EP0424648A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method, system and apparatus for providing demographically targeted television commercials
Assignee: Arris Technology Inc
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Filing: 1990-09-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-09-05
Abstract
Abstract Different commercial messages are broadcast to different demographically targeted audiences in a cable television system or the like. A first television channel contains television programs and periodic commercial messages. A second television channel contains alternate commercial messages. Demographic characteristics of a viewer are identified, and commercial messages are selectively provided from the first or second channel, depending upon the viewer's demographic characteristics. Demographic data can be input by a viewer via a remote control, downloaded to a subscriber's converter from a remote headend, or programmed into the converter at installation. Prioritization of the demographic characteristics of a plurality of television viewers watching a program together enables commercials to be targeted to the viewer having highest priority. Statistical data can be maintained concerning the number and identity of subscribers viewing specific commercials.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Wachob
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/10; H04H20/106; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25883; H04N21/25891; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/438; H04N21/4383; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/454; H04N21/458; H04N21/47; H04N21/475; H04N21/4755; H04N21/60; H04N21/65; H04N21/654; H04N21/6543; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04H20/12; H04H20/14; H04H2201/00; H04H2201/70; H04H60/00; H04H60/35; H04H60/45; H04H60/61; H04H60/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A cable television system or the like for broadcasting different commercial messages to different demographically targeted audiences, comprising: a headend for transmitting television signals; means for identifying demographic characteristics of a television viewer; and selection means responsive to said identifying means for providing a particular commercial message transmitted from the headend based on said demographic characteristics.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A cable television system or the like for broadcasting different commercial messages to different demographically targeted audiences, comprising: a headend for transmitting television signals; means for identifying demographic characteristics of a television viewer; and selection means responsive to said identifying means for providing a particular commercial message transmitted from the headend based on said demographic characteristics.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim l wherein said identifying means resides in a cable television converter and comprises means for receiving and storing data indicative of said demographic characteristics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 or 2 further comprising: remote control means for enabling a viewer to transmit demographic data to said identifying means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said data are received from the headend.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
53 words
A system in accordance with one of the preceeding claims wherein said headend transmits a first television channel comprising television programs with periodic commercial messages, and a second television channel comprising alternate commercial messages, wherein said selection means provides a commercial message from said first or second channel depending on said demographic characteristics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: means for determining when a commercial message break is about to occur on said first television channel; wherein said selection means is responsive to said determining means for providing an appropriate commercial message during said break.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said headend transmits a plurality of alternate commercial message channels for use by said selection means in providing commercial messages to demographically targeted audiences.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 or 7 wherein said headend transmits a plurality of television program channels has a corresponding plurality of alternate commercial message channels associated therewith.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
54 words
A system in accordance with one of claims 5 to 8 wherein said selection means includes a timer to provide for a return to said first television channel a predetermined time period after a commercial message break has commenced, in the event a commercial message from the second channel was provided during the break.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
57 words
A system in accordance with one of claims 6 to 9 further comprising: means for determining when a commercial message break is about to end and for returning to said first television channel at the end of said break in the event said selection means has provided a commercial message from the second channel during the break.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
47 words
A system in accordance with one of the preceeding claims further comprising: means for prioritizing the demographic characteristics of a plurality of television viewers watching a television together; wherein said selection means is responsive to said prioritizing means for providing a commercial message based on said prioritization.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
33 words
A system in accordance with one of the preceeding claims further comprising: means for storing data indicative of commercial messages provided by said selection means for subsequent retrieval and analysis by said headend.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
Subscriber apparatus for use in receiving cable television services or the like, comprising: means for receiving television signals including a first television channel comprising television programs with periodic commercial message breaks and a plurality of additional television channels comprising commercial messages; tuning means coupled to said receiving means for providing a selected channel for viewing; means for identifying demographic characteristics of a television viewer; means for determining when a commercial message break is about to occur on said first television channel; and selection means, responsive to said determining means and said identifying means, for actuating the tuning means to provide a particular commercial message break, based on said demographic characteristics.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
Subscriber apparatus for use in receiving cable television services or the like, comprising: means for receiving television signals including a first television channel comprising television programs with periodic commercial message breaks and a plurality of additional television channels comprising commercial messages; tuning means coupled to said receiving means for providing a selected channel for viewing; means for identifying demographic characteristics of a television viewer; means for determining when a commercial message break is about to occur on said first television channel; and selection means, responsive to said determining means and said identifying means, for actuating the tuning means to provide a particular commercial message break, based on said demographic characteristics.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 further comprising: means for enabling a viewer to input demographic data to said identifying means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 further comprising: means for actuating said tuning means to return to said first television channel at the conclusion of a commercial message break.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said actuating means comprises: a timer for actuating the return to said first television channel a predetermined time period after a commercial message break has commenced.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus in accordance with one of claim 13 and 16 further comprising: means for prioritizing the demographic characteristics of a plurality of television viewers watching a television together; wherein said selection means is responsive to said prioritizing means to provide a particular commercial message channel based on said prioritization.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a remote control for use with a cable television converter, said remote control comprising selector switches for enabling a user to control various functions including channel selection, the improvement comprising: means for enabling a user to input demographic data to said converter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a remote control for use with a cable television converter, said remote control comprising selector switches for enabling a user to control various functions including channel selection, the improvement comprising: means for enabling a user to input demographic data to said converter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remote control according to claim 18 wherein said enabling means comprises a plurality of switches for entering information indicative of the sex and age of the user.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for broadcasting different commercial messages to demographically different television audiences, comprising the steps of: transmitting television signals including a first channel containing television programs and periodic commercial messages and a second channel containing alternate commercial messages; identifying demographic characteristics of a viewer; and selectively providing commercial messages from said first or second channel depending upon the demographic characteristics identified.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for broadcasting different commercial messages to demographically different television audiences, comprising the steps of: transmitting television signals including a first channel containing television programs and periodic commercial messages and a second channel containing alternate commercial messages; identifying demographic characteristics of a viewer; and selectively providing commercial messages from said first or second channel depending upon the demographic characteristics identified.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 comprising the further steps of: tuning to said first channel to enable the viewing of said television programs; tuning to said second channel during a commercial break on said first channel in the event commercial messages from said second channel are to be provided; and tuning to said first channel at the completion of said commercial break.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 or 21 wherein a plurality of channels. containing alternate commercial messages are transmitted, and commercial messages are provided selectively from said first, second or an alternate channel depending on the demographic characteristics identified.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with one of claims 20 to 22 wherein said identifying step comprises the step of receiving demographic data from the viewer.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with one of claims 20 to 23 comprising the further step of: prioritizing the demographic characteristics of a plurality of television viewers watching a television together; wherein the provision of commercial messages is based on said prioritization.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
91 words
A cable television system or the like for providing commercial free television programming comprising: a headend for transmitting television signals, including a first television channel comprising television programs with periodic commercial messages and a second television channel comprising another program; means for receiving said first channel from said headend; means for determining when a commercial message break is about to occur on said first television channel; and means responsive to said determining means for receiving said second channel instead of said first channel during the duration of the commercial message break.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
91 words
A cable television system or the like for providing commercial free television programming comprising: a headend for transmitting television signals, including a first television channel comprising television programs with periodic commercial messages and a second television channel comprising another program; means for receiving said first channel from said headend; means for determining when a commercial message break is about to occur on said first television channel; and means responsive to said determining means for receiving said second channel instead of said first channel during the duration of the commercial message break.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
89 words
Headend apparatus for broadcasting different commercial messages to different demographically targeted cable television audiences, comprising: means for transmitting a television signal containing television programs and periodic commercial message breaks on a first television channel on a cable distribution network; a library of recorded television commercials for playback under the control of a system controller; and means for concurrently transmitting, on separate television channels on said cable distribution network, a plurality of different television commercials played back under the control of said system controller during a periodic commercial message break.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
89 words
Headend apparatus for broadcasting different commercial messages to different demographically targeted cable television audiences, comprising: means for transmitting a television signal containing television programs and periodic commercial message breaks on a first television channel on a cable distribution network; a library of recorded television commercials for playback under the control of a system controller; and means for concurrently transmitting, on separate television channels on said cable distribution network, a plurality of different television commercials played back under the control of said system controller during a periodic commercial message break.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
61 words
Headend apparatus in accordance with claim 26 further comprising: means for storing data indicative of demographic characteristics of a cable television subscriber; and means, responsive to data stored in said storing means, for directing subscriber apparatus serving said subscriber to tune to a designated channel during a periodic commercial message break for receipt of a television commercial targeted to the subscriber.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
Headend apparatus in accordance with claim 26 or 27 further comprising: means for recording data indicative of commercials transmitted on said cable distribution network from said library; and means for billing advertisers based on said data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a cable television system, apparatus for providing market research data concerning viewers and their utilization of cable services comprising: data input means enabling a viewer to identify demographic characteristics and select television programs for viewing; a converter for receiving cable television signals from a headend, and responsive to said data input means for providing said signals to a subscriber's television for viewing upon entry of demographic and program selection data; means for storing demographic and program selection data entered into said data input means; and means for retrieving the stored data and transmitting it to said headend.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a cable television system, apparatus for providing market research data concerning viewers and their utilization of cable services comprising: data input means enabling a viewer to identify demographic characteristics and select television programs for viewing; a converter for receiving cable television signals from a headend, and responsive to said data input means for providing said signals to a subscriber's television for viewing upon entry of demographic and program selection data; means for storing demographic and program selection data entered into said data input means; and means for retrieving the stored data and transmitting it to said headend.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 29 further comprising: means for appending the stored data with information indicative of the date and time the data were entered into said data input means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 29 or 30 wherein said data input means comprises a remote control for operating said converter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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