Verifying and encouraging asset consumption in a communications network

Abstract

Systems and methods presented herein generally provide for the compensation of asset providers and/or communications network providers for the non-consumption of assets provided with programming In this regard when users elect not to consume the assets associated with the programming, the asset provider loses the opportunity to present their assets to such non-consuming users and is thereby injured in relation to the price they have paid for the delivery of their assets. In one arrangement, a reporting module at a customer device is operative to identify when a user skips an asset and report that skip event to the network. This information may then be utilized to adjust the bill of the asset provider and/or to bill the user associated with the skip event.

1 . A method for use in delivering content in a communications network, comprising the steps of:
 identifying a user input related to an asset skip event;   associating the input with one or more asset delivery opportunities; and   recording skip information corresponding to the asset skip event with respect to the one or more asset delivery opportunities, wherein the skip information can be used in network administration.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying comprises obtaining input information from said user input requesting that content be transmitted to a user equipment device free from assets. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying comprises obtaining information from said user input entered during playing of content at a user equipment device substantially at a time slot associated with an asset. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of storing comprises recording said skip information in memory of a user equipment device. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of storing comprises recording said skip information at a network platform separate from a user equipment device where said user input was entered. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using said skip information to compensate for a diminution of an audience for one or more assets. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a billing value for a user based on said skip information. 
   
   
       8 . A method for use in connection with the delivery of content to users of a communications network, comprising:
 receiving content from a communications network interface, wherein said content includes programming and associated assets;   outputting said content to a user;   monitoring a consumption status of said assets; and   generating a signal indicative of said consumption status for at least a portion of said assets.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving comprises receiving content from a broadcast network. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said broadcast network comprises a video network. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving comprises receiving content from a packet switched network. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving comprises receiving content from a telephony network. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said signal comprises information regarding non-consumed assets. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 transmitting said signal to a platform of said communications network.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said signal is transmitted via said communications network interface. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 adjusting a billing value based at least in part on said non-consumed assets.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 billing said user for at least a portion of said billing value.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 reducing an asset delivery cost of at least a first asset provider based at least in part on said information regarding non-consumed assets.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said assets are interleaved with said programming. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 8 . wherein monitoring comprises monitoring inputs from said user. 
   
   
       21 . A method for use in connection with the delivery of content to users of a communications network, comprising:
 outputting content to a user of a communications network, said content including programming and assets, wherein said assets are interleaved with said programming;   receiving an asset skip input from said user, said input being associated with a programming break in said programming;   recording consumption information associated with said input; and   transmitting said consumption information to a platform of said communications network.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein outputting comprises outputting stored content from a storage device associated with a customer premise equipment device of the user. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the stored content is received via a network interface. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein recording consumption information comprises recording consumption information for at least a first asset associated with said programming break. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein recording consumption information comprises recording consumption information for a plurality of inputs associated with a plurality of programming breaks. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein transmitting comprises transmitting a plurality of consumption information associated with a of plurality inputs. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 transmitting said input to a content source associated with said communications network, wherein said content source is operative to calculate an asset delivery value associated with said input.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 transmitting said input to a content source in said communications network, wherein said content source is operative to adjust delivery of said content via said network in accordance with said input.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said communications network is a video network. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said video network is a cable television network. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said communications network is a packet switched network. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said communications network is a telephony network. 
   
   
       33 .- 47 . (canceled) 
   
   
       48 . An apparatus for use in connection with the delivery of content to users of a communications network, comprising:
 a structure for transmitting content to multiple customer premise equipment devices of multiple network users via a broadcast network, wherein said content includes programming and associated assets;   a receiver for receiving signals from a number of said customer premise equipment devices regarding consumption statuses of said assets by users of said number of customer premise equipment devices;   a processor operative for determining asset consumption information based on said received signals.   
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said processor is operative to generate at least a first value associated with said asset consumption value. 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said processor is operative to generate a consumption value for each of said number of customer premise equipment devices. 
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said structure and said receiver transmit aid receive, respectively via a common communication pathway. 
   
   
       52 .- 60 . (canceled)