Targeted television content display

• US 8,910,199 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interval Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Interval Licensing LLC
• Inventors: Slaney, Malcolm, Johnson, Bonnie M., Tomasi, Annarosa
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUONG, ALAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/400,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,101 Days
• Field of Search: 725/34, 725/10, 725/14, 707/10
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

The invention enables and/or facilitates the display of personalized content to content observers by content providers (e.g., advertisers) who disseminate content over a network. In particular, the invention can be used to enable the display of targeted content to television viewers and/or targeted product placements within a television program. The invention can advantageously enable identification of the content observer(s) observing a content display device at a particular time and/or identification of the content display site, and selection of targeted content for display based on a determination of content appropriate for display to those content observer(s) in accordance with a criterion based on the identity and/or a characteristic of the content observer(s) and/or the content display site.

Claims

1. A system for displaying targeted content on a television at a television viewing location, comprising:

means for receiving;

a plurality of sets of primary content at the television viewing location, each of the plurality of sets of primary content having at least one targeted content display opportunity, and each of the plurality of sets of primary content comprising a subset of a category of content;

a plurality of sets of targeted content at the television viewing location, each of the plurality of sets of targeted content adapted for display on the television during a targeted content display opportunity, individual sets of targeted content associated with at least one of a plurality of content providers, and each of the plurality of sets of targeted content specifying;

(a) a demographic characteristic associated with a desired viewer of a set of targeted content, and

(b) a value of the set of targeted content to individual content providers that varies in accordance with the demographic characteristic;

means for ascertaining the identity and/or a characteristic of a television viewer watching the television at, or just prior to, the time of the targeted content display opportunity,

wherein the identity and/or characteristic includes at least one of an age, a gender, an income, a facial characteristic, or a vocal characteristic, and

wherein the means for ascertaining the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer include;

means for monitoring the display of at least one set of primary content by the television;

means for associating demographic probability information with the displayed at least one set of primary content; and

means for determining a probable demographic of the television viewer, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the demographic probability information associated with the displayed at least one set of primary content; and

means for processing instructions and/or data for selecting one of the received plurality of sets of targeted content for display to the television viewer during the targeted content display opportunity in accordance with a criterion based on;

the identity and/or the characteristic of the television viewer,

the demographic characteristic associated with the desired viewer of the set of targeted content, and

the value of the set of targeted content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for ascertaining the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer comprises:

means for monitoring the display of content by the television, wherein the means for monitoring the display of content by the television includes means for monitoring changes in the set of primary content being displayed by the television that are initiated by a television viewer;

means for acquiring data-regarding a physical characteristic of a television viewer present in the vicinity of the television;

means for processing the acquired data to produce data distinguishing each television viewer from each other television viewer;

means for associating the primary content displayed by the television and/or the manner in which the primary content is displayed by the television with each television viewer who is present in the vicinity of the television at the time of such display; and

means for determining the identity and/or a characteristic of a television viewer, wherein the determination of the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer is based at least in part, on the displayed primary content and/or the manner of display of content associated with that television viewer, and wherein the determination of the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer is based, at least in part, on changes in the set of primary content being displayed by the television that are initiated by a television viewer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein one or more characteristics are associated with the set of primary content displayed by the television,

wherein one or more characteristics are associated with each of a plurality of television viewers that may be present in the vicinity of the television, and

wherein the determination of the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer is based, at least in part, on the one or more characteristics associated with one or more sets of displayed primary content associated with that television viewer and the one or more characteristics associated with the plurality of television viewers that may be present in the vicinity of the television.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more characteristics are associated with each of a plurality of television viewers that may be present in the vicinity of the television;

and

wherein the means for ascertaining the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer further includes means for determining the identity and/or a characteristic of a television viewer who is present in the vicinity of the television at the time that one or more sets of primary content are displayed, the determination being based on the one or more characteristics associated with each of the plurality of television viewers, and the one or more displayed sets of primary content displayed and/or the manner in which the one or more sets of primary content are displayed by the television.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for processing instructions and/or data for selecting one of a plurality of sets of targeted content for display is located at the television viewing location, and wherein the system further comprises:

a data storage device located at the television viewing location for storing the plurality of sets of targeted content; and

means for processing instructions and/or data for selecting a second plurality of sets of targeted content from the first plurality of sets of targeted content, in accordance with a criterion related to the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer and/or the television viewing location, wherein the second plurality of sets of targeted content is a subset of the first plurality of sets of targeted content representing sets of targeted content that may possibly be selected for display to the television viewer by the means for processing instructions and/or data for selecting one of a plurality of sets of targeted content for display.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting the sets of targeted content to the means for receiving from a location remote the television viewing location,

wherein the means for transmitting further comprises means for broadcasting the sets of targeted content from the remote location,

wherein the plurality of sets of targeted content comprise sets of secondary content that are displayed within the display of the set of primary content, between the displays of sets of primary content, or during breaks in the display of a set of primary content,

wherein the means for broadcasting broadcasts the sets of primary content over one or more primary content channels,

wherein the means for broadcasting continuously and repeatedly broadcasts the plurality of sets of secondary content over one or more secondary content channels, and

wherein the means for receiving is adapted to receive the set of primary content if the set of primary content is available to be received and to receive sets of secondary content at times when the set of primary content is not being received.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions and/or data for selecting one of the plurality of sets of targeted content for display include:

instructions and/or data regarding when a particular set of targeted content can or cannot be displayed, and wherein the instructions and/or data regarding when a particular set of targeted content can or cannot be displayed include instructions and/or data regarding the frequency with which a particular set of targeted content can or cannot be displayed at a particular television viewing location and/or to a particular television viewer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions and/or data for selecting one of the plurality of sets of targeted content for display include instructions and/or data regarding when a particular set of targeted content can or cannot be displayed, and wherein the instructions and/or data regarding when a particular set of targeted content can or cannot be displayed include instructions and/or data regarding the temporal proximity of display of a particular set of targeted content to the display of other content, to another display of the same set of targeted content, to the display of content of a particular type, or to the display of another particular set of targeted content.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a first television program displayed on a first television channel is displayed simultaneously with a second television program displayed on a second television channel such that a first break in the first television program at least partially overlaps a second break in the second television program, the system further comprising means for continuing to display, during the second break, a set of targeted content being displayed during the first break.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for enabling a viewer to indicate a response to display of a particular set of targeted content, wherein the means for enabling a viewer to indicate a response to display of a particular set of targeted content further comprises for means for enabling a viewer to indicate a level of satisfaction with the display of a particular set of targeted content.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for discerning a viewer'"'"'s response to display of a particular set of targeted content, and wherein compensation from a content provider fort display of a particular set of targeted content provided by the content provider is dependent on the discerned viewer response to display of the particular set of targeted content.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for ascertaining the identity and/or a characteristic:

of a television viewer includes determining whether the viewer is a parent or a child, and wherein a determination that the viewer is a parent corresponds to greater value for the set of targeted content than a determination that the viewer is a child.

12. A method for displaying a set of targeted content within a display of a set of primary content on a display device at a viewing location, comprising:

automatically monitoring a display of content by the display device at the viewing location, including tracking changes over time in a set of content being displayed by the display device, wherein the changes are initiated by a viewer;

automatically ascertaining the identities and/or characteristics of multiple viewers viewing the display device at the viewing location at, or just prior to, the time of a targeted content display opportunity,

wherein the identities and/or characteristics include at least one of an age, a gender, an income, a facial characteristic, or a vocal characteristic, and

wherein automatically ascertaining the identities or characteristics includes;

passively acquiring data regarding physical characteristics of the viewers without requiring affirmative action from the viewers,

processing the passively acquired data to distinguish each viewer from each other viewer at the viewing location, and

associating the content displayed, by the display device and/or a manner in, which the content is displayed by the display device with each of the viewers at the viewing location;

processing instructions and/or data for selecting one of multiple sets of targeted content for display to the viewers during the targeted content display opportunity, individual sets of targeted content associated with at least one of a plurality of content providers, each of the multiple set of targeted content specifying;

(a) a demographic characteristic associated with a desired viewer of a set of targeted content, and

(b) a value of the set of targeted content to individual content providers that varies in accordance with the demographic characteristic,

wherein the one of the multiple sets of targeted content is selected in accordance with;

a criterion based on the identities and/or the characteristics of the viewers;

a criterion based on the demographic characteristic associated with the desired viewer;

a criterion based on the value of the set of targeted content; and

a criterion based on the changes in the set of content being displayed by the display device that are initiated by a viewer;

allowing the viewers to actively select from among the multiple sets of targeted content;

receiving the set of primary content at the viewing location;

receiving the set of targeted content at the viewing location; and

integrating the selected set of targeted content into the set of primary content.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein one or more characteristics are associated with a set of targeted content displayed by the display device, and

wherein the determination of the identities and/or characteristics of the viewers is based, at least in part, on the one or more characteristics associated with one or more sets of displayed targeted content associated with the viewers.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising processing instructions and/or data for selecting a second set of targeted content from a first of the multiple sets of targeted content, in accordance with a criterion related to the identities and/or characteristics of the viewers and/or the viewing location, wherein the second set of targeted content is a subset of the first set of targeted content.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the instructions and/or data for selecting one of the multiple sets of targeted content for display include instructions and/or data indicating a value placed on a particular set of targeted content by the content provider that provides that set of targeted content, and wherein the value varies in accordance with the identities and/or characteristics of the viewers.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the set of targeted content is a product placement.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein compensation from a content provider for display of a particular set of targeted content provided by the content provider is dependent on at least one of the discerned viewers'"'"' responses to display of the particular set of targeted content.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein integrating the selected set of targeted content into the set of primary content further comprises:

identifying the location within the set of primary content at which the selected set of target content is to be displayed;

modeling the reflected light at the identified location

determining the manner in which content proximate to the identified location modifies the light reflected at the identified location; and

using the modeled reflected light and the modification of the reflected light by the proximate content to produce a display of the selected set of targeted content at the identified location within the set of primary content.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the modeling of the reflected light at the identified location and the determination of the manner in which content proximate to the identified location modifies the light reflected at the identified location is performed once and used to produce display of any set of targeted content at the identified location within the set of primary content.

21. A system for displaying targeted content on a television at a television viewing location, comprising:

at least one data storage device;

at least one processor coupled to the data storage device, wherein the processor is configured to

receive a plurality of sets of primary content at the television viewing location, each of the plurality of sets of primary content having at least one targeted content display opportunity, and each of the plurality of sets of primary content comprising a subset of a category of content;

receive a plurality of sets of targeted content at the television viewing location, each of the plurality of sets of targeted content adapted for display on the television during a targeted content display opportunity, individual sets of targeted content associated with at least one of a plurality of content providers, and each of the plurality of sets of targeted content specifying;

(a) a demographic characteristic associated with a desired viewer of a set of targeted content, and

(b) a value of the set of targeted contend to individual content providers that varies in accordance with the demographic characteristic;

ascertain the identity and/or a characteristic of a television viewer watching the television at, or just prior to, the time of the targeted content display opportunity,

wherein the identity and/or characteristic includes at least one of an age, a gender, an income, a facial characteristic, or a vocal characteristic, and

wherein ascertaining the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer includes;

monitoring the display of at least one set of primary content by the television;

associating demographic probability information with the displayed at least one set of primary content; and

determining a probable demographic of the television viewer, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the demographic probability information associated with the displayed at least one set of primary content; and

process instructions and/or data to select one of the received plurality of sets of targeted content for display to the television viewer during the targeted content display opportunity in accordance with a criterion based on;

the identity and/or the characteristic of the television viewer,

the demographic characteristic associated with the desired viewer of the set of targeted content, and

the value of the set of targeted contend.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein ascertaining the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer comprises:

monitoring the display of content by the television, wherein monitoring the display of content by the television includes monitoring changes in the set of primary content being displayed by the television that are initiated by a television viewer;

acquiring data regarding a physical characteristic of a television viewer present in the vicinity of the television;

processing the acquired data to produce data distinguishing each television viewer from each other television viewer;

associating the primary content displayed by the television and/or the manner in which the primary content is displayed by the television with each television viewer who is present in the vicinity of the television at the time of such display; and

determining the identity and/or a characteristic of a television viewer, wherein the determination of the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer is based, at least in part, on the displayed primary content and/or the manner of display of content associated with that television viewer, and wherein the determination of the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer is based, at least in part, on changes in the set of primary content being displayed by the television that are initiated by a television viewer.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a response from a viewer to a display of a particular set of targeted content, and wherein receiving a response from a viewer includes receiving an indication from a viewer of a level of satisfaction with the display of a particular set of targeted content.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to discern a viewer response to display of a particular set of targeted content, and wherein compensation from a content provider fort display of a particular set of targeted content provided by the content provider is dependent on the discerned viewer response to display of the particular set of targeted content.