HK1131492B - Method and apparatus for use in distributing advertisements and/ or contents in multimedia apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enhancing television advertising viewership. Advertisers deliver content demographic and associated data as metadata along with content to a service that is in communication with a large number of multimedia devices. Each device supplies information to the service that tells about the user of the device's content viewing preferences. The service compares user information to content metadata to find content for the user. The service sends the selected content to the multimedia device. Advertisers whose content were downloaded to the multimedia device may be charged a fee for the download. The multimedia device sends statistics regarding the user's action when the user viewed the content to the service. The service charges a fee to advertisers that had their content viewed by the user.

Description

Method and device for distributing advertisement and/or content to multimedia device

Cross-reference to related applications; priority

In accordance with 35 u.s.c. § 119(e), priority is claimed in the present application for U.S. provisional application No. 60/855,890 filed 2006, 10, 31, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the distribution of multimedia advertisements to consumer devices.

Background

The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

A typical commercial model for television advertisement publishers is to pay the network and broadcast television stations to broadcast commercials in specific commercial slots available in certain television programming. The advertising publishers select television programs that they believe their target audience will watch. For example, if the advertising publisher is an automobile manufacturer who wants to promote their latest pickup van, the advertising publisher may pay a large fee to the network operator to have his commercial broadcast in the first season of the football game of the U.S. football league (NFL) because the advertising publisher believes that the audience of the football game belongs to their target audience.

A local car dealer may pay a local broadcast station of the same NFL football game to have his commercial broadcast within the time period left for the local broadcast station in the football game.

Both the network operator and the local broadcast station determine the cost based on a prediction of the popularity of the television program. The more popular the program, the higher the cost. Furthermore, certain time periods of a program may be more expensive depending on the content of the particular time period. For example, the last period of survivors may have a higher advertising fee because the network operator believes that more viewers will go to this period of the program to see which participants will be voted out of the island.

The advent of Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) has caused advertising publishers to challenge the value of paying the fees charged by broadcast television stations. DVRs allow viewers to operate at their discretion in the recorded portion of a television program. With this function, the viewer can easily skip the commercial break in the television program. All the viewer has to do is to delay viewing the live television program for 15 minutes, and the DVR will have enough recorded television programs to allow the viewer to watch the television program from scratch, and will have enough recorded television programs before their viewing location so that all commercial breaks within the 1 hour television program can be skipped.

This leaves network operators and local broadcast stations in a situation where their advertising time slots have not been as valuable as before. Now the advertising publisher must determine whether it is worth the fee that needs to be paid to place the advertisement in a medium where viewers easily skip their advertisements.

Drawings

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements; wherein:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a service provider communicating with a plurality of devices over a network according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram that illustrates a general overview of the components of a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a plurality of advertisement/content providers and their communicative connections to a service provider and a multimedia device of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the processing of advertisements/content and metadata submitted by an advertisement publisher or content provider in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating filtering and matching advertisements/content with user preference information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a multimedia device displaying advertisements and content and tracking user input in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the multimedia device of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented.

Detailed Description

A method for increasing the audience for television commercials is described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.

Specific embodiments are described herein according to the following summary:

1.0 general overview

2.0 structural and functional description

2.1 distribution of advertisements and content to multimedia devices

3.0 implementation mechanisms-hardware description

4.0 extensions and alternatives

1.0 general overview

In the following description, the term "content" includes multimedia content, such as: advertisements, images, text, graphics, video commercials, audio commercials, URLs, audio content, video content, and any form of advertisement that can be stored on and viewed by a multimedia device, such as a set-top box, PC, or portable device. The embodiments described herein can be applied to all types of content.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a deterministic audience billing system for advertisement publishers and content providers that tracks the viewership of content directly at the viewing source, rather than relying on network operators or broadcast television station viewership hints (ges) as in conventional approaches.

The ad publisher or content provider specifies the metadata associated with its content. The metadata represents specific information that the publisher or provider of the content associates with the content. Embodiments of the present invention allow a user to specify content viewing preferences that are related to the types of multimedia or other multimedia content that the user is willing to accept and may view. The system distributes content from an advertisement publisher or content provider to a multimedia device having a user with explicit content viewing preferences that match the metadata. The system is capable of distributing content and metadata to multimedia devices such as set-top devices (e.g., Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), televisions, multimedia computers, and cable and satellite tuners), portable audio and video devices (e.g., MP3 players, video players, multimedia players, etc.), and satellite and terrestrial radio devices having, for example, local storage.

The system distributes content requested by a user and associated metadata to a multimedia device that is capable of tracking whether the user viewed the content. The multimedia device displays content to the user based on information in the metadata that tells the multimedia device when and how to display content to the user. The multimedia device is capable of tracking the user's actions as the user views the content. The multimedia device records what function commands the user uses during playback of the content (e.g., fast forward, slow down, pause, rewind, etc.) to operate the multimedia device. The multimedia device sends the user's actions and associated content identification back to the server or distribution service provider (distribution service).

The service provider may charge a service fee to the publisher or provider of the advertisement when downloading the content to the multimedia device, and the service provider may charge a service fee to the publisher or provider of the advertisement when the user views the content on the multimedia device.

The service provider is capable of generating reports based on recorded user input commands and associated content identification received from a plurality of multimedia devices to: indicating the popularity of content for a particular publisher or provider of content that has content available from that service provider, indicating what action the user performed during the playing of particular content for a particular publisher or provider of content, or indicating the most popular content for all publishers or providers of content.

In another aspect, the invention includes a computer device and a computer readable medium configured to perform the foregoing steps.

2.0 structural and functional description

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary system of an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes DVR102 communicatively coupled to network 105 through any communication interface, such as an ethernet interface or a wireless communication interface. The functionality of a DVR is typically disclosed in U.S. patent No. 6,233,389 owned by the applicant and incorporated herein by reference. The system also includes a service provider 104, a content provider 106, a personal computer 108, and a portable device 110.

Personal computer 108 may be a personal computing device such as a desktop computer or laptop computer and is also connected to network 105 through any communication interface, including wireless. The portable device 110 may be any handheld computing device, mobile phone, portable media player, or any other portable device capable of playing multimedia content and is also connected to the network 105 through any communication interface, including wireless. DVR102, personal computer 108, and portable device 110 each communicate with service provider 104 through network 105. In another embodiment, each of DVR102, personal computer 108, and portable device 110 communicate with content provider 110 over network 105.

Network 105 may be implemented by any medium or mechanism capable of providing for the exchange of data between devices in a communication system. For example, network 105 includes, without limitation, a network such as a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), the Internet, one or more terrestrial, satellite, or wireless links, and the like. Alternatively or additionally, any number of devices linked to the network 105 may also be directly connected to each other through a communication link.

In one embodiment, content provider 106 provides broadcast programming content to DVR102 via cable, satellite, terrestrial communication, or other transmission methods. The broadcast program content may include any multimedia content such as sound, image or video content. In another embodiment, content provider 106 provides multimedia content, such as any downloadable content, to DVR102, personal computer 108, or portable device 110 through network 105.

In one embodiment, DVR102 communicates with service provider 104, which provides program guide data, graphical resources (e.g., fonts, drawings, etc.), service information, software, advertisements, event identification data, and other forms of data that enable DVR102 to operate independently of service provider 104 to meet user interests. In another embodiment, DVR102, personal computer 108, and portable device 110 may be capable of communicating with each other to forward content, metadata, or any other data over network 105 or any local network.

In another embodiment, the content provider 106 may provide content data or any metadata, including promotional data, icons, network data, and other information to the service provider 104. Service provider 104 may then parse the metadata and provide the content data and metadata to DVR102, personal computer 108, or portable device 110.

Referring to fig. 1B, in an embodiment of the invention, DVR102 generally comprises a plurality of components, represented as signal converter 154, that are necessary components for digitizing an analog television signal and converting the analog television signal into a digital data stream or receiving a digital data stream. DVR102 receives broadcast signals from an antenna, a cable television system, a satellite receiver, etc., through input 152A. Input 152A may include multiple tuning modules that allow multiple signals to be received and recorded simultaneously.

The recording module 160 records the input data stream by storing the digital data stream on at least one storage device, represented as a memory 164, the memory 164 being designed to store digital data stream segments. Signal converter 154 retrieves the data stream fragments, converts the data stream to an analog signal and then modulates the signal onto an RF carrier through output 152B, where the signal is transmitted to a standard television set via an antenna input, cable input, etc. through output 152B. The signal converter 154 is also capable of converting the data stream into an analog signal for output via output 152B to form an input, S-video input, etc., for input to a television or monitor. Alternatively, the output 152B may transmit the data signal to a television or video monitor. For example, DVR102 may send digital signals to a television via a DVI cable using a Digital Video Interface (DVI), or DVR102 may send digital signals to a television via a HDMI cable using a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). The portable DVR or media player can utilize the built-in display screen and optionally send digital or analog signals to the television or video monitor through output 152B.

DVR102 also includes a communication interface 162 by which DVR102 communicates with network 105 via ethernet, a wireless network, a modem, or other communication standard. Moreover, DVR102 may be integrated into a television system such that the components described above are included in a television set that is capable of performing the functions of each of the components of DVR 102.

In another embodiment, DVR102 generally comprises a plurality of components necessary to receive, record, store, forward, and play back digital data signals from a plurality of sources, such as a PC, DVR, service provider, or content server. DVR102 can forward the digital data signals to another DVR or PC. DVR102 may encode or decode digital signals into a variety of formats for playback, storage, or forwarding through encoder 156A and decoder 156B. DVR102 is also capable of encrypting or decrypting digital data signals using encryptor/decryptor 158 for storing, forwarding or playing back the digital data signals.

In one embodiment, DVR102 communicates with a service provider 103 that provides program guide data, graphical assets such as logo icons and pictures, service information, software programs, advertisements, and other forms of data that enable DVR102 to operate independently of service provider 104 to perform autonomous recording functions. Communications between DVR102 and service provider 104 utilize a secure distribution architecture to forward data between DVR102 and service provider 104 such that service data and user privacy are protected.

2.1 distribution of advertisements and content to multimedia devices

Embodiments of the present invention manage and distribute content to multimedia devices such as set-top boxes, PCs or portable devices.

The commercial advertisement distribution by the tv advertisement publisher needs to comply with the fee structure of the network operator (cable operator, satellite provider, multi-system operator (MSO), etc.) and the local broadcast tv station (local cable operator, terrestrial broadcast tv station, etc.). The costs are broken down into a national and local cost structure, where national costs are naturally higher due to the large number of viewers. The fee structure is based on the popularity of a television program and the estimated demographics of the viewer of that program at the broadcast station. Very popular programs have commercial breaks during which the program is priced higher. Also, programs targeted to more consumers that attract viewers have higher fees for their advertisement slots.

The advertisement publisher must pay the network operator and the local broadcast station even if the audience of the network operator or the broadcast station estimates to be wrong. For example, network operators believe that a program popular with viewers aged 20-30 may fail, i.e., a relatively small number of viewers actually watch the entire program. The advertising publishers who pay for the commercial breaks in the program cannot reach the full value of their payments because their advertisements are not seen by enough viewers to warrant the value of the cost paid for the commercial breaks.

Network operators and broadcast stations also use the Nielsen ranking to determine the popularity of programs. However, the Nielsen ranking for a program is inaccurate because the sample viewer utilized by Nielsen is rare compared to the actual viewer. Nielsen also utilizes a viewer diary in which the viewer writes his reaction to the program in person after viewing the program. This approach is inconsistent and instead of tracking individual viewer demographics and viewing habits, tracks a group of viewers in a household. As a result, many Nielsen rankings do not reflect the actual popularity of programs in certain demographics. The advertisement publisher terminates payment to the commercial break with the ranking derived based on the incorrect ranking system. This results in a commercial break that is too high in value and the advertisement of the advertisement publisher is not able to reach its intended audience.

Embodiments of the present invention change the traditional television advertising mode. Instead of relying on network operators and local broadcast television stations to estimate how much of their program will reach the viewer's demographic, an advertising publisher or content provider has the ability to specify exactly what viewer population should view the content of the advertising publisher or content provider. For example, the system distributes advertisement publisher content to multimedia devices having users that match an advertisement publisher specified demographic. The system is capable of distributing content to, for example, set-top boxes (e.g., Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), televisions, multimedia PCs, and cable and satellite tuners), portable audio and video devices (e.g., MP3 players, video players, multimedia players, etc.), and satellite and terrestrial radio devices having, for example, local storage. Embodiments of the present invention allow a multimedia device to track whether a user has viewed any published content and report the results to a server operated by the facilitator distributing the content or even a data collection facilitator. It is noted that the term "view" and derivatives thereof as used herein with respect to embodiments describes user actions including: playing content, listening to content, viewing text or graphical content, etc.

Another embodiment of the present invention allows a user to specify the type of content that the user wishes to accept or may view. The system distributes content requested by a user to its multimedia device, and the multimedia device can track whether the user views the content. The publisher or provider of content pays the distribution service provider based on the number of times the content of the publisher or provider of content is viewed. The multimedia device is able to track the user's actions as the user views the content. The multimedia device is able to accurately record what function commands (e.g., fast forward, pause, rewind, etc.) the user used during content playback to operate the multimedia device. The multimedia device can send the user action back to the server or distribution service provider along with the associated content identification.

Referring to fig. 2, embodiments of the present invention allow an advertising publisher or content provider to specify specific viewer demographics for content, as well as other information such as when the content must show or a particular program with which the content should be broadcast. The ad publisher/content provider 201 and 203 send the content demographic and related data as metadata along with the content to the service provider 104 via the network 105 or any other suitable communication or media delivery method. The service provider 104 communicates with a number of multimedia devices 205 and 207. Each device is capable of providing information to service provider 104 that informs service provider 104 about the user's of the device's user's personal statistics, user viewing or program history, and/or user-specific content preferences, for example. For example, a set-top device may have users that are male, 35 years old, and often watch or record football games, Simpsons, southern park (SouthPark), and DIY programs. The portable media player may have a user who is female, 50 years old, and listens to NPR and classical music stations, downloads CNN broadcasts to the portable media player, and subscribes to political podcasts.

The service provider 104 collects user information from the multimedia devices 205 and 207. The user information is correlated by the service provider 104 so the service provider 104 can easily reference demographics or other user information that can be used for comparison with the content metadata. The multimedia device is selected for distributing content based on: user demographics, geographic location of the multimedia device, user specific product/brand preferences, user implied product/brand preferences, user internet searches, user searches performed on the multimedia device (e.g., title, genre, or actor searches), user audio and/or video program preferences, user specific content preferences, and the like.

Once the service provider 104 selects content for the multimedia device, the service provider queues the content for download by the multimedia device. The multimedia device 205 either grabs the content from the service provider 104 or pushes the content from the service provider 104. The multimedia device 205 periodically contacts the service provider to request any download tasks in the queue. Embodiments of the present invention allow the service provider 104 to proactively instruct the multimedia device 205 to request content download via any instant messaging protocol, such as XMPP. When the service provider 104 receives a request from the multimedia device 205, the service provider 104 checks to see if the multimedia device already owns the queue. If the service provider finds that there is content in the queue of the multimedia device, the service provider 104 sends the queue content to the multimedia device 205.

The multimedia device 205 receives the queue content and stores the content on a storage device. In one embodiment of the invention, an advertising publisher or content provider whose content is downloaded onto the multimedia device 205 may be charged by the service provider 104 for the bandwidth used to download the content, or possibly a transmission fee, or any combination of the two. In embodiments of the present invention, the multimedia device 205 is capable of displaying the content of advertisements in an advertisement show window (advertisement show) from which a user can select to view a particular advertisement. The advertisement showcase displays a list of available advertisements. The user can select an advertisement from the list for viewing or listening. In another embodiment of the invention, the multimedia device 205 is capable of broadcasting advertisements in a particular program as specified by the metadata in the advertisement. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the multimedia device 205 can list content in a list of recorded content and programs from which the user can select and view content.

Embodiments of the present invention allow a user to specify whether the user wishes the content of interest to be played at a particular program or time frame. The multimedia device 205 plays the content during the program or time slot. This allows the user to indicate when the user is most likely to be paying attention to the content. Other family members may be watching or listening to other programs, or watching or listening to programs during other time periods not specified by the user.

In embodiments of the present invention, the multimedia device 205 may indicate that the content item being played by the user is content of interest to the user. The indication may be audible (e.g., a brief sound) or visual (e.g., a text prompt or icon display loaded onto a video signal). The visual indication may be superimposed on the video signal in a manner that allows the indication to be seen even when the user is watching the program in a mode other than normal speed. The user may then pay more attention to the content when the indication occurs. If the user fast forwards or backwards through the program, the indication will cause the user to stop his fast forwarding or backwards through the program to view the content.

The multimedia device 205 stores statistics for the content, such as when the user viewed the content, whether the user viewed the entire content or a portion of the content, how many times the user viewed the content, which portions of the content were viewed repeatedly, etc. The multimedia device periodically contacts the service provider 104 and sends content statistics to the service provider. The service provider 104 evaluates statistics of the viewed content and charges a fee to the publisher or provider of the content whose content was viewed by the user.

Referring to fig. 3, an advertisement publisher or a content provider downloads content (audio, video, text, multimedia, etc.) 303 and metadata 302 related to the content to a server of a service provider using a user interface provided by the service provider. The metadata describes particular aspects of the content, such as title, description, demographic information (e.g., 25-40 year old male, 30-50 year old female, etc.), keywords, user interests (discussed below) that may be associated with the subject matter of the content, brand name, any industry standard ranking or indication, and so forth. The user interface can be web-based where an advertisement publisher or content provider accesses a service provider's server over the internet or other network. The user interface can optionally be client-based, where an ad publisher or content provider loads (or creates) content and metadata related to the content to the client, and the client uploads the content 303 and metadata related to the content 302 to a server of a service provider over the internet or other network. The service provider's server queues the content in a queue 304. The queue 304 acts as temporary storage for the service provider to perform integrity checks on the content and metadata.

The verification and testing station 305 allows the operator to view and edit the content and metadata to ensure that the format and content are in the service provider guide for the data format and content subject matter. Alternatively, the verification and testing can be performed automatically using software that formats the metadata into service provider standards and scans the content for integrity.

Once the testing and verification phase for the content and associated metadata is completed, metadata 306 is sent to metadata database 308. The metadata database is then used for content retrieval and user content personalization. The content 307 is transmitted to a content delivery server (content delivery server)309 that stores content to be transmitted to the multimedia device.

Referring to fig. 4, a user of the multimedia device 407 inputs preferences for the types of content that the user would like to view or listen to. The user displays their preferences using a user interface 408, which user interface 408 allows the user to input the types of content that the user is interested in viewing or listening to, such as advertisements/content categories (e.g., car, electronics, fast food, beverage, travel, entertainment, upcoming programs on the network, financial services, fashion of life, etc.), particular brands (e.g., Coke, Pepsi, Miller, NBC, CNN, Lexus, BMW, etc.), content media types (e.g., audio, video, text, etc.), venues (e.g., villages, cities, states, countries, etc.), and so forth. There may be sub-categories within a category. For example, a category of cars may have subcategories such as luxury, family, and sports. Alternative embodiments allow the user to input their interests, such as leisure themes (e.g., extreme sports, football, golf, etc.), information areas (e.g., CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg, etc.), hobbies (e.g., DIY programs, cooking, etc.), genre types (e.g., live shows, cartoons, comedies, romantic movies, action movies, etc.), and so forth.

The user interface may appear as a result of an advertisement shown during the playing of content by the multimedia device, with the user selecting a menu option in response to the user's reaction to an icon displayed during the program.

By entering preference information, the user selects a program that allows the multimedia device to report the user's preferences to the service provider 104. The service provider 104 is allowed to use the user's preference information to select content for the user's multimedia device. The user preference information is bound to the multimedia device. The multimedia device 407 transmits the user's preferences to the advertisement/content wish list server 401. The advertisement/content wish list is a user content preference list that displays content that the user wants to view or listen to. Each wish list is associated with a multimedia device reporting user preferences. The advertisement/content wish list server 401 receives data regarding metadata keywords from the metadata database 308. The ad/content wish list server 401 is associated with the user wish list by the current category, brand, group, etc. that the multimedia database 308 utilizes to ensure that the filtering/matching server 403 correctly matches the wish list with the content.

The correct wish list is sent from the advertisement/content wish list server 401 to the user advertisement/content wish list database 402. The user advertisement/content wish list database 402 includes a collection of all user wish lists that have had their wish lists submitted to the service provider. The wish lists from the user advertisement/content wish list database 402 are used by the filter/match server 403 to match the raw metadata from the metadata database 308 to find content that matches the user wish lists. The filtering/matching server 403 considers that the content that the user wants to view or listen to is identified. Assuming that the ad/content wish list server 401 ensures that the wish list is easily compared with the content raw data, the filtering/matching server 403 can easily retrieve the metadata database 308 for matching content.

When the filter/match server 403 finds content that matches the user's wish list, the server requests that the content be downloaded from the content delivery server 309 to the user's multimedia device. The content transmission server 309 has a download queue 404 for each multimedia device for which the filtering/matching server 403 has requested content. The content transfer server 403 registers the content together with customized associated metadata (discussed below), which the filter/match server 403 has requested to download to the multimedia device 404 in a download queue. The filtering/matching server 403 ensures that content that the user has viewed or listened to is not repeatedly received. The filtering/matching server keeps track of the content that each multimedia device currently contained in the content delivery server 309 has received. In one embodiment of the invention, older content that the multimedia device has received is not tracked after the content expires and is no longer present in the content delivery server 309.

The multimedia device 407 periodically synchronizes with the service provider 104. The multimedia device 407 sends a request for any content the service provider 104 has for the multimedia device, as well as other information such as electronic program guide information, software downloads, etc. The contents transmission server 309 checks whether or not there is a queue of the multimedia device 407. If the advertisement and/or content is in the queue 404, the content transmission server 309 downloads the content of the queue 404 to the multimedia device 407.

In an alternative embodiment, the service provider 104 informs the multimedia device 407 that the multimedia device should make a synchronization request because the service provider has the data of the multimedia device. The service provider 104 can utilize a communication protocol, such as XMPP, SSL, etc., to issue an announcement command to the multimedia device 407. The multimedia device 407 then makes its synchronization request to the service provider 104 using an internet or network connection. The service provider 104 and the multimedia device 407 are capable of communicating via standard internet protocols to effect data transfer. Examples of secure data transmission between a service provider and a multimedia device are described in U.S. patent No. 6,728,713 and application No. 10/741,596, both owned by the applicant and incorporated herein by reference. For example, the service provider 104 and the multimedia device 407 encrypt the data transmission with a private/public key pair, a digital certificate, or the like to produce a secure data transmission.

When content from an advertiser or content provider is downloaded to the multimedia device 405, a fee is charged to the advertiser or content provider in an embodiment of the present invention. The cost may include download bandwidth cost and business overhead cost. The fee may also include profit sharing. The content transmission server 309 informs the billing system 406 that the content has been downloaded. The billing system associates the downloaded content with the appropriate advertising publisher or content provider using the unique identifier from the content. The billing system can generate a detailed listing of multimedia device downloads for an advertisement publisher or content provider.

Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate the operation of the multimedia device. After the user specifies his interest preferences 601, the multimedia device 407 transmits the user's preferences to the advertisement/content wish list server 602. The multimedia device 407 receives the content download and its associated metadata 603 from the content transmission server 309 and stores the content in the storage 504. The relevant metadata may be a subset stored in metadata database 308. The associated metadata may indicate when and how the multimedia device 407 is to display the content and may also include the title of the content and possibly a summary of the content. The storage device may be a hard disk, RAM, NVRAM, solid state disk, or other static storage. The multimedia device 407 may also be capable of receiving program guide information, downloading content auto-show (auto-show) data (discussed below), software downloads, etc. from the service backend server 501.

The multimedia device 407 can instruct the user that the content can be used in several ways. Embodiments of the present invention utilize an automated window display to display available content. The auto show data is used to highlight content from a particular provider (e.g., Coke, Pepsi, Lexus, Honda, BMW, Mercedes, ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO, Showtime). For example, the NBC may advertise upcoming programs or sell items related to popular programs. An automated showcase displays brand names and their graphics in a user interface. The user selects one of the brands and the user interface displays a listing of the brand's content stored on storage device 504. When the user highlights one of the contents of the list, the user interface displays a graphic of the highlighted content and a text summary thereof. The user selects the content and the multimedia device 407 displays the content for the user. As described above, the content may be in audio, video, text, or other video or audio format.

The multimedia device 407 is also capable of displaying the content of the associated program when the user views the associated program 506. The multimedia device 407 receives metadata along with the content that allows the service provider to tell the multimedia device 407 when the content 604 should be displayed. The metadata may specify in which program or in which program type the content is played. The metadata may specify that the program is played before or after the program. It may also be specified that the content is displayed in a user interface screen that appears when the user selects a program from a list of programs stored on storage 504. This enables the user to view the content while viewing the program outline.

The content title or description may appear on the program summary user interface screen as a menu item that the user can select. Such user interface methods are also described in U.S. patent application nos. 11/474,039 and 11/492,281, which are owned by the applicant and incorporated herein by reference. When a user selects content from the menu, the content is displayed to the user. Playback may be in full screen mode or in a window on the user interface screen of the program summary.

The multimedia device 407 can display a title or description of the content on the recorded program user interface screen 507. The recorded programs user interface screen displays a list of programs stored on storage device 504. The title or description of the content is listed along with the stored program. The user can select a particular program or content for playback. If there are two or more contents that fall into the same category, a folder may be shown with a category (e.g., car, travel, finance, etc.) title listed immediately after the folder icon. The user selects a folder and lists the contents in the folder on the user interface screen. The user can then select content from the playback list.

While the user is viewing the content, the multimedia device 407 is in a unique state that monitors the user's actions. The multimedia device 407 displays the content to the user. While the user is watching the content, the user may fast forward, rewind, frame step, or pause during the content. The user may also view the content more than once. The multimedia device 407 stores information about the user's actions while viewing the content 605. The information may also include information such as when the user viewed the content, whether the user viewed the content in whole or in part, which portions of the content were viewed repeatedly, etc.

As described above, the multimedia device 407 periodically contacts the service backend server 501 and sends statistical information about the user's actions and the content identification 606 associated with the actions to the service backend server. The user information is anonymous and cannot be traced back to the multimedia device, thus ensuring user privacy. Alternatively, the user may enable his user information to identify himself. This may occur, for example, when a user charges for their data or chooses to release their information.

The service backend server 501 sends the statistical information and the content related information to the billing system 406. The billing system 406 evaluates statistics of viewed content received from the multimedia device and charges 502 a fee to the publisher or provider of the advertisement or content for which the user has viewed the content.

The service provider 104 can charge advertisers and content providers a fee for downloading content to the multimedia device and when the user views the content.

The service backend server 501 collects statistics from the multimedia devices and can generate reports and charts for the ad publisher or content provider. These reports and charts indicate to the advertising publisher or content provider what actions the user has done while viewing or listening to their content. The reports and charts can detail which portions of the record content are most viewed (e.g., with fast forward, rewind, and pause user action data) or which portions are skipped (e.g., with fast forward user action data). The reports and charts can also indicate the popularity of all of their transmitted content for a particular publisher or provider of content (e.g., based on the number of users viewing the content, or the number of content downloaded to the multimedia device). The publisher or provider of the content can use these reports and charts to determine the effectiveness of its content.

Service provider 104 can generate reports and graphs showing which advertising publishers or content providers have the most popular or least popular content. This enables the service provider 104 to publish a popularity ranking for the user's viewing. Based on the ranking, the user may download and view the most popular content, thus generating more views for the advertising publisher or content provider and more download and viewing revenue for the service provider 104.

As described in U.S. patent application No. 09/665,921, which is owned by the applicant and incorporated herein by reference, content can be tagged with information so that various improved features can be implemented, such as scheduling future recordings, product purchases, viewing web pages, viewing other content, and the like. The multimedia device scans the indicia and interprets the indicia and its data. The indicia instructs the multimedia device 407 to display a particular promotion or to order a recording of a particular program, etc., and also to perform the act of user input commands. The user can interact with the multimedia device 407 using a remote control.

For example, if the indicia in the viewed content tells the multimedia device 407 to display an icon indicating that the user is able to view a video travel list based on the highlighted entry in the content. If the user confirms that the user wants to view the list, the tag gives the multimedia device 407 enough information to format and display the list to the user. The tag also gives the multimedia device 407 enough information to perform an action if the user selects an entry in the list, such as playing a streaming video from a particular network server or performing a product purchase transaction. Service provider 104 can charge advertisers or content providers a fee based on the number of times a user views additional content, accesses web pages, purchases products, etc.

3.0 implementation mechanisms- -hardware description

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a computer system 700 upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Computer system 700 includes a bus 702 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor 704 coupled with bus 702 for processing information. Computer system 700 also includes a main memory 706, such as a random access memory ("RAM") or other dynamic storage device, coupled to bus 702 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 704. Main memory 706 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 704. Computer system 700 also includes a read only memory ("ROM") 708 or other static storage device coupled to bus 702 for storing static information and instructions for processor 704. A storage device 710, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to bus 702 for storing information and instructions.

Computer system 700 may be coupled via bus 702 to a display 712, such as a cathode ray tube ("CRT"), for displaying information to a computer user. An input device 714, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to bus 702 for communicating information and command selections to processor 704. Another type of user input device is cursor control 716, such as a mouse, a trackball, a stylus, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor 704 and for controlling cursor movement on display 712. The input device typically has degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y), that allows the device to specify positions in a plane.

The present invention relates to the use of a computer system 700 for electronic commerce and brokering (brokering). According to an embodiment of the invention, an electronic commerce and brokerage system is provided by the computer system 700 in response to one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 706 by processor 704. Such instructions may be read into main memory 706 from another computer-readable medium, such as storage device 710. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 706 causes processor 704 to perform the process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

The term "computer-readable medium" as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to processor 704 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 710. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 706. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 702. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave and infrared data transmissions.

Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other type of magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards (punchcard), paper tape (papertape), any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge (cartridge), a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to processor 704 for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can download the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 700 can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitter to convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector can receive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriate circuitry can place the data on bus 702. Bus 702 carries the data to main memory 706, from which main memory 706 the instructions can be retrieved and executed by processor 704. The instructions received by main memory 706 may optionally be stored on storage device 710 either before or after execution by processor 704.

Computer system 700 also includes a communication interface 718 coupled to bus 702. Communication interface 718 provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link 720, network link 720 connects to a local network 722. For example, communication interface 718 may be an integrated services digital network ("ISDN") card or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communication interface 718 may be a local area network ("LAN") card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links may also be used. In any such implementation, communication interface 718 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

Network link 720 typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link 720 may provide a connection through local network 722 to a host computer 724 or to digital equipment operated by an internet service provider ("ISP") 726. ISP 726 in turn provides data communication services through the world wide packet data communication network 728, now commonly referred to as the "Internet". Local network 722 and internet 728 both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals at network link 720 and through communication interface 718, which carry the digital data to and from computer system 700, are exemplary forms of carrier waves transporting the information.

Computer system 700 can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link 720 and communication interface 718. In the Internet example, a server 730 might transmit a requested code for an application program through Internet 728, ISP 726, local network 722 and communication interface 718. According to the present invention, one such downloaded application provides for controlling document access using the centralized management principles described herein.

The received code may be executed by processor 704 as it is received, and/or stored in storage device 710, or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, computer system 700 may obtain application program code in the form of a carrier wave.

4.0 extensions and alternatives

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims (12)

1. A method for distributing advertisements and/or content to multimedia devices, comprising:

receiving content and associated metadata from an ad publisher and/or a content provider on a server;

wherein the received content comprises: video advertisements or content, audio advertisements or content, text advertisements or content, graphical advertisements or content, or multimedia advertisements or content;

wherein the related metadata includes: a content title, a content summary, information specifying what program or type of program the content should be played in, information specifying whether the content is to be played before or after a program, or information specifying that the content is to be played on a specified user interface screen;

receiving, at the server, content viewing preferences of a user from the multimedia device;

matching, at the server, the user's content viewing preferences with the appropriate received content using the received associated metadata;

transmitting, by the server, the matched content and content information to the multimedia device, the matched content and content information enabling the multimedia device to operate independently of the server to satisfy the user's interest; and

user input commands and associated content identification are received from the multimedia device detailing the user input commands entered by the user while viewing the transmitted content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a fee is charged to the publisher or provider of the content for sending the content to the multimedia device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a fee is charged to the advertisement publisher or the content provider when the received user input command and associated content identification indicate that the content has been viewed by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ensuring that a user does not repeatedly receive content that the user has viewed or listened to.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for content from a multimedia device; and

wherein the transmitting step transmits arbitrary content and content information to the multimedia device if the content and the content information exist in a specific queue of the multimedia device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating reports based on user input commands and associated content identification received from a plurality of multimedia devices for:

indicating the popularity of content for a particular publisher or provider of content, indicating what actions a user performs during the playing of particular content for a particular publisher or provider of content, or indicating the most popular content for all publishers or providers of content that have content available from the service provider.

7. An apparatus for distributing advertisements and/or content to multimedia devices, comprising:

a module on the server for receiving content and associated metadata from an ad publisher and/or a content provider;

wherein the received content comprises: video advertisements or content, audio advertisements or content, text advertisements or content, graphical advertisements or content, or multimedia advertisements or content;

wherein the related metadata includes: a content title, a content summary, information specifying what program or type of program the content should be played in, information specifying whether the content is to be played before or after a program, or information specifying that the content is to be played on a specified user interface screen;

means for receiving, at the server, content viewing preferences of a user from the multimedia device;

a module for matching, at the server, the user's content viewing preferences with appropriate received content using the received associated metadata;

means for sending, by the server, matching content and content information to the multimedia device, the matching content and content information causing the multimedia device to operate independently of the server to satisfy the user's interests; and

means for receiving a user input command and associated content identification from the multimedia device detailing the user input command entered by the user while viewing the transmitted content.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a module that charges a fee to an advertiser or content provider for sending content to the multimedia device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a module that charges a fee to an advertisement publisher or content provider when the received user input command and associated content identification indicate that the content has been viewed by the user.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a module that ensures that a user does not repeatedly receive content that the user has viewed or listened to.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a module that receives a request for content from a multimedia device; and

wherein the transmission module transmits any content and content information to the multimedia device if the content and content information exist in a specific queue of the multimedia device.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

identifying a module for generating a report based on user input commands and associated content received from a plurality of multimedia devices, for:

indicating the popularity of content for a particular publisher or provider of content, indicating what actions a user performs during the playing of particular content for a particular publisher or provider of content, or indicating the most popular content for all publishers or providers of content that have content available from the service provider.