Method and apparatus for boundary-based network operation
US11032518B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 3, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/25883
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for enforcing physical or logical boundaries, and targeting specific subscribers or groups of subscribers with particular content, within a network. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a cable network operating according to a broadcast switched architecture (BSA), with a BSA server and a plurality of subscriber premises devices. Individual ones of these devices are identified to the server (such as via a unique identifier), and this information is correlated with one or more other parameters in order to selectively identify physical or logical groups of subscribers within the broader subscriber base. These other parameters may comprise, e.g., the postal zip code or telephone area code/exchange where the premises device is located, or alternatively relate to anecdotal or statistical viewing habits of the subscriber(s). Anonymity of the subscriber's identity, and autonomy from other data bases or sources of subscriber information, is maintained using this approach as well.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.