Push advertising model using multiple digital streams
First Claim
1. A method of ad selection comprising:
- receiving at a receiver, a programming signal and a plurality of ads;
the receiver detecting a request, wherein detecting said request comprises detecting a cue which identifies an avail as an unused avail, the cue including data inserted by a local provider that indicates the local provider has not inserted an alternative advertisement in place of a network provided advertisement for the avail;
the receiver identifying a first ad of said plurality of ads in response to detecting said request;
the receiver selecting said first ad; and
the receiver conveying said first ad.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and mechanism for selecting and conveying ads in an interactive television system. An ad stream is conveyed concurrently with a broadcast programming stream in an interactive television system. The ad stream includes multiple streams of ads wherein each stream of ads includes multiple ads. An ad selector mechanism detects programming and ad requests. Requests may be indicated by a viewer, a received cue, or by an interactive application. Based on programming and ad selection data, a viewer profile is created which may be used to select targeted ads for display. In response to a detected request, the ad selector mechanism searches the ad stream for an ad to meet the request. An ad is selected according to a viewer profile or a particular viewer action. The selected ad may be used to meet the request by filling an unused avail or by providing further information to a viewer. A particular ad may appear in more than one of the multiple streams and at different start times. Additionally, a particular ad may appear multiple times in a single stream. The multiple appearances of a particular ad offers multiple possible start times for the ad.
39 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of ad selection comprising:
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receiving at a receiver, a programming signal and a plurality of ads; the receiver detecting a request, wherein detecting said request comprises detecting a cue which identifies an avail as an unused avail, the cue including data inserted by a local provider that indicates the local provider has not inserted an alternative advertisement in place of a network provided advertisement for the avail; the receiver identifying a first ad of said plurality of ads in response to detecting said request; the receiver selecting said first ad; and the receiver conveying said first ad. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An ad selection device comprising:
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a signal receiver, wherein said signal receiver is configured to receive a programming signal and a plurality of ads; and an ad selector mechanism coupled to said receiver, wherein said ad selector mechanism is configured to; detect a request, wherein detecting said request comprises detecting a cue which identifies an avail as an unused avail, the cue including data inserted by a local provider that indicates the local provider has not inserted an alternative advertisement in place of a network provided advertisement for the avail; identify a first ad of said plurality of ads in response to detecting said request; select said first ad; and convey said first ad. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to:
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receive a programming signal and a plurality of ads; detect a request, wherein detecting said request comprises detecting a cue which identifies an avail as an unused avail, the cue including data inserted by a local provider that indicates the local provider has not inserted an alternative advertisement in place of a network provided advertisement for the avail; identify a first ad of said plurality of ads in response to detecting said request; select said first ad; and convey said first ad. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A method comprising:
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receiving at a broadcast station operated by a local provider, a first programming signal from a network provider, the first programming signal comprising a network provided advertisement and a corresponding cue indicative of an avail; determining an alternative advertisement will not be inserted by the local provider for the avail; the local provider inserting in a second programming signal the network provided advertisement and data which indicates the network provided advertisement corresponds to an unused avail, the data further indicating the local provider has not inserted an alternative advertisement in place of a network provided advertisement for the avail; and conveying said second programming signal from the local provider to a plurality of end users. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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Specification