초록 ▼

A method and system for providing targeted advertisements over a networked media delivery system, especially interactive television networks, the system comprising tracking and storing viewer selections, analyzing the selections, and delivering targeted advertisements that appeal to the particular s

A method and system for providing targeted advertisements over a networked media delivery system, especially interactive television networks, the system comprising tracking and storing viewer selections, analyzing the selections, and delivering targeted advertisements that appeal to the particular subscriber making the selections, the system including a merge processor, a file server, a profile processor, and a broadcast server contained in a head end in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes through a distribution network. Based on a subscriber's viewing habits and account information, the present invention delivers different, customized advertisements to different viewers watching the same program or channel. The present invention delivers the advertisements as either still frame bit maps or as video streams advertisement insertion in a playlist or a broadcast media program.

대표청구항 ▼

A method and system for providing targeted advertisements over a networked media delivery system, especially interactive television networks, the system comprising tracking and storing viewer selections, analyzing the selections, and delivering targeted advertisements that appeal to the particular s

A method and system for providing targeted advertisements over a networked media delivery system, especially interactive television networks, the system comprising tracking and storing viewer selections, analyzing the selections, and delivering targeted advertisements that appeal to the particular subscriber making the selections, the system including a merge processor, a file server, a profile processor, and a broadcast server contained in a head end in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes through a distribution network. Based on a subscriber's viewing habits and account information, the present invention delivers different, customized advertisements to different viewers watching the same program or channel. The present invention delivers the advertisements as either still frame bit maps or as video streams advertisement insertion in a playlist or a broadcast media program. ormation comprising a user interface and a language set. 10. A server computer comprising a computer-readable medium having stored thereon: a most current version of a core component that: determines a client version of a software component on a client computer; determines a most current version of the software component; determines whether the client version of the software component differs from the most current version of the software component; and if the client version of the software component differs from the most current version of the software component, provides an indication to a user of the client computer that the client version of the software component differs from the most current version of the software component; and computer-executable instructions for downloading the core component to the client computer in response to a request from a bootstrap component executing on the client computer. 11. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer executable component comprising a bootstrap component that determines whether a core component is present on a client computer and, if the core component is not present on the client computer, causes the core component to be downloaded onto the client computer from a server coupled to the client computer via a communications network, wherein the core component determines a client version of at least one managed component on the client computer, determines a most current version of the managed component as indicated by the server, and, if the client version of the managed component differs from the most current version of the managed component, determines whether to download the most current version of the managed component onto the client computer. 12. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program for self-updating a versioning engine that updates managed components on a client computer, the computer program comprising: a first component of a versioning engine, wherein the first component determines whether a most current version of a second component of the versioning engine is currently stored on a client computer and, if the most current version of the second component is not currently stored on a client computer, downloads the most current version of the second component from a server to the client computer, wherein the second component determines whether a most current version of the first component is currently stored on the client computer and, if the most current version of the first component is not currently stored on a client computer, downloads the most current version of the first component from the server to the client computer. 13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the second component determines whether a most current version of a third component of the versioning engine is currently stored on the client computer and, if the most current version of the third component is not currently stored on a client computer, downloads the most current version of the third component from the server to the client computer. 14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the third component provides to the second component localizable information comprising a user interface and a language set. 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first component is initiated, without direct user intervention, in response to initiating a network browser on the client computer. 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the second component comprises a core component that determines a client version of at least one managed software component on the client computer and, if the client version of the managed software component differs from a most current version of the managed software component, determines whether to download the most current version of the managed software component onto the client computer. 17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the versioning engine downloads the most current version of the managed software component from the first server to the client computer. 18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the versioning engine authenticates the most current version of the managed software component before downloading the most current version of the managed software component onto the client computer server to the client computer. 19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the versioning engine downloads the most current version of the managed software component onto the client computer from a second server. 20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the versioning engine presents to a user at the client computer a user interface that provides the user with an option to download the most current version of the managed software component onto the client computer; and if the user selects the option to download, downloads the most current version of the managed software component onto the client computer. 21. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the versioning engine determines the most current version of the managed software component from a component information file (CIF) residing on the first server, wherein the CIF includes a list of managed software components, and, for each managed software component in the list, the CIF includes a respective indicator that represents the most current version of the managed software component and a location indicator that represents a location at which an installation or upgrade package for the managed software component can be found. 22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the installation or upgrade package includes a signature, and wherein the versioning engine determines whether the signature is a valid signature; and if the signature is a valid signature, downloads the installation or upgrade package onto the client computer. 23. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first server is connected to the client computer via the Internet. 24. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first server is connected to the client computer via an intranet. 25. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first server is connected to the client computer via a local area network (LAN). 26. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first server is connected to the client computer via a wide area network (WAN).