JP2003513481A - System and method for providing local and global media content - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (10) and method for combining broadcast media content with additional content at a local site (20) according to at least one determined characteristic of a viewer to whom the combined content has been provided. The format of the added content, including the layout and format of the content, can be varied as desired, but is preferably adjusted according to at least one characteristic of the viewer. The broadcast media content and the additional content are preferably combined by the local site according to a template and then displayed to a viewer at the local site. Preferably, the template includes information about the format of the displayed data object and the size and position of the data object on the display and the timing of the display and the transition of the data object to the display, so that the template Describe whether to display. More preferably, the added content can be clearly determined for a few viewers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a system for combining broadcast media with other content sources that serve viewers according to at least one characteristic of the viewer, and in particular for advertising in combination with broadcast media. To such a system and method for providing viewers with. Broadcast media such as television and radio broadcasts and streaming audio and streaming video data can be provided to a number of receivers, which can include, for example, a computer with a monitor screen. Such media can be provided over a network by a central server, thus providing location and / or
Or there is the possibility of personalizing the media content for a viewer with at least one characteristic determined according to time. For example, the media content may be tailored for a physician's office audience, an audience waiting at an airport, bus stop or train station or government office, or patient at a hospital. This content can be further tailored according to viewers in different segments. For example, combined media content could be a children's program for the pediatrician's office, more refined content for those viewers waiting at the office, and for airports, bus stations or train stations. A mix of different types of content can be featured. Such a correction of content can even include different types of advertisements, which allows the system to both entertain viewers and generate advertising revenue. However, changing such broadcast media content separately for such a few viewers is tiresome and ineffective, since these recent changes must be made in the broadcast media itself. Therefore, the ability to adapt broadcast media to different viewers has not been fully realized.

One attempted solution to this problem has been the WebTVPlus service (WebTV Networks, Inc .; http://www.webtvplus.com since 16 January 2000).
http://webtv.com). However, Web Tea Bee (We
bTV) only customizes the content for an individual user by a particular device so that customization is based on user interaction rather than position on the display device. Another attempted solution to provide only advertisements to local viewers is NGN (NGN
com.) Evilboard (trademark) device (From January 16, 2000 http: //www.ngn
.com / home.htm). This device provides position-dependent advertising, but is unable to provide other types of content such as video data, and is itself a much more complex form of notice board. Thus, the position of the viewer, the purpose of the viewer at this position, so that the combined media content can be changed for viewing by a few selected viewers, for example to display the selected advertisement. , A system and method for combining broadcast media content with viewer-adapted content according to at least one characteristic of the viewer such as the time at which the combined content is delivered to the viewer and other characteristics of the viewer. There are unmet needs, and having this system and method is very helpful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an invention of a system and method for combining broadcast media with additional content at a local site according to at least locally determined characteristics of a viewer to whom the combined content is provided. Hereinafter, the term "broadcast media" refers to any publicly available content that is passively received by some receiving mechanism. Different types of broadcast media content included within the present invention include television and radio broadcasts, streaming audio and streaming video data,
Computer-generated broadcast data, data provided by media players such as video tape players, DVD (digital video disc) players, audio tape players, and compact disc (CD) players, and the Internet or intranet, or any other format. Including but not limited to broadcast data available by any other transport mechanism, such as a network of The format of the added content, including the layout and format of the content, can be varied arbitrarily, but is preferably adjusted according to at least one characteristic of the viewer. The broadcast media and supplemental content are preferably combined by the local site according to a template and then displayed to a viewer at the local site. Preferably, the template contains at least information about what data objects are displayed, when these objects are displayed and how these objects are displayed. For example, the template preferably includes information about the type of data object to be displayed, its size and position on the display, and also information about the timing of that display and its transition to, or its impact on the display. So how do templates handle data
Describe whether to display. More preferably, the added content comprises an advertisement. Therefore, the added content is especially useful for a few viewers, such as patients waiting in the doctor's office, travelers waiting at the train station, bus station or airport, or even supermarket shoppers. I can decide.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of combining broadcast media content and added content according to a locally determined characteristic of a viewer into a combined content, the method steps comprising: ) Providing a central distribution mechanism having a global server that serves at least a portion of the added content; and (b)
) Providing a local site for displaying the combined content to the viewer, (c) connecting the local site to a global server, and (d) at least a part of the added content from the global server to the local site. Transmitting (e) receiving at least a portion of the content added by the local site according to the locally determined characteristics of the viewer, (f)
) Receiving broadcast media content by a local site;
) Receiving at least some of the added content and broadcast media content by a local site to form a combined content;
And) displaying the combined content for the viewer on a display device.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for combining broadcast media content and added content according to a locally determined characteristic of a viewer, the system comprising: (a) (i) A central distribution mechanism that includes an added content generator that stores the added content and (ii) a global server that provides the added content; and (b) the added content according to the viewer's locally determined characteristics. Is received from the global server, the broadcast media content is received, the broadcast media content and the added content are combined, and the local site forming the combined content and (c) the combined content combined with the local site Receive the combined content, receive the combined content A display for display to a viewer.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of combining broadcast media content and added content into combined content according to a locally determined characteristic of a viewer, the method comprising: The method steps include: (a) providing a centralized distribution mechanism with a global server that supplies at least a portion of the added content; and (b) providing a local site for displaying the combined content to a viewer. , (C) connecting the local site to a global server, (d) configuring a promotional activity that includes advertising as part of the added content sent from the global server, and (e) the viewer's At least one local site displaying advertisements for activities according to locally determined characteristics Selecting, (f) sending the advertisement to at least one local site, (g) receiving the advertisement by the local site, (h) receiving broadcast media content by the local site, And (j) combining the advertising and broadcast media content by a local site to form a combined content, and (j) displaying the combined content for a viewer on a display device.

Hereinafter, the term “viewer” includes one or more individuals at a particular location in a particular environment at a particular time. Hereinafter, the term "display device" will refer to a storage device for storing data for later display, as well as at least one speaker, a display screen or a television display screen having one or more screens separately, as well as any kind. Includes any other type of device that also displays the media of. Hereinafter, the term "product" includes both physical products and services (tactile and non-tactile products), as well as ideas and concepts. Hereinafter, the term "network" refers to a connection between any two or more computing devices that enables the transmission of data. Hereinafter, the term "computing device" refers to a personal computer (PC) having an operating system such as DOS, Windows (trademark), OS / 2 (trademark), or Linux, and a Ma having a JAVA (trademark) -OS as an operating system.
cintosh ™ computer with Sun Microsystems ™ and Silicon Gra
A graphical workstation, such as a phics ™ computer, and Sun
A version of the UNIX ™ operating system of Microsystems ™ AIX ™ or SOLARIS ™, or any other known and available operating system, or connected to the network as predefined. Including, but not limited to, laptop computers, handheld computers, advanced cell phones, and any device having an operating system, including but not limited to wearable computers of any kind. Hereinafter, the term "Windows (trademark)" means Windows95 (trademark), Windows3
.x ™ (where “x” is an integer such as “1”), WindowsNT ™, Window
s98 ™, WindowsCE ™, Windows2000 ™ and any upgraded version of these operating systems by Microsoft Corporation (USA), including but not limited to.

With the present invention, software applications can be written in almost any suitable programming language that can be readily selected by one of ordinary skill in the art. The programming language chosen should be compatible with the computing device according to which software application is executed. Suitable programming languages are C, C ++ and Ja
including but not limited to va. Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented as software, firmware or hardware or a combination thereof. For any of these implementations, the functional steps performed by the method may be referred to as instructions executed by the data processor. The invention is illustrated herein by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is an invention of a system and method for combining broadcast media content with additional content at a local site in accordance with at least locally determined characteristics of a viewer to whom the combined content is provided. Different types of broadcast media content encompassed within the present invention include television and radio broadcasts, streaming audio and streaming video data, computer generated broadcast data, video tape players, DVD (digital video disc) players, audio tape players and It includes, but is not limited to, data provided by media players such as compact disc (CD) players, and broadcast data available by any other transmission mechanism such as the Internet or Intranet. The format of the added content, including the layout and format of the content, can be varied arbitrarily, but is preferably adjusted according to at least one characteristic of the viewer. The broadcast media and supplemental content are preferably combined by the local site according to a template and then displayed to a viewer at the local site.

Preferably, the template contains information about the type of data object to be displayed, its size and position on the display, as well as information on the timing of that display and its transitions to, or its impact on the display. As it contains, the template describes how to process and display the data. More preferably, the added content comprises an advertisement. Therefore, the added content is especially useful for a few viewers, such as patients waiting in the doctor's office, travelers waiting at the train station, bus station or airport, or even supermarket shoppers. I can decide. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of local sites are controlled by a central server. One or more servers can connect to the main server. Then, the primary server can optionally act as an "ad portal" for the advertisement, so the advertisement will cause the primary server to operate the "ad portal" for display on multiple local sites. Can be purchased by. This purchase is optionally preferably purchased by the main server at any location over the Internet. Advertisements may optionally include different types of media such as still images, text, video and audio data, and combinations thereof. Since such purchases may optionally also be made internationally, advertisements are preferably displayed on local sites in different countries. On the other hand, advertisements may be selected and displayed at particular local sites according to the particular characteristics of these sites and the viewers of these sites.

The “ad portal” is not limited to the systems described herein, and may optionally collect other types of advertising media while increasing changes in advertising activity. This advertisement is more preferably purchased as part of an activity that may optionally be at least partially suggested by the portal based on other executed stored histories. More preferably, the system suggests activities to the requesting user according to an analysis of the requesting user's budget and preferences. "Real time" or near real time promotional activities may optionally and preferably be purchased and performed internationally using the "ad portal." According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the local site is preferably a stand-alone point-of-sale system, in which the viewer may optionally purchase one or more products advertised on the local site. (POS) terminal is included. More preferably, the product is sold according to a POS terminal discount or some other incentive attempt to purchase. The POS terminal optionally and more preferably includes a swipe card reader for receiving the credit card details of the viewer. The principles and operation of a system and method according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying descriptions.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary overall system according to the present invention for combining broadcast media content and added content according to at least one characteristic of a viewer for combined content. It is a schematic block diagram shown. For purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation, the following description is
Focusing on video content for broadcast media content, it will be appreciated that other types of media content can be substituted by those skilled in the art. A feature of system 10 is a central content distribution mechanism 12 that distributes global custom content. The term "global custom content" refers to customized content distributed over multiple individual receiving sites, as described in more detail below. The central content distribution mechanism 12 is implemented, for example, as one or more computers connected via a network. The central content distribution mechanism 12 preferably provides the software, firmware or hardware tools necessary to control and determine the usage by the templates and program these templates. The features of the central content distribution mechanism 12 are a global custom content generator 14 and a global content server 16. The global custom content generator 14 generates global customized content.

The global custom content is then sent to the global content server 16 which supplies the global custom content. Global custom content server 16 is implemented as a computer, such as a PC computer connected to network 18 by any standard network connection. The standard network connection for the global custom content server 16 may be wired or wireless, just as the network 18 may be a wired or wireless network. The network 18 includes, but is not limited to, a WAN (wide area network), a LAN (local area network) peer-to-peer network (PTP), a cable network, a wireless network or a POTS (ordinary telephone service) for connecting computers. It may be any type of network. Therefore, the standard network connection format is network 18
Depends on the format of. For example, in the case of LAN, the global custom content server 16 can be connected by an Ethernet card. In the case of a POTS network, the global custom content server 16 can be connected via a dial-up modem, for example. Other examples of implementations can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. The global custom content server 16 supplies the global custom content to the local site 20 via the network 18. Local site 2
0 receives publicly available broadcast media content, combines the broadcast media content with the global custom content, and then forms the combined content that is provided to the viewer. The different types of broadcast media included within the invention are:
Television and radio broadcasting, streaming audio and streaming video data, computer-generated broadcasting data, video tape players,
Includes data provided by media players such as DVD (Digital Video Disc) players, audio tape players and compact disc (CD) players, and broadcast data available by any other transmission mechanism such as the Internet or Intranet. However, it is not limited to this.

The added content is preferably adjusted according to at least one characteristic of the viewers of local site 20. For example, at least one characteristic is a particular location of the local site 20, the purpose of the viewer at this location, the nature of the viewer at this location,
It can be determined according to the time at which the combined content is delivered to the viewer and the environment at this location, or a combination thereof. More preferably, uplink channel 1
9 connects the local site 20 to a central content distribution mechanism 12 that receives such information about the local environment, such as temperature, as the environment and type of broadcast media content is viewed at this location. The format of the broadcast media content can be determined according to the particular television channel received by the local site 20, for example. Therefore, the uplink channel 19 preferably allows location and environment specific information to be transmitted to the central content distribution facility 12. For example, the local site 20 may be a supermarket. In this example, the viewer's face may be a supermarket shopper, so at least one characteristic is the supermarket's purpose of shopping for food and other vegetable commodities, parents with children, etc. It may relate to the nature of the viewers involved, the time when the combined content is broadcast, and the nature of the viewers can also be determined. For example,
Children are more likely to be in the supermarket in the morning rather than late at night.

As another example, the local site 20 may be a physician's office. In this example, at least one characteristic of the viewer may be a concern for health issues, since the viewer's face is a physician's patient. In both examples, the added content is preferably adapted to the characteristics of the viewer so that shoppers may be provided with additional content related to cooking, while patients are concerned with health care. Can be provided with additional content. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the added content comprises advertising. This advertisement is preferably tailored according to at least one characteristic of the viewer so that different viewers can receive different advertisements. The format of the attached content can be arbitrarily changed, so the attached content can be any content for text, static graphics, video graphics, video stream data, audio stream data, or any of these types of content. Types of computer-formatted data may be included. Therefore, both the format and the ID of the added content can preferably be changed according to at least one characteristic of the viewer of the combined content, more preferably. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the advertisement is preferably local site 20.
Although locally added to the content displayed at, the advertisement is purchased by the primary mechanism 13 for multiple local sites 20. The main mechanism 13 can then optionally serve as an "ad portal" for the advertisement, so that the advertisement may be purchased by the main mechanism 13 for display on multiple local sites. The advertisement optionally includes different types of media such as still images, text, video and audio data, and combinations thereof. Since such purchases may optionally also be made internationally, advertisements are preferably displayed at local sites 20 in different countries. On the other hand, advertisements may be selected and displayed at particular local sites 20 according to the particular characteristics of these sites and the viewers of those sites 20.

Advertisements are more preferably purchased as part of an activity that may optionally be determined at least in part according to a stored history of other performed activities. Even more preferably, by the main mechanism 13, "real time" or near real time advertising activities can be purchased and performed internationally. More preferably, the main mechanism 13 suggests activities to the requesting user according to an analysis of the requesting user's budget and preferences. According to the invention, there are two different embodiments for the local site 20.
According to the first embodiment, the feature of the local site 20 is the local content processor 22 which receives both the global custom content of the global custom content server 16 and the broadcast media content from the broadcast content generator 24. The local content processor 22 then combines the global custom content and the broadcast media content to form the combined content that is then displayed to the viewer. Hereinafter, the term "display" includes a visual display, an audible display or a combination thereof. Preferably, the local content processor 22 includes a broadcast media receiver 26 that receives broadcast media content from a broadcast content generator 24. For example, broadcast media receiver 26 may be a television tuner connected to a video capturing device. The television broadcast signal is then converted to a video signal by the video capturing device. The video signal is then converted to digital stream data.

The local content processor 22 also includes a computing platform 28 running at least one software module. For example, a software module may include software objects that are optionally available as part of the Windows ™ operating system to capture digital stream data. The data obtained from the publicly available broadcast content is then processed as at least one data object. Global custom content is also treated as at least one data object. These different data objects are then combined to form the combined content. One example of a method for forming combined content is a computing platform 2
8 with an added software layer activated. The added software layer preferably modifies each type of data object, for example to change the size and position of the object in the final display.
The data objects are then added to the mixture of such objects, preferably at specific times to form the combined content. More preferably,
Such a mixture of objects is created and determined according to the template.
Optionally and preferably, the template is received from global custom content server 16.

The template preferably determines the ID of each data object, preferably including the size and position of this object in the final display, how the object should be displayed and when it should be displayed.
This template is more preferably written in terms of the language next read by the parser software module. The parser software module
Next, a library of functions, preferably a JavaScript ™ function library, is called to create and mix data objects. Therefore, the template minimizes the amount of data associated with the display of data objects sent to the local site 20 by the global custom content server 16. The mixture of data objects is then preferably arranged by a client software module such as a JavaScript ™ -initiated ActiveX ™ control that can manipulate data objects with mixed formats. The client software module then sends the data as a digital stream for display. Preferably, the digital stream is then encoded by the encoder 3
Acquired by 0. The encoder 30 then converts the digital stream into a video format.

The video format is then received by the passive display device 32 so that the combined content is then displayed to the viewer by the passive display device 32. For video format displays, the passive display device is preferably a television display screen with at least one speaker. However, the passive display devices 32 may individually be, for example, display screens or one or more speakers. Audio data is similarly processed and displayed as described above for video data. A second embodiment for the local site 20 according to the present invention is a local content distribution mechanism 34. The local content distribution mechanism 34 uses the network 18
To receive the global custom content from the global custom content server 16. The local content distribution mechanism 34 then adds the local custom content generated by the local custom content generator 36. This local custom content is supplied to the local content processor 22 via a local network 40 such as a LAN (local access network) by a local custom content server 38 having global custom content. Local content processor 22 includes all of the functionality described above. Further, with respect to this embodiment of the invention, the local content processor 22 creates the local custom content to form part of the added content that is mixed with the broadcast media content to form the combined content. Add as one or more data objects. For example, the local custom content may be a message targeted by a name to a particular number of viewers. Therefore, for the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fully locally generated customized content is:
Appended to broadcast media content and global custom content to form a combined content. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the features of the local site 20 may optionally be for the viewers of the audience to optionally purchase one or more products advertised at the local site 20. It is a point of sale information management (POS) terminal 42. More preferably, the product is sold via the POS terminal 42 or according to some other incentive attempt for purchase. The POS terminal 42 optionally and preferably includes a swipe card reader for receiving the viewer's credit card details.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method according to the present invention for combining publicly available broadcast media content with attached content and then displaying the combined content. Although this method has been described with respect to video data, it will be appreciated that this method is also applicable to audio data. In step 1, the global customized content, like the attached content, is obtained at the central distribution mechanism and stored in this mechanism's centralized database. Global customized content is preferably demographic characteristics, display time, viewer location (eg, physician's office, supermarket, etc.) characteristics, location environmental characteristics such as temperature and this location's characteristics. It is preferably tailored according to at least one characteristic of the viewer, including but not limited to the viewer's purpose (eg, receiving shopping, health care, etc.). Step two
In, the template displays combined additional content, such as global customized content, and broadcast media content is also stored in the central distribution facility. More preferably, there is a central distribution mechanism and most preferably a plurality of such templates stored in a global custom content generator.

In step 3, the local site, like either the local content distribution mechanism or the local content processor, connects to the global server.
Optionally, this connection is made on demand. However, the connection can instead be performed at a predetermined connection time, or even continuous connection. Once the connection is established, in step 4, the global content server relays the appropriate global customized content to the local content distribution mechanism or local content processor. Preferably, this step of receiving the globally customized content comprises receiving a template displaying the combined supplemental content and broadcast media content. More preferably, each local site is capable of receiving a particular combination of customized content and template, so that the local content is more preferably customized for the local site. For example, each local site may have a separate identification number or other identifier, so local custom content is customized according to this identifier. Optionally and preferably, in step 5, the local content server of the local content distribution mechanism provides the local customized content to the local content processor. Local content is preferably demographic characteristics, time of display, characteristics of the viewer's location (eg, physician's office, supermarket, etc.), environmental characteristics of the location such as temperature and the purpose of the viewer at this location. It is preferably tailored according to at least one characteristic of the viewer, including (but not limited to, shopping such as audio or visual messages being sent to all shoppers, health care, etc.).

In step 6, preferably the local content processor and / or the local content distribution mechanism sends previously received information about the content to the global server. The requested information is determined according to the template.
For example, this information may include displayed data objects or statistics on factors such as temperature that are easily measurable by the local site and broadcast media content of this type received by the local site. In step 7, the synchronization mechanism is preferably executed by the system to synchronize the computers of the system including, but not limited to, the computing platforms associated with the global content server, the local content server and the local content processor. In step 8, the local content processor receives and processes the broadcast media content as described above to form data in the proper format to be combined with the global customized content. In step 9, the local content processor preferably combines at least global customized content and broadcast media content according to the template. More preferably, the local content processor further combines local customized content with global customized content and broadcast media content. The local content processor then preferably displays the combined content on the display device in step 10 according to the strict rules specified in the template. In step 11, the local content processor collects the requested statistics and any other requested information according to the template's requirements as described with respect to step 6.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic block diagrams of another embodiment of the present invention for providing combined broadcast content to a local television in a privately owned home. In this embodiment, the television receiver receives both broadcast and custom content, such as a cable or satellite link, via a receiver device that then assembles the content into a single signal for display by the television receiver. . As shown in both FIGS. 3A and 3B, the features of system 44 are central mechanism 12 and main mechanism 13 as in the case of FIG. The central mechanism 12 and the main mechanism 13 are not shown here in detail. A feature of system 44 is also a local site 46 which includes a display device 48 and a receiver device 50, such as a television receiver. The receiver device 50, the central facility 12 and the main facility 13 are all connected to a network 52, which may be, for example, a cable or satellite link. The operation of system 44 with respect to central mechanism 12 and main mechanism 13 is similar to the implementation described above. Receiver device 50 receives both local and global broadcast content via network 52. Local content is preferably adjusted according to the characteristics of the viewer of this particular display device 48. For example, in a privately owned house, the first television set may be in the living room where the entire family can watch the television set, and the second television set may be the only television set for children. May be in the children's room, and the third television set may be in the parents' room where only the parents can see the television set. Thus, the position of each display device 48 can be used to determine the type of local content that should be displayed.

The mechanism for receiving local content at receiver device 50 may optionally be implemented in various ways. According to the first implementation, the receiving device 50 is connected to a second communication channel 54 for receiving local content, as shown in FIG. 3A. Such a second communication channel 54, whether PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or wireless, may be for example a telephone line for a mobile telephone. The second communication channel 54 may also be, for example, a LAN (local area network) or a WAN (wide area network). According to a second, more preferred implementation, the receiver device 50 is only connected to the network 52, as shown in FIG. 3B. However, the receiver device 50 may include two separate receivers 56 that actually receive two separate signals from the network 52, as shown, or may instead only include a single receiver 56. It is either. For later implementation, the local content may optionally be sent on a separate part of the signal, eg a part of the signal used to send the teletext signal. In this case, receiver 56 preferably includes a demodulator (not shown) that separates the two different types of signals from the local and global content. Alternatively, local content may be downloaded at a predetermined time if the display device 48 is not activated, such as after midnight.

For implementations of either FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B, receiver device 50 can only receive special local content, optionally oriented to a particular display device 48. Alternatively and preferably, the receiver device 50 is
It is possible to receive local content broadcast to a plurality of receiver devices 50. The receiver device 50 then includes instructions to determine which local content should be displayed, eg according to a keyword. For example, the receiver device 50 may store local content on a hard disk or other storage medium (not shown) and then determine which such content is suitable for this particular local site 46. Can analyze local content. The advantage of broadcasting local content is the ease of transmitting such content to multiple receiver devices 50. Further, with respect to the implementation of either FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B, the viewer of the display device 48 may be locally by reduced payment to watch the broadcast or even by receiving the free or reduced cost display device 48. Awarded for receiving content. The “ad portal” embodiment described above with respect to FIG. 1 may also be implemented in system 44 for purchasing advertisements at various local sites 46. Although the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that numerous changes, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Figure 1]   FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment system according to the present invention.

[Fig. 2]   3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention for providing broadcast content coupled to a local television set in a privately owned home.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 system, 12 central content distribution mechanism (central mechanism), 13 main mechanism,
14 Global Custom Content Generator, 16 Global Custom Content Server, 18 Network, 19 Uplink Channels, 20 Local Site, 22 Local Content Processor, 24 Broadcast Content Generator, 26 Broadcast Media Receiver, 28 Computing Platform, 30 Encoder, 32 Passive display device, 34 local content distribution mechanism, 36 local custom content generator, 38 local custom content server,
40 local network, 42 point of sale system (POS) terminal, 44 system, 46 local site, 48 display device, 50 receiver device, 52 network, 54 second communication channel, 56 receiver.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW ), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, C R, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, EE, ES, FI , GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, K Z, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA , MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, S K, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG , US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Gutman Menacem             Israel Raana 43100 Hayarde             Street 2B (72) Inventor Berezik Avraham             Israel Jivatime 53307 A             Njeddy Street 4 F-term (reference) 5C063 AA01 AB03 AC01 AC05 DA01                       DA13

Claims (39)

[Claims] 1. A method of combining broadcast media content and additional content into a combined content according to a locally determined characteristic of a viewer, the method comprising: (a) providing at least a portion of the added content. Providing a central distribution mechanism having a global server, (b) providing a local site for displaying the combined content to the viewer, (c) connecting the local site to the global server, (d) adding the Sending at least a portion of the content from the global server to the local site, and (e) receiving the at least a portion of the added content by the local site according to locally determined characteristics of the viewer, (F) receiving the broadcast media content at the local site, (g) The at least part of the added content and the broadcast media content are combined by the local site to form the combined content, and (h) the combined content is displayed to the viewer on a display device. A method that includes displaying. 2. The step of connecting the local site to the global server is performed according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of on-demand connection, continuous connection, and connection only for a predetermined connection time. The method of claim 1, wherein 3. The local site receives the broadcast media content and the at least a portion of the added content, combines the broadcast media content and the at least a portion of the added content, and the combining. 3. The method of claim 2 including a local content processor for forming the combined content and displaying the combined content on the display device. 4. The local site comprises: (i) a local content server that provides local customized content; and (ii) the at least one of the broadcast media content, the local customized content and the added content. Portion for combining the broadcast media content, the local customized content and the at least a portion of the added content to form the combined content and display the combined content. 3. The method of claim 2 including a local content processor for displaying on the device. 5. The at least one locally formed characteristic of the viewer is a demographic characteristic, a time to display the combined content, a characteristic of the viewer's location, a characteristic of the environment of the location and the 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of audience objectives for the location. 6. The step of combining, by the local site, the at least a portion of the added content and the broadcast media content by the local site, wherein at least a portion of the added content is the broadcast media content. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a template that determines whether to be combined with. 7. The template includes a selection of the broadcast media content and a selection of the at least a portion of the added content that combine to form the added content. Method 6 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the template determines when to display the selection of the broadcast media content and the selection of the at least a portion of the added content. 9. The template displays the combined content and the send / view script for proper mixing of the combined content and the broadcast media content and the at least a portion of the added content. 9. The method of claim 8 including a layout that controls the frequency of display of the. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the template includes a request for at least one form of information from the local site. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one type of information includes at least one statistic and the local content site collects the at least one statistic according to the template. Method. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the local content site sends the at least one statistic to the central distribution facility. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the central distribution mechanism and the local site implement a synchronization mechanism to synchronize the global server and the local site. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is a video display device. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is an audio display device. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is a storage device. 17. Step (d) further comprises the step of: (i) configuring an advertising activity, wherein the activity comprises advertising as part of the added content sent from the global server. And (ii) selecting at least one local site that displays the advertisement for the activity, and (iii) sending the advertisement to the at least one local site. The method of claim 1, wherein 18. The advertisement activity is composed of a main mechanism, and the main mechanism is connected to the global server by the Internet.
Method 7 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the local site is in a private home such that the broadcast media content is television broadcast and the added content is an advertisement. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the user at home receives at least a reduced rate for the television broadcast. 21. The local site receives advertisements for multiple local sites, but selects at least one advertisement based on the locally determined characteristics of the viewer of step (e). 20. The method of claim 19 wherein: 22. A system for combining broadcast media content and additional content into combined content according to a locally determined characteristic of a viewer, comprising: (a) (i) generating the additional content. (Ii) a central distribution mechanism including an added content generator; (ii) a global server that supplies the added content; and (b) the added content according to a locally determined characteristic of the viewer. Receiving from a global server and receiving the broadcast media content and combining the broadcast media content and the added content,
A local site forming the combined content; (c) receiving the combined content connected to the local site;
And a display device for displaying the combined content to the viewer. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the display device is a video display device. 24. The system of claim 22, wherein the display device is an audio display device. 25. The system of claim 22, wherein the display device is a storage device. 26. The centralized distribution mechanism further comprising: (iii) a template that determines at least a layout among the added content of the combined content and the broadcast media content. System. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the template further determines an appropriate mix of the added content and the broadcast media content for combining with the combined content. 28. The system of claim 26, wherein the template further determines a display frequency for the added content and the broadcast content of the combined content. 29. (d) further comprising an uplink channel transmitted from said local site to said central distribution facility, wherein said template determines the information transmitted from said local site to said central distribution facility. 27. The system of claim 26. 30. The local site further comprises: (i) a local content server that supplies local customized content; and (ii) at least a portion of the broadcast media content, the local customized content and the added content. Receiving, combining the broadcast media content, the local customized content and the at least a portion of the added content to form the combined content and display the combined content on the display device. 24. The system of claim 23, including a local content processor. 31. The added content includes an advertisement for a product,
The system further comprises: (d) a point-of-sale system (POS) terminal for purchasing at least one product advertised in the advertisement, the POS terminal comprising the at least one
24. The system of claim 23, receiving payment details from the viewer's user to purchase one product. 32. The system of claim 23, wherein the additional content comprises an advertisement, the advertisement being purchased for a plurality of local sites through the centralized distribution mechanism. 33. (d) further comprising a first network, wherein said local site is connected to said central distribution mechanism via said first network, and said local site further comprises said broadcast media content and said A receiver device for receiving both of the added content, wherein the broadcast media content is a television broadcast,
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiver device is connected to the first network. 34. (e) further comprising a second network, wherein said receiver device is also connected to said second network such that said added content is transmitted via said second network. 34. The system of claim 33, wherein: 35. The receiver device further comprises two receivers for receiving both the television broadcast and the added content via the first network. System. 36. The receiver device further comprises a first part for receiving the television broadcast and a second part for receiving the added content, wherein the signal transmitted via a single receiver. 34. The system of claim 33, including a single receiver that receives both the television broadcast and the added content so as to divide it into portions that have. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the portions are transmitted to the single receiver at different times. 38. A method of combining broadcast media content and additional content into a combined content according to a locally determined characteristic of a viewer, the method comprising: (a) providing at least a portion of the added content. Providing a central distribution mechanism having a global server, (b) providing a local site for displaying the combined content to the viewer, (c) connecting the local site to the global server, (d) the global server Configuring an advertising activity including an advertisement as part of the added content transmitted from: (e) selecting at least one local site, and of the activity according to a locally determined characteristic of the viewer. (F) sending the advertisement to the at least one local site; ) Receiving the advertisement by the local site, (h) receiving the broadcast media content at the local site, (i) combining the advertisement and the broadcast media content by the local site, and combining the combined content And (j) displaying the combined content to the viewer on a display device. 39. The advertisement activity is composed of a main mechanism, and the main mechanism is connected to the global server by the Internet.
8 ways.