# US 12,114,050 B2 · System and method for digital program insertion in cable systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,114,050 B2 - Document ID: US12114050B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/317,712 - Filed: 2023-05-15 - Published: 2023-11-23 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2004-08-11 - Assignees: FreeWheel Media, Inc. - Applicants: Freewheel Media, Inc. - Inventors: Gerrit Niemeijer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114050B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)} - H04N 21/2221: {being a cable television head-end (CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78)} - H04N 21/23424: {involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement} - H04N 21/2365: Multiplexing of several video streams - H04N 21/254: Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server {(arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53)} - H04N 21/4383: {Accessing a communication channel} - H04N 21/44016: {involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip} - H04N 21/454: Content {or additional data} filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements - H04N 21/458: Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules {; time-related management operations (arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10)} - H04N 21/60: Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client {, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream}; Communication details between server and client - H04N 21/633: Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client {(management of faults, events, alarms in data networks H04L41/06)} - H04N 21/8455: {involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream} - H04N 21/26241: {involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children programme} - H04N 21/2668: Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles {(information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Alternative approaches to the insertion of local commercials and messages into networks feeds are provided. Embodiments include digital commercial insertion for cable operators and others that not only offer more flexibility and features, but may also be significantly cheaper to implement. The actual “insert” of the local commercial or message into the digital program is performed by a standard set top box, with several methods of providing the local commercial to the set top box at the proper insertion time. Another embodiment allows a cable operator to significantly save on equipment in the form of splicers and ad inserters, by allowing easy and dynamic mapping of local commercials to insertion zones. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, from a computing device, information indicating one or more insertion points in a media stream for insertion of one or more advertisements; sending, to the computing device, information indicating available bandwidth for output of content; receiving, based on the available bandwidth, a portion of one or more advertisements that can be served; and causing output of an advertisement of the portion of the one or more advertisements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is output via a second media stream that is associated with one or more insertion zones. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein output of the second media stream causes: display of the advertisement at a time indicated by the received information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the one or more advertisements is associated with one or more insertion zones associated with the computing device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein each insertion zone of the one or more insertion zones is associated with a geographic location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the available bandwidth indicates a number of advertisements that can be inserted into the media stream or a second media stream. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more advertisements comprise one or more local advertisements intended for one or more insertion zones. ### Claim 8 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause: receiving, from a computing device, information indicating one or more insertion points in a media stream for insertion of one or more advertisements; sending, to the computing device, information indicating available bandwidth for output of content; receiving, based on the available bandwidth, a portion of one or more advertisements that can be served; and causing output of an advertisement of the portion of the one or more advertisements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the advertisement is output via a second media stream that is associated with one or more insertion zones. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein output of the second media stream causes: display of the advertisement at a time indicated by the received information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the portion of the one or more advertisements is associated with one or more insertion zones associated with the computing device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein each insertion zone of the one or more insertion zones is associated with a geographic location. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the available bandwidth indicates a number of advertisements that can be inserted into the media stream or a second media stream. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the one or more advertisements comprise one or more local advertisements intended for one or more insertion zones. ### Claim 15 A device, comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to: receive, from a computing device, information indicating one or more insertion points in a media stream for insertion of one or more advertisements; send, to the computing device, information indicating available bandwidth for output of content; receive, based on the available bandwidth, a portion of one or more advertisements that can be served; and cause output of an advertisement of the portion of the one or more advertisements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the advertisement is output via a second media stream that is associated with one or more insertion zones. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein output of the second media stream causes: display of the advertisement at a time indicated by the received information. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the portion of the one or more advertisements is associated with one or more insertion zones associated with the computing device, wherein each insertion zone of the one or more insertion zones is associated with a geographic location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the available bandwidth indicates a number of advertisements that can be inserted into the media stream or a second media stream. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the one or more advertisements comprise one or more local advertisements intended for one or more insertion zones.