Charter Communications Operating, LLC

Basil Badawiyeh

Vipul B Patel

Srilal M Weerasinghe

Brian Clements

Robbie N Mills, Iii

Michael Terada

Tim Whitton

Gary Schanman

Glenn K Meyer

Apparatus and methods for reducing latency in content and content source switching in a digital content delivery network. In one embodiment, linear addressable secondary content is 'switched into' primary content within a cloud-based model using one or more latency-reducing techniques so as to minimize the user's perception of delay in performing the switch. In one implementation, secondary content video encodings are selected based on the encoding scheme of the primary content, and open GOPs within the primary content at the content transition point are closed or avoided, each to reduce processing overhead of the recipient client device. In another implementation, otherwise cloud-inaccessible functionality of the client device is accessed to reduce or suspend processing on non-essential tasks to make more processing resources available at the client. In yet another implementation, intelligent RF PHY scheduling of the primary and secondary content are utilized to minimize RF re-tuning by the client.

Apparatus and methods for latency reduction in digital content switching operations

In one aspect, an exemplary method for dynamic advertising insertion includes obtaining a video program comprising a sequence of segments; extracting metadata describing at least a specific one of the segments of the video program; based at least in part on the extracted metadata describing the specific segment, selecting advertising content corresponding to the specific segment; and generating an output video stream comprising the sequence of segments, wherein the selected advertising content is displayed in connection with the specific segment.

Optimized ad placement based on automated video analysis and deep metadata extraction

Methods and apparatus related to characterization of digital content, such as in a content delivery and/or service provider network. In one embodiment, a method is provided for identifying characteristics of digital content by a first-pass analysis of the content data, and subsequent adjustment of results of the first-pass data analysis based on a heuristic analysis. In one variant, the first-pass analysis is based on an extant (COTS) or off-the-shelf analytics framework which generates a result; artificial intelligence and/or machine learning techniques are utilized for analyzing the result based on a multi-source or multivariate analytical framework to enable convergence of a final result having suitable level of accuracy, yet with optimized temporal and processing overhead characteristics. In one implementation, the methods and apparatus are adapted for use in a content distribution network advertisement ingestion processing system.

Methods and apparatus for characterization of digital content

Apparatus and methods for generating secondary content scheduling and dynamic insertion for users of a managed content distribution network, such as a cable, satellite, of HFCu network. In one embodiment, the secondary content comprises advertising content which is directly related or tied to demographics, psychographics, and/or other metrics of applicability to one or more users of the content distribution network. Individual insertion opportunities are identified (either in advance or dynamically), and relevant or targeted secondary content is dynamically 'switched in' for delivery to the one or more users via interaction between a local or client application (e.g., operative on the user's set top box or personal electronic device) and a switched digital video entity of the network, and subsequently switched out if no longer required, thereby conserving network bandwidth and/or other resources.

Apparatus and methods for selective secondary content insertion in a digital network

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide for dynamic ad insertion. Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may enable Video-On-Demand (VOD) dynamic ad inventory handling by a network operator. Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may enable augmenting network operator VOD ad inventory in a VOD session.

Augmenting dynamic ad insertion inventory with unused inventory

Apparatus and methods for enabling time-based secondary content scheduling and dynamic placement for users of a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a managed network, and the secondary content comprises advertising which was scheduled at the time the primary content was stored/recorded. A management process is adapted to identify the originally scheduled advertisements and utilize a temporal reference (e.g., time stamp) or other data associated with the original recording provided to the management process when an advertisement call is made dynamically, thereby preserving such relationship when the recorded content is requested for playback with a certain period of time, without having to store the advertisements with each recording. In another embodiment, a Campaign Management System (CMS) is used to associate campaigns based on a time period 'in the past' (e.g., via use of one or more historic records regarding the advertisement placement for each user individually).

Growing community of inventors

Parker, CO, United States of America

Basil Badawiyeh