Advertising management method and system

Abstract

System and method for managing distribution of content such as television programs to portable multi-media devices which are capable of using such content and communicating includes a broadcast management system arranged to manage delivery of content from content sources to the devices, an account management system arranged to manage requests for use of the content from the devices and manage communications to and from the devices, and a processor coupled to the account management system and arranged to analyze requests to use content relative to information about users of the devices in order to determine whether use of the content by the users can be sponsored. If so, an advertisement is delivered to that user's device and the device presents the advertisement to the user as a condition for use of the content.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, from a device, a request for content;   selecting, based on user profile information, an interactive advertisement for delivery to the device;   delivering the content and the interactive advertisement to the device; and   sending at least one key to the device, wherein the at least one key enables the device to render the content based on user interaction with the interactive advertisement.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the device, feedback in response to the interactive advertisement;   receiving a second request from the device for additional content; and   determining that access to the additional content can be provided based on the feedback in response to the interactive advertisement.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the user interaction includes detecting a selection of a link in the interactive advertisement. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the user interaction includes playback of the interactive advertisement on the device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving feedback from the device when the content is being rendered; and   in response, sending one or more periodic advertisements to the device.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one key is sent to the device before the delivery of the content. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 packaging the interactive advertisement and the at least one key in a packet, wherein the packet is delivered to the device.   
     
     
         28 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a display; and   a memory having instructions stored therein, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 send, to a content server, a request for content; 
 receive, from the content server, the content and an interactive advertisement; and 
 obtain at least one key, wherein the at least one key enables the processor to render the content based on interaction with the interactive advertisement. 
   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the interaction includes playback of the interactive advertisement. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the interaction includes detecting a selection of a link in the interactive advertisement. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , comprising further instructions that cause the processor to:
 send feedback to the content server corresponding to the selection of the link;   send a second request to the content server for additional content; and   receive access to the additional content based on the feedback.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , comprising further instructions that cause the processor to:
 detect the interaction with the interactive advertisement; and   in response to detecting the interaction, render the content on the display.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , comprising further instructions that cause the processor to:
 receive one or more advertisements from the content server; and   render the one or more advertisements when the content is being rendered.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more advertisements are rendered periodically. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 receive, by the processor, from a device, a request for content;   select, based on user profile information, an interactive advertisement for delivery to the device;   deliver the content and the interactive advertisement to the device; and   send at least one key to the device, wherein the at least one key enables the device to render the content based on user interaction with the interactive advertisement.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 receive, from the device, feedback in response to the interactive advertisement;   receive a second request from the device for additional content; and   determine that access to the additional content can be provided based on the feedback in response to the interactive advertisement.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the user interaction includes detecting a selection of a link in the interactive advertisement at the device. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the user interaction includes playback of the interactive advertisement on the device. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 receive feedback from the device when the content is being rendered; and   in response, send one or more periodic advertisements to the device.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one key is sent to the device before the delivery of the content.