EP0817486A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for altering a broadcast transmission as a function of its recipient on a communications network
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Audiovisual programs are transmitted over a low-bandwidth network in a compressed form in which the number of video frames has been reduced by selecting "significant" frames. The user sees a series of still images accompanying an apparently full audio channel. If a particular frame is advertising, then the user is identified, and depending on the user's demographic or psychographic profile, an advertisement different from the one originally included in the program may be transmitted. Alternatively, if the user has paid not to receive advertising, the system may skip any advertising that it encounters. However, certain advertisements may be flagged in such a way that they cannot be omitted and that other advertisements cannot be transmitted in their places.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Frank Bruno
- 👤 David Crawford Gibbon
- 👤 Robert Edward Markowitz
- 👤 Steven David Simon
- 👤 Behzad Shahraray
- 👤 Carlos Alberto Perea
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25883; H04N21/60; H04N21/65; H04N21/654; H04N21/6543; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of customizing transmissions on a communications
network, said transmissions being transmissions of audiovisual programs containing
segments directed to a general audience, said method comprising the steps of: storing on said communications network said programs containing said
segments; CHARACTERIZED BY: storing on said communications network at least one additional
segment; storing on said communications network information regarding
subscribers of said communications network; for each said program, maintaining a table indicating (a) where in said
program said segments are found and (b) which of said segments are available for
substitution; and on request by a subscriber for transmission of one said program: (a) examining information regarding said subscriber and selecting based
on said examination at least one of said additional segments, (b) examining said table associated with said program for determining
which of said segments are available for substitution, and (c) substituting in said program one of said additional segments for one
of said segments available for substitution and transmitting said program to said
subscriber with said additional segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said additional segment is a null
segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein all of said segments are available for
substitution and said additional segment is a null segment.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of customizing transmissions on a communications
network, said transmissions heing transmissions of audiovisual programs containing
segments directed to a general audience, said method comprising the steps of: storing on said communications network said programs containing said
segments; CHARACTERIZED BY: storing on said communications network at least one additional
segment; storing on said communications network information regarding
subscribers of said communications network; for each said program, maintaining a table indicating (a) where in said
program said segments are found and (b) which of said segments are available for
substitution; and on request by subscribers for transmission of one said program,
examining information regarding said subscribers and, for at least one of said
subscribers: (a) selecting based on said examination at least one of said additional
segments, (b) examining said table associated with said program for determining
which of said segments are available for substitution, and (c) substituting in said program one of said additional segments for one
of said segments available for substitution and transmitting said program to said one
of said subscribers with said additional segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said additional segment is a null
segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein all of said segments are available for
substitution and said additional segment is a null segment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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