Unified Ad Server for TV Programming and IPG Correlation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current television advertising systems fail to effectively link and correlate advertisements presented in Interactive Program Guides (IPGs) with conventional programming ads, limiting the potential for enhanced ad effectiveness and viewer engagement.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that deliver targeted advertisements in both conventional programming and IPGs, linking and scheduling these ads to provide enhanced exposure and interaction opportunities for viewers, allowing for mechanisms to access more information about advertised products or services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If advertisers deliver targeted programming ads during TV programs using traditional linked sponsorship methods, then they can reach specific demographic groups, but they cannot effectively link these ads with IPG advertisements to enhance viewer engagement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvead targeting capabilityVSAvoidad delivery system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges programming ad delivery with IPG ad delivery into a unified advertising system. The ad server correlates ads across both programming and IPG environments, allowing advertisers to deliver coordinated ad campaigns that span multiple viewing contexts. This integration enables enhanced viewer engagement through consistent messaging across different ad delivery channels while maintaining a single manageable system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If advertisers increase ad exposure by delivering ads in both programming and IPG, then ad effectiveness should improve, but viewer saturation and annoyance may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvead exposure effectivenessVSAvoidviewer saturation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the ad server monitors viewer interactions with both programming ads and IPG ads. By tracking which ads have been viewed and how viewers engage with them, the system adjusts subsequent ad deliveries to avoid excessive repetition. This feedback loop enables the system to optimize ad exposure effectiveness while preventing viewer saturation and annoyance through intelligent ad rotation and frequency control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The advertising system dynamically adjusts ad delivery based on real-time viewer behavior and engagement metrics. The system can modify ad frequency, timing, and selection across programming and IPG channels to maintain optimal exposure levels. This dynamic approach allows the system to maximize ad effectiveness while adapting to individual viewer preferences and preventing saturation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the system delivers targeted ads in both programming and IPG with temporal linking, then ad campaign effectiveness is enhanced, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvead campaign effectivenessVSAvoidad coordination system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal ad server that handles both programming ad delivery and IPG ad delivery through a single coordinated system. This multi-functional platform manages ad targeting, temporal linking, and correlation across different ad delivery channels using unified logic and data structures. By consolidating these functions into a single system, the patent reduces the complexity that would otherwise arise from managing separate ad delivery systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The ad server acts as an intermediary that coordinates between programming ad delivery and IPG ad delivery. It manages the temporal linking and correlation logic, determining when and how ads should be delivered across both channels. This intermediary role simplifies the coordination requirements by centralizing the decision-making logic in a single component rather than requiring complex point-to-point coordination between multiple systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional programming ads and IPG ads are delivered independently, then system implementation is simpler, but ad effectiveness and viewer engagement are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem implementation simplicityVSAvoidad effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines independent programming ad delivery and IPG ad delivery into an integrated system managed by a single ad server. This merger enables temporal linking and correlation between ads delivered in different contexts, significantly enhancing ad effectiveness and viewer engagement. The unified architecture maintains implementation simplicity by using consistent data structures and coordination logic while achieving superior advertising outcomes compared to independent delivery systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7653923B2Scheduling and presenting IPG ads in conjunction with programming ads in a television environment
Publication Date: 2010.01.26 PRIME RES ALLIANCE E LLC
  • US7653923B2 patent drawing
  • US7653923B2 patent drawing
  • US7653923B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and system whereby conventional television advertisements (i.e., those delivered to viewers while they watch television programming) can be delivered in conjunction with and correlated with advertisements that are presented to viewers in the Interactive Program Guide (IPG). Moreover, the invention described herein provides for delivering highly targeted ads to viewers in both conventional programming avails and in the IPG, and for linking the targeted ads in these two media to provide for enhanced and highly effective advertising campaigns.