Targeting Online Ads via TV Viewing Data Linkage

The patent introduces household-level aggregation and geodemographic data as intermediary layers between individual TV viewing data and online identifiers. Instead of directly matching individual viewing data with online databases, the system aggregates viewing data at the household level and uses geodemographic characteristics as a mediator to link TV audiences with online users, thereby maintaining targeting precision while protecting individual privacy

The patent segments the targeting process into multiple levels: individual viewing data is aggregated to household-level data, then matched with geodemographic segments, and finally linked to online user segments. This multi-level segmentation allows the system to maintain targeting accuracy while preventing direct exposure of individual privacy information

The patent transforms the targeting parameters from individual-level identifiers to household-level aggregated data and geodemographic characteristics. By changing the level of aggregation and using different parameter types (viewing habits, geodemographic data, online behavior patterns), the system maintains targeting precision while operating at a privacy-protective level

The patent creates a universal linking framework that works across multiple data sources and platforms. The household-level aggregation and geodemographic segmentation serve as a universal intermediary that can link various types of data (TV viewing, online browsing, purchasing behavior) without requiring direct individual identification, making the system both privacy-protective and broadly applicable