Video Network Ad Synchronization via Program Pausing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video content networks face challenges in effectively delivering targeted and synchronized advertising across multiple channels, as viewers may miss advertisements due to watching different programs during prime time slots.
Innovation Solution
The system identifies a target time slot for enhanced advertisements, pauses the ongoing programs, and displays the advertisements on all connected terminals, ensuring that all viewers see the ads before resuming the programs from the original point, using digital cue tones and video content network signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional advertising is delivered during prime time slots on multiple channels, then advertising reach is limited to viewers of specific channels, but advertising effectiveness decreases because viewers may miss advertisements by watching different programs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges advertising delivery across multiple channels by pausing programs simultaneously on different channels and displaying the same advertisement to all viewers at the same time. This combines the reach of multiple channels into a unified advertising delivery mechanism, ensuring all viewers regardless of channel selection are exposed to the advertisement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by identifying target time slots in advance and pre-coordinating the pausing of multiple programs across different channels. The advertisement is prepared and scheduled beforehand, and the system proactively interrupts programs at the predetermined time to ensure synchronized delivery before viewers can change channels or miss the ad.
2Productivity
If advertisements are inserted into multiple program channels simultaneously, then advertising exposure is increased, but system complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central controller as an intermediary that manages the coordination of program pausing and advertisement delivery across multiple channels. This intermediary component receives advertisement insertion requests, identifies target time slots, and sends control signals to various program channels to synchronize the pausing and resuming of programs, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary coordination by pre-identifying target time slots and pre-scheduling advertisement insertion across multiple channels. This advance planning reduces the complexity of real-time coordination by establishing a predetermined schedule that the system follows, minimizing the need for complex real-time decision-making and synchronization.
3Productivity
If programs are paused to display advertisements, then advertising visibility is improved, but viewer convenience deteriorates due to interruption of viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by pausing programs at specific, predetermined intervals (target time slots) to display advertisements, then resuming the programs. This periodic interruption pattern provides regular, predictable advertising delivery while allowing viewers to return to their content, balancing advertising visibility with viewer convenience through structured rather than random interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by selecting target time slots in advance and notifying viewers or the system of upcoming advertisement interruptions. This advance notice allows viewers to mentally prepare for the interruption, reducing the perceived inconvenience. The program resumption is also pre-planned to occur immediately after the advertisement, minimizing disruption duration.
Data Source
AI summary
A video content network having a plurality of program channels is operated, and a target time slot for an enhanced advertisement is identified. At least some of the plurality of program channels have programs scheduled during the target time slot. The target time slot is signaled to a plurality of terminals connected to the video content network. Each of the terminals is viewing a given one of the program channels prior to the signaling. Responsive to the signaling, the programs scheduled during the target time slot are effectively paused at a program time corresponding to a beginning of the time slot, and the enhanced advertisement is caused to be displayed on the terminals. Responsive to an end of the enhanced advertisement, the programs scheduled during the target time slot are resumed at the program time corresponding to the beginning of the time slot. Thus, substantially all viewers of the video content network during the target time slot are exposed to the enhanced advertisement regardless of which of the plurality of program channels the viewers were watching during the target time slot.