CA2684239C - Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior - Google Patents
Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2684239C CA2684239C CA2684239A CA2684239A CA2684239C CA 2684239 C CA2684239 C CA 2684239C CA 2684239 A CA2684239 A CA 2684239A CA 2684239 A CA2684239 A CA 2684239A CA 2684239 C CA2684239 C CA 2684239C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- online
- user
- interface device
- top box
- user interface
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 74
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 63
- 230000003542 behavioural effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 28
- 235000014510 cooky Nutrition 0.000 claims description 27
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000008685 targeting Effects 0.000 abstract description 16
- 230000006399 behavior Effects 0.000 description 30
- 101150012579 ADSL gene Proteins 0.000 description 9
- 102100020775 Adenylosuccinate lyase Human genes 0.000 description 9
- 108700040193 Adenylosuccinate lyases Proteins 0.000 description 9
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 7
- 208000011038 Cold agglutinin disease Diseases 0.000 description 6
- 208000020345 childhood apraxia of speech Diseases 0.000 description 6
- 208000014155 speech-language disorder-1 Diseases 0.000 description 6
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 241000282326 Felis catus Species 0.000 description 4
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012790 confirmation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000375 direct analysis in real time Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012063 dual-affinity re-targeting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000284 extract Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001815 facial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008450 motivation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000003813 thumb Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003442 weekly effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
- H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
- H04N21/812—Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/20—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of structured data, e.g. relational data
- G06F16/24—Querying
- G06F16/248—Presentation of query results
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
- G06F16/951—Indexing; Web crawling techniques
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
- G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
- G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
- G06Q30/0255—Targeted advertisements based on user history
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
- G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
- G06Q30/0255—Targeted advertisements based on user history
- G06Q30/0256—User search
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
- G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
- G06Q30/0269—Targeted advertisements based on user profile or attribute
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/66—Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L61/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
- H04L61/50—Address allocation
- H04L61/5007—Internet protocol [IP] addresses
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/2866—Architectures; Arrangements
- H04L67/30—Profiles
- H04L67/306—User profiles
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
- H04N21/25866—Management of end-user data
- H04N21/25891—Management of end-user data being end-user preferences
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
- H04N21/42684—Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
- H04N21/44213—Monitoring of end-user related data
- H04N21/44222—Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
- H04N21/44213—Monitoring of end-user related data
- H04N21/44222—Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity
- H04N21/44224—Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
- H04N21/4508—Management of client data or end-user data
- H04N21/4532—Management of client data or end-user data involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
- H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
- H04N21/6106—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
- H04N21/6125—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
- H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
- H04N21/643—Communication protocols
- H04N21/64322—IP
Abstract
In a method for delivering targeted television advertisements based on online behavior, IP addresses indicating online access devices and IP addresses indicating television set-top boxes are electronically associated for a multitude of users. Using user profile information derived from online activity from one of the online access IP addresses, a television advertisement is selected, such as by using behavioral targeting or demographic information, and automatically directed to the set-top box indicated by the set-top IP address associated with that online access IP address. Preferably neither the user profile information nor the electronic association of online access and set-top box IP addresses includes personally identifiable information.
Description
TARGETED TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS BASED
ON ONLINE BEHAVIOR
BACKGROUND
[0001] The field of the present invention relates to online access and targeted delivery of advertisements. In particular, television advertisements are targeted based on observed online (i.e., Internet) behavior of a television viewer without employing personally identifiable information.
ON ONLINE BEHAVIOR
BACKGROUND
[0001] The field of the present invention relates to online access and targeted delivery of advertisements. In particular, television advertisements are targeted based on observed online (i.e., Internet) behavior of a television viewer without employing personally identifiable information.
[0002] Some of the terms used in the present disclosure or appended claims are defined as follows.
[0003] Television provider (TVP) ¨ an entity that provides television service to a subscriber or user via any suitable transmission medium, including but not limited to coaxial cable, fiber-optical cable, network cable, phone line, satellite transmission, or VHF or UHF transmission.
[0004] Internet service provider (ISP; equivalently, an online access provider) ¨ an entity that provides online access to a subscriber or user via any suitable transmission medium, including but not limited to coaxial cable, fiber-optical cable, network cable, phone line, satellite transmission, wireless transmission (e.g., WiMax, WiFi, other IEEE 802 wireless protocols, etc.), or VHF or UHF transmission.
The online access enables the subscriber to access the Internet and its myriad online sites, or to access any future network successor to the Internet.
The online access enables the subscriber to access the Internet and its myriad online sites, or to access any future network successor to the Internet.
[0005] Set-top box (STB) - a device that connects a television and a signal source.
The STB receives an incoming signal, extracts content from the received signal, and transmits the extracted content to the television to be presented to a viewer.
The signal source can be a computer network cable (e.g., an Ethernet or other transmission-speed cable), a satellite dish, a coaxial cable connected to a cable television system, a telephone line or digital subscriber line (DSL), a wireless network connection, an antenna (VHF, UHF, digital, or other), or another suitable signal source. The content can include, but is not limited to, video (which often can include an audio portion), audio, Internet web pages, interactive games, or other content. An STB may or may not include a dedicated television tuner. Despite its name, an STB need not be physically located on top of a television set literally.
The STB receives an incoming signal, extracts content from the received signal, and transmits the extracted content to the television to be presented to a viewer.
The signal source can be a computer network cable (e.g., an Ethernet or other transmission-speed cable), a satellite dish, a coaxial cable connected to a cable television system, a telephone line or digital subscriber line (DSL), a wireless network connection, an antenna (VHF, UHF, digital, or other), or another suitable signal source. The content can include, but is not limited to, video (which often can include an audio portion), audio, Internet web pages, interactive games, or other content. An STB may or may not include a dedicated television tuner. Despite its name, an STB need not be physically located on top of a television set literally.
6 PCT/US2008/055298 Under current technology, STBs often are located physically adjacent to the television set, such as in a media cabinet or the like, but it is not even necessary that the STB be located in proximity to the television. Nor is it necessary that the STB be a box, literally. Rather, a STB might be implemented, for example, as a circuit board, integrated circuit, set of integrated circuits, or software that is physically integrated with another "box," such as the television, a cable or other connection, a computer, or a building equipment or junction box, which also has other functions, or without being housed in any "box" at all.
[0006] Digital video recorder (DVR, alternatively personal video recorder or PVR) -a device that stores video content in a digitally encoded format on a digital storage medium, such as a hard drive, and enables playback of the stored content. A
DVR
can comprise a stand-alone unit connected to a television, an STB, or a signal source, or the DVR can comprise software that programs a computer to perform DVR storage and playback functions.
[0006] Digital video recorder (DVR, alternatively personal video recorder or PVR) -a device that stores video content in a digitally encoded format on a digital storage medium, such as a hard drive, and enables playback of the stored content. A
DVR
can comprise a stand-alone unit connected to a television, an STB, or a signal source, or the DVR can comprise software that programs a computer to perform DVR storage and playback functions.
[0007] Video-on-Demand (VOD) - a system that allows users to select and view video content delivered from a signal source in response to a request from the user.
Typically, the requested video content can be viewed at a time of the user's own choosing and can be paused, rewound, or fast-forwarded as desired by the user.
A
VOD system can "stream" the content (enabling viewing of portions of a requested item of video content while other portions are still being delivered from the signal source), or the VOD system can "download" the content and allow viewing only after a complete item is delivered from the signal source. Some VOD systems allow users to select and watch video content over a network as part of an interactive television system.
Typically, the requested video content can be viewed at a time of the user's own choosing and can be paused, rewound, or fast-forwarded as desired by the user.
A
VOD system can "stream" the content (enabling viewing of portions of a requested item of video content while other portions are still being delivered from the signal source), or the VOD system can "download" the content and allow viewing only after a complete item is delivered from the signal source. Some VOD systems allow users to select and watch video content over a network as part of an interactive television system.
[0008] Interactive Television (interactive TV, iTV, idTV, or ITV) ¨ any television system that enables a viewer to interact with video content delivered to a television.
Interactive television can include, but is not limited to, access to Web sites through TV "crossover links," electronic mail and online chat, online commerce, or enhanced graphics (relative to standard television offerings).
Interactive television can include, but is not limited to, access to Web sites through TV "crossover links," electronic mail and online chat, online commerce, or enhanced graphics (relative to standard television offerings).
[0009] Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) ¨ a system wherein television content is delivered via a computer network using Internet Protocol (IP). For residential users, IPTV is often provided in conjunction with Video on Demand and can also be bundled with Internet services such as Internet access and Voice-over-IP
(VolP).
Commercial bundling of IPTV, Vail', and Internet access is sometimes referred to in the industry as a "triple play." Additional telecommunications services (e.g., mobile voice or data service) can be added, yielding a "quadruple play" and so forth.
IPTV
typically is supplied by a broadband service provider using a closed network infrastructure. IPTV also can be provided over the Internet or other publicly accessible computer network, in which case it might be referred to as Internet TV or TV-over-Internet. IPTV also can be used to deliver video or other content over a corporate LAN or other business network.
(VolP).
Commercial bundling of IPTV, Vail', and Internet access is sometimes referred to in the industry as a "triple play." Additional telecommunications services (e.g., mobile voice or data service) can be added, yielding a "quadruple play" and so forth.
IPTV
typically is supplied by a broadband service provider using a closed network infrastructure. IPTV also can be provided over the Internet or other publicly accessible computer network, in which case it might be referred to as Internet TV or TV-over-Internet. IPTV also can be used to deliver video or other content over a corporate LAN or other business network.
[0010] Online user interface device ¨ any user interface device used to access a remote network such as the Internet, including but not limited to a cell phone or mobile handset, a personal digital assistant (FDA), or a networked computer (desktop, workstation, notebook, laptop, or other).
[0011] Online access device ¨ any device used to connect an online user interface device to a remote network such as the Internet, including but not limited to a modem, a wired or wireless router, a wireless access point, a wired network adapter (e.g., Ethernet adapter), a wireless network adapter (e.g., IEEE 802.11, ED-VO, EDGE, HSPA, CDMA, GSM, or other), or an optical fiber based network adapter (e.g., a network interface unit or optical network terminal). Different types of online access devices can and sometimes are combined into a single unit (e.g., a modem that also functions as a router for a LAN). An online user interface device and an online access device can be, and sometimes are, combined into a single unit (e.g., a computer with a built-in Ethernet adapter, wireless adapter, or modem).
[0012] Router ¨ any device that acts as a junction between networks, to buffer and transfer data between or among them. For example, a router can be employed to connect a local area network (LAN) to the Internet, thereby enabling online user interface devices connected to the LAN to share a connection to the Internet through the router. The router receives data from devices on the LAN and transmits them to the Internet directed to their corresponding destinations, and receives data from the Internet and directs them to the corresponding devices on the LAN.
[0013] Modem ¨ a device that enables online access by a user by acting as an interface between the online access provider's network transmission system and the user's computer or other online user interface device. Modems vary according to the type of provider network transmission system. Unless a specific type of modem is specified, the term "modem" shall encompass telephone modems, cable modems, DSL modems, wireless modems, satellite modems, or modems for providing online access to any other suitable network transmission system.
[0014] Cable modem - a type of modem that enables digital data transmission over cable television infrastructure. Cable modems are primarily used to deliver broadband Internet access using modulation frequencies that are not used for traditional television transmission.
[0015] Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL, or often DSL) - a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over a copper telephone line than a conventional modem can provide. ADSL data transmission employs frequencies that typically are not used for voice transmission, usually frequencies beyond the range of normal human hearing (higher than about 20kHz).
Propagation of such high-frequency signals over standard copper telephone lines typically is poor, typically limiting the use of DSL to distances less than about 5 km.
Once the signal reaches the telephone company's nearest central office (CO), the ADSL signal is stripped off and routed into a conventional data network, while any voice-frequency signal is routed into the conventional telephone network. That arrangement enables a single telephone line to be used for both data transmission and telephone calls simultaneously.
Propagation of such high-frequency signals over standard copper telephone lines typically is poor, typically limiting the use of DSL to distances less than about 5 km.
Once the signal reaches the telephone company's nearest central office (CO), the ADSL signal is stripped off and routed into a conventional data network, while any voice-frequency signal is routed into the conventional telephone network. That arrangement enables a single telephone line to be used for both data transmission and telephone calls simultaneously.
[0016] DSL modem ¨ an ADSL transceiver, also known as an ADSL modem, used to connect one or more computers to a phone line to use an ADSL service. A DSL
modem also can be referred to as a remote ADSL termination unit (ATU-R). An ADSL modem can also be configured to act as a router, managing the connection and sharing of the ADSL service with multiple computer or other networked devices.
Such a combined device can be referred to as a DSL modem/router or similar terminology.
modem also can be referred to as a remote ADSL termination unit (ATU-R). An ADSL modem can also be configured to act as a router, managing the connection and sharing of the ADSL service with multiple computer or other networked devices.
Such a combined device can be referred to as a DSL modem/router or similar terminology.
[0017] Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) ¨ a device enabling high-speed connections between telephone lines and a computer network such as the Internet. Typically it is located at a telephone company central office (CO) and connects multiple Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs) to a computer network, typically the Internet, using a suitable multiplexing technique.
[0018] Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) ¨ equipment typically found in a cable company's headend that is used to provide data communication over the cable television infrastructure, thereby enabling the cable company to offer services such as broadband Internet access or VolP to its subscribers. To provide high-speed data services (i.e., broadband access), a cable company typically connects its headend to the Internet using high capacity data links, directly or through a network service provider. On the subscriber side of the headend, the CMTS enables data communication with each subscriber's cable modem. Various CMTSs are capable of serving different cable modem population sizes, which can range from 4,000 cable modems to 150,000 or more. A given cable company headend may have only a few CMTSs, or a dozen or more, depending on the size of the cable modem population serviced by that headend.
[0019] Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) ¨ a system that automatically assigns Internet Protocol addresses (IP addresses), subnet masks, default routers, and other IP parameters, which are required for proper routing of data transmissions to or from a particular device connected to the network. The assignment usually occurs when a DHCP-configured computer, modem, router, or other device boots up or regains connectivity to the network. The DHCP client (i.e., DHCP software resident in the computer) sends out a query requesting a response from a DHCP
server on the network. The query is typically initiated immediately after booting up and before the client initiates any IP-based communication with other hosts.
The DHCP server then replies to the client with its assigned IP address, subnet mask, domain name server (DNS), and default gateway information (referred to as "stateful" assignment). The assignment of the IP address usually expires after a predetermined period of time, at which point the DHCP client and server renegotiate a new IP address from the DHCP server's predefined pool of IP addresses.
Because, under DHCP, the IP address of a given computer varies over time, various network-related functions are more difficult. For example, configuring firewall rules to allow access to or from a machine that receives its IP address via DHCP is more complicated because the IP address varies from time to time. Network administrators typically must enable access to an entire remote DHCP subnet for a particular TCP/UDP port. Such complications arise in other instances as well.
Many residential routers and firewalls are configured in the factory to act as DHCP
servers for home networks. A computer can also be used as a DHCP server. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) generally use DHCP to assign individual IP addresses to subscribers. DHCPv6, which is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), enables local generation of IP addresses (i.e., "stateless"
assignment). Although such stateless address auto-configuration of IPv6 substantially eliminates a prime motivation for DHCP in IPv4, DHCPv6 can still be used to statefully assign addresses if needed or desired by a network administrator.
DHCPv6 can also be used to distribute information that is not otherwise discoverable, e.g., the domain name server.
server on the network. The query is typically initiated immediately after booting up and before the client initiates any IP-based communication with other hosts.
The DHCP server then replies to the client with its assigned IP address, subnet mask, domain name server (DNS), and default gateway information (referred to as "stateful" assignment). The assignment of the IP address usually expires after a predetermined period of time, at which point the DHCP client and server renegotiate a new IP address from the DHCP server's predefined pool of IP addresses.
Because, under DHCP, the IP address of a given computer varies over time, various network-related functions are more difficult. For example, configuring firewall rules to allow access to or from a machine that receives its IP address via DHCP is more complicated because the IP address varies from time to time. Network administrators typically must enable access to an entire remote DHCP subnet for a particular TCP/UDP port. Such complications arise in other instances as well.
Many residential routers and firewalls are configured in the factory to act as DHCP
servers for home networks. A computer can also be used as a DHCP server. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) generally use DHCP to assign individual IP addresses to subscribers. DHCPv6, which is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), enables local generation of IP addresses (i.e., "stateless"
assignment). Although such stateless address auto-configuration of IPv6 substantially eliminates a prime motivation for DHCP in IPv4, DHCPv6 can still be used to statefully assign addresses if needed or desired by a network administrator.
DHCPv6 can also be used to distribute information that is not otherwise discoverable, e.g., the domain name server.
[0020] Behavioral targeting ¨ the delivery of specific advertisements to a subscriber, the advertisements being selected on the basis of activity of the subscriber, typically recent activity, including but not limited to: online searches conducted by the subscriber; content accessed by the subscriber online or on television; online advertisements viewed, clicked on, or otherwise accessed by the subscriber; online shopping or purchases made by the subscriber; and any other form of previous subscriber activity.
[0021] Central Ad Server (CAS) ¨ a computer server that manages delivery of online advertisements to visitors of online sites. A local ad server can be typically run by a single online publisher to serve ads to visitors of websites of that publisher's Internet domains, or by a single advertiser to serve ads into ad space acquired by the advertiser on various other websites. A third-party or remote ad server typically is remotely located and delivers advertisements of various advertisers to visitors of websites of multiple domains owned by multiple publishers. The remote ad server acts as a central conduit for delivering advertisements, enabling advertisers and publishers to track the distribution of their online advertisements and to control the rotation and distribution of their advertisements across the Internet from one location. The advertisements can be stored on the CAS for later delivery, can be transmitted to the CAS and then delivered from the CAS upon receiving an ad request, or can be delivered from another source in response to an ad request received and routed by the CAS. Examples of third-party ad servers include DoubleClick's DART for Publishers central ad server (also known as DFP) and DoubleClick's DART for Advertisers central ad server (also known as DFA).
[0022] Profile provider ¨ An entity that collects profile information that is used to target advertisements. In the context here, the profile provider cooperates with a CAS, which receives all or part of the collected profile information from the profile provider for use in targeting TV advertisements. User profile information derived from online activity can include observed online behavior of a user accessing the Internet or demographic information collected from a user accessing the Internet.
Examples of profile providers can include, but are not limited to, any entity that owns or uses: (1) a visited Internet site server; (2) a server delivering content, images, audio, video, text, or any combination directed to an online user interface device (such as a computer or other online interface device) via an online access device (such as a modem or router), either directly or indirectly (e.g., via a redirect); (3) a server delivering an ad to an online user interface device via an online access device on behalf of an advertiser or an ad network; (4) a server recording an activity conducted from an online user interface device such as a click on an ad or a link to an ad, a viewing of an ad, a click on a link to particular content, a search, a request for product information, receipt of particular content, a product purchase, a telephone call made, or any other selected and definable user activity; or (5) a server facilitating instant messages or any other kind of communication on behalf of the user. Another example of a profile provider is: (6) a company sponsoring and having access to a computer program located on the user's computer or other online user interface device that can observe the user's online activity (with the user's permission), such as a browser toolbar or desktop search software. A profile provider, broadly, can be: (7) any entity able to collect behavioral profiles (observed online activity) or demographic profiles (provided by the user), preferably for purposes here including the IF address used when the profile was observed or collected and the date and time the profile was observed or collected, regardless of whether or not the entity collected a given profile directly through contact with the user's computer or indirectly from another entity such as those listed in this paragraph. In some cases, a user's online activity will result in direct contact between the online user interface device via an online access device and the profile provider, e.g., if the profile provider is an online commerce site, the user makes a purchase at the site, and the online commerce site generates a profile for that user.
In other instances there may be no direct contact between the profile provider and the user, e.g., if the user makes a purchase at an online commerce site that in turn reports information pertaining to the user to the profile provider. In some situations, also, a profile provider might also own or otherwise control a CAS, in which case user profiles can be immediately available to the CAS without need for transmission between separate entities.
Examples of profile providers can include, but are not limited to, any entity that owns or uses: (1) a visited Internet site server; (2) a server delivering content, images, audio, video, text, or any combination directed to an online user interface device (such as a computer or other online interface device) via an online access device (such as a modem or router), either directly or indirectly (e.g., via a redirect); (3) a server delivering an ad to an online user interface device via an online access device on behalf of an advertiser or an ad network; (4) a server recording an activity conducted from an online user interface device such as a click on an ad or a link to an ad, a viewing of an ad, a click on a link to particular content, a search, a request for product information, receipt of particular content, a product purchase, a telephone call made, or any other selected and definable user activity; or (5) a server facilitating instant messages or any other kind of communication on behalf of the user. Another example of a profile provider is: (6) a company sponsoring and having access to a computer program located on the user's computer or other online user interface device that can observe the user's online activity (with the user's permission), such as a browser toolbar or desktop search software. A profile provider, broadly, can be: (7) any entity able to collect behavioral profiles (observed online activity) or demographic profiles (provided by the user), preferably for purposes here including the IF address used when the profile was observed or collected and the date and time the profile was observed or collected, regardless of whether or not the entity collected a given profile directly through contact with the user's computer or indirectly from another entity such as those listed in this paragraph. In some cases, a user's online activity will result in direct contact between the online user interface device via an online access device and the profile provider, e.g., if the profile provider is an online commerce site, the user makes a purchase at the site, and the online commerce site generates a profile for that user.
In other instances there may be no direct contact between the profile provider and the user, e.g., if the user makes a purchase at an online commerce site that in turn reports information pertaining to the user to the profile provider. In some situations, also, a profile provider might also own or otherwise control a CAS, in which case user profiles can be immediately available to the CAS without need for transmission between separate entities.
[0023] Profiles or partial profiles provided by a profile provider to a CAS
can contain any quantity of profile information, such as, in one example, just an online access IP
address used by a person at the time his profile was collected and the identity of the profile provider. The IP address can be provided by the profile provider itself or might be obtained by the CAS when a user engages in any online activity or provides an item of demographic information and is redirected by a profile provider to the CAS. In another example, a profile can be more extensive and can include demographic or behavioral information, such as an extensive browsing history, shipping or purchase histories, content viewed, and other information concerning the user's characteristics or the user's activities. Although the profile provider is an entity, many or most of the actions attributed to the profile provider are actually performed by equipment under the administrative control of the profile provider, such as computers, servers, software running on those computers or servers, network connection hardware or software, or other equipment. Such actions may still be characterized as being performed "by the profile provider," whether performed automatically, semi-automatically, or manually.
can contain any quantity of profile information, such as, in one example, just an online access IP
address used by a person at the time his profile was collected and the identity of the profile provider. The IP address can be provided by the profile provider itself or might be obtained by the CAS when a user engages in any online activity or provides an item of demographic information and is redirected by a profile provider to the CAS. In another example, a profile can be more extensive and can include demographic or behavioral information, such as an extensive browsing history, shipping or purchase histories, content viewed, and other information concerning the user's characteristics or the user's activities. Although the profile provider is an entity, many or most of the actions attributed to the profile provider are actually performed by equipment under the administrative control of the profile provider, such as computers, servers, software running on those computers or servers, network connection hardware or software, or other equipment. Such actions may still be characterized as being performed "by the profile provider," whether performed automatically, semi-automatically, or manually.
[0024] Personally Identifiable Information (PII) ¨ information that can be used to identify a specific person, including but not limited to: name, Social Security number (SSN), date of birth, street address, email address, static IP address (if any), phone number (home, work, wireless), financial account numbers (bank accounts, credit accounts, or any other financial data), driver's license number, vehicle registration number, vehicle license number, facial photographs, fingerprints, handwriting or signature, or any other information that can assist in identifying a specific person.
[0025] Non-Personally-Identifiable Information (non-PII) ¨ information about a person that typically cannot be used to specifically identify that person, including but not limited to: city, state, or country of residence, age, gender, race, ethnicity, school or workplace (if sufficiently large), salary or income, hobbies, dynamically assigned IP addresses, online sites visited, online searches conducted, or other information that is useful to know about a person but done not by itself allow one knowing the information to identify the particular person.
[0026] Cookie ¨ a text file placed on a user's computer by a server that also serves content to the user's computer using browser software. The cookie typically can be read or altered only by a server operating under the same Internet domain as the server that originally placed the cookie. The cookie file can be used to identify a computer that has already been in contact with the same domain and can also be used to store Pll or non-Pll pertaining to a user of that computer. In a first example, a cookie can store non-Pll such as previous searches conducted at the site, or pages viewed or visited at the site, by the computer user. In a second example, a cookie can be used to store a username used by the user to access a site, customized preferences of the user, or various pieces of PII. It should be noted that a cookie file can also be created, altered, or deleted by software located on the user's computer.
[0027] Television advertisement (TV ad) ¨ a full screen video ad, a partial screen video ad, a banner ad, a text ad, an audio ad, or any other form of advertisement suitable for delivery to and visual or audible presentation by a television set.
[0028] Various systems are used currently for targeting advertisements based on user/viewer/customer behavior. Many of these rely on the collection of personally identifiable information (PII) to enable correlation of the person exhibiting the behavior and advertisements targeted at that person. There are some examples wherein advertisements can be targeted without collecting PII, but in such examples it is typically the case that the medium of the behavior and that of the advertisement are the same. For example, many grocery stores hand out so-called "club cards"
that need not be linked to PII. A shopper presents the card at checkout to receive various discounts, thereby allowing the store to link the list of purchased items to the card. As the system "learns" the shopper's purchasing habits, the system begins issuing coupons targeted at purchases that the shopper has made previously or that the system predicts the shopper may wish to make based on past purchases. In another example, online advertisements are readily targeted based on an Internet user's online activities without using PII. The use of cookies enables an ad server to recognize an Internet site visitor who has been previously presented with ads by the ad server or who has conducted searches or accessed content at sites linked to the ad server. The ad server can target future advertising to the site visitor based on that previous activity. A user who has searched for airline tickets to southern California on an online travel site, for instance, can later receive targeted online advertisements for Disneyland, delivered perhaps while visiting some other online site, to the user's computer from an ad server that collected the user's search information from the online travel site.
that need not be linked to PII. A shopper presents the card at checkout to receive various discounts, thereby allowing the store to link the list of purchased items to the card. As the system "learns" the shopper's purchasing habits, the system begins issuing coupons targeted at purchases that the shopper has made previously or that the system predicts the shopper may wish to make based on past purchases. In another example, online advertisements are readily targeted based on an Internet user's online activities without using PII. The use of cookies enables an ad server to recognize an Internet site visitor who has been previously presented with ads by the ad server or who has conducted searches or accessed content at sites linked to the ad server. The ad server can target future advertising to the site visitor based on that previous activity. A user who has searched for airline tickets to southern California on an online travel site, for instance, can later receive targeted online advertisements for Disneyland, delivered perhaps while visiting some other online site, to the user's computer from an ad server that collected the user's search information from the online travel site.
[0029] It becomes more difficult to avoid the use of Pll when it is desired to target advertising in one medium based on activity in another. Various schemes currently are implemented, under development, or being considered wherein Pll is used, e.g., to target television advertisements based on a viewer's online behavior. Some of those schemes involve agreements or alliances among television providers, online access providers, online search portals, or online sites. The Pll has typically been required to make the connection between the different media, because different devices are typically employed to access each one.
[0030] A significant shortcoming of many such cross-media ad-targeting systems is the need to use Pll to target advertisements delivered in one medium based on user behavior in another medium. Battelle (John Battelle, The Search, Portfolio, New York, 2005) describes the delivery of personalized ads to a DVR based on observed online behavior of the DVR user (conducted searches, sites visited, etc., including PII) when he or she was using a personal computer for online access and further describes financially rewarding the user for watching the ad (e.g., by reducing the fee for the TV service or by offering "free" TV service). However, many consumers object to the merging or correlation of personally identifiable information and online behavior. Financial incentives such as free or reduced-fee games, screen-savers, content, or Internet access in return for information useful for targeting ads requiring collection and use of Pll and data pertaining to online behavior generally have not proven to be attractive to the public in the past. Such combining of Pll with online behavior data has proven particularly unattractive to consumers having larger incomes, who advertisers are especially interested in reaching.
[0031] An example of a cross-media ad-targeting system, planned to be implemented as a result of an announced alliance between Google and BSkyB, is a system wherein BSkyB can use searches conducted by their subscribers on the BSkyB Internet search portal to deliver targeted ads to the DVR's of those same subscribers. BSkyB already has Pll pertaining to its television subscribers, so linking search results from its own search portal site may not seem too alarming to its subscribers. Nevertheless, Pll is still required to target the television advertisements. However, many and perhaps most search sites and content sites accessed online are not owned or controlled by television service providers.
In addition, many and perhaps most search sites and content sites do not typically collect Pll to identify those users who access them online.
In addition, many and perhaps most search sites and content sites do not typically collect Pll to identify those users who access them online.
[0032] It is therefore desirable to provide systems and methods for delivering targeted television advertisements to users or viewers based on their online behavior (searches performed, sites visited, online ads viewed, an so on), but without using Pll to link the television viewer to his or her online activity.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
[0033] Ina method for delivering targeted television advertisements based on online behavior, IP addresses indicating online access devices and IP
addresses indicating television set-top boxes are electronically associated, for a multitude of users. Using user profile information derived from online activity from one of the online access IP addresses, a television advertisement is selected, such as by using behavioral targeting or demographic information, and automatically directed to the set-top box indicated by the set-top IP address associated with that online access IP
address. Preferably neither the user profile information nor the electronic association of online access and set-top box IP addresses includes personally identifiable information.
[0033a] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method comprising: (a) for each of a multitude of users, with a computer system, electronically associating an online user interface device identifier, which indicates an online user interface device of the user, and a set-top box identifier, which indicates a set-top box of that user, which electronic association is based on a common IP address, wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address to both the online user interface device and the set-top box of that user, which share a local area network; and (b) using user profile information derived from online activity from the online user interface device of a first user of the multitude of users via a first online access IP address, with the computer system, automatically causing a first television advertisement to be directed to a set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively, wherein the set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the first user's online user interface device; (c) wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network.
[0033b] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method comprising: (a) with computer equipment, , automatically electronically delivering electronic user profile information to a computer system that includes a server that electronically associates, for each of a multitude of users, an online user interface device identifier, which indicates an online user interface device of the user, and a set top box identifier, which indicates a set-top box of that user, which electronic association is based on a common IP address, (b) wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address for both the online user interface device and the set-top box of that user, which share a local area network, (c) wherein delivered user profile information of a first user of the multitude of users (i) is derived from online activity of the first user from the first user's online user interface device via a first online access IP address and (ii) includes identification of the first online IP address and the time and date of the online activity, (d) wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network, and (e) as a result of which delivery; a first television advertisement can be directed to a set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively, wherein the set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier that the server associates with the online user interface device identifier of a first user's online user interface device.
[0033c] According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: (a) receiving at the computer system electronic data including indicia of a specified first television advertisement for presentation via a set-top box of a first user, which advertisement is selected using online profile information derived from online activity by the first user from an online user interface device of the first user, which online user interface device is indicated by an online user interface device identifier of the first user, wherein the received electronic data identify the first user by the online user interface device identifier of the first user and do not include online behavioral profile information; and (b) in response to receipt of the electronic data, with the computer system: (i) automatically electronically determining a set-top box identifier of the first user based on stored information associating a multitude of set-top box identifiers with a multitude of online user interface device identifiers, and 12a (ii) facilitating presentation of the first television advertisement via the set-top box of the first user, which set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the first user.
[0033d] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: with a computer system under control of an entity that provides (i) television service to a multitude of users, which television service is provided to each user of the multitude via a set-top box of that user, which is indicated by a set-top box identifier; and (ii) online access to a multitude of users, which online access is provided to each user of the multitude via an online user interface device of that user, which is indicated by an online user interface device identifier: (a) receiving from a profile provider at the computer system electronic data including a first online user interface device identifier of a first user of a multitude of users, which received data lack connection to online behavioral profile information derived from online activity of the first user from a first online user interface device indicated by the first online user interface device identifier; and (b) in response, with the computer system automatically transmitting to the profile provider electronic data including a first set-top box identifier electronically associated by the computer system with the first online user interface device identifier, which transmitted data do not include personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
[0033e] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: using online profile information derived automatically from online activity of a first user via a first online user interface device indicated by a first online user interface device identifier, with the computer system automatically electronically transmitting data to a third party, which data is used to facilitate direction of a first television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a first set-top box indicated by a first set-top box identifier, which first set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the first online user interface device identifier by a third-party provider 12b of television service to the first user, which television service provider also provides online access to the first user using the first online user interface device, without causing online behavioral profile information derived from online activity of the first user to be transmitted to any computer system of the television service provider, and without receiving from any computer system of the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
[0033f] According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: (a) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia of a first online user interface device identifier; (b) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia derived automatically from online activity of a first user via a first online user interface device indicated by the first online user interface device identifier; and (c) using information sent to or received from a third party provider of television service to the first user, with the computer system automatically facilitating direction of a first television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a first set-top box indicated by a first set-top box identifier, which first set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the first online user interface device identifier by the television service provider, without causing online behavioral profile information pertaining to the first user to be transmitted to the television service provider, and without receiving from the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
[0033g] According to still a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: (a) receiving, at the computer system through the Internet, an electronic identifier of a first device; (b) with the computer system, automatically generating and storing electronic indicia of an association between the first device identifier and an electronic identifier of a second device based on automatically recognizing that each of the first and second devices was connected to a common local area network, wherein the computer system is connected to the local area 12c network through the Internet but is not in the local area network; and (c) with the computer system, based on the electronic indicia of the association between the first and second device identifiers, automatically sending an electronic transmission that causes another programmed hardware computer system to take an action, based on first electronic profile data associated with the first device identifier, with respect to the second device, which is indicated at the time of the action by the second device identifier.
[0033h] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: (a) based on first electronic profile data associated with an electronic identifier of a first device, automatically causing, with the computer system, an action to be taken with respect to a second device that is indicated at the time of the action by an electronic identifier electronically associated with the first device identifier; (b) wherein the electronic association between the first and second device identifiers is based on connection, before the action, of each of the first and second devices to a common local area network, wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network.
addresses indicating television set-top boxes are electronically associated, for a multitude of users. Using user profile information derived from online activity from one of the online access IP addresses, a television advertisement is selected, such as by using behavioral targeting or demographic information, and automatically directed to the set-top box indicated by the set-top IP address associated with that online access IP
address. Preferably neither the user profile information nor the electronic association of online access and set-top box IP addresses includes personally identifiable information.
[0033a] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method comprising: (a) for each of a multitude of users, with a computer system, electronically associating an online user interface device identifier, which indicates an online user interface device of the user, and a set-top box identifier, which indicates a set-top box of that user, which electronic association is based on a common IP address, wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address to both the online user interface device and the set-top box of that user, which share a local area network; and (b) using user profile information derived from online activity from the online user interface device of a first user of the multitude of users via a first online access IP address, with the computer system, automatically causing a first television advertisement to be directed to a set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively, wherein the set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the first user's online user interface device; (c) wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network.
[0033b] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method comprising: (a) with computer equipment, , automatically electronically delivering electronic user profile information to a computer system that includes a server that electronically associates, for each of a multitude of users, an online user interface device identifier, which indicates an online user interface device of the user, and a set top box identifier, which indicates a set-top box of that user, which electronic association is based on a common IP address, (b) wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address for both the online user interface device and the set-top box of that user, which share a local area network, (c) wherein delivered user profile information of a first user of the multitude of users (i) is derived from online activity of the first user from the first user's online user interface device via a first online access IP address and (ii) includes identification of the first online IP address and the time and date of the online activity, (d) wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network, and (e) as a result of which delivery; a first television advertisement can be directed to a set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively, wherein the set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier that the server associates with the online user interface device identifier of a first user's online user interface device.
[0033c] According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: (a) receiving at the computer system electronic data including indicia of a specified first television advertisement for presentation via a set-top box of a first user, which advertisement is selected using online profile information derived from online activity by the first user from an online user interface device of the first user, which online user interface device is indicated by an online user interface device identifier of the first user, wherein the received electronic data identify the first user by the online user interface device identifier of the first user and do not include online behavioral profile information; and (b) in response to receipt of the electronic data, with the computer system: (i) automatically electronically determining a set-top box identifier of the first user based on stored information associating a multitude of set-top box identifiers with a multitude of online user interface device identifiers, and 12a (ii) facilitating presentation of the first television advertisement via the set-top box of the first user, which set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the first user.
[0033d] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: with a computer system under control of an entity that provides (i) television service to a multitude of users, which television service is provided to each user of the multitude via a set-top box of that user, which is indicated by a set-top box identifier; and (ii) online access to a multitude of users, which online access is provided to each user of the multitude via an online user interface device of that user, which is indicated by an online user interface device identifier: (a) receiving from a profile provider at the computer system electronic data including a first online user interface device identifier of a first user of a multitude of users, which received data lack connection to online behavioral profile information derived from online activity of the first user from a first online user interface device indicated by the first online user interface device identifier; and (b) in response, with the computer system automatically transmitting to the profile provider electronic data including a first set-top box identifier electronically associated by the computer system with the first online user interface device identifier, which transmitted data do not include personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
[0033e] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: using online profile information derived automatically from online activity of a first user via a first online user interface device indicated by a first online user interface device identifier, with the computer system automatically electronically transmitting data to a third party, which data is used to facilitate direction of a first television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a first set-top box indicated by a first set-top box identifier, which first set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the first online user interface device identifier by a third-party provider 12b of television service to the first user, which television service provider also provides online access to the first user using the first online user interface device, without causing online behavioral profile information derived from online activity of the first user to be transmitted to any computer system of the television service provider, and without receiving from any computer system of the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
[0033f] According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: (a) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia of a first online user interface device identifier; (b) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia derived automatically from online activity of a first user via a first online user interface device indicated by the first online user interface device identifier; and (c) using information sent to or received from a third party provider of television service to the first user, with the computer system automatically facilitating direction of a first television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a first set-top box indicated by a first set-top box identifier, which first set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the first online user interface device identifier by the television service provider, without causing online behavioral profile information pertaining to the first user to be transmitted to the television service provider, and without receiving from the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
[0033g] According to still a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: (a) receiving, at the computer system through the Internet, an electronic identifier of a first device; (b) with the computer system, automatically generating and storing electronic indicia of an association between the first device identifier and an electronic identifier of a second device based on automatically recognizing that each of the first and second devices was connected to a common local area network, wherein the computer system is connected to the local area 12c network through the Internet but is not in the local area network; and (c) with the computer system, based on the electronic indicia of the association between the first and second device identifiers, automatically sending an electronic transmission that causes another programmed hardware computer system to take an action, based on first electronic profile data associated with the first device identifier, with respect to the second device, which is indicated at the time of the action by the second device identifier.
[0033h] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising: (a) based on first electronic profile data associated with an electronic identifier of a first device, automatically causing, with the computer system, an action to be taken with respect to a second device that is indicated at the time of the action by an electronic identifier electronically associated with the first device identifier; (b) wherein the electronic association between the first and second device identifiers is based on connection, before the action, of each of the first and second devices to a common local area network, wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network.
[0034] Objects and advantages pertaining to delivery of targeted television advertisements based on online behavior may become apparent upon referring to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and disclosed in the following written description and/or claims.
12d BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
12d BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] Figs. 1-5 and 6A-6C illustrate schematically a system for targeting television advertisements based on online behavior in which online access and television service are provided by a common provider.
[0036] Figs. 7-11 and 12A-C illustrate schematically a system for targeting television advertisements based on online behavior in which online access and television service are provided by different providers.
[0037] Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate schematically a system for targeting television advertisements based on online behavior in which online access is provided by a mobile device.
[0038] The embodiments shown in the figures are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure and/or appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0039] In the following disclosure and appended claims, the term "user" shall be construed as one or more persons receiving online access or television service at a delivery end-point within a household, office, business, or other site or establishment served by an online access provider or television service provider. Thus, delivery of a television ad to "the user" based on access of an online site by "the user"
might involve a single person, or one person might access the online site while the corresponding television ad might be delivered to another person in the household, office, business, or other site or establishment. The delivery end-point may be one television set or multiple sets of a given user; likewise, online access may involve one or more computers or other online interface devices of a given user. In some instances, a business having multiple physical locations may be served by separate online or television services, but in other instances, a business may have an internal LAN or WAN that extends service provided to multiple physical locations. Also, some computers and televisions are portable, and can access the service provided from remote locations. Accordingly, the term "user" is intended to refer to that person or those persons who receive the provided services and does not require a fixed or single location in such instances.
might involve a single person, or one person might access the online site while the corresponding television ad might be delivered to another person in the household, office, business, or other site or establishment. The delivery end-point may be one television set or multiple sets of a given user; likewise, online access may involve one or more computers or other online interface devices of a given user. In some instances, a business having multiple physical locations may be served by separate online or television services, but in other instances, a business may have an internal LAN or WAN that extends service provided to multiple physical locations. Also, some computers and televisions are portable, and can access the service provided from remote locations. Accordingly, the term "user" is intended to refer to that person or those persons who receive the provided services and does not require a fixed or single location in such instances.
[0040] In the disclosed exemplary systems and methods for delivering targeted television advertisements based on online behavior, IF addresses indicating online access devices and IF addresses indicating television set-top boxes are electronically associated, for a multitude of users. Using user profile information derived from online activity from one of the online access IF addresses, a television advertisement is selected, such as by using behavioral targeting or demographic information, and automatically directed to the set-top box indicated by the set-top IF
address associated with that online access IF address. Preferably neither the user profile information nor the electronic association of online access and set-top box IF
addresses includes personally identifiable information. The online access and set-top box IF addresses can be electronically associated for many or all of the users of the multitude before directing television ads to any of the multitude of users.
Alternatively, online access and set-top box IF addresses can be electronically associated for one or a few of a multitude of users at any given time as needed for directing television ads to users, with additional IF addresses electronically associated at later times for directing other television ads to additional users.
address associated with that online access IF address. Preferably neither the user profile information nor the electronic association of online access and set-top box IF
addresses includes personally identifiable information. The online access and set-top box IF addresses can be electronically associated for many or all of the users of the multitude before directing television ads to any of the multitude of users.
Alternatively, online access and set-top box IF addresses can be electronically associated for one or a few of a multitude of users at any given time as needed for directing television ads to users, with additional IF addresses electronically associated at later times for directing other television ads to additional users.
[0041] In an exemplary system for serving targeted television advertisements based on a user's online behavior, the user receives both television service and Internet access from a common service provider that acts as both an internet service provider and a television provider. Accordingly, such a provider entity can be referred to as ISP/TVP. The basic layout of this scenario is illustrated schematically in Fig. 1, wherein online access device 32, online user interface device 34, set-top box 36, and television 38 are associated with a user 30. In some instances online access device 32 and online user interface device 34 are integrated in a single unit, while in other instances they comprise separate units. Likewise, in some instances set-top box 36 and television 38 are integrated in a single unit, while in other instances they comprise separate units. The common service provider 20 can offer Internet access via any suitable online access device 32 (a modem, router, or network adapter suitable for connecting to cable, DSL, wireless, satellite, Ethernet, or any other transmission system) along with the television service provided through set-top box 36 (STB 36). For purposes of the subsequent discussion, online access device 32 shall be described and shown in the figures as a modem and online user interface device 34 shall be described and shown in the figures as a computer separate from modem 32. These descriptions shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims.
[0042] Many users of online access service (i.e., subscribers) are not provided with a static IF address; instead a dynamic IF address (designated as IP
= modem in the figures) is allocated to the user's modem 32 for online access, typically through DHCP. The online access IF address is allocated by the Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) if ISP/TVP 20 is a cable company, whereas the online access IF
address is allocated by the Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) if ISP/TVP 20 is a phone company. Other types of online access providers allocate dynamic IF addresses in a similar manner using analogous equipment. It is to the modem IF address (i.e., the online access IF address) that traffic from a remote network is routed to the modem 32 and hence to other devices sharing the modem connection to the remote network; the modem IF address is the only address "seen"
by the remote network. The dynamically assigned online access IF address is replaced after some time interval by another IF address allocated to modem 32.
ISP/TVP 20 transmits (as in Fig. 2) to a Central Ad Server (CAS 40), or perhaps to multiple CASs, the online access IF addresses of a multitude of users along with corresponding pseudonyms or aliases associated with the IF addresses, e.g., user XY123 is connected to the Internet through a modem 32 that is assigned IF
address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd. Each online access IF address and its associated pseudonym can be transmitted to the CAS 40 immediately upon its allocation or reallocation by ISP/TV 20, which could be advantageous in sending TV ads to the user's STB
quickly. Alternatively, online access IF addresses and the corresponding pseudonyms can be transmitted periodically to CAS 40 at any necessary or desirable time interval. The pseudonyms and online access IF addresses are non-P11. The multitude of users can be any set made up of a large number of users and does not necessarily include every user having online access or television service through a particular company or provider. For example, the system described can operate only with respect to a subset of users, such as those users who have capabilities needed to implement this system (e.g., suitable hardware, software, operating system, etc.), those who have done some sort of subscription, or those selected based on criteria as to which operation of the system is considered desirable, less expensive to implement, or profitable. For example, those users might be chosen that have STBs with an operating system, software, or hardware capable of receiving the software required to accept TV ads from a CAS. In any event, the fact that other users may exist as to which the system does not operate is not intended to negate the advantages of the system as to those users for which the system does operate.
= modem in the figures) is allocated to the user's modem 32 for online access, typically through DHCP. The online access IF address is allocated by the Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) if ISP/TVP 20 is a cable company, whereas the online access IF
address is allocated by the Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) if ISP/TVP 20 is a phone company. Other types of online access providers allocate dynamic IF addresses in a similar manner using analogous equipment. It is to the modem IF address (i.e., the online access IF address) that traffic from a remote network is routed to the modem 32 and hence to other devices sharing the modem connection to the remote network; the modem IF address is the only address "seen"
by the remote network. The dynamically assigned online access IF address is replaced after some time interval by another IF address allocated to modem 32.
ISP/TVP 20 transmits (as in Fig. 2) to a Central Ad Server (CAS 40), or perhaps to multiple CASs, the online access IF addresses of a multitude of users along with corresponding pseudonyms or aliases associated with the IF addresses, e.g., user XY123 is connected to the Internet through a modem 32 that is assigned IF
address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd. Each online access IF address and its associated pseudonym can be transmitted to the CAS 40 immediately upon its allocation or reallocation by ISP/TV 20, which could be advantageous in sending TV ads to the user's STB
quickly. Alternatively, online access IF addresses and the corresponding pseudonyms can be transmitted periodically to CAS 40 at any necessary or desirable time interval. The pseudonyms and online access IF addresses are non-P11. The multitude of users can be any set made up of a large number of users and does not necessarily include every user having online access or television service through a particular company or provider. For example, the system described can operate only with respect to a subset of users, such as those users who have capabilities needed to implement this system (e.g., suitable hardware, software, operating system, etc.), those who have done some sort of subscription, or those selected based on criteria as to which operation of the system is considered desirable, less expensive to implement, or profitable. For example, those users might be chosen that have STBs with an operating system, software, or hardware capable of receiving the software required to accept TV ads from a CAS. In any event, the fact that other users may exist as to which the system does not operate is not intended to negate the advantages of the system as to those users for which the system does operate.
[0043] Because the user pseudonym and online access IF address are associated with the modem 32, multiple computers or other devices sharing the modem connection for online access will share the online access IF address and the user pseudonym. When the user's STB 36 is used to access a web-based server (for accessing an online programming guide, for example, through the cable television transmission system or through a connection to the Internet), ISP/TVP 20 additionally transmits (as in Fig. 2) to the CAS 40 the IF address allocated to the STB (designated as IPsTB in the figures) and associates it with the pseudonym previously associated with the user's modem 32, e.g., user XY123 has an STB at IF
address eee.fff.ggg.hhh in addition to a modem for online access at IF address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd. The association of the user's online access IF address (i.e., modem IF address) and the user's STB IF address at CAS 40 constitutes non-PII.
ISP/TVP 20 knows the IF address of STB 36 because the web based server accessed by STB 36 is typically operated by ISP/TVP 20. If STB 36 has its own modem (an increasingly common scenario as the transition is made from IPv4 to IPv6), the IF address of STB 36 is allocated by ISP/TVP 20 via the CMTS or DSLAM
or other similar system, typically using DHCP. Alternatively, in the event that STB 36 accesses the web-based server via a connection 35 to the same modem 32 that provides the user's online access (as in Fig. 3), STB 36 will have reported to the same IF address that was reported for the user's online access modem 32.
In all of those cases, the CAS 40 can now associate the IF address for the user's online access (modem 32) with an IF address for the user's STB 36, and the association is not PII.
address eee.fff.ggg.hhh in addition to a modem for online access at IF address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd. The association of the user's online access IF address (i.e., modem IF address) and the user's STB IF address at CAS 40 constitutes non-PII.
ISP/TVP 20 knows the IF address of STB 36 because the web based server accessed by STB 36 is typically operated by ISP/TVP 20. If STB 36 has its own modem (an increasingly common scenario as the transition is made from IPv4 to IPv6), the IF address of STB 36 is allocated by ISP/TVP 20 via the CMTS or DSLAM
or other similar system, typically using DHCP. Alternatively, in the event that STB 36 accesses the web-based server via a connection 35 to the same modem 32 that provides the user's online access (as in Fig. 3), STB 36 will have reported to the same IF address that was reported for the user's online access modem 32.
In all of those cases, the CAS 40 can now associate the IF address for the user's online access (modem 32) with an IF address for the user's STB 36, and the association is not PII.
[0044] ISP/TVP 20 reports to CAS 40 that user XY123 is accessing the Internet using online access IF address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd and has STB 36 using STB IF
address eee.fff.ggg.hhh. These associations can be stored on CAS 40, or only by ISP/TVP 20, as desired. If user XY123 engages in online activity from IF
address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd (for example, accessing an online site 50, as in Fig. 4), then online site 50 can electronically communicate (as in Fig. 5) an indication of the user's online activity to CAS 40, which in turn can cause a television advertisement to be directed to the STB IF address that is associated with online IF address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd. In this example the online site 50 acts as a profile provider.
Without relying on PII, CAS 40 knows that IF address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd is associated with user XY123 and that user XY123 has a set-top box with IF address eee.fff.ggg.hhh, and CAS 40 causes the television advertisement to be directed to IF
address eee.fff.ggg.hhh that indicates STB 36 (as in Figs. 6A-6C). In some implementations, the television advertisements are delivered to STB 36 using an ad server controlled by ISP/TVP 20, using either an IF-based protocol (an example of which is shown in the referenced figures) or a television delivery system (e.g., a dedicated cable advertisement channel). In one such implementation, that ad server report to CAS 40 the user pseudonym (XY123) and CAS 40 provides that ad server with TV ads targeting user XY123 based on profile information collected from IF
addresses reported by ISP/TVP 20 as belonging to XY123. In another such implementation, that ad server reports the IF addresses used by each of a multitude of users of Internet services provided by ISP/TVP 20 along with the times and dates that those addresses were used, and CAS 40 provides that ad server with TV ads targeting each of the multitude of Internet users based on profile information received from the reported IP addresses at the corresponding reported times and dates. Personal privacy is maintained in these implementations because (1) no Pll is used by CAS 40 in these implementations, and (2) although ISP/TVP 20 has the capacity to identify the users, the ad server of ISP/TVP 20 does not learn the profile information collected for and received by CAS 40.
address eee.fff.ggg.hhh. These associations can be stored on CAS 40, or only by ISP/TVP 20, as desired. If user XY123 engages in online activity from IF
address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd (for example, accessing an online site 50, as in Fig. 4), then online site 50 can electronically communicate (as in Fig. 5) an indication of the user's online activity to CAS 40, which in turn can cause a television advertisement to be directed to the STB IF address that is associated with online IF address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd. In this example the online site 50 acts as a profile provider.
Without relying on PII, CAS 40 knows that IF address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd is associated with user XY123 and that user XY123 has a set-top box with IF address eee.fff.ggg.hhh, and CAS 40 causes the television advertisement to be directed to IF
address eee.fff.ggg.hhh that indicates STB 36 (as in Figs. 6A-6C). In some implementations, the television advertisements are delivered to STB 36 using an ad server controlled by ISP/TVP 20, using either an IF-based protocol (an example of which is shown in the referenced figures) or a television delivery system (e.g., a dedicated cable advertisement channel). In one such implementation, that ad server report to CAS 40 the user pseudonym (XY123) and CAS 40 provides that ad server with TV ads targeting user XY123 based on profile information collected from IF
addresses reported by ISP/TVP 20 as belonging to XY123. In another such implementation, that ad server reports the IF addresses used by each of a multitude of users of Internet services provided by ISP/TVP 20 along with the times and dates that those addresses were used, and CAS 40 provides that ad server with TV ads targeting each of the multitude of Internet users based on profile information received from the reported IP addresses at the corresponding reported times and dates. Personal privacy is maintained in these implementations because (1) no Pll is used by CAS 40 in these implementations, and (2) although ISP/TVP 20 has the capacity to identify the users, the ad server of ISP/TVP 20 does not learn the profile information collected for and received by CAS 40.
[0045] The particular television advertisement thus directed typically is selected for delivery to the user's STB 36 based on the user's online behavior (e.g., merely accessing the online site 50, viewing a particular web page, performing a particular search, clicking on a particular link or ad, online shopping or purchases, or other activity). Information about observed online behavior (i.e., indications of online activity) or collected demographic information can be used by the CAS or by the profile provider to direct a targeted TV ad. In the latter case, the CAS has just the IP
address of the profiled user and the identity of the profile provider but not the observed online behavior or demographic information collected by the profile provider, so the CAS can direct a TV ad to the user merely by enabling the profile provider to arrange for the delivery of a targeted TV ad based on the observed online behavior or demographic information available to the profile provider.
Examples of profile providers are given above.
address of the profiled user and the identity of the profile provider but not the observed online behavior or demographic information collected by the profile provider, so the CAS can direct a TV ad to the user merely by enabling the profile provider to arrange for the delivery of a targeted TV ad based on the observed online behavior or demographic information available to the profile provider.
Examples of profile providers are given above.
[0046] The profile provider (such as the proprietor of online site 50) can send an electronic communication to the CAS, preferably automatically such as by having the profile provider's server pre-programmed to send such electronic communication, which electronic communication contains information that the CAS will use in causing a selected TV ad to be transferred to the STB at the proper time. The electronic communication received by the CAS contains information derived from the interaction of the user with an online site (i.e., online activity), which can be online site 50 or another online site for which the profile provider has access to data about user interactions. The electronic communication can take a variety of forms, including: (1) an indicator of the TV ad that should be shown, such as an URL
or ad title given by the profile provider to retrieve the correct TV ad from the profile provider's ad server, or even the actual TV ad; (2) an indicator of information about the user (likely not PII), such as (a) an IP address pointing to the user, preferably with time and date of visits; (b) a description of profile information about the user, or (c) a code or keyword used by the profile provider to fetch a visitor's profile from a database; or (3) an indicator describing user activity, such as a code or keyword indicating (a) certain categories of users, such as users likely interested in mortgages or users likely interested in travel, etc., or (b) more simply, what the visitor searched for on the online site, such as "car insurance." The electronic communication can be sent for each instance of a user interacting with the online site, or a list can be created and transmitted containing information about a number of user contacts. The electronic communication can include any combination of items 1-3 above; for example, a list of visitor IF addresses (preferably with date/time of visits) can be usefully paired with an indicator, in the form of a URL or code, identifying specific TV ads that the profile provider would like to deliver to each of the listed visitors.
or ad title given by the profile provider to retrieve the correct TV ad from the profile provider's ad server, or even the actual TV ad; (2) an indicator of information about the user (likely not PII), such as (a) an IP address pointing to the user, preferably with time and date of visits; (b) a description of profile information about the user, or (c) a code or keyword used by the profile provider to fetch a visitor's profile from a database; or (3) an indicator describing user activity, such as a code or keyword indicating (a) certain categories of users, such as users likely interested in mortgages or users likely interested in travel, etc., or (b) more simply, what the visitor searched for on the online site, such as "car insurance." The electronic communication can be sent for each instance of a user interacting with the online site, or a list can be created and transmitted containing information about a number of user contacts. The electronic communication can include any combination of items 1-3 above; for example, a list of visitor IF addresses (preferably with date/time of visits) can be usefully paired with an indicator, in the form of a URL or code, identifying specific TV ads that the profile provider would like to deliver to each of the listed visitors.
[0047] Once requested, the television advertisement can be transmitted to the user's STB in a variety of ways. The advertisement can be previously stored on the CAS and transmitted directly from the CAS to the user's STB (Fig. 6A). The advertisement stored on the CAS can be transmitted from the accessed online site, from another online site, or from another ad server and stored on the CAS as part of the transmission request from the accessed online site, and then transmitted to the user's STB. The advertisement can be transmitted directly to the user's STB
from the accessed online site (Fig. 6B) or from another online site or ad server 60 (Fig.
60). The user's STB can be instructed by the CAS to retrieve the advertisement directly from the accessed site, from the CAS, from another online site, or from another ad server, using for example the URL given to the CAS by the profile provider. In any of those alternatives, the television advertisement need not be transmitted directly to the STB; instead it can be transmitted through one or more intermediate servers (i.e., a server hosted by an ISP, cable company, or telecommunications company, for example). The television advertisement can be streamed or otherwise delivered in real time, or it can be delivered to the user's STB
or an associated DVR for later viewing.
from the accessed online site (Fig. 6B) or from another online site or ad server 60 (Fig.
60). The user's STB can be instructed by the CAS to retrieve the advertisement directly from the accessed site, from the CAS, from another online site, or from another ad server, using for example the URL given to the CAS by the profile provider. In any of those alternatives, the television advertisement need not be transmitted directly to the STB; instead it can be transmitted through one or more intermediate servers (i.e., a server hosted by an ISP, cable company, or telecommunications company, for example). The television advertisement can be streamed or otherwise delivered in real time, or it can be delivered to the user's STB
or an associated DVR for later viewing.
[0048] As IF address are dynamically assigned and reassigned, ISP/TVP 20 reports updated online access and STB IF addresses to CAS 40 (as in Fig. 2).
The IF addresses and their associated pseudonyms can be transmitted to the CAS 40 immediately upon allocation or reallocation by ISP/TV 20, or can be transmitted periodically to CAS 40 at any necessary or desirable time interval (fixed or variable).
Although assignment of a pseudonym associated with both the online access IF
address and the STB IF address can facilitate delivery of television ads to based on the user's online behavior (via modem 32), it is not necessary. All that is required is an association between the online access IF address and the STB IF
address to enable delivery of television ads based on the user's online activities without relying on PII.
The IF addresses and their associated pseudonyms can be transmitted to the CAS 40 immediately upon allocation or reallocation by ISP/TV 20, or can be transmitted periodically to CAS 40 at any necessary or desirable time interval (fixed or variable).
Although assignment of a pseudonym associated with both the online access IF
address and the STB IF address can facilitate delivery of television ads to based on the user's online behavior (via modem 32), it is not necessary. All that is required is an association between the online access IF address and the STB IF
address to enable delivery of television ads based on the user's online activities without relying on PII.
[0049] In another exemplary system for serving targeted television advertisements based on a user's online behavior, the user need not receive both television service and Internet access from a common service provider. The basic layout for such a system is illustrated schematically in Fig. 7, with modem 32 connected to Internet service provider (ISP) 22 for providing online access, and STB 36 connected to television provider (TVP) 24 for providing television service. Again, modem 32 and computer 34 are described as examples of online access and interface devices, respectively; the use of these specific examples shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims. An online access IF
address is assigned to modem 32 as described above. In cases where the user's STB 36 can also obtain online access via the same IF address as the user's online access (i.e., via modem 32), that common IF address comprises the electronic association that can be used to perform targeted television advertising without requiring PII. That case can occur by connecting STB 36 to the user's modem 32 via connection 35, in addition to connecting STB 36 to TVP 24. For example, STB
36 can be connected to a local area network (LAN) that shares device 32 for online access. In such an arrangement, network traffic is routed to a common IF
address (i.e., the IF address of modem 32) for STB 36 and other devices connected to the LAN. The user can receive online access from any online service provider via any suitable modem 32 (for cable, DSL, wireless, satellite, or any other transmission system) or other suitable online access device and can receive television service from any suitable television service provider through STB 36. The term "common IF
address" denotes the IF address of a modem or other online access device to which remote network traffic is routed for each of multiple devices sharing a common connection to the remote network through that modem, e.g., the IF address of a modem connecting to the Internet a router in a local area network (LAN) would constitute the common IF address for multiple devices connected to the LAN for online access, even though those multiple devices typically also have individual IF
addresses assigned by the router for routing traffic within the LAN. An online site or server accessed by any one of the multiple devices only "sees" the common IF
address (the modem IF address).
address is assigned to modem 32 as described above. In cases where the user's STB 36 can also obtain online access via the same IF address as the user's online access (i.e., via modem 32), that common IF address comprises the electronic association that can be used to perform targeted television advertising without requiring PII. That case can occur by connecting STB 36 to the user's modem 32 via connection 35, in addition to connecting STB 36 to TVP 24. For example, STB
36 can be connected to a local area network (LAN) that shares device 32 for online access. In such an arrangement, network traffic is routed to a common IF
address (i.e., the IF address of modem 32) for STB 36 and other devices connected to the LAN. The user can receive online access from any online service provider via any suitable modem 32 (for cable, DSL, wireless, satellite, or any other transmission system) or other suitable online access device and can receive television service from any suitable television service provider through STB 36. The term "common IF
address" denotes the IF address of a modem or other online access device to which remote network traffic is routed for each of multiple devices sharing a common connection to the remote network through that modem, e.g., the IF address of a modem connecting to the Internet a router in a local area network (LAN) would constitute the common IF address for multiple devices connected to the LAN for online access, even though those multiple devices typically also have individual IF
addresses assigned by the router for routing traffic within the LAN. An online site or server accessed by any one of the multiple devices only "sees" the common IF
address (the modem IF address).
[0050] In an exemplary implementation, a user's STB 36 can periodically contact a CAS 40 (or multiple CASs) via the IF address of the user's modem 32 that is common to STB 36 (as in Fig. 8). The common IF address is dynamically assigned by ISP 22 to the user's modem 32 or other online access equipment. Modem 32 can include a router to route network traffic properly among the user's computer (or computers or other devices) 34 and the user's STB 36. Alternatively, a separate router can be employed, or computer 34 or STB 36 or television 38 can include routing functions, for properly routing network traffic passing through modem 32, with STB 36 providing routing functions or being connected to the separate router, to computer 34, or to television 38 as appropriate. STB 36 reports the common IF
address to CAS 40 with which it is in contact. However, STB 36 itself might not know the common IF address it is using, because it communicates through modem 32. In such circumstances, STB 36 nevertheless can report the common IF
address to CAS 40 simply by initiating communication through modem 32 to CAS 40, thereby enabling CAS 40 to extract the common IF address from the communication. The common IF address enables delivery of television ads to STB 36 based on access of an online site via the common IF address (or based on other user profile information derived from online activity observed as originating from the online access IF address of modem 32, i.e., from the common IF address). The existence of the common IF address associates the online access IF address and the set-top box IF address. Again, this does not constitute PII. The time interval for the periodic contact of the STB and the CAS can be set to any appropriate time period, e.g., every five minutes, every hour, or at some other necessary or desirable time interval. The time interval can be selected to be commensurate with a typical or average time interval for dynamic reassignment of the online access IF address by the user's Internet Service Provider. The selected time interval can be made adjustable if needed or desired. Alternatively or additionally, the contact between the STB and the CAS may not be set to occur at a fixed time interval but rather irregularly, such as instances where it is triggered by dynamic reassignment of the online access IF address by the ISP.
address to CAS 40 with which it is in contact. However, STB 36 itself might not know the common IF address it is using, because it communicates through modem 32. In such circumstances, STB 36 nevertheless can report the common IF
address to CAS 40 simply by initiating communication through modem 32 to CAS 40, thereby enabling CAS 40 to extract the common IF address from the communication. The common IF address enables delivery of television ads to STB 36 based on access of an online site via the common IF address (or based on other user profile information derived from online activity observed as originating from the online access IF address of modem 32, i.e., from the common IF address). The existence of the common IF address associates the online access IF address and the set-top box IF address. Again, this does not constitute PII. The time interval for the periodic contact of the STB and the CAS can be set to any appropriate time period, e.g., every five minutes, every hour, or at some other necessary or desirable time interval. The time interval can be selected to be commensurate with a typical or average time interval for dynamic reassignment of the online access IF address by the user's Internet Service Provider. The selected time interval can be made adjustable if needed or desired. Alternatively or additionally, the contact between the STB and the CAS may not be set to occur at a fixed time interval but rather irregularly, such as instances where it is triggered by dynamic reassignment of the online access IF address by the ISP.
[0051] When a user engages in online activity (for example, accessing online site 50, as in Fig. 9), user profile information derived from the user's online activity from the online access IF address can be delivered electronically to CAS 40 (from the accessed site 50 as in Fig. 10, or from another profile provider), which in turn can cause a targeted television advertisement to be directed to the user's STB, if there is an STB IF address associated with the online access IF address. In the example shown in Fig. 9, online site 50 acts as a profile provider, and the user's online access IF address (the common IF address), from which the online site was accessed by the user, is included with the electronic delivery. CAS 40 causes the television advertisement to be directed to STB 36 at the common IF address (as in Figs. 11A-110), in accordance with the alternative methods for delivery of the TV ad discussed herein in connection with Figs. 6A-6C. The particular television advertisement thus transmitted typically is selected for delivery to the user's STB 36 based on the user's online behavior (examples of various sorts of online behavior, or demographic information provided or determined online, are discussed above).
The accessed online site 50 transmitting the electronic communication (examples of which are listed above) can be any profile provider, or any profile provider having access to information about user activity with respect to online site 50 can transmit the electronic communication (examples of alternative types of profile providers are also given above).
The accessed online site 50 transmitting the electronic communication (examples of which are listed above) can be any profile provider, or any profile provider having access to information about user activity with respect to online site 50 can transmit the electronic communication (examples of alternative types of profile providers are also given above).
[0052] The television ad can be directed to the STB that most recently reported to CAS 40 as the common IF address the online access IF address from which online site 50 was accessed. In that case, the IF addresses can already be associated when the user profile information is used or the association can be created when the user profile is received or afterwards. Or the television ad can be directed to the STB that next reports that IF address to CAS 40 as the common IF address. In that case, the IF addresses might not be associated until the STB and CAS 40 are next in communication with each other and the STB IF address is received by CAS 40.
Associations between STBs and online access IF addresses could be stored for future usage or could be created in real-time when a STB communicates with a CAS
to receive TV ads and not stored for future usage (i.e., the association is dropped as soon as the TV ads are delivered to the STB). If the periodic contact interval is sufficiently small relative to the typical or average time interval between reallocation of IF addresses, then it is likely that those two IF addresses will be the same and that the television ad will be directed to the correct STB. There will be a small fraction of television ads that are misdirected, if the online access IF
address is reassigned between the accessing of the online site (i.e., deriving the user profile information) and the relied-upon contact between the user's STB and the CAS
(i.e., associating the IF addresses). That fraction can be reduced by reducing the periodic time interval between STB reports of its common IF address to the CAS
or configuring the STB to report changes to the common IF address (i.e., to enable updating of the association between the IF addresses). Associations between online access and STB IF addresses can be stored for future use, or the IF addresses can be associated in real-time only when an STB communicates with a CAS to receive TV ads and not stored for future use (e.g, the association can be purged upon directing the TV ads to the STB).
Associations between STBs and online access IF addresses could be stored for future usage or could be created in real-time when a STB communicates with a CAS
to receive TV ads and not stored for future usage (i.e., the association is dropped as soon as the TV ads are delivered to the STB). If the periodic contact interval is sufficiently small relative to the typical or average time interval between reallocation of IF addresses, then it is likely that those two IF addresses will be the same and that the television ad will be directed to the correct STB. There will be a small fraction of television ads that are misdirected, if the online access IF
address is reassigned between the accessing of the online site (i.e., deriving the user profile information) and the relied-upon contact between the user's STB and the CAS
(i.e., associating the IF addresses). That fraction can be reduced by reducing the periodic time interval between STB reports of its common IF address to the CAS
or configuring the STB to report changes to the common IF address (i.e., to enable updating of the association between the IF addresses). Associations between online access and STB IF addresses can be stored for future use, or the IF addresses can be associated in real-time only when an STB communicates with a CAS to receive TV ads and not stored for future use (e.g, the association can be purged upon directing the TV ads to the STB).
[0053] Instead of relying on or waiting for contact from the STB reporting its common IF address to one or more CASs, the online site accessed by the user could instead query one or more CASs to find an STB with a common IF address matching the online access IF address from which the online site was accessed.
If a matching STB IF address is found, a request is transmitted to the corresponding CAS to transmit a television advertisement to the STB. If the query, match, and request are completed sufficiently quickly, then the probability can be kept low that a television ad will be directed to the wrong STB.
If a matching STB IF address is found, a request is transmitted to the corresponding CAS to transmit a television advertisement to the STB. If the query, match, and request are completed sufficiently quickly, then the probability can be kept low that a television ad will be directed to the wrong STB.
[0054] In another exemplary implementation, the user's STB 36 can be assigned an identifier, which need not include PII. Such an identifier can be permanently or temporarily assigned to STB 36. Examples of such identifiers could include an equipment serial number or a portion thereof, a device MAC address or a portion thereof, a username, a pseudonym, a confirmation number, a tag, or any other identifying code or data element. The CAS can place an identifier on the STB
the first time it is in contact with the STB and read or amend the identifier every time afterwards the STB and the CAS are in contact. Such an identifier is an analogy of a "cookie" used by online servers to recognize visitors' computers. The identifier can include the IF address the STB is using when in contact with the CAS, so the next time the CAS and the STB are in contact, the CAS could compare the IF address then used by the STB with the previous IF address used by the STB without looking in a database. From a privacy perspective, there is an advantage to using an identifier placed by the CAS on the STB, because it enables the user to control the identifier from user's TV screen and set privacy settings to match user preference. A
user may, for example, erase the identifier, alter the identifier to inform the CAS the next time it is in communication with the STB that the user is not interested in targeted ads, interested only in ads targeting online behavior from the last seven days, interested in ads in certain categories only, or interested in all types of ads except for certain excluded categories (e.g., adult content). In addition to reporting the common IF address to CAS 40, STB 36 can also report the identifier. When an online site 50 is accessed from the common IF address, online site 50 requests that a television advertisement be transmitted to the STB having the common IF
address. The identifier of the STB most recently reporting the common IF
address before the request is compared to the identifier of the STB that next reports that IF
address to CAS 40 after the request. If the compared identifiers match, then it is nearly certain that the STB corresponds to the same user online access IF
address from which online site 50 was accessed and the television advertisement is correctly directed. If a unique identifier is used (such as a complete MAC address or a complete device serial number) then misdirecting the television ad is virtually impossible. Even if the identifier is not unique (e.g., a partial MAC address or serial number, or a simple four-digit number), it is still highly unlikely that a given IF
address would be reallocated between STB's that happen to have the same identifier. Use of an identifier can enable accurate directing of television ads to the correct STB while requiring the STB to report its IF address to the CAS less frequently, reducing network traffic and other resource requirements.
the first time it is in contact with the STB and read or amend the identifier every time afterwards the STB and the CAS are in contact. Such an identifier is an analogy of a "cookie" used by online servers to recognize visitors' computers. The identifier can include the IF address the STB is using when in contact with the CAS, so the next time the CAS and the STB are in contact, the CAS could compare the IF address then used by the STB with the previous IF address used by the STB without looking in a database. From a privacy perspective, there is an advantage to using an identifier placed by the CAS on the STB, because it enables the user to control the identifier from user's TV screen and set privacy settings to match user preference. A
user may, for example, erase the identifier, alter the identifier to inform the CAS the next time it is in communication with the STB that the user is not interested in targeted ads, interested only in ads targeting online behavior from the last seven days, interested in ads in certain categories only, or interested in all types of ads except for certain excluded categories (e.g., adult content). In addition to reporting the common IF address to CAS 40, STB 36 can also report the identifier. When an online site 50 is accessed from the common IF address, online site 50 requests that a television advertisement be transmitted to the STB having the common IF
address. The identifier of the STB most recently reporting the common IF
address before the request is compared to the identifier of the STB that next reports that IF
address to CAS 40 after the request. If the compared identifiers match, then it is nearly certain that the STB corresponds to the same user online access IF
address from which online site 50 was accessed and the television advertisement is correctly directed. If a unique identifier is used (such as a complete MAC address or a complete device serial number) then misdirecting the television ad is virtually impossible. Even if the identifier is not unique (e.g., a partial MAC address or serial number, or a simple four-digit number), it is still highly unlikely that a given IF
address would be reallocated between STB's that happen to have the same identifier. Use of an identifier can enable accurate directing of television ads to the correct STB while requiring the STB to report its IF address to the CAS less frequently, reducing network traffic and other resource requirements.
[0055] In another exemplary implementation, instead of reporting the common IF
address of STB 36 to CAS 40 relatively frequently, STB 36 can be configured to store its common IF addresses and corresponding times and dates that each of the addresses is assigned to modem 32 (and hence also to the LAN to which the STB
36 is connected). The common IF address can be periodically sampled and the sampling stored (e.g., every 1, 5, or 10 minutes, or some other suitable interval), or the specific times and dates of IF address reassignments can be stored with the corresponding IF addresses. STB 36 can be configured to periodically (e.g., every 4, 6, 12, or 24 hours, or some other suitable time interval) report to CAS 40 all of the common IF addresses assigned to modem 32 and the corresponding dates and times they were used for some preceding span of time (e.g., 1, 7, 14, 30, or 90 days, or some other suitable interval). Alternatively, the common IF address can be stored on the STB as part of a cookie or tag set and subsequently read or reset by CAS 40.
CAS 40 also can be configured to receive IF addresses and corresponding access times and dates for all visitors to an online site 50 that wishes to deliver television advertisements based on online user behavior. Online site 50 periodically reports to CAS 40 (as in Fig. 10) all IF addresses from which the online site was accessed during some preceding period, along with the corresponding times and dates.
The frequency and time periods of the online site's reporting can be similar to those of the STB reporting, or they can differ substantially, as needed or desired. The two lists (one from the online site, one from the STB) of IF addresses are compared, and delivery of a television advertisement is requested if any matches are found, i.e., whenever it is found that the STB was connected to a modem that was assigned an IF address at a time and date when the online site was accessed from that IF
address. Such cross-matching ensures accurate delivery of the television advertisement and requires substantially less communication between the STB
and the CAS.
address of STB 36 to CAS 40 relatively frequently, STB 36 can be configured to store its common IF addresses and corresponding times and dates that each of the addresses is assigned to modem 32 (and hence also to the LAN to which the STB
36 is connected). The common IF address can be periodically sampled and the sampling stored (e.g., every 1, 5, or 10 minutes, or some other suitable interval), or the specific times and dates of IF address reassignments can be stored with the corresponding IF addresses. STB 36 can be configured to periodically (e.g., every 4, 6, 12, or 24 hours, or some other suitable time interval) report to CAS 40 all of the common IF addresses assigned to modem 32 and the corresponding dates and times they were used for some preceding span of time (e.g., 1, 7, 14, 30, or 90 days, or some other suitable interval). Alternatively, the common IF address can be stored on the STB as part of a cookie or tag set and subsequently read or reset by CAS 40.
CAS 40 also can be configured to receive IF addresses and corresponding access times and dates for all visitors to an online site 50 that wishes to deliver television advertisements based on online user behavior. Online site 50 periodically reports to CAS 40 (as in Fig. 10) all IF addresses from which the online site was accessed during some preceding period, along with the corresponding times and dates.
The frequency and time periods of the online site's reporting can be similar to those of the STB reporting, or they can differ substantially, as needed or desired. The two lists (one from the online site, one from the STB) of IF addresses are compared, and delivery of a television advertisement is requested if any matches are found, i.e., whenever it is found that the STB was connected to a modem that was assigned an IF address at a time and date when the online site was accessed from that IF
address. Such cross-matching ensures accurate delivery of the television advertisement and requires substantially less communication between the STB
and the CAS.
[0056] The common IF addresses (and corresponding times and dates) can be stored on the CAS. Alternatively, privacy can be enhanced in this implementation by storing the common IF addresses (and corresponding times and dates) locally on the STB, instead of on the CAS, so the only device that monitors the different IF
addresses assigned to the same access device is the STB. If stored, whether on the STB, on the CAS, or elsewhere, the list of common IF addresses can be purged.
Purging of the IF addresses can be done periodically, at any suitable time interval, and can be manual or automated. Similarly, the list of online access IF
address (and corresponding times and dates) from which an online site has been access can be purged. The STB can be employed to set privacy options, thereby enabling the user to control at least partly if and how TV advertisements are targeted. For example, the user might choose whether or not, or for how long, the CAS or STB
will record and retain the IF addresses assigned to the user's modem, or can choose to erase all presently stored IF address data.
addresses assigned to the same access device is the STB. If stored, whether on the STB, on the CAS, or elsewhere, the list of common IF addresses can be purged.
Purging of the IF addresses can be done periodically, at any suitable time interval, and can be manual or automated. Similarly, the list of online access IF
address (and corresponding times and dates) from which an online site has been access can be purged. The STB can be employed to set privacy options, thereby enabling the user to control at least partly if and how TV advertisements are targeted. For example, the user might choose whether or not, or for how long, the CAS or STB
will record and retain the IF addresses assigned to the user's modem, or can choose to erase all presently stored IF address data.
[0057] Typically a router does not provide the IF address of the cable, DSL, or other modem to the computer(s) or device(s) connected to it or to a LAN
managed by it. STB 36 requires this information to store it for later reporting to CAS
40. One method for enabling this functionality includes providing an Internet server (perhaps as part of CAS 40, or perhaps an independent server) that receives periodic requests from STB 36 and replies to STB 36 with the common IF address (i.e., the IF address of modem 32, through which STB 36 is provided with online access).
Any other method for monitoring the common IF address can be employed, including configuring the modem 32 to directly report its IF address to STB
36. STB
36 periodically monitors the IF address of the modem 32 at a selected time interval (described above), and stores the modem IF address (i.e., the common IF
address) and the corresponding times and dates each common IF address was allocated to the user's modem.
managed by it. STB 36 requires this information to store it for later reporting to CAS
40. One method for enabling this functionality includes providing an Internet server (perhaps as part of CAS 40, or perhaps an independent server) that receives periodic requests from STB 36 and replies to STB 36 with the common IF address (i.e., the IF address of modem 32, through which STB 36 is provided with online access).
Any other method for monitoring the common IF address can be employed, including configuring the modem 32 to directly report its IF address to STB
36. STB
36 periodically monitors the IF address of the modem 32 at a selected time interval (described above), and stores the modem IF address (i.e., the common IF
address) and the corresponding times and dates each common IF address was allocated to the user's modem.
[0058] In any embodiment or implementation in which STB 36 reports IF address data to CAS 40 (either stored on STB 36 or for storage at CAS 40), that communication can be achieved in several ways. STB 36 can report the common IF
address through the online access modem 32. Alternatively, STB 36 can report to CAS 40 through a dedicated upstream data channel 37 that is part of the television system (as in Fig. 12). The reported IF address data need not be transmitted directly to CAS 40; instead it can be transmitted to an intermediate server (e.g., hosted by an ISP, cable company, or telecom company).
address through the online access modem 32. Alternatively, STB 36 can report to CAS 40 through a dedicated upstream data channel 37 that is part of the television system (as in Fig. 12). The reported IF address data need not be transmitted directly to CAS 40; instead it can be transmitted to an intermediate server (e.g., hosted by an ISP, cable company, or telecom company).
[0059] It should be noted that some STBs have a dedicated modem and typically would not need to obtain online access through the user's online access modem to deliver television service to the user. However, other functionality of an STB
includes, or is expected to include, delivery of audio, video, images, and other content from a user's computer 34 or other networked devices to the user's television 38. To provide that functionality, STB 36 must be connected to the same LAN or router as the user's computer(s), even if the STB has its own modem.
Although using its own modem for most of its functions, such an STB would still have additional online access through the user's online access modem 32, enabling the user's online access and STB to have a dynamically assigned common IF
address (as described above). The STB can report the common online access IF
address through the online access modem 32 at the common IF address or through the STB's dedicated modem at its own IF address. The television advertisement transmitted to the STB can be received through the online access modem 32 at the common IF address or can be received through the STB's dedicated modem at its own IF address (if, for example, the CAS is provided with the STB modem IF
address along with the common IF address).
includes, or is expected to include, delivery of audio, video, images, and other content from a user's computer 34 or other networked devices to the user's television 38. To provide that functionality, STB 36 must be connected to the same LAN or router as the user's computer(s), even if the STB has its own modem.
Although using its own modem for most of its functions, such an STB would still have additional online access through the user's online access modem 32, enabling the user's online access and STB to have a dynamically assigned common IF
address (as described above). The STB can report the common online access IF
address through the online access modem 32 at the common IF address or through the STB's dedicated modem at its own IF address. The television advertisement transmitted to the STB can be received through the online access modem 32 at the common IF address or can be received through the STB's dedicated modem at its own IF address (if, for example, the CAS is provided with the STB modem IF
address along with the common IF address).
[0060] However the user's online access and STB IF addresses are electronically associated, the association can be maintained even if the online user interface device 34 is a mobile device (e.g., an Internet-enabled cell phone, handset, FDA, or laptop computer) that is intermittently disconnected from modem 32 and is connected to the Internet through another connection (e.g., another LAN, a wireless hotspot, or a cell phone network, as in Figs. 13 or 14). When connected to the Internet through modem 32 (as in Figs. 1 or 7), online sites visited using such a mobile device 34 can request delivery of television advertisements to STB 36 in any of the ways described above. Mobile device 34 can be programmed to store, in much the same manner as described above for STB 36, its online access IF
addresses and the corresponding dates and times when disconnected from modem 32 and connected to the Internet by another connection (i.e., when "roaming").
When mobile device 34 is later reconnected to modem 32, those stored roaming online access IF addresses, along with the corresponding dates and times, can be transmitted to CAS 40 as described previously. Television advertisements can be directed to STB 36 based on matches found between the roaming online access IF
addresses (and dates and times) from mobile device 34 and online access IF
addresses (and dates and times) reported by online site 50 to CAS 40 for visits to online site 50.
addresses and the corresponding dates and times when disconnected from modem 32 and connected to the Internet by another connection (i.e., when "roaming").
When mobile device 34 is later reconnected to modem 32, those stored roaming online access IF addresses, along with the corresponding dates and times, can be transmitted to CAS 40 as described previously. Television advertisements can be directed to STB 36 based on matches found between the roaming online access IF
addresses (and dates and times) from mobile device 34 and online access IF
addresses (and dates and times) reported by online site 50 to CAS 40 for visits to online site 50.
[0061] Furthermore, the selected television advertisements can be directed to STB
36 even after a mobile device 34 is disconnected from modem 32 and begins accessing the Internet through roaming online access IF addresses. A tag or cookie placed on mobile device 34 (or stored in a database elsewhere, such as on CAS
40, by CAS 40, or somewhere accessible on STB 36 or its associated LAN), which tag or cookie can include online access IF addresses (and corresponding dates and times) of modem 32 or STB 36. Those IF addresses (and dates and times) can be reported to CAS 40 by mobile device 34 while roaming (following a redirect from visited online site 50 for example), and a television advertisement can be directed to STB 36 (using the IF address reported by the roaming mobile device 34) at the request of online site 50. Because a new IF address might be assigned to modem 32 and STB 36 after roaming device 34 is disconnected from modem 32, an identifier for STB 36 (as described earlier) can be employed to verify that the television advertisement is directed to the correct STB. The identifier can be stored on mobile device 34 as part of the cookie or tag.
36 even after a mobile device 34 is disconnected from modem 32 and begins accessing the Internet through roaming online access IF addresses. A tag or cookie placed on mobile device 34 (or stored in a database elsewhere, such as on CAS
40, by CAS 40, or somewhere accessible on STB 36 or its associated LAN), which tag or cookie can include online access IF addresses (and corresponding dates and times) of modem 32 or STB 36. Those IF addresses (and dates and times) can be reported to CAS 40 by mobile device 34 while roaming (following a redirect from visited online site 50 for example), and a television advertisement can be directed to STB 36 (using the IF address reported by the roaming mobile device 34) at the request of online site 50. Because a new IF address might be assigned to modem 32 and STB 36 after roaming device 34 is disconnected from modem 32, an identifier for STB 36 (as described earlier) can be employed to verify that the television advertisement is directed to the correct STB. The identifier can be stored on mobile device 34 as part of the cookie or tag.
[0062] However the user's online access and STB IF addresses are electronically associated, the STB can be configured to filter the targeted television advertisements based on user preferences. For example, a user might program the STB to reject certain ad categories (e.g., women's clothing, or health ads) and accept certain other ad categories (e.g., automobile ads, electronic equipment ads, or travel ads). The filtering can be configured as "opt in" (i.e., receive ads only in selected categories) or "opt out" (i.e., receive ads in all but selected categories). In another example, a user might filter ads based on how long ago an online site was visited; e.g., the user might choose to accept ads only from Internet sites visited in the last seven days. Such filtering or preference data can be applied before or after an ad is selected to be transmitted. The STB can be configured to notify the CAS or the online site to prevent selection, or transmission, of the television advertisement, or the STB can accept the advertisement but then not display it to the user.
In an exemplary implementation, such user preference or filtering information can be stored in the STB as part of a cookie or tag set and subsequently read or amended by the CAS. User preference or filtering information can be stored in any suitable location or format.
In an exemplary implementation, such user preference or filtering information can be stored in the STB as part of a cookie or tag set and subsequently read or amended by the CAS. User preference or filtering information can be stored in any suitable location or format.
[0063] In another implementation, no software is required to be installed on the mobile device, only cookies are placed on the device, which makes implementation in the market much simpler. Once a STB is confirmed to have been using a certain IF address at a certain date and time (for example by having a uniquely tagged STB
consecutively communicate with the CAS using the same IF address or by the STB
reporting the common IF address recorded by it as used by the online access device), the CAS database can be searched to find all the computers, mobile devices, and other STBs that used the same IF address at the same date and time, and those will be assumed to be devices that are part of the same household and using the same LAN. Then, an association or link is created among the devices, by linking the device identifiers or tags with the STB's identifier in the CAS
database or by placing linking codes or information identifying the linked devices within the identifiers (cookies) of each of the devices along with the date and time the association was created. The association is kept for no more then a pre-determined period of time (such as seven days), to ensure that the delivered TV ads will be based only on online activity of those people that live in the house and not on online activity of people that happened to use the house's LAN only once, such as houseguests.
consecutively communicate with the CAS using the same IF address or by the STB
reporting the common IF address recorded by it as used by the online access device), the CAS database can be searched to find all the computers, mobile devices, and other STBs that used the same IF address at the same date and time, and those will be assumed to be devices that are part of the same household and using the same LAN. Then, an association or link is created among the devices, by linking the device identifiers or tags with the STB's identifier in the CAS
database or by placing linking codes or information identifying the linked devices within the identifiers (cookies) of each of the devices along with the date and time the association was created. The association is kept for no more then a pre-determined period of time (such as seven days), to ensure that the delivered TV ads will be based only on online activity of those people that live in the house and not on online activity of people that happened to use the house's LAN only once, such as houseguests.
[0064] Once the association is created, profile information (both behavioral and demographic) collected about the computers and mobile devices before and after the association was created could be used to target ads to the STB, regardless of the IF addresses used by the computers and mobile devices (such as cell phones) to access the web at the time the profiles were collected.
[0065] For example, consider a common scenario where a laptop, used both at home and in the office, is linked to a home STB as a result of it being used at home.
The day after the association was created, the laptop is taken to work, where it is used to visit a home mortgage site (using a different LAN or online access device than the one used at home). The home mortgage site redirects the laptop to the CAS along with a request to transmit a mortgage-related TV ad from one of the site's advertisers to the laptop user. The CAS, reading its own cookie that was placed on the laptop, checks its database and finds that the laptop is linked to a certain STB. In the evening, when the laptop user returns home and turns on the TV, the user will see the mortgage-related TV ad, even if the user left the laptop at work that day.
The day after the association was created, the laptop is taken to work, where it is used to visit a home mortgage site (using a different LAN or online access device than the one used at home). The home mortgage site redirects the laptop to the CAS along with a request to transmit a mortgage-related TV ad from one of the site's advertisers to the laptop user. The CAS, reading its own cookie that was placed on the laptop, checks its database and finds that the laptop is linked to a certain STB. In the evening, when the laptop user returns home and turns on the TV, the user will see the mortgage-related TV ad, even if the user left the laptop at work that day.
[0066] In another example, suppose a laptop user using a laptop at work one morning views a home mortgage advertiser's ad, before any association between the laptop and a home STB is created. When the mortgage advertiser ad server redirects the laptop to the CAS with a request to transmit a TV advertisement to the user, the CAS places a cookie on the laptop, or reads its own cookie if it encountered the laptop before. The CAS, finding no association between the laptop and a STB, stores the IF address used to view the advertiser's online ad, the CAS
cookie used to mark the laptop, the date and time the ad was viewed, and a link (e.g., a URL) to the advertiser's TV ad. In the afternoon, suppose the laptop user returns home with the laptop. When the user accesses the Internet via the home's LAN with the laptop, suppose the user visits a travel site interested in delivering travel-related TV ads to the user from the site's advertisers. When the travel site redirects the laptop to the CAS, the CAS reads its own cookie and records the IF
address used by the laptop to access the travel site, the CAS cookie used to mark the laptop, the date and time the site was visited, and links to TV ads (sold by the site to its travel advertisers). Next, the home STB is in contact with the CAS
in the evening to check whether there are any TV ads available for its user. The CAS
then uniquely identifies the STB using a tag it previously placed on the STB and recognizes that the STB is using the same IF address as the STB did several days ago. The CAS checks which profile providers were visited by computers and mobile devices using the same IF address since the STB's last contact. The CAS finds the laptop visit to the travel site using the common IF address. The CAS further finds the laptop's view of the online mortgage advertiser's ad, using the cookie used by the CAS to mark the laptop. The CAS can then redirect the STB to fetch the mortgage TV ad, using the link provided by the mortgage advertiser (despite the fact that the online mortgage ad was viewed by the laptop before making the association with the home STB) and redirect the STB to fetch the travel TV ads from the links provided by the travel site.
cookie used to mark the laptop, the date and time the ad was viewed, and a link (e.g., a URL) to the advertiser's TV ad. In the afternoon, suppose the laptop user returns home with the laptop. When the user accesses the Internet via the home's LAN with the laptop, suppose the user visits a travel site interested in delivering travel-related TV ads to the user from the site's advertisers. When the travel site redirects the laptop to the CAS, the CAS reads its own cookie and records the IF
address used by the laptop to access the travel site, the CAS cookie used to mark the laptop, the date and time the site was visited, and links to TV ads (sold by the site to its travel advertisers). Next, the home STB is in contact with the CAS
in the evening to check whether there are any TV ads available for its user. The CAS
then uniquely identifies the STB using a tag it previously placed on the STB and recognizes that the STB is using the same IF address as the STB did several days ago. The CAS checks which profile providers were visited by computers and mobile devices using the same IF address since the STB's last contact. The CAS finds the laptop visit to the travel site using the common IF address. The CAS further finds the laptop's view of the online mortgage advertiser's ad, using the cookie used by the CAS to mark the laptop. The CAS can then redirect the STB to fetch the mortgage TV ad, using the link provided by the mortgage advertiser (despite the fact that the online mortgage ad was viewed by the laptop before making the association with the home STB) and redirect the STB to fetch the travel TV ads from the links provided by the travel site.
[0067] An Internet site can determine in one of several ways which CAS to contact to arrange for targeted delivery of television advertisements to a visitor of the online site:
[0068] (i) Each ISP (or ISP/TVP) has a block of IF addresses from which it dynamically allocates IF addresses to users using DHCP. Based on the online access IF address of a visitor to the site, an Internet site can determine which ISP
the visitor is using to access the site. The site can then transmit a request to the correct CAS for that ISP. The request could be transmitted by redirecting the user to the correct CAS, for example.
the visitor is using to access the site. The site can then transmit a request to the correct CAS for that ISP. The request could be transmitted by redirecting the user to the correct CAS, for example.
[0069] (ii) The CAS or the CAS owner can transmit to participating Internet sites a file that includes a list of online access IF addresses that the CAS currently recognizes. Updated files can be transmitted at suitable intervals. An Internet site can receive such files from multiple CASs, and according to the information in the files can determine the proper CAS from which to request that an ad be served to the Internet site visitor.
[0070] (iii) The Internet site can request ads from all or most major CASs, relying on the probability that at least one of them may have registered the IF
address allocated to the site visitor by the ISP that provides the site visitor's online access. If that is the case, that CAS can transmit to the Internet site a confirmation that the CAS recognizes the site visitor's online access IF address. The Internet site can deliver its request by redirecting a visitor to all or most major ISPs that operate a CAS, for example, or by sending all or most of the major CAS servers a file with the IF addresses and corresponding times and dates of visitors to the site.
address allocated to the site visitor by the ISP that provides the site visitor's online access. If that is the case, that CAS can transmit to the Internet site a confirmation that the CAS recognizes the site visitor's online access IF address. The Internet site can deliver its request by redirecting a visitor to all or most major ISPs that operate a CAS, for example, or by sending all or most of the major CAS servers a file with the IF addresses and corresponding times and dates of visitors to the site.
[0071] The CAS that receives a request to deliver a television ad to an Internet site visitor might already have electronically associated an STB IF address with the visitor's online access IF address. If not, the CAS can store the site visitor's online IF address, the identity of the requesting Internet site, and the time and date of the visit to the Internet site. If the site visitor's STB later accesses the Internet server and the ISP/TVP transmits the site visitor's STB IF address to the CAS, the CAS
can then arrange delivery of requested television ads. Or if the site visitor's STB
reports a common IF address that matches the site visitor's IF address, the CAS can then arrange delivery of requested television ads.
can then arrange delivery of requested television ads. Or if the site visitor's STB
reports a common IF address that matches the site visitor's IF address, the CAS can then arrange delivery of requested television ads.
[0072] Although the CAS is described as an entity separate from the profile provider, it could well be owned by or otherwise controlled by the profile provider.
For example, if a profile provider is an online site (a large site such as Google could be a good example), in that implementation no redirect (or other inter-party communication) to the CAS will be required because the CAS is the server collecting the profile on behalf of the online site. For example, Google's CAS could collect the IF addresses of users who search on Google, what those users search for, at what times and dates the searches took place, and possibly the Google cookies used to mark those users' computers. Due to the very large amount of profile information about so many people accumulated by Google, the Google CAS could be used to serve TV ads to STBs. An STB communicates with the Google CAS to check whether a STB user has used another computer or mobile device to search on Google (the Google CAS uses the STB's common IF address to find those other computers or mobile devices, as explained above), and if Google finds such searches were made, it arranges for delivery of targeted TV ads, sold by Google to its advertisers, to the STB of users who made such searches.
For example, if a profile provider is an online site (a large site such as Google could be a good example), in that implementation no redirect (or other inter-party communication) to the CAS will be required because the CAS is the server collecting the profile on behalf of the online site. For example, Google's CAS could collect the IF addresses of users who search on Google, what those users search for, at what times and dates the searches took place, and possibly the Google cookies used to mark those users' computers. Due to the very large amount of profile information about so many people accumulated by Google, the Google CAS could be used to serve TV ads to STBs. An STB communicates with the Google CAS to check whether a STB user has used another computer or mobile device to search on Google (the Google CAS uses the STB's common IF address to find those other computers or mobile devices, as explained above), and if Google finds such searches were made, it arranges for delivery of targeted TV ads, sold by Google to its advertisers, to the STB of users who made such searches.
[0073] As a security precaution, many residential or home office network routers are set by default to block access from the Internet to devices connected to router.
In this default mode, television advertisements can be transmitted to the STB
through the modem/router only upon if an initiated request is transmitted by the STB.
The STB can be configured to query the CAS periodically for television ads awaiting transmission to the STB, and in response the CAS can either transmit the ad or direct the STB to retrieve the ad from the accessed online site or from another online site or ad server. Alternatively, enabling "Port Forwarding" on the router would allow direct access from the Internet to a STB connected to the Internet through the modem/router, thereby enabling the CAS or online site to transmit, at its own initiative, an advertisement to the STB.
In this default mode, television advertisements can be transmitted to the STB
through the modem/router only upon if an initiated request is transmitted by the STB.
The STB can be configured to query the CAS periodically for television ads awaiting transmission to the STB, and in response the CAS can either transmit the ad or direct the STB to retrieve the ad from the accessed online site or from another online site or ad server. Alternatively, enabling "Port Forwarding" on the router would allow direct access from the Internet to a STB connected to the Internet through the modem/router, thereby enabling the CAS or online site to transmit, at its own initiative, an advertisement to the STB.
[0074] However the transmission of the advertisement is initiated, and whatever the source of the transmitted advertisement, the STB can save the advertisement (in its own memory or storage or in a DVR) for viewing at a later time by the user (perhaps repeatedly), or the advertisement can be presented in "real-time" or "streaming"
format. The advertisement (stored or real-time) can be presented independently, or can be integrated into other television content. Any suitable procedures for transmitting the targeted television advertisement to the online user's STB
can be employed.
format. The advertisement (stored or real-time) can be presented independently, or can be integrated into other television content. Any suitable procedures for transmitting the targeted television advertisement to the online user's STB
can be employed.
[0075] An online site or other profile provider can provide to the CAS a profile of a visitor, in return for a fixed payment or a commission based on revenue generated by a television advertisement transmitted to the profiled visitor. In such a case the transmission request received by the CAS from the profile provider includes the visitor's profile (searches performed, pages viewed, provided demographic attributes, etc.; typically not PH). The CAS can match the profile with one or more other television advertisements to be delivered to the visitor's STB (in addition to those requested by the online site). Such additional ads can be sold by the CAS or by another party, and can be transmitted directly from the CAS or pulled by the STB
from another site or ad server to which the CAS redirects the STB.
from another site or ad server to which the CAS redirects the STB.
[0076] As described previously herein, it is often the case that more than one computer or other online user interface device is connected to the Internet through a single modem or router, and all devices sharing that connection will appear to an online site to be connected through the same IF address at any given time. For example, in a home scenario, a parent and a child in the same household might each use their own computer to access the Internet, with the parent visiting sites pertaining to news or finance and the child visiting sites pertaining to pop music or television. (The same is true in a business setting, where many computers may access websites through a common modem or router.) Each such site visited by any person on the LAN reports to the CAS the IF addresses and corresponding times and dates of each of those visits (which are the same at any given time for both computers). The STB in the same household reports to the CAS the common IF address used for online access. The CAS can now match the STB to the various sites visited. Television advertisements can be selected based not only on requests made by the visited sites (as already described) but also on content being viewed on the television when the TV advertisement is delivered. For example, if programming is being viewed on the television that is typically targeted at adults (e.g., news, financial reports, or adult drama) then television advertisements requested by the news or finance online sites are presented. Alternatively, if programming is being viewed on the television that is more typically targeted at children or teenagers, then television advertisements requested by the pop music or fashion online sites are presented. Both types of ads can be directed to the STB and stored for later viewing (during viewing of suitable television content) or can be directed to the STB
and viewed as the suitable television content is viewed. The same discrimination between types of sites visited using multiple online access devices can be employed regardless of whether the computers in the household are fixed or mobile devices, through the techniques discussed previously herein.
and viewed as the suitable television content is viewed. The same discrimination between types of sites visited using multiple online access devices can be employed regardless of whether the computers in the household are fixed or mobile devices, through the techniques discussed previously herein.
[0077] In another implementation, the CAS arranges for delivery of TV ads to the STB along with associated television program targeting criteria, such as targeted age (kid, teen, adult, or senior), targeted gender, or type of content (travel, finance, news, or other subjects). The STB chooses the TV program within which to serve each of the delivered ads based on comparing the television program targeting criteria to actual program characteristics. Program characteristics can be ascertained by virtue of their being included in the electronic TV guide available to the STB or sent with the program as accompanying embedded data, for example, using known or later-discovered techniques. In a variation, when the STB delivers a television program to the user, or when the television program is about ready to show an advertisement, the STB can connect with the CAS and report to the CAS the identity of the viewed program, and the CAS can respond with an instruction identifying which of the ads stored in the STB (previously delivered from the CAS to the STB) should be delivered during the viewed program, based on comparing the characteristics of the program being viewed with the targeting criteria.
[0078] The television advertisements directed to users' set-top boxes at the request of a profile provider can come from a variety of sources. In one example, a given profile provider can request that the CAS direct an advertisement to the user's STB
from (or on behalf of) the profile provider itself (if, for example, the profile provider is an online advertiser site interested in delivering TV ads to people that visited its online site) or from (or on behalf of) a related site (perhaps a site in the same Internet domain as the given profile provider). In that example, the proprietor of the CAS, as the facilitator of the targeted TV ad delivery based on the online site visit, can receive a payment from the profile provider. The CAS proprietor can keep a share of revenue as a commission and pay the TVP for the ad space (except in the case where the CAS proprietor owns the ad space). The TVP can either retain the entire amount paid by the CAS proprietor, if the TVP owns the TV ad space within which the TV ad was delivered, or the TVP can pay some or all of the amount paid by the CAS proprietor to another entity such as a TV broadcasting network, if the TVP does not own the ad space. In the case where the STB is provided by a third party other than the TVP (such as a service provider like Tivo), the STB
provider can arrange with content owners (such as a TV broadcasting network) to have the service provider's STBs replace broadcasted TV ads with targeted TV ads, where a targeted TV ad is available, and the service provider and the TV broadcasting network can share the revenue with the CAS proprietor as discussed above. In some cases, the CAS can be owned by a TVP, an ISP, an STB provider, an online site, a TV ad space owner, or a TV content provider, in which case the payments will be divided in accordance to the respective roles. In general, a payment from a TV
advertiser is used to pay the TV ad space owner and the entities facilitating the delivery of the targeted TV ad.
from (or on behalf of) the profile provider itself (if, for example, the profile provider is an online advertiser site interested in delivering TV ads to people that visited its online site) or from (or on behalf of) a related site (perhaps a site in the same Internet domain as the given profile provider). In that example, the proprietor of the CAS, as the facilitator of the targeted TV ad delivery based on the online site visit, can receive a payment from the profile provider. The CAS proprietor can keep a share of revenue as a commission and pay the TVP for the ad space (except in the case where the CAS proprietor owns the ad space). The TVP can either retain the entire amount paid by the CAS proprietor, if the TVP owns the TV ad space within which the TV ad was delivered, or the TVP can pay some or all of the amount paid by the CAS proprietor to another entity such as a TV broadcasting network, if the TVP does not own the ad space. In the case where the STB is provided by a third party other than the TVP (such as a service provider like Tivo), the STB
provider can arrange with content owners (such as a TV broadcasting network) to have the service provider's STBs replace broadcasted TV ads with targeted TV ads, where a targeted TV ad is available, and the service provider and the TV broadcasting network can share the revenue with the CAS proprietor as discussed above. In some cases, the CAS can be owned by a TVP, an ISP, an STB provider, an online site, a TV ad space owner, or a TV content provider, in which case the payments will be divided in accordance to the respective roles. In general, a payment from a TV
advertiser is used to pay the TV ad space owner and the entities facilitating the delivery of the targeted TV ad.
[0079] In another example, the online site or other profile provider can request that an ad from another advertiser of its own choosing be directed to the user's STB to whom the online site has sold an amount of television advertising space. The online site generates a new revenue stream by selling TV ads to its advertisers, where the TV ads are delivered to members of the online site's audience while they watch TV.
In that example the online site can collect a revenue amount from the site-chosen advertiser while paying the CAS, ISP, TVP, ISP/TVP, or TV ad space owner in return for assisting to facilitate delivery to the STB of the ad provided by the site-chosen advertiser.
In that example the online site can collect a revenue amount from the site-chosen advertiser while paying the CAS, ISP, TVP, ISP/TVP, or TV ad space owner in return for assisting to facilitate delivery to the STB of the ad provided by the site-chosen advertiser.
[0080] In another example, the profile provider provides a profile to the CAS
in return for a payment triggered (1) every time the provided profile (whether including behavioral or demographic data) is used to deliver a TV ad, (2) when a TV ad that has been delivered using the provided profile generates revenues, or (3) simply on account of delivery of the profile without regard to whether, how often, or how effectively it is used.
in return for a payment triggered (1) every time the provided profile (whether including behavioral or demographic data) is used to deliver a TV ad, (2) when a TV ad that has been delivered using the provided profile generates revenues, or (3) simply on account of delivery of the profile without regard to whether, how often, or how effectively it is used.
[0081] The TV advertisement itself can be sold by the CAS, ISP, TVP, ISP/TVP, STB provider, TV ad space owner, or any third party such as a re-seller or a firm that represents ad space owners or profile providers and sells to advertisers. In that example the profile provider can collect a revenue amount from any of the entities benefiting from the delivery of the TV ad based on the profile provided by the profile provider, including the TV ad space owner, STB provider, CAS, ISP, TVP, ISP/TVP, or a third party selling the targeted ad space. The profile provider, re-seller, or the other advertisers can also pay a revenue amount to the CAS, ISP, TVP, or ISP/TVP
in return for directing the ad to the STB.
in return for directing the ad to the STB.
[0082] The systems and methods disclosed herein can be used to generate revenue in a variety of ways for various of the involved entities, not limited to the examples given here, that fall within the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims. It should be noted that the terms "pay," "collect,"
"receive," and so forth, when referring to revenue amounts, can denote actual exchanges of funds or can denote credits or debits to electronic accounts, especially automatic payment implemented with computer tracking. The terms can apply whether the payments are characterized as commissions, royalties, referral fees, holdbacks, overrides, purchase-resales, or any other compensation arrangements giving net results of split advertising revenues as stated above. Payment can occur either immediately, such as through micro-payment transfers, periodically, such as daily, weekly, or monthly, or upon accumulation of payments from multiple events totaling above a threshold amount. The systems and methods disclosed herein can be implemented with any suitable accounting modules or subsystems for tracking such payments or receipts of funds.
"receive," and so forth, when referring to revenue amounts, can denote actual exchanges of funds or can denote credits or debits to electronic accounts, especially automatic payment implemented with computer tracking. The terms can apply whether the payments are characterized as commissions, royalties, referral fees, holdbacks, overrides, purchase-resales, or any other compensation arrangements giving net results of split advertising revenues as stated above. Payment can occur either immediately, such as through micro-payment transfers, periodically, such as daily, weekly, or monthly, or upon accumulation of payments from multiple events totaling above a threshold amount. The systems and methods disclosed herein can be implemented with any suitable accounting modules or subsystems for tracking such payments or receipts of funds.
[0083] The systems and methods disclosed herein can be implemented as general or special purpose computers or other programmable hardware devices programmed through software or as hardware or equipment "programmed" through hard wiring, or a combination of the two. Computer programs or other software, if used, can be implemented in temporary or permanent storage or in replaceable media, such as by including programming in microcode, object-oriented code, web-based or distributed software modules that operate together, RAM, ROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard drives, thumb drives, flash memory, optical media, magnetic media, semiconductor media, or any future storage alternatives.
[0084] It is intended that equivalents of the disclosed exemplary embodiments and methods shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure and/or appended claims. It is intended that the disclosed exemplary embodiments and methods, and equivalents thereof, may be modified while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims. For example, where the term "product" is used in connection with a shopping or purchase request, the product can be a physical product, intangible product, or a service.
[0085] For purposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, the conjunction "or" is to be construed inclusively (e.g., "a dog or a cat" would be interpreted as "a dog, or a cat, or both"; e.g., "a dog, a cat, or a mouse"
would be interpreted as "a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or any two, or all three"), unless: (i) it is explicitly stated otherwise, e.g., by use of "either.. .or," "only one of...,"
or similar language; or (ii) two or more of the listed alternatives are mutually exclusive within the particular context, in which case "or" would encompass only those combinations involving non-mutually-exclusive alternatives. For purposes of the present disclosure or appended claims, the words "comprising," "including," and "having,"
and variants thereof, shall be construed as open ended terminology, with the same meaning as if the phrase "at least" were appended after each instance thereof.
would be interpreted as "a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or any two, or all three"), unless: (i) it is explicitly stated otherwise, e.g., by use of "either.. .or," "only one of...,"
or similar language; or (ii) two or more of the listed alternatives are mutually exclusive within the particular context, in which case "or" would encompass only those combinations involving non-mutually-exclusive alternatives. For purposes of the present disclosure or appended claims, the words "comprising," "including," and "having,"
and variants thereof, shall be construed as open ended terminology, with the same meaning as if the phrase "at least" were appended after each instance thereof.
Claims (38)
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
(a) for each of a multitude of users, with a computer system, electronically associating an online user interface device identifier, which indicates an online user interface device of the user, and a set-top box identifier, which indicates a set-top box of that user, which electronic association is based on a common IP address, wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address to both the online user interface device and the set-top box of that user, which share a local area network; and (b) using user profile information derived from online activity from the online user interface device of a first user of the multitude of users via a first online access IP address, with the computer system, automatically causing a first television advertisement to be directed to a set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively, wherein the set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the first user's online user interface device;
(c) wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network.
(a) for each of a multitude of users, with a computer system, electronically associating an online user interface device identifier, which indicates an online user interface device of the user, and a set-top box identifier, which indicates a set-top box of that user, which electronic association is based on a common IP address, wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address to both the online user interface device and the set-top box of that user, which share a local area network; and (b) using user profile information derived from online activity from the online user interface device of a first user of the multitude of users via a first online access IP address, with the computer system, automatically causing a first television advertisement to be directed to a set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively, wherein the set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the first user's online user interface device;
(c) wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network.
2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the first online access IP address and the common IP address differ.
3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the online user interface device identifier includes a tag.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the online user interface device identifier includes the first online access IP address.
5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the common IP address is determined by matching the first online access IP address with a set-top box IP address used by a uniquely identified set-top box both before and after the online activity occurs.
6. The method of Claim 1 further comprising automatically selecting the first television advertisement based on the user profile information.
7. The method of Claim 1:
further comprising, using user profile information derived from online activity from the online user interface device of a second user of the multitude of users via a second online access IP address, with the computer system automatically causing a second television advertisement to be directed to a second set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively; wherein the second set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the second user's online user interface device, and (ii) wherein which television advertisement is directed to or presented via which set-top box depends on differences between the online activities from the online user interface devices of the first and second users, respectively.
further comprising, using user profile information derived from online activity from the online user interface device of a second user of the multitude of users via a second online access IP address, with the computer system automatically causing a second television advertisement to be directed to a second set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively; wherein the second set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the second user's online user interface device, and (ii) wherein which television advertisement is directed to or presented via which set-top box depends on differences between the online activities from the online user interface devices of the first and second users, respectively.
8. The method of Claim 1 wherein the common IP address is an IP
address dynamically assigned to a modem or router that enables online access from the user's online interface device and connected to the user's set-top box.
address dynamically assigned to a modem or router that enables online access from the user's online interface device and connected to the user's set-top box.
9. The method of Claim 1 wherein the online access IP address of each user is an IP address associated with a modem or router that enables online access from the user's online interface device.
10. A computer-implemented method comprising:
(a) with computer equipment, automatically electronically delivering electronic user profile information to a computer system that includes a server that electronically associates, for each of a multitude of users, an online user interface device identifier, which indicates an online user interface device of the user, and a set top box identifier, which indicates a set-top box of that user, which electronic association is based on a common IP address, (b) wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address for both the online user interface device and the set-top box of that user, which share a local area network, (c) wherein delivered user profile information of a first user of the multitude of users (i) is derived from online activity of the first user from the first user's online user interface device via a first online access IP address and (ii) includes identification of the first online IP address and the time and date of the online activity, (d) wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network, and (e) as a result of which delivery; a first television advertisement can be directed to a set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively, wherein the set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier that the server associates with the online user interface device identifier of a first user's online user interface device.
(a) with computer equipment, automatically electronically delivering electronic user profile information to a computer system that includes a server that electronically associates, for each of a multitude of users, an online user interface device identifier, which indicates an online user interface device of the user, and a set top box identifier, which indicates a set-top box of that user, which electronic association is based on a common IP address, (b) wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address for both the online user interface device and the set-top box of that user, which share a local area network, (c) wherein delivered user profile information of a first user of the multitude of users (i) is derived from online activity of the first user from the first user's online user interface device via a first online access IP address and (ii) includes identification of the first online IP address and the time and date of the online activity, (d) wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network, and (e) as a result of which delivery; a first television advertisement can be directed to a set-top box for presentation via that set-top box, selectively, wherein the set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier that the server associates with the online user interface device identifier of a first user's online user interface device.
11. The method of Claim 10 wherein the step of delivering electronic user profile information derived from the online activity comprises, with the computer equipment, redirecting the first user's online user interface device during the first user's accessing of an online site via the first online access IP address from the user's online interface device.
12. The method of Claim 10 wherein automatically electronically delivering comprises, with the computer equipment, redirecting the user's online user interface device to the computer system.
13. The method of Claim 10 wherein:
(i) the step of delivering electronic user profile information derived from the online activity comprises, with the computer equipment, delivering the first user online access IP address; and (ii) the selection of a television advertisement is based on user profile information that is not delivered to the computer system.
(i) the step of delivering electronic user profile information derived from the online activity comprises, with the computer equipment, delivering the first user online access IP address; and (ii) the selection of a television advertisement is based on user profile information that is not delivered to the computer system.
14. A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising:
(a) receiving at the computer system electronic data including indicia of a specified first television advertisement for presentation via a set-top box of a first user, which advertisement is selected using online profile information derived from online activity by the first user from an online user interface device of the first user, which online user interface device is indicated by an online user interface device identifier of the first user, wherein the received electronic data identify the first user by the online user interface device identifier of the first user and do not include online behavioral profile information; and (b) in response to receipt of the electronic data, with the computer system:
(i) automatically electronically determining a set-top box identifier of the first user based on stored information associating a multitude of set-top box identifiers with a multitude of online user interface device identifiers, and (ii) facilitating presentation of the first television advertisement via the set-top box of the first user, which set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the first user.
(a) receiving at the computer system electronic data including indicia of a specified first television advertisement for presentation via a set-top box of a first user, which advertisement is selected using online profile information derived from online activity by the first user from an online user interface device of the first user, which online user interface device is indicated by an online user interface device identifier of the first user, wherein the received electronic data identify the first user by the online user interface device identifier of the first user and do not include online behavioral profile information; and (b) in response to receipt of the electronic data, with the computer system:
(i) automatically electronically determining a set-top box identifier of the first user based on stored information associating a multitude of set-top box identifiers with a multitude of online user interface device identifiers, and (ii) facilitating presentation of the first television advertisement via the set-top box of the first user, which set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the first user.
15. The method of Claim 14 wherein the stored information was created by an entity providing (i) television service to a multitude of users, which television service is provided to each user of the multitude via the set-top box of that user, which is indicated by the set-top box identifier, wherein the multitude of users includes the first user, and (ii) online access to the multitude of users, which online access is provided to each user of the multitude via the online user interface device of that user, which is indicated by the online user interface device identifier.
16. The method of Claim 14 further comprising:
(c) receiving at the computer system electronic data including indicia of a specified second television advertisement for presentation via a set-top box of a second user, which advertisement is selected using online profile information derived from online activity by the second user from an online user interface device of the second user, which online user interface device is indicated by an online user interface device identifier of the second user, wherein the received electronic data identify the second user by the online user interface device identifier of the second user and do not include online behavioral profile information; and (d) in response to receipt of the electronic data, with the computer system:
(i) automatically electronically determining a set-top box identifier of the second user based on the stored information associating the multitude of set-top box identifiers with the multitude of online user interface device identifiers, and (ii) facilitating presentation of the second television advertisement via the set-top box of the second user, which set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the second user, (e) wherein which television advertisement is directed to which set-top box depends on differences between the online activities of the first and second users from the respective online user interface devices.
(c) receiving at the computer system electronic data including indicia of a specified second television advertisement for presentation via a set-top box of a second user, which advertisement is selected using online profile information derived from online activity by the second user from an online user interface device of the second user, which online user interface device is indicated by an online user interface device identifier of the second user, wherein the received electronic data identify the second user by the online user interface device identifier of the second user and do not include online behavioral profile information; and (d) in response to receipt of the electronic data, with the computer system:
(i) automatically electronically determining a set-top box identifier of the second user based on the stored information associating the multitude of set-top box identifiers with the multitude of online user interface device identifiers, and (ii) facilitating presentation of the second television advertisement via the set-top box of the second user, which set-top box is indicated by the set-top box identifier associated with the online user interface device identifier of the second user, (e) wherein which television advertisement is directed to which set-top box depends on differences between the online activities of the first and second users from the respective online user interface devices.
17. The method of any one of Claims 14 to 16 wherein the stored information includes, for at least the first user, a corresponding common IP
address to which network traffic is routed for both the online user interface device and set-top box of the first user, and wherein at least a portion of the profile information is derived from online activity of the first user from an online access IP address that differs from the common IP address, and the online user interface device identifier includes a cookie or tag placed on the first online user interface device.
address to which network traffic is routed for both the online user interface device and set-top box of the first user, and wherein at least a portion of the profile information is derived from online activity of the first user from an online access IP address that differs from the common IP address, and the online user interface device identifier includes a cookie or tag placed on the first online user interface device.
18. A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising:
with a computer system under control of an entity that provides (i) television service to a multitude of users, which television service is provided to each user of the multitude via a set-top box of that user, which is indicated by a set-top box identifier; and (ii) online access to a multitude of users, which online access is provided to each user of the multitude via an online user interface device of that user, which is indicated by an online user interface device identifier:
(a) receiving from a profile provider at the computer system electronic data including a first online user interface device identifier of a first user of a multitude of users, which received data lack connection to online behavioral profile information derived from online activity of the first user from a first online user interface device indicated by the first online user interface device identifier; and (b) in response, with the computer system automatically transmitting to the profile provider electronic data including a first set-top box identifier electronically associated by the computer system with the first online user interface device identifier, which transmitted data do not include personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
with a computer system under control of an entity that provides (i) television service to a multitude of users, which television service is provided to each user of the multitude via a set-top box of that user, which is indicated by a set-top box identifier; and (ii) online access to a multitude of users, which online access is provided to each user of the multitude via an online user interface device of that user, which is indicated by an online user interface device identifier:
(a) receiving from a profile provider at the computer system electronic data including a first online user interface device identifier of a first user of a multitude of users, which received data lack connection to online behavioral profile information derived from online activity of the first user from a first online user interface device indicated by the first online user interface device identifier; and (b) in response, with the computer system automatically transmitting to the profile provider electronic data including a first set-top box identifier electronically associated by the computer system with the first online user interface device identifier, which transmitted data do not include personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
19. The method of Claim 18 wherein the first online user interface device identifier comprises a first online access IP address, and the received data include a time and date of online activity from the first online access IP address.
20. The method of Claim 18 or Claim 19 wherein the electronic association of the online user interface device identifier and the set-top box identifier of each user of the multitude of users is based on a common IP address to which network traffic is routed for both the online user interface device and the set-top box of that user, and wherein at least a portion of the information is derived from online activity of the first user from an online access IP address that differs from the common IP address, and wherein the first online user interface device identifier includes a cookie or tag placed on the first online user interface device.
21. A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising:
using online profile information derived automatically from online activity of a first user via a first online user interface device indicated by a first online user interface device identifier, with the computer system automatically electronically transmitting data to a third party, which data is used to facilitate direction of a first television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a first set-top box indicated by a first set-top box identifier, which first set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the first online user interface device identifier by a third-party provider of television service to the first user, which television service provider also provides online access to the first user using the first online user interface device, without causing online behavioral profile information derived from online activity of the first user to be transmitted to any computer system of the television service provider, and without receiving from any computer system of the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
using online profile information derived automatically from online activity of a first user via a first online user interface device indicated by a first online user interface device identifier, with the computer system automatically electronically transmitting data to a third party, which data is used to facilitate direction of a first television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a first set-top box indicated by a first set-top box identifier, which first set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the first online user interface device identifier by a third-party provider of television service to the first user, which television service provider also provides online access to the first user using the first online user interface device, without causing online behavioral profile information derived from online activity of the first user to be transmitted to any computer system of the television service provider, and without receiving from any computer system of the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
22. The method of Claim 21 wherein the third party is an intermediary party comprising a server in communication with the television service provider.
23. The method of Claim 21 further comprising: using online profile information derived automatically from online activity of a second user via a second online user interface device indicated by a second online user interface device identifier, with the computer system automatically electronically transmitting second data to a server of the third party, which second data is used to facilitate direction of a second television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a second set-top box indicated by a second set-top box identifier, which second set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the second online user interface device identifier by the television service provider, without causing online behavioral profile information derived from online activity of the second user to be transmitted to the television service provider, and without receiving from the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the second user, wherein which television advertisement is directed to which set-top box depends on differences between the online activities of the first and second users using the first and second online user interface devices, respectively.
24. The method of any one of Claims 21 to 23 wherein the electronic association of the first online user interface device identifier and the first set-top box identifier is based at least in part on a common IP address to which network traffic is routed for both online access and the set-top box of the first user.
25. A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising:
(a) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia of a first online user interface device identifier;
(b) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia derived automatically from online activity of a first user via a first online user interface device indicated by the first online user interface device identifier; and (c) using information sent to or received from a third party provider of television service to the first user, with the computer system automatically facilitating direction of a first television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a first set-top box indicated by a first set-top box identifier, which first set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the first online user interface device identifier by the television service provider, without causing online behavioral profile information pertaining to the first user to be transmitted to the television service provider, and without receiving from the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
(a) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia of a first online user interface device identifier;
(b) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia derived automatically from online activity of a first user via a first online user interface device indicated by the first online user interface device identifier; and (c) using information sent to or received from a third party provider of television service to the first user, with the computer system automatically facilitating direction of a first television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a first set-top box indicated by a first set-top box identifier, which first set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the first online user interface device identifier by the television service provider, without causing online behavioral profile information pertaining to the first user to be transmitted to the television service provider, and without receiving from the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the first user.
26. The method of Claim 25 wherein the information in part (c) includes indicia of the association between the first set-top box identifier and the first online user interface device identifier, and wherein automatically facilitating direction of the first television advertisement includes automatically transmitting electronic indicia of the first television advertisement to the first set top box.
27. The method of Claim 25:
(d) wherein the information in part (c) comprises electronic indicia of online user interface device identifiers and electronically associated set-top box identifiers for a multitude of users, which multitude includes the first user, received at the computer system from the television service provider;
(e) further comprising receiving at the computer system through the Internet from the first set-top box a request for a television advertisement;
and (f) further comprising, responsive to receipt of the electronic indicia in part (b), performing the act of part (c).
(d) wherein the information in part (c) comprises electronic indicia of online user interface device identifiers and electronically associated set-top box identifiers for a multitude of users, which multitude includes the first user, received at the computer system from the television service provider;
(e) further comprising receiving at the computer system through the Internet from the first set-top box a request for a television advertisement;
and (f) further comprising, responsive to receipt of the electronic indicia in part (b), performing the act of part (c).
28. The method of Claim 25 further comprising:
(d) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia of a second online user interface device identifier;
(e) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia derived automatically from online activity of a second user via a second online user interface device indicated by the second online user interface device identifier; and (f) using information sent to or received from a third party provider of television service to the second user, with the computer system automatically facilitating direction of a second television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a second set-top box indicated by a second set-top box identifier, which second set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the second online user interface device identifier by the television service provider, without causing online behavioral profile information pertaining to the second user to be transmitted to the television service provider, and without receiving from the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the second user, (9) wherein which television advertisement is directed to which set-top box depends on differences between the online activities of the first and second users using the first and second online user interface devices, respectively.
(d) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia of a second online user interface device identifier;
(e) receiving at the computer system through the Internet electronic indicia derived automatically from online activity of a second user via a second online user interface device indicated by the second online user interface device identifier; and (f) using information sent to or received from a third party provider of television service to the second user, with the computer system automatically facilitating direction of a second television advertisement, for presentation, selectively, via a second set-top box indicated by a second set-top box identifier, which second set-top box identifier is electronically associated with the second online user interface device identifier by the television service provider, without causing online behavioral profile information pertaining to the second user to be transmitted to the television service provider, and without receiving from the television service provider personally identifiable information pertaining to the second user, (9) wherein which television advertisement is directed to which set-top box depends on differences between the online activities of the first and second users using the first and second online user interface devices, respectively.
29. The method of any one of Claims 25 to 28 wherein the electronic association of the first online user interface device identifier and the first set-top box identifier is based at least in part on a common IP address to which network traffic is routed for both online access and the set-top box of the first user, and wherein at least a portion of the indicia in part (b) is derived from online activity of the first user from an online access IP address that differs from the common IP address, and wherein the online user interface device identifier includes a cookie or tag placed on the first online user interface device.
30. The method of Claim 25 wherein the television service provider also provides online access to the first user using the first online user interface device.
31. A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising:
(a) receiving, at the computer system through the Internet, an electronic identifier of a first device;
(b) with the computer system, automatically generating and storing electronic indicia of an association between the first device identifier and an electronic identifier of a second device based on automatically recognizing that each of the first and second devices was connected to a common local area network, wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network; and (c) with the computer system, based on the electronic indicia of the association between the first and second device identifiers, automatically sending an electronic transmission that causes another programmed hardware computer system to take an action, based on first electronic profile data associated with the first device identifier, with respect to the second device, which is indicated at the time of the action by the second device identifier.
(a) receiving, at the computer system through the Internet, an electronic identifier of a first device;
(b) with the computer system, automatically generating and storing electronic indicia of an association between the first device identifier and an electronic identifier of a second device based on automatically recognizing that each of the first and second devices was connected to a common local area network, wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network; and (c) with the computer system, based on the electronic indicia of the association between the first and second device identifiers, automatically sending an electronic transmission that causes another programmed hardware computer system to take an action, based on first electronic profile data associated with the first device identifier, with respect to the second device, which is indicated at the time of the action by the second device identifier.
32. The method of Claim 31 wherein the electronic association is recognized based on a common IP address, or portion thereof, wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address or portion thereof for each of the first and second devices when each is connected to the local area network.
33. The method of Claim 31 or Claim 32 wherein the action comprises automatically causing, with the computer system, a selected advertisement to be directed to the second device, wherein the advertisement is selected based at least in part on at least a portion of the first electronic data.
34. The method of any one of Claims 31 to 33 wherein the electronic indicia of the electronic association include no personally identifiable information pertaining to a user of the first device or the second device.
35. A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system, the method comprising:
(a) based on first electronic profile data associated with an electronic identifier of a first device, automatically causing, with the computer system, an action to be taken with respect to a second device that is indicated at the time of the action by an electronic identifier electronically associated with the first device identifier;
(b) wherein the electronic association between the first and second device identifiers is based on connection, before the action, of each of the first and second devices to a common local area network, wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network.
(a) based on first electronic profile data associated with an electronic identifier of a first device, automatically causing, with the computer system, an action to be taken with respect to a second device that is indicated at the time of the action by an electronic identifier electronically associated with the first device identifier;
(b) wherein the electronic association between the first and second device identifiers is based on connection, before the action, of each of the first and second devices to a common local area network, wherein the computer system is connected to the local area network through the Internet but is not in the local area network.
36. The method of Claim 35 wherein the electronic association is recognized based on a common IP address, or portion thereof, wherein network traffic is routed via the common IP address or portion thereof for each of the first and second devices when each is connected to the local area network.
37. The method of Claim 35 or Claim 36 wherein the action comprises automatically causing, with the computer system, a selected advertisement to be directed to the second device, wherein the advertisement is selected based at least in part on at least a portion of the first electronic data.
38. The method of any one of Claims 35 to 37 wherein the electronic indicia of the electronic association include no personally identifiable information pertaining to a user of the first device or the second device.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/736,544 | 2007-04-17 | ||
US11/736,544 US7861260B2 (en) | 2007-04-17 | 2007-04-17 | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior |
PCT/US2008/055298 WO2008130736A1 (en) | 2007-04-17 | 2008-02-28 | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2684239A1 CA2684239A1 (en) | 2008-10-30 |
CA2684239C true CA2684239C (en) | 2015-08-18 |
Family
ID=39872105
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA2684239A Active CA2684239C (en) | 2007-04-17 | 2008-02-28 | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior |
Country Status (10)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (14) | US7861260B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2147515B8 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5737496B2 (en) |
KR (2) | KR101745847B1 (en) |
CN (2) | CN101982952B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2008242476B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2684239C (en) |
HK (1) | HK1148624A1 (en) |
IL (3) | IL201513A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008130736A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (252)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2967561A (en) * | 1957-10-24 | 1961-01-10 | Pines Engineering Co Inc | Multi-head rod and bar bender |
IL133489A0 (en) | 1999-12-13 | 2001-04-30 | Almondnet Inc | A descriptive-profile mercantile method |
US6832207B1 (en) | 2000-11-28 | 2004-12-14 | Almond Net, Inc. | Super saturation method for information-media |
US9412123B2 (en) | 2003-07-01 | 2016-08-09 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Keystroke analysis |
US10999298B2 (en) | 2004-03-02 | 2021-05-04 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Method and system for identifying users and detecting fraud by use of the internet |
US8938671B2 (en) | 2005-12-16 | 2015-01-20 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for securely displaying digital images |
US11301585B2 (en) | 2005-12-16 | 2022-04-12 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for securely displaying digital images |
CN100539503C (en) * | 2005-12-31 | 2009-09-09 | 华为技术有限公司 | Information issuing system, public media information publication system and dissemination method |
US8151327B2 (en) | 2006-03-31 | 2012-04-03 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Systems and methods for detection of session tampering and fraud prevention |
US8209320B2 (en) | 2006-06-09 | 2012-06-26 | Ebay Inc. | System and method for keyword extraction |
US7831586B2 (en) | 2006-06-09 | 2010-11-09 | Ebay Inc. | System and method for application programming interfaces for keyword extraction and contextual advertisement generation |
US8001105B2 (en) * | 2006-06-09 | 2011-08-16 | Ebay Inc. | System and method for keyword extraction and contextual advertisement generation |
US7747745B2 (en) | 2006-06-16 | 2010-06-29 | Almondnet, Inc. | Media properties selection method and system based on expected profit from profile-based ad delivery |
US8280758B2 (en) | 2006-06-19 | 2012-10-02 | Datonics, Llc | Providing collected profiles to media properties having specified interests |
CA2656935A1 (en) * | 2006-07-05 | 2008-01-10 | Ebay Inc. | System and method for category-based contextual advertisement generation and management |
US20080221987A1 (en) * | 2007-03-07 | 2008-09-11 | Ebay Inc. | System and method for contextual advertisement and merchandizing based on an automatically generated user demographic profile |
KR100913475B1 (en) * | 2007-03-30 | 2009-08-25 | 엔에이치엔비즈니스플랫폼 주식회사 | Method and system for advertisement integrated management about plural advertisement domains |
US8566164B2 (en) | 2007-12-31 | 2013-10-22 | Intent IQ, LLC | Targeted online advertisements based on viewing or interacting with television advertisements |
US7861260B2 (en) * | 2007-04-17 | 2010-12-28 | Almondnet, Inc. | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior |
US20090018904A1 (en) * | 2007-07-09 | 2009-01-15 | Ebay Inc. | System and method for contextual advertising and merchandizing based on user configurable preferences |
US20090055249A1 (en) * | 2007-08-13 | 2009-02-26 | Universal Passage, Inc. | Method and system for providing a structured virtual world for advertising and data mining as a part of a marketing and sales program for universal life stage decision support |
US8082179B2 (en) * | 2007-11-01 | 2011-12-20 | Microsoft Corporation | Monitoring television content interaction to improve online advertisement selection |
US20090129301A1 (en) * | 2007-11-15 | 2009-05-21 | Nokia Corporation And Recordation | Configuring a user device to remotely access a private network |
US20090157504A1 (en) * | 2007-12-13 | 2009-06-18 | Christian Nielsen Braemer | System and method for advertising to a target demographic of internet users |
US20090168977A1 (en) * | 2007-12-27 | 2009-07-02 | Brian Galvin | Apparatus and Methods Incorporating Presence Dynamics |
US8656424B2 (en) * | 2007-12-31 | 2014-02-18 | Digital Keystone, Inc. | Distributed TV access system |
US8490127B2 (en) * | 2007-12-31 | 2013-07-16 | Digital Keystone, Inc. | Distributed TV access system |
US20090171780A1 (en) * | 2007-12-31 | 2009-07-02 | Verizon Data Services Inc. | Methods and system for a targeted advertisement management interface |
EP2247107A1 (en) * | 2007-12-31 | 2010-11-03 | Digital Keystone, Inc. | Distributed TV access system. |
US8701051B2 (en) | 2008-02-11 | 2014-04-15 | Goldspot Media, Inc. | Hot spot use in advertising |
US8510661B2 (en) | 2008-02-11 | 2013-08-13 | Goldspot Media | End to end response enabling collection and use of customer viewing preferences statistics |
US9189794B2 (en) | 2008-02-11 | 2015-11-17 | Goldspot Media, Inc. | Method and apparatus for maximizing brand exposure in a minimal mobile display |
US10013986B1 (en) | 2016-12-30 | 2018-07-03 | Google Llc | Data structure pooling of voice activated data packets |
US11017428B2 (en) | 2008-02-21 | 2021-05-25 | Google Llc | System and method of data transmission rate adjustment |
US8065185B2 (en) | 2008-02-21 | 2011-11-22 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | System and method of providing targeted advertisements from subscribers of directory services |
US9083853B2 (en) * | 2008-06-02 | 2015-07-14 | Intent IQ, LLC | Targeted television advertisements associated with online users' preferred television programs or channels |
US8051444B2 (en) | 2008-06-02 | 2011-11-01 | Intent IQ, LLC | Targeted television advertisements selected on the basis of an online user profile and presented with television programs or channels related to that profile |
US20090310565A1 (en) * | 2008-06-13 | 2009-12-17 | Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited | System And Method For Selecting Parameters In Wireless Communication |
US20100011295A1 (en) * | 2008-07-08 | 2010-01-14 | Nortel Networks Limited | Method of Delivering Customer Contact Service to IPTV Viewer |
US20100063876A1 (en) * | 2008-09-11 | 2010-03-11 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Algorithmic creation of visual images |
US20100205628A1 (en) | 2009-02-12 | 2010-08-12 | Davis Bruce L | Media processing methods and arrangements |
US9154942B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2015-10-06 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Zero configuration communication between a browser and a networked media device |
US9986279B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-05-29 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Discovery, access control, and communication with networked services |
US10419541B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2019-09-17 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Remotely control devices over a network without authentication or registration |
US10631068B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-04-21 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Content exposure attribution based on renderings of related content across multiple devices |
US9386356B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2016-07-05 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Targeting with television audience data across multiple screens |
US10880340B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-12-29 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US9026668B2 (en) | 2012-05-26 | 2015-05-05 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Real-time and retargeted advertising on multiple screens of a user watching television |
US9519772B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2016-12-13 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US8180891B1 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2012-05-15 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Discovery, access control, and communication with networked services from within a security sandbox |
US10977693B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2021-04-13 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Association of content identifier of audio-visual data with additional data through capture infrastructure |
US9961388B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-05-01 | David Harrison | Exposure of public internet protocol addresses in an advertising exchange server to improve relevancy of advertisements |
US10567823B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-02-18 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevant advertisement generation based on a user operating a client device communicatively coupled with a networked media device |
US10334324B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2019-06-25 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevant advertisement generation based on a user operating a client device communicatively coupled with a networked media device |
US8949155B2 (en) | 2008-12-31 | 2015-02-03 | Microsoft Corporation | Protecting privacy of personally identifying information when delivering targeted assets |
CN102301362B (en) * | 2009-01-15 | 2014-06-18 | 艾尔蒙德纳特公司 | Requesting offline profile data for online use in a privacy-sensitive manner |
US9450818B2 (en) * | 2009-01-16 | 2016-09-20 | Broadcom Corporation | Method and system for utilizing a gateway to enable peer-to-peer communications in service provider networks |
US9112850B1 (en) | 2009-03-25 | 2015-08-18 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Systems and methods of sharing information through a tag-based consortium |
US10108970B2 (en) * | 2009-03-25 | 2018-10-23 | Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. | Targeted advertising for dynamic groups |
US11076189B2 (en) * | 2009-03-30 | 2021-07-27 | Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc | Personal media channel apparatus and methods |
US9215423B2 (en) | 2009-03-30 | 2015-12-15 | Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc | Recommendation engine apparatus and methods |
US8250600B2 (en) * | 2009-03-31 | 2012-08-21 | Alcatel Lucent | Advertisement scheduling in a packet-based media-delivery system |
US10326848B2 (en) * | 2009-04-17 | 2019-06-18 | Empirix Inc. | Method for modeling user behavior in IP networks |
US20100332522A1 (en) * | 2009-06-19 | 2010-12-30 | John Wilson Steidley | Methods and systems for mobile information retrieval and delivery |
US8386601B1 (en) * | 2009-07-10 | 2013-02-26 | Quantcast Corporation | Detecting and reporting on consumption rate changes |
US20110016119A1 (en) * | 2009-07-15 | 2011-01-20 | Alcatel-Lucent Usa Inc. | System and method for managing user profiles |
US20110035256A1 (en) * | 2009-08-05 | 2011-02-10 | Roy Shkedi | Systems and methods for prioritized selection of media properties for providing user profile information used in advertising |
US20110119278A1 (en) * | 2009-08-28 | 2011-05-19 | Resonate Networks, Inc. | Method and apparatus for delivering targeted content to website visitors to promote products and brands |
US10475047B2 (en) * | 2009-08-28 | 2019-11-12 | Resonate Networks, Inc. | Method and apparatus for delivering targeted content to website visitors |
US20120192214A1 (en) * | 2009-12-22 | 2012-07-26 | Resonate Networks | Method and apparatus for delivering targeted content to television viewers |
US20120191815A1 (en) * | 2009-12-22 | 2012-07-26 | Resonate Networks | Method and apparatus for delivering targeted content |
US9280543B2 (en) * | 2009-09-14 | 2016-03-08 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Content recommendations based on communal preferences |
US9390423B1 (en) * | 2009-10-08 | 2016-07-12 | Prime Research Alliance E, Inc. | Methods and systems for verifying advertisements in a multi-platform targeted advertising system |
US8760469B2 (en) * | 2009-11-06 | 2014-06-24 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Apparatus and method for managing marketing |
US20110191179A1 (en) * | 2009-11-18 | 2011-08-04 | Linietsky Laurence B | System and method for profiling listeners to improve content distribution and listener retention |
US20110196741A1 (en) * | 2010-02-09 | 2011-08-11 | Yahoo! Inc. | Online and offline integrated profile in advertisement targeting |
US20110231246A1 (en) * | 2010-03-18 | 2011-09-22 | Yahoo! Inc. | Online and offline advertising campaign optimization |
US20110231245A1 (en) * | 2010-03-18 | 2011-09-22 | Yahoo! Inc. | Offline metrics in advertisement campaign tuning |
US8589795B2 (en) * | 2010-09-07 | 2013-11-19 | Hulu, LLC | Method and apparatus for sharing viewing information |
GB2484268A (en) * | 2010-09-16 | 2012-04-11 | Uniloc Usa Inc | Psychographic profiling of users of computing devices |
US20120084828A1 (en) * | 2010-10-04 | 2012-04-05 | Simon Michael Rowe | System and Method for Linking Web Browsing with Television Viewing |
AU2011315836B2 (en) | 2010-10-15 | 2015-11-26 | Intent IQ, LLC | System and methods for selecting television advertisements for a set-top box requesting an advertisement without knowing what program or channel is being watched |
US8997138B2 (en) | 2010-10-15 | 2015-03-31 | Intent IQ, LLC | Correlating online behavior with presumed viewing of television advertisements |
WO2012052559A1 (en) | 2010-10-21 | 2012-04-26 | Holybrain Bvba | Method and apparatus for neuropsychological modeling of human experience and purchasing behavior |
US9226042B1 (en) * | 2010-10-29 | 2015-12-29 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Selecting advertising for presentation with digital content |
US10248960B2 (en) * | 2010-11-16 | 2019-04-02 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | Data mining to determine online user responses to broadcast messages |
WO2012112323A2 (en) | 2011-02-15 | 2012-08-23 | Korrelate, Inc. | A dual blind method and system for attributing activity to a user |
US9215481B2 (en) | 2011-02-16 | 2015-12-15 | Sony Corporation | Method and apparatus for redirecting an IPTV device |
US9141982B2 (en) | 2011-04-27 | 2015-09-22 | Right Brain Interface Nv | Method and apparatus for collaborative upload of content |
WO2012151026A1 (en) * | 2011-05-03 | 2012-11-08 | Collective, Inc., | System and method for targeting advertisements |
US20120297017A1 (en) * | 2011-05-20 | 2012-11-22 | Microsoft Corporation | Privacy-conscious personalization |
US9647778B2 (en) * | 2011-05-23 | 2017-05-09 | Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. | Method and apparatus for providing advertisement correlation |
US8966512B2 (en) * | 2011-07-22 | 2015-02-24 | American Megatrends, Inc. | Inserting advertisement content in video stream |
KR101951500B1 (en) * | 2011-08-03 | 2019-02-22 | 인텐트 아이큐, 엘엘씨 | Targeted television advertising based on profiles linked to multiple online devices |
WO2013033123A2 (en) | 2011-08-31 | 2013-03-07 | Google Inc. | Method and system for collecting and managing tv viewership data |
US20130066724A1 (en) | 2011-09-14 | 2013-03-14 | Collective, Inc. | System and Method for Targeting Advertisements |
US8984549B2 (en) * | 2011-09-28 | 2015-03-17 | Google Technology Holdings LLC | Method for tag insertion and notification for DVR addressable advertisement |
US8433815B2 (en) | 2011-09-28 | 2013-04-30 | Right Brain Interface Nv | Method and apparatus for collaborative upload of content |
US10754913B2 (en) | 2011-11-15 | 2020-08-25 | Tapad, Inc. | System and method for analyzing user device information |
US10290017B2 (en) | 2011-11-15 | 2019-05-14 | Tapad, Inc. | Managing associations between device identifiers |
US20130151589A1 (en) * | 2011-11-17 | 2013-06-13 | Market76 | Computer-based system for use in providing advisory services |
US20140337869A1 (en) * | 2011-12-21 | 2014-11-13 | Susan Alice Faulkner | User behavior based data population of devices |
US8689252B1 (en) | 2012-02-02 | 2014-04-01 | Google Inc. | Real-time optimization of advertisements based on media usage |
US9426123B2 (en) | 2012-02-23 | 2016-08-23 | Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc | Apparatus and methods for content distribution to packet-enabled devices via a network bridge |
US9633201B1 (en) | 2012-03-01 | 2017-04-25 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Methods and systems for fraud containment |
US9009258B2 (en) | 2012-03-06 | 2015-04-14 | Google Inc. | Providing content to a user across multiple devices |
US9317983B2 (en) | 2012-03-14 | 2016-04-19 | Autoconnect Holdings Llc | Automatic communication of damage and health in detected vehicle incidents |
US9082238B2 (en) | 2012-03-14 | 2015-07-14 | Flextronics Ap, Llc | Synchronization between vehicle and user device calendar |
US9378601B2 (en) | 2012-03-14 | 2016-06-28 | Autoconnect Holdings Llc | Providing home automation information via communication with a vehicle |
US9384609B2 (en) | 2012-03-14 | 2016-07-05 | Autoconnect Holdings Llc | Vehicle to vehicle safety and traffic communications |
US9412273B2 (en) | 2012-03-14 | 2016-08-09 | Autoconnect Holdings Llc | Radar sensing and emergency response vehicle detection |
US9147298B2 (en) | 2012-03-14 | 2015-09-29 | Flextronics Ap, Llc | Behavior modification via altered map routes based on user profile information |
WO2014172369A2 (en) | 2013-04-15 | 2014-10-23 | Flextronics Ap, Llc | Intelligent vehicle for assisting vehicle occupants and incorporating vehicle crate for blade processors |
US9521551B2 (en) | 2012-03-22 | 2016-12-13 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Methods and systems for persistent cross-application mobile device identification |
US10003565B2 (en) | 2012-03-22 | 2018-06-19 | Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc | Use of DNS information as trigger for dynamic IPV4 address allocation |
WO2013168175A2 (en) * | 2012-03-26 | 2013-11-14 | Tata Consultancy Services Limited | A method and system for context based splitting and transmission of broadcast content |
US9467723B2 (en) | 2012-04-04 | 2016-10-11 | Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc | Apparatus and methods for automated highlight reel creation in a content delivery network |
US8892685B1 (en) | 2012-04-27 | 2014-11-18 | Google Inc. | Quality score of content for a user associated with multiple devices |
US9258279B1 (en) | 2012-04-27 | 2016-02-09 | Google Inc. | Bookmarking content for users associated with multiple devices |
US8688984B2 (en) | 2012-04-27 | 2014-04-01 | Google Inc. | Providing content to a user across multiple devices |
US9881301B2 (en) | 2012-04-27 | 2018-01-30 | Google Llc | Conversion tracking of a user across multiple devices |
US8966043B2 (en) | 2012-04-27 | 2015-02-24 | Google Inc. | Frequency capping of content across multiple devices |
US9514446B1 (en) | 2012-04-27 | 2016-12-06 | Google Inc. | Remarketing content to a user associated with multiple devices |
US8978158B2 (en) | 2012-04-27 | 2015-03-10 | Google Inc. | Privacy management across multiple devices |
TWI591557B (en) | 2012-05-07 | 2017-07-11 | 財團法人工業技術研究院 | System and method for allocating advertisements |
WO2013184488A1 (en) * | 2012-06-05 | 2013-12-12 | Almondnet, Inc. | Targeted television advertising based on a profile linked to an online device associated with a content-selecting device |
CN102802046A (en) * | 2012-07-06 | 2012-11-28 | 北京广视易通数码科技有限公司 | Realization method and system of digital television application store advertising business |
US20140032743A1 (en) * | 2012-07-30 | 2014-01-30 | James S. Hiscock | Selecting equipment associated with provider entities for a client request |
CN102833598A (en) * | 2012-08-01 | 2012-12-19 | 四川长虹电器股份有限公司 | Method for putting digital television advertisement on air |
EP2880619A1 (en) | 2012-08-02 | 2015-06-10 | The 41st Parameter, Inc. | Systems and methods for accessing records via derivative locators |
AU2013204953B2 (en) | 2012-08-30 | 2016-09-08 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Methods and apparatus to collect distributed user information for media impressions |
US9386349B2 (en) | 2012-09-27 | 2016-07-05 | Canoe Ventures, Llc | Asset conflict resolution for content on demand asset insertion |
US9398340B2 (en) | 2012-09-27 | 2016-07-19 | Canoe Ventures, Llc | Asset qualification for content on demand insertion |
US8763042B2 (en) | 2012-10-05 | 2014-06-24 | Motorola Mobility Llc | Information provision |
WO2014078569A1 (en) | 2012-11-14 | 2014-05-22 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Systems and methods of global identification |
US8484676B1 (en) * | 2012-11-21 | 2013-07-09 | Motorola Mobility Llc | Attention-based, multi-screen advertisement scheduling |
US9544647B2 (en) | 2012-11-21 | 2017-01-10 | Google Technology Holdings LLC | Attention-based advertisement scheduling in time-shifted content |
US9589149B2 (en) | 2012-11-30 | 2017-03-07 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Combining personalization and privacy locally on devices |
CN103051957B (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2016-04-06 | 北京歌华有线电视网络股份有限公司 | The collocation method of DLNA program schedule data and system in digital TV set-top box |
US9514231B2 (en) * | 2013-01-16 | 2016-12-06 | Market76, Inc. | Computer-based system for use in providing advisory services |
US8713600B2 (en) | 2013-01-30 | 2014-04-29 | Almondnet, Inc. | User control of replacement television advertisements inserted by a smart television |
US20140244386A1 (en) * | 2013-02-26 | 2014-08-28 | Facebook, Inc. | Targeting advertisements to logged out users of an online system |
CN104052772B (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2017-10-17 | 赛恩倍吉科技顾问(深圳)有限公司 | Network equipment seeks system and method |
US10887421B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2021-01-05 | Tubi, Inc. | Relevant secondary-device content generation based on associated internet protocol addressing |
US10594763B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2020-03-17 | adRise, Inc. | Platform-independent content generation for thin client applications |
US10356461B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2019-07-16 | adRise, Inc. | Adaptive multi-device content generation based on associated internet protocol addressing |
WO2014172313A2 (en) * | 2013-04-15 | 2014-10-23 | Flextronics Ap, Llc | Creating targeted advertising profiles based on user behavior |
US20140358688A1 (en) * | 2013-05-29 | 2014-12-04 | Luke D. Tuttle | Methods and systems for targeted displays and information |
KR102189609B1 (en) | 2013-07-12 | 2020-12-11 | 스카이후크 와이어리스, 인크. | Associating attributes with network addresses |
US10902327B1 (en) | 2013-08-30 | 2021-01-26 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | System and method for device identification and uniqueness |
US9060195B2 (en) | 2013-10-01 | 2015-06-16 | Mastercard International Incorporated | Television advertising message targeting according to subscriber purchasing behavior |
US11030341B2 (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2021-06-08 | Anonos Inc. | Systems and methods for enforcing privacy-respectful, trusted communications |
US9361481B2 (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2016-06-07 | Anonos Inc. | Systems and methods for contextualized data protection |
US9619669B2 (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2017-04-11 | Anonos Inc. | Systems and methods for anonosizing data |
US10043035B2 (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2018-08-07 | Anonos Inc. | Systems and methods for enhancing data protection by anonosizing structured and unstructured data and incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence in classical and quantum computing environments |
EP3063691B1 (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2020-03-11 | Anonos Inc. | Dynamic de-identification and anonymity |
US9087215B2 (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2015-07-21 | Anonos Inc. | Dynamic de-identification and anonymity |
US10572684B2 (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2020-02-25 | Anonos Inc. | Systems and methods for enforcing centralized privacy controls in de-centralized systems |
CN104683852B (en) | 2013-11-29 | 2018-04-06 | 国际商业机器公司 | The method and apparatus for handling broadcast message |
US20150156248A1 (en) * | 2013-12-04 | 2015-06-04 | Bindu Rama Rao | System for creating and distributing content to mobile devices |
US20150161649A1 (en) * | 2013-12-10 | 2015-06-11 | Semantic Labs, LLC | Method and system for authorizing and enabling anonymous consumer internet personalization |
KR102312725B1 (en) * | 2014-02-05 | 2021-10-13 | 애플 인크. | Uniform communication protocols for communication between controllers and accessories |
WO2015136582A1 (en) * | 2014-03-13 | 2015-09-17 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Information device identification system, information device identification method, information device, and program |
EP3120567A4 (en) * | 2014-03-21 | 2017-08-16 | Clypd, Inc. | Audience-based television advertising transaction engine |
US9875588B2 (en) * | 2014-04-15 | 2018-01-23 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | System and method for identification triggered by beacons |
US9973794B2 (en) | 2014-04-22 | 2018-05-15 | clypd, inc. | Demand target detection |
US20150332309A1 (en) * | 2014-05-13 | 2015-11-19 | Ispot.Tv, Inc. | Advertisement scoring system and method |
US9332065B2 (en) * | 2014-05-19 | 2016-05-03 | Parrable, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for identifying browser use on a mobile device |
US11157960B2 (en) | 2014-05-22 | 2021-10-26 | Opentv, Inc. | Targeted advertising based on user product information |
US10334299B2 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2019-06-25 | Adap.Tv, Inc. | Systems and methods for web spike attribution |
US10412430B2 (en) | 2014-05-28 | 2019-09-10 | Amobee, Inc. | Method and system for recommending targeted television programs based on online behavior |
US9794609B2 (en) * | 2014-06-16 | 2017-10-17 | Alcatel Lucent | Cross-media distribution of advertisements |
US20150373304A1 (en) * | 2014-06-18 | 2015-12-24 | Opentv, Inc. | User/interaction association via a media gateway |
GB2528640A (en) | 2014-06-26 | 2016-02-03 | Piksel Inc | Delivering content |
US11354709B2 (en) * | 2014-07-15 | 2022-06-07 | Viant Technology Llc | Attributing offline conversions to online activity |
US10460098B1 (en) | 2014-08-20 | 2019-10-29 | Google Llc | Linking devices using encrypted account identifiers |
US10412436B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2019-09-10 | At&T Mobility Ii Llc | Determining viewership for personalized delivery of television content |
US10091312B1 (en) | 2014-10-14 | 2018-10-02 | The 41St Parameter, Inc. | Data structures for intelligently resolving deterministic and probabilistic device identifiers to device profiles and/or groups |
US10587706B2 (en) | 2014-10-20 | 2020-03-10 | The Nielsen Company (US) | Methods and apparatus to correlate a demographic segment with a fixed device |
CN104506593A (en) * | 2014-12-11 | 2015-04-08 | 上海因联企业咨询合伙企业(普通合伙) | Large-scale expansible free wireless value-added platform |
CN104468801A (en) * | 2014-12-11 | 2015-03-25 | 上海因联企业咨询合伙企业(普通合伙) | Free wireless value-added platform and service method thereof |
KR20160082005A (en) * | 2014-12-30 | 2016-07-08 | 네이버 주식회사 | Method, system and recording medium for measuring advertisement effect |
US11107126B2 (en) | 2015-01-20 | 2021-08-31 | Google Llc | Methods, systems and media for presenting media content that was advertised on a second screen device using a primary device |
US10116676B2 (en) | 2015-02-13 | 2018-10-30 | Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc | Apparatus and methods for data collection, analysis and service modification based on online activity |
CN104639991A (en) * | 2015-03-11 | 2015-05-20 | 浪潮软件集团有限公司 | Method for dynamically managing network address of set top box, set top box and system |
JP6792321B2 (en) * | 2015-04-23 | 2020-11-25 | ソニー株式会社 | Information processing device |
US9485537B1 (en) * | 2015-06-05 | 2016-11-01 | Canoe Ventures, Llc | Asset recommendations in a VOD system with asset effectiveness determinations |
US9565458B2 (en) * | 2015-06-05 | 2017-02-07 | Canoe Ventures | Systems and methods for determining effectiveness of asset insertion |
US10068027B2 (en) | 2015-07-22 | 2018-09-04 | Google Llc | Systems and methods for selecting content based on linked devices |
WO2017019643A1 (en) * | 2015-07-24 | 2017-02-02 | Videoamp, Inc. | Targeting tv advertising slots based on consumer online behavior |
US9924210B2 (en) | 2015-07-24 | 2018-03-20 | clypd, inc. | Computer system and method for targeting content to users via multiple technology platforms |
US10728612B2 (en) * | 2015-11-02 | 2020-07-28 | Xandr Inc. | Systems and methods for reducing digital video latency |
US11032605B1 (en) | 2015-11-02 | 2021-06-08 | Xandr Inc. | Systems and methods for reducing digital video latency |
US10706118B1 (en) * | 2015-11-02 | 2020-07-07 | Xandr Inc. | Systems and techniques for prefetching data |
US10692126B2 (en) | 2015-11-17 | 2020-06-23 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Network-based system for selling and servicing cars |
CN105578284B (en) * | 2015-12-24 | 2019-01-08 | 四川迪佳通电子有限公司 | A kind of set top box interface management method and system |
US11019385B2 (en) | 2016-01-20 | 2021-05-25 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Content selection for networked media devices |
CN107015980B (en) * | 2016-01-27 | 2020-12-25 | 腾讯科技(北京)有限公司 | Method and device for information display |
US10271093B1 (en) * | 2016-06-27 | 2019-04-23 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Systems and methods for routing content to an associated output device |
US20180012197A1 (en) | 2016-07-07 | 2018-01-11 | NextEv USA, Inc. | Battery exchange licensing program based on state of charge of battery pack |
KR102055885B1 (en) * | 2016-07-20 | 2020-01-22 | 주식회사 케이티 | Advertisement provision server, user device and media play device |
US9928734B2 (en) | 2016-08-02 | 2018-03-27 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Vehicle-to-pedestrian communication systems |
US10769670B2 (en) * | 2016-08-17 | 2020-09-08 | Criteo Sa | Runtime matching of computing entities |
US10798465B2 (en) * | 2016-09-16 | 2020-10-06 | Adobe Inc. | Digital audiovisual content campaigns using merged television viewer information and online activity information |
US9680923B1 (en) | 2016-10-06 | 2017-06-13 | Pranav Jain | Platform and network for joint distribution of content by multiple publishers |
US11024160B2 (en) | 2016-11-07 | 2021-06-01 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Feedback performance control and tracking |
US10708547B2 (en) | 2016-11-11 | 2020-07-07 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Using vehicle sensor data to monitor environmental and geologic conditions |
US10694357B2 (en) | 2016-11-11 | 2020-06-23 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Using vehicle sensor data to monitor pedestrian health |
US10410064B2 (en) | 2016-11-11 | 2019-09-10 | Nio Usa, Inc. | System for tracking and identifying vehicles and pedestrians |
US10699305B2 (en) | 2016-11-21 | 2020-06-30 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Smart refill assistant for electric vehicles |
US10249104B2 (en) | 2016-12-06 | 2019-04-02 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Lease observation and event recording |
US10079015B1 (en) * | 2016-12-06 | 2018-09-18 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Multi-layer keyword detection |
US10074223B2 (en) | 2017-01-13 | 2018-09-11 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Secured vehicle for user use only |
US10471829B2 (en) | 2017-01-16 | 2019-11-12 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Self-destruct zone and autonomous vehicle navigation |
US10031521B1 (en) | 2017-01-16 | 2018-07-24 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Method and system for using weather information in operation of autonomous vehicles |
US9984572B1 (en) | 2017-01-16 | 2018-05-29 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Method and system for sharing parking space availability among autonomous vehicles |
US10286915B2 (en) | 2017-01-17 | 2019-05-14 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Machine learning for personalized driving |
US10464530B2 (en) | 2017-01-17 | 2019-11-05 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Voice biometric pre-purchase enrollment for autonomous vehicles |
US10897469B2 (en) | 2017-02-02 | 2021-01-19 | Nio Usa, Inc. | System and method for firewalls between vehicle networks |
US10579685B2 (en) | 2017-02-28 | 2020-03-03 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Content event insights |
US10234302B2 (en) | 2017-06-27 | 2019-03-19 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Adaptive route and motion planning based on learned external and internal vehicle environment |
US10710633B2 (en) | 2017-07-14 | 2020-07-14 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Control of complex parking maneuvers and autonomous fuel replenishment of driverless vehicles |
US10369974B2 (en) | 2017-07-14 | 2019-08-06 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Control and coordination of driverless fuel replenishment for autonomous vehicles |
US10837790B2 (en) | 2017-08-01 | 2020-11-17 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Productive and accident-free driving modes for a vehicle |
US10841896B2 (en) * | 2017-09-08 | 2020-11-17 | International Business Machines Corporation | Selectively sending notifications to mobile devices using device filtering process |
US10635109B2 (en) | 2017-10-17 | 2020-04-28 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Vehicle path-planner monitor and controller |
US10606274B2 (en) | 2017-10-30 | 2020-03-31 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Visual place recognition based self-localization for autonomous vehicles |
US10935978B2 (en) | 2017-10-30 | 2021-03-02 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Vehicle self-localization using particle filters and visual odometry |
US10717412B2 (en) | 2017-11-13 | 2020-07-21 | Nio Usa, Inc. | System and method for controlling a vehicle using secondary access methods |
CN107864234B (en) * | 2017-12-18 | 2020-12-11 | 广东省电信规划设计院有限公司 | Method and device for acquiring address continuation time |
US11277280B2 (en) * | 2018-03-19 | 2022-03-15 | Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. | Content centric networking systems and methods |
US11334911B1 (en) | 2018-03-23 | 2022-05-17 | Tatari, Inc. | Systems and methods for debiasing media creative efficiency |
US11132706B1 (en) | 2018-03-26 | 2021-09-28 | Tatari, Inc. | System and method for quantification of latent effects on user interactions with an online presence in a distributed computer network resulting from content distributed through a distinct content delivery network |
US11212566B1 (en) | 2018-03-26 | 2021-12-28 | Tatari, Inc. | Systems and methods for attributing TV conversions |
US10369966B1 (en) | 2018-05-23 | 2019-08-06 | Nio Usa, Inc. | Controlling access to a vehicle using wireless access devices |
CN109344266B (en) * | 2018-06-29 | 2021-08-06 | 北京大学深圳研究生院 | Dual-semantic-space-based antagonistic cross-media retrieval method |
US11562393B1 (en) | 2018-12-07 | 2023-01-24 | Tatari, Inc. | Self-consistent inception architecture for efficient baselining media creatives |
US11334912B1 (en) | 2018-12-07 | 2022-05-17 | Tatari, Inc. | Systems and methods for determining media creative attribution to website traffic |
US10812627B2 (en) * | 2019-03-05 | 2020-10-20 | Sap Se | Frontend process mining |
US10977058B2 (en) | 2019-06-20 | 2021-04-13 | Sap Se | Generation of bots based on observed behavior |
US11356406B2 (en) | 2019-07-29 | 2022-06-07 | Target Brands, Inc. | Linking users to viewed content in dynamic internet protocol address environments |
CN111447468B (en) * | 2019-09-25 | 2023-04-25 | 来享享网络科技股份有限公司 | Information sharing system, method and non-transitory machine-readable medium |
US11580982B1 (en) | 2021-05-25 | 2023-02-14 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Receiving voice samples from listeners of media programs |
US11586344B1 (en) | 2021-06-07 | 2023-02-21 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Synchronizing media content streams for live broadcasts and listener interactivity |
US11792143B1 (en) | 2021-06-21 | 2023-10-17 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Presenting relevant chat messages to listeners of media programs |
US11792467B1 (en) | 2021-06-22 | 2023-10-17 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Selecting media to complement group communication experiences |
US11687576B1 (en) | 2021-09-03 | 2023-06-27 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Summarizing content of live media programs |
US11785299B1 (en) * | 2021-09-30 | 2023-10-10 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Selecting advertisements for media programs and establishing favorable conditions for advertisements |
WO2023064121A1 (en) * | 2021-10-13 | 2023-04-20 | TLYNT Inc. | Method and system for identifying assets and automating the creation and monetization of advertisements |
US11785272B1 (en) | 2021-12-03 | 2023-10-10 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Selecting times or durations of advertisements during episodes of media programs |
US11916981B1 (en) | 2021-12-08 | 2024-02-27 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Evaluating listeners who request to join a media program |
US11791920B1 (en) | 2021-12-10 | 2023-10-17 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Recommending media to listeners based on patterns of activity |
Family Cites Families (342)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5105184B1 (en) | 1989-11-09 | 1997-06-17 | Noorali Pirani | Methods for displaying and integrating commercial advertisements with computer software |
JPH03260757A (en) | 1990-03-09 | 1991-11-20 | Toshiba Corp | Decentralized computer network |
US5442633A (en) | 1992-07-08 | 1995-08-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | Shortcut network layer routing for mobile hosts |
US6463585B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2002-10-08 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Targeted advertisement using television delivery systems |
US5600364A (en) | 1992-12-09 | 1997-02-04 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Network controller for cable television delivery systems |
US5359508A (en) | 1993-05-21 | 1994-10-25 | Rossides Michael T | Data collection and retrieval system for registering charges and royalties to users |
EP1235177A3 (en) | 1993-12-16 | 2003-10-08 | divine technology ventures | Digital active advertising |
US5500681A (en) | 1994-05-24 | 1996-03-19 | Jones; Charles P. | Apparatus and method for generating product coupons in response to televised offers |
US5724521A (en) | 1994-11-03 | 1998-03-03 | Intel Corporation | Method and apparatus for providing electronic advertisements to end users in a consumer best-fit pricing manner |
US5752238A (en) | 1994-11-03 | 1998-05-12 | Intel Corporation | Consumer-driven electronic information pricing mechanism |
JPH10508964A (en) | 1994-11-08 | 1998-09-02 | バーミア、テクノロジーズ、インコーポレーテッド | Online service development tool with pricing function |
US5710884A (en) | 1995-03-29 | 1998-01-20 | Intel Corporation | System for automatically updating personal profile server with updates to additional user information gathered from monitoring user's electronic consuming habits generated on computer during use |
US6026368A (en) | 1995-07-17 | 2000-02-15 | 24/7 Media, Inc. | On-line interactive system and method for providing content and advertising information to a targeted set of viewers |
JP3813210B2 (en) | 1995-09-14 | 2006-08-23 | 富士通株式会社 | Online advertising system and method |
US5819285A (en) | 1995-09-20 | 1998-10-06 | Infonautics Corporation | Apparatus for capturing, storing and processing co-marketing information associated with a user of an on-line computer service using the world-wide-web. |
JPH0991358A (en) | 1995-09-28 | 1997-04-04 | Fujitsu Ltd | Device and method for providing information |
US6388714B1 (en) | 1995-10-02 | 2002-05-14 | Starsight Telecast Inc | Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information |
US6002394A (en) | 1995-10-02 | 1999-12-14 | Starsight Telecast, Inc. | Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters |
US5774670A (en) | 1995-10-06 | 1998-06-30 | Netscape Communications Corporation | Persistent client state in a hypertext transfer protocol based client-server system |
US5572643A (en) | 1995-10-19 | 1996-11-05 | Judson; David H. | Web browser with dynamic display of information objects during linking |
US5959623A (en) | 1995-12-08 | 1999-09-28 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | System and method for displaying user selected set of advertisements |
KR19990072063A (en) | 1995-12-08 | 1999-09-27 | 엔, 마이클 그로브 | Method and system for showing ads on computer networks |
US5794210A (en) | 1995-12-11 | 1998-08-11 | Cybergold, Inc. | Attention brokerage |
US6615251B1 (en) | 1995-12-11 | 2003-09-02 | John R. Klug | Method for providing node targeted content in an addressable network |
WO1997026729A2 (en) | 1995-12-27 | 1997-07-24 | Robinson Gary B | Automated collaborative filtering in world wide web advertising |
US5870550A (en) | 1996-02-26 | 1999-02-09 | Network Engineering Software | Web server employing multi-homed, moldular framework |
US5838314A (en) | 1996-02-21 | 1998-11-17 | Message Partners | Digital video services system with optional interactive advertisement capabilities |
US5751956A (en) | 1996-02-21 | 1998-05-12 | Infoseek Corporation | Method and apparatus for redirection of server external hyper-link references |
US5963915A (en) | 1996-02-21 | 1999-10-05 | Infoseek Corporation | Secure, convenient and efficient system and method of performing trans-internet purchase transactions |
JP3245425B2 (en) | 1996-02-28 | 2002-01-15 | グローバルメディアオンライン株式会社 | Communication system that delivers messages such as advertisements to users of terminal devices |
US6018768A (en) | 1996-03-08 | 2000-01-25 | Actv, Inc. | Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated internet information segments |
US5835896A (en) | 1996-03-29 | 1998-11-10 | Onsale, Inc. | Method and system for processing and transmitting electronic auction information |
US5901287A (en) | 1996-04-01 | 1999-05-04 | The Sabre Group Inc. | Information aggregation and synthesization system |
US5995943A (en) * | 1996-04-01 | 1999-11-30 | Sabre Inc. | Information aggregation and synthesization system |
US5835718A (en) | 1996-04-10 | 1998-11-10 | At&T Corp | URL rewriting pseudo proxy server |
US5809242A (en) | 1996-04-19 | 1998-09-15 | Juno Online Services, L.P. | Electronic mail system for displaying advertisement at local computer received from remote system while the local computer is off-line the remote system |
US5848396A (en) | 1996-04-26 | 1998-12-08 | Freedom Of Information, Inc. | Method and apparatus for determining behavioral profile of a computer user |
US5999912A (en) | 1996-05-01 | 1999-12-07 | Wodarz; Dennis | Dynamic advertising scheduling, display, and tracking |
US6014638A (en) | 1996-05-29 | 2000-01-11 | America Online, Inc. | System for customizing computer displays in accordance with user preferences |
US6026374A (en) | 1996-05-30 | 2000-02-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for generating trusted descriptions of information products |
US6034689A (en) | 1996-06-03 | 2000-03-07 | Webtv Networks, Inc. | Web browser allowing navigation between hypertext objects using remote control |
US5933811A (en) | 1996-08-20 | 1999-08-03 | Paul D. Angles | System and method for delivering customized advertisements within interactive communication systems |
US6016504A (en) | 1996-08-28 | 2000-01-18 | Infospace.Com, Inc. | Method and system for tracking the purchase of a product and services over the Internet |
US6073241A (en) | 1996-08-29 | 2000-06-06 | C/Net, Inc. | Apparatus and method for tracking world wide web browser requests across distinct domains using persistent client-side state |
US6049835A (en) | 1996-08-30 | 2000-04-11 | Internet Media Corporation | System for providing easy access to the World Wide Web utilizing a published list of preselected Internet locations together with their unique multi-digit jump codes |
US6837436B2 (en) | 1996-09-05 | 2005-01-04 | Symbol Technologies, Inc. | Consumer interactive shopping system |
US5948061A (en) | 1996-10-29 | 1999-09-07 | Double Click, Inc. | Method of delivery, targeting, and measuring advertising over networks |
US6177931B1 (en) | 1996-12-19 | 2001-01-23 | Index Systems, Inc. | Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interface with television programs, video, advertising information and program scheduling information |
JP4044965B2 (en) | 1996-12-20 | 2008-02-06 | プリンストン ビデオ イメージ,インコーポレイティド | Set-top device and method for inserting selected video into video broadcast |
ATE355662T1 (en) | 1997-01-06 | 2006-03-15 | Bellsouth Intellect Pty Corp | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORK USAGE COLLECTION |
US6285987B1 (en) | 1997-01-22 | 2001-09-04 | Engage, Inc. | Internet advertising system |
US6128663A (en) | 1997-02-11 | 2000-10-03 | Invention Depot, Inc. | Method and apparatus for customization of information content provided to a requestor over a network using demographic information yet the user remains anonymous to the server |
US5807242A (en) * | 1997-03-24 | 1998-09-15 | Synergetics, Inc. | Microsurgical laser probe with homogeneous laser light field |
US6026369A (en) | 1997-05-09 | 2000-02-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method for distributing advertising in a distributed web modification system |
US5937392A (en) | 1997-07-28 | 1999-08-10 | Switchboard Incorporated | Banner advertising display system and method with frequency of advertisement control |
US6134532A (en) | 1997-11-14 | 2000-10-17 | Aptex Software, Inc. | System and method for optimal adaptive matching of users to most relevant entity and information in real-time |
US6915271B1 (en) | 1998-03-11 | 2005-07-05 | The Product Engine, Inc. | Method and system for delivering redeeming dynamically and adaptively characterized promotional incentives on a computer network |
US6289318B1 (en) | 1998-03-24 | 2001-09-11 | Timothy P. Barber | Method and architecture for multi-level commissioned advertising on a computer network |
US6189008B1 (en) | 1998-04-03 | 2001-02-13 | Intertainer, Inc. | Dynamic digital asset management |
US6564379B1 (en) | 1998-04-30 | 2003-05-13 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Program guide system with flip and browse advertisements |
US6133912A (en) | 1998-05-04 | 2000-10-17 | Montero; Frank J. | Method of delivering information over a communication network |
AU3726699A (en) | 1998-05-06 | 1999-11-23 | Iweb Ltd. | Content enhancement system |
US6216112B1 (en) | 1998-05-27 | 2001-04-10 | William H. Fuller | Method for software distribution and compensation with replenishable advertisements |
US6205432B1 (en) | 1998-06-05 | 2001-03-20 | Creative Internet Concepts, Llc | Background advertising system |
US6536041B1 (en) * | 1998-06-16 | 2003-03-18 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Program guide system with real-time data sources |
US6308202B1 (en) | 1998-09-08 | 2001-10-23 | Webtv Networks, Inc. | System for targeting information to specific users on a computer network |
US6327574B1 (en) | 1998-07-07 | 2001-12-04 | Encirq Corporation | Hierarchical models of consumer attributes for targeting content in a privacy-preserving manner |
ES2444642T3 (en) | 1998-07-17 | 2014-02-26 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Interactive television program guide with remote access |
US6141010A (en) | 1998-07-17 | 2000-10-31 | B. E. Technology, Llc | Computer interface method and apparatus with targeted advertising |
WO2000008802A2 (en) | 1998-08-03 | 2000-02-17 | Doubleclick Inc. | Network for distribution of re-targeted advertising |
US6745234B1 (en) * | 1998-09-11 | 2004-06-01 | Digital:Convergence Corporation | Method and apparatus for accessing a remote location by scanning an optical code |
JP2000148675A (en) | 1998-11-09 | 2000-05-30 | Nec Corp | Device and method for providing customized advertisement on www |
US6408278B1 (en) | 1998-11-10 | 2002-06-18 | I-Open.Com, Llc | System and method for delivering out-of-home programming |
US20010020242A1 (en) | 1998-11-16 | 2001-09-06 | Amit Gupta | Method and apparatus for processing client information |
US6487538B1 (en) | 1998-11-16 | 2002-11-26 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for local advertising |
US8019881B2 (en) | 1998-11-30 | 2011-09-13 | George Mason Intellectual Properties, Inc. | Secure cookies |
US7260823B2 (en) | 2001-01-11 | 2007-08-21 | Prime Research Alliance E., Inc. | Profiling and identification of television viewers |
US6684194B1 (en) * | 1998-12-03 | 2004-01-27 | Expanse Network, Inc. | Subscriber identification system |
US6216129B1 (en) | 1998-12-03 | 2001-04-10 | Expanse Networks, Inc. | Advertisement selection system supporting discretionary target market characteristics |
US20020123928A1 (en) | 2001-01-11 | 2002-09-05 | Eldering Charles A. | Targeting ads to subscribers based on privacy-protected subscriber profiles |
US20020083441A1 (en) * | 2000-08-31 | 2002-06-27 | Flickinger Gregory C. | Advertisement filtering and storage for targeted advertisement systems |
US20020083445A1 (en) | 2000-08-31 | 2002-06-27 | Flickinger Gregory C. | Delivering targeted advertisements to the set-top-box |
US6560578B2 (en) | 1999-03-12 | 2003-05-06 | Expanse Networks, Inc. | Advertisement selection system supporting discretionary target market characteristics |
US6055573A (en) | 1998-12-30 | 2000-04-25 | Supermarkets Online, Inc. | Communicating with a computer based on an updated purchase behavior classification of a particular consumer |
IL127889A0 (en) | 1998-12-31 | 1999-10-28 | Almondnet Ltd | A method for transacting an advertisement transfer |
US6985882B1 (en) | 1999-02-05 | 2006-01-10 | Directrep, Llc | Method and system for selling and purchasing media advertising over a distributed communication network |
US7958224B2 (en) | 1999-02-17 | 2011-06-07 | Catalina Marketing Corporation | Incentive network for distributing incentives on a network-wide basis and for permitting user access to individual incentives from a plurality of network servers |
US7051351B2 (en) | 1999-03-08 | 2006-05-23 | Microsoft Corporation | System and method of inserting advertisements into an information retrieval system display |
US6366298B1 (en) | 1999-06-03 | 2002-04-02 | Netzero, Inc. | Monitoring of individual internet usage |
CA2372165A1 (en) | 1999-03-15 | 2000-09-21 | Douglas B. Macrae | System and method for miniguide implementation |
US6907566B1 (en) | 1999-04-02 | 2005-06-14 | Overture Services, Inc. | Method and system for optimum placement of advertisements on a webpage |
US6463533B1 (en) * | 1999-04-15 | 2002-10-08 | Webtv Networks, Inc. | System for generating site-specific user aliases in a computer network |
US7038637B1 (en) | 1999-04-22 | 2006-05-02 | Si Diamond Technology, Inc. | System and method for selling advertising space on electronic billboards over the internet |
US6188398B1 (en) | 1999-06-02 | 2001-02-13 | Mark Collins-Rector | Targeting advertising using web pages with video |
US6868392B1 (en) * | 1999-07-09 | 2005-03-15 | Fujitsu Limited | System and method for electronic shopping using an interactive shopping agent |
US20020056088A1 (en) | 2000-04-07 | 2002-05-09 | Silva Carlos A. | Contextual programming |
US6449657B2 (en) | 1999-08-06 | 2002-09-10 | Namezero.Com, Inc. | Internet hosting system |
US20010042002A1 (en) | 1999-08-30 | 2001-11-15 | Jeff Koopersmith | Method and system for communicating targeted information |
US6415270B1 (en) | 1999-09-03 | 2002-07-02 | Omnihub, Inc. | Multiple auction coordination method and system |
US6810527B1 (en) | 1999-09-27 | 2004-10-26 | News America, Inc. | System and method for distribution and delivery of media context and other data to aircraft passengers |
US7251628B1 (en) | 1999-10-13 | 2007-07-31 | International Business Machines Corporation | Automated purchasing agent system and method |
US6847992B1 (en) | 1999-10-19 | 2005-01-25 | Netzero, Inc. | Data pass-through to sponsors |
US20060229930A9 (en) | 1999-11-15 | 2006-10-12 | Gottfurcht Elliot A | Method to generate advertising revenue based on time and location |
US20020124255A1 (en) | 1999-12-10 | 2002-09-05 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities |
IL133489A0 (en) | 1999-12-13 | 2001-04-30 | Almondnet Inc | A descriptive-profile mercantile method |
WO2001052173A1 (en) | 2000-01-13 | 2001-07-19 | Erinmedia, Inc. | Privacy compliant multiple dataset correlation system |
US7146329B2 (en) * | 2000-01-13 | 2006-12-05 | Erinmedia, Llc | Privacy compliant multiple dataset correlation and content delivery system and methods |
US20020019769A1 (en) | 2000-01-19 | 2002-02-14 | Steven Barritz | System and method for establishing incentives for promoting the exchange of personal information and targeted advertising |
AU2001229654A1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2001-07-31 | Angara E-Commerce Services, Inc. | Electronic commerce services |
US20010034646A1 (en) | 2000-01-25 | 2001-10-25 | Hoyt Edward G. | System and method for creating a web page return link |
US20030126597A1 (en) | 2000-02-01 | 2003-07-03 | Geoffrey Darby | On-screen stripe and other methods for delivering information that facilitate convergence of audio/visual programming and advertisements with internet and other media usage |
CA2399502A1 (en) | 2000-02-02 | 2001-08-09 | Worldgate Service, Inc. | System and method for transmitting and displaying targeted information |
US6401075B1 (en) | 2000-02-14 | 2002-06-04 | Global Network, Inc. | Methods of placing, purchasing and monitoring internet advertising |
US6845396B1 (en) | 2000-02-25 | 2005-01-18 | Navic Systems, Inc. | Method and system for content deployment and activation |
US7580855B2 (en) | 2000-02-28 | 2009-08-25 | Webloyalty.Com | Computer-implemented apparatus and method for generating a tailored promotion |
AU2001249080A1 (en) * | 2000-02-29 | 2001-09-12 | Expanse Networks, Inc. | Privacy-protected targeting system |
US8572646B2 (en) | 2000-04-07 | 2013-10-29 | Visible World Inc. | System and method for simultaneous broadcast for personalized messages |
GB0009249D0 (en) | 2000-04-15 | 2000-05-31 | Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv | User profiling communications system |
US7979880B2 (en) | 2000-04-21 | 2011-07-12 | Cox Communications, Inc. | Method and system for profiling iTV users and for providing selective content delivery |
US20020010928A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-01-24 | Ranjit Sahota | Method and system for integrating internet advertising with television commercials |
US7039699B1 (en) | 2000-05-02 | 2006-05-02 | Microsoft Corporation | Tracking usage behavior in computer systems |
US20020016736A1 (en) * | 2000-05-03 | 2002-02-07 | Cannon George Dewey | System and method for determining suitable breaks for inserting content |
WO2001084458A2 (en) | 2000-05-03 | 2001-11-08 | John Yeiser | Method for promoting internet web sites |
GB0012211D0 (en) | 2000-05-19 | 2000-07-12 | Gemstar Dev Limited | A targeted advertising system |
US7962603B1 (en) | 2000-06-06 | 2011-06-14 | Nobuyoshi Morimoto | System and method for identifying individual users accessing a web site |
CA2349914C (en) | 2000-06-09 | 2013-07-30 | Invidi Technologies Corp. | Advertising delivery method |
US8495679B2 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2013-07-23 | Thomson Licensing | Method and apparatus for delivery of television programs and targeted de-coupled advertising |
US6983379B1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2006-01-03 | Hitwise Pty. Ltd. | Method and system for monitoring online behavior at a remote site and creating online behavior profiles |
US7340518B1 (en) | 2000-07-10 | 2008-03-04 | Jenkins Gerald L | Method and system to enable contact with unknown internet account holders |
KR20020007885A (en) * | 2000-07-19 | 2002-01-29 | 구자홍 | service system for present messenger and operation method for this system |
US20020013950A1 (en) | 2000-07-25 | 2002-01-31 | Tomsen Mai-Lan | Method and system to save context for deferred transaction via interactive television |
AU2001284365A1 (en) * | 2000-07-31 | 2002-02-13 | The Consumer Media Company Inc. | Improved user-driven data network communication system and method |
US6944585B1 (en) | 2000-09-01 | 2005-09-13 | Oracle International Corporation | Dynamic personalized content resolution for a media server |
WO2002035314A2 (en) | 2000-10-24 | 2002-05-02 | Doubleclick, Inc. | Method and system for sharing anonymous user information |
US20050086112A1 (en) | 2000-11-28 | 2005-04-21 | Roy Shkedi | Super-saturation method for information-media |
US6832207B1 (en) | 2000-11-28 | 2004-12-14 | Almond Net, Inc. | Super saturation method for information-media |
US6980977B2 (en) * | 2000-11-30 | 2005-12-27 | Yokogawa Electric Corporation | System for acquiring and analyzing personal profile data and providing the service of delivering various information |
US20020116313A1 (en) | 2000-12-14 | 2002-08-22 | Dietmar Detering | Method of auctioning advertising opportunities of uncertain availability |
US20020078444A1 (en) | 2000-12-15 | 2002-06-20 | William Krewin | System and method for the scaleable delivery of targeted commercials |
US20020082910A1 (en) | 2000-12-22 | 2002-06-27 | Leandros Kontogouris | Advertising system and method which provides advertisers with an accurate way of measuring response, and banner advertisement therefor |
US6478425B2 (en) * | 2000-12-29 | 2002-11-12 | Koninlijke Phillip Electronics N. V. | System and method for automatically adjusting a lens power through gaze tracking |
US20020124249A1 (en) | 2001-01-02 | 2002-09-05 | Shintani Peter Rae | Targeted advertising during playback of stored content |
US7062469B2 (en) | 2001-01-02 | 2006-06-13 | Nokia Corporation | System and method for public wireless network access subsidized by dynamic display advertising |
US20020103850A1 (en) | 2001-01-31 | 2002-08-01 | Moyer Stanley L. | System and method for out-sourcing the functionality of session initiation protocol (SIP) user agents to proxies |
WO2002063878A2 (en) | 2001-02-02 | 2002-08-15 | Opentv, Inc. | A method and apparatus for reformatting of content fir display on interactive television |
AU2002229957A1 (en) | 2001-02-09 | 2002-08-28 | Quadriga Technology Limited | Method and apparatus for distributing data |
US20020120935A1 (en) | 2001-02-12 | 2002-08-29 | Thomas Huber | Interactive order system for television and streaming media |
US20020112013A1 (en) | 2001-02-12 | 2002-08-15 | Fiona Walsh | Method for generating commercial email communications while preserving Internet privacy |
US20020124253A1 (en) | 2001-03-02 | 2002-09-05 | Eyer Mark Kenneth | Personal information database with privacy for targeted advertising |
US20020129362A1 (en) * | 2001-03-08 | 2002-09-12 | Chang Matthew S. | Multiple commercial option in the same time slot |
GB2373678A (en) | 2001-03-21 | 2002-09-25 | Ncr Int Inc | Advertising terminal |
AU2002305137A1 (en) | 2001-04-06 | 2002-10-21 | Predictive Media Corporation | Method and apparatus for identifying unique client users from user behavioral data |
AU2002338461A1 (en) | 2001-04-20 | 2002-11-05 | France Telecom Research And Development L.L.C. | Subscriber interface device for use with an intelligent content-broadcast network and method of operating the same |
US20030229893A1 (en) | 2001-04-26 | 2003-12-11 | Vito Sgaraglino | Multiple response means for interactive advertising and information systems |
US7305691B2 (en) | 2001-05-07 | 2007-12-04 | Actv, Inc. | System and method for providing targeted programming outside of the home |
US20020194604A1 (en) | 2001-06-19 | 2002-12-19 | Sanchez Elizabeth C. | Interactive television virtual shopping cart |
US7188085B2 (en) | 2001-07-20 | 2007-03-06 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and system for delivering encrypted content with associated geographical-based advertisements |
US20030023481A1 (en) | 2001-07-24 | 2003-01-30 | Sarah Calvert | Method of selecting an internet advertisement to be served to a user |
AU2002355530A1 (en) | 2001-08-03 | 2003-02-24 | John Allen Ananian | Personalized interactive digital catalog profiling |
US20030041156A1 (en) | 2001-08-21 | 2003-02-27 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method, system, and product for embedding demographic information in network packets |
US20030051242A1 (en) | 2001-08-31 | 2003-03-13 | Donnelly William F. | Method of advertising utilizing a catalog program with locator index bar |
US7158943B2 (en) | 2001-09-04 | 2007-01-02 | Ramon Van Der Riet | Marketing communication and transaction/distribution services platform for building and managing personalized customer relationships |
US7007074B2 (en) | 2001-09-10 | 2006-02-28 | Yahoo! Inc. | Targeted advertisements using time-dependent key search terms |
US20030093311A1 (en) | 2001-11-05 | 2003-05-15 | Kenneth Knowlson | Targeted advertising |
US20030131355A1 (en) | 2001-11-27 | 2003-07-10 | Berenson Richard W. | Program guide system |
US8086491B1 (en) * | 2001-12-31 | 2011-12-27 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L. P. | Method and system for targeted content distribution using tagged data streams |
US7843923B2 (en) | 2002-01-08 | 2010-11-30 | Verizon Services Corp. | Methods and apparatus for determining the port and/or physical location of an IP device and for using that information |
US20030149975A1 (en) | 2002-02-05 | 2003-08-07 | Charles Eldering | Targeted advertising in on demand programming |
US6718557B2 (en) * | 2002-03-12 | 2004-04-13 | Felipe Claro | Baseball style hat with size adjustment |
US20030231207A1 (en) | 2002-03-25 | 2003-12-18 | Baohua Huang | Personal e-mail system and method |
US20030187949A1 (en) * | 2002-03-28 | 2003-10-02 | Bhatt Jaydutt B. | Determining geographic location of internet users |
US20060069616A1 (en) | 2004-09-30 | 2006-03-30 | David Bau | Determining advertisements using user behavior information such as past navigation information |
US7899915B2 (en) * | 2002-05-10 | 2011-03-01 | Richard Reisman | Method and apparatus for browsing using multiple coordinated device sets |
JP3683551B2 (en) | 2002-05-10 | 2005-08-17 | エヌ・ティ・ティ・コミュニケーションズ株式会社 | Advertisement information delivery method, advertisement information delivery system, home server, information management server, home server program, and information management server program |
JP4370085B2 (en) | 2002-05-20 | 2009-11-25 | 淳一 棚橋 | Shopping system using video distribution technology |
US20030226141A1 (en) | 2002-06-03 | 2003-12-04 | Krasnow Genessa L. | Advertisement data store |
US7899707B1 (en) | 2002-06-18 | 2011-03-01 | Ewinwin, Inc. | DAS predictive modeling and reporting function |
US7237252B2 (en) | 2002-06-27 | 2007-06-26 | Digeo, Inc. | Method and apparatus to invoke a shopping ticker |
US20040002938A1 (en) | 2002-06-28 | 2004-01-01 | Sony Corporation And Sony Electronics Inc. | Device and method for exchanging information |
US7461120B1 (en) | 2002-07-09 | 2008-12-02 | Vignette Corporation | Method and system for identifying a visitor at a website server by requesting additional characteristic of a visitor computer from a visitor server |
US20040147265A1 (en) | 2002-07-23 | 2004-07-29 | Mark Kelley | System and method for an adaptive user communications device |
US20040044566A1 (en) | 2002-08-30 | 2004-03-04 | Bostelmann Janet K. | Landing page and channel identifier in multichannel marketing system |
US7900229B2 (en) | 2002-10-15 | 2011-03-01 | Opentv, Inc. | Convergence of interactive television and wireless technologies |
US7356045B2 (en) | 2002-10-22 | 2008-04-08 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Shared port address translation on a router behaving as NAT & NAT-PT gateway |
US7899862B2 (en) | 2002-11-18 | 2011-03-01 | Aol Inc. | Dynamic identification of other users to an online user |
US7231452B2 (en) | 2002-11-29 | 2007-06-12 | National University Of Singapore | Method and apparatus for communicating on a communication network |
US20040117827A1 (en) | 2002-12-11 | 2004-06-17 | Jeyhan Karaoguz | Media processing system supporting personal advertisement channel and advertisement insertion into broadcast media |
US7962931B2 (en) | 2002-12-23 | 2011-06-14 | Coupons.Com Incorporated | Method and system for integrating television brand advertising with promotional marketing |
WO2004058403A2 (en) | 2002-12-24 | 2004-07-15 | Samrat Vasisht | Method, system and device for automatically configuring a communications network |
US8468578B1 (en) | 2002-12-30 | 2013-06-18 | Aol Inc. | Establishing access controls in a premise-based environment |
FR2849977B1 (en) * | 2003-01-10 | 2005-06-03 | Thomson Licensing Sa | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DEVICES WITHIN A NETWORK BY DEDICATED REMOTE CONTROL AND APPARATUSES IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD |
US20040172650A1 (en) | 2003-02-28 | 2004-09-02 | Hawkins William J. | Targeted content delivery system in an interactive television network |
US7376714B1 (en) | 2003-04-02 | 2008-05-20 | Gerken David A | System and method for selectively acquiring and targeting online advertising based on user IP address |
US7634569B2 (en) | 2003-04-23 | 2009-12-15 | Microsoft Corporation | Match making based on proximity measures between devices |
US20040215515A1 (en) | 2003-04-25 | 2004-10-28 | Aquantive, Inc. | Method of distributing targeted Internet advertisements based on search terms |
US7305459B2 (en) * | 2003-04-28 | 2007-12-04 | Firetide, Inc. | Wireless service point networks |
US7272853B2 (en) | 2003-06-04 | 2007-09-18 | Microsoft Corporation | Origination/destination features and lists for spam prevention |
US7805332B2 (en) | 2003-08-01 | 2010-09-28 | AOL, Inc. | System and method for segmenting and targeting audience members |
US9928522B2 (en) | 2003-08-01 | 2018-03-27 | Oath (Americas) Inc. | Audience matching network with performance factoring and revenue allocation |
US9117217B2 (en) * | 2003-08-01 | 2015-08-25 | Advertising.Com Llc | Audience targeting with universal profile synchronization |
US8150732B2 (en) * | 2003-08-01 | 2012-04-03 | Tacoda Llc | Audience targeting system with segment management |
US20050125290A1 (en) * | 2003-08-01 | 2005-06-09 | Gil Beyda | Audience targeting system with profile synchronization |
US20070198327A1 (en) | 2003-08-15 | 2007-08-23 | Amir Yazdani | Systems and methods for measuring, targeting, verifying, and reporting advertising impressions |
US20050049957A1 (en) | 2003-08-29 | 2005-03-03 | Valla Vakili | System and method for auctioning utilizing a broadcast-based device |
US7698165B1 (en) | 2003-09-02 | 2010-04-13 | AudienceScience Inc. | Accepting bids to advertise to users performing a specific activity |
US11042886B2 (en) | 2003-09-04 | 2021-06-22 | Google Llc | Systems and methods for determining user actions |
US8291465B2 (en) | 2003-10-06 | 2012-10-16 | Lester Sussman | Television system to extract TV advertisement contact data and to store contact data in a TV remote control |
US9105032B2 (en) | 2007-05-03 | 2015-08-11 | Yellowpages.Com Llc | Systems and methods to provide advertisements for real time communications |
US20050086109A1 (en) | 2003-10-17 | 2005-04-21 | Mcfadden Jeffrey A. | Methods and apparatus for posting messages on documents delivered over a computer network |
US9136956B2 (en) | 2003-11-05 | 2015-09-15 | Comcast Cable Holdings, Llc | Method and system for planning and running video-on-demand advertising |
US20070083887A1 (en) | 2003-11-10 | 2007-04-12 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Commercial augmentation |
US20050108091A1 (en) | 2003-11-14 | 2005-05-19 | John Sotak | Methods, systems and computer program products for providing resident aware home management |
US20050132405A1 (en) | 2003-12-15 | 2005-06-16 | Microsoft Corporation | Home network media server with a jukebox for enhanced user experience |
US20050165638A1 (en) | 2004-01-22 | 2005-07-28 | Buckeye Cablevision, Inc. | Cable system customized advertising |
US20050187823A1 (en) | 2004-02-23 | 2005-08-25 | Howes Jeffrey V. | Method and system for geographically-targeted internet advertising |
US7853255B2 (en) | 2004-04-16 | 2010-12-14 | Broadcom Corporation | Digital personal assistance via a broadband access gateway |
US8346605B2 (en) * | 2004-06-07 | 2013-01-01 | Sling Media, Inc. | Management of shared media content |
US20050278731A1 (en) | 2004-06-09 | 2005-12-15 | Navic Systems, Inc. | System and method of anonymous settop event collection and processing in a multimedia network |
US7748040B2 (en) | 2004-07-12 | 2010-06-29 | Architecture Technology Corporation | Attack correlation using marked information |
US8015184B2 (en) | 2004-10-26 | 2011-09-06 | Yahoo! Inc. | Method and apparatus for a search-enabled remote control device |
US7383438B2 (en) | 2004-12-18 | 2008-06-03 | Comcast Cable Holdings, Llc | System and method for secure conditional access download and reconfiguration |
US8880677B2 (en) | 2005-01-03 | 2014-11-04 | Qualcomm Connected Experiences, Inc. | System and method for delivering content to users on a network |
US8230456B2 (en) | 2005-01-05 | 2012-07-24 | Yahoo! Inc. | Framework for delivering a plurality of content and providing for interaction with the same in a television environment |
WO2006074305A2 (en) | 2005-01-05 | 2006-07-13 | Yahoo! Inc. | Framework for delivering content |
CA2592508C (en) | 2005-01-11 | 2017-05-02 | Yakkov Merlin | Method and apparatus for facilitating toggling between internet and tv broadcasts |
CN101180875B (en) * | 2005-01-12 | 2010-11-03 | 英维迪技术公司 | Targeted impression model for broadcast network asset delivery |
US20060184989A1 (en) | 2005-02-11 | 2006-08-17 | Biap Systems, Inc. | Interacting with Internet applications via a broadband network on electronic input/output devices |
US8768766B2 (en) | 2005-03-07 | 2014-07-01 | Turn Inc. | Enhanced online advertising system |
US20060253323A1 (en) | 2005-03-15 | 2006-11-09 | Optical Entertainment Network, Inc. | System and method for online trading of television advertising space |
US9438683B2 (en) | 2005-04-04 | 2016-09-06 | Aol Inc. | Router-host logging |
US20090106100A1 (en) | 2005-04-26 | 2009-04-23 | Governing Dynamics Llc | Method of digital good placement in a dynamic, real time environment |
AU2006242555A1 (en) | 2005-04-29 | 2006-11-09 | Oracle International Corporation | System and method for fraud monitoring, detection, and tiered user authentication |
JP2008545298A (en) | 2005-05-11 | 2008-12-11 | フィーバ テクノロジー、インコーポレイテッド | Building customer relationships using network access points |
US20060259357A1 (en) * | 2005-05-12 | 2006-11-16 | Fu-Sheng Chiu | Intelligent dynamic market data collection and advertising delivery system |
JP2006324763A (en) * | 2005-05-17 | 2006-11-30 | Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd | Video content distribution method and system thereof |
US20080109306A1 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2008-05-08 | Maigret Robert J | Media marketplaces |
WO2006138484A2 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2006-12-28 | Revver, Inc. | Media marketplaces |
US20070130015A1 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2007-06-07 | Steven Starr | Advertisement revenue sharing for distributed video |
JP2006004441A (en) | 2005-06-24 | 2006-01-05 | Yokogawa Electric Corp | Information service system |
WO2007016370A2 (en) * | 2005-07-29 | 2007-02-08 | Eazypaper Inc. | Computer method and apparatus using embedded message window for displaying messages in a functional bar |
US20070027901A1 (en) | 2005-08-01 | 2007-02-01 | John Chan | Method and System for Developing and Managing A Computer-Based Marketing Campaign |
US20070027850A1 (en) | 2005-08-01 | 2007-02-01 | Reprise Media, Llc | Methods and systems for developing and managing a computer-based marketing campaign |
US8150416B2 (en) | 2005-08-08 | 2012-04-03 | Jambo Networks, Inc. | System and method for providing communication services to mobile device users incorporating proximity determination |
US8561113B2 (en) | 2005-08-12 | 2013-10-15 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Augmenting television content with on-screen recording, ordering, searching and VoIP calling options |
US20070038516A1 (en) | 2005-08-13 | 2007-02-15 | Jeff Apple | Systems, methods, and computer program products for enabling an advertiser to measure user viewing of and response to an advertisement |
US20070073585A1 (en) | 2005-08-13 | 2007-03-29 | Adstreams Roi, Inc. | Systems, methods, and computer program products for enabling an advertiser to measure user viewing of and response to advertisements |
JP4613749B2 (en) | 2005-08-18 | 2011-01-19 | パナソニック電工株式会社 | Control system |
CA2619773C (en) | 2005-08-19 | 2016-01-26 | Biap Systems, Inc. | System and method for recommending items of interest to a user |
US8040819B2 (en) | 2005-08-30 | 2011-10-18 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Discovery and identification of upstream device characteristics for self-configuration of customer premises equipment |
US20070061838A1 (en) | 2005-09-12 | 2007-03-15 | I7 Corp | Methods and systems for displaying audience targeted information |
US20110258049A1 (en) | 2005-09-14 | 2011-10-20 | Jorey Ramer | Integrated Advertising System |
US7752209B2 (en) | 2005-09-14 | 2010-07-06 | Jumptap, Inc. | Presenting sponsored content on a mobile communication facility |
US8131271B2 (en) | 2005-11-05 | 2012-03-06 | Jumptap, Inc. | Categorization of a mobile user profile based on browse behavior |
US20130254035A1 (en) | 2005-09-14 | 2013-09-26 | Jumptap, Inc. | Revenue models associated with syndication of a behavioral profile using a monetization platform |
US20070067459A1 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2007-03-22 | Gal Baal-Haness | Website that assigns visitors to area networks |
US8150743B2 (en) * | 2005-09-20 | 2012-04-03 | Gadge Brown | Method and apparatus for the identification of products displayed in media programs |
CA2664824A1 (en) | 2005-09-28 | 2007-04-05 | Feeva, Inc. | Systems and methods of network operation and information processing, including data acquisition, processing and provision and/or interoperability features |
US20070220553A1 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2007-09-20 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing customized content |
US20070208619A1 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2007-09-06 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing targeted advertising to communications devices |
US7890552B2 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2011-02-15 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing media content analysis, distribution, and re-allocation services |
US9083564B2 (en) * | 2005-10-13 | 2015-07-14 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | System and method of delivering notifications |
US20070088603A1 (en) | 2005-10-13 | 2007-04-19 | Jouppi Norman P | Method and system for targeted data delivery using weight-based scoring |
CA2665001A1 (en) | 2005-10-21 | 2007-04-26 | Feeva, Inc. | Systems and methods of network operation and information processing, including data acquisition, processing and provision and/or interoperability features |
US20070100690A1 (en) | 2005-11-02 | 2007-05-03 | Daniel Hopkins | System and method for providing targeted advertisements in user requested multimedia content |
US20070143786A1 (en) * | 2005-12-16 | 2007-06-21 | General Electric Company | Embedded advertisements and method of advertising |
US8296437B2 (en) | 2005-12-29 | 2012-10-23 | Logmein, Inc. | Server-mediated setup and maintenance of peer-to-peer client computer communications |
US20070157247A1 (en) | 2005-12-29 | 2007-07-05 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Systems and methods for managing content |
US20070157228A1 (en) | 2005-12-30 | 2007-07-05 | Jason Bayer | Advertising with video ad creatives |
US8166501B2 (en) | 2006-01-26 | 2012-04-24 | Sony Corporation | Scheme for use with client device interface in system for providing dailies and edited video to users |
KR100596816B1 (en) | 2006-02-21 | 2006-07-07 | 조형구 | Adverising management and searching system through bidirectional searching and monitoring |
KR100793513B1 (en) | 2006-02-24 | 2008-01-14 | 한국정보통신대학교 산학협력단 | Target advertisement system of communication network and its method |
US8037506B2 (en) | 2006-03-03 | 2011-10-11 | Verimatrix, Inc. | Movie studio-based network distribution system and method |
JP4742952B2 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2011-08-10 | カシオ計算機株式会社 | Receiver and program |
CA2648609A1 (en) | 2006-04-06 | 2007-10-18 | Kenneth N. Ferguson | Media content programming control method and apparatus |
US10803468B2 (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2020-10-13 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Method and apparatus for selecting advertising |
US20070260514A1 (en) | 2006-05-05 | 2007-11-08 | Microsoft Corporation | Distributed architecture for online advertising |
US20070266403A1 (en) | 2006-05-15 | 2007-11-15 | Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P. | System and method for personalized video program listing and targeted content advertisement |
US8762201B1 (en) | 2006-05-15 | 2014-06-24 | Amdocs Software Systems Limited | Advertisement system, method and computer program product |
US20080052392A1 (en) | 2006-05-18 | 2008-02-28 | Jeff Webster | System and Method for Monitoring a User's Online Activity |
US7894448B1 (en) | 2006-05-24 | 2011-02-22 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Proving that a user profile satisfies selection criteria for targeted data delivery |
US20070283384A1 (en) * | 2006-05-31 | 2007-12-06 | Sbc Knowledge Ventures, Lp | System and method of providing targeted advertisements |
US7747745B2 (en) * | 2006-06-16 | 2010-06-29 | Almondnet, Inc. | Media properties selection method and system based on expected profit from profile-based ad delivery |
US8280758B2 (en) | 2006-06-19 | 2012-10-02 | Datonics, Llc | Providing collected profiles to media properties having specified interests |
US20070294721A1 (en) * | 2006-06-20 | 2007-12-20 | Sbc Knowledge Ventures, Lp | System and method of providing supplemental video content related to targeted advertisements in a video stream |
US7761558B1 (en) | 2006-06-30 | 2010-07-20 | Google Inc. | Determining a number of users behind a set of one or more internet protocol (IP) addresses |
US8239886B2 (en) | 2006-07-13 | 2012-08-07 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | System and method for a video content service monitoring and provisioning architecture |
US8024765B2 (en) | 2006-07-26 | 2011-09-20 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Method and system for communicating media program information |
US20080040742A1 (en) | 2006-08-11 | 2008-02-14 | Sbc Knowledge Ventures L.P. | Method and system for inserting advertisement data into an internet protocol television network |
US8121915B1 (en) | 2006-08-16 | 2012-02-21 | Resource Consortium Limited | Generating financial plans using a personal information aggregator |
US9495682B2 (en) | 2006-08-31 | 2016-11-15 | Accenture Global Services Limited | Converged marketing architecture and related research and targeting methods utilizing such architectures |
US20080059300A1 (en) | 2006-09-01 | 2008-03-06 | Admob, Inc. | Targeting an ad to a mobile device |
US20080133327A1 (en) | 2006-09-14 | 2008-06-05 | Shah Ullah | Methods and systems for securing content played on mobile devices |
CN101536520B (en) | 2006-09-29 | 2011-08-17 | 联合视频制品公司 | Management of profiles for interactive media guidance applications |
US8180674B2 (en) | 2006-10-03 | 2012-05-15 | Yahoo! Inc. | Targeting of advertisements based on mutual information sharing between devices over a network |
US7806329B2 (en) | 2006-10-17 | 2010-10-05 | Google Inc. | Targeted video advertising |
WO2008055172A2 (en) | 2006-10-30 | 2008-05-08 | Maxlinear, Inc. | Targeted advertisement in the digital television environment |
US20080113674A1 (en) | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Mohammad Faisal Baig | Vicinity-based community for wireless users |
WO2008056251A2 (en) | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Audiogate Technologies Ltd. | System and method for providing advertisement based on speech recognition |
US9110903B2 (en) | 2006-11-22 | 2015-08-18 | Yahoo! Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for using user profile electronic device data in media delivery |
US8107626B2 (en) * | 2006-11-22 | 2012-01-31 | The Directv Group, Inc. | Method and system for enabling transfer of content between a storage device and a portable media player device |
US20080120178A1 (en) | 2006-11-22 | 2008-05-22 | Ronald Martinez | Methods, Systems and Apparatus for Delivery of Media |
US8402356B2 (en) | 2006-11-22 | 2013-03-19 | Yahoo! Inc. | Methods, systems and apparatus for delivery of media |
US9697280B2 (en) | 2006-12-13 | 2017-07-04 | Quickplay Media, Inc. | Mediation and settlement for mobile media |
US8079048B2 (en) * | 2006-12-15 | 2011-12-13 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | System and method of scheduling an event related to an advertisement |
US8938765B2 (en) | 2006-12-22 | 2015-01-20 | Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc | Methods, apparatus and user interface for providing content on demand |
US20080222283A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 | 2008-09-11 | Phorm Uk, Inc. | Behavioral Networking Systems And Methods For Facilitating Delivery Of Targeted Content |
US8213426B2 (en) * | 2007-01-30 | 2012-07-03 | At&T Ip I, Lp | Method and system for multicasting targeted advertising data |
US20080183573A1 (en) | 2007-01-31 | 2008-07-31 | James Edward Muschetto | Method and Apparatus for Increasing Accessibility and Effectiveness of Advertisements Delivered via a Network |
US7873710B2 (en) | 2007-02-06 | 2011-01-18 | 5O9, Inc. | Contextual data communication platform |
US8352980B2 (en) | 2007-02-15 | 2013-01-08 | At&T Intellectual Property I, Lp | System and method for single sign on targeted advertising |
IL189530A0 (en) | 2007-02-15 | 2009-02-11 | Marvell Software Solutions Isr | Method and apparatus for deep packet inspection for network intrusion detection |
US20090037949A1 (en) * | 2007-02-22 | 2009-02-05 | Birch James R | Integrated and synchronized cross platform delivery system |
WO2008112663A2 (en) | 2007-03-10 | 2008-09-18 | Feeva Technology, Inc. | Method and apparatus for tagging network traffic using extensible fields in message headers |
US8621064B2 (en) | 2007-03-28 | 2013-12-31 | Yahoo! Inc. | System and method for associating a geographic location with an Internet protocol address |
US8024454B2 (en) | 2007-03-28 | 2011-09-20 | Yahoo! Inc. | System and method for associating a geographic location with an internet protocol address |
US20080255944A1 (en) | 2007-03-29 | 2008-10-16 | Shah Nitin J | Campaign Management Platform for Network-Based Online Advertising and Directed Media Transmission System |
US7818419B1 (en) | 2007-03-30 | 2010-10-19 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Monitoring user consumption of content |
US7861260B2 (en) | 2007-04-17 | 2010-12-28 | Almondnet, Inc. | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior |
US8566164B2 (en) * | 2007-12-31 | 2013-10-22 | Intent IQ, LLC | Targeted online advertisements based on viewing or interacting with television advertisements |
US20080281696A1 (en) * | 2007-05-11 | 2008-11-13 | Verizon Services Organization Inc. | Systems and methods for using dns records to provide targeted marketing services |
US7702813B2 (en) | 2007-06-08 | 2010-04-20 | Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab | Using personal data for advertisements |
US8505046B2 (en) * | 2007-08-17 | 2013-08-06 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Targeted online, telephone and television advertisements based on cross-service subscriber profiling |
US8930989B2 (en) * | 2007-08-20 | 2015-01-06 | AdsVantage | System and method for providing supervised learning to associate profiles in video audiences |
US20090150927A1 (en) * | 2007-12-06 | 2009-06-11 | Alcatel Lucent | Facilitating interactive advertising in digital television program content through follow-up browsing of selectable advertised offerings presented within such digital television program content |
US20090171780A1 (en) | 2007-12-31 | 2009-07-02 | Verizon Data Services Inc. | Methods and system for a targeted advertisement management interface |
US20090172723A1 (en) | 2007-12-31 | 2009-07-02 | Almondnet, Inc. | Television advertisement placement more resistant to user skipping |
US8752093B2 (en) * | 2008-01-21 | 2014-06-10 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | System and method of providing recommendations related to a service system |
US7937383B2 (en) * | 2008-02-01 | 2011-05-03 | Microsoft Corporation | Generating anonymous log entries |
US20090217319A1 (en) * | 2008-02-22 | 2009-08-27 | Weiss Jonathan B | Method and system for providing targeted television advertising |
KR101173963B1 (en) | 2008-04-28 | 2012-08-14 | 에스케이플래닛 주식회사 | System and method for targeting advertisement |
US9083853B2 (en) | 2008-06-02 | 2015-07-14 | Intent IQ, LLC | Targeted television advertisements associated with online users' preferred television programs or channels |
US8051444B2 (en) | 2008-06-02 | 2011-11-01 | Intent IQ, LLC | Targeted television advertisements selected on the basis of an online user profile and presented with television programs or channels related to that profile |
US8544039B2 (en) * | 2008-09-02 | 2013-09-24 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Method and apparatus for distributing consumer advertisements |
US9294730B2 (en) * | 2008-09-22 | 2016-03-22 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Method and apparatus for distributing merchant advertisements |
CN102301362B (en) | 2009-01-15 | 2014-06-18 | 艾尔蒙德纳特公司 | Requesting offline profile data for online use in a privacy-sensitive manner |
US8250600B2 (en) * | 2009-03-31 | 2012-08-21 | Alcatel Lucent | Advertisement scheduling in a packet-based media-delivery system |
US20110035256A1 (en) * | 2009-08-05 | 2011-02-10 | Roy Shkedi | Systems and methods for prioritized selection of media properties for providing user profile information used in advertising |
US8997138B2 (en) | 2010-10-15 | 2015-03-31 | Intent IQ, LLC | Correlating online behavior with presumed viewing of television advertisements |
AU2011315836B2 (en) | 2010-10-15 | 2015-11-26 | Intent IQ, LLC | System and methods for selecting television advertisements for a set-top box requesting an advertisement without knowing what program or channel is being watched |
KR101951500B1 (en) | 2011-08-03 | 2019-02-22 | 인텐트 아이큐, 엘엘씨 | Targeted television advertising based on profiles linked to multiple online devices |
WO2013184488A1 (en) | 2012-06-05 | 2013-12-12 | Almondnet, Inc. | Targeted television advertising based on a profile linked to an online device associated with a content-selecting device |
US8713600B2 (en) | 2013-01-30 | 2014-04-29 | Almondnet, Inc. | User control of replacement television advertisements inserted by a smart television |
-
2007
- 2007-04-17 US US11/736,544 patent/US7861260B2/en active Active
-
2008
- 2008-02-28 KR KR1020167016750A patent/KR101745847B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2008-02-28 CN CN201010522235.9A patent/CN101982952B/en active Active
- 2008-02-28 KR KR1020097023680A patent/KR101647844B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2008-02-28 CA CA2684239A patent/CA2684239C/en active Active
- 2008-02-28 AU AU2008242476A patent/AU2008242476B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-02-28 WO PCT/US2008/055298 patent/WO2008130736A1/en active Application Filing
- 2008-02-28 CN CN200880020474A patent/CN101682441A/en active Pending
- 2008-02-28 JP JP2010504127A patent/JP5737496B2/en active Active
- 2008-02-28 EP EP08743600.2A patent/EP2147515B8/en active Active
- 2008-10-23 US US12/257,386 patent/US20090049468A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2009
- 2009-10-14 IL IL201513A patent/IL201513A/en active IP Right Grant
-
2010
- 2010-08-20 US US12/860,666 patent/US8281336B2/en active Active
-
2011
- 2011-03-16 HK HK11102657.7A patent/HK1148624A1/en unknown
- 2011-04-29 US US13/097,885 patent/US8695032B2/en active Active
- 2011-06-23 US US13/167,605 patent/US8677398B2/en active Active
-
2012
- 2012-12-31 IL IL224074A patent/IL224074A/en active IP Right Grant
-
2013
- 2013-04-23 IL IL225909A patent/IL225909A/en active IP Right Grant
-
2014
- 2014-04-07 US US14/246,525 patent/US9369779B2/en active Active
-
2016
- 2016-06-10 US US15/179,356 patent/US9813778B2/en active Active
-
2017
- 2017-11-03 US US15/803,631 patent/US10178442B2/en active Active
-
2018
- 2018-12-20 US US16/228,479 patent/US10715878B2/en active Active
-
2020
- 2020-07-10 US US16/925,655 patent/US11303973B2/en active Active
-
2022
- 2022-04-06 US US17/714,965 patent/US11564015B2/en active Active
- 2022-07-29 US US17/877,870 patent/US11589136B2/en active Active
-
2023
- 2023-02-16 US US18/110,857 patent/US11805300B2/en active Active
- 2023-06-07 US US18/207,125 patent/US20240107126A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US11589136B2 (en) | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior | |
US11831964B2 (en) | Avoiding directing online advertisements based on user interaction with television advertisements | |
AU2013205470B2 (en) | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior | |
AU2016202598B2 (en) | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20130228 |