Digital advertisement insertion system and method for video games

Abstract

A system and method for digitally inserting advertisements, targeted digital images, indicia and live digital video streams into a networked, a multi-player or on-line video game, using a color mask or a matte technique such as blue screening, within the video game, in order to display the information within the video game. Each video game client has software executing on the video game client, which is connected to a video game network server, and which is capable of displaying images, video, audio and data originating from the network server or from other medium. The video game client is capable of display on a standard television set. Each client comprises a networked interface card (NIC) or modem, a network connection, and software executing on the video game client that can establish a client-to-server network connection. Each client supports video streaming and can receive, and encode and decode video and audio signals, transport, and display that and other data on screen. This system and method apparatus also allows a video game client to simply and cost-effectively receive and display a live video stream from a camera, advertisements or digital messages that are transported over a network.

What I claim as my invention is:  
     
         1 . A digital advertisement insertion method and system for networked and multi-player video games, for displaying an advertisement or digital stream within a video game and by method of matting or blue screening within the video game client for display and comprising: 
 a digital source of motion video information;    a video game network further comprising:    method for maintaining a play list containing information about the full motion video or advertisement such as but not limited to bit rate, encoding parameters, location, length, system information and scheduled play time;    method for managing the play list advertisement content;    method for receiving a direct request for linking said first video game client;    apparatus for IP routing and switching;    apparatus to stream or multicast multiple video streams to said video game clients    a network;    a first video game client system connected to said network;    said video game client system comprising:    a network interface coupled to a network;    a video game console or computer;    a video game console or client controller;    a television or computer monitor for display and playback;    an apparatus and method for supporting equipment for said first video game client system comprising:    client application software, also referred to as a video game title, executing in said first video game client system, said client software application or game title comprising:    processing logic for connecting said first video game client system to a server on said network via said network interface;    processing logic for requesting network address information from said server;    processing logic for receiving a network address of said server;    processing logic for saving user information on said server from said first video game client system;    processing logic for compressing and decompressing audio and video streams;    processing logic for blue screening an area on screen, for displaying a video stream on screen, and allowing the video stream to concurrently run during game operation;    processing logic for reconnecting said first video game client system to a server coupled with said network; and    processing logic for uploading user information from said first video game clients system to a server memory on said server.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement information is graphics, data or text;  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement information is audio;  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement information is video;  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement information is animation;  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the ability wherein said video game system application software includes processing logic for support of the International Telephone Union (ITU) standard H.323 for specifications for computers, equipment and services carrying real-time audio, video, data, or any combination of these over said network.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said client application software further comprises the ability to record the video stream or advertisements.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said client application software further comprises the capability to send, receive and display instant messages from said second video game console system onto the blue screen or color mask.  
     
     
         9 . The first video game client system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said client application software includes the ability to broadcast and/or multicast the audio and video streams from said first video game client system.  
     
     
         10 . The first video game client system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first video game console system connects to a network via a switch, router or hub.  
     
     
         11 . A system and method for directly linking a first video game client with a second video game client, said system also for establishing a videoconference, video phone call or the transfer and display of data between a first user on said first video game client and a second user on said second video game client, said system comprising: 
 a network;    a first video game client connected to said network;    a server coupled to said network including:    processing logic for receiving a direct request for linking said first video game client;    a video game client system comprising:    television or computer monitor for display and playback;    an apparatus and method for supporting equipment for said first video game client system comprising:    a video camera;    a microphone;    client application software, also referred to as a video game title, executing in said first video game client system, said client software application or game title comprising:    processing logic for connecting said first video game client system to a server on said network via said network interface;    processing logic for requesting network address information from said server;    processing logic for receiving a network address of said second video game client system from said server;    processing logic for disconnecting from said first video game client system from said server before establishing a direct connection link with said second video game client using said network address;    processing logic for saving user information on said server from said first video game client;    processing logic for compressing and decompressing audio and video streams;    processing logic for reconnecting said first video game client system to a server coupled with said network; and    processing logic for uploading user information from said first video game clients system to a server memory on said server.    processing logic for creating and managing a blue screen, matte or color mask within the game title;    
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said first video game clients system connects directly to a personal computer, hand-held device or cell phone.  
     
     
         13 . In a computer network comprised of a plurality of video game clients logically connected to either each other or a server, and each client video game client having a network interface card for communicating with a plurality of other video game client on the network, a method and apparatus for establishing a videoconferencing and videophone system, said system and apparatus comprising: 
 a network interface coupled to a network;    a video game client;    a video game client controller;    a television or computer monitor for display and playback;    an apparatus and method for supporting equipment for said video game client system comprising:    a video camera;    a microphone;    client application software, also referred to as a video game title, executing in said first video game client system, said client software application or game title comprising:    processing logic for connecting said first video game client system to a server on said network via said network interface;    processing logic for requesting network address information from said server;    processing logic for receiving a network address of said second video game client system from said server;    processing logic for disconnecting from said first video game client system from said server before establishing a direct connection link with said second video game client system using said network address;    processing logic for saving user information on said server from said first video game client system;    processing logic for compressing and decompressing audio and video streams;    a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying information on screen, and allowing first video game client system to input data and interact with equipment;    processing logic for reconnecting said first video game client system to a server coupled with said network; and    processing logic for uploading user information from said first video game clients system to a server memory on said server.    
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said client application software further includes processing logic for the uploading of user information to said server.  
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said client application software further includes processing logic for recording the videoconference.  
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said client application software further includes processing logic for playing the recorded videoconference.  
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said system further comprises the ability to insert a commercial or advertisement in the form of a video clip or file, directly into the streamed connection from a network server to a video game client system.