Method and system for addressable and program independent advertising during recorded programs

Abstract

A system and method for delivering addressable or targeted advertising to subscribers during programming that the subscribers have recorded identifies the timing and characterization of programs to be recorded and the probable subscriber of those programs. Using the subscriber profiles of those subscribers, either already developed or generated on-the-fly based on program selection, and ad characterizations/profiles, the system generates a schedule of advertisements to be inserted into the avails (advertising opportunities) of the programming as it is recorded. The schedule generated can depend on correlations or matching between the ad profiles and the subscribers' profile, scheduling requirements (i.e., contracts and sales with advertisers) and timing. This system allows for targeted advertising to be delivered to subscribers during recorded programming and thus provides for additional opportunities for advertisers to reach subscribers in a highly addressable fashion.

1 . A method of delivering targeted advertisements to a plurality of video recording devices associated with a plurality of subscribers, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving recording schedules from one or more of the subscribers, wherein the recording schedules identify programs to be recorded by the one or more subscribers on the associated video recording devices;    (b) retrieving demographic data for the one or more subscribers;    (c) assigning the one or more subscribers to at least one market segment based on the demographic data and the received recording schedules;    (d) associating one or more targeted advertisements to the each of the at least one market segments;    (e) delivering the targeted advertisements to the video recording devices associated with the market segments.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (a) includes characterizing the programs to be recorded.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the assigning of step (c) is based on the characterization of step (a).  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the characterization in step (a) is performed using data from an electronic program guide.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (a) includes generating the recording schedules based on programming the video recording devices to record programming.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said programming the video recording devices is performed via an electronic program guide.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the assigning in step (c) is based on the content of the programs identified in the received recording schedules.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the assigning in step (c) is based on analyzing data regarding subscriber interactions with an electronic program guide.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the targeted advertisements are delivered prior to recording the identified programs.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associating of step (d) is based on a comparison of a profile of the targeted advertisements with each of the at least one market segments.