Methods and apparatus that support addressable interactive applications

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for supporting targeted advertising and/or other targeted applications in set top boxes which use data and/or applications, e.g., EBIF (Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format) applications, are described. Application level targeting is supported in which an application running on different STBs presents different application behavior and/or presents different visual sub-elements depending on the content of a subscriber profile on the particular individual STB. In the case of addressability at the Application Layer an EBIF application can target different viewers by checking private User Preference Items at runtime. Addressability at the signaling/platform level is also supported allowing targeting of a specific application or a sub-element within an application to a specific target group. In this scenario the particular applications/sub-elements are loaded on the set-tops that belong to a target group, e.g., satisfy targeting constraints specified in private targeting metadata that is received in an MPEG stream.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a set top box, the method comprising:
 receiving from a server, at the set top box, a subscriber profile associated with the set top box, including one or more addressable qualifier values, said one or more addressable qualifier values including at least one of an age value, sex value, income value or service subscription value;   receiving at least one target qualifier value corresponding to a first portion of an application;   determining, at the set top box, if a condition relating to the at least one target qualifier value corresponding to the first portion of the application is satisfied by the one or more addressable qualifier values in said subscriber profile; and   executing, at the set top box, said first portion of said application when it is determined that said condition relating to the set of target qualifier values corresponding to the first portion of said application is satisfied by said one or more addressable qualifier values in said subscriber profile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion is one of a plurality of different user interface portions available for execution by the set top box depending on a result of said determining if said condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion of said application is a first user interface portion that is executed by the set top box in response to determining that said condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving said application including said first portion of the application at said set top box in an MPEG transport stream.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 ,
 wherein said set top box is a customer premise device; and   wherein said subscriber profile includes an income value.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving a set of target qualifier values corresponding to said first portion of said application including said condition relating to said set of target qualifier values in a private EBIF User Preference Item.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein at least one received private EBIF user preference item includes a first Organization Identifier.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said subscriber profile is associated with said first Organization Identifier, said addressable qualifier values included in said subscriber profile being used for comparison to target qualifier values included in Private User Preference Items that include said first Organization Identifier but not for comparison to target qualifier values in Private User Preference Items that do not include said first Organization Identifier. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a set of target qualifier values corresponding to said first portion of said application and said conditions relating to said set of target qualifier values in private meta-data communicated over a program channel used to communicate a video program, said at least one target qualifier value being included in said set of target qualifier values.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving at the set top box, the subscriber profile including one or more addressable qualifier values includes:
 receiving one or more addressable qualifier values on a periodic basis from a server in a service provider's headend.   
     
     
         11 . A set top box, including:
 an interface including a receiver configured to receive from a server, a subscriber profile associated with the set top box, including one or more addressable qualifier values, said one or more addressable qualifier values including at least one of an age value, sex value, income value or service subscription value and receive at least one target qualifier value corresponding to a first portion of an application;   a determination module configured to determine if a condition relating to the at least one target qualifier value corresponding to the first portion of the application is satisfied by the one or more addressable qualifier values in said subscriber profile; and   an application control module configured to execute said first portion of said application when it is determined that said condition relating to the set of target qualifier values corresponding to the first portion of said application is satisfied by said one or more addressable qualifier values in said subscriber profile.   
     
     
         12 . The set top box of  claim 11 , wherein said first portion of said application is one of a plurality of different user interface portions available for execution by the set top box depending on a result of said determining if said condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         13 . The set top box of  claim 11 , wherein said first portion of said application is a first user interface portion that is executed in response to said determination module determining that said condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         14 . The set top box of  claim 11 , wherein said receiver is further configured to receive said application including said first portion of the application at said set top box in an MPEG transport stream. 
     
     
         15 . The set top box of  claim 14 ,
 wherein said set top box is a customer premise device; and   wherein said subscriber profile includes an income value.   
     
     
         16 . The set top box of  claim 13 , wherein said receiver is further configured to receive a set of target qualifier values corresponding to said first portion of said application including said condition relating to said set of target qualifier values in a private EBIF User Preference Item. 
     
     
         17 . The set top box of  claim 16 , wherein at least one received private EBIF user preference item includes a first Organization Identifier. 
     
     
         18 . The set top box of  claim 17 , wherein said subscriber profile is associated with said first Organization Identifier, said addressable qualifier values included in said subscriber profile being used for comparison to target qualifier values included in Private User Preference Items that include said first Organization Identifier but not for comparison to target qualifier values in Private User Preference Items that do not include said first Organization Identifier. 
     
     
         19 . The set top box of  claim 11 , wherein said receiver is further configured to receive a set of target qualifier values corresponding to said first portion of said application and said conditions relating to said set of target qualifier values in private meta-data communicated over a program channel used to communicate a video program, said at least one target qualifier value being included in said set of target qualifier values. 
     
     
         20 . The set top box of  claim 11 , wherein said receiver is configured to receive one or more addressable qualifier values on a periodic basis from a server in a service provider's headend, as part of receiving the subscriber profile including one or more addressable qualifier values.