Targeting content based on location

• US 10,075,754 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Sheehan, Patrick M., Anderson, Bruce J., Wilson, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chae, Kyu
• Application Number:
  US14/502,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20150237386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

Assets of broadcast network content are targeted to network users of interest based on location information regarding user equipment devices. Asset providers can specify location targeting criteria via a graphical user interface displaying mapping information. This location targeting criteria can then be compared to location information regarding user equipment devices so that assets are delivered to appropriate devices. The comparison of the location targeting criteria to the device location information can be performed at the user equipment devices or at another location. In the latter case, the assets can be addressed to appropriate user equipment devices or appropriate user equipment devices can be directed to select the asset, which is broadcast via the network. In this manner, assets can be targeted to individual network users on a basis independent of network topology.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in targeting assets to network users based at least in part on location, comprising:

an input module for receiving asset targeting information for assets available for delivery in asset delivery opportunities of video programming, the asset targeting information including location information associated with targeted network users, wherein the location information for at least some of the assets is defined according to a location information structure that is independent of a network topology of a broadcast network;

a broadcast network targeting module for targeting broadcast network users of a broadcast network to receive a first set of one or more of the assets, the broadcast network targeting module being operative for obtaining the targeting information including the location information for the first set of assets, accessing broadcast network user information for a first user of the broadcast network, and identifying a first asset of the first set for delivery based on at least the location information and the broadcast network user information;

a headend controller for controlling a broadcast network headend unit to deliver the first asset of the first set of assets to the first user of the broadcast network; and

a direct address network targeting module for targeting direct address network users of a direct address network to receive a second set one or more of the assets, the same as or different from the first set, the direct address network targeting module being operative for addressing, to a first direct address network user, first video programming with a selected asset inserted into a first asset delivery opportunity of the first video programming, the selected asset being selected for insertion into the first asset delivery opportunity based at least in part on the location information of a targeted user.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the broadcast network targeting module is operative for targeting the first set of assets via the broadcast network in connection with delivery of television programming.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the direct address network targeting module is operative for targeting the second set of assets for delivery via a data network.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the direct address network targeting module is operative for targeting the second set of assets for delivery via a mobile device network.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input module is associated with a contracting platform for receiving asset delivery requests, wherein the asset delivery requests can be satisfied by delivery via multiple networks including a broadcast network for delivery of television programming.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the location information specifies a predefined targeting zone available for selection by multiple asset providers.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the location information specifies a targeting zone unique to a particular asset provider.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the location information structure includes one or more or a location zone identifier, a location zone boundary, grid elements defining a location zone, and a location zone centroid.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the broadcast network user information identifies a location of the first user.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the broadcast network user information identifies a residence address of the first user.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the selected asset is selected based at least the current location of a mobile user equipment device.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein selected asset is selected based on information transmitted from a user equipment device.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the selected asset is selected based on a residence address.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first programming stream with the selected asset embedded therein is delivered to the user via a user equipment device.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first programming stream comprise live programming content.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first programming stream comprises time-shifted programming content.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the asset targeting information includes additional information other than said location information and said direct address network targeting module is operative for using said location information together with said additional subscriber information to make a determination regarding delivery of the selected asset.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein the additional information comprises demographic information.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein the additional information is based at least in part on network usage.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein the additional information is based at least in part on accessing a third party database relating to financial information.

35. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first programming stream comprise live programming content.

36. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first programming stream comprises time-shifted programming content.

38. A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the additional information comprises demographic information.

39. A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the additional information is based at least in part on network usage.

40. A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the additional information is based at least in part on accessing a third party database relating to financial information.

21. A method for use in targeting assets to network users based at least in part on location, comprising:

receiving asset targeting information for assets available for delivery in asset delivery opportunities of video programming, the asset targeting information including location information associated with targeted network users, wherein the location information for at least some of the assets is defined according to a location information structure that is independent of a network topology of a broadcast network;

targeting broadcast network users of a broadcast network to receive a first set of one or more of the assets, by obtaining the targeting information including the location information for the first set of assets, accessing broadcast network user information for a first user of the broadcast network, and identifying a first asset of the first set for delivery based on at least the location information and the broadcast network user information;

controlling a broadcast network headend unit to deliver the first asset of the first set of assets to the first user of the broadcast network; and

targeting direct address network users of a direct address network to receive a second set one or more of the assets, the same as or different from the first set, by addressing, to a first direct address network user, first video programming with a selected asset inserted into a first asset delivery opportunity of the first video programming, the selected asset being selected for insertion into the first asset delivery opportunity based at least in part on the location information of the selected asset.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21, comprising targeting the first set of assets via the broadcast network in connection with delivery of television programming.

23. A method as set forth in claim 21, comprising targeting the second set of assets for delivery via a data network.

24. A method as set forth in claim 21, comprising for targeting the second set of assets for delivery via a mobile device network.

25. A method as set forth in claim 21, comprising receiving asset delivery requests, wherein the asset delivery requests can be satisfied by delivery via multiple networks including a broadcast network for delivery of television programming.

26. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the location information specifies a predefined targeting zone available for selection by multiple asset providers.

27. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the location information specifies a targeting zone unique to a particular asset provider.

28. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the location information structure includes one or more or a location zone identifier, a location zone boundary, grid elements defining a location zone, and a location zone centroid.

29. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the broadcast network user information identifies a location of the first user.

30. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the broadcast network user information identifies a residence address of the first user.

31. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the selected asset is selected based at least the current location of a mobile user equipment device.

32. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the selected asset is selected based on information transmitted from a user equipment device.

33. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein selected asset is selected based on a residence address.

34. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein a first programming stream with the selected asset embedded therein is delivered to the user via a user equipment device.

37. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the asset targeting information includes additional information other than said location information and said method further comprises using said location information together with said additional subscriber information to make a determination regarding delivery of the selected asset.