US 2020/0007918 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME ADVERTISING-FREE LINEAR TELEVISION VIEWING ON CHANNEL IN USE WITH MICROPAYMENT COMPENSATION TO NETWORKS FOR LOST ADVERTISING REVENUE

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for providing advertising-supported television, including linear television, on-demand or DVR television using the programmability and Internet-connectivity of modern “smart” televisions and/or “smart” cable set top boxes, “smart” DVRs, and “smart” streaming devices to enable viewers to selectively opt-out of advertisements for individual, enabled programs, while compensating broadcasters for the resulting loss of advertising revenue. For a subscription fee, viewers on the TV channel in use (without requiring an input change or subscription to an “over-the-top” service) can seamlessly view their favorite shows entirely ad-free on TV channels. Upon delivering the ad-free experience, software is used to calculate and remit household-level micropayments of lost program ad revenue for participating networks.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for providing an advertising-free audiovisual digital content item on an Internet-connected smart playback device in a normally-advertising-supported environment of digital content items provided by a plurality of content providers, the method comprising the steps of:

automatically recognizing a normally-advertising-supported audiovisual digital content item or promo spot for the audiovisual digital content item playing on the smart playback device to result in a digital ACRIF corresponding to the audiovisual digital content item and uniquely identifying the audiovisual digital content item;
communicating an account-identifying credential to a remote administration and billing service;
receiving an authorization signal from the remote administration and billing service based on the credential;
communicating the ACRIF to the remote administration and billing service;
receiving a digital rights management token corresponding to the ACRIF;
communicating the ACRIF to a remote streaming server having an advertising-free version of the audiovisual digital content item provided thereon by a one of said plurality of content providers;
enabling streaming playback of the advertising-free version of the audiovisual digital content item from the remote streaming server to the smart playback device using the digital rights management token;
playing the advertising-free version of the audiovisual digital content item on the smart playback device;
and
crediting a first amount to a first account corresponding to the one of said plurality of content providers.

7 more elements

A method for playback of an audiovisual digital content item on an Internet-connected smart playback device in a normally-advertising-supported environment in which the audiovisual content item is provided by a content provider in an advertising-supported version and in an advertising-free version, the method comprising the steps of:

a. automatically recognizing an advertising-supported version of the audiovisual digital content item or promo spot for the audiovisual digital content item playing on the smart playback device to result in a digital ACRIF corresponding to the audiovisual digital content item and distinguishing the audiovisual digital content item from other content items in the environment;
b. communicating a credential to a remote administration and billing service, the credential intended to identify a playback account;
c. receiving an authorization signal from the remote administration and billing service based on the credential;
d. communicating the ACRIF to the remote administration and billing service;
e. receiving a DRM token, the DRM token corresponding to the ACRIF and effective to unlock the advertising-free version of the audiovisual digital content item;
f. communicating the ACRIF to a remote streaming server having the advertising-free version of the audiovisual digital content item;
g. enabling streaming playback of the advertising-free version of the audiovisual digital content item from the remote streaming server to the smart playback device using the DRM token;
h. playing the advertising-free version of the audiovisual digital content item on the smart playback device;
and
i. crediting a first microtransaction to a first account corresponding to the content provider.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for real-time advertising-free linear television viewing on channel in use with micropayment compensation to networks for lost advertising revenue

Life of this patent

System and method for real-time advertising-free linear television viewing on channel in use with micropayment compensation to networks for lost advertising revenue

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15