Targeting of advertisements based on mutual information sharing between devices over a network

Abstract

A system and method to facilitate targeting of advertisements based on mutual information sharing between devices over a network are described. Users access an entity over a network and further initiate various events, which are subsequently captured by selective processing servers within the network-based entity. Each of such events or actions initiated by the user is associated with one or more categories and is further stored within the entity along the respective categories. Subsequently, if the user connects to one or more media devices, and the media devices are coupled to the entity via the network, then the entity selects advertisements to be displayed within the viewing area of the media device, such that each advertisement is related to the stored events or actions and their respective categories. Alternatively, a user connects to one or more media devices and further performs specific actions. The actions are then transmitted to the entity via the network and are stored within the entity along with respective categories associated with each user action. Subsequently, if the user connects to the entity through a client machine and through the network, the entity selects advertisements to be displayed within the display area of the client machine along with content information requested by the user, such that each selected advertisement is related to the previously stored events or actions and their respective categories.

1 . A method comprising:
 storing action data associated with a user in a data storage module, said action data being received from a client machine over a network, said action data further comprising actions related to said user while coupled to said client machine; and   transmitting advertisements related to said actions and predetermined classification categories associated with said actions to said user over said network to be displayed on at least one media device subsequently coupled to said user.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving user identification information from said client machine coupled to said user; and   receiving said action data associated with said user.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said storing further comprises:
 storing said user identification information with said action data and said predetermined classification categories corresponding to said actions within said data storage module.   
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 analyzing each received action within said action data;   determining said predetermined classification categories associated with said each received action; and   storing said predetermined classification categories with said action data within said data storage module.   
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting further comprises:
 receiving user identification information over said network from said at least one media device coupled to said user;   retrieving said predetermined classification categories from said data storage module based on said user identification information and a stored user profile; and   retrieving said advertisements associated with said predetermined classification categories from an advertising storage module.   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one media device further comprises a network-enabled television set. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one media device further comprises a network-enabled television set and a digital video recording device. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one media device is coupled to said network through a network interface device. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said user identification information further includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to said client machine and password information corresponding to said user. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said advertisements are displayed as banner advertisements during broadcast programs displayed on said at least one media device. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said advertisements are displayed as banner advertisements during previously recorded programs displayed on said at least one media device. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus comprising:
 processing servers to store action data associated with a user in a data storage module, said action data being received from a client machine over a network, said action data further comprising actions related to said user while coupled to said client machine; and   advertising servers coupled to said processing servers to transmit advertisements related to said actions and predetermined classification categories associated with said actions to said user over said network to be displayed on at least one media device subsequently coupled to said user.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said processing servers further receive user identification information from said client machine coupled to said user and said action data associated with said user. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said processing servers further store said user identification information with said action data and said predetermined classification categories corresponding to said actions within said data storage module. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said processing servers further analyze each received action within said action data, determine said predetermined classification categories associated with said each received action, and store said predetermined classification categories with said action data within said data storage module. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said processing servers receive user identification information over said network from said at least one media device coupled to said user and further retrieve said predetermined classification categories from said data storage module based on said user identification information and a stored user profile, and wherein said advertising servers further retrieve said advertisements associated with said predetermined classification categories from an advertising storage module. 
   
   
       17 . A computer readable medium containing executable instructions, which, when executed in a processing system, cause said processing system to perform a method comprising:
 storing action data associated with a user in a data storage module, said action data being received from a client machine over a network, said action data further comprising actions related to said user while coupled to said client machine; and   transmitting advertisements related to said actions and predetermined classification categories associated with said actions to said user over said network to be displayed on at least one media device subsequently coupled to said user.   
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein said method further comprises:
 receiving user identification information from said client machine coupled to said user; and   receiving said action data associated with said user.   
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 18 , wherein said storing further comprises:
 storing said user identification information with said action data and said predetermined classification categories corresponding to said actions within said data storage module.   
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 18 , wherein said method further comprises:
 analyzing each received action within said action data;   determining said predetermined classification categories associated with said each received action; and   storing said predetermined classification categories with said action data within said data storage module.   
   
   
       21 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein said transmitting further comprises:
 receiving user identification information over said network from said client machine coupled to said user;   retrieving said predetermined classification categories from said data storage module based on said user identification information and a stored user profile; and   retrieving said advertisements associated with said predetermined classification categories from an advertising storage module.