IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,464,033
Granted Patent B2
US 12,464,033 · App. 18/297,097 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Content segment detection and replacement

Inventors: David A. O'Hare (Glendale, CO); Weidong Mao (West Windsor, NJ); Elad Nafshi (Bryn Mawr, PA); Mark Vickers (Marina del Rey, CA); Gregory Allen Broome (Broomfield, CO); Sree Kotay (Philadelphia, PA)
Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
H04L65/61G06Q30/02H04L65/611H04N7/17318H04N21/23424H04N21/44016H04N21/812
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,464,033
App. No.
18/297,097
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for providing content are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a request for content comprising at least a first segment. The method can also comprise determining an expiration condition of the first segment, and replacing the first segment with a second segment based on the expiration condition. The method can also comprise providing the second segment to a user or a device.

Claims (84)

1 . A method comprising:

determining, by a user device, information associated with a first advertisement, wherein the information is received via a non-packet switched network and comprises an expiration condition associated with the first advertisement;

based on the expiration condition, determining, by the user device, that the first advertisement has expired;

based on expiration of the first advertisement, causing, by the user device, a manifest file facilitating access to the first advertisement to be updated, wherein the updated manifest file facilitates access, via a packet switched network, to a second advertisement; and

based on the updated manifest, outputting, by the user device, the second advertisement in content broadcast to at least the user device via the non-packet switched network.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:

the information associated with the first advertisement is received with the first advertisement; or

the information associated with the first advertisement is received with the content.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the content broadcast to at least the user device is sent to, and received by, at least the user device at substantially a same time.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:

receiving the content, wherein the content comprises the first advertisement and the information associated with the first advertisement;

receiving the content from a content provider;

receiving the content via the non-packet switched network;

accessing the second advertisement via the packet switched network; or

receiving the second advertisement via the packet switched network.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the content comprises at least one of:

content to be recorded;

content to be stored;

streamed content;

broadcast content;

encoded content;

a movie;

a television show; or

a media clip.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expiration condition indicates at least one of:

an expiration time;

a length of time;

a duration of time;

a time based on which the first advertisement is no longer valid to be output;

a predetermined number of times the first advertisement is permitted to be output; or

an instruction to replace the first advertisement.

7 . The method recited in of claim 1 , wherein the user device comprises a set top box.

8 . A method comprising:

receiving, by a user device, information associated with a first advertisement, wherein the information is received via a non-packet switched network and comprises a condition based on which the first advertisement is no longer valid to be output;

determining, by the user device, that the condition is satisfied;

based on satisfaction of the condition, causing, by the user device, a manifest file facilitating access to the first advertisement to be updated, wherein the updated manifest file facilitates access, via a packet switched network, to a second advertisement; and

based on the updated manifest, outputting, by the user device, the second advertisement in content broadcast to at least the user device via the non-packet switched network.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of:

the information associated with the first advertisement is received with the first advertisement; or

the information associated with the first advertisement is received with the content.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the content broadcast to at least the user device is sent to, and received by, at least the user device at substantially a same time.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising at least one of:

receiving the content, wherein the content comprises the first advertisement and the information associated with the first advertisement;

receiving the content from a content provider;

receiving the content via the non-packet switched network; or

accessing the second advertisement via the packet switched network; or

receiving the second advertisement via the packet switched network.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the content comprises at least one of:

content to be recorded;

content to be stored;

streamed content;

broadcast content;

encoded content;

a movie;

a television show; or

a media clip.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the condition comprises at least one of:

an expiration time;

a length of time;

a duration of time;

a change in user demographics;

an instruction to replace the first advertisement; or

a predetermined number of times the first advertisement is permitted to be output.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the user device comprises a set top box.

15 . A method comprising:

evaluating, by a user device, information associated with a first advertisement, wherein the information is received via a non-packet switched network and comprises an expiration condition associated with the first advertisement;

based on the expiration condition, determining, by the user device, that the first advertisement has expired;

based on expiration of the first advertisement, causing, by the user device, a manifest file facilitating access to the first advertisement to be updated, wherein the updated manifest file facilitates access, via a packet switched network, to a second advertisement; and

based on the updated manifest, outputting, by the user device, the second advertisement in content broadcast to at least the user device via the non-packet switched network.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein causing the first advertisement to be replaced with the second advertisement comprises causing the first advertisement to be replaced with the second advertisement in a content item.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one of:

the second advertisement is received with the content item; or

the second advertisement and the content item are received via the non-packet switched network.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the content broadcast to at least the user device is sent to, and received by, at least the user device at substantially a same time.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving, via the packet switched network, the second advertisement.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein at least one of:

the information associated with the first advertisement is received with the first advertisement;

the expiration condition indicates an expiration time;

the expiration condition indicates an instruction to replace the first advertisement;

the second advertisement comprises one or more replacement segments; or

the user device comprises a set top box.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the content broadcast to at least the user device comprises the first advertisement.

22 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the content broadcast to at least the user device comprises the first advertisement.

23 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the content broadcast to at least the user device comprises the first advertisement.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2023
From: O'HARE, DAVID ANDREW; MAO, WEIDONG; NAFSHI, ELAD; VICKERS, MARK ANDREW; BROOME, GREGORY ALLEN; KOTAY, SREE
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063496/0788 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17534207 · Nov 23, 2021
Continuation 16790454 · Feb 13, 2020
Continuation 15946464 · Apr 5, 2018
Continuation 15065222 · Mar 9, 2016
Continuation 13927804 · Jun 26, 2013
Related Publication 20230328126A1 · Oct 12, 2023
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