Set-Top Box Channel Switch Advertisement Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
One-way set-top boxes (STBs) lack the ability to transmit upstream communications, limiting the gathering of subscriber data for targeted advertisements, resulting in irrelevant static advertisements being displayed, unrelated to the content being viewed.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method in one-way STBs to identify channel properties during a channel switch, allowing for the selection and display of relevant advertisement content associated with the new channel, such as genre or unique identifiers, before outputting multimedia content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If one-way STBs are used to provide video services, then device simplicity and cost are reduced, but the ability to gather subscriber data for targeted advertisements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-fetching and storing advertisement content on the one-way STB before it is needed. When a channel is selected, the system has already retrieved relevant advertisement content from the server and stored it locally, enabling immediate display without requiring upstream communication capabilities. This resolves the contradiction by preparing data in advance, eliminating the need for complex two-way communication infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If static advertisements are displayed from one-way STBs, then device complexity is reduced, but advertisement relevance to viewer preferences and content is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by making advertisement content specific to local viewing conditions and preferences. The system retrieves and stores advertisement content that is tailored to the subscriber's demographic information, viewing history, and the currently viewed channel content. This allows the one-way STB to display highly relevant advertisements without requiring complex real-time communication capabilities, as the relevance is determined by pre-fetched localized data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary retrieval and storage of advertisement content based on subscriber profiles and channel information before the advertisement is needed. This advance preparation enables the one-way STB to display relevant, dynamic advertisements without requiring upstream communication capabilities at the moment of display, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and advertisement adaptability.
3Device complexity
If one-way STBs cannot transmit upstream communications, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but service expansion and improvement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by performing all necessary data retrieval and processing actions in advance, before the advertisement display is needed. The system fetches subscriber data, channel information, and relevant advertisement content from the server and stores it locally on the one-way STB. This preliminary action eliminates the need for upstream communication capabilities during operation, maintaining device simplicity while enabling expanded services through pre-fetched data.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate selective advertisement display based on a channel switch. When a channel switch from a first channel to a second channel is initiated at a set-top box (STB), the STB may identify one or more properties associated with the second channel. Advertisement content may be stored at the STB, and each piece of advertisement content may be associated with one or more channel identifiers, genres/categories, or other channel properties. The STB may identify advertisement content that is associated with a channel identifier, genre/category, or other property of the second channel, and the identified advertisement content may be output to a display device during an acquisition of the second channel or for another predetermined duration.