INTELLIGENT TARGETING OF TAGS IN A BROADCAST NETWORK

• US 20080301727A1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Cristofalo, Michael, Anderson, Bruce J., Wilson, Daniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,396,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and associated methodology are disclosed for targeting tags in a broadcast network. The tags may be associated with an ad or programming. In one implementation, the tags to be delivered at a user equipment device are selected at the user equipment device, for example, based on location or other user classification parameters. In this manner, different user equipment devices that are on the same bandwidth segment in the same network subdivision can receive different tags.

Claims

1. Method for use in targeting broadcast network content, comprising the steps of:

first providing a first platform for transmitting non-local assets in first time periods dedicated to delivery of non-local assets and inserting local assets in second time periods dedicated to delivery of local assets;

second providing a plurality of second network platforms, each of said second network platforms being operative for receiving content from said first network platform and selectively providing portions of said content for delivery at one or more user equipment devices;

third providing, from a first one of said second network platforms to at least a first one of said user equipment devices, a first combined content segment for said asset delivery spot, said first combined content segment comprising an asset of said assets and a tag; and

fourth providing, from a second one of said second network platforms to at least a second one of said user equipment devices different than said first one, a second combined content segment comprising an asset of said assets and a tag;

wherein said first combined content segment is different than said second combined content segment.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said second network devices comprises a hub associated with a number of user equipment devices.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, where in at least one of said second network devices is co-located with a user equipment device.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second combined content segments are provided to said first and second ones of said second network platforms prior to a time of delivery of said first and second combined content segments by said first and second ones of said user equipment devices.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing report information to a billing system of a broadcast network, said report information providing an indication concerning delivery of a tag.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting an indication regarding a suitability of at least one of said tags from a user equipment device to a network platform.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, said first one of said user equipment devices and said second one of said user equipment devices are each disposed in a first broadcast network subdivision, said first broadcast network subdivision defining an area wherein all user equipment devices receive the same broadcast content on a given bandwidth segment, said method further comprising delivering, at a first time, said first combined content segment at said first one of said user equipment devices, said first user equipment device being associated with a first bandwidth segment of said broadcast network at said first time, and delivering, at said first time, a said second combined content segment at said second one of said user equipment devices, said second one of said user equipment devices being associated with said first bandwidth segment of said broadcast network at said first time.

8-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A method for use in targeting broadcast network content, comprising the steps of:

providing a network platform for processing assets for delivery to user equipment devices in said broadcast network;

obtaining a number of assets at said network platforms;

obtaining a number of tags for association with said assets at said network platform;

establishing a first combined content segment by overlaying one of said tags on one of said assets;

establishing a second combined content segment by overlaying one of said tags on one of said assets, wherein said first combined content segment is different than said second combined content segment;

delivering said first combined content segment to a first subset of the current users of a given bandwidth segment of said broadcast network; and

delivering said second combined content segment to a second subset, different than said first subset, of the current users of a given bandwidth segment of said broadcast network.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein at least one of said first and second combined content segments is delivered using a bandwidth segment separate from said given bandwidth segment.

14. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first subset of the current users are disposed within the same broadcast network subdivision as said second subset of the current users, said broadcast network subdivision defining an area wherein all user equipment devices receive the same broadcast content on said given bandwidth segment.

15. A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving report information from at least some users of said first and second subsets of the current users, said report information providing an indication concerning actual delivery of a tag.

16. A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving communications from at least some users of said first and second subsets of the current users, each said communication including an indication regarding a suitability of one or more of said tags for delivery at an associated user equipment device.

17. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said steps of delivering said first combined content segment and delivering said second combined content segment comprise selecting said first and second combined content segments at user equipment devices.

18. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said steps of delivering said first combined content segment and delivering said second combined content segment comprise selecting said first and second combined content segments based on user classification information.

19-46. -46. (canceled)

47. An apparatus for use in targeting broadcast network content, comprising:

a network platform for processing assets for delivery to user equipment devices in said broadcast network;

an input interface structure, associated with said network platform, for receiving a number of assets and a number of tags for association with said assets;

an overlay device for establishing a first combined content segment by overlaying one of said tags on one of said assets and establishing a second combined content segment by overlaying one of said tags on one of said assets, wherein said first combined content segment is different than said second combined content segment; and

an output interface structure, associated with said network platform, for delivering said first combined content segment to a first subset of said current users of a given bandwidth segment of said broadcast network and delivering said second combined content segment to a second subset, different than said first subset, of the current users of said given bandwidth segment of said broadcast network.

48. An apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein said output interface structure is operative for inserting at least one of said first combined content segment and said second combined content segment into a bandwidth segment separate from said given bandwidth segment.

49. An apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein a first user of said first subset of users and a second user of said second subset of users are in the same network subdivision, said network subdivision defining an area wherein all user equipment devices receive the same content on a given bandwidth segment.

50. An apparatus as set forth in claim 47, further comprising a processor for receiving input information from user equipment devices indicating a suitability of tags and selecting said first and second combined content segments based on said input information.

51. An apparatus as set forth in claim 47, further comprising a processor operative for associating targeting information related to user classification information with said first and second combined content segments.

52. An apparatus for use in targeting broadcast network content, comprising:

input interface structure, associated with a user equipment device, for receiving a plurality of tags for selective delivery at said user equipment device and receiving an asset for delivery at said user equipment device;

a processor, associated with said user equipment device, for selecting one of said tags for association with said asset; and

delivery structure, associated with said user equipment device, for delivering said selected tag in association with said selected asset.

53. An apparatus as set forth in claim 52, wherein said processor is operative for transmitting report information regarding delivery of said selected tag to a network platform.

54. An apparatus as set forth in claim 52, wherein said processor is operative for selecting said one of said tags based on user classification information associated with said user equipment device.