US 11,973,992 B2
Apparatus and methods for selective secondary content insertion in a digital network
Basil Badawiyeh, Parker, CO (US); and Brian Clements, Castle Rock, CO (US)
Assigned to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Charter Communications Operating, LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/164,727.
Application 17/164,727 is a division of application No. 15/347,665, filed on Nov. 9, 2016, granted, now 10,911,794, issued on Feb. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2021/0160555 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. H04N 21/234 (2011.01); H04L 65/70 (2022.01); H04L 65/75 (2022.01); H04N 21/222 (2011.01); H04N 21/236 (2011.01); H04N 21/2385 (2011.01); H04N 21/258 (2011.01); H04N 21/438 (2011.01); H04N 21/6543 (2011.01); H04N 21/81 (2011.01)
CPC H04N 21/23424 (2013.01) [H04L 65/70 (2022.05); H04L 65/765 (2022.05); H04N 21/222 (2013.01); H04N 21/23614 (2013.01); H04N 21/2385 (2013.01); H04N 21/25866 (2013.01); H04N 21/25883 (2013.01); H04N 21/4383 (2013.01); H04N 21/6543 (2013.01); H04N 21/812 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Computerized network apparatus configured for substantially automated insertion of digital secondary content for use by one or more users of a managed content distribution network, the computerized network apparatus comprising:
server apparatus comprising:
processor apparatus;
first interface apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus configured to communicate with a secondary content processing entity of the managed content distribution network;
second interface apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus and configured to communicate with one or more network entities configured to select appropriate digital secondary content for respective ones of a plurality of computerized user receiver devices;
third interface apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus configured to communicate with the plurality of computerized user receiver devices via at least one or more communication channels of the managed content distribution network; and
storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program configured to, when executed on the processor apparatus:
receive, via the first interface apparatus, indication of an impending insertion opportunity within a digital program stream being accessed by a particular one of the plurality of computerized user receiver devices;
receive, via the second interface apparatus, data indicative of a communication channel over which the particular one of the plurality of computerized user receiver devices can access digital secondary content, the digital secondary content having been determined to be applicable to the particular one of the plurality of computerized user receiver devices; and
transmit, via the third interface apparatus, at least a portion of the data indicative of the communication channel to an insertion process of the managed content distribution network, for insertion thereof by the insertion process within the digital program stream.