Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING A COl~~CATION NETWORK TO SUPPLY
TARGETED STREAMING ADVERTISING IN INTERACTIVE MEDIA
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and
apparatus for transmitting and receiving programmed music
to and from the Internet to subscribers ~~f the programmed
music, where the programmed music received by the
subscribers includes targeted advertising according to
predetermined criteria.
Public and network television and radio
7.0 stations have for decades distributed proprietary
copyrighted subject matter to the viewing and listening
public without any charge due to the sponsorship and
financing of these programs by various advertisers and/or
governmental bodies. With television and radio
7~5 broadcast, it is difficult if not impossible to deliver
specific advertisement messages to finely selected
audiences since audience targeting is possible only on
the basis of broad geographical areas, e.g. the city of
New York. It is impossible to target individuals, or
?0 individuals who share a common trait, e.g. a certain age
range, educational background, etc.
In contrast, the Internet communicates (at
least along a portion of its path) over personal
communication lines, i.e. the telephone. This enables
?5 sending of tailored messages between the ultimate
recipient of specific information and th.e source of the
information, e.g. a website, an Internet Service
Provider,. etc. Traditionally, proprietary, e.9.
copyrighted, information could be downloaded from the
.30 Internet.. In most: cases, charge accounts are established
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
with an Internet Service Provider and the recipient of
the proprietary data content pays for those services
and/or information.
It is desirable to provide an Internet based
system for the dissemination of valuable proprietary
information free of charge, just as it is provided
through network television and radio stations without any
costs to the ultimate user/subscriber and with advertiser
sponsorship thereof targeted to the subscriber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the
present invention to provide programmed music via the
Internet to numerous subscribers without any charge to
the subscribers.
1.5 It is a further object of the invention to
provide programmed music to the general public in a
manner which facilitates the bundling of such programmed
music with advertisement copy tailored to the individual,
to thereby underwrite the cost of supplying to members of
2fl the public valuable music and other data containing
information.
It is a further object of the invention to
provide advertisers a method of targeting music consumers
meeting a profile designated by the advertiser which
25 assures that the targeted music consumer receives a
massage tailored for such consumer.
It is a further object of the :invention to
provide a system of the above type which is easy to use
and implement.
3() The foregoing and other objects of the
invention are realized in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention which includes a
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
software-controlled and microprocessor-based repository
in which the dossiers of a plurality of subscribers are
stored and updated. Subscribers use their own
microprocessor-based systems to receive the programmed
music and advertisements from the repository over the
Internet via their PCs.
The system handles advertisers by creating
advertiser dossiers containing the amount of advertising
time purchased by each advertiser, the amount used up and
:LO the amount remaining to be used ("available allocation"):
The advertiser dossiers also contain specification of the
desired consumer profiles to be targeted, specification
of the category of products or services to be advertised,
specification of any territorial or local time
~5 requirements or preferences, and a key to the location of
the audio advertising content.
The present invention includes a repository,
I.e. database, in which a1.1 musical content is stored and
updated in either or both digital or analog form. Each
20 item of music content is cataloged, defining the nature
or category of the contents, the identity of the
copyright holder or holders, the characteristics of the
desired consumer or subscriber, the category of any
product or service the advertising for which is not to be
25 annexed to the content, and any limitation on the
availability of the content. The content is converted to
digital form for delivery over the Internet. The content
may further be encoded to prevent unauthorized
duplication and to identify the subscriber to whom the
30 content is to be delivered.
The uatabase also includes the identity of each
copyright holder of the music content and an audio
message identifying the artist and/or the copyright
CA 02382799 2003-11-19
4
holders of each item of music content ("identity audio
message").
A separate database is used to store and update the
advertising content, again in either digital or analog form,
later to be linked and transmitted to the ultimate
consumer/subscriber. The advertisements are over the Internet.
The audio content of the database may include generic audio
messages.
In one aspect of the invention, the present invention seeks
to provide a method of transmitting programmed information to a
plurality of users, comprising:
(a) creating a first database containing a large number of
discrete data units each of which has a related profile, the
data units comprising musical content;
(b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete
advertising messages each of which has a related profile;
(c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of
users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said
data units;
(d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said
advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria
to create a composite response packet in the form of a
sequential data flow, containing an advertising message
identifying a source of. the programmed information and a data
unit; and
(e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting
CA 02382799 2003-11-19
4a
user.
In a second aspect of the invention, the present invention
seeks to provide a method of transmitting programmed information
to a plurality of users, comprising:
(a) creating a first database containing a large number of
discrete data units each of which has a related profile;
(b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete
advertising messages each of which has a related profile;
(c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of
users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said
data units, the data units being musical works;
(d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said
advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria
to create a composite response packet in the form of a
sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a
data unit, the musical work being combined with the advertising
message in a manner so that the musical work cannot be separated
from the advertising messages by users;
(e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting
user.
In a third aspect of the invention, the present invention
seeks to provide a method of transmitting programmed information
to a plurality of users, comprising:
(a) creating a first database containing a large number of
discrete data units each of which has a related profile;
(b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete
CA 02382799 2003-11-19
4b
advertising messages each of which has a related profile;
(c) receiving requests for the data units from the plurality of
users, and enabling ear_h user to select a desired one of said
data units;
(d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said
advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria
to create a composite response packet in the form of a
sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a
data unit, the data units being musical works;
(e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting
user; and
(f) packaging selected ones of the response packets so that each
successive playing of the musical work results in the user
hearing a different advertising message.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, the present invention
seeks to provide a method of transmitting programmed information
to a plurality of users, comprising:
(a) creating a first database containing a large number of
discrete data units each of which has a related profile, the
data units being musical works;
(b) creating a second database containing a variety of discrete
advertising messages each of which has a related profile;
(c) receiving requests far the data units from the plurality of
users, and enabling each user to select a desired one of said
data units;
(d) appending to the requested data units at least one of said
CA 02382799 2003-11-19
4c
advertising messages based upon a matching of profile criteria
to create a composite response packet in the form of a
sequential data flow, containing an advertising message and a
data unit, the advertising message being appended to the musical
work in the form of a voice over a leading portion of the
musical work;
(e) transmitting the composite response packet to the requesting
user;
(f) classifying the users into predetermined user classes; and
(g) associating each piece of advertising message with at least
two user classes on a prioritized basis.
In a fifth aspect of the invention, the present invention
seeks to provide a method for transmitting and receiving
programmed information between a user terminal and a server,
comprising the steps of storing at least one data content item
in a first database associated with the server; storing at least
one advertisement in a second database associated with the
server, each advertisement having an associated profile;
receiving a request from the user terminal to transmit at least
one data content item from the server to the user terminal;
selecting at least one advertisement for transmission to the
user terminal based on a matching between a profile associated
with a user of the user terminal and the profiles associated
with the advertisements; assembling a response packet, said
response packet comprising at least one advertisement
sequentially appended to the requested data content item; and
CA 02382799 2003-11-19
4d
transmitting the assembled response packet from the server
to the user terminal.
In operation, the subscriber selects the content which he
or she desires to receive, and the content is placed in a queue
for transmittal to the subscriber. Based on the profile of the
content, a determination is made by the CPU based system as to
which is appropriate to be delivered to the particular
subscriber. Based on the profile of the content, a
determination is made by the CPU based system as to which
advertising copy - there may be many different ones - is
appropriate to be delivered to the particular subscriber. The
system then selects from a set containing numerous, different
advertising messages those items that fit the subscriber and
which also have "available allocation." From the advertising
messages that can be transmitted, the next available advertising
message is selected. Tn effect, advertisers buy the right to
have their messages played a given number of times. If their
available allocation of advertising play time has run out, they
must replenish their account or their advertising messages)
will not be transmitted to subscribers.
Finally, the selected advertising message is affixed to the
next generic message in the queue or to the applicable artist
(composition) identity audio message. The system automatically
links the advertising message, the generic or identity audio
message and the subscriber selected content into a single data
stream to
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
r~ _
be transmitted to the subscriber over the Internet. In
constructing the stream, the system overlays the generic
or identity audio message onto the music content so that,
when delivered, the audio generic message and the audio
S content can both be heard by the subscriber
simultaneously. The completed data stream is then
delivered to the subscriber in a single, inseparable
stream of data packets over the Internet.
Other features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following
description of the invention which refers to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
For the purpose of illustrating the invention,
there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently
preferred, it being understood, however, that the
invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and
instrumentalities shown.
Figure 1 is a block diagram of the basic system
2~0 hardware arrangement: of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a block diagram of major software
blocks of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the software
control and protocol flow suitable for implementing a
2~ portion of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In general terms, the present invention
comprises a software co~rrolled ~~='.:, e.g. a
3ti . microprocessor, based repository in which the dossiers of
a plurality of subscribers are stored and updated. The
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
- 6 -
information contained in the dossiers includes the type
of music that the subscribers enjoy, the buying habits of
the subscribers and the musical selections previously or
simultaneously made by the subscribers.
Preferably, the subscribers receive the
programmed music and advertisements from the repository
over the Internet.. However, the invention is applicable
to communications between system and subscribers that use
non-Internet channels, e.g. cable, direco broadcast, or
7.0 any means of communication provided the method of
communication permits delivery of an identified audio
and/or audio video message to an identified specific
subscriber. The specific musical material and
advertisements transmitted may vary as a function of the
1.5 information contained in the dossiers of the subscribers.
In addition, the dossiers may change from time to time
with a resulting change in music and advertisement
programming. Further, the programmed music and
advertisements may change as a function of the time of
2:0 year or other conditions.
Referring to Figure 1, the physical
hardware/software configuration of the present invention
preferably comprises a central processing unit (CPt1) 10
which interfaces via the Internet 20 with a plurality of
25 subscriber operating PCs 12, 14 ... 16 (or other device
capable of receiving individualized content for audio
and/or video production) which respectively have speakers
12a, 14a ... 16a to play programmed music or other audio
information which is transmitted to them via the Internet
30 20. As already explained, in accordance with the present
invention. the music being transm~tted cver the Internet
to the subscribers is bundled with targeted advertising
material in the form of audio messages tailored to the
ti
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
subscriber or musical profile paid for by advertisers 18,
19 ... 21.
The CPU 10 may be any type of computer system,
for example a mainframe, a server-based system of PCs, a
stand-alone microprocessor and the like. The CPU 10 has
the usual operator interface, e.9. a keyboard 22 and
complement of memory and IO devices (not shown). Of
significance here is that the CPU 10 maintains a
plurality of databases including an advertisers/marketing
criteria database 24 in which it stores the advertising
preferences of the advertisers 18, 19 ... 21, e.g. the
type of subscribers that these advertisers would like to
reach, their geographic locations and the system usage
privileges and/or credit balance of these advertisers.
The database 26 stores the advertisement
content, i.e. the actual advertising copy of the various
advertisers 18, 19 ... 21. Note that any one of the
advertisers 18, 19 ... 21 can have several different
audio messages stored for transmittal to different
classes of subscribers 12, 14 ... 16.
The subscriber profile database 28 contains the
actual profiles of the individual subscribers 12, 14, 16,
specifying for each subscriber criteria as, for example,
age, demographic data, education, sex, ethnic background,
musical selections previously or simultaneously made by
the subscriber, purchasing habits and the like. Finally,
the large library of selectable/searchable music content
is stored in the database 30. This database includes the
musical work, the profile of the work, t:he audio identity
of the artist and copyright holders, and an audio
stateme:.~ of the artist. Together, these databases
enable the present invention to attain its objective of
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
matching music with audio advertisement copy to be
transmitted to the individual subscribers.
The operation/control block 32 contains the
executable portion of the program code which runs the CPU
10 and which controls the overall operation of the system
of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a representative (non-
limiting) flowchart of the overall software functions
performed by the C3?U 10 of Figure 1. Proceeding from the
starting/initialization software block 50, the program
proceeds to decisional block 52 where it: queries what
major function is to be performed. If t:he major function
is a response to a request from a customer for music, the
program proceeds to the set of routines 54 which involve
the servicing of a customer request and which are more
fully described further on by reference to Figure 3.
Otherwise, the program proceeds to software
block 56 to handle general housekeeping, database
management and customer and business relations. At
decisional block 58, the program further determines
whether the requested task is to manage the databases or
other functions. If database management:, the program
proceeds to block E~0 to execute a series of program
functions involving the creation or updating of the
advertiser database (element 24 of Fig. 1) which contains
the names of the advertisers, individuals at advertisers
to be contacted, billing information, prepaid advertising
time available for each advertiser and a range of other
business information and criteria. Most: importantly for
:30 the present invention, this database also specifies for
each particular advertiser the type, i.a:. the profAle oT
the subscribers/listeners which the particular advertiser
would like to target and the advertisin<~ audio content
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
- 9 _
code for each target.. It is not necessary to limit the
specification to a narrow class of individuals. Several
classes can be identified and prioritized. Moreover,
each advertiser may have different renditions of audio
advertising copy to be directed to different audiences,
i.e. classes of listeners.
From block 60 the program proceeds to block 62
where it performs s_Lmilar functions for t:he
subscriber/listener database 28. For each subscriber
that is being added to the database or whose profile is
being updated, the program lists persona:_ data including
(as already mentioned) age, education, income, musical
selections previously or simultaneously made by the
subscriber, purchasing habits, etc. This database can
also include a field in which the subscriber specifies
the type or types of music that the individual prefers,
to facilitate the system's ability to present to each
individual a menu of music selection which best fits the
individual's preferences and music taste.
Software block 64 attends to and handles the
maintenance of the actual music content. Each piece of
music is classified, categorized and included in the
database in either analog or digital form for future
transmission to the subscribers 12, 14 ... 16.
Similarly, at block 66 the program handles the
maintenance and updating of the library -of advertising
copy, each piece of which has been submitted by one or
another of the advertisers. A single advertiser may have
stored one or several different advertisements.
While the inventors contemplate that this
advertising copy will be _ _ '~l~e form of a»di o/"r,~sical
message, the invention is not so limited. Indeed, the
invention contemplates that the advertising copy may be
Y,
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
-
video information that can be played on the subscribers'
computer monitors and include voice information that will
play through the speakers of the subscriber's equipment.
In sum, the program blocks 60, 62, 64 and 66 are
5 responsible for the handling of all aspects of the
creation, updating and modification of the large
databases with which the CPU 10 of the present invention
constantly communicates.
Alternatively, from decisional block 58, the
10 program proceeds to decisional block 70 to determine
whether it is necessary t.o~take care of billing matters.
If so, the program proceeds to block 72 where the program
tallies accounts, listing the frequency of play and
transmission of music and data stored in database 64 to
7.5 subscribers. The program proceeds to block 60 to
decrement advertising availability. Together, this
information is useful, for example, for calculating (if
necessary) royalty fees payable to the owners of the
music and to provide "play" statistics for the music
2;0 industry on a current and accurate basis. The block 72
further tackles the task of preparing billing data for
advertisers. For example, the system may allow certain
advertisers to operate without prepaid credit balances.
In this case, as the advertisements of the particular
25 advertiser are being sent to subscribers, an accounting
is made of the total advertising air time used and that
advertiser may be billed accordingly on a monthly, bi-
monthly or other basis.
Another software task of the CPU based system
30 10 is executed at software block 74 which is dedicated to
the tasks of i:.t~rf~cing, via the Internet, with existing
or potential subscribers and advertisers for purposes of
signing up such sub:~cribers and advertisers, providing
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
- 11 -
information. regarding billing data and available music,
answering general inquiries through the running of an
automatic voice mai:L system, a web page or the like.
From decisional block 70, the program also has
the option of proceeding via decisional block 80 to block
82 which is responsible for the distribution of one or
several free programs which may be used for controlling
the local PCs 12, 14 ... 16 to play the received music
and/or to interface with the CPU 10 (which may be made
7.0 available through a web page on the Internet). Such
programs downloaded from the web page, which operate in
conjunction with the system of the present invention,
provide various functions including allowing subscribers
to automatically call up the CPU 10, automatically make
1.5 music selections and the like.
Other functions provided by the software of the
present invention a:re shown by proceeding from the
decisional block 80 to block 84 which broadly designates
the general class o:f miscellaneous functions performed in
20 the system of the present invention. This includes, as
shown in block 86, software which contains and carries
out the protocols for creating packets of digital
information which are to be transmitted to subscribers.
Another function involves security which is handled by
25 software block 88. Security includes the encoding and
decoding of music and advertising copy that is
transmitted over the Internet. It further includes
encoding and decoding music in a manner that ensures that
the ultimate subscribers can not separate the music from
3~0 the advertising copy and/or copy it for their personal
use and dissemination, in violation of licensing terms.
Software :block 90 generally designates a
portion of the pragram which interfaces with subscribers
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
- 12 -
for the purposes of allowing subscribers to place orders
for products or services that are advertised or presented
in the advertising messages that are appended to the
music. In well known manner, the various software
routines eventually reach end block 67, so that the
program may loop and return to the start black to permit
the orderly and reliable operation thereof.
The specific task of responding to a
subscriber's request for particular musical works and the
delivery of that music to the subscriber is illustrated
in the general software block diagram of Figure 3. At
block 100, the program initiates a search for the
specific piece of music or other data content the
subscriber has requested. The program proceeds to
7.5 software block 102 where the request for the particular
music/information is recorded in the accounting database
and an independently running subroutine at block 104
proceeds to create a "response packet" fer the individual
subscriber. Such a response packet typically consists of
one or more pieces of music which has been
encoded/encrypted for transmittal over the Internet, to
which an advertiser's message for each piece has been
appended as a leader or header thereof, along with a
generic or music specific voice over. Also, a message
may be appended at the end of each piece of music, for
example, in the form of a statement from the artist, i.e.
"a wrapper".
While the response packet is being prepared at
block 104, the program proceeds to block 106 to determine
the availability of the selection. If available, the
program procAeds to block 108 pertaining to r:;:eic ;:iata
selection and block 110 for advertiser selection. If an
audio message is authorized to be added, the program
l_
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
- 13 -
proceeds from block 110 to validate and attend to the
audio message authorization. If authorized, the audio
message is looked up at block 126 (from database block
66) and :is added to the response packet at block 128.
Hlock 130 registers the audio message delivery in the
accounting database at block 130, as previously
described. The program proceeds to block 124 which
consists of a sequence of software instructions that are
responsible for adding the response packet to the queue
at block 104.
As described above, simultaneously, block lfl8
validates content authorization by prohibiting replay of
the same music in a single request and limiting the
number of requests to a programmed limit, i.e., 10
1.5 selections. If the request is validated, the program
proceeds to collect the musical works) selected and its
related generic or individualized identity audio message
at block 112 and 114. The program then delivers the
partial response packet at block 124 where it is appended
to the audio message packet and delivered to block 104
ready to receive further response packets, if any, and
for delivery via block 10 to subscribers ... 12, 14, 16.
However, if no authorization to provide a
particular type of response packet is noted, the program
creates at software block 118 an "access denied" message
which is then transmitted without any music or other data
content (other than a request to select another offering)
to the subscriber at block 124. Simultaneously, a record
of the inability to deliver the particular subscriber
selection is registered in software block 122.
Thus, tlm present inve~:~ion achie~res its
objectives by providing a software controlled
microprocessor based repository in which the dossiers of
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
- 14 -
all advertisers are stored and updated. The information
contained in the dossiers contains the amount of
advertising purchased, the amount used and the amount
remaining to be used ("available allocation"), a
S specification of the desired consumer profile, a
specification of the category of product or service to be
advertised, a specification of any territorial or local
time requirements or preferences, and a key to the
location of the audio advertising content.
7.0 The present invention includes a software
controlled microprocessor based repository in which all
site content is stored and updated in either or both
digital or analog form for either audio or audio/video
delivery. Each item of content is catalogued defining
15 the nature or category of the content, the identity of
the source, the profile of the expected consumer or
subscriber, the category of any product or service which
is not to be annexed to the content, and. any limitation
on the availability of the content. Content is converted
:?0 to a digital form for delivery over the Internet or other
communication medium permitting individualized delivery.
Content :is encoded to prevent unauthorized duplication
and to identify the subscriber to whom the content is to
be delivered.
:?S The present invention include: a software
controlled microprocessor based repository in which all
advertisements are stored and updated in either digital
or analog form ready to be linked and transmitted.
Advertisements are converted to a digital form for
:30 delivery as audio messages over the Internet or other
_..
Co~Tlluur:W atlon aCi:c_:t~_;': rAri~li.tii:~ i::di_Vldsl~uliZed dell.Very.
The present invention includes software
controlled microprocessor based repository of digital
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
- 15 -
audio content which contains generic audio messages
and/or identity audio messages.
The subscriber selects the content which he or
she desires to receive, and the content is placed in a
queue. :Based on the profile of the content, a
determination is made by the system as to which
advertising messages may be delivered. The system
determines whether the permitted advertising message has
available "allocation" and whether other required
parameters have been met. From the remaining filter, the
next available advertising message is selected.
The selected advertising message is then
affixed to the next generic message in sequence or to the
applicable identity audio message and is placed in a
7.5 queue. The system automatically links the advertising
message, the generic or identity message and the
subscriber selected content into a single data stream
along with other such streams pursuant to the
subscriber's request. In constructing the stream, the
system overlays the generic or identity message ont-o the
content so that, when delivered, the audio generic or
identity message and the audio content can both be heard
by the subscriber simultaneously. The completed data
stream, including all selections, is then delivered to
the subscriber in a single stream of packets over the
Internet or other communication medium, permitting
individualized delivery.
There is no requirement for a one-to-one
relationship between a musical piece and a class of
subscribers. For example, a particular advertisement can
be ;lassified t~ ue pl~;~Ad ro a-first class of ~-
subscribers as a first choice, to a second class of
subscribers as a second choice and so on. In this
CA 02382799 2002-05-13
- 16 -
manner, an advertiser desiring that its messages reach
broader audiences may also ear mark its advertisements to
secondary classes of listeners, thus increasing the
versatility and usefulness of the present: invention.
Although the present invention has been
described in relation to particular embodiments thereof,
many other variations and modifications and other uses
will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is
preferred, therefore, that the present invention.be
limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only
by the appended claims.
