User device agent for asynchronous advertising in time and space shifted media network

Abstract

A podcast system and method are provided to select and deliver media ads over a network to a user device and to insert the media ads in media content subscribed to and delivered over the network to the user device.

1 . A method of associating media content with media ads comprising: 
 obtaining a request for a media content file directed to a network subscription feed source of the media content file;    sending the request over the network to the network subscription feed source;    receiving over the network, a media content file responsive to the request;    receiving over the network, one or more ads;    receiving over the network, first metadata indicating one or more locations in the received content file where the one or more ads may be inserted; and    inserting at least one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file consistent with the first metadata.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein obtaining includes intercepting a request originating in a content subscription manager application and producing a revised request that directs the network subscription feed source to send the requested media content file to a prescribed network location; and    wherein sending includes sending the revised request.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further including: 
 causing the one or more received ads to be stored by a user device before receipt of the requested media content file and before inserting of the one or more received ads therein.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein receiving the media content file and receiving the one or more ads take place asynchronously.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further including: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein the ad placement rules specify frequency with which an ad is to be inserted into the one or more content files; and    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further including: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein the ad placement rules specify sequencing of ad insertion into one or more content files; and    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further including: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein the ad placement rules specify criteria for expiration of one or more ads; and    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         9 . An article of manufacture including computer readable medium encoded with program code causing a computing device to perform a process comprising: 
 obtaining a request for a media content file directed to a network subscription feed source of the media content file;    sending the request over the network to the network subscription feed source;    receiving over the network, a media content file responsive to the request;    receiving over the network, one or more ads;    receiving over the network, first metadata indicating one or more locations in the received content file where the one or more ads may be inserted; and    inserting at least one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file consistent with the first metadata.    
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , 
 wherein obtaining includes intercepting a request originating in a content subscription manager application and producing a revised request that directs the network subscription feed source to send the requested media content file to a prescribed network location; and    wherein sending includes sending the revised request.    
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the process further includes: 
 causing the one or more received ads to be stored by a user device before receipt of the requested media content file and before inserting of the one or more received ads therein.    
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 9 , 
 wherein receiving the media content file and receiving the one or more ads take place asynchronously.    
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the process further includes: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the process further includes: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein the ad placement rules specify frequency with which an ad is to be inserted into the one or more content files; and    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the process further includes: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein the ad placement rules specify sequencing of ad insertion into one or more content files; and    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the process further includes: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein the ad placement rules specify criteria for expiration of one or more ads; and    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         17 . A system to associate media content with media ads comprising: 
 a CPU;    data storage;    a bus interconnecting the CPU and the data storage;    wherein the data storage is encoded with program code to cause the CPU to perform a process including:    obtaining a request for a media content file directed to a network subscription feed source of the media content file;    sending the request over the network to the network subscription feed source;    receiving over the network, a media content file responsive to the request;    receiving over the network, one or more ads;    receiving over the network, first metadata indicating one or more locations in the received content file where the one or more ads may be inserted; and    inserting at least one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file consistent with the first metadata.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , 
 wherein obtaining includes intercepting a request originating in a content subscription manager application and producing a revised request that directs the network subscription feed source to send the requested media content file to a prescribed network location; and    wherein sending includes sending the revised request.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the process further includes: 
 causing the one or more received ads to be stored by a user device before receipt of the requested media content file and before inserting of the one or more received ads therein.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , 
 wherein receiving the media content file and receiving the one or more ads take place asynchronously.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the process further includes: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the process further includes: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein the ad placement rules specify frequency with which an ad is to be inserted into the one or more content files; and    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the process further includes: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein the ad placement rules specify sequencing of ad insertion into one or more content files; and    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the process further includes: 
 receiving over the network, second metadata indicating ad placement rules;    wherein the ad placement rules specify criteria for expiration of one or more ads; and    wherein inserting one of the one or more received ads within the received media content file includes inserting consistent with both the first metadata and the second metadata.