Patent Publication Number: US-2011072456-A1

Title: System and Method for Substituting Broadband Delivered Advertisements for Expired Advertisements

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to an Internet protocol television system, and more particularly relates advertising content on an Internet protocol television system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An Internet protocol television (IPTV) service provider can transmit an IPTV signal to a user of the IPTV system via a central office, a serving area interface, and a residential gateway. The IPTV service provider can offer the user a variety of different content and services. For example, the IPTV service provider can supply users with real-time television programs that are typically available for the users to watch only at a specific date and time. The IPTV service providers can also offer the users on-demand movies that are available for an extended amount of time and that are provided to the users upon request of the on-demand movie. The user can also record audio or video content for storage in a digital format on the user&#39;s set-top box or on a data server on the IPTV system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respect to the drawings presented herein, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an IPTV network; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of another embodiment of an IPTV network, including an advertising system; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a content item, including advertising content, that is recorded on a set-top box; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method of using an advertising system; and 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system. 
     
    
    
     The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily delimit any of the various claimed systems, methods or computer-readable media. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an IPTV system  100  including a client facing (CF) tier  102 , an application tier  104 , an acquisition tier  106 , an operations and management (OM) tier  108 , and one or more sets of client equipment  110 . Client equipment  110  is typically located at the home or business premises of a subscriber to the IPTV system  100 . IPTV system  100  includes an access network  192 , a private network  194 , and a public network  196 . Each tier  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  is coupled to one or more of access network  192 , private network  194 , and public network  196 . In an embodiment, CF tier  102  is coupled to access network  192  and to private network  194 , application tier  104  is coupled to private network  194  and to public network  196 , acquisition tier  106  is coupled to private network  194  and to public network  196 , and OM tier  108  is coupled to public network  196 . Client equipment  110  is coupled to access network  192 . 
     Networks  192 ,  194  and  196  communicate information between tiers  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108 , and client equipment  110 . Access network  192  communicates information between CF tier  102  and client equipment  110 . Private network  194  communicates information between CF tier  102  and application tier  104 , between application tier  104  and acquisition tier  106 , and between acquisition tier  106  and CF tier  102 . Public network  196  communicates information between application tier  104  and acquisition tier  106 , between acquisition tier  106  and OM tier  108 , and between OM tier  108  and application tier  104 . Information is also communicated directly between CF tier  102  and application tier  104 , as described below. The information communicated between tiers  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108 , and client equipment  110  includes encoded television programs, audio files, data files, commands, procedures, other information, or any combination thereof. 
     CF tier  102  communicates with multiple sets of client equipment  110  over a wide geographic area, such as a regional area, a metropolitan area, a viewing area, or any other suitable geographic area that is supported by access network  192 . Client equipment  110  includes a modem  112 , a set-top box  114 , a display device  116 , and a remote control  118 . The set-top box  114  includes a digital video recorder (DVR)  120  and a control module  125 . Modem  112  is coupled to access network  192 , and translates information from a form suitable for transmission over access network  192  to a form suitable for use by set-top box  114 , and vice versa. In a non-limiting example, modem  112  is coupled to access network  192  via fiber-optic cables, a digital subscriber line (DSL), another network fabric, or any combination thereof. 
     The information that CF tier  102  communicates to modem  112  is sent to set-top box  114 , which processes the information into a form suitable for display by display device  116  or for recording by DVR  120 . Set-top box  114  receives digitally encoded content from CF tier  102  for display on display device  116 , or for recording by DVR  120 . Set-top box  114  can also receive data from CF tier  102 , and render or display the data on display device  116 . Further, set-top box  114  can send data to CF tier  102 . Such data can include service requests, or commands from the subscriber, received by set-top box  112  via remote control  118 . In this way, the subscriber can request services or information or respond to a request for information from IPTV system  100 . Control module  125  includes instructions that are executable by set-top box  114  to control the data flow between the subscriber and IPTV system  100 . Control module  125  can include an IPTV software platform such as Microsoft® TV IPTV Edition. 
     Control module  125  can facilitate data communication between set-top box  114  and IPTV system  100 . For example, control module  125  can include a procedure whereby set-top box  114  receives a request to record content on DVR  120 , or sends a status to IPTV system  100  that the content has been recorded. Likewise, control module  125  can include a procedure whereby the subscriber can interact with IPTV system  100  to receive and execute a viewing preference that the subscriber has created in IPTV system  100 . Such preferences can be created via remote control  118 , or through a subscriber account that is accessible through public network  196 , such as through a subscriber&#39;s personal computer  198 . A non-limiting example of remote control  118  includes a hand-held controller device, a game controller device, a keyboard/mouse device, another control device, or any combination thereof. 
     CF tier  102  includes a client-facing tier (CFT) switch  130 , a data server  132 , a terminal server  134 , and a video-on-demand (VOD) server  136 . CFT switch  130  manages communication with client equipment  110  through access network  192  and with application tier  104  and acquisition tier  106  through private network  194 . CFT switch  130  is coupled to data server  132  that stores data transmitted in response to subscriber requests. CFT switch  130  is also coupled to terminal server  134  that provides terminal devices, such as a game application server, or other devices with a common connection point to private network  194 . CFT switch  130  is also coupled to VOD server  136 . 
     Application tier  104  includes application tier (APP) switches  140  and  141 , an application server  142 , an operation systems and support/billing systems and support (OSS/BSS) server  144 , a subscriber and system store  145 , a domain controller  146 , and a client gateway  147 . APP switches  140  and  141  manage communication with CF tier  102  and acquisition tier  106  through private network  194 . APP switch  141  also manages communication with acquisition tier  106  and OM tier  108  through public network  196 . APP switch  140  is coupled to APP switch  141 . APP switch  140  is also coupled to application server  142  and to OSS/BSS gateway  144 . Application server  142  provides applications to set-top box  114  through a set-top box application  143 , so that set-top box  114  can provide functions such as recording and displaying content, messaging, and processing of IPTV data and VOD material. OSS/BSS gateway  144  includes operation systems and support (OSS) data, and billing systems and support (BSS) data. 
     APP switch  141  is coupled to domain controller  146  and to subscriber and system store  145 . Domain controller  146  provides web access, for example, to subscribers via public network  196 . Subscriber and system store  145  includes account information that is associated with subscribers who access IPTV system  100  via private network  194  or public network  196 . Application tier  104  also communicates data directly to CF tier  102  through client gateway  147 . In this embodiment, client gateway  147  is coupled directly to CFT switch  130 . 
     Client gateway  147  provides subscriber access to private network  194  and tiers coupled thereto. In particular, set-top box  114  accesses IPTV system  100  via access network  192  using information received from client gateway  147 . Access network  192  provides security for private network  194 . Client equipment  110  accesses client gateway  147  via access network  192 , and client gateway  147  allows client equipment  110  to access private network  194  once client equipment  110  is authenticated or verified. Similarly, client gateway  147  prevents unauthorized client equipment (not illustrated), such as hacker computers or stolen set-top box devices, from accessing private network  194  by denying access to these devices beyond access network  192 . 
     For example, when set-top box device  114  accesses IPTV system  100  via access network  192 , client gateway  147  verifies subscriber information by communicating with subscriber and system store  145  via private network  194 , APP switch  140 , and APP switch  141 . Further, client gateway  147  verifies billing information and status by communicating with OSS/BSS gateway  144  via private network  194  and APP switch  140 . OSS/BSS gateway  144  transmits a query across APP switch  140 , to APP switch  141 , and APP switch  141  communicates the query across public network  196  to an OSS/BSS server  164  (described below). After the client gateway  147  confirms subscriber and/or billing information, client gateway  147  allows set-top box device  114  access to IPTV system  100  content and VOD server  136  content. If client gateway  147  cannot verify subscriber information for set-top box  114 , such as when set-top box  114  is connected to a different twisted pair, or when set-top box  114  is stolen, client gateway  147  denies transmissions to and from set-top box device  114  beyond access network  192 . 
     Domain controller  146  communicates with public network  196  via APP switch  141 . Domain controller  146  includes a web portal that allows a subscriber to access IPTV system  100  using a personal computer  198 . Domain controller  146  also communicates with a data network  172  that is connected to a wireless access point  174 . Wireless access point  174  communicates with a subscriber&#39;s wireless device  176  to provide wireless access to IPTV system  100 . A non-limiting example of a wireless device  176  includes a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile e-mail device, a portable digital video device, another wireless device, or any combination thereof. Wireless device  176  includes a display device  178  for displaying information from IPTV system  100 . Display device  178  includes a text display, a picture display, a video display or any combination thereof. 
     Acquisition tier  106  includes an acquisition tier (AQT) switch  150 , a live acquisition server  152 , a broadcast service  154 , and a video-on-demand importer server  156 . AQT switch  150  manages communication with CF tier  104  and application tier  104  through private network  194 , and with application tier  104  and OM tier  108  through public network  196 . AQT switch  150  is coupled to live acquisition server  152 , and video-on-demand importer server  156 . Live acquisition server  152  acquires television content from broadcast service  154 . Live acquisition server  152  sends the television content to AQT switch  150  for transmission to CF tier  102  via private network  194 . The television content is further encoded at data server  132 , and sent to client equipment  110  via access network  192 . Set-top box  114  receives the television content from modem  112 , decodes the television content, and transmits the information to display device  116  according to commands from remote control device  120 . 
     Additionally, VOD importer server  156  receives content from one or more video-on-demand sources that are outside IPTV system  100 , such as movie studios and programmers of non-live content. VOD importer server  156  transmits the video-on-demand content to AQT switch  150 , and AQT switch  150  communicates the material to CFT switch  130  via private network  194 . The video-on-demand content is stored on VOD server  136 . When a subscriber issues a request for VOD content to set-top box  114  through remote control  118 , the request is transmitted over access network  192  to VOD server  136  via CFT switch  130 . Upon receiving such a request, VOD server  136  retrieves the requested VOD content and transmits the content to set-top box or  114  across access network  192  via CFT switch  130 . 
     OM tier  108  includes an OM tier (OMT) switch  160 , a TV2 server  162 , the OSS/BSS server  164 , and a simple network management protocol (SNMP) monitor server  166 . OMT switch  160  manages the communication between OM tier  108  and public network  196 . OMT switch  160  is coupled to TV2 server  162 , OSS/BSS server  164 , and SNMP monitor server  166  that monitors network devices. TV2 server  162  receives television content from live acquisition server  152 , or video-on-demand content from VOD importer server  156  through public network  196 . The television and video-on-demand content is sent by TV2 server  162  to OMT switch  160  and forwarded to a subscriber of IPTV system  100  who accesses public network  196  through personal computer  198 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of an IPTV system  200  that includes an advertising system  210  that can selectively replace or renew expired advertisement content in a DVR recording of a content item. An advertisement content manager can determine if and when particular advertisement content is obsolete, select new advertisement content, and send the new advertisement content to the DVR to take the place of the original advertisement content in the content item. For example, the advertising system can tag particular advertisement content with metadata information that defines a run period specifying a length of time. Then, if the particular advertisement content has been on the DVR for longer than the run period, the particular advertisement content is deemed to be obsolete. In another example, the advertising system can tag particular advertisement content with metadata information that defines an expiration date. Then, if the current date is later than the expiration date, the advertisement content is deemed to be obsolete. The advertising system can then replace obsolete advertisement content by sending new advertisement content to a user&#39;s set-top box, and instructing the set-top box to erase the obsolete advertisement content on the DVR and to save the new advertisement content on the DVR. Then, when the user decides to view the content item, the user will see the new advertisement content, instead of the obsolete advertisement content. An example of a content item includes a television program, a movie, VOD content, music, a graphic presentation, another form of content, or a combination thereof. An example of advertisement content includes a product or service advertisement, a public service announcement, a television program announcement, another type of advertisement, or a combination thereof. Advertisement content is typically interspersed within a content item, and includes information chosen by the IPTV system operator to be delivered to the user. 
     IPTV system  200  is similar to IPTV system  100  and includes an advertising system  210  that communicates with client equipment  240 ,  241 , and  242  via a network  230 . Advertising system  210  includes processing logic  212 , a network interface  214 , and a memory  220 . Network interface  214  is adapted to facilitate communication between advertising system  210  and network  230 . Memory  220  is accessible to processing logic  212 . Memory  220  includes an advertisement content management module  222 , an advertisement content storage module  224 , and a set-top box module  226 . Modules  222 ,  224 , and  226  include computer instructions that are readable and executable by processing logic  212  to implement various functions of advertising system  210 . A non-limiting example of modules  222 ,  224 , and  226  includes different aspects of one or more software applications, operating systems, other computer programs, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment (not illustrated), memory  220 , and modules  222 ,  224 , and  226  are implemented as hardware logic or a combination of hardware logic and computer instructions. Client equipment  240 ,  241 , and  242  can include devices of different types, and can communicate with different types of networks including the Internet, television access networks, such as cable, satellite and IPTV access networks, cellular networks, Wi-Fi networks, other wireless networks, or a combination thereof. 
     Advertisement content management module  222  manages the placement, scheduling, and timing of advertisement content in IPTV system  200 . As such, advertisement content management module  222  receives advertisement content from various sources and stores the advertisement content on advertisement content storage module  224 . For example, advertisement content management module  222  can receive an advertisement for a sale at a local merchant, and can store the advertisement on advertisement content storage module  224  for later distribution to users. When a content item is sent to client equipment  240 ,  241 , and  242 , advertisement content management module  222  determines when advertising breaks are scheduled, and directs advertisement content storage module  224  to send particular advertisement content to client equipment  240 ,  241 , and  242 . The content item may be sent to client equipment  240 ,  241 , and  242  pursuant to a scheduled broadcast of the content item, or may be sent at the request of a user of client equipment  240 ,  241 , and  242 . 
     Set-top box module  226  sends and receives data from set-top boxes in client equipment  240 ,  241 , and  242 . For example, set-top box module  226  can direct set-top boxes, described below, in client equipment  240 ,  241 , and  242  to record and display content items, provide messaging services, and process IPTV data and VOD material. Set-top box module  226  also receives requests from the set-top boxes for specific content items to be sent to client equipment  240 ,  241 , and  242  at the request of a user. 
     Client equipment  240  includes a set-top box  250  and a display device  280 . Client equipment  240  communicates with IPTV system  200  via network  230 . Set-top box  250  includes processing logic  252 , a network interface  254 , a memory  260 , and a DVR  270 . Memory  260  is accessible to processing logic  252 . Network interface  254  is adapted to facilitate communication between client equipment  240  and network  230 . Memory  260  includes an input module  262 , a record module  264 , and a metadata module  266 . Modules  262 ,  264 , and  266  can be implemented as computer instructions that are readable and executable by processing logic  252 , as hardware logic, or as a combination thereof. 
     Input module  262  receives and processes inputs from a user or from set-top box module  226 . For example, input module  262  can receive an input corresponding to a content item search function, such as an input requesting recurrent searching and specifying one or more content item search terms. In another example, input module  222  can receive an input specifying one or more changes in content item search terms, an input indicating a request to discontinue recurrent searching, an input indicating that content item search terms is to be deleted, or any combination thereof. 
     Further, input module  262  receives data from set-top box module  226  indicating that set-top box  250  is to record one or more content items on DVR  270 . Thus, for example, record module  264  can record the content items on DVR  270  or can instruct an external DVR (not illustrated) to record the content items. In another example, record module  264  can send the content items to display device  280 . 
     Metadata module  266  reads metadata information associated with a content item. The metadata information may be read from a content item that is provided to set-top box  250  from IPTV system  200 , or may be read from a content item that is recorded on DVR  270 . For example, metadata module  266  can read metadata information associated with a television program recorded on DVR  270 . Metadata can include electronic programming guide (EPG) information, other information provided with a content item and that characterizes the content item, or a combination thereof. Metadata module  266  also sends and receives data to IPTV system  200 . For examples, metadata module  266  can communicate the metadata information associated with a particular content item recorded on DVR  270  to advertisement content management module  222 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a content item  300  that is recorded on DVR  270 . Content item  300  is a program during which advertisements are shown. Thus, content item  300  includes one or more program content sections  310 ,  311 , and  312 , and one or more advertisement content sections  320 ,  321 , and  322 . Program content sections  310 ,  311 , and  312  are typically viewed in order, and content sections  310 ,  311 , and  312  are produced to be combined to make a complete program. For example, content sections  310 ,  311 , and  312  can combine to make a movie, a television program, a VOD item, a music performance, another program, or a combination thereof. Advertisement content sections  320 ,  321 , and  322  are typically interchangeable in the order in which they are presented, and can have no relationship to program content sections  310 ,  311 , or  312 , or to each other. For example advertisement content section  320  can include an advertisement for an automobile dealership, advertisement content section  321  can include an advertisement for a weekly special at a grocery store, and advertisement content section  320  can include a public service announcement for a weekly farmer&#39;s market. 
     Advertisement content section  320  includes advertisement information  330  and metadata information  332 . Advertisement information  330  is information that is intended to be displayed to a viewer of advertisement content section  320 . For example, advertisement information  330  can include audio and video information in the form of a television signal, a video file, another type of displayed information, or a combination thereof. Metadata information  332  is information that characterizes advertisement content section  320 . For example, metadata information  332  can include a title for advertisement content section  320 , a length of advertisement information  330 , a sponsor name, a creation date, a file length, other information characterizing advertisement content section  320 , or a combination thereof. 
     In a particular embodiment, advertisement content management module  222  creates a unique identifier for each advertisement content section  320 ,  321 , and  322  and includes the unique identifier in metadata information  332 . Advertisement content management module  222  keeps a list of the unique identifiers for all advertisement content provided on IPTV system  200 , and an associated run period for each advertisement content. Then, in one aspect, advertisement content management module  222  periodically directs metadata module  266  to determine the unique identifiers for each advertisement content section  320 ,  321 , and  322 , and to return information including the unique identifiers to advertisement content management module  222 . In another aspect, when a user desires to view content item  300 , metadata module  266  determines the unique identifiers for each advertisement content section  320 ,  321 , and  322 , and returns information including the unique identifiers to advertisement content management module  222 . In both aspects, advertisement content management module  222  then compares the received list of unique identifiers with their associated run periods, and determines if any of the run periods have expired. If any of the run periods have expired, advertisement content management module  222  directs advertisement content storage module  224  to send new advertisement content items to set-top box  250  to replace the expired advertisement content  320 ,  321 , or  322  in content item  300 . Record module  264  records the new advertisement content items and deletes the expired advertisement content  320 ,  321 , or  322 . 
     In another embodiment, advertisement content management module  222  includes a run period with metadata information  332 . Then, in one aspect, set-top box  250  periodically directs metadata module  266  to determine the run period for each advertisement content section  320 ,  321 , and  322 . In another aspect, when a user desires to view content item  300 , metadata module  266  determines the run periods for each advertisement content section  320 ,  321 , and  322 . In both aspects, set-top box  250  then determines if any of the run periods have expired. If any of the run periods have expired, input module  262  requests advertisement content storage module  224  to send new advertisement content items to set-top box  250  to replace the expired advertisement content  320 ,  321 , or  322  in content item  300 . Record module  264  records the new advertisement content items and deletes the expired advertisement content  320 ,  321 , or  322 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method of substituting broadband delivered advertisements for expired advertisements. The method starts in block  402 , and an advertisement content item is tagged with metadata in block  404 . For example, advertisement content management module  222  can place a run period or an expiration date in metadata information  332  of advertisement content section  320 . The advertisement content item is sent to a set-top box, along with a content item in block  406 . Thus, when set-top box module  226  sends content item  300 , advertisement content management module  222  can place advertisement content section  320  within content item  300 , and set-top box module  226  can send content item  300  to set-top box  250 . The content item is recorded in the set-top box in block  408 . For example, set-top box  250  can direct record module  264  to record content item  300  on DVR  270 . 
     The metadata in the advertisement content item is read in the set-top box in block  410 . As such, metadata module  266  can read metadata information  332  from advertisement content section  320 . In a particular embodiment, metadata module  266  can read metadata from advertisement content sections periodically. In another embodiment, metadata module  266  can read metadata from advertisement content sections when a particular content item is replayed on set-top box  250 . A decision is made as to whether or not the advertisement content item is expired in decision block  412 . For example, the advertisement content item may or may not have been recorded on the DVR for longer than a run period, or the current date may or may not be later than an expiration date. If the advertisement content item is not expired, the “NO” branch of decision block  412  is taken, and processing returns to block  410 , where the advertisement content item is read again. If the advertisement content item is expired, the “YES” branch of decision block is taken, the advertisement content item is replaced in the content item in the set-top box in block  414 , and processing ends in block  416 . For example, advertisement content management module  222  can send a new advertisement content section to set-top box  250 , and record module  264  can erase advertisement content section  320  and record the new advertisement content section to be replayed when content item  300  is replayed. 
       FIG. 5  shows an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system  500  in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Computer system  500  includes a set of instructions that can be executed to cause computer system  500  to perform any one or more of the methods or computer based functions disclosed herein. Computer system  500  can operate as a standalone device or can be connected via a network to other computer systems or peripheral devices. 
     In a networked deployment, computer system  500  operates in the capacity of a server or as a client computer in a server-client network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Computer system  500  can also be implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In a particular embodiment, computer system  500  is implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video or data communication. Further, while computer system  500  is illustrated as a single system, the term “system” shall also be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions. 
     Computer system  500  includes a processor  502  such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, computer system  500  includes a main memory  504  and a static memory  506  that communicate with each other via a bus  508 . Computer system  500  further includes a video display unit  510 , such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT). Additionally, computer system  500  includes an input device  512 , such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device  514 , such as a mouse. Computer system  500  also includes a disk drive unit  516 , a signal generation device  518 , such as a speaker or remote control, and a network interface device  520 . 
     In a particular embodiment, disk drive unit  516  includes a computer-readable medium  522  in which one or more sets of instructions  524  are embedded. Instructions  524  embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein. In a particular embodiment, instructions  524  reside completely, or at least partially, within main memory  504 , static memory  506 , and/or within processor  502  during execution by computer system  500 . Main memory  504  and processor  502  also include computer-readable media. Network interface device  520  provides connectivity to a network  526  such as a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or other network. The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium that includes instructions  524  or receives and executes instructions  524  responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to network  526  can communicate voice, video or data over network  526 . Further, instructions  524  can be transmitted or received by network  526  via network interface device  520 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods described herein. Applications that include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodiments described herein can implement functions using two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein can be implemented by software code executable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations can include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods or functionality as described herein. 
     While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein. 
     In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be a random access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capture carrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmission medium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives can be considered a distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions can be stored. 
     The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments can be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments can be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description of the Drawings, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description of the Drawings, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter. 
     The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosed subject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.