Electronic program guide with targeted advertising

Abstract

An electronic program guide for use with a television delivery system is disclosed having a plurality of program menus that list information about available television programs. The program information includes, for example, program names and start times. A user navigates the program menus using a user interface, such as an infrared remote control. The user interface controls a cursor that indicates selection of a menu item, such as a program. The selected program is then displayed on the screen. Advertisements are displayed as part of the program guide. The advertisements may include targeted advertisements based on data gathered from the subscriber and stored in a subscriber profile. The data profile may include data gathered directly from the subscriber as well as data gathered based on the subscriber's viewing habits. The electronic programming guide is controlled by a set top terminal co-located with a television set, for example, in a subscriber's home. The guide includes an introductory menu that is displayed on the screen each time the set top terminal is activated. The advertisement may be displayed on the introductory menu.

1 . A method for presenting targeted advertisements to a plurality of subscribers, comprising:
 collecting demographic information of each one of said plurality of subscribers;   presenting a television program on a first channel to each one of said plurality of subscribers;   matching a targeted advertisement to each one of said plurality of subscribers viewing said television program based upon said demographic information of each respective subscriber; and   tuning each subscriber to a targeted advertisement on a different channel than said first channel, wherein two or more of said plurality of subscribers are tuned to a different targeted advertisement channel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said collecting demographic information comprises:
 learning from each one of said plurality of subscribers' choices or interactive selections.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tuning comprises:
 offering a subscriber of said plurality of subscribers a plurality of targeted advertisements; and   receiving a selection from said subscriber of one of said plurality of targeted advertisements.   
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for presenting targeted advertisements to a plurality of subscribers, comprising:
 means for collecting demographic information of each one of said plurality of subscribers;   means for presenting a television program on a first channel to each one of said plurality of subscribers;   means for matching a targeted advertisement to each one of said plurality of subscribers viewing said television program based upon said demographic information of each respective subscriber; and   means for tuning each subscriber to a targeted advertisement on a different channel than said first channel, wherein two or more of said plurality of subscribers are tuned to a different targeted advertisement channel.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said means for collecting demographic information comprises:
 means for learning from each one of said plurality of subscribers' choices or interactive selections.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said means for tuning comprises:
 means for offering a subscriber of said plurality of subscribers a plurality of targeted advertisements; and   means for receiving a selection from said subscriber of one of said plurality of targeted advertisements.