Method and apparatus for switching targeted advertisements at a set top terminal
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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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.
268 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for targeting advertisements to a plurality of set top terminals during a program break, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for targeting advertising to at least one subscriber comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for targeting advertisements to a plurality of set top terminals, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for targeting advertising to at least one subscriber comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification