Targeted television advertising based on profiles linked to multiple online devices
First Claim
1. A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising:
- (a) using the computer system, determining an association among a set of devices, which set includes (i) a plurality of first, identified online devices, wherein each of the first online devices is identified by a corresponding cookie, tag, or device fingerprint, and wherein network traffic was routed to each of the first online devices using a first, common IP address or portion thereof during a first, selected time period, and (ii) an additional device that is not an identified online device;
(b) using the computer system, determining that network traffic has been routed to a selected minimum number of multiple first online devices of the set of associated devices during a second, subsequent time period using a second, common IP address or portion thereof that is different from the first, common IP address or portion thereof; and
(c) causing an advertisement to be selected for direction to the additional device, based at least in part on profile information associated with a second online device, wherein network traffic is routed to the second online device using the second, common IP address or portion thereof.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A profile provider: (i) associates a primary online device (OD1) with a set-top box (STB); (ii) a location of OD1 at some point in time is estimated to be “near” the STB, thereby establishing a STB proxy location; (iii) one or more secondary online devices (OD2s) are observed to be located “near” the STB proxy location and are associated with the STB; and (iv) a television advertisement is selected to be directed to the STB, which selection is based at least in part on profile information linked to one of the associated OD2s. The method can be particularly advantageous in situations wherein: the STB is not connected to any computer network; the STB is not ever connected to the same local area network as OD1 or OD2; or television service (used by the STB) and online access (used by OD1 and OD2s) are provided by different service providers.
211 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising:
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(a) using the computer system, determining an association among a set of devices, which set includes (i) a plurality of first, identified online devices, wherein each of the first online devices is identified by a corresponding cookie, tag, or device fingerprint, and wherein network traffic was routed to each of the first online devices using a first, common IP address or portion thereof during a first, selected time period, and (ii) an additional device that is not an identified online device; (b) using the computer system, determining that network traffic has been routed to a selected minimum number of multiple first online devices of the set of associated devices during a second, subsequent time period using a second, common IP address or portion thereof that is different from the first, common IP address or portion thereof; and (c) causing an advertisement to be selected for direction to the additional device, based at least in part on profile information associated with a second online device, wherein network traffic is routed to the second online device using the second, common IP address or portion thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A machine comprising a hardware computer system structured and programmed to perform a method of dealing with online activity of a user having a set-top box and a secondary online device, the method comprising:
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(a) using the computer system, determining an association among a set of devices, which set includes (i) a plurality of first, identified online devices, wherein network traffic was routed to each of the first online devices using a first, common IP address or portion thereof during a first, selected time period, and (ii) an additional device that is not an identified online device; (b) using the computer system, determining that network traffic has been routed to a selected minimum number of multiple first online devices of the set of associated devices during a second, subsequent time period using a second, common IP address or portion thereof that is different from the first, common IP address or portion thereof; and (c) causing an advertisement to be selected for direction to the additional device, based at least in part on profile information associated with a second online device, wherein network traffic is routed to the second online device using the second, common IP address or portion thereof. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An article comprising a tangible medium encoding computer-readable instructions that is not a transitory propagating signal that, when applied to a computer system, instruct the computer system to perform a method of dealing with online activity of a user having a set-top box and a secondary online device, the method comprising:
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(a) using the computer system, determining an association among a set of devices, which set includes (i) a plurality of first, identified online devices, wherein network traffic was routed to each of the first online devices using a first, common IP address or portion thereof during a first, selected time period, and (ii) an additional device that is not an identified online device; (b) using the computer system, determining that network traffic has been routed to a selected minimum number of multiple first online devices of the set of associated devices during a second, subsequent time period using a second, common IP address or portion thereof that is different from the first, common IP address or portion thereof; and (c) causing an advertisement to be selected for direction to the additional device, based at least in part on profile information associated with a second online device, wherein network traffic is routed to the second online device using the second, common IP address or portion thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification