Multicast Ad Delivery System for Bandwidth Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cable networks face inefficiencies in targeted advertisement delivery due to high bandwidth requirements and the need for multiple unicast streams to cater to diverse demographic groups, making existing techniques costly and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A cable network advertisement distribution system that maintains a database of targeted ads for demographic groups, allowing users to be added to existing multicast sessions or generating new streams as needed, optimizing bandwidth usage and resource allocation by delivering personalized ads within existing program channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple unicast streams are used to deliver targeted advertisements to different demographic groups, then advertisement personalization is improved, but bandwidth consumption and system costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the subscriber base into demographic groups and creates separate multicast streams for each group. Each multicast stream contains advertisements targeted to that specific demographic group, allowing personalized advertising while sharing the stream among multiple subscribers in the same group, thereby reducing overall bandwidth consumption compared to unicast delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple subscribers into the same multicast stream based on their demographic group membership. By combining the delivery of targeted advertisements for all subscribers in a demographic group into a single multicast stream, the system achieves economies of scale and reduces total bandwidth usage while maintaining advertisement personalization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple unicast streams are created for different demographic groups, then targeted advertising capability is improved, but system complexity and resource allocation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments subscribers into demographic groups and creates corresponding multicast streams. This segmentation approach simplifies the system architecture by using standardized multicast infrastructure rather than requiring complex unicast stream management for each subscriber, while still enabling targeted advertising capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multicast technology, which is a universal communication mechanism already present in cable TV networks, to deliver targeted advertisements. This multi-functional approach allows the same multicast infrastructure to serve multiple demographic groups simultaneously, reducing system complexity compared to implementing separate unicast delivery systems for each group.
3Quantity of substance
If demographic-based multicast streams are used, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but the ability to handle individual subscriber preferences may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments subscribers into demographic groups as the primary segmentation level, creating multicast streams for each group. This segmentation achieves bandwidth efficiency by sharing streams among group members while still allowing for targeted advertising. The system balances individual preference handling with bandwidth efficiency by using demographic characteristics as the basis for stream allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for the delivery of programming content with targeted advertisements. One embodiment of a method according to the present invention comprises receiving a request for programming content from a given user, determining a given demographic group to which the given user belongs and determining whether the requested programming content is being streamed to one or more users associated with the given demographic group. If the requested programming content is being streamed to one or more users associated with the given demographic group, the requested programming content is streamed with advertisements targeted to the given demographic group to the given user. If not, a new stream is generated for the requested programming content with advertisements targeted to the given demographic group, which is streamed to the given user.