Inserting advertising content

Abstract

Content may be inserted at a duplicating device by inserting advertising content into a duplicated feed, and transmitting the duplicated feed to the terminal. The transmission of the duplicated feed is performed in response to a state of the terminal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of inserting advertising content in a feed, the method comprising:
 receiving a first feed of one or more data units, the data units comprising an attribute portion and a payload portion;   duplicating the first feed for transmission as at least one duplicated feed;   inserting advertising content into the duplicated feed prior to transmission; and   transmitting the duplicated feed to a terminal, wherein the transmission of the duplicated feed is performed in response to a state of the terminal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the advertising content is selected based on a profile for the terminal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising loading the advertising content upon determining that the terminal profile relates to an advertising content profile associated with the advertising content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the terminal profile relates to one or more preferences associated with a user of the terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the state of the terminal comprises the temporal location of the terminal in receiving the duplicated feed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first feed includes regularly scheduled programming. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the advertising content is associated with one or more categories. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the categories include a local requirement. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the advertising content comprises a stream of data units. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the advertising content is inserted upon reaching a metatag. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the metatag indicates a level of parental control. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the advertising content is stored prior to inserting the advertising content. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein storing the advertising content includes storing the advertising content in an advertising buffer structured and arranged to be transmitted in the duplicated feed upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the predetermined event comprises reaching a metatag in the first feed, the metatag indicating that the advertising content should be inserted in the duplicated feed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein inserting advertising content includes comparing a local metatag with a national metatag to determine whether to insert a piece of local advertising content instead of a piece of national advertising content. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising inserting content from the first feed in the event of an interruption. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the interruption comprises a loss of service in accessing the advertising content. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the interruption comprises receiving an emergency message indicating that emergency programming requires transmission. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein transmitting the duplicated feed to the terminal includes transmitting the duplicated feed with an address corresponding to the terminal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data unit includes an Internet Protocol packet.