Method and apparatus for targeted advertising

• US 7,827,574 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Bonner, Alfred E., Hendricks, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newlin; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US10/261,931
• Time in Patent Office: 2,953 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/14, 725/16, 725/32, 725/34, 725/35, 725/89, 725/122, 725/134
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 : Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• 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 21/26208 : the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 : for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 : Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 : characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 : for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 : for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 : Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 : Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 : Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• 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 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64307 : ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 : Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 : for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 : for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 : Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A novel network controller for use with a digital cable headend capable of monitoring and controlling set top terminals in a television program delivery system is described. The invention relates to methods and apparatus for a network controller that manages a configuration of set top terminals in a program delivery system. Specifically, the invention modifies a program control information signal at the cable headend before the modified signal is transmitted to each set top terminal. This signal is used with polling methods to receive upstream data from the set top terminals. The invention initiates such upstream data retrieval, gathers all data received and compiles viewer demographics information and programs watched information. The invention processes this data and information to generate packages of advertisements targeted towards each set top terminal. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware, databases and processing hardware and software to accomplish these functions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

gathering, programs watched data from a terminal;

analyzing, by a computer, the programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs selected at the terminal;

assigning categories of advertisements to the terminal based on the analyzed programs watched data, wherein each advertisement category includes a plurality of advertisements, and wherein the plurality of advertisements within each advertisement category are weighted relative to one another, wherein the weighting of the plurality of advertisements within each advertisement category is based in part on a number of advertisement requests received and a cost paid by each advertiser associated with the plurality of advertisements;

selecting an advertisement from the assigned advertising categories based on the weighting; and

transmitting the selected advertisement to the terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing programs watched data includes counting programs selected at the terminal and further comprising arranging the counts in at least one programs watched matrix.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the programs watched matrix is arranged by a program category and a time slot and wherein the counts are arranged within the time slot from highest to lowest.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted advertisement is transmitted on a television channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the advertisement selects a plurality of advertisements, the plurality of advertisements being transmitted on a single television channel, and further comprising masking undesired advertisements out of the plurality of advertisements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the advertisement selects a plurality of advertisements, the plurality of advertisements being transmitted on a single television channel, wherein a desired advertisement of the plurality of advertisements is configured to be scaled and repositioned on a display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected advertisement is transmitted in response to an occurrence of commercial breaks within a program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted advertisement is configured to be stored in the terminal, the advertisement being displayed based on an occurrence of commercial breaks within a program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the programs watched data is configured to be gathered by the terminal and stored in the terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the programs watched data is configured to be analyzed by the terminal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the programs watched data is configured to be received by a processor coupled to the terminal and analyzed by the processor.

12. The method of claim of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a polling request message that directs the terminal to transmit a status report that contains the programs watched data;

processing the received status report to produce polling response data; and

storing the polling response data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein processing the received status report comprises:

demodulating the received status report, producing demodulated data;

reading at least one information field in the demodulated data, each information field being appended to an identification number field; and

sorting each information field by identification number.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising updating the programs watched data based on the processed status report.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

gathering demographic data related to a user of the terminal; and

correlating the demographic data with the categories of advertisements.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein gathering the demographic data comprises one of sending questionnaires to the user, receiving demographic data via the terminal and gathering demographic data from third parties.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein gathering demographic data comprises generating a simulated demographic profile of the user by comparing the programs watched data of the user to a sample viewer profile, the sample viewer profile constructed based on demographic data received from a statistically significant sample of users.

58. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating an account and billing database based on the transmission of the selected advertisement.

59. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the programs watched data to determine the frequency of programs selected at the terminal includes determining a frequency of program categories selected at the terminal.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

correlating the advertising categories to the program categories,

wherein the selection of the advertisement is based on the correlation.

61. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ranking the advertisement categories based on the programs watched data;

generating a package of advertisements that includes ranked advertisement categories; and

transmitting the package of advertisements to the terminal during a given time slot.

18. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

analyze gathered programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs selected at a terminal;

assign a plurality of categories of advertisements to the terminal based on the analyzed programs watched data, wherein each advertisement category includes at least two advertisements, and wherein the at least two advertisements within each advertisement category are weighted relative to one another, wherein the weighting of the at least two advertisements within each advertisement category is based in part on a number of advertisement requests received and a cost paid by each advertiser associated with the at least two advertisements; and

select at least two of the advertisements from each of the assigned advertising categories based on the weighting; and

a transmitter, configured to transmit the selected advertisements.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is located at a cable headend.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is located at an operations center.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to process programs watched data gathered from a plurality of terminals, and wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the selected advertisements to the plurality of terminals.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor further comprises:

a memory, operably connected to a receiver, wherein the memory stores video corresponding to the selected advertisements.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising a display configured to display the transmitted advertisements.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the display is configured to display a menu of selected advertisements from which a user may choose an advertisement to watch.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a receiver, operably connected to the display, wherein the receiver is configured to receive television signals.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is a network controller and the display comprises the terminal operably connected to a television.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the selected advertisements on a television channel, and the terminal is configured to change television channels.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the selected advertisements on a single television channel, and the terminal is configured to mask undesired video.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the selected advertisements on a single television channel, and the terminal is configured to scale and reposition video.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein analyzing the gathered programs watched data comprises counting the programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs selected by a plurality of terminals to be targeted, and wherein the counts are arranged in at least one programs watched matrix.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the programs watched matrix is arranged by program category and time slot and the analyzing comprises:

reading the at least one programs watched matrix; and

sorting the programs watched counts within a time slot from highest to lowest.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to poll the terminal to monitor a current program selected at the terminal for an occurrence of commercial breaks,

and

wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the selected advertisements in response to the occurrence of commercial breaks determined by the polling.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the

processor is further configured to receive the programs watched data from the terminal.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured to:

poll the terminal;

receive status reports sent by the terminal;

store the programs watched data;

generate a polling request message that directs the terminal to initiate transmission of the status reports;

process the received status reports to produce polling response data; and

temporarily store the polling response data.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the processing of the received status reports comprises:

demodulating the received status reports, whereby demodulated data is produced;

reading at least one information field in the demodulated data, wherein each information field is appended to an identification number field;

sorting each information field in the received status reports by identification number; and

accumulating the sorted information fields for each terminal, wherein the accumulated sorted information fields produce the polling response data.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to:

update the stored programs watched data with the polling response data.

37. A system for targeting advertising comprising:

a processor configured to;

count gathered programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs selected at terminals associated with users to be targeted, wherein the programs watched counts are arranged in at least one programs watched matrix by program category and time slot; and

create user group information indicating a group assignment for each user to be targeted by assigning the programs watched counts to a plurality of categories of advertisements for the users, wherein each advertisement category includes advertisements available for targeting to at least one terminal, and wherein the advertisements within each advertisement category are weighted relative to one another, wherein the weighting of the advertisements within each advertisement category is based in part on a number of advertisement requests received and a cost paid by each advertiser associated with the advertisements;

a transmitter configured to transmit the user group information to a user'"'"'s terminal in a control information stream that instructs the user'"'"'s terminal in selecting targeted advertisements from the weighted advertisements for display during viewing of programs; and

a terminal configured to selecting targeted advertisements for display.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the processor is a network controller.

39. A network controller for use in a program delivery system for targeting advertising, the network controller comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform;

gathering programs watched data from terminals;

storing the gathered programs watched data;

accessing the stored programs watched data;

counting the accessed programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs selected at the terminals, wherein the programs watched counts are arranged in at least one programs watched matrix by program category and time slot;

creating terminal group information indicating a group assignment for each terminal by assigning the programs watched counts to a plurality of categories of advertisements for the terminals, wherein each advertisement category includes at least two advertisements, and wherein the at least two advertisements within each advertisement category are weighted relative to one another, and wherein the weighting of the at least two advertisements within each advertisement category is based in part on a number of advertisement requests received and a cost paid by each advertiser associated with the at least two advertisements; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the terminal group information to the terminals in a control information stream that instructs the terminals in selecting advertisements from each of the plurality of categories of advertisements for display during viewing of programs.

40. The network controller of claim 39, wherein the stored programs watched data is stored in a network control database.

62. The network controller of claim 39, wherein the instructions includes at least one instruction that, when executed, performs:

updating an account and billing database based on the transmission of the control information stream that instructs the terminals in selecting advertisements.

41. A method comprising:

gathering, programs watched data from a terminal;

analyzing, by a computer, the gathered programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs selected at the terminal;

assigning a plurality of categories of advertisements to the terminal based on the analyzed programs watched data, where each advertisement category identifies at least two advertisements, and wherein the at least two advertisements identified by each advertisement category are weighted relative to one another, and wherein the weighting of the at least two advertisements identified by each advertisement category is based in part on a number of advertisement requests received and a cost paid by each advertiser associated with the at least two advertisements;

selecting advertisements from each advertisement category based on the programs watched data;

polling to monitor a current program selected at the terminal for an occurrence of a commercial break; and

transmitting the selected advertisements in response to the occurrence of the commercial break.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

storing the selected advertisements.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

receiving several channels of advertisements by broadcast, wherein each channel corresponds to an advertisement category;

and

switching to a channel of the several channels containing the selected advertisements.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the switching is transparent to a user of the terminal.

63. The method of claim 41, wherein the analyzing of the programs watched data includes determining a frequency of program categories selected at the terminal.

45. An apparatus for targeting advertising, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform;

gathering programs watched data;

analyzing the programs watched data;

assigning information on advertisements based on the analyzed programs watched data, wherein the information on advertisements identifies at least two advertisements, and wherein the at least two advertisements are weighted relative to one another, and wherein the weighting of the at least two advertisements is based in part on a number of advertisement requests received and a cost paid by each advertiser associated with the at least two advertisements; and

selecting an advertisement based on the assignment and the weighting.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the apparatus is a user terminal.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive television signals.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the memory stores video corresponding to the selected advertisement;

and

wherein the receiver receives insert directions which instruct the user terminal to insert the stored video.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the receiver receives several channels of advertisements, and the instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to perform:

selecting a channel of advertisements; and

switching to the selected channel,

wherein the switching of channels is transparent to a user of the user terminal.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to perform:

storing the information on advertisements.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the storing of the information on advertisements includes storing video corresponding to the selected advertisement.

52. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the gathering, analyzing, and assigning occur at an operations center, and wherein the selecting occurs at a cable headend.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to generate an output, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a transmitter configured to transmit the output; and

a receiver configured to receive the output,

wherein the memory stores video of the selected advertisement.

64. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the analyzing of the programs watched data includes determining a frequency of program categories selected at the terminal.

54. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

gather programs watched data;

analyze the gathered programs watched data;

assign the analyzed programs watched data to a plurality of categories of programs, wherein each program category includes at least two programs, and wherein the at least two programs included in each of the program categories are weighted relative to one another, and wherein the weighting of the at least two programs included in each of the program categories is based in part on a number of program requests received and a cost paid by each program provider associated with the at least two programs included in each of the program categories;

select at least two programs from the program categories based on the analyzed programs watched data and the assignment; and

memory configured to;

store the selected programs.

65. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the analyzing of the gathered programs watched includes determining a frequency of selection of each of the program categories.

55. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform;

gathering programs watched data from a terminal;

analyzing the gathered programs watched data to determine a preference of a user of the terminal;

assigning the analyzed programs watched data to a plurality of categories of video for the user, wherein each video category includes at least two videos, and wherein the at least two videos are weighted relative to one another, and wherein the weighting of the at least two videos is based in part on a number of video requests received and a cost paid by each video provider associated with the at least two videos;

selecting at least two videos from the video categories based on the analyzed programs watched data and the assignment; and

transmitting the selected videos to the terminal.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the selected videos include television programming.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the selected videos include advertisements.