Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

Mike O'Brien

Jay Cee Straley

James Schumacher

Christos Tryfonas

Howard Geza Page

Sandy Cuskaden

A video advertising insertion system is comprised of a processing system, interface, and video advertising. The video advertising insertion system receives a video stream carrying selected video content from a video-on-demand system. The video advertising insertion system selects and inserts video advertising into the video stream. The video advertising insertion system transfers the video stream carrying both the selected video content and the selected video advertising for display to a target viewer.

Advertising insertion for a video-on-demand system

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preparing a transmission schedule that when utilized results in the smooth transmission of a time-sensitive file over a communications network. According to one embodiment of the invention, for each frame, each potential ambiguity zone is analyzed to determine whether it would result in a feasible transmission, and the cost of each feasible ambiguity zone is found. Thereafter, the optimal feasible ambiguity zone for the frame is found and used to create a transmission schedule. A method for transmitting a file utilizing such a transmission schedule is also described.

Method for smoothing the transmission of a time-sensitive file

A video-on-demand system transfers a control screen signal to a second communication system and receives a viewer control signal from the second communication system. The video-on-demand system transfers video signals to either a first communication system or the second communication system based on the viewer control signal. The second communication system uses less bandwidth to transfer the video signals than the first communications system. The control screen could be a web page that includes: 1) a video display menu with a selection of displays and bandwidths to display the video signals, 2) a video content menu with a video preview selection, and/or 3) a video display control menu comprising play, pause, rewind, fast forward, and stop. The video-on-demand system implements the control screen menu selections.

Display selection in a video-on-demand system

A video-on-demand system transfers video content signals to a first communication system. The video-on-demand system transfers a control screen signal to a second communication system and receives a video control signal from the second communication system. The video-on-demand system implements a viewer control selection indicated by the video control signal. The control screen could be a web page that includes a video display control menu comprising play stop, pause, rewind, and fast forward. The control screen could include a video content selection menu. The video-on-demand system implements the control screen menu selections.

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Pacifica, CA, United States of America

Mike O'Brien