System and method for inserting advertising content in broadcast programming

• US 7,243,362 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alphonso, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gray, James H., Watson, Paul T., Swix, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US11/218,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725/36, 725/39, 725/42, 725/46, 725/110, 725/112, 725/131, 725/132, 725/139, 725/34, 705/10, 705/14, 709/245
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/76 Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet for broadcast H04H20/65
• 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4622 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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

Abstract

A system for inserting viewer-specific advertising content comprises a viewer device. The viewer device identifies viewer characteristics regarding the viewer. Upon receipt of advertising content, the viewer device identifies advertisements matching the viewer characteristics. The viewer device inserts the advertisements matching the viewer characteristics into broadcast content.

Claims

1. A method for inserting content into broadcast programming comprising:

gathering at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, wherein the data that is gathered is confined to the end user device;

receiving at the end user device, content for insertion within the broadcast programming;

identifying at the end user device, selected content for insertion within the broadcast programming, wherein the selected content corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user;

receiving at the end user device, broadcast programming;

inserting into the broadcast programming that is received at the end user device, the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user, for presentation by the end user device; and

gathering at the end user device, data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented by the end user device.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the content for insertion comprises advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein identifying at the end user device, selected advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming comprises matching data identifying a target audience for the advertising content to the characteristics of the end user.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the end user device comprises a set top box.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein gathering at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises gathering at an end user device, data identifying at least one of the following characteristics of an end user:

age, address, gender, marital status, income, interests, hobbies, purchasing habits, location and broadcast viewing habits.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein gathering at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises:

identifying a plurality of categories into which broadcast programming can be grouped; and

determining a frequency and/or duration with which an end user is tuned to broadcast programming in the plurality of categories.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein receiving at the end user device, broadcast programming comprises receiving at the end user device, satellite and/or cable broadcast programming.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein receiving at the end user device, content for insertion within the broadcast programming comprises receiving at the end user device from a broadband network, content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein receiving at the end user device, content for insertion within the broadcast programming is performed prior to receiving at the end user device, broadcast programming and wherein the method further comprises storing at the end user device, the content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein receiving at the end user device, content for insertion within the broadcast programming is performed simultaneously with inserting into the broadcast programming that is received at the end user device, the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user, for presentation byte end user device.

11. A method according to claim 1:

wherein receiving at the end user device, broadcast programming comprises receiving at the end user device, broadcast programming including cue tones identifying locations where content may be inserted; and

wherein inserting into the broadcast programming that is received at the end user device, the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user, is performed in response to the cue tones.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein gathering at the end user device, data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented by the end user device is followed by:

transmitting from the end user device, the data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented by the end user device.

13. A method for inserting content into broadcast programming comprising:

gathering at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, wherein the data that is gathered is confined to the end user device;

inserting into broadcast programming that is received at the end user device, selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of the end user, and

gathering at the end user device, data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the content for insertion comprises advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the end user device comprises a set top box.

16. A method according to claim 13 wherein gathering at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises gathering at an end user device, data identifying at least one of the following characteristics of an end user:

age, address, gender, marital status, income, interests, hobbies, purchasing habits, location and broadcast viewing habits.

17. A method according to claim 13 wherein gathering at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises:

identifying a plurality of categories into which broadcast programming can be grouped; and

determining a frequency and/or duration with which an end user is timed to broadcast programing in the plurality of categories.

18. A method according to claim 13 wherein the broadcast programming comprises satellite and/or cable broadcast programming.

19. A method according to claim 13 wherein gathering at the end user device, data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented:

transmitting from the end user device the data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented.

20. A method for tracking presentation of broadcast programming to end users comprising:

receiving from a plurality of end user devices, respective data identifying that selected content that corresponds to data identifying characteristics of a respective end user of a respective end user device has been presented by the respective end user device, without receiving the data identifying characteristics of a respective end user; and

gathering information concerning presentation of the selected content among the plurality of end user devices from the respective data identifying that selected content that corresponds to data identifying characteristics of a respective end user of a respective end user device has been presented by the respective end user device, to track presentation of the selected content by the plurality of end user devices.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the content for insertion comprises advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

22. A method according to claim 20 wherein the end user device comprises a set top box.

23. A method according to claim 20 wherein the respective data identifying characteristics of a respective end user of a respective end user device comprises at least one of the following characteristics of a respective end user:

age, address, gender, marital status, income, interests, hobbies, purchasing habits, location and broadcast viewing habits.

24. A method according to claim 20 wherein the broadcast programming comprises satellite and/or cable broadcast programming.

25. A system for inserting content into broadcast programming comprising:

an end user device that is configured to gather the data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, wherein the data that is gathered is confined to the end user device, to receive content for insertion within the broadcast programing, to identify selected content for insertion within the broadcast programming, wherein the selected content corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user, to receive broadcast programming and to insert into the broadcast programming that is received at the end user device, the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user, for presentation by the end user device;

the end user device being further configured to gather data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented by the end user device.

26. A system according to claim 25 wherein the content for insertion comprises advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

27. A system according to claim 26 wherein the end user device is configured to identify selected advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming by matching data identifying a target audience for the advertising content to the characteristics of the end user.

28. A system according to claim 25 wherein the end user device comprises a set top box.

29. A system according to claim 25 wherein the data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises data identifying at least one of the following characteristics of an end user:

age, address, gender, marital status, income, interests, hobbies, purchasing habits, location and broadcast viewing habits.

30. A system according to claim 25 wherein the end user device is configured to gather data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, by identifying a plurality of categories into which broadcast programming can be grouped, and determining a frequency and/or duration with which an end user is tuned to broadcast programming in the plurality of categories.

31. A system according to claim 25 wherein the broadcast programming comprises satellite and/or cable broadcast programming.

32. A system according to claim 25 wherein the end user device is configured to receive content for insertion within the broadcast programming from a broadband network.

33. A system according to claim 25:

wherein the broadcast programming includes cue tones identifying locations where content may be inserted; and

wherein the end user device is configured to insert into the broadcast programming the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user, in response to the cue tones.

34. A system according to claim 25 wherein the end user device is further configured to transmit the data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented by the end user device.

35. A system for inserting content into broadcast programming comprising:

an end user device that is configured to gather data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, wherein the data that is gathered is confined to the end user device, and to insert into broadcast programming that is received, selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of the end user, for presentation by the end user device;

the end user device further configured to gather data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user, was presented by the end user device.

36. A system according to claim 35 wherein the content for insertion comprises advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

37. A system according to claim 35 wherein the end user device comprises a set top box.

38. A system according to claim 35 wherein data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises data identifying at least one of the following characteristics of an end user:

age, address, gender, marital status, income, interests, hobbies, purchasing habits, location and broadcast viewing habits.

39. A system according to claim 35 wherein the end user device is configured to gather data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, by identifying a plurality of categories into which broadcast programming can be grouped, and determining a frequency and/or duration with which an end user is tuned to broadcast programming in the plurality of categories.

40. A system according to claim 35 wherein the broadcast programming comprises satellite and/or cable broadcast programming.

41. A computer program product for inserting content into broadcast programming, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code executable by a computer processor comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to gather at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, wherein the data tat is gathered is confined to the end user device;

computer-readable program code that is configured to receive at the end user device, content for insertion within the broadcast programming;

computer-readable program code that is configured to identify at the end user device, selected content for insertion within the broadcast programming, wherein the selected content corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user;

computer-readable program code that is configured to receive at the end user device, broadcast programming;

computer-readable program code that is configured to insert into the broadcast programming tat is received at the end user device, the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user, for presentation by the end user device; and

computer-readable program code that is configured to gather at the end user device, data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented by the end user device.

42. A computer program product according to claim 41 wherein the content for insertion comprises advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

43. A computer program product according to claim 42 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to identify at the end user device, selected advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to match data identifying a target audience for the advertising content to the characteristics of the end user.

44. A computer program product according to claim 41 wherein the end user device comprises a set top box.

45. A method according to claim 41 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to gather at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to gather at an end user device, data identifying at least one of the following characteristics of an end user:

age, address, gender, marital status, income, interests, hobbies, purchasing habits, location and broadcast viewing habits.

46. A computer program product according to claim 41 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to gather at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises:

computer-readable program code that is configured to identify a plurality of categories into which broadcast programming can be grouped; and

computer-readable program code that is configured to determine a frequency and/or duration with which an end user is tuned to broadcast programming in the plurality of categories.

47. A computer program product according to claim 41 wherein the broadcast programming comprises satellite and/or cable broadcast programming.

48. A computer program product according to claim 41 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to receive at the end user device, content for insertion within the broadcast programming comprises computer-readable program code tat is configured to receive at the end user device from a broadband network, content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

49. A computer program product according to claim 41:

wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to receive at the end user device, broadcast programming comprises receiving at the end user device, broadcast programming including cue tones identifying locations where content may be inserted; and

wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to insert into the broadcast programming that is received at the end user device, the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user, is responsive to the cue tones.

50. A computer program product according to claim 41 further comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to transmit from the end user device, the data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented by the end user device.

51. A computer program product for inserting content into broadcast programming, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code executable by a computer processor comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to gather at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, wherein the data that is gathered is confined to the end user device;

computer-readable program code that is configured to insert into broadcast programming that is received at the end user device, selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of the end user, for presentation; and

computer-readable program code that is Configured to gather at the end user device, data identifying that the selected content that corresponds to the data identifying characteristics of an end user was presented.

52. A computer program product according to claim 51 wherein the content for insertion comprises advertising content for insertion within the broadcast programming.

53. A computer program product according to claim 51 wherein the end user device comprises a set top box.

54. A computer program product according to claim 51 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to gather at an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises gathering at an end user device, data identifying at least one of the following characteristics of an end user:

age, address, gender, marital status, income, interests, hobbies, purchasing habits, location and broadcast viewing habits.

55. A computer program product according to claim 51 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to gather ax an end user device, data identifying characteristics of an end user of the end user device, comprises:

computer-readable program code that is configured to identify a plurality of categories into which broadcast programming can be grouped; and

computer-readable program code that is configured to determine a frequency and/or duration with which an end user is tuned to broadcast programming in the plurality of categories.

56. A computer program product according to claim 51 wherein the broadcast programming comprises satellite and/or cable broadcast programming.