How Devices Track Offline Ad Watching and Share Media Recommendations

A system for tracking which ads a user watches in downloaded video files while offline and reporting that data back to publishers once the device reconnects to the internet.

What it covers

This patent describes a method for tracking media consumption on devices that are not connected to the internet. When a user downloads an episodic media file containing pre-inserted advertisements at specific timestamps, the client device logs how much of the file is played while offline. By comparing the playback duration against the known insertion points of the ads, the device determines which specific advertisements were viewed. Once the device reconnects to the internet, it transmits this data to the publisher and can facilitate social media recommendations for the content to third parties.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover tracking of media consumed while the device is actively connected to the internet.
• —Does not cover systems that stream content in real-time without downloading the file first.
• —Does not cover ad insertion methods that occur dynamically on the server side during playback.
• —Does not cover the actual content of the advertisements themselves.

The clever bit

The system uses the playback duration log as a proxy for ad exposure, effectively 'calculating' ad consumption by comparing the time-stamped log against the known insertion points of the ads within the file.

Why it matters

This patent addresses the 'offline gap' in digital advertising. Before this, publishers struggled to prove that ads embedded in downloaded files were actually seen by users. By automating the reporting of offline consumption, it allows companies like Sony to provide accurate metrics to advertisers even when the user is on a plane or in a dead zone.

Real-world examples

• 1.Downloaded episodes on the PlayStation Video platform
• 2.Offline viewing modes in mobile media player apps
• 3.Ad-supported video-on-demand services with download-to-go features