Targeting content based on location

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12477165-B2
Application number	US-202418602793-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2024
Priority date	Feb 1, 2007
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

Assets of broadcast network content are targeted to network users of interest based on location information regarding user equipment devices. Asset providers can specify location targeting criteria via a graphical user interface displaying mapping information. This location targeting criteria can then be compared to location information regarding user equipment devices so that assets are delivered to appropriate devices. The comparison of the location targeting criteria to the device location information can be performed at the user equipment devices or at another location. In the latter case, the assets can be addressed to appropriate user equipment devices or appropriate user equipment devices can be directed to select the asset, which is broadcast via the network. In this manner, assets can be targeted to individual network users on a basis independent of network topology.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for use in targeting assets of broadcast network content, comprising: a processor of the broadcast network, disposed remote from a user equipment device, running logic operative for:
receiving asset delivery information regarding an asset at a user equipment device disposed within a broadcast network topology of a broadcast network; determining a location criterion from the asset delivery information indicating a targeting region for the asset defined according to a location information structure that is independent of the broadcast network topology, the broadcast network topology defining network regions within which broadcast signals are received by a set of user equipment devices including the user equipment device due to the broadcast nature of the network free from the need to individually address the signals to the set of user equipment devices; receiving, at the user equipment device, device location information identifying a device location of the user equipment device according to the location information structure, the device location information being based on an actual location determination for the user equipment device and allowing for location of the user equipment device free from any independent location determination performed by the user equipment device; and making a determination regarding delivery of the asset via the user equipment device based on whether the user equipment device is within the targeting region according to the location criterion and the device location.

2 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the asset is received at the user equipment device separately from the asset delivery information.

3 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the determination is used in transmitting, to a platform of the broadcast network, an indication of suitability of an asset to be delivered.

4 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising communicating, based on the determination, an indication regarding transmission of the asset to the broadcast network, and receiving the asset after the step of communicating.

5 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , further including reporting, via the network, an indication of delivery of the asset by the user equipment device.

6 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of making a determination is executed at the user equipment device.

7 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising the step of directing the user equipment device to deliver the asset.

8 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the location information structure is a Cartesian location information structure.

9 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the location information structure is a radial location information structure.

10 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the location information structure spans multiple broadcast networks.

11 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the location information structure is defined in relation to geo-coordinate information.

12 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the location information structure is defined in relation to a grid of centroids.

13 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein identifying the device location of the user equipment device according to the location information structure comprises mapping location information stored at the user equipment device to the location information structure.

14 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
the user equipment device is a mobile device in communication with the broadcast network;
and identifying the device location of the user equipment device according to the location information structure comprises identifying the device location as a current location of the user equipment device with respect to the broadcast network, and mapping the current location to the location information structure.

15 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein making the determination regarding delivery of the asset comprises:
determining whether the user equipment device is within the targeting region by calculating whether the device location falls within a portion of the location information structure defined by the location criterion.

16 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 , wherein calculating whether the device location falls within a portion of the location information structure defined by the location criterion comprises calculating according to a point in area or a radius analysis algorithm.

17 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising, receiving, at the user equipment device from the network platform, second device location information for the user equipment device.

18 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the device location information identifies a different location of the user equipment device at a different time than the device location information.

19 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the second device location information is different than the device location information but corresponds to the same device location.

20 . An apparatus for use in targeting assets of broadcast network content, comprising:
a processor of the broadcast network, disposed remote from a user equipment device, running logic operative for:
inserting an asset in a broadcast network associated with a broadcast network topology, the broadcast network topology defining network regions within which broadcast signals are received by user equipment devices due to the broadcast nature of the network free from the need to individually address the signals to the user equipment devices;
inserting a location criterion related to the asset in the broadcast network indicating a targeting region for the asset defined according to a location information structure that is independent of the broadcast network topology, wherein the location criterion is capable of being interpreted by a user equipment device to determine whether a device location of the user equipment device is located within the targeting region-location information structure, such that the asset is delivered via the user equipment device only when the user equipment device is located substantially within the targeting region; and
providing device location information, based on an actual location determination for the device, identifying the device location, from a network platform to the user equipment device such that the user equipment device can compare its location to the location criterion free from any independent location determination by the user equipment device.

21 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the step of inserting the asset is executed in response to receiving an indication from at least one user equipment device regarding a fit between the location criterion and information stored at the user equipment device.

22 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the information stored at the user equipment device is the location of the user equipment device.

23 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the location criterion contains geographical coordinate information.

24 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the asset includes the location criterion.

25 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 , further comprising

Assignees

• Invidi Tech Corp

Inventors

• Sheehan Patrick M
• Anderson Bruce J
• Wilson Daniel C

Classifications

• H04N21/4622

  Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859) · CPC title

• H04N21/4524

  involving the geographical location of the client (retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00) · CPC title

• H04N21/2665

  Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite · CPC title

• H04N21/25841

  involving the geographical location of the client (retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00) · CPC title

• H04N21/23424

  involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement · CPC title