Set-Top Box Data Collection for Predicted Viewership
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional viewing data collection systems are limited in their ability to handle large numbers of viewers, viewer control events, and simultaneous Internet activity, often focusing on specific target households sampled at limited intervals.
Innovation Solution
A system that collects and analyzes viewing data from set-top boxes and Internet activity, using a flexible and scalable method to capture and transmit data anonymously, allowing for detailed understanding of viewing patterns and Internet usage, while optimizing inventory based on predicted viewership by evaluating past data and determining market segment tendencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional viewing data collection systems sample limited intervals and target specific households, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces set-top boxes as intermediary devices that collect viewing data at the customer premise, acting as mediators between the viewer and the data collection system. These STBs automatically capture viewing information including Internet activity without requiring complex centralized monitoring infrastructure, thereby improving measurement precision while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through distributed collection architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service data collection where set-top boxes automatically gather and transmit viewing data without requiring manual intervention or complex centralized processing. The STBs autonomously monitor viewing patterns, Internet usage, and control events, then selectively transmit this data to the service provider, improving data accuracy while reducing the operational complexity of the collection system
2Productivity
If viewing data collection is limited to sampled intervals and target households, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity and reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous viewing data collection through set-top boxes that operate without interruption at customer premises. The STBs continuously monitor viewing patterns, Internet activity, and control events in real-time, eliminating the need for periodic sampling and ensuring uninterrupted data flow. This continuous operation significantly improves productivity and reliability while maintaining operational simplicity through automated STB-based collection
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary data collection and filtering at the set-top box level before transmission to the service provider. The STBs pre-process viewing data, selectively capturing relevant information and filtering out unnecessary data, which improves the efficiency and productivity of the overall collection system while keeping operations simple through automated preliminary processing at the distributed level
Data Source
AI summary
In a video delivery context, collection and analysis of viewing data can provide insight into viewer interaction with video and the Internet. The viewing data can be transmitted in a controlled manner to a data repository. Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for optimizing inventory based on predicted viewership. An example embodiment operates by evaluating past viewership data for a periodic event, determining a tendency of a market segment to view the periodic event, and predicting viewership for a future event based on the determined tendency.