Patent · US Expired

Automatic digital information and content scheduling and barkering system

US6564381B1 · kind B1 · utility

84Cited by
9References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 1998
Grant dateMay 13, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 25, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/47211
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for scheduling the distribution of information so as to maximize the viewer ship of the same and, therefore, profits. Dynamic scheduling of distribution of subportions of the information, referred to as descriptors that typically correspond to a motion picture program, is achieved so that the subportions may be transmitted to end users having a high probability of perceiving the same. A subgroup of the descriptors have a weighting value assigned thereto with said subgroup of said plurality of descriptors having a weighting value differing from the weighting value associated with the remaining descriptors of said subgroup. The weighting value is a function of predetermined parameters associated with said motion picture program, such as revenue generated when released in movie theaters, comments by professional critics and contractual constraints placed upon the distributor by holders of the ownership rights of the motion picture program. Viewing population numbers are assigned to segments of a predetermined period of time, typically the different hours of the day. The descriptors are then scheduled to be transmitted to end users so that the descriptors with th…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.