IPTV Targeted Content Rendering via Network-Device Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the context of IPTV, targeting advertisements to specific users without requiring significant alterations to their communication devices while conserving network bandwidth is challenging.

Innovation Solution

Targeted content is determined based on user information stored in a network database and rendered either in the network or on the user device, allowing for unicast delivery of customized content without altering the user device, thereby conserving bandwidth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If targeted content is delivered to users via unicast streams, then content targeting accuracy is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent targeting accuracyVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the content delivery process into two parts: the base program content is delivered via efficient multicast/broadcast, while only the targeted content portions are unicast to individual users. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high targeting accuracy for personalized content while minimizing overall bandwidth consumption by leveraging the efficiency of multicast for the bulk content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multicast/broadcast delivery for the base program content with unicast delivery for targeted content overlays. This combination allows the system to achieve both bandwidth efficiency (through multicast) and targeting precision (through unicast of only necessary content), resolving the contradiction between these two objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Extent of automation

If targeted content is rendered in the network, then network control over content delivery is improved, but device complexity at user end increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork control over content deliveryVSAvoiduser device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a content rendering server as an intermediary between the network and user devices. This server handles the complex tasks of content selection, timing determination, and rendering, thereby maintaining strong network control. The user devices only need to receive and display the rendered content, significantly reducing their complexity requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The network performs preliminary rendering of targeted content before delivery to users. By pre-processing and preparing the content in advance, the system maintains centralized control while simplifying the user device requirements, as the complex rendering operations are completed beforehand by the network server.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If user information is collected and stored in network databases, then content targeting capability is improved, but data privacy concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent targeting capabilityVSAvoiddata privacy concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by processing and storing only the minimal necessary user information locally at the network edge or in distributed databases, rather than centralizing all data. This allows for effective targeting while reducing the concentration of sensitive data, thereby mitigating privacy risks. The patent implements selective data collection and processing based on local user profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8869194B2Methods, computer program products, and apparatus for providing targeted content based on user data

Publication Date: 2014.10.21 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Targeted content associated with user information stored in a database within a network in communication with a user device is received along with program content. A determination by a scanning process is made at what position or at what time in the program content to include the targeted content. The program content and the targeted content are rendered, with the targeted content included at the determined position or time in the program content, for presentation to at least one user. This rendering may occur within a network or within a user device.