Contextual Content Delivery via Video Segment Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current television systems lack the ability to identify the video segment being viewed and provide contextually targeted content, limiting their interactive capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The system identifies video segments by sampling pixel or audio data and matching it with a content database, allowing for contextual targeting based on the identified segment and its playing time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If television systems use traditional broadcast reception, then basic viewing functionality is maintained, but interactive capabilities and contextual content delivery are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteractive capabilitiesVSAvoidvideo segment identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-processes television signals by extracting and storing metadata about video segments (such as scene descriptions, object detections, and temporal boundaries) before transmission. This preliminary action enables the television system to later identify and interact with specific segments without requiring real-time analysis, thus enhancing interactivity while maintaining basic viewing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary component (such as a set-top box or processing unit) that acts as a mediator between the broadcast signal and the television display. This intermediary extracts video segment information from the broadcast stream and makes it available for interactive operations, thereby enabling contextual content delivery without disrupting the traditional viewing experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the system samples and processes video data to identify segments, then contextual targeting accuracy is improved, but processing complexity and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo segment identification accuracyVSAvoidprocessing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential and relevant features from video data for segment identification, such as key visual elements, audio cues, and metadata markers, rather than processing the entire video stream in detail. This extraction approach maintains high identification accuracy while significantly reducing processing complexity and computational resource requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs partial processing by analyzing only specific portions or aspects of the video data that are most indicative of segment boundaries and content characteristics. This selective analysis achieves sufficient precision for contextual targeting without the computational burden of complete frame-by-frame analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If contextually targeted content is delivered based on video segment identification, then viewer engagement is enhanced, but system implementation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewer engagementVSAvoidsystem implementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the contextual content delivery system to serve multiple functions: it not only delivers targeted advertisements but also provides program information, enables interactive voting, and supports various forms of viewer participation. This multi-functionality justifies the implementation complexity by delivering measurable improvements in viewer engagement across diverse use cases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where viewer interactions with delivered content are tracked and used to refine future content delivery. This feedback loop enhances viewer engagement over time by making content delivery more accurate and relevant, thereby justifying the initial system complexity through ongoing performance improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12238371B2Methods for identifying video segments and displaying contextually targeted content on a connected television
Publication Date: 2025.02.25 INSCAPE DATA INC
  • US12238371B2 patent drawing
  • US12238371B2 patent drawing
  • US12238371B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for identifying which video segment is being displayed on a screen of a television system. The video segment is identified by deriving data from the television signals, the derived data being indicative of the video segment being displayed on file screen. This feature can be used to extract a viewer's reaction (such as changing the channel) to a specific video segment (such as an advertisement) and reporting the extracted information as metrics. The systems and methods may further provide contextually targeted content to the television system. The contextual targeting is based on not only identification of the video segment being displayed, but also a determination concerning the playing time or offset time of the particular portion of the video segment being currently displayed.