Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080259906 | TARGETED TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS BASED ON ONLINE BEHAVIOR - 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. | 10-23-2008 |
20080313194 | Descriptive-profile mercantile method - A descriptive-profile mercantile method, for use at a juncture in a data-communications topology having associated therewith a maintained databank of partial profiles, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: from a user, receiving a transaction having therein a first partial profile; using the first partial profile, searching a databank having a plurality of second partial profiles, wherein is included in said databank at least one null profile so that said searching will always yield at least one proximate second partial profile to the first partial profile; and between the user and the databank, contracting: (I) for the databank to own or represent a right to a first mutually agreed portion of the first partial profile, and substantially thereafter said databank incorporating the agreed portion of the first profile into at least one second partial profile; or (II) for the user to own or represent a right to a second mutually agreed portion of at least one said proximate second partial profile, and substantially thereafter the databank transmitting to the user the second mutually agreed portion of the second profile. The present invention operates best on a brokerage representation model; and thereby provides a means for making viable the economic commerce in information attributes. | 12-18-2008 |
20090049468 | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior - In a computer-implemented method, a selected online advertisement is automatically directed to, or online activity is automatically tracked and recorded from, an online user interface device which corresponds, at the time the advertisement is directed or the activity is tracked, to a first online access identifier. The advertisement is directed or the activity is tracked based on information from a user profile that references or includes a first set-top box identifier. That information is derived at least in part from automatically collected data related to user behavior with respect to at least one television advertisement delivered to a set-top box, which set-top box corresponds, at the time of that user behavior, to the first set-top box identifier. The first online access identifier is associated with the first set-top box identifier, by both being referenced or included in the user profile, by being associated in a database, or otherwise. | 02-19-2009 |
20090094119 | Method for transacting an advertisement transfer - A method for transacting an advertisement transfer is disclosed which facilitates expressing the rate structure for the individual advertisement as a function of a profile of the individual potential customer; and which is directed to the creation of a mechanism from the vantage of an Internet site that is being visited. It should be appreciated that this must include the participation of other entities in the Internet (such as distributors, clients, intermediary agencies, etc.). The method is for transacting an advertisement transfer, from an advertisement distributor to a visitor, the method including, upon the occurrence of a visitor visitation at a communications node, the communication node performing the steps of: constructing a visitor profile; broadcasting the profile to at least one distributor; collecting responses from the at least one distributor; selecting a response from the at least one responding distributor; contracting, between the node and the at least one distributor of the selected response, a transference of an advertisement from the distributor to the visitor; and effecting a transfer of the advertisement to the visitor. | 04-09-2009 |
20090172723 | Television advertisement placement more resistant to user skipping - Television equipment detects viewers' actions in skipping temporally interleaved television advertising content and, in response, automatically causes selected television advertising content to be spatially combined with a temporal portion of the viewed television programming content, e.g., juxtaposed adjacent to or overlaid on the television advertising content. As a result of the spatial combination, skipping such juxtaposed or overlaid advertising content would also cause skipping of the corresponding temporal portion of the viewed programming content. In some implementations, once viewer ad skipping is detected, advertising content can spatially combined with subsequently viewed television programs of the same type, or interleaved advertising content can be automatically removed from the remainder of the television program or from subsequently viewed television programs of the same type. Viewer skipping of interleaved advertising can be explicitly detected by detecting user-selected commands during recognized interleaved advertising, or implicitly detected by analysis of sequences of selected user commands. | 07-02-2009 |
20090172728 | Targeted online advertisements based on viewing or interacting with television advertisements - In a computer-implemented method, a selected online advertisement is automatically directed to, or online activity is automatically tracked and recorded from, an online user interface device which corresponds, at the time the advertisement is directed or the activity is tracked, to a first online access identifier. The advertisement is directed or the activity is tracked based on information from a user profile that references or includes a first set-top box identifier. That information is derived at least in part from automatically collected data related to user behavior with respect to at least one television advertisement delivered to a set-top box, which set-top box corresponds, at the time of that user behavior, to the first set-top box identifier. The first online access identifier is associated with the first set-top box identifier, by being referenced or included in the user profile, by being associated in a database, or otherwise. | 07-02-2009 |
20090299843 | TARGETED TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF AN ONLINE USER PROFILE AND PRESENTED WITH TELEVISION PROGRAMS OR CHANNELS RELATED TO THAT PROFILE - In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel. A relationship is identified between an online user profile and the television program or channel, and the television advertisement is selected based at least in part on information from the online user profile. The selected television advertisement is presented, in association with the television program or channel that is identified as being related to the online user profile, via a set-top box having a corresponding set-top box identifier that is associated with the online user profile. | 12-03-2009 |
20090300675 | Targeted television advertisements associated with online users' preferred television programs or channels - In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel, which in turn is selected based at least in part on information from an online user profile that contains information indicating a user's preference for that television program or channel. The television advertisement is selected based at least in part on additional information from the online user profile that is unrelated to the selected television program or channel. The selected television advertisement is presented on or during the selected television program or channel via a set-top box, which has a set-top box identifier associated with the online user profile. | 12-03-2009 |
20100159951 | Signal Comparison-Based Location Determining Method - At least one portable RF communications device in conjunction with at least two fixed-location service-area antenna stations respectively capable of RF communication with the at least one device performs the steps of: (I) using a portable device at a selected location to measure RF communications signals from the plurality of local fixed-location service-area antenna stations and electronically storing at least two of the respective reception signal strength measurements; and (II) monitoring a portable device location by causing the device to measure reception signal strength associated with local fixed-location service-area antenna stations signals, and to electronically compare these measurements with the stored at least two measurements. | 06-24-2010 |
20100180013 | Requesting offline profile data for online use in a privacy-sensitive manner - A method, performed using one or more servers under the control of an ISP, comprises: (a) receiving an electronic transmission from a requesting server of an IP address and a time and date; (b) automatically determining to which subscriber of the ISP the received IP address was allocated at the received time and date; and (c) automatically transmitting an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider. The delivered offline data concern the subscriber determined to have been allocated the received IP address at the received time and date. The communication does not convey to the offline data provider the subscriber's history of online activity, and the delivery does not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the subscriber. | 07-15-2010 |
20100274665 | MEDIA PROPERTIES SELECTION METHOD AND SYSTEM BASED ON EXPECTED PROFIT FROM PROFILE-BASED AD DELIVERY - An automatic system facilitates selection of media properties on which to display an advertisement, responsive to a profile collected on a first media property, where a behavioral-targeting company calculates expected profit for an ad correlated with the profile and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property. The profit can be calculated by deducting, from the revenues that are expected to be generated from an ad delivered based on the collected profile, at least the price of ad space at a media property where the BT company might like to deliver ads to the profiled visitor. When the calculated profit is positive (i.e., not a loss), the BT company arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property through which the BT company expects to profit. | 10-28-2010 |
20100325659 | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior - 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. | 12-23-2010 |
20110035256 | Systems and methods for prioritized selection of media properties for providing user profile information used in advertising - Providing collected profiles by selecting one or more media properties and providing to each selected media property at least one profile attribute in a manner sufficient to enable the selected media property to electronically associate the provided profile attribute with the electronic visitor. Selected media properties can be a subset of one or more identified media properties. The media properties are selected or identified automatically, responsive to receiving current profile information about the visitor, among a multitude of media properties, based on a comparison of current and/or previous profile information received with previously received individualized requests for specific profiles, kinds of profiles, or profiles having specific attributes of interest to each of the media properties. A media property can be selected among those identified based on a media property selection history. | 02-10-2011 |
20110040607 | Added-Revenue off-site targeted internet advertising - A super-saturation method for information-media substantially relates to a three-body cooperation to direct information to an electronic media consumer (reader, surfer, viewer, listener, etc.). Embodiments of the present invention facilitate a first media body substantially offering out of context information placement using a second cooperating media body. A facilitator body preferably guarantees that a consumer of the second media is a known consumer of the first media. Accordingly, the second media body presents an out of context information placement. For example, an exclusive members-only Internet site “AAA” is oversubscribed with potential paying advertising content at $100 CPM. This exclusive site then offers unfulfilled advertisers an option to present their advertisements to certified “AAA” viewers, albeit on a non-AAA Internet site, for $50 CPM. The facilitator locates a certified AAA viewer at an Internet site “BBB” that normally charges $30 CPM. A facilitated contract(s) between AAA, BBB, and the facilitator divides a new revenue stream of $20 CPM between them—and each of the three bodies benefit. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040620 | System and method for preparing data used to determine advertisements displayed to communications node visitors - A method for transacting an advertisement transfer is disclosed which facilitates expressing the rate structure for the individual advertisement as a function of a profile of the individual potential customer; and which is directed to the creation of a mechanism from the vantage of an Internet site that is being visited. It should be appreciated that this must include the participation of other entities in the Internet (such as distributors, clients, intermediary agencies, etc.). The method is for transacting an advertisement transfer, from an advertisement distributor to a visitor, the method including, upon the occurrence of a visitor visitation at a communications node, the communication node performing the steps of: constructing a visitor profile; broadcasting the profile to at least one distributor; collecting responses from the at least one distributor; selecting a response from the at least one responding distributor; contracting, between the node and the at least one distributor of the selected response, a transference of an advertisement from the distributor to the visitor; and effecting a transfer of the advertisement to the visitor. | 02-17-2011 |
20110099576 | Systems and methods for dealing with online activity based on delivery of a television advertisement - In a computer-implemented method, a selected online advertisement is automatically directed to, or online activity is automatically tracked and recorded from, an online user interface device which corresponds, at the time the advertisement is directed or the activity is tracked, to a first online access identifier. The advertisement is directed or the activity is tracked based on information from a user profile that references or includes a first set-top box identifier. That information is derived at least in part from automatically collected data related to user behavior with respect to at least one television advertisement delivered to a set-top box, which set-top box corresponds, at the time of that user behavior, to the first set-top box identifier. The first online access identifier is associated with the first set-top box identifier, by being referenced or included in the user profile, by being associated in a database, or otherwise. | 04-28-2011 |
20110131294 | Requesting offline profile data for online use in a privacy-sensitive manner - A method, performed using one or more servers under the control of an ISP, comprises: (a) receiving an electronic transmission from a requesting server of an IP address and a time and date; (b) automatically determining to which subscriber of the ISP the received IP address was allocated at the received time and date; and (c) automatically transmitting an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider. The delivered offline data concern the subscriber determined to have been allocated the received IP address at the received time and date. The communication does not convey to the offline data provider the subscriber's history of online activity, and the delivery does not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the subscriber. | 06-02-2011 |
20110225051 | Method and stored program for accumulating descriptive profile data along with source information for use in targeting third-party advertisements - A descriptive-profile mercantile method, for use at a juncture in a data-communications topology having associated therewith a maintained databank of partial profiles, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: from a user, receiving a transaction having therein a first partial profile; using the first partial profile, searching a databank having a plurality of second partial profiles, wherein is included in said databank at least one null profile so that said searching will always yield at least one proximate second partial profile to the first partial profile; and between the user and the databank, contracting: (I) for the databank to own or represent a right to a first mutually agreed portion of the first partial profile, and substantially thereafter said databank incorporating the agreed portion of the first profile into at least one second partial profile; or (II) for the user to own or represent a right to a second mutually agreed portion of at least one said proximate second partial profile, and substantially thereafter the databank transmitting to the user the second mutually agreed portion of the second profile. The present invention operates best on a brokerage representation model; and thereby provides a means for making viable the economic commerce in information attributes. | 09-15-2011 |
20110246309 | Method, stored program, and system for improving descriptive profiles - A descriptive-profile mercantile method, for use at a juncture in a data-communications topology having associated therewith a maintained databank of partial profiles, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: from a user, receiving a transaction having therein a first partial profile; using the first partial profile, searching a databank having a plurality of second partial profiles, wherein is included in said databank at least one null profile so that said searching will always yield at least one proximate second partial profile to the first partial profile; and between the user and the databank, contracting: (I) for the databank to own or represent a right to a first mutually agreed portion of the first partial profile, and substantially thereafter said databank incorporating the agreed portion of the first profile into at least one second partial profile; or (II) for the user to own or represent a right to a second mutually agreed portion of at least one said proximate second partial profile, and substantially thereafter the databank transmitting to the user the second mutually agreed portion of the second profile. The present invention operates best on a brokerage representation model; and thereby provides a means for making viable the economic commerce in information attributes. | 10-06-2011 |
20110246347 | Method and stored program for sending descriptive profile data, for accumulation along with source information, for use in targeting third-party advertisements - A descriptive-profile mercantile method, for use at a juncture in a data-communications topology having associated therewith a maintained databank of partial profiles, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: from a user, receiving a transaction having therein a first partial profile; using the first partial profile, searching a databank having a plurality of second partial profiles, wherein is included in said databank at least one null profile so that said searching will always yield at least one proximate second partial profile to the first partial profile; and between the user and the databank, contracting: (I) for the databank to own or represent a right to a first mutually agreed portion of the first partial profile, and substantially thereafter said databank incorporating the agreed portion of the first profile into at least one second partial profile; or (II) for the user to own or represent a right to a second mutually agreed portion of at least one said proximate second partial profile, and substantially thereafter the databank transmitting to the user the second mutually agreed portion of the second profile. The present invention operates best on a brokerage representation model; and thereby provides a means for making viable the economic commerce in information attributes. | 10-06-2011 |
20110252441 | Systems and methods for taking action with respect to one network-connected device based on activity on another device connected to the same network - 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. | 10-13-2011 |
20110258051 | Method, computer system, and stored program for causing delivery of electronic advertisements based on provided profiles - To improve monetization of electronic advertisement placement, a profile owner company operates an automatic system for identifying media properties that have interests in specific profiles or profiles of a specified category or kind. The profile owner recognizes a collected visitor profile as one that a media property has previously requested or one that is within a category that a media property has previously requested and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the media property that requested such a profile. The media property can use the tag in displaying customized advertising to the visitor. Using information received from the media property, the profile owner company then records usage of the profile by the media property. | 10-20-2011 |
20120017240 | Targeted television advertisements selected on the basis of an online user profile and presented with television programs or channels related to that profile - In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel. A relationship is identified between an online user profile and the television program or channel, and the television advertisement is selected based at least in part on information from the online user profile. The selected television advertisement is presented, in association with the television program or channel that is identified as being related to the online user profile, via a set-top box having a corresponding set-top box identifier that is associated with the online user profile. | 01-19-2012 |
20120047530 | Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior - 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. | 02-23-2012 |
20120096489 | Systems and methods for selecting television advertisements for a set-top box requesting an advertisement without knowing what program or channel is being watched - A computer system automatically identifies, in response to receipt of first electronic data indicating selected advertisements are desired for a set-top box, certain television programs/channels that permit or desire selected advertisements, and automatically makes available to a device a set of selected television advertisements. The programs/channels are identified using second electronic data. The programs/channels are available for viewing in a time slot during which the first electronic data was received. Each selected advertisement corresponds to an identified television program/channel. The device has access to third electronic data indicating which program/channel is currently being presented via the set-top box, so that a selected television advertisement can be presented via the set-top box while the corresponding program/channel is being presented. The computer system selects and makes available the first set of television advertisements without access to the third electronic data. | 04-19-2012 |
20120096491 | Correlating online behavior with presumed viewing of television advertisements - A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system comprises: in response to a request to deliver an advertisement received from a TVP or STB (or another entity for the STB), causing a television advertisement to be directed to the STB; storing indicia derived from that direction; and taking an action with respect to an online user interface device (such as a computer, game machine, or mobile phone) associated with the STB, which action is either (i) causing delivery to the online user interface device of an online advertisement targeted based on the presumed viewing of the television advertisement, or (ii) identifying a correlation between the presumed viewing of the television advertisement and subsequent online behavior conducted using the online user interface device that is or has been tracked. | 04-19-2012 |
20120158506 | Computerized Systems for Added-Revenue Off-Site Targeted Internet Advertising - A method, and programmed computer system implementing a method, direct targeted advertisements to an electronic media consumer (reader, surfer, viewer, listener, etc.). Embodiments facilitate a first media body substantially offering out of context information placement using a second cooperating media body. A facilitator optionally assists in determining that a consumer of the second media is a known consumer of the first media. For example, a first Internet site may be oversubscribed with potential paying advertising content at $100 CPM. This site offers unfulfilled advertisers an option to present their advertisements to certified first-site viewers, albeit not on the first Internet site, for $50 CPM. Visitor computers at a second Internet site “BBB” that normally charges $30 CPM are examined for tags certifying them as AAA viewers. At least part of the revenue differential of $20 CPM is shared with the first site, creating a new revenue stream. | 06-21-2012 |
20120173329 | MEDIA PROPERTIES SELECTION METHOD AND SYSTEM BASED ON EXPECTED PROFIT FROM PROFILE-BASED AD DELIVERY - An automatic system facilitates selection of media properties on which to display an advertisement, responsive to a profile collected on a first media property, where a behavioral-targeting company calculates expected profit for an ad correlated with the profile and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property. The profit can be calculated by deducting, from the revenues that are expected to be generated from an ad delivered based on the collected profile, at least the price of ad space at a media property where the BT company might like to deliver ads to the profiled visitor. When the calculated profit is positive (i.e., not a loss), the BT company arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property through which the BT company expects to profit. | 07-05-2012 |
20120202521 | Signal Comparison-Based Location Determining Method - At least one portable RF communications device in conjunction with at least two fixed-location service-area antenna stations respectively capable of RF communication with the at least one device performs the steps of: (I) using a portable device at a selected location to measure RF communications signals from the plurality of local fixed-location service-area antenna stations and electronically storing at least two of the respective reception signal strength measurements; and (II) monitoring a portable device location by causing the device to measure reception signal strength associated with local fixed-location service-area antenna stations signals, and to electronically compare these measurements with the stored at least two measurements. | 08-09-2012 |
20120246011 | Media properties selection method and system based on expected profit from profile-based ad delivery - An automatic system facilitates selection of media properties on which to display an advertisement, responsive to a profile collected on a first media property, where a behavioral-targeting company calculates expected profit for an ad correlated with the profile and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property. The profit can be calculated by deducting, from the revenues that are expected to be generated from an ad delivered based on the collected profile, at least the price of ad space at a media property where the BT company might like to deliver ads to the profiled visitor. When the calculated profit is positive (i.e., not a loss), the BT company arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property through which the BT company expects to profit. | 09-27-2012 |
20120254371 | Requesting offline profile data for online use in a privacy-sensitive manner - A method, performed using one or more servers under the control of an ISP, comprises: (a) receiving an electronic transmission from a requesting server of an IP address and a time and date; (b) automatically determining to which subscriber of the ISP the received IP address was allocated at the received time and date; and (c) automatically transmitting an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider. The delivered offline data concern the subscriber determined to have been allocated the received IP address at the received time and date. The communication does not convey to the offline data provider the subscriber's history of online activity, and the delivery does not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the subscriber. | 10-04-2012 |
20120323718 | Method and Stored Program for Accumulating Descriptive Profile Data Along with Source Information for Use in Targeting Third-Party Advertisements - A method of accumulating descriptive profile data uses a databank that can be contacted by profile providers who contribute profile elements about an online visitor. The method includes keeping track of which profile provider contributed which elements, so that use of particular elements in targeting electronic third-party advertisements automatically can result in compensation. | 12-20-2012 |
20130041760 | Methods and Systems for Facilitating Added-Revenue OffSite Internet Advertising - A super-saturation method for information-media substantially relates to a three-body cooperation to direct information to an electronic media consumer (reader, surfer, viewer, listener, etc.). Embodiments of the present invention facilitate a first media entity substantially offering out of context information placement using a second media entity. A facilitator entity guarantees that a consumer of the second media is a known consumer of the first media. Accordingly, the second media entity presents an out of context information placement. For example, an Internet site “AAA” is oversubscribed with potential paying advertising content at $100 CPM. This site offers advertisers an option to present their advertisements to certified “AAA” viewers, albeit on a non-AAA Internet site, for $50 CPM. The facilitator locates certified AAA viewers at Internet site “BBB” that normally charges $30 CPM. Contracts between AAA, BBB, and the facilitator divide a new revenue stream of $20 CPM between them. | 02-14-2013 |
20130152126 | User control of replacement television advertisements inserted by a smart television - A method is performed using a smart TV, which receives from a television signal source device a television signal feed encoding primary television content and then presents that content. The smart TV receives data via the computer network, including first data representing a to-be-replaced portion of the primary television content and second data representing secondary television content. Using the second data, the smart TV automatically presents the secondary television content in place of the to-be-replaced television content. The method includes the smart TV: (a) automatically monitoring, during presentation of the secondary television content, the television signal feed and comparing it with the first data; and (b) automatically altering presentation of the secondary television content in accordance with a user-control action with respect to the television signal source device, in response to detecting any difference between the television signal feed and the first data indicative of that user-control action. | 06-13-2013 |