Method and system for providing targeted advertisements

• US 8,640,160 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alphonso, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A., Stefanik, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDRAMUNO, FRANKLIN S
• Application Number:
  US11/186,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20050251820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,113 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725/109
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed that target content to a subscriber. One such device has a processor communicating with memory. The processor receives a library of content associated with a demographic and stores the library in memory. The processor receives an instruction to retrieve particular content from the library of content and inserts the particular content in an insertion slot.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an upload of commands at a server, the upload of the commands sent from a media device, the commands entered by a user of the media device while displaying content at the media device;

determining, after receipt of the upload of the commands, an available advertisement insertion slot in the content;

uploading additional commands entered since the receipt of the upload of the commands;

associating only the additional commands to a playlist that corresponds to recent viewing habits occurring since the receipt of the upload of the commands;

retrieving the playlist at the server; and

sending the playlist from the server to the media device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the additional commands.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning the additional commands to a demographic.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising building the playlist to appeal to the additional commands.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising building the playlist.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising building the playlist to appeal to a profile.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a library of advertisements.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for a movie.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the playlist comprises sending a library of advertisements.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the playlist comprises sending a soundtrack.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a targeted advertisement into the advertisement insertion slot.

12. A system for targeting a playlist, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving an upload of commands entered at a media device while displaying content;

determining, after receipt of the upload of the commands, an available advertisement insertion slot in the content;

uploading latest commands entered at the media device since the receipt of the upload of the commands;

associating only the latest commands to a playlist; and

sending the playlist to a destination.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise the tracking media device using a file extension of a requested file.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the playlist.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a targeted advertisement selected to appeal to the latest commands.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a library of advertisements.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise receiving an order for a movie.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise selecting a library of advertisements associated with the latest commands.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a trailer.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a specification for the available advertisement insertion slot.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is a set-top box.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is a set-top box integrated with a television.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is a computer.

24. A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving an upload of events sent from a media device, the upload of events entered while receiving programming at the media device;

determining an availability of an advertisement insertion slot in the programming;

uploading latest events entered at the media device since the receipt of the upload of events;

associating only the latest events to a playlist; and

sending the playlist to the media device,

wherein the playlist is chosen independent of profiling the media device.

25. The memory of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise creating the playlist.

26. The memory of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a command as the latest events.

27. The memory of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a command in the upload of the events.

28. The memory of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise assigning a demographic to the latest events.

29. The memory of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a response to a prompt.

30. The memory of claim 24, wherein the playlist comprises an advertisement.

31. The memory of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise sending the playlist to a destination.

32. The memory of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise sending the playlist to a destination associated with a user of the media device.

33. The memory of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise making an offer to purchase an element of the playlist.