# US 12,604,058 B2 · System for multicast transmission of targeted assets

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- Number: US 12,604,058 B2
- Document ID: US12604058B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/592,497
- Filed: 2019-10-03
- Published: 2021-09-16
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-05
- Assignees: Invidi Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: INVIDI Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Patrick M. Sheehan; Alden Lloyd Peterson, II; Daniel C. Wilson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12604058B2

## CPC

- 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 21/6125: {involving transmission via Internet (transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82)}
- H04N 21/252: {Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data}
- H04N 21/262: Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists {(scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62)}
- 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 21/43079: {of additional data with content streams on multiple devices}
- H04N 21/462: Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic programme guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
- H04N 21/6405: Multicasting {(data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18)}
- H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Asset options are multiplexed into a multicast stream. In one implementation, a single stream (300) includes programming (306) and assets (302). A user equipment device delivers one of the assets (302) for delivery in connection with an asset delivery opportunity. The stream (300) also includes metadata (304) to assist the user equipment device in selecting the asset for delivery. Targeted advertising can thus be implemented in shared stream environments while efficiently using available bandwidth.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for use in delivering targeted assets in a shared stream network environment comprising:
operating a network structure of one or more network platforms to establish a first multicast stream wherein multiple end user devices can simultaneously receive the first multicast stream;
first inserting, into said first multicast stream, first programming content having a first asset delivery opportunity associated with a time window of said first programming content; and
second inserting, into a second multicast stream, the same as or different from said first multicast stream, a set of at least two assets available for delivery in said first asset delivery opportunity of said first programming content together with asset metadata for use by end user devices in selecting one of said set of at least two assets for delivery;
wherein said end user devices are configured to:
use the asset metadata to select one asset of said set of at least two assets for delivery in said first asset delivery opportunity of said first programming content such that said end user devices receive targeted assets via multicast in connection with shared stream programming, wherein said metadata comprises one or more of:
a list of user equipment devices corresponding to one of said set of at least two assets; and
targeting parameters corresponding to one of said set of at least two assets;
play the first programming content; and
play the selected one asset of said set of at least two assets in the associated time window.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first multicast stream comprises a single multicast data transmission stream and said set of at least two assets is included together with said first programming content in said first multicast stream.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein each asset of said set of at least two assets is associated with said time window of said first asset delivery opportunity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein each asset of said set of at least two assets is inserted into said first multicast stream in synchronization with said time window of said first asset delivery opportunity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising determining a number of assets to be included in said set and selecting said number of assets based on an expected composition of an audience of said first multicast stream.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said expected composition is based on messaging between data network structure and at least some of said end user devices.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said expected composition is based on votes submitted by at least some of said end user devices with respect to said set of at least two assets.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising receiving, from at least some of said end user devices, reports indicating assets delivered in connection with said first asset delivery opportunity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said selecting is based on a comparison of targeting parameters of said assets with classification parameters associated with each one of said end user devices.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said comparison is performed at data network structure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said comparison is performed at each of said end user devices.