Patent US7152237B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7152237B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Delivering targeted advertisements to the set-top-box
Assignee: Prime Research Alliance E Inc
•
Filing: 2005-07-27
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Granted: 2006-12-19
•
Expires: 2025-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A system and a method for delivering targeted advertisements to the set-top box (STB). The targeted advertisements may be delivered to the STB in a low bandwidth channel or in a high bandwidth channel as an ad channel. The ad channel may be an analog channel wherein the advertisements are transmitted as analog video. Alternatively, the advertisement channel may be a digital channel, and the advertisements may be encoded and transported in the same way as conventional programming. In digital cases, a 6 MHz digital channel may carry several digital advertisement channels. Moreover, other services (e.g., data may be carried within the 6 MHz digital channel). Alternatively, the ad channel may share a 6 MHz bandwidth with one or more other programming channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory C. Flickinger
- 👤 Charles A. Eldering
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/02; H04H60/06; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; H04H20/00; H04H20/28; H04H20/33; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25883; H04N21/25891; H04N21/262; H04N21/26208; H04N21/26233; H04N21/26241; H04N21/266; H04N21/2668; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/42684; H04N21/43; H04N21/433; H04N21/4331; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/454; H04N21/47; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354; H04N7/17363; H04H60/27; H04N21/478
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of delivering advertisements to subscribers in a television or video network environment having a transmission medium, a display device and a storage medium, the method comprising: (a) transmitting program content to the subscribers over the transmission medium at a program content transmission bit rate; (b) displaying the program content to the subscribers on the display device; (c) transmitting advertisements to the subscribers over the transmission medium at an advertisement transmission bit rate, wherein the advertisements are transmitted in advance of being presented to the subscribers and are transmitted simultaneous with the transmission and display of the program content; (d) storing the advertisements in the storage medium; and (e) varying the advertisement transmission bit rate such that the transmission of the advertisements does not substantially reduce the program content transmission bit rate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of delivering advertisements to subscribers in a television or video network environment having a transmission medium, a display device and a storage medium, the method comprising: (a) transmitting program content to the subscribers over the transmission medium at a program content transmission bit rate; (b) displaying the program content to the subscribers on the display device; (c) transmitting advertisements to the subscribers over the transmission medium at an advertisement transmission bit rate, wherein the advertisements are transmitted in advance of being presented to the subscribers and are transmitted simultaneous with the transmission and display of the program content; (d) storing the advertisements in the storage medium; and (e) varying the advertisement transmission bit rate such that the transmission of the advertisements does not substantially reduce the program content transmission bit rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) includes determining an available bandwidth of the transmission medium prior to varying the advertisement transmission bit rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) includes monitoring the program content transmission bit rate to determine an available bandwidth of the transmission medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) includes predicting the program content transmission bit rate to determine an available bandwidth of the transmission medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the program content transmission bit rate is statistically predicted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein varying the advertisement transmission bit rate occurs in real time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement transmission bit rate is varied in accordance with the program content transmission bit rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the program content is displayed on the display device in real-time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitted advertisements are targeted to the subscribers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: (f) selecting advertisements to be transmitted to the subscribers.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of delivering advertisements to subscribers in a television or video network environment having a transmission medium, a display device and a storage medium, the method comprising: (a) transmitting program content to the subscribers over the transmission medium at a program content transmission bit rate; (b) displaying the program content to the subscribers on the display device; (c) transmitting advertisements to the subscribers over the transmission medium at an advertisement transmission bit rate, wherein the advertisements are transmitted in advance of being presented to the subscribers and are transmitted simultaneous with the transmission and display of the program content; (d) storing the advertisements in the storage medium; and (e) varying the advertisement transmission bit rate such that the transmission of the advertisements does not exceed the maximum bandwidth of the transmission medium.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of delivering advertisements to subscribers in a television or video network environment having a transmission medium, a display device and a storage medium, the method comprising: (a) transmitting program content to the subscribers over the transmission medium at a program content transmission bit rate; (b) displaying the program content to the subscribers on the display device; (c) transmitting advertisements to the subscribers over the transmission medium at an advertisement transmission bit rate, wherein the advertisements are transmitted in advance of being presented to the subscribers and are transmitted simultaneous with the transmission and display of the program content; (d) storing the advertisements in the storage medium; and (e) varying the advertisement transmission bit rate such that the transmission of the advertisements does not exceed the maximum bandwidth of the transmission medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (e) includes determining an available bandwidth of the transmission medium prior to varying the advertisement transmission bit rate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (e) includes monitoring the program content transmission bit rate to determine an available bandwidth of the transmission medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (e) includes predicting the program content transmission bit rate to determine an available bandwidth of the transmission medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the program content transmission bit rate is statistically predicted.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein varying the advertisement transmission bit rate occurs in real time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the advertisement transmission bit rate is varied in accordance with the program content transmission bit rate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the program content is displayed on the display device in real-time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the transmitted advertisements are targeted to the subscribers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising: (f) selecting advertisements to be transmitted to the subscribers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-12-18 | 2010-06-19 | 2010-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-12-18 | 2014-06-19 | 2014-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-12-18 | 2018-06-19 | 2018-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |