Time-Shifted Content Segment Selection via Intermediary Analytics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for collecting content viewed data from digital video recorders, especially in time-shifted content viewing scenarios, are difficult and unreliable due to the ability of viewers to skip content segments and advertisements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of systems and methods that detect replay speed and use content recognition mechanisms to identify viewed content segments, allowing for the collection and analysis of viewing history to serve specific content segments or advertisements based on viewer preferences, integrated into set-top boxes or standalone devices, which connect to and interact with digital video recorders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If time-shifted content viewing is enabled, then viewer convenience is improved, but content viewed data collection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a content server, analytics server, and set-top box components that mediate between the viewer's DVR and the advertising system. This intermediary architecture captures viewing data at multiple points (DVR playback events, set-top box metadata) to ensure reliable collection even when viewers skip or fast-forward content, thereby resolving the contradiction between viewer convenience and data collection reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If content segments are skipped during playback, then viewer control is improved, but content viewed data accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the analytics server receives playback status information from the set-top box and DVR, including skip and fast-forward events. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust content delivery and advertising selection based on actual viewing behavior, maintaining measurement precision while preserving viewer control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-processing content metadata and advertising information before playback. The system prepares content segment identifiers and advertising selections in advance, allowing it to accurately track what was intended to be viewed versus what was actually viewed, even when skipping occurs during playback.
3Adaptability or versatility
If viewing history is collected for targeted advertising, then advertisement relevance is improved, but user privacy control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service privacy controls where users can directly manage their viewing history and advertising preferences through the set-top box interface. Users have the ability to opt-out of tracking, delete their viewing history, and control what data is shared with advertisers, thereby maintaining privacy control while still enabling targeted advertising when users choose to participate.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, executed by a processor, for selecting content segments to serve to a viewer based on time-delayed television content viewed by the viewer includes receiving by the processor, a notification for a visit by the viewer to the resource; accessing by the processor, a time-delayed content viewing history; and in response to the notification, identifying by the processor, based on the history, one or more content segments to serve at the resource.