Targeted online, telephone and television advertisements based on cross-service subscriber profiling

• US 8,505,046 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ou, Canhui, Small, David, Savoor, Raghavendra, Sposato, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Chenea
• Application Number:
  US11/894,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20090049469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/35
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• 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 21/2668 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• 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

Abstract

A method is disclosed for monitoring data packet traffic in a communication network for at least two of a plurality of subscriber devices associated with a subscriber; developing a holistic subscriber profile for the subscriber based on the monitored data packet traffic; selecting advertisement data for a current one of the plurality of subscriber devices based on the holistic subscriber profile and sending the selected advertising data to the current subscriber device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for use in performing the method.

Claims

1. A tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium, having a computer program stored therein, the computer program comprising:

instructions to monitor packet traffic data in a communication network for at least two of a plurality of subscriber devices associated with a subscriber, wherein each of the plurality of subscriber devices utilizes a different service selected from voice over internet protocol, internet protocol television and web site access via the internet;

instructions to develop a holistic profile for the subscriber, based on the monitored packet traffic data between each of the subscriber devices, a first web site visited by the subscriber and the different services being utilized by each of the subscriber devices;

instructions to create a profile for a second and different web site visited by the subscriber based on the holistic profile of the subscriber developed based on the subscriber visiting the first web site and not based on the subscriber visiting the second web site; and

instructions to divide a plurality of holistic profiles data for a plurality of subscribers into a quantity, K advertising groups, based on the holistic profiles data for the plurality of subscribers;

instructions to replicate a quantity, N internet protocol television channels K times;

instructions to assign a new and unique channel number for each N channel number for each replicated channel in each of the K advertising groups; and

instructions to map each of the N channel numbers to the new and unique channel number at a set top box when a subscriber selects one of the N channel numbers, wherein each of the N channel numbers is the same in each of the K advertising groups, and wherein each of the N channel numbers is mapped to a different new channel number in each of the K advertising groups.

2. The medium of claim 1, the medium further comprising:

instructions to select an advertisement based on a context for the subscriber and wherein the profile for the second web site takes on at least attributes of the holistic profile of the subscriber, the computer program further comprising;

instructions to select a key word for the second web site based on the profile for the second web site;

instructions to select advertisement data for a current one of the plurality of subscriber devices based on the key word and the holistic profile for the subscriber; and

instructions to send the selected advertisement data to the current one of the plurality of subscriber devices.

3. The medium of claim 1, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol television network and each of the plurality of subscriber devices is one of a web browser device, a set top box, a mobile phone, and a voice over internet protocol phone.

4. The medium of claim 2, wherein the current one of the plurality subscriber devices comprises a computer and wherein the context further comprises a publisher profile for a website visited by the current one of the plurality subscriber devices, the computer program further comprising instructions to:

receive search criteria from an advertisement broker;

detect a website selection by the subscriber;

monitor according to a deep packet inspection process, packet traffic data associated with the website according to the search criteria;

determine from the monitored packet traffic data at least one of a demographic profile and a psychographic profile associated with the subscriber; and

update the holistic profile of the subscriber according to the at least one selected profile.

5. The medium of claim 2, wherein the current one of the plurality subscriber devices comprises a set top box and wherein the context further comprises a video data viewing selection, the computer program further comprising instructions for receiving search criteria from an advertisement element;

instructions to monitor according to a deep packet inspection process data packet traffic associated with the set top box;

instructions to determine from the monitored data packet traffic at least one among a demographic profile and a psychographic profile associated with the subscriber; and

instructions to update the holistic profile of the subscriber according to the at least one among said profiles.

6. The medium of claim 2, wherein the current one of the plurality subscriber devices comprises a voice over internet protocol telephone and wherein the context further comprises telephone usage, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to receive search criteria from the advertisement element;

instructions to monitor according to a deep packet inspection process data packet traffic associated with voice over internet protocol data according to the search criteria;

instructions to determine from the monitored data packet traffic at least one of a demographic profile and a psychographic profile associated with the subscriber; and

instructions to update the holistic profile for the subscriber.

7. The medium of claim 1, the computer program further comprising instructions to:

determine a percentile ranking for holistic profile data among a plurality of holistic profiles for subscribers;

multicast J advertising video data multicast groups from a server to a plurality of subscriber devices in J advertising groups having a percentile ranking greater than or equal to a predetermined percentile ranking; and

unicast from the server, advertising video data channels for actively viewed television channels to a quantity equal to a fourth integer, I of end users having a percentile ranking below a predetermined percentile ranking.

8. The medium of claim 7, wherein the advertising video data channels are only unicast and multicast for actively viewed internet protocol television channels, the computer program further comprising instructions to send an integer quantity, N of internet protocol television channels from the server.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the advertising data in the J multicast groups are inserted into one of the N internet protocol television channels in the J advertising groups at the subscriber device and wherein the advertising data in the unicast groups are inserted into one of the N internet protocol television channels at the subscriber devices in the I advertising groups at the subscriber device.

10. The medium of claim 8, the computer program further comprising instructions to:

determine IF K is less than a first integer, M, then

replicate each of N internet protocol television channels for each of the K advertising groups;

insert into each replicated internet protocol television channel in each advertising group, advertising data selected for the advertising group; and

send the N times K internet protocol television channels to an internet protocol television server closest to the subscriber devices.

11. The medium of claim 4, the computer program further comprising instructions to receive a registration request from a publisher element;

and

instructions to determine a publisher profile in response to the registration request.

12. A computer-implemented method for sending advertising data comprising:

analyzing packet traffic data in the communication system generated by a subscriber on one of a plurality of subscriber devices;

correlating the packet traffic data into a holistic profile for the subscriber;

developing the holistic profile for the subscriber, based on monitored packet traffic data between each of the plurality of subscriber devices and a first web site visited by the subscriber on one of the plurality of subscriber devices; and

creating a profile for a second and different website visited by the subscriber based on the holistic profile of the subscriber developed based on the subscriber visiting the first web site and not the second web site and a context for the subscriber; and

selecting advertising data based on the holistic profile of the subscriber to send to a current one of the plurality subscriber devices;

dividing a plurality of holistic profiles data for a plurality of subscribers into a quantity, K advertising groups, based on the holistic profiles data for the plurality of subscribers;

replicating a quantity, N internet protocol television channels K times;

assigning a new and unique channel number for each N channel number for each replicated channel in each of the K advertising groups; and

mapping each of the N channel numbers to the new and unique channel number at a set top box when a subscriber selects one of the N channel numbers, wherein each of the N channel numbers is the same in each of the K advertising groups, and wherein each of the N channel numbers is mapped to a different new channel number in each of the K advertising groups.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the current one of the plurality subscriber devices comprises a computer and wherein the context further comprises a website profile for the second website visited by the current one of the plurality subscriber devices, wherein the website profile for the second web site takes on at least attributes of the holistic profile of the subscriber, the method farther comprising computer program embedded in the computer readable medium, the method further comprising:

receiving search criteria from an advertisement broker;

detecting a website selection by the subscriber;

monitoring according to a deep packet inspection process, data packet traffic associated with the first website according to the search criteria;

determining from the monitored data packet traffic at least one profile selected from a demographic profile and a psychographic profile associated with the subscriber; and

updating the holistic profile for the subscriber according to one of the demographic profile and the psychographic profiles.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the current one of the plurality subscriber devices comprises a set top box and wherein the context further comprises a video data viewing selection, the system further comprising a computer program embedded in the computer readable medium, the computer program further comprising:

receiving search criteria from an advertisement element;

monitoring according to a deep packet inspection process packet traffic data associated with the set top box;

determining from the monitored packet traffic data at least one among a demographic profile and a psychographic profile associated with the subscriber; and

updating the holistic profile for the subscriber.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the current one of the plurality subscriber devices comprises a voice over internet protocol telephone and wherein the context further comprises telephone usage, the method further comprising a receive search criteria from the advertisement broker element;

instructions to monitor according to a deep packet inspection process packet traffic associated voice over internet protocol data according to the search criteria;

determining from the monitored packet traffic data at least one a demographic profile and a psychographic profile associated with the subscriber; and

updating the holistic profile for the subscriber.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising instructions to, IF K is greater than or equal to M, send N internet protocol channels to an internet protocol television server that sends data to the subscriber devices;

determining a percentile ranking for holistic profiles for subscribers from a plurality of holistic profiles for the subscribers;

multicasting J advertising data multicast groups to subscriber devices in J advertising groups having a percentile ranking above or equal to a predetermined percentile ranking; and

unicasting advertising video data channels for active internet protocol channels being viewed to a fourth integer, I end users having a percentile ranking below a predetermined percentile ranking.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined percentile ranking, I, J, and M are selected based on IPTV system available bandwidth between the internet protocol television server and the subscriber devices.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined percentile ranking is substantially 80%.

19. The method of claim 16, the computer program further comprising:

sending channel assignment data to the subscriber devices indicating internet protocol addresses for internet protocol television channels and advertising data for the internet protocol television channels.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the advertising data in the J multicast groups are inserted into one of the N internet protocol television channels at a subscriber device in the J advertising groups at the and wherein the advertising data in the unicast groups are inserted into one of the N internet protocol television channels at the subscriber devices in the I advertising groups.