RESPECTING PRIVACY IN A TARGETED ADVERTISING SYSTEM
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for delivering targeted assets to subscribers using communication media, wherein each subscriber has a set top box, the method comprising the steps of generating a profile of each subscriber at the set top box associated with the respective subscriber, broadcasting an asset to all subscribers along with target information; and delivering the asset only to subscribers whose profiles match the target information. The delivery of the asset, and accumulated information from delivery of the asset to other subscribers, is reported to a user using an asset delivery notification, without identifying the subscriber to the user. A privacy manager is used to strip identification information from the asset delivery notification. The profile, which may include real time information, for example on whether the subscriber set is on and what it is tuned to, is generated by monitoring the viewing habits of the subscriber and storing the information at a set top box.
129 Citations
60 Claims
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1-22. -22. (canceled)
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23. A method for use in connection with delivering targeted assets to subscribers having subscriber equipment in a communication network, comprising the steps of:
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providing a processor based asset targeting system operative to; obtain targeting information for assets, said targeting information identifying target audiences for said assets; obtain audience classification information for subscribers, said audience classification information potentially including personal information of said subscribers; and select assets for delivery to particular subscribers based at least in part on said targeting information and said classification information; and receiving, at said targeting system from one of said subscribers, a consent related to said targeting system, wherein said consent indicates a willingness of said subscriber regarding a use of personal information in said targeting system. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for use in connection with delivering targeted assets to subscribers having subscriber equipment in a communication network, comprising:
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a processor based asset targeting system operative to; obtain targeting information for assets, said targeting information identifying target audiences for said assets; obtain audience classification information for subscribers, said audience classification information potentially including personal information of said subscribers; and select assets for delivery to particular subscribers based at least in part on said targeting information and said classification information; and a privacy module for receiving, at said targeting system from one of said subscribers, a consent related to said targeting system, wherein said consent indicates a willingness of said subscriber regarding a use of personal information in said targeting system - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for use in connection with delivering targeted assets to subscribers having subscriber equipment in a communication network, comprising the steps of:
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providing a processor based asset targeting system operative to; obtain targeting information for assets, said targeting information identifying target audiences for said assets; obtain audience classification information for subscribers, said audience classification information potentially including personal information of said subscribers; and select assets for delivery to particular subscribers based at least in part on said targeting information and said classification information; and processing a report, transmitted from the subscriber equipment via a communications link, identifying an asset delivered to a subscriber, without identifying a subscriber to a system user. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. An apparatus for use in connection with delivering targeted assets to subscribers having subscriber equipment in a communication network, comprising:
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a processor based asset targeting system operative to; obtain targeting information for assets, said targeting information identifying target audiences for said assets; obtain audience classification information for subscribers, said audience classification information potentially including personal information of said subscribers; and select assets for delivery to particular subscribers based at least in part on said targeting information and said classification information; and a privacy module for processing, at said targeting system from one of said subscribers, a consent related to said targeting system, wherein said consent indicates a willingness of said subscriber regarding a use of personal information in said targeting system - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification