Advertisement subgroups for digital streams

Abstract

A targeted advertising system based on subgroups. Different subgroups are formed based on one or more subscriber characteristics, and different targeted advertisements transmitted to the different subgroups. In the Internet-environment, the subgroups are formed by utilizing multicast addresses. In cable-based and satellite-based systems, the subgroups are formed by node configurations. The targeted advertisements are inserted in the program streams at a centralized distribution point such as a router or a cable television head-end. An apparatus is presented which receives m program streams, n advertisements, and creates p presentation streams containing targeted advertisements, where p is greater than m.

1 . A method of presenting targeted advertisements to subscribers in a packetized video environment, the method comprising: 
 (a) retrieving, from a plurality of subscriber locations, data characterizing subscribers associated with the subscriber locations;    (b) forming, based on at least one subscriber characteristic obtained from data, a set of addressable subgroups, each addressable subgroup being characterized by one or more of the subscriber characteristics and including one or more of the subscribers;    (c) receiving, at a centralized location, a program stream containing at least one advertising opportunity;    (d) retrieving, at the centralized location, a plurality of targeted advertisements;    (e) creating, at the centralized location, a set of targeted advertisement streams from the plurality of targeted advertisements, the set of targeted advertisement streams corresponding to set of addressable subgroups;    (f) transmitting the set of targeted advertisement streams from the centralized location to the addressable subgroups;    (g) storing, at the subscriber locations, at least one targeted advertisement from the targeted advertisement stream transmitted to the associated subgroup;    (h) transmitting the program stream from the centralized location to the addressable subgroups;    (i) receiving the program stream at the subscriber locations; and    (j) creating a set of presentation streams containing different targeted advertisements by inserting, at the subscriber locations, at least one stored targeted advertisement into the at least one advertising opportunity of the received program stream.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subgroups are formed based on geographic location.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data includes at least one demographic parameter.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subscribers of the addressable subgroups are served by different delivery networks.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subscriber locations are geographically dispersed.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the set of presentation streams are continuous presentable streams containing content and at least one targeted advertisement.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each presentation stream in the set of presentation streams includes a different targeted advertisement.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one advertising opportunity includes at least one default advertisement.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one targeted advertisement stored at the subscriber location corresponds to the one or more subscriber characteristics of the associated subgroup.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the targeted advertisements are not synchronized with the at least one advertising opportunity.