# US 8,572,643 B2 · Method, apparatus and system for dynamic grouping and content distribution > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,572,643 B2 - Document ID: US8572643B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/448,669 - Filed: 2007-01-31 - Published: 2009-12-03 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-01-31 - Assignees: Thomson Licensing - Applicants: Gregory Charles Herlein; David Chi-Wei Wang - Inventors: Gregory Charles Herlein; David Chi-Wei Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8572643B2 ## CPC - H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests} - G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising - H04N 21/41415: {involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk} - H04N 21/4383: {Accessing a communication channel} - H04N 21/6332: directed to client - H04N 21/6543: for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording {(remote booting in general G06F9/4416)} - H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for dynamic content distribution and grouping includes a server for providing a plurality of content channels, at least one tuning/decoding means for receiving/decoding at least one of the plurality of content channels, and at least one respective display means for displaying the at least one received/decoded content channel. In such embodiments of the present invention, the server is configured to dynamically configure the at least one tuning/decoding means to receive/decode at least one of the plurality of content channels. More specifically, in embodiments of the present invention, the server dynamically configures the at least one tuning/decoding means by communicating a channel change command to the at least one tuning/decoding means over a dedicated radio-frequency channel or, in an alternate embodiment, using an internet protocol. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for dynamic content distribution, comprising: providing a plurality of content channels; and dynamically grouping receiving means, by an apparatus, by configuring at least two receiving means to receive a same content channel wherein the grouping of said receiving means depends on the content on the content channel and on products located proximate to said receiving means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying a received content channel on at least one respective display. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said content channels comprise advertising content consisting of audiovisual content including at least one of commercials, info-mercials, product information and product demonstrations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said dynamically configuring comprises communicating a channel change command to at least one receiving means over a dedicated radio-frequency channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said dynamically configuring comprises communicating a channel change command to at least one receiving means using an internet protocol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said internet protocol comprises a real-time streaming protocol (RTSP), or a simple network management protocol (SNMP). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one content channel comprises a headline channel and all of said receiving means are configured to receive said headline channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said method is performed in an in-store advertising environment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one receiving means comprises at least one set-top box. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one receiving means is integrated into at least one respective display means. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for dynamic content distribution, comprising: a memory for storing control programs and instructions and media content; and a processor for executing the control programs and instructions, said apparatus configured to: provide a plurality of content channels; and dynamically group receiving means by configuring at least two of said receiving means to receive a same content channel wherein the grouping of said receiving means depends on the content on the content channel and on the products located proximate to said receiving means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said apparatus configures said content channels to include advertising content consisting of at least one of commercials, info-mercials, product information and product demonstrations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said apparatus dynamically configures at least one receiving means by communicating a channel change command to said at least one receiving means over a dedicated radio-frequency channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said apparatus dynamically configures at least one receiving means by communicating a channel change command to said at least one receiving means using an internet protocol. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said internet protocol comprises a real-time streaming protocol (RTSP), or a simple network management protocol (SNMP). ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one content channel comprises a headline channel and all of said receiving means are configured to receive said headline channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one receiving means comprises at least one set-top box. ### Claim 18 A system for dynamic content distribution, comprising: a server for providing a plurality of content channels; at least one receiving means for receiving at least one of said plurality of content channels; and at least one respective display means for displaying said at least one received content channel; wherein said server is configured to dynamically group receiving means by configuring at least two of said receiving means to receive a same content channel wherein the grouping of said receiving means depends on the content on the content channel and on the products located proximate to said receiving means. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said server configures said content channels to include advertising content consisting of at least one of commercials, info-mercials, product information and product demonstrations. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said server dynamically configures said at least one receiving means by communicating a channel change command to said at least one receiving means over a dedicated radio-frequency channel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said server dynamically configures said at least one receiving means by communicating a channel change command to said at least one receiving means using an internet protocol. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said at least one receiving means comprises at least one set-top box. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said at least one receiving means is integrated into said at least one respective display means. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said system comprises an in-store advertising network.