Method and apparatus for synchronizing commercial advertisements across multiple communication channels
OwnerKenneth C. Hite, Walter S. Ciciora +2inventors
InventorsKenneth C. Hite, Walter S. Ciciora, Tom Alison, Robert G. Beauregard
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Abstract
A satellite uplink/studio system has timing means coupled therewith for precise commercial timing such that prerecorded commercials are simultaneously started with sufficient precision to appear simultaneously to viewers changing channels.
Claims28
A TV commercial control system for the synchronization of a commercial across multiple channels including means for relatively precise commercial reception for viewing at a TV receiver whereby a commercial is simultaneously aired with sufficient precision to appear substantially simultaneously to the viewer of the TV receiver despite changing channels;
- a command center for controlling commercial delivery to the TV receiver for the synchronization of the commercial across multiple channels.
A set top box comprising:
- analog video circuitry for receiving analog TV signals;
- compressed digital video circuitry coupled thereto for receiving digital TV signals;
- a channel processor means for storing information about which channels have the same prerecorded commercial so that when a new channel is requested by the viewer from a viewing channel and that channel has the same commercial, the commercial is completed on the receiving channel before the new channel is displayed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.