media devices, an advertisement or other sponsor-directed content inserted into the media stream by the media server, including synchronizing playback of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content between different locations or devices of the connected media environment.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the media server stores addresses for one or more media devices, and one or more user accounts, for using during a session, and uses the media device address and user account information in synchronizing playback of the advertisement or other sponsor-directed content between different locations or devices of the connected media environment.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the media streaming logic causes the media server application to stream the media and advertisement or other sponsor-directed content, within the connected media environment, automatically as the media device or location thereof changes, or manually as selected by the user.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the media streaming logic inserts different advertisement or other sponsor-directed content into the media stream based on which of the first or second med

Assignees

• Spotify Ab

Inventors

• Meyer Will
• Sarkesian Alex
• Carpita Chris

Classifications

• G06Q30/0261

  based on user location · CPC title

• H04L65/60

  Network streaming of media packets · CPC title

• G06Q30/0267 Primary

  Wireless devices · CPC title

• H04L65/612

  for unicast · CPC title