Flexibly targeting information sent over a broadcast communications medium

• US 9,055,028 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TV Band Service, LLC
• Original Assignee: TV Band Service, LLC
• Inventors: Chapin, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US13/927,856
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/415, 455/3.04, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/456.2, 455/512, 455/67.11, 375/259, 375/316, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 707/769
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

A system for flexibly targeting information sent over a broadcast communications medium includes a sender of information signals each carrying information and a targeter for use by a user having a receiver with a targeter. There are a number of the receivers constructed and arranged to receive signals from the sender through a broadcast communications medium. The targeter includes a number of selectors associated with an action ID and a number of key value pairs, constructed and arranged to indicate action to be taken by a user of a selected receiver in the condition that the selector evaluates to true given the values stored in the targeters.

Claims

1. A method for flexibly targeting information sent over a broadcast communications medium comprising:

(a) extracting by a receiver device a message from the broadcast communications medium, the message comprising a first targeter,

wherein the receiver device comprises a second targeter,

wherein each targeter comprises one or more selectors associated with an action ID and one or more key value pairs;

(b) determining whether one or more conditions for a given selector are met for one or more values of the key value pairs; and

(c) in response to determining that the one or more conditions for the given selector are met, performing an action identified by the action ID associated with the given selector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining (b) and the performing (c) comprise:

(b1) using one or more values of the key value pairs of the second targeter, determining whether one or more conditions of a given selector of the first targeter are met; and

(c1) in response to determining that the one or more conditions of the given selector of the first targeter are met, performing an action for the action ID associated with the given selector of the first targeter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining (b) and the performing (c) comprise:

(b1) using one or more values of the key value pairs of the first targeter, determining whether one or more conditions of a given selector of the second targeter are met; and

(c1) in response to determining that the one or more conditions of the given selector of the second targeter are met, performing an action for the action ID associated with the given selector of the second targeter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more selectors comprise one or more Boolean expressions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the action IDs associated with one or more of the selectors and the keys for one or more of the key value pairs are omitted as being understood by the receiver device according to a prearranged system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining (b) comprises:

(b1) creating a combined targeter comprising the selectors and the associated action IDs and key value pairs from the first and second targeters, wherein the selectors in the combined targeter comprise the given selector;

(b2) determining whether one or more conditions for the given selector are met for any key value pair in the combined targeter; and

(b3) in response to determining that the one or more conditions for the given selector are met for a given key value pair, adding the action ID associated with the given selector to an action list.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the performing (c) comprises:

(c1) performing at least one action identified by at least one action ID on the action list.

8. A method for flexibly targeting information sent over a broadcast communications medium comprising:

(a) extracting by a receiver device a message from the broadcast communications medium, the message comprising a first targeter,

wherein the receiver device comprises a second targeter,

wherein each targeter comprises one or more selectors,

wherein one or more action IDs and keys for one or more of key value pairs associated with the one or more of the selectors are omitted from the message as being understood by the receiver device according to a prearranged system;

(b) determining whether one or more conditions for a given selector are met for one or more values of the associated one or more key value pairs as understood by the receiver device; and

(c) in response to determining that the one or more conditions for the given selector are met, performing an action identified by the action ID associated with the given selector as understood by the receiver device.

9. A system, comprising:

one or more receiver devices constructed and arranged to extract a message from a broadcast communications medium, the message comprising a first targeter,

wherein at least one of the receiver devices comprises a second targeter,

wherein each targeter comprises one or more selectors associated with an action ID and one or more key value pairs,

wherein the at least one receiver device is constructed and arranged to determine whether one or more conditions for a given selector are met for one or more values of the key value pairs, and to perform an action identified by the action ID associated with the given selector in response to determining that the one or more conditions for the given selector are met.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one receiver device is further constructed and arranged to:

using one or more values of the key value pairs of the second targeter, determine whether one or more conditions of a given selector of the first targeter are met; and

in response to determining that the one or more conditions of the given selector of the first targeter are met, perform an action for the action ID associated with the given selector of the first targeter.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one receiver device is further constructed and arranged to:

using one or more values of the key value pairs of the first targeter, determine whether one or more conditions of a given selector of the second targeter are met; and

in response to determining that the one or more conditions of the given selector of the second targeter are met, perform an action for the action ID associated with the given selector of the second targeter.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more selectors comprise one or more Boolean expressions.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the action IDs associated with one or more of the selectors and the keys for one or more of the key value pairs are omitted from the message as being understood by the receiver device according to a prearranged system.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one receiver device is further constructed and arranged to:

create a combined targeter comprising the selectors and the associated action IDs and key value pairs from the first and second targeters, wherein the selectors in the combined targeter comprise the given selector;

determine whether one or more conditions for the given selector are met for any key value pair in the combined targeter; and

in response to determining that the one or more conditions for the given selector are met for a given key value pair, add the action ID associated with the given selector to an action list.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one receiver device is further constructed and arranged to:

perform at least one action identified by at least one action ID on the action list.

16. A system, comprising:

one or more receiver devices constructed and arranged to extra a message from a broadcast communications medium, the message comprising a first targeter,

wherein at least one of the receiver devices comprises a second targeter,

wherein each targeter comprises one or more selectors,

wherein one or more action IDs and keys for one or more of the key value pairs associated with one or more of the selectors are omitted from the message as being understood by the at least one receiver device according to a prearranged system,

wherein the at least one receiver device is constructed and arranged to determine whether one or more conditions for a given selector are met for one or more values of each key value pair as understood by the at least one receiver device, and to perform an action identified by the action ID associated with the given selector as understood by the at least one receiver device, in response to determining that the one or more conditions for the given selector are met.