Addressable Interactive Applications for Set-Top Boxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current EBIF standards for set-top boxes lack the ability to target specific user groups based on characteristics like age, income level, and service subscriptions, limiting the effectiveness of targeted advertising and content delivery.
Innovation Solution
Implementing addressable interactive applications that utilize user profile data to tailor application behavior and content presentation to specific user groups, allowing for targeted delivery of advertisements and services by loading relevant application elements only on compatible set-top boxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If EBIF applications are broadcast to all set-top boxes using current standards, then content delivery is achieved, but user targeting capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monolithic EBIF application into modular components that can be independently targeted and delivered. Application elements are divided into targetable units with associated user profile criteria, allowing selective delivery to different user groups while maintaining overall application functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension of user profile-based targeting to the traditional broadcast delivery model. By incorporating user profile matching as an additional layer, the system can deliver different application elements to different users receiving the same broadcast, transforming one-dimensional broadcast into multi-dimensional targeted delivery.
2Quantity of substance
If generic applications are delivered to all users, then delivery efficiency is maintained, but advertising revenue potential is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary user profile matching and application element selection before delivery. By pre-configuring target qualifiers and matching them against user profiles in advance, the system prepares targeted content bundles that can be rapidly delivered without real-time processing delays during actual content distribution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user profile data is collected and processed, then targeted content delivery is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer of user profile data structures and matching logic that mediates between raw user data and application delivery decisions. This intermediary layer provides standardized interfaces for targeting without requiring complex processing at the delivery endpoint, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
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.