Methods and systems for providing targeted content

• US 8,132,202 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alphonso, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Batten, John C., Stefanik, John R., Swix, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Featherstone, Mark D
• Application Number:
  US10/778,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,940 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725/34, 725/35
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• 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: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• 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 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• 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 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440218 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• 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 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A method and system for providing targeted advertisements over a networked media delivery system, especially interactive television networks, the system comprising tracking and storing viewer selections, analyzing the selections, and delivering targeted advertisements that appeal to the particular subscriber making the selections, the system including a merge processor, a file server, a profile processor, and a broadcast server contained in a head end in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes through a distribution network. Based on a subscriber'"'"'s viewing habits and account information, the present invention delivers different, customized advertisements to different viewers watching the same program or channel. The present invention delivers the advertisements as either still frame bit maps or as video streams advertisement insertion in a playlist or a broadcast media program.

Claims

1. A method for providing a targeted advertisement, the method comprising:

sending event data describing viewing habits of a subscriber;

sending a request for the targeted advertisement to insert into an advertisement insertion slot;

uploading latest event data describing recent viewing habits of the subscriber with the request for the targeted advertisement; and

receiving the targeted advertisement selected to appeal to the viewing habits of the subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the targeted advertisement in response to the request.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning a demographic to the event data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending video content in response to the request.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning a profile to the event data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted advertisement includes visual display data, and further comprising inserting the visual display data into programming.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted advertisement includes visual display data, and further comprising overlaying the visual display data onto programming.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein receiving the event data comprises receiving at least one of a selected movie preview, a selected movie, a programming selection, an ordered product, an interactive menu selection, a viewed commercial, a selection to turn off commercials, and a change in programming.

9. A system for providing a targeted advertisement, the system comprising:

a processor executing instructions stored in memory that cause the processor to;

upload event data describing viewing habits of a subscriber;

send requests for targeted advertisements to insert into advertisement insertion slots;

upload latest event data describing recent viewing habits with each request for the targeted advertisement; and

retrieve the targeted advertisement selected to appeal to the subscriber'"'"'s viewing habits.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the targeted advertisement comprises video content.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to clear the event data stored in the memory after each upload.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to retrieve the targeted advertisement from the memory.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to receive the advertisement from a channel.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the event data comprises at least one of a selected movie preview, a selected movie, a programming selection, an ordered product, an interactive menu selection, a viewed commercial, a selection to turn off commercials, and a change in programming.