Method and system for selecting advertisements

Abstract

A method for displaying interactive advertisements on a television having a controller connected thereto and configured for receiving input from a viewer of the television is disclosed. The controller has a receiver operable to receive advertisements and a processor operable to modify the advertisements. The method generally comprises requesting action by the viewer of the television, modifying an advertisement based on the action of the viewer, and displaying the modified advertisement on the television.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for displaying interactive advertisements on a television having a controller connected thereto and configured for receiving input from a viewer of the television, the controller having a receiver operable to receive advertisements and a processor operable to modify the advertisements, the method comprising: 
 requesting action by the viewer of the television;    modifying an advertisement based on the action of the viewer; and    displaying the modified advertisement on the television.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein requesting action by the viewer comprises displaying a question on the television and requesting an answer from the viewer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controller further includes a camera and requesting action comprises having the camera take a picture of a person in a room containing the television.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising inserting an image received by the camera into the advertisement.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein requesting action comprises requesting the viewer to input a name into the controller.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein modifying an advertisement comprises inserting the name into the advertisement.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein displaying the advertisement comprises displaying an interactive game and requesting action comprises requesting interaction with the game.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein requesting action comprises requesting the viewer to input a personal profile into the controller.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein modifying an advertisement comprises modifying the advertisement based on said viewer profile.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the television is connected to a cable television network system.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controller is a digital set top box configured to receive digital signals.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the set top box is configured to receive and send interactive digital signals.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the set top box is configured to receive analog signals.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the advertisement is a video catalog and wherein the action of the viewer comprises rotating a product displayed in the video catalog.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the action of the viewer is changing channels and further comprising sending information on the action of the viewer from the controller to a central office.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controller comprises a light sensor and further comprising sensing the light intensity in a room containing the television.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controller comprises a temperature sensor and further comprising sensing the temperature in a room containing the television.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controller comprises a motion sensor and further comprising sensing activity of the viewer.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein modifying the advertisement comprises selecting an advertisement based on bids submitted by advertisers.  
     
     
         20 . A system for displaying interactive advertisements on a television comprising a controller configured for connection to the television and operable to receive input from a viewer of the television, the controller having a receiver operable to receive advertisements and a processor operable to request action by the viewer of the television, modify the advertisement based on the action of the viewer, and display the modified advertisement on the television.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the controller is a set top box configured for receiving digital and analog signals.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the controller includes memory for storing viewer information.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said viewer information comprises identification of the viewer.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  further comprising a camera for use in identifying the viewer.  
     
     
         25 . A system for displaying advertisements on a television comprising a controller coupled to the television, the controller comprising: 
 a memory device operable to store information about at least one viewer of the television;    a receiver configured for receiving an advertisement scheduled for display on the television at a specified time; and    a processor operable to modify the received advertisement based on action by the viewer.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the viewer information comprises a personal profile of the viewer.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein said viewer information comprises identification of the viewer.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the advertisement is a video catalog and action by the viewer is selecting a view of a displayed product.  29 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the advertisement is a game and action by the viewer is interaction with the game.