129results about "Transmitter side switching" patented technology

Systems and methods for allocating bandwidth in a switched digital video (SDV) system based on channel interest. In some embodiments, bandwidth is deallocated from channels and allocated to requested channels having a higher interest. Tiered approaches for allocating bandwidth are disclosed. Embodiments in which QAMs are allocated across services in a multi-service system based on interest are also disclosed. Embodiments for accommodating emergency access system (EAS) functionality in a SDV system are also disclosed.

Disclosed are systems and methods for creating and distributing programming content carried by a digital streaming media to be a plurality of remote nodes located over a large geographic area to create customized broadcast quality programming at the remote nodes. At the remote nodes, a multi-window screen display simultaneously shows different programming including national programming and local programming content. The remote nodes utilize a remote channel origination device to assemble the customized programming at the remote location that can be controlled from a central location. An encapsulated IP and IP encryption system is used to transport the digital streaming media to the appropriate remote nodes. Also disclosed is a graphical user interface (“GUI”) providing a software control interface for creating and editing shows or programs that can be aired or played on a remote display device having a multi-window display. The intuitive GUI Software provides the user the ability to easily manage and assemble a series of images, animations and transitions as a single broadcast quality program to be displayed on a remote display device. Another application software system is capable of automating the production of audio narration reports. The disclosed audio concatenation engine automates the creation of audio narration using prerecorded audio segments to minimize the requirement for live, on-air personnel to record audio narration segments.

A personalized media service provides, e.g., user customization of radio channel selections, immediate availability of multiple pre-programmed and/or customized channels, the ability to intersperse different types of content including periodically refreshed information content, availability of personal radio functions on devices such as car audio systems, PDAs, smartphones, MP3 players, etc. Available channels include, e.g., pre-programmed channels selected for the user based on an interest profile, user-owned content, user-specified recorded content, etc. An audio user interface facilitates user selection of programming and user purchase of currently played audio material. An overall radio experience is thus provided that combines the customization and flexibility of digital media with the immediacy and ubiquity of radio. Video materials may also be accommodated.

The present invention teaches a method and system for dynamically inserting content into a streaming media program. The system and method provide a program manifest to rendering devices requesting a streaming media program and that manifest can include URIs which point to main program content on a content delivery network and includes meta URIs (mURIs) which point to a dynamic content decisioning server. The dynamic content decisioning server receives requests for the content indicated by the mURIs and operates to dynamically select content, from a dynamic content delivery network, to fulfill the requests. The selection can be based upon a variety of criteria, including viewer and/or rendering device demographics, advertiser campaign strategies, etc. Thus two or more rendering devices playing streaming media defined by the same manifest may render different inserted content for their viewers. Similarly, a program rendered from a manifest at one point in time may have different inserted content than the same program rendered by the same rendering device at another time.

A method (100) of electronically determining a group preference in a social network from multiple individual preferences of members of the social network is provided. One embodiment of the method (100) uses a combination of an individual's importance to a social network and a social network's importance to the individual as weighting factors when combining the individual preferences to generate a shared set of preferences. This group preference may be used to select content for broadcast to the network, including audio content and video content. A social network group preference determination apparatus (401) can determine the individual's importance to the social network by interrogating or monitoring the communication activity of portable electronic communication devices (402) belonging to the members of the social network.

A system and method is provided for use in connection with delivering content that is targeted to users of a broadcast network. In order to select content that is targeted to users of the broadcast network, signals are received from a plurality of customer premise equipment devices (CPEs) of the network users via a broadcast network interface. Based on the received signals, broadcast assets (e.g., programming, advertisements etc.) are selected from a collection of available asset options. Accordingly, at least a portion of the selected assets are inserted into a content stream of the broadcast network. Once the content stream is broadcast over a broadcast network interface, at least a portion of the selected assets area available for receipt by at least a portion of the CPEs. The CPEs generate reports regarding assets delivered such that asset providers can be billed based on guaranteed targeted impressions.

Signals, systems and methods for transmitting and receiving layered modulation for digital signals are presented. A layered signal for transmitting data, comprises a first signal layer including a first carrier and first signal symbols for a first digital signal transmission and a second signal layer including a second carrier and second signal symbols for a second signal, transmission disposed on the first signal layer, wherein the layered signal has the first carrier demodulated and first layer decoded to produce the first signal symbols for a first layer transport, the first signal symbols are remodulated and subtracted from the layered signal to produce the second signal layer, and the second signal layer has the second carrier demodulated and decoded to produce the second signal symbols for a second layer transport.

A system, such as a switched broadcast content delivery system, may include and/or involve at least one video server, and logic to select one or more ads for streaming by the at least one video server, the one or more ads selected at least in part according to information about which of one or more regional modulators are passing and/or will be passing content with which the one or more ads are associated.

A television broadcasting system and methods that manages the insertion of targeted advertisements and other messages into live satellite or Internet broadcasts or other types of broadcasts into out-of-home locations such as health clubs. The insertion of targeted advertisement and other messages are accomplished by a satellite service provider purchasing live network broadcasting feeds with a license to strip out existing commercial advertisements and replace them with targeted advertisements to match the demographics of the viewing audience at health clubs and other non-home locations nationally, regionally and locally where the viewer is unable to change or delete the targeted advertisements while viewing the live broadcast programming from the networks.

An Ethernet Digital Storage (EDS) Card and satellite transmission system is provided for receiving, storing, and transmitting files including video, audio, text, and multimedia files, especially files received via satellite transmission. In a preferred embodiment, a satellite system includes a receiver using the EDS Card. A data stream is received by the receiver and then may be stored at the receiver or directly routed as TCP/IP packets. Received or stored data files may be multicast. The EDS Card also includes an HTTP server for web access to the card parameters and any files stored on the card. A DHCP on the EDS card provides dynamic configuration of the card's IP address. The EDS card also includes a PPP and modem processor for file transmission, reception, and affidavit collection. The EDS card also includes an event scheduler for triggering files at a predetermined time or at an external prompt. A command processor keeps a built-in log of audio spots played and responds to a command originator when a command is received. Files may be transmitted from the EDS card via a M&C port, an Ethernet port, or an auxiliary RS-232 port. Files may be received by the EDS Card from a data stream from a satellite, a M&C port, an Ethernet port, or an auxiliary RS-232 port. The EDS card also provides time shifting and may be used without a satellite feed as an HTTP-controlled router with storage.

There is provided a system and method for streaming content to a plurality of devices over a network. A first stream comprising a first live feed is received from a first source, a second stream comprising a second live feed received from a second source, the first live feed synchronized with the second live feed, and a third stream comprising the synchronized first and second live feed generated and sent to each device. An interface is also presented on each device and the live feed displayed therewithin, a request signal indicative of a request for interactive content received, a control signal comprising instructions for retrieving the interactive content from the memory sent to each device, and the interface dynamically modified for causing the retrieved interactive content to be displayed concurrently with the live feed.

Methods and apparatus for identification and insertion of content targeted to a particular audience within a content-based network, such as a cable television or satellite network. In one embodiment of the invention, audience qualities are identified and distributed to an advertisement decision maker, which uses the information to fulfill advertisement placement opportunities. Qualifiers about an existing or projected audience are classified utilizing an algorithm for qualifier weight and variance in order to determine the proximity any given qualifier may be to a target audience for an advertisement. Subscriber privacy and anonymity is also optionally maintained via e.g., hashing or encrypting data relating to the CPE and/or subscriber, thus ensuring that audience data is not traceable to a specific user account. Business methods are also disclosed.

A system, apparatus, and method for local insertion of analog or digital material into a television broadcast signal. A central insertion control unit controls the insertion of additional material while a remote insertion control unit locally controls the insertion of the additional material. The central insertion control unit contains a processor, storage media, and an encoder for encoding control and information signals into a broadcast signal. The control signal contains a cue signal for information about play lists, and an action signal for triggering insertion of the additional material. The control signal is encoded into a line of the vertical blanking interval. Once the control is detected by the remote insertion control unit the additional material is played and broadcast.

A method, and an associated system, for sending to a first group of recipients only the content portions of a continuity source data-flow which takes the form of ordered, successive, alternating content and non-content segments. From a methodologic point of view, the invention involves, in a manner which utilizes content-segment material buffering, delivering fully, and in correct order, to the first recipient group the material in each content segment, via steps including (a) bridging each gap between next-adjacent content segments at least partially with transmitted injection material that differs from the non-content segment material in the gap, which injection material ends in time no sooner than the end of the gap, and (b) employing, as needed, and as a part of such full delivering of content-segment material, time-progressive, time-length-variable buffering, and subsequent, progressive buffer-delivering, of any content-segment material which overlaps in time with the transmission of injection material.

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for replacing an advertisement. The advertisement is categorized as overrideable, meaning the advertisement may be replaced with another advertisement. A request is received to replace the advertisement with the another advertisement. A scene, comprising content associated with the advertisement, is retrieved. The content is replaced with alternate content associated with the another advertisement. The scene comprising the alternate content is stored.

A method for inserting live video broadcast into a pre-produced video is provided. A pre-produced video is first stored. An insertion point in the pre-produced video is then identified and stored. Next, a video clip from a live broadcast is saved. The video clip is then combined with the pre-produced video via the insertion point. Finally, the result of the combination is displayed. Alternatively, a feed of the live video broadcast is directly combined with the pre-produced video without having to perform the step of recording the live event.

A system and method is disclosed allowing a cable network provider to dynamically allocate a network resource, in the form of channel bandwidth, for conveying either analog or digital assets. Certain assets are distributed in a cable network in an analog manner but only during certain time periods. The network resources could be used for offering digital services at other times. A programmable RF switch allows network resources to be switched to convey digital assets when the analog channels are not required. The digital assets conveyed may comprise movies, games, or music and can be transferred during ‘off-hours’ for local storage in the set top box in anticipation of future requests by a user. When the asset is requested, the set top box first checks if the asset is locally available, and if so, spools it out locally.

A cable television distribution system in which the head end substitutes different channels for a plurality of separated geographic zones. The head end creates a plurality of channel spectrums and transmits the spectrums on distribution trunks such that a different spectrum may be present on each distribution trunk. The spectrums on the distribution trunks are connected to zones of the viewer community which have been selected for market research purposes on the basis of demographics. Product sales collection units are provided at stores throughout the community served by the cable television distribution to collect consumer purchase data for market research purposes.