Method and System for Planning and Running Video-on-Demand Advertising

Abstract

A method and system for planning and running video-on-demand (VOD) advertising includes a planner for planning advertising campaigns and an ad selector for running selected advertisements from selected ones of the campaigns. The campaigns are associated with household demographic classifications, video content category categories, household geographic locations, and/or video viewing times. In response to a viewer requesting a video, the selector selects the campaigns corresponding to the demographic classification associated with the viewer, the content category of the requested video, the geographic location associated with the viewer, and/or the viewing time at which the requested video is viewed. The demographic classification is determined by using an identifier of the viewer's set-top-box. The selector may select the campaigns corresponding to the content categories of the requested video. The content categories are determined by using an identifier associated with the requested video.

1 . A method comprising:
 selecting, from a plurality of sponsors, based on a first predetermined audience segment corresponding to at least one first sponsor, and based on first demographic information corresponding to a first geographic region, the at least one first sponsor to sponsor a program;   selecting, from the plurality of sponsors, based on a second predetermined audience segment corresponding to at least one second sponsor, and based on second demographic information corresponding to a second geographic region, the at least one second sponsor to sponsor the program;   causing a first computing device in the first geographic region to output the program and at least one first content item associated with the at least one first sponsor; and   causing a second computing device in the second geographic region to output the program and at least one second content item associated with the at least one second sponsor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, based on a unique identifier of the first computing device, the first geographic region.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining household information for a household associated with the first computing device, wherein selecting the at least one first sponsor is further based on the household information.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining preference information for a user associated with the first computing device, wherein selecting the at least one first sponsor is further based on the preference information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the first geographic region based on a ZIP+4 code associated with a user of the first computing device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, based on census block data corresponding to the first geographic region, the first demographic information.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a priority of the at least one second sponsor, wherein selecting the at least one second sponsor is further based on the priority.   
     
     
         8 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause:
 selecting, from a plurality of sponsors, based on a first predetermined audience segment corresponding to at least one first sponsor, and based on first demographic information corresponding to a first geographic region, the at least one first sponsor to sponsor a program;   selecting, from the plurality of sponsors, based on a second predetermined audience segment corresponding to at least one second sponsor, and based on second demographic information corresponding to a second geographic region, the at least one second sponsor to sponsor the program;   causing a first computing device in the first geographic region to output the program and at least one first content item associated with the at least one first sponsor; and   causing a second computing device in the second geographic region to output the program and at least one second content item associated with the at least one second sponsor.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
 determining, based on a unique identifier of the first computing device, the first geographic region.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
 determining household information for a household associated with the first computing device, wherein selecting the at least one first sponsor is further based on the household information.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
 determining preference information for a user associated with the first computing device, wherein selecting the at least one first sponsor is further based on the preference information.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
 determining the first geographic region based on a ZIP+4 code associated with a user of the first computing device.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
 determining, based on census block data corresponding to the first geographic region, the first demographic information.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
 determining a priority of the at least one second sponsor, wherein selecting the at least one second sponsor is further based on the priority.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 select, from a plurality of sponsors, based on a first predetermined audience segment corresponding to at least one first sponsor, and based on first demographic information corresponding to a first geographic region, the at least one first sponsor to sponsor a program; 
 select, from the plurality of sponsors, based on a second predetermined audience segment corresponding to at least one second sponsor, and based on second demographic information corresponding to a second geographic region, the at least one second sponsor to sponsor the program; 
 cause a first computing device in the first geographic region to output the program and at least one first content item associated with the at least one first sponsor; and 
 cause a second computing device in the second geographic region to output the program and at least one second content item associated with the at least one second sponsor. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 determine, based on a unique identifier of the first computing device, the first geographic region.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 determine household information for a household associated with the first computing device, wherein selecting the at least one first sponsor is further based on the household information.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 determine preference information for a user associated with the first computing device, wherein selecting the at least one first sponsor is further based on the preference information.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 determine the first geographic region based on a ZIP+4 code associated with a user of the first computing device.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 determine, based on census block data corresponding to the first geographic region, the first demographic information.