Content Markers and Rights Management for Blackout Enforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Human and network errors can cause operators and content providers to incorrectly apply a content blackout, leading to potential liability and difficulty in auditing the application of content blackouts due to the large number of individual devices receiving content.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for content management that involves inserting markers into content, allowing devices to send output notifications and determine whether they should output the content based on identifiers, with a rights management device enforcing content policies and sending alternative content or termination messages when violations occur.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If content blackouts are applied manually by operators and content providers, then content distribution can be controlled, but human and network errors can cause incorrect application of blackouts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of content blackout applicationVSAvoidmanual operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables devices to automatically determine whether they should output content by checking their own identifiers against the rights management device, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and reducing human error in applying content blackouts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements real-time feedback by having devices send output notifications to the rights management device, which then determines compliance and enforces policies automatically, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures accurate blackout application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If content is distributed to a large number of individual devices, then content reach is expanded, but auditing the application of content blackouts becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of devices receiving contentVSAvoidauditing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements real-time feedback by having devices send output notifications to the rights management device, enabling automated auditing of content blackout application across all devices without increasing manual oversight burden

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The rights management device serves multiple functions including policy enforcement, auditing, and real-time monitoring across all devices, consolidating what would otherwise require separate manual processes into a single automated system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260019656A1Methods and systems for content management

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

Methods and systems for content management are described. If programming content is distributed to viewers, markers are transmitted with the programming content. If a user device receives the marker, the user device may send an output indication to a rights management device. The rights management device may determine whether or not the user device outputting the content violates or adheres to a content policy and may take an action based on that determination.