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Queue based advertisement scheduling and sales

  • US 9,432,733 B2
  • Filed: 07/22/2014
  • Issued: 08/30/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for using a set top box (STB) to select advertisements to display to a viewer, comprising the steps of:

  • configuring the STB to include a plurality of advertisement queues;

    programming the STB to include an advertisement map that identifies which types of advertisements the STB can download;

    connecting the STB to a network having at least one forward channel from a head-end to the STB that is used as an advertisement channel, to receive at least one advertisement and related advertisement data by the STB from the head-end;

    comparing, by the STB, the received related advertisement data to the advertisement map, and when a match occurs, storing the at least one advertisement in an advertisement table;

    storing, by the STB, the related advertisement data of each advertisement stored in the advertisement table into at least one slot of at least one advertisement queue of the plurality of advertisement queues, wherein the frequency and order of the storing of the related advertisement data is specified in the related advertisement data;

    receiving over the network by the STB a programming stream that includes advertisement intervals interspersed throughout the programming stream;

    assigning by the STB one of the plurality of advertisement queues to the programming stream based on a time of day;

    inserting into at least one advertisement interval in the programming stream by the STB, an advertisement selected from the advertisement table based on its corresponding order in the assigned advertisement queue; and

    displaying the inserted advertisement to the viewer when the advertisement interval occurs.

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