Apparatus and methods for selective enforcement of secondary content viewing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9854280-B2
Application number	US-201213676012-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2012
Priority date	Jul 10, 2012
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus configured to provide interactive functionality to a user thereof, said apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a storage device in data communication with said processor, said storage device comprising at least one computer program executable on said processor, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed cause said apparatus to:
during trick mode operation during display of a primary content, evaluate content being rendered for said user to identify at least one instance of secondary content;
determine whether each instance of secondary content queued to be rendered during a duration of said primary content has been previously rendered for said user;
based at least in part on said determination that each instance of secondary content queued to be rendered during said duration of said primary content has been previously rendered for said user, provide said user with at least one option to remove said each instance of secondary content queued to be rendered during said display of said primary content;
receive a user selection of said at least one option, said at least one option configured to, based on network-predetermined temporal criteria, provide said user with an ability to select from a plurality of options for treatment of said at least one instance of secondary content; and
implement said received user selection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a network-based device disposed at a headend of a content distribution network and in communication with a network-based recording device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a recording device disposed at a user's premises.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one instance of secondary content comprises an advertisement or promotion, said trick mode operation comprises fast forward (FF) operation, and said provision of said at least one option comprises provision thereof via an on-screen menu.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said implementation of said selection comprises deferring a playback of an entirety of said secondary content to a later time.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said at least one program is further configured to suspend said trick mode operation until said selection is received.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said content comprises at least one digital watermark disposed in an audio track of said at least one instance of secondary content.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said network-predetermined temporal criteria is further configured to be adjustable.

9. A computer readable apparatus comprising media configured to store a computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed:
during trick mode operation, examine a content stream comprising at least primary and secondary content sent to a user via a content distribution network;
evaluate whether each instance of said secondary content queued to be rendered during a duration of said primary content has been previously rendered for said user;
based at least in part on said evaluation, generate at least one option to remove said each instance of secondary content queued to be rendered during said display of said primary content, said generation based on network-predetermined temporal criteria;
receive a user selection of said at least one option; and
apply said received user selection.

10. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said generation of said at least one option further comprises a display of an on-screen menu.

11. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said at least one option further comprises a preview section function, and said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, allow said user to preview at least a portion of said secondary content so as to permit said user to decide if they wish to watch an entirety of said secondary content.

12. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when said user selection is not received, (i) play said secondary content, (ii) fast forward said secondary content, and/or (iii) skip said secondary content, based on a previous treatment of said secondary content by said user.

13. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein when said user selection of said at least one option further comprises selection of a bypass function, said plurality of instructions being further configured to, when executed, adjust a frame rate of a video portion of said secondary content, adjust an audio portion of said secondary content, and cause said adjusted audio and video portions to be delivered to said user.

14. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said content distribution network comprises a managed network, and said content is sent to said user via said content distribution network via a headend device of said managed network.

15. The computer readable apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said headend device comprises at least one of a (i) network DVR; and/or (ii) network server.

16. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said content stream further comprises at least one digital watermark disposed in an audio track of said secondary content.

17. The computer readable apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, generate said at least one option based on adjustable temporal criteria.

Assignees

• Time Warner Cable Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Stern Peter
• Lajoie Michael L
• Angus Michael

Classifications

• H04N21/6587

  Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection · CPC title

• H04N21/44204

  Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31) · CPC title

• G06F21/00

  Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity · CPC title

• H04N21/222 Primary

  Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end {(provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56)} · CPC title

• H04N21/23611 Primary

  Insertion of stuffing data into a multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bitrate (synchronisation arrangements in time-division multiplex systems using bit stuffing for systems with different or fluctuating information rates H04J3/073) · CPC title