Program insertion in real time IP multicast

Abstract

A system for broadcasting television programs over the Internet. A content provider, such as a broadcaster of a sports event, packages a television program into digital packets, and transmits the packets over the Internet to subscribers, from a first location. The content provider periodically pauses in transmitting the packets, to allow advertisers to transmit advertising messages during the pauses, from a second location. Arrangements are provided to synchornize the content provider and the advertisers.

1 . A program insertion system, comprising: 
 a) a primary program provider;    b) a first system for 
 i) transmitting a primary program from said primary program provider to subscribers, and  
 ii) receiving and scheduling at least one request for insertion of a secondary program during a pause in said transmission of said program;  
   c) a secondary program provider for providing said secondary program;    d) a second system for 
 i) transmitting said secondary program from said secondary program provider to subscribers, and  
 ii) issuing scheduling requests to said first system to insert said secondary program during said pause in said transmission of said primary program; and  
   e) an insertion protocol governing 
 i) the scheduling of transmission of said primary and secondary programs, and  
 ii) transfer of control between said first and said systems.  
   
     
     
         2 . The program insertion system of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary program provider is an advertiser and said secondary program comprises at least one advertisement.  
     
     
         3 . The program insertion system of  claim 1 , wherein said first system and said primary program provider are implemented in a single computer.  
     
     
         4 . The program insertion system of  claim 1 , wherein said second system and said secondary program provider are implemented in a single computer.  
     
     
         5 . A method, comprising: 
 a) receiving program content from a content provider;    b) transmitting the program content over an Internet to a destination;    c) suspending transmission of the program content, to thereby suspend display of the program content at the destination, to allow an advertiser to send advertising over said Internet to said destination; and    d) resuming transmission of the program content to the destination.    
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 5 , and further comprising: 
 e) receiving a message indicating that a suspension should occur; and    f) suspending the transmission in response to the message.    
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 5 , and further comprising: 
 e) scheduling predetermined times and durations of suspension; and    g) suspending transmission of the program content at said predetermined times, for said durations.    
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein no messages are transmitted which induce the suspensions.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 5 , wherein the program content comprises audio, visual, or audio-visual material, and is transmitted in the form of packets, each containing a sequence number.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein sometimes a packet having a relatively late sequence number arrives at the destination before a packet having a relatively early sequence number.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the advertising is transmitted in the form of packets, each containing a sequence number indicating its position in a sequence.  
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein, 
 i) prior to a suspension, a packet of program content having a sequence number N is transmitted; and then    ii) a packet of advertising having a sequence number N+1 is transmitted.    
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising: 
 a) from a first location, transmitting program content over an Internet to a destination;    b) from the first location, sending a suspension signal to a second location indicating that transmission of the program content is to be suspended;    c) from the second location, in response to the suspension signal, transmitting advertising content over the Internet to the destination;    d) from the second location, transmitting a termination signal to the first location indicating that transmission of the advertising content is to be terminated; and    e) repeating the processes of paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) at least once.    
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising: 
 a) from a first location, transmitting program content over an Internet to a destination;    b) from a second location, transmitting advertising content over the Internet to the destination;    c) coordinating the transmissions from the first and second locations so that the transmissions arrive at the destination in the approximate chronological order of program—advertising—program—advertising—program—advertising, and so on,    thereby enabling equipment located at the destination to play the program content in a chronological sequence, interrupted periodically by the advertising content.    
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising: 
 a) from a first location, transmitting program content over an Internet to a destination;    b) from a second location, transmitting advertising content over the Internet to the destination;    c) coordinating the transmissions from the first and second locations so that equipment located at the destination is able to construct both types of content in a chronological order following the following pattern: program—advertising—program—advertising—program—advertising, and so on.