Mosaic Video Stream Multiplexing for Targeted Ad Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing television program distribution systems require additional bandwidth for targeted advertisements, as they transmit multiple commercial messages over separate channels, which is inefficient and not scalable for targeted advertising.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that combines multiple tertiary video streams, such as commercials, into a single secondary video stream in a mosaic format, allowing for targeted advertisements to be selectively extracted and displayed based on user profiles at a remote unit, such as a set-top box, without requiring additional bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple commercial message sub-channels are transmitted for targeted advertising, then advertising relevance to specific audiences is improved, but bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple commercial message sub-channels into a single multiplexed stream by time-division multiplexing different advertising content within one channel. This allows targeted advertising to different audiences while using only one channel instead of requiring separate channels for each advertisement type, thereby resolving the bandwidth consumption problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the single channel into multiple time slots, with each time slot carrying different advertising content tailored to different audience demographics. This segmentation approach enables targeted advertising delivery while maintaining efficient bandwidth utilization through time-division multiplexing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If discrete video streams are used for targeted commercials, then advertising targeting capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of managing multiple discrete video streams into a single multiplexed stream with embedded identification codes. This reduces system complexity by eliminating the need to manage separate transmission channels for each advertisement while preserving the ability to deliver targeted content through intelligent stream selection at the receiving end.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces identification codes as an intermediary mechanism that enables the receiver to select appropriate advertising content from the multiplexed stream based on audience characteristics. This intermediary approach simplifies the system architecture by replacing complex multi-channel management with a single channel plus selection logic.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and system to communicate primary and secondary content streams to at least one remote unit, for example, via a television channel in a targeted television environment. The secondary content stream comprises a plurality of tertiary content streams (e.g., video streams) providing commercials, advertisements or any other content. The tertiary content streams are included in the secondary content stream as a mosaic so that each tertiary content stream is a subset or portion of an active display area or frame provided by the single secondary content stream. In on exemplary embodiment, the method and system provide targeted or specific commercial advertisements to demographically selected audiences.