Content-Modification System Using Broadcast Schedule Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content distribution systems face challenges in performing timely content modification operations at content-presentation devices due to delays in transmitting supplemental content, which can result in missed opportunities for targeted advertising or enhanced content delivery.

Innovation Solution

The system accesses broadcast-schedule data to identify upcoming content-modification opportunities and ensures timely transmission of supplemental content to content-presentation devices, using fingerprint-matching servers to detect matches and facilitate content modification operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If supplemental content is transmitted to content-presentation devices, then content modification operations can be performed, but transmission delays cause missed modification opportunities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent modification operation successVSAvoidsupplemental content transmission delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by accessing broadcast-schedule data and identifying upcoming content-modification opportunities before they occur. The content-presentation device receives supplemental content in advance of the actual modification opportunity, allowing it to be ready for immediate execution without transmission delays causing missed opportunities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If broadcast-schedule data is accessed to identify modification opportunities, then timely content modification can be achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent modification timing accuracyVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces broadcast-schedule data as an intermediary element that bridges the content distribution system and content-presentation devices. This intermediary contains pre-scheduled modification opportunities, allowing the system to achieve timely content modification without complex real-time coordination mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If content-presentation devices wait for broadcast content to request supplemental content, then network bandwidth is saved, but modification opportunities are missed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork bandwidth usageVSAvoidcontent modification operation success

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by having content-presentation devices receive supplemental content before the actual modification opportunity occurs. This is enabled by accessing broadcast-schedule data in advance and identifying upcoming modification opportunities, allowing devices to be prepared beforehand without requiring continuous network communication during the modification moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11627347B2Content-modification system with broadcast schedule utilization feature

Publication Date: 2023.04.11 ROKU INC

AI summary

In one aspect, a method includes (i) accessing broadcast-schedule data associated with a channel; (ii) using the accessed broadcast-schedule data to identify an upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel; (iii) responsive to identifying the upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel, identifying a content-presentation device tuned to the channel; and (iv) causing supplemental content to be transmitted to the identified content-presentation device, to facilitate the identified content-presentation device performing a content-modification operation related to the identified upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel.