Method and apparatus for selecting advertising

• US 20070244750A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Suryanarayana, Lalitha, Grannan, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,803,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.640
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for selecting targeted advertising, is disclosed including monitoring subscriber event data from a first and a second access subscriber device, calculating a product interest correlation score in a plurality of product categories for the subscriber based on the subscriber event data, reviewing an advertiser database to select an advertisement in the product categories, and selecting a format to deliver the selected advertisement to a third subscriber access device. In another embodiment, a system is disclosed for selecting an advertisement to send to a subscriber, including an internet profiling module that monitors subscriber event data, an internet profiling database for storing and classifying the event data monitored by the internet profiling module, an advertiser index database for storing advertiser detail information, and an intelligent correlation scoring system (ICSS) processor coupled to the internet profiling database, user profile and the advertiser index database.

Claims

1. A method for selecting targeted advertising, comprising:

monitoring subscriber event data from a first subscriber access device and a second subscriber access device;

calculating product interest correlation scores in a plurality of product categories for the subscriber based on the subscriber event data;

reviewing an advertiser database to select an advertisement in at least one of the product categories; and

selecting a format to deliver the selected advertisement to a third subscriber access device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the subscriber event data is at least two selected from the group consisting of selecting a television station, selecting a interactive television menu option, selecting content for an internet protocol (IP) access device, accessing a resource indicated by a uniform resource indicator (URI), browsing a web site, creating a user profile, carrying out a digital purchase transaction, internet chatting, internet blogging, placing a telephone call, sending an instant message, receiving an instant message, receiving an email, and sending an electronic mail message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, the second subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, and the third subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first, second and third subscriber access devices are different from each other.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a characteristic for the third subscriber access device; and

adapting an advertisement format for the third subscriber access device to at least one of the group consisting of audio, video, graphics support, and text fidelity to match the characteristic of the third access device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

weighting the product interest correlation scores based on previous event data for the subscriber in the product categories.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a format further comprises assessing real time contextual information about the subscriber and weighting the product interest correlation score based on the real time contextual information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accepting a subscriber input for allowing for at least one of the group consisting of accepting advertising on an access device and monitoring of subscriber event data.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assessing event data to infer subscriber intent in the product categories; and

weighting the product interest correlation scores based on the subscriber intent in the product categories.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an available advertising window based on a current usage scenario for the subscriber;

correlating product categories for a plurality of available advertisements in the plurality of product categories to the current usage scenario; and

selecting an advertisement from the plurality of available advertisements in one or more the plurality product categories based on a high auction bid.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of advertisers'"'"' auction bids in the plurality of product categories based on the correlation score; and

selecting an advertisement in one of the product categories with a highest bid from the plurality of advertisers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein advertisers'"'"' auction bids are for two or more product categories.

13. A system to select advertising, comprising:

a processor in communication with a memory;

an advertising index database in the memory;

a product interest correlation scores data structure in the memory;

an event data interface that receives event data from at least a first and a second subscriber access device to store and classify the event data in the memory; and

a computer program for execution by the processor that contains instructions to calculate a plurality of product interest correlation scores for a subscriber in a plurality of product categories based on the event data and instructions to apply the product interest correlation scores to an advertisement database to select an advertisement in the product category to send to the subscriber over a third subscriber access device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, the second subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, and the third subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first, second and third subscriber access devices are different from each other.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the event data interface receives data indicating at least one of the group consisting of selecting a television station, selecting a interactive television menu option, selecting content for an internet protocol (IP) access device, accessing a resource indicated by a uniform resource indicator (URI), browsing a web site, creating a user profile, carrying out a digital purchase transaction, internet chatting, internet blogging, placing a telephone call, sending an instant message, receiving an instant message, receiving an email, and sending an electronic mail message.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an advertiser interface for receiving advertisers'"'"' auction bids for the product category based on the correlation score.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an interface for sending the selected advertisement to a subscriber access device.

19. A data structure comprising:

a plurality of correlation scores fields for storing correlation scores data indicating a correlation score in a plurality of product categories for a subscriber;

a product categories field for storing product categories data indicating a plurality of product categories;

a plurality of subscriber identifier fields for storing subscriber identifier data indicating identifiers for the subscriber; and

a plurality of subscriber event data fields for storing subscriber event data from at least a first access device and a second access device for use in calculating the plurality of correlation scores in the plurality of product categories.

20. The data structure of claim 19 wherein the subscriber event data is selected from a group consisting of selecting a television station, selecting a interactive television menu option, selecting content for an internet protocol (IP) access device, accessing a resource indicated by a uniform resource indicator (URI), browsing a web site, creating a user profile, carrying out a digital purchase transaction, internet chatting, internet blogging, placing a telephone call, sending an instant message, receiving an instant message, receiving an email, and sending an electronic mail message.

21. The data structure of claim 19, further comprising:

a plurality of advertisement fields for storing data for advertisements for sending to a third subscriber access device.

22. The data structure of claim 21, further comprising:

a retail store layout field for storing data indicating a merchant physical location layout for locating in a merchant physical location a product in the product category of the advertisement sent to the third subscriber access device.

23. The data structure of claim 22, further comprising:

a product inventory field for storing data indicating a product inventory for a merchant physical location having the product in the product category of the advertisement sent to the third subscriber access device.

24. The data structure of claim 19, further comprising a threshold field for storing data indicating a product interest correlation score threshold for sending an advertisement to a subscriber access device.

25. A device for receiving an advertisement targeted to a subscriber comprising:

a subscriber access device for accessing an Internet Protocol (IP) network; and

an interface on the access device for receiving a targeted advertisement based on a product interest correlation score for the subscriber wherein the product interest correlation score is event data from a first and a second access subscriber device;

calculating a product interest correlation score in a plurality of product categories for the subscriber based on the subscriber event data;

reviewing an advertiser database to select an advertisement in at least one of the product categories; and

selecting a format to deliver the selected advertisement to a third subscriber access device.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the subscriber event data is at least two selected from the group consisting of selecting a television station, selecting a interactive television menu option, selecting content for an internet protocol (IP) access device, accessing a resource indicated by a uniform resource indicator (URI), browsing a web site, creating a user profile, carrying out a digital purchase transaction, internet chatting, internet blogging, placing a telephone call, sending an instant message, receiving an instant message, receiving an email, and sending an electronic mail message.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the first subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, the second subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, and the third subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device.

28. A computer readable medium having a computer program for selecting advertising embedded therein, the computer program comprising:

instructions to monitor subscriber event data from a first subscriber access device and a second subscriber access device;

instructions to calculate a product interest correlation score in a plurality of product categories for the subscriber based on the subscriber event data;

instructions to review an advertiser database to select an advertisement having a highest correlation score in the product categories; and

instructions to select a format to deliver the selected advertisement to a third subscriber access device.

29. The medium of claim 28 wherein the subscriber event data is at least two selected from the group consisting of selecting a television station, selecting a interactive television menu option, selecting content for an internet protocol (IP) access device, browsing a web site, carrying out a digital purchase transaction, internet chatting, internet blogging, placing a telephone call, sending an instant message, receiving an instant message, receiving an email, and sending an electronic mail message.

30. The medium of claim 28, wherein the first subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, the second subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, and the third subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device.

31. A system for selecting an advertisement to send to a subscriber, comprising:

an internet profiling module that monitors subscriber event data from at least a first and a second subscriber access device;

an internet profiling database for storing and classifying the event data monitored by the internet profiling module;

an advertiser index database for storing advertisers'"'"' detail information; and

an intelligent correlation scoring system (ICSS) processor coupled to the internet profiling database, user profile and the advertiser index database, wherein the ICSS processor is configured to determine product interest correlation scores in a plurality of product categories and select advertisements indicated in the advertiser index database based on product interest correlation scores for the subscriber in the plurality of product categories based on event data from a first and second access device, wherein the advertisement is sent to a third subscriber access device.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

a URI tracking system that assesses subscriber event data from at least a first subscriber access device and a second subscriber access device in real time for subscriber intent in a plurality of product categories.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the URI tracking system is at least one selected from the group consisting of a web spidering system, a simple object access protocol (SOAP) proxy, a caching proxy, a transcoding proxy (content translation, media conversion, etc.), a session initiation protocol (SIP) proxy for multimedia sessions, an open mobile alliance (OMA) Push proxy, wireless applications protocol (WAP) proxy and a proxy acting as a firewall, network/application filter.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a data structure containing user profile settings to opt in to being monitored by the internet profiling module.

35. A method for selecting targeted advertising in an internet protocol television system IPTV, comprising:

monitoring in an IPTV server subscriber event data from a first subscriber access device and a second subscriber access device;

calculating in the IPTV server a product interest correlation score in a plurality of product categories for the subscriber based on the subscriber event data;

reviewing in the IPTV server an advertiser database to select an advertisement in at least one of the product categories; and

selecting in the IPTV server a format to deliver the selected advertisement to a third subscriber access device.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the subscriber event data is at least two selected from the group consisting of selecting a television station, selecting a interactive television menu option, selecting content for an internet protocol (IP) access device, browsing a web site, carrying out a digital purchase transaction, internet chatting, internet blogging, placing a telephone call, sending an instant message, receiving an instant message, receiving an email, and sending an electronic mail message.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the first subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, the second subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device, and the third subscriber access device is one selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), lap top computer, stationary personal computer, IPTV remote control, web tablet, laptop computer, pocket PC, a television set capable of receiving IP based video services and mobile IP device.

38. An internet protocol television (IPTV) system for selecting an advertisement to send to a subscriber, comprising:

an internet profiling module associated with an IPTV server that monitors subscriber event data from at least a first and a second subscriber access device;

an internet profiling database associated with the IPTV server for storing and classifying the event data monitored by the internet profiling module;

an advertiser index database associated with the IPTV server for storing advertisers'"'"' detail information; and

an intelligent correlation scoring system (ICSS) processor associated with the IPTV server coupled to the internet profiling database, user profile and the advertiser index database, wherein the ICSS processor is configured to determine product interest correlation scores in a plurality of product categories and select advertisements indicated in the product categories based on event data from a first and second access device, wherein the advertisement is sent to a third subscriber access device.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

a URI tracking system that assesses subscriber event data from at least a first subscriber access device and a second subscriber access device in real time for subscriber intent in the plurality of product categories.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the URI tracking is one selected from the group consisting of a web spidering system, a simple object access protocol (SOAP) proxy, a caching proxy, a transcoding proxy (content translation, media conversion, etc.), a session initiation protocol (SIP) proxy for multimedia sessions, an OMA Push proxy, wireless applications protocol (WAP) proxy and a proxy acting as a firewall, network/application filter