Substitute Media Overlay for Fast-Forward Ad Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for fast-forwarding past commercials and advertisements in video or audio entertainment systems often diminish the advertising value, leading to resistance from advertisers, as current methods either eliminate or significantly reduce the visibility of advertisements during fast-forwarding.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating substitute media within advertisements that remain perceptible during fast-forwarding, using techniques such as inserting hidden video frames or overlaying graphical elements, allowing advertisers to maintain visibility and engagement with viewers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fast forward feature is used to skip advertisements, then user convenience is improved, but advertising effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidadvertising effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The advertisement is segmented into two distinct parts: the original advertisement content and the substitute advertisement content. During normal playback, the original advertisement is displayed. When fast forward is activated, the system switches to displaying the substitute advertisement content, which is specifically designed to be visible during fast forward operations. This segmentation allows both normal viewing and fast-forward viewing to have effective advertising content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between different advertisement content based on the playback state. When the user is watching at normal speed, the original advertisement is displayed. When fast forward is detected, the system automatically transitions to displaying the substitute advertisement content. This dynamic adaptation ensures that advertising effectiveness is maintained regardless of the user's viewing behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If static banner or logo is overlaid during fast forward, then advertising visibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising visibilityVSAvoidhardware and software requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using simple graphical overlays like banners or logos, the system uses a complete video copy of the substitute advertisement content. This video content is encoded into the advertisement stream and played back during fast forward operations. This approach provides full advertising visibility without requiring additional graphical overlay hardware or complex overlay management software.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The substitute advertisement content serves multiple functions: it provides advertising visibility during fast forward, maintains video format compatibility with existing playback systems, and can be distributed through standard video encoding formats. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized hardware or software components that would be required for graphical overlay solutions.

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

3Loss of information

If substitute media is inserted in advertisement, then advertising value is maintained, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising valueVSAvoidadvertisement construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of advertisement content by creating a substitute version specifically optimized for fast forward visibility. This substitute advertisement is encoded with different temporal characteristics - using I-frames at appropriate intervals to ensure visibility during fast forward playback. The encoding parameters are adjusted to prioritize visibility during accelerated playback while maintaining compatibility with standard playback systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The substitute advertisement content is prepared and encoded in advance during the advertisement creation process. The content is specifically designed and pre-encoded with the appropriate frame structure and timing to ensure effectiveness during fast forward operations. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time processing or manipulation during playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2105013B2Systems and methods for viewing substitute media while fast forwarding past an advertisement
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 ADEIA GUIDES INC
  • EP2105013B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2105013B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2105013B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for displaying substitute media while fast forwarding past advertisements are provided. When a user reaches the advertisement, the interactive media guidance application may receive an instruction to fast forward the advertisement. In response to the fast forward instruction, the interactive media guidance application may identify and display substitute media instead of the advertisement. The substitute media may be an image, a video frame/clip, a graphic, an animated graphic, or any other suitable media. The substitute media may be distributed in the advertisement using any suitable method. For example, the substitute media may be incorporated in the video frames of the advertisement (e.g. overlaid in the video frames of the advertisement), added as hidden video frames distributed in the advertisement, or any other suitable approach. An advertisement tool for creating advertisements that include substitute media, and for previewing advertisements as they are fast forwarded is also provided.