Abstract:
A client-server architecture allows audio video display device (AVDD) devices to obtain advertisements. A gateway server contacted by the AVDD pursuant to AVDD energization sends a link to the AVDD to a link server, from which the AVDD downloads only links to secondary ad servers. The gateway server also sends one or more links to the AVDD to primary ad servers. The AVDD presents ads from the primary and secondary ad server simultaneously.

Description:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates generally to unified onscreen advertisement systems for audio video display device (AVDD) devices. 
     II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With more and more AVDDs connecting to the Internet, the opportunities for downstream revenue from advertising embedded within the digital content and on-screen applications are increasing dramatically. Note that: “advertisement” includes sales advertisements for new products and services as well as notifications that items such as purchasable software updates are available. 
     As understood herein, however, current advertising systems limit the opportunities to increase downstream revenue for the manufacturers of AVDDs. This is because advertisers typically contract with Internet advertising agencies to develop advertisements that are provisioned through channels that do not include the manufacturers of the AVDDs. While limited revenue may be realized by, e.g., populating advertising campaigns into electronic program guides (EPGs) embedded in some TV models, obstacles remain to expanding advertising revenue to AVDD manufacturers beyond the current EPG paradigm. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to principles set forth further below, the manufacturer of an AVDD can provide a gateway server whose network or Internet address is preprogrammed into the AVDD during manufacturing or downloaded post-sale to the AVDD. Whenever the AVDD is powered up it can contact the gateway server and receive pointers from the gateway server, referred to herein as links, to two types of servers, along with ad position placement instructions. 
     One type of server is a link server associated with an intermediary ad broker who has contracted with ad providers and with the manufacturer of the AVDD to arrange to place ads from the providers onto the AVDD in accordance with a business case. The link server returns no ads to the AVDD but only links to ad servers with whom the link server entity has contracted. Using the links from the link server, the AVDD accesses the ad servers pointed to by the link server and downloads and places ads on its display in accordance with the ad position placement instructions dictated by the gateway server. 
     The second type of server pointed to by the gateway server is an ad server, and the gateway server can point to more than one ad server. Using the links from the gateway server, the AVDD accesses the ad servers pointed to by the gateway server and downloads and places ads on its display in accordance with the ad position placement instructions dictated by the gateway server. 
     In this way, the manufacturer of the AVDD has flexibility to enter into contractual relationships with both the intermediary ad broker and directly with select ad providers themselves, to present ads on the AVDD which can generate revenue from mere display as well as additional revenue whenever an ad is selected by a viewer. Selection of an ad can in turn link the AVDD to a source of AV content affiliated with the selected ad. The manufacturer of the AVDD also retains control over where on the AVDD display the ads are presented so that the manufacturer may impose differential pricing for ads depending on the screen position at which the ads are placed. 
     In another aspect, a method includes receiving, at an audio video display device (AVDD) from a gateway server, a link to a link server and downloading from the link server to the AVDD only links to secondary ad servers. The method then includes downloading at the AVDD at least a first ad from a secondary ad server. Also, the method includes receiving at the AVDD from the gateway server one or more links to primary ad servers, downloading at the AVDD at least one a second from the primary ad server, and presenting on the AVDD the first and second ads simultaneously. 
     In another aspect, an audio video display device (AVDD) device has a processor, a display controlled by the processor, and a computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to, responsive to energization of the AVDD, access an Internet gateway server. The processor receives from the gateway server a link to a link server and at least one link to at least one primary advertisement server. In turn, the processor accesses the link server using the link thereto received from the gateway server to download from the link server at least one link to at least one secondary advertisement server but not to download from the link server any advertisements. In this way the processor accesses the primary advertisement server using the link thereto received from the gateway server to download and display at least a first advertisement on the AVDD while also accessing the secondary advertisement server using the link thereto received from the link server to download and display on the AVDD at least a secondary advertisement in addition to and simultaneous with the first advertisement. 
     As contemplated in some embodiments the processor causes the display to present a current video window in which is presented a currently selected AV program encompassing a majority of the display and a column of relatively thin ad panes. The thin ad panes present respective ads including at least the first and second advertisements. The column of thin ad panes can be presented to the right of the current video window when viewing the display and a relatively thick ad pane of the same width as the relatively thin ad panes but thicker in a vertical dimension defined by the display than the relatively thin ad panes can be presented juxtaposed with the column of thin ad panes. 
     If desired, the processor, responsive to viewer focus on an ad in a relatively thin ad pane, may enlarge the ad and move it into the relatively thick ad pane. Similarly, the processor, responsive to viewer focus on an ad in the relatively ad thick pane, may enlarge the ad and moves it into a single larger pane on the display. The single larger pane can encompass a screen region previously occupied by the relatively thin ad panes and relatively thick ad pane. 
     If an ad in the relatively thick ad pane is an ad for a video-on-demand (VOD) program, the processor, responsive to selection of the ad for a VOD program, may replace the relatively thick and thin ad panes and current video window with an image pane showing images related to the VOD program, a textual description of the VOD program, and at least one selector element selectable to purchase or rent the VOD program. On the other hand, if the ad in the relatively thick ad pane is for an Internet-sourced program, responsive to selection of the ad the processor can link to an AV program server. 
     The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a non-limiting example system in accordance with present principles; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing example logic that can be executed by the AVDD; and 
         FIGS. 3-11  are screen shots of the AVDD illustrating example features. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to the non-limiting example embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a system  10  includes a audio video display device (AVDD)  12  such as a portable TV including a TV tuner  16  communicating with one or more processors  18  accessing one or more tangible computer readable storage media  20  such as disk-based or solid state storage bearing logic and data in accordance with present principles. The AVDD  12  can output audio on one or more speakers  22 . The AVDD  12  can receive streaming video from the Internet using a network interface  24  such as a wired or wireless modem communicating with the processor  12  which may execute a software-implemented browser stored on the medium  20 . Video may be presented under control of the processor  18  on a video display  28 . Used commands to the processor  18  may be received from an input device  30  such as but not limited to wired or wireless keyboards, keypads, touch sensor array under the display  28 , mice, or other pointing and clicking device such as a wireless TV remote control, etc. AVDDs other than a TV may be used, e.g., smart phones, game consoles, personal digital organizers, notebook computers and other types of computers, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the AVDD  12  can communicate through the Internet  32  or other wide area network with a gateway server  34  having one or more processors  36  accessing one or more computer readable storage media  38  bearing logic and data in accordance with present principles. Other AVDDs  40  likewise can communicate with the gateway server  34  through the Internet. The gateway server  34  typically is affiliated with the manufacturer of the AVDDs  12 ,  40 . 
       FIG. 1  also shows that an a link server  42  may communicate with the Internet for purposes to be shortly disclosed, as well as one or more advertisement (“ad”) servers  44  from various ad providers and storing the content of Internet advertisements. Some of the ads may be associated with AV programming and when selected as discussed below can cause the AVDD to access an AV program server  46  which is affiliated with (or which may be the same as) the ad server  44 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , at block  50  the AVDD  12  contacts the gateway server  34 . This may be done responsive to every energization of the AVDD. As can be appreciated the AVDD  12  contacts the gateway server  34  on the Internet via the network interface  24 . 
     Proceeding to block  52  the AVDD receives from the gateway server  34  a link to the link server  42  and one or more links to one or more respective advertisement servers  44 . In one embodiment the links are hyperlinks typically including IP addresses of the servers. Also, the AVDD can receive ad position placement instructions from the gateway server  34 . For example, the gateway server  34  can instruct the AVDD  12  to present the first two ads obtained via the link server  42  at display  28  positions N and M and to present the first ad obtained directly from an ad server  44  whose link is provided by the gateway server  34  at display position P, wherein N, M, and P are integers and are discussed further below. 
     Moving to block  54 , the AVDD accesses the advertisement server(s)  44  whose link(s) were received from the gateway server  34  using the links from the gateway server. For clarity of description without loss of generality the ad servers whose links are received by the AVDD direct from the gateway server  34  can be referred to as “primary” ad servers. At block  56  the AVDD  12  downloads from the primary ad server(s)  44  advertisements, presenting the ads on the display  28  in accordance with the ad position placement instructions from the gateway server  34  as more fully described below. 
     Also, the AVDD  12  accesses the link server  42  at block  58  using the link thereto received from the gateway server  34 . At block  60  the AVDD  12  downloads from the link server  42  one or more links) to respective advertisement server(s)  44 . For clarity of description without loss of generality the ad servers whose links are received by the AVDD from the link server  42  can be referred to as “secondary” ad servers. Note that the AVDD  12  does not download ads per se from the link server  42 , only links to additional ad servers. 
     Proceeding to block  62 , using the link(s) from the link server  42 , the AVDD accesses the corresponding secondary ad server(s)  44 . Accordingly, at block  64  the AVDD  12  downloads ads from secondary the ad server(s)  44  whose links were received from the link server  42 , presenting them on the display  28  in accordance with the ad position placement instructions from, the gateway server  34  as more fully described below. Should a viewer of the AVDD device  12  select a displayed ad as by clicking on the ad using a TV remote control, at block  66  the AVDD can be linked to the AV program server  46  that is affiliated with the selected ad to present an AV program from the server  46  on the display  28 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , a screen is shot of the display  28  of the AVDD  12  which includes a current video window  68  in which is presented a currently selected AV program received through the network interface  24 , TV tuner  16 , cable head end, satellite receiver, etc. The current video window  68  may encompass the majority of the display area of the display  28  as shown. 
     Also, to the right of the current video window  68  in the example shown in  FIG. 3  a column of relatively thin ad panes  70  may be presented, for example four panes  70  numbered  1 - 4  as shown, at the bottom of which column may be a single relatively thick ad pane  72  of the same width as the relatively thin ad panes  70  but being thicker in the vertical dimension defined by the display  28  than the relatively thin ad panes  70 . Beneath the current video window  68  a row of genus selection icons  74  may be arranged from left to right on the display  28  and may be selected by a viewer manipulating, e.g., a TV RC to select a particular genre of video (favorites, history, Internet, disk player, recommendations, etc.) to present on the display  28  in, e.g., the relatively thick ad pane  72 . For example, an ad for a recommended video may be presented in the relatively thick ad pane  72  when the “recommendation” icon  74  is selected. 
     According to present principles, ads from secondary ad servers  44  linked to via links from the link server  42  may be presented in predetermined ad panes  70 / 72  on the display  28  according to the ad position placement instructions from the gateway server  34 . For example, the ad position placement instructions from the gateway server  34  may instruct the AVDD  12  to place ads from secondary ad servers  44  linked to via links from the link server  42  in panes  1 ,  3 , and  4 . On the other hand, ads from primary ad servers  44  linked to directly from the gateway server  34  may be presented in other predetermined ad panes  70 / 72  on the display  28  according to the ad position placement instructions from the gateway server  34 . For example, the ad position placement instructions from the gateway server  34  may instruct the AVDD  12  to place ads from primary ad servers  44  linked to directly from the gateway server  34  in pane  2 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show that if the viewer focuses on a particular ad, in this case, the ad in relatively thin pane # 4  by, e.g., hovering a screen cursor over the ad, after a predetermined time period or responsive to selection of, e.g., the up arrow on a TV RC the same ad is enlarged and moved into the relatively thick pane  72 . Similarly,  FIGS. 6 and 7  show that if the viewer focuses on the ad in the relatively thick pane  72  by, e.g., hovering a screen cursor over the ad, after a predetermined time period the same ad is enlarged and presented in a single larger pane  74  that encompasses the screen region previously occupied by the panes  70 ,  72 . 
     Additional features may be appreciated in reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Suppose the ad in the relatively thick pane  72  is an ad for a video-on-demand (VOID) program ( FIG. 8 ). If a user selects the ad in the relatively thick pane  72  by, e.g., clicking on it the presentation of  FIG. 9  may be invoked responsive to the selection on the display  28 . In  FIG. 9  the panes  70 ,  72  and current video window  68  are replaced by an image pane  76  showing images related to the VOD program. Also, in place of the current video window  68  a textual description  78  of the VOID program appears. If desired a selector element  80  may be provided that can be selected to purchase or rent the VOD program in high definition for one price while a selector element  82  may be provided that can be selected to purchase or rent the VOD program in standard definition for a typically lower price. 
     Yet again,  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate that if the ad in the relatively thick pane  72  is for an Internet-sourced program and the ad is selected ( FIG. 10 ), responsive thereto the screen presentation of  FIG. 11  is invoked along with a browser. The AVDD  12  links to an AV program server  46  affiliated with the selected ad by accessing a hyperlink embedded in the ad. A web video pane  84  can be presented on the display  28  generally where the current video window  68  had been presented, with the web video pane  84  presenting a clip of the selected web program. A text description pane  86  in which a text description of the web program appears can be presented to the right of the web video pane  84  and below the pane  86  a pane  88  may be presented which described the case and characters of the selected web video. Below the pane  88  in turn a pane  90  may be presented in, which information on an upcoming (ensuing) episode of the web video appears. 
     While the particular UNIFIED ONSCREEN ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM FOR AVDDs is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.