Method and apparatus for providing demographically targeted television commercials

• US 5,155,591 A
• Filed: 10/23/1989
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wachob, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charouel, Lisa
• Application Number:
  US07/425,117
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/3.3, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 455/67.1, 455/67.2, 455/67.3, 358/84, 358/86
• US Class Current: 725/35
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

Different commercial messages are broadcast to different demographically targeted audiences in a cable television system or the like. A first television channel contains television programs and periodic commercial messages. A second television channel contains alternate commercial messages. Demographic characteristics of a viewer are identified, and commercial messages are selectively provided from the first or second channel, depending upon the viewer'"'"'s demographic characteristics. Demographic data can be input by a viewer via a remote control, downloaded to a subscriber'"'"'s converter from a remote headend, or programmed into the converter at installation. Prioritization of the demographic characteristics of a plurality of television viewers watching a program together enables commercials to be targeted to the viewer having highest priority. Statistical data can be maintained concerning the number and identity of subscribers viewing specific commercials.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in receiving television services, comprising:

means for receiving television signals including a first television channel comprising television programs with periodic commercial message breaks and a plurality of additional television channels comprising commercial messages;

tuning means coupled to said receiving means for providing a selected channel for viewing;

means for identifying demographic characteristics of a television viewer;

means for determining when a commercial message break is about to occur on said first television channel;

means for prioritizing the demographic characteristics of a plurality of television viewers currently watching a television together; and

selection means, responsive to said determining means and said prioritizing means, for actuating the tuning means to provide a particular commercial message channel for viewing during a commercial message break, based on said prioritization of demographic characteristics.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

remote control means for enabling a viewer to transmit demographic data to said identifying means.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

means for storing data indicative of commercial messages provided by said selection means for subsequent retrieval and analysis by a headend.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

means for enabling a viewer to input demographic data to said identifying means.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

means for actuating said tuning means to return to said first television channel at the conclusion of a commercial message break in the event said selection means has provided a commercial message from a channel other than said first television channel during the break.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said actuating means comprises:

a timer for actuating the return to said first television channel a predetermined time period after a commercial message break has commenced.

6. A television system for providing substitute television programming during commercial breaks in a primary program, comprising:

a headend for transmitting television signals, including a first television channel comprising television programs with periodic commercial messages and a second television channel comprising another viewer selected backup program;

means for receiving said first channel from said headend;

means for determining when a commercial message break is about to occur on said first television channel; and

means responsive to said determining means for receiving said second channel instead of said first channel during the duration of the commercial message break.

7. Headend apparatus for broadcasting different commercial messages to different demographically targeted television audiences, comprising:

means for transmitting a television signal containing television programs and periodic commercial message breaks on a first television channel on a television signal distribution network;

a library of recorded television commercial for playback under the control of a system controller;

means for concurrently transmitting, on separate television channels on said distribution network, a plurality of different television commercials played back under the control of said system controller during a periodic commercial message break for selective receipt of different commercials by a universe of viewers;

means for recording data indicative of the number of viewers that are provided with a given commercial transmitted on said distribution network from said library; and

means responsive to said recording means for billing an advertiser based on said data.

8. Headend apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising:

means for storing data indicative of demographic characteristics of one of said viewers; and

means, responsive to data stored in said storing means, for directing viewer apparatus serving said one of said viewers to tune to a designated channel during said periodic commercial message break for receipt of one of said plurality of different television commercials targeted to the viewer.

9. A system for automatically selecting television programs and commercials for a viewer, based on data pertaining the viewer, comprising:

means for storing data indicative of predetermined characteristics of said viewer;

means, responsive to said stored data, for causing a television signal receiver to select from a plurality of programs a television program targeted to viewers having said characteristics; and

means, responsive to said stored data during a commercial message break of said selected television program, for directing said television signal receiver to select, from a plurality of commercials, a television commercial targeted to viewers having said characteristics.