Intelligent targeting of tags in a broadcast network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9396475-B2
Application number	US-2475708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2008
Priority date	Feb 1, 2007
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

A system and associated methodology are disclosed for targeting tags in a broadcast network. The tags may be associated with an ad or programming. In one implementation, the tags to be delivered at a user equipment device are selected at the user equipment device, for example, based on location or other user classification parameters. In this manner, different user equipment devices that are on the same bandwidth segment in the same network subdivision can receive different tags.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. Method for use in targeting broadcast network content, comprising the steps of:
first providing a first network platform for transmitting non-local assets in first asset delivery opportunities dedicated to delivery of non-local assets and inserting one or more local assets in one or more second asset delivery opportunities dedicated to delivery of local assets, each of the first and second asset delivery opportunities being associated with a given program presented on given bandwidth of said broadcast network at a given time;
second providing a plurality of second network platforms, each of said second network platforms being operative for receiving content from said first network platform and selectively providing portions of said content for delivery at one or more user equipment devices, each of said second network platforms comprising a classifier configured to determine a classification of one or more current users of each respective one or more user equipment devices;
determining a first current viewer classification of a first one of said user equipment devices using the classifier of a first one of said second network platforms;
determining a second current viewer classification of a second one of said user equipment devices using the classifier of a second one of said second network platforms;
selecting, using the first one of said second network platforms, a first asset received from the first network platform and associating the first asset with a first tag to thereby provide first combined content, said first combined content having a high suitability with respect to the one or more current viewers relative to other network users, said first tag comprising at least one of text, graphics, video or audio content to supplement content of said first asset;
selecting, using the second one of said second network platforms, a second asset, the same as or different than said first asset, received from the first network platform and associating the second asset with a second tag to thereby provide second combined content, said second combined content having a high suitability with respect to the second current viewer relative to other network users, said second tag comprising at least one of text, graphics, video or audio content to supplement content of said second asset;
third providing, from the first one of said second network platforms to at least the first one of said user equipment devices, said first combined content for one of said first and second asset delivery opportunities; and
fourth providing, from a second one of said second network platforms to at least a second one of said user equipment devices different than said first one, said second combined content for said one of said first and second asset delivery opportunities;
wherein said first combined content is different than said second combined content.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said second network devices comprises a hub associated with a number of user equipment devices.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 , where in at least one of said second network devices is co-located with a user equipment device.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first and second combined content are provided to said first and second ones of said second network platforms prior to a time of delivery of said first and second combined content segments by said first and second ones of said user equipment devices.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing report information to a billing system of a broadcast network, said report information providing an indication concerning which of said first tag or said second tag was delivered to each of said user equipment devices.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting an indication regarding a suitability of at least one of said tags from a user equipment device to a network platform.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 , said first one of said user equipment devices and said second one of said user equipment devices are each disposed in a first broadcast network subdivision, said first broadcast network subdivision defining an area wherein all user equipment devices receive the same broadcast content on a given bandwidth segment, said method further comprising delivering, at a first time, said first combined content segment at said first one of said user equipment devices, said first user equipment device being associated with a first bandwidth segment of said broadcast network at said first time, and delivering, at said first time, a said second combined content segment at said second one of said user equipment devices, said second one of said user equipment devices being associated with said first bandwidth segment of said broadcast network at said first time.

8. A method for use in targeting broadcast network content, comprising the steps of:
providing a network platform for processing assets for delivery to user equipment devices in said broadcast network;
obtaining a number of assets at said network platform;
obtaining a number of tags comprising at least one of text, graphics, video and audio content to supplement an associated one of said assets and for association with said assets at said network platform, each of said tags representing a local asset option;
establishing a first combined content segment by overlaying one of said tags on one of said assets;
establishing a second combined content segment by overlaying one of said tags on one of said assets, wherein said first combined content segment is different than said second combined content segment;
classifying a first subset of the current users of a given bandwidth segment of said broadcast network by determining a first user classification common to said first subset of the current users;
classifying a second subset of the current users of a given bandwidth segment of said broadcast network by determining a second user classification common to said second subset of the current users, wherein at least some of said first subset of users are disposed within the same broadcast network subdivision as at least some of said second subset of users, said broadcast network subdivision defining an area wherein all user equipment devices receive the same broadcast content on said given bandwidth segment at a given time;
delivering said first combined content segment to the first subset of the current according to a determination that said first combined content segment has a high suitability with respect to the first user classification relative at least to the second user classification; and
delivering said second combined content segment to the second subset, different than said first subset, of the current users according to a determination that said second combined content segment has a high suitability with respect to the second user classification relative at least to the first user classification.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein at least one of said first and second combined content segments is delivered using a bandwidth segment separate from said given bandwidth segment.

10. A method as set forth in claim 8 , further comprising the step of receiving report information from at least some users of said first and second subsets of the current users, said report information providing an indication concerning actual delivery of a tag.

11. A method as set forth in claim 8 , further comprising the step of receiving communications from at least some users of said first and second subsets of the current users, each said communication including an indication regarding a suitability of one or mo

Assignees

• Cristofalo Michael
• Anderson Bruce J
• Wilson Daniel C
• Invidi Tech Corp

Inventors

• Cristofalo Michael
• Anderson Bruce J
• Wilson Daniel C

Classifications

• G06Q30/02 Primary

  Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising · CPC title