Method, System and Apparatus for Conveying Personalized Content to a Viewer

An apparatus for delivering viewer-selected content comprising:

• a first interface for distributing at least one content stream;
• a second interface;
• a control module, coupled to said first and second interfaces, the control module operable to:
• receive via said second interface an indication of viewer-selected content;
• receive via said second interface an indication of a viewing time by which a target receiver device is required to have received the viewer-selected content;
• determine a delivery window based on the viewing time;
• generate a delivery component including the viewer-selected content and an identifier associated with the target receiver device;
• cause the delivery component to be delivered to the target receiver device via said first interface during the delivery window.

A set top box registered to a viewer, the set top box comprising:

• a first interface operable to receive from a content provider a content stream;
• a second interface adapted to receive an indication of a viewer choice from the viewer, the indication of a viewer choice comprising an indication of viewer-selected content and an indication of a viewing time by which the set-top box is required to have received the viewer-selected content;
• a processing unit coupled to said first and second interfaces, the processing unit operable to:
• effect a transmission to the content provider of said indication of a viewer choice;
• said transmission being instrumental in causing a delivery component to be delivered to the. set-top box before the viewing time, the delivery component comprising the viewer-selected content;
• wake up at a pre-determined time before the viewing time to acquire the delivery component from the content provider via said first interface;
• acquire said viewer-selected content by the viewing time;
• and
• convey said viewer-selected content to the viewer.

A set top box registered to a viewer, the set top box comprising:

• a first interface operable to receive from a content provider a content stream;
• a second interface adapted to receive an indication of a viewer choice from the viewer, the indication of a viewer choice comprising an indication of viewer-selected content and an indication of a viewing time by which a target receiver device is required to have received the viewer-selected content;
• a processing unit coupled to said first and second interfaces, the processing unit operable to effect a transmission to the content provider of said indication of viewer choice;
• said transmission being instrumental in:
• causing a delivery component to be delivered to the target receiver device before the viewing time, the delivery component comprising the viewer-selected content;
• causing said target receiver device to wake up at a pre-determined time before the viewing time to acquire the delivery component from the content provider via said first interface;
• and
• causing said target receiver to acquire said viewer-selected content by the viewing time.

A set top box registered to a viewer, the set top box comprising:

• a first interface operable to receive from a content provider a content stream;
• a second interface operable to receive an indication of a viewing time by which the set-top box is required to have received viewer-selected content;
• a processing unit coupled to said first and second interfaces, said processing unit operable:
• to wake up at a pre-determined time before the viewing time;
• to acquire a delivery component comprising the viewer-selected content from said content stream by the viewing time;
• and
• to convey said viewer-selected content to the viewer.

A system comprising:

• a target receiver device;
• a content provider for distributing a content stream to a plurality of receiver devices, the plurality of receiver devices including the target receiver device;
• the content provider operable to:
• obtain an indication of viewer-selected content;
• receive an indication of a viewing time by which the target receiver device is required to have received the viewer-selected content;
• determine a delivery window based on the viewing time;
• generate a delivery component including the viewer-selected content and an identifier associated with the target receiver device;
• cause the delivery component to be delivered to the target receiver device during the delivery window