IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,584,159
Granted Patent B2
US 8,584,159 · App. 13/292,238 · Granted Nov 12, 2013

Converting standard definition television advertisements to high definition format

Inventors: James Di Mattia (Churchville, MD); Dale E. Veeneman (Southborough, MA); Lily Chen (Fort Lee, NJ)
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,584,159
App. No.
13/292,238
Granted
Nov 12, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device receives a request for an advertisement from a set-top box (STB) displaying television content in a high definition format, and provides, to the STB, the advertisement in a standard definition format, where the high definition format includes a resolution higher than a resolution of the standard definition format. The device also determines whether the STB converts the advertisement from the standard definition format to the high definition format. When the STB fails to convert the advertisement from the standard definition format to the high definition format, the device generates a first error code and instructs the STB to continue to display the television content, without interruption, in the high definition format.

Claims (66)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a device, television content in a high definition format;

providing, by the device, the television content for display in the high definition format;

receiving, by the device, an advertisement in a standard definition format, where the high definition format includes a resolution higher than a resolution of the standard definition format;

attempting, by the device, to convert the advertisement into the high definition format;

providing, by the device, the advertisement for display in the high definition format when the advertisement is successfully converted to the high definition format; and

receiving, by the device and following completion of the attempted conversion, instructions to continue to provide the television content, without interruption, when the advertisement is unsuccessfully converted to the high definition format.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

preventing the advertisement from being displayed when the advertisement is unsuccessfully converted to the high definition format; and

providing the television content for display in the high definition format, without interruption, when the advertisement is unsuccessfully converted to the high definition format.

3. The method of claim 1 , where the device comprises one of:

a set-top box (STB), or

a television.

4. The method of claim 1 , where the high definition format includes one of a 480p, a 720p, a 1080p, or a 1080i resolution.

5. The method of claim 1 , where the advertisement is a targeted advertisement received via an advertisement channel.

6. A device, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor to:

receive television content in a first format,

provide the television content for display in the first format,

receive an advertisement in a second format, where the first format includes a resolution higher than a resolution of the second format,

attempt to convert the advertisement into the first format,

provide the advertisement for display in the first format when the advertisement is successfully converted to the first format, and

receive, following completion of the attempted conversion, instructions to continue to provide the television content, without interruption, when the advertisement is unsuccessfully converted to the first format.

7. The device of claim 6 , where the processor is further to:

prevent the advertisement from being displayed when the advertisement is unsuccessfully converted to the first format, and

provide the television content for display in the first format, without interruption, when the advertisement is unsuccessfully converted to the first format.

8. The device of claim 6 , where the device comprises one of:

a set-top box (STB), or

a television.

9. The device of claim 6 , where the first format includes one of a 480p, a 720p, a 1080p, or a 1080i resolution.

10. The device of claim 6 , where the advertisement is a targeted advertisement received via an advertisement channel.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a device, a request for an advertisement from a set-top box (STB) displaying television content in a high definition format;

providing, by the device and to the STB, the advertisement in a standard definition format, where the high definition format includes a resolution higher than a resolution of the standard definition format;

determining, by the device, whether the STB failed to successfully convert the advertisement from the standard definition format to the high definition format;

generating, by the device, a first error code when the STB failed to convert the advertisement from the standard definition format to the high definition format; and

instructing, by the device, the STB to continue to display the television content, without interruption, in the high definition format when the STB failed to convert the advertisement from the standard definition format to the high definition format.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining whether the STB is tuned to an advertisement channel associated with the advertisement;

generating a second error code when the STB is not tuned to the advertisement channel; and

instructing the STB to continue to display the television content, without interruption, in the high definition format when the STB is not tuned to the advertisement channel.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining whether the STB locates a program identifier (PID) for the advertisement;

generating a second error code when the STB fails to locate the PID for the advertisement; and

instructing the STB to continue to display the television content, without interruption, in the high definition format when the STB fails to locate the PID for the advertisement.

14. The method of claim 11 , where the high definition format includes one of a 480p, a 720p, a 1080p, or a 1080i resolution.

15. The method of claim 11 , where the advertisement is a targeted advertisement.

16. A system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor to:

receive a request for an advertisement from a device displaying television content in a high definition format,

provide, to the device, the advertisement in a standard definition format, where the high definition format includes a resolution higher than a resolution of the standard definition format,

determine whether the device failed to convert the advertisement from the standard definition format to the high definition format,

generate a first error code when the device failed to convert the advertisement from the standard definition format to the high definition format, and

instruct the device to continue to display the television content, without interruption, in the high definition format when the device failed to convert the advertisement from the standard definition format to the high definition format.

17. The system of claim 16 , where the processor is further to:

determine whether the device is tuned to an advertisement channel associated with the advertisement,

generate a second error code when the device is not tuned to the advertisement channel, and

instruct the device to continue to display the television content, without interruption, in the high definition format when the device is not tuned to the advertisement channel.

18. The system of claim 17 , where the processor is further to:

determine whether the device locates a program identifier (PID) for the advertisement,

generate a third error code when the device fails to locate the PID for the advertisement, and

instruct the device to continue to display the television content, without interruption, in the high definition format when the device fails to locate the PID for the advertisement.

19. The system of claim 16 , where the high definition format includes one of a 480p, a 720p, a 1080p, or a 1080i resolution.

20. The system of claim 16 , where the advertisement is a targeted advertisement.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2011
From: DI MATTIA, JAMES; VEENEMAN, DALE E.; CHEN, LILY
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING, INC.
Reel/Frame 027198/0530 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61468973 · Mar 29, 2011
Related Publication 20120254913A1 · Oct 4, 2012