Automated content injection

Abstract

A system and method for automated customization are disclosed herein. The system includes a content distribution network formed of a content network, an end-user network, and one or several customization networks. The end-user network includes a local data server and an end-user server. The end-user server can be programmed to receive a document, identify one or several customizations for insertion into that document; identify one or several insertion points designated to receive the one or several customizations, and to insert the one or several customizations into the designated one or several insertion points.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of injecting content into a document comprising:
 identifying a presence of at least one insertion point within a document;   identifying a customization comprising a metadata file, a customization name, and a customization file comprising a page fragment for insertion into the document;   determining a customization location from a parsing of the customization name, wherein determining the customization location comprises:
 identifying a designated insertion point for the customization; and 
 identifying a destination location at which the customization appears to a user accessing the document in displayed digital content, wherein the destination location is not at the insertion point; and 
   digitally outputting the document including the customization to a user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the presence of the at least one insertion point within the document comprises: receiving data identifying one or several indicators of an insertion point; and searching the document for indicators of the insertion point. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the document is searched for indicators of the insertion point with a search engine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting the customization into the document at the insertion point. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein digitally outputting the document including the customization to the user includes directing the display of the document including the customization at the destination location to the user via a user device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving data identifying one or several indicators of the insertion point comprises receiving an electrical signal containing information identifying coding creating the insertion point, wherein the electrical signal is received at an end-user server of an end-user network from a content network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising searching for the customization, wherein searching for the customization comprises retrieving data identifying a plurality of customization repositories, wherein at least one of the customization repositories is part of the end-user network and at least one of the customization repositories is outside of the end-user network but communicatively connected with the end-user network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein searching for the customization comprises:
 retrieving customization rules, wherein the customization rules identify categories of customizations applicable to the document; and   generating and sending a customization request, wherein generating and sending a customization request comprises generating a portion of a customization name according to a naming convention, wherein the portion of the customization name identifies customization for the document.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating a portion of the customization name comprises:
 retrieving a naming convention from a convention database;   retrieving information relating to the document for use in generating the portion of the customization name; and   applying the naming convention to the information for use in generating the portion of the customization name to generate the portion of the customization name.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the destination location is within the insertion point. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the destination location is outside of the insertion point. 
     
     
         12 . An end-user system comprising:
 a plurality of user devices each configured to display a document to a user;   a local data server comprising a plurality of databases comprising:
 a post database, wherein the post database contains the document that is displayed to a user via at least one of the user devices; and 
 a customization database comprising a customization including a customization file comprising a page fragment for insertion into the document and a metadata file; and 
   at least one server configured to:
 identify a presence of at least one insertion point within the document; 
 identify the customization from the customization database, wherein the customization has a customization name; 
 determine a customization location from a parsing of the customization name, wherein determining the customization location comprises:
 identifying a designated insertion point for the customization; and 
 identifying a destination location at which the customization appears to a user accessing the document, wherein the destination location is not at the insertion point; and 
 
 digitally output the document including the customization to at least one of the user devices. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein identifying the presence of the at least one insertion point within the document comprises: receiving data identifying one or several indicators of an insertion point; and searching the document for indicators of the insertion point. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising inserting the customization into the document at the insertion point. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein digitally outputting the document including the customization to the user includes directing the display of the document including the customization at the destination location to the user via a user device 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein receiving data identifying one or several indicators of the insertion point comprises receiving an electrical signal containing information identifying coding creating the insertion point, wherein the electrical signal is received at the at least one server from a content network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one server is further configured to search for the customization, wherein searching for the customization comprises retrieving data identifying a plurality of customization repositories, wherein at least one of the customization repositories is outside of the local data server. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein searching for the customization comprises:
 retrieving customization rules identifying categories of customizations applicable to the document; and   generating and sending a customization request, wherein generating and sending a customization request comprises generating a portion of a customization name according to a naming convention, wherein the portion of the customization name identifies customization for the document.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein generating a portion of the customization name comprises:
 retrieving a naming convention;   retrieving information relating to the document for use in generating the portion of the customization name; and   applying the naming convention to the information for use in generating the portion of the customization name to generate the portion of the customization name.