Method and apparatus for switching targeted advertisements at a set top terminal

• US 20040111742A1
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Bonner, Alfred E., Hendricks, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,913,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 comprising local storage units
• 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 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 : Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 : Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 : Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 : being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 : the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 : for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 : characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 : for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 : for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 : Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/4383 : Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 : Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64307 : ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 : Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 : for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 : for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 : Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A system and method for switching targeted advertisements is described. In one embodiment one primary advertisement is assigned to a first channel, where the first channel carries a program. At least one alternate advertisement is assigned to one or more alternate channels. Selected set top terminals switch to one or more of the alternate channels to display alternate advertisements, where the selection of the alternate channel is based on information related to users of the set top terminals.

Claims

1. A method for targeting advertisements to a plurality of set top terminals during a program break, comprising:

assigning at least one primary advertisement to a first channel, the first channel carrying a program;

assigning at least one alternate advertisement to one or more alternate channels; and

switching selected ones of the plurality of set top terminals from the first channel to one of the one or more alternate channels based on information related to users of the set top terminals.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

creating a set top terminal group information indicating a group assignment for each of the plurality of set top terminals;

transmitting the group information to the set top terminals;

storing the group information in the set top terminal; and

comparing a program being watched to the group information to determine whether to switch to one of the one or more alternate channels during the program break.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying at least one of the primary advertisement and the at least one alternate advertisement.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information related to the users of the set top terminals includes demographic data and programs watched data.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information related to the users of the set top terminals includes simulated demographic data, the simulated demographic data being generated by comparing programs watched data of the users to a sample user profile, the sample user profile based on demographic data from a statistically significant sample of users.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein channels are switched transparently.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein a full screen mask is used during a period when the channel switching occurs.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, the set top terminal having a first tuner and a second tuner, the first tuner tuned to the first channel, and wherein the set top terminal switches to an alternate channel using the second tuner.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

creating a set top terminal group information indicating a group assignment for each of the plurality of set top terminals;

storing the group information at a remote location; and

comparing a program being watched to the group information to determine whether to switch a set top terminal to one of the one or more alternate channels during the program break, wherein a controller at the remote location compares the program being watched to the group information.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising displaying at least one of the primary advertisement and the at least one alternate advertisement.

11. A system for targeting advertising to at least one subscriber comprising:

means for gathering programs watched data from a subscriber;

a processor, operably connected to the gathering means, comprising

means for analyzing gathered programs watched data to determine the frequency of programs watched by the subscriber;

means for correlating the analyzed programs watched data with categories of advertisements, wherein each advertisement category includes at least one advertisement; and

means for selecting an advertisement from the correlated advertising categories, wherein the selecting means selects a plurality of advertisements, and wherein the processor is a network controller;

a transmitter, wherein the selected advertisement is transmitted, and wherein the transmitter transmits the selected advertisements on a single television channel; and

a display, wherein the transmitted advertisement is displayed, and wherein the display is a set top terminal operably connected to a television, and the set top terminal scales and repositions video, and wherein the single television channel is a menu channel, and wherein when the set top terminal scales and repositions the video, the video is displayed on a portion of the display displaying the menu channel.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the video displayed on the menu channel is targeted to individual set top terminals.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the video is one of an advertisement, a promotional and an infomercial.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the promotional includes future television programming available on the set top terminal, the future programming targeted to individual set top terminals based on analysis of programs watched data, and wherein a user selects a future program to view by operating a select button on a set top terminal remote control.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the promotional includes a description of the future programming, a time and date of availability, and a cost to purchase.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the promotional displayed corresponds to one of a program shown on the menu channel.

17. A method for targeting advertisements to a plurality of set top terminals, comprising:

creating a set top terminal group information indicating a group assignment for each of a plurality of set top terminals;

transmitting the group assignment information to the respective set top terminals;

storing the group assignment information in the respective set top terminals;

informing the set top terminals which of a plurality of advertisement channels is assigned to a television program category, the channels corresponding to the respective set top terminal'"'"'s group assignment information;

receiving, by each set top terminal, data related to the respective set top terminal'"'"'s assigned group;

determining the television program category based on a currently watched program;

correlating the television program category with the set top'"'"'s assigned group to determine an advertisement channel for viewing; and

switching the respective set top terminals to the channel determined for viewing.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein one advertisement channel is assigned for each of eight television program categories.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein channels are switched transparently to a user.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising displaying respective selected advertisement on the respective set top terminals.

21. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the channel switched to by the respective set top terminals is further based on information related to users of the set top terminals.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the information related to the users of the set top terminals includes demographic data and programs watched data.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the information related to the users of the set top terminals includes simulated demographic data, the simulated demographic data being generated by comparing programs watched data of the users to a sample user profile, the sample user profile based on demographic data from a statistically significant sample of users.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein a full screen mask is used during a period when the channel switching occurs.

25. The method as recite in claim 17, the set top terminal having a first tuner and a second tuner, the first tuner tuned to the first channel, and wherein the set top terminal switches to an alternate channel using the second tuner.

26. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

storing the group information at a remote location; and

comparing a program being watched to the group information to determine whether to switch a set top terminal to one of the one or more alternate channels during the program break, wherein a controller at the remote location compares the program being watched to the group information.

27. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein multiple advertisements are transmitted on a single channel, further comprising:

pre-recording advertisements prior to transmitting to the respective set top terminals; and

scaling and repositioning video on respective displays, the displays operably connected to respective set top terminals, wherein the video corresponds to an advertisement selected for viewing.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising performing, by the set top terminal audio switching to amplify audio corresponding to a correct video portion of the display.

29. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein multiple advertisements are transmitted on a single channel, further comprising:

pre-recording advertisements prior to transmitting to the respective set top terminals; and

masking video on respective displays, the displays operably connected to respective set top terminals, wherein the video corresponds to an advertisement selected for viewing.

30. A system for targeting advertising to at least one subscriber comprising:

a processor having means for selecting an advertisement from pre-selected advertising categories, wherein the selecting means selects a plurality of advertisements, and wherein the processor is a network controller;

means for gathering information corresponding to currently watched television programs;

means for correlating the currently watched programs information with categories of the pre-selected advertisements, wherein each advertisement category includes at least one advertisement; and

a transmitter, wherein a selected advertisement selected by selecting means is transmitted, and wherein the transmitter transmits the selected advertisements on a single channel; and

a display, operably connected to a set top terminal, on which the transmitted advertisement is displayed via a single channel, wherein the set top terminal switches channels based on which advertisement is selected, the selected advertisement corresponding to the correlated currently watched programs information and categories of the pre-selected advertisements.

31. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the set top terminal scales and repositions video for the display, the video being displayed on a portion of the display displaying selected advertisement.

32. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein advertisement video displayed is targeted to individual set top terminals.

33. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the advertisement is one of video commercials, infomercials, and promotional video, wherein infomericals are time varying video segments greater than 30 seconds.

34. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein the promotional includes future television programming available on the set top terminal, the future programming targeted to individual set top terminals based on analysis of currently watched television programs, and wherein a user selects a future program to view by operating a select button on a set top terminal remote control.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the promotional includes a description of future programming, a time and date of availability, and a cost to purchase.