Automated replacement of video program content
AssigneeSling TV L.L.C.
InventorR. Drew Major
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Advertisements in broadcast television programming are digitally replaced with different ads prior to viewing. Replacement can occur in time and/or place shifted content, and can be used to promote a particular advertisement that the viewer has not yet seen, thereby improving the reach of the ad without oversaturation. Data reporting by the playback devices is collected in a database of viewed ads. The information in the database can be used to refresh previously-viewed ads, to increase saturation of particular ads, to replace previously-broadcast but no longer relevant ads, or for other purposes as desired.
Claims20
An automated process performed by a content management system having at least one processor and non-transitory digital storage to replace digital advertisements in digital broadcast programs presented by remotely-located media devices, the automated process comprising:
- receiving, via a digital network, data that identifies advertisements previously presented during playback of the digital broadcast programs by the remotely-located media devices, wherein the remotely-located media devices receive the digital broadcast programs from a content source other than the content management system;
- tracking, based on the received data, the advertisements of the digital broadcast programs presented by the remotely-located media devices in a database;
- monitoring the database to identify media devices that have not yet presented a particular advertisement during playback of the digital broadcast programs;
- and
- transmitting instructions via the digital network to one or more of the media devices that have not yet presented the particular advertisement in the digital broadcast programs, wherein the instructions direct the one or more media devices to replace one or more advertisements with the particular advertisement while rendering one of the digital broadcast programs.
A data processing system that communicates with a plurality of remotely-located media devices via a digital network, the data processing system comprising a processor and a non-transitory storage comprising an advertising database, wherein the processor is configured to automatically:
- receive, via the digital network, data that identifies advertisements presented by the remotely-located media devices during playback of digital broadcast programs, wherein the remotely-located media devices receive the digital broadcast programs from a content source other than the data processing system;
- track, based on the received data, the advertisements of the digital broadcast programs presented by the remotely-located media devices in the database;
- monitor the database to identify media devices that have not yet presented a particular advertisement during playback of the digital broadcast programs;
- and
- transmit instructions via the digital network to one or more of the media devices that have not yet presented the particular advertisement in the digital broadcast programs, wherein the instructions direct the one or more media devices to replace one or more advertisements with the particular advertisement while rendering one of the digital broadcast programs.
A media device that communicates with a remotely-located data processing system via a digital network, the media device comprising a processor and a non-transitory storage, wherein the processor is configured to automatically:
- receive digital broadcast programs for presentation to a viewer of the media device from a content source other than the remotely-located data processing system;
- transmit, to the remotely-located data processing system via the digital network, data that identifies advertisements presented by the media device during playback of the digital broadcast programs received from the content source to thereby permit the remotely-located data processing system to track the advertisements presented by the media device in a database and to monitor the database to identify a particular advertisement that has not yet been presented by the media device during playback of the digital broadcast programs;
- receive instructions via the digital network from the remotely-located data processing system directing the media device to replace one or more advertisements with the particular advertisement;
- and
- replace the one or more advertisements with the particular advertisement while rendering one of the digital broadcast programs received from the content source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.