Promotional material distribution system with automatic updating of promotional material selection algorithms
First Claim
1. A system in which promotional material is provided by a main facility to at least one television distribution facility for distribution to the user television equipment of a plurality of users, the system comprising:
- means at the television distribution facility for selecting at least some of the promotional material for distribution to the user television equipment of the plurality of users according to a promotional material selection algorithm;
means for distributing the selected promotional material to the user television equipment of the plurality of users;
means for logging in a promotional event log which of the promotional material was distributed by the means for distributing the promotional material;
means for providing the promotional event log to the main facility;
means at the main facility for automatically analyzing the promotional event log to determine whether the selected promotional material was optimally selected by the means for selecting;
means at the main facility for changing the promotional material selection algorithm when the means for analyzing determines that the selected promotional material was not optimally selected; and
means for providing the changed promotional material selection algorithm to the television distribution facility for use by the means for selecting.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A promotional video system is provided. The promotional video system may include an interactive electronic television program guide. Promotional material is provided to television distribution facilities by a main facility. Promotional material is selected for distribution according to a promotional material selection algorithm. Entries are made in a promotional event log that indicate which promotional material was distributed. The promotional event log is analyzed to determine if promotional material is being optimally selected. Changes to the promotional material selection algorithm may be made to increase the likelihood of desirable selection and to decrease the likelihood of undesirable selection. Testing of the promotional material selection algorithm is also provided.
245 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A system in which promotional material is provided by a main facility to at least one television distribution facility for distribution to the user television equipment of a plurality of users, the system comprising:
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means at the television distribution facility for selecting at least some of the promotional material for distribution to the user television equipment of the plurality of users according to a promotional material selection algorithm;
means for distributing the selected promotional material to the user television equipment of the plurality of users;
means for logging in a promotional event log which of the promotional material was distributed by the means for distributing the promotional material;
means for providing the promotional event log to the main facility;
means at the main facility for automatically analyzing the promotional event log to determine whether the selected promotional material was optimally selected by the means for selecting;
means at the main facility for changing the promotional material selection algorithm when the means for analyzing determines that the selected promotional material was not optimally selected; and
means for providing the changed promotional material selection algorithm to the television distribution facility for use by the means for selecting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method in which promotional material is provided by a main facility to at least one television distribution facility for distribution to the user television equipment of a plurality of users, the method comprising:
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selecting at least some of the promotional material for distribution to the user television equipment of the plurality of users according to a promotional material selection algorithm;
distributing the selected promotional material to the user television equipment of the plurality of users;
logging in a promotional event log which of the promotional material was distributed to the user television equipment;
providing the promotional event log from the television distribution facility to the main facility;
automatically analyzing the promotional event log to determine whether the promotional material was optimally selected;
changing the promotional material selection algorithm when promotional material was not optimally selected; and
providing the changed promotional material selection algorithm from the main facility to the television distribution facility. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
providing promotional material attribute information; and
selecting at least some of the promotional material using the promotional material attribute information to determine if the promotional material attribute parameters have been met.
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21. The method defined in claim 19 wherein the promotional material selection parameters comprise detectable environmental situation parameters and the method further comprises:
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providing detectable environmental situation information; and
selecting at least some of the promotional material to determine if the detectable environmental situation parameters have been met.
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22. The method defined in claim 15 further comprising generating one or more promotional material display screens that contain the selected promotional material.
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23. The method defined in claim 22 further comprising generating one or more program guide display screens that contain the selected promotional material using an interactive television program guide.
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24. The method defined in claim 15 wherein providing the promotional event log to the main facility comprises providing the promotional event log to the main facility using a dial-up connection.
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25. The method defined in claim 15 wherein providing the promotional event log to the main facility comprises providing the promotional event log to the main facility using an Internet connection.
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26. The method defined in claim 15 wherein providing the promotional event log to the main facility comprises providing the promotional event log to the main facility using a satellite link.
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27. The method defined in claim 15 wherein providing the promotional event log to the main facility comprises providing the promotional event log to the main facility using portable storage media.
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28. The method defined in claim 15 wherein the promotional event log contains entries of information relating to each provided promotional material, the method further comprising deleting the entries.
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29. A system in which promotional material is provided by a main facility to at least one television distribution facility for distribution to the user television equipment of a plurality of users, the system comprising:
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a television distribution facility comprising;
a screen generator configured to select at least some of the promotional material for distribution to the user television equipment of the plurality of users according to a promotional material selection algorithm and which is configured to generate one or more promotional material display screens that contain the selected promotional material;
television distribution equipment that distributes the promotional material display screens to the user television equipment of the plurality of users;
a promotional event recorder configured to log in a promotional event log which of the promotional material was distributed by the means for distributing the promotional material; and
a communications device that provides the promotional event log to the main facility; and
a main facility comprising;
a promotional material data source that provides the promotional material and the promotional material selection algorithm to the television distribution facility;
a communications device that receives the promotional event log from the television distribution facility; and
a promotional event log analyzer configured to analyze the promotional event log and determine whether the promotional material was optimally selected by the screen generator and configured to change the promotional material selection algorithm when the selected promotional material was not optimally selected by the screen generator, wherein;
the promotional material data source also provides the changed promotional material selection algorithm to the television distribution facility. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A system in which promotional material is provided by a main facility to at least one television distribution facility for distribution to the user television equipment of a plurality of users, the system comprising:
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a television distribution facility comprising;
a promotional material selection unit configured to select at least some of the promotional material for distribution to the user television equipment of the plurality of users according to a promotional material selection algorithm;
television distribution equipment that distributes the promotional material to the user television equipment of the plurality of users;
a promotional event recorder configured to log in a promotional event log which of the promotional material was distributed by the means at the television distribution facility for distributing the promotional material; and
a communications device that provides the promotional event log to the main facility;
a main facility comprising;
a program guide data source that provides the promotional material and the promotional material selection algorithm to the television distribution facility;
a communications device for receiving the promotional event log from the television distribution facility; and
a promotional event log analyzer configured to analyze the promotional event log and determine whether the promotional material was optimally selected by the promotional material selection unit and configured to change the promotional material selection algorithm when promotional material was not optimally selected, and wherein the program guide data source provides the changed promotional material selection algorithm to the television distribution facility; and
means for generating one or more program guide display screens containing the promotional material that is distributed to the user television equipment using an interactive television program guide. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification