Advertisement Break Control in Streaming Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current streaming media technologies lack user control over advertisement placement within media programs, leading to a barrier in user engagement and revenue generation, as users cannot skip unwanted advertisements, which affects the viewing experience and advertising effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow users to control the temporal location of advertisements within media programs, enabling users to select and move advertisement breaks, providing a user interface for representing and managing advertisement playlists, and transmitting data to adjust advertisement playback accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional streaming media technology is used, then advertisements can be delivered to users, but users cannot control or skip unwanted advertisements, leading to poor user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by providing users with advertisement playlists and allowing them to select and control advertisement breaks before the actual playback occurs. Users can preview available advertisements, make selections, and set preferences in advance, which are then applied during media playback without requiring complex real-time controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary advertisement control system that sits between the traditional streaming media player and the advertisement delivery mechanism. This intermediary layer handles user preferences, manages advertisement playlists, and coordinates with the media server to deliver selected advertisements, thereby providing user control without requiring direct modification of the core playback system.
2Productivity
If users are forced to watch all advertisements, then advertising revenue is maximized, but user engagement and viewing experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic advertisement delivery by allowing users to set preferences and select from multiple advertisement options. The advertisement delivery is no longer static or forced but adapts to user choices while maintaining revenue generation through targeted advertising. Users can dynamically adjust their preferences and select different advertisements for different contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where user preferences, selections, and engagement patterns are collected and used to improve future advertisement delivery. The system learns from user behavior and adjusts advertisement recommendations accordingly, creating a positive feedback loop that enhances both user engagement and advertising effectiveness over time.
3Stability of the object's composition
If advertisement breaks are fixed in the media program, then content structure is maintained, but user flexibility and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the advertisement delivery process into distinct components: fixed structural advertisement breaks in the media program, and flexible user-selectable advertisement content within those breaks. This segmentation allows the overall program structure to remain stable while enabling user flexibility in selecting which specific advertisements play during designated break periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by maintaining fixed structural integrity at the program level while providing variable, user-controlled content at the advertisement level. Each advertisement break location in the program structure remains stable and predictable, but the specific advertisement content playing at each location can be customized based on user preferences and selections.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for presenting an advertisement for playback in conjunction with a streamed media program are described. The method permits the user to control advertising breaks and in particular, the timing of advertising breaks associated with the media program.