Integrated and synchronized cross platform delivery system

Abstract

A system and method for delivering targeted advertisements to consumers by inserting the targeted advertisements into a content stream. The content stream may be monitored for advertisement placement opportunities, such that the targeted advertisements may be seamlessly inserted into the content stream to replace an advertisement in the content stream. The content stream's owner and/or provider may be identified such that revenues from the targeted advertisement may be shared with the owner's and/or providers. The system and method are further able to use a biometric recognition technique to verify that the targeted advertisement is actually delivered to the targeted consumer. Another aspect allows the targeted advertisements to be delivered across multiple platforms in accordance with an advertising campaign.

1 . A method for placing targeted advertisements, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining an identity of a user of an electronic device;   selecting a targeted advertisement linked to the identity of the user;   recognizing a targeted advertisement placement opportunity in relation to a content stream; and   causing the targeted advertisement's rendering on the electronic device in accordance with the targeted advertisement placement opportunity.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of causing the targeted advertisement's rendering on the electronic device comprises the step of displacing an advertisement in the content stream. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of causing the targeted advertisement's rendering on the electronic device comprises the step of filling a slot for advertisement in the content stream. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of recognizing a targeted advertisement placement opportunity comprises the step of monitoring the content stream. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of recognizing a targeted advertisement placement opportunity comprises the step of accessing a programming schedule for the content stream. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of recognizing a targeted advertisement placement opportunity comprises the step of using codes embedded in the content stream. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating a report regarding the rendering of the targeted advertisement on the electronic device. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of identifying a provider of the content stream. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of identifying a provider of the content stream comprises the step of accessing a programming schedule. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of identifying a provider of the content stream comprises the step of determining a channel of the content stream. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of identifying a provider of the content stream comprises the step of comparing data in the content stream to data in a look-up table. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of identifying a provider of the content stream comprises the step of using data codes embedded in the content stream. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content stream is a television signal. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the television signal is at least one of a satellite television signal and a cable television signal. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content stream is generated by a gaming console. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content stream is generated from a player capable of reading an optical storage medium. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing the content stream. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining an identity of a user further comprises the step of using a biometric recognition technique. 
   
   
       19 . A method for delivering a targeted advertisement, said method comprising the steps of:
 establishing in a computer environment a database of user profiles;   comparing a target profile to the user profiles in the database to thereby determine a group of targeted users;   transmitting the targeted advertisement over a network to an electronic device associated with each of the targeted users; and   causing the rendering of the targeted advertisement on the electronic devices of each of the targeted users.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of monitoring a content stream for each of the electronic devices for targeted advertisement placement opportunities and causing the rendering of the targeted advertisement in accordance with the targeted advertisement placement opportunities. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of identifying providers of the content streams for each of the electronic devices. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of calculating a share of advertising revenues for each of the providers of the content streams. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of providing a content steam to at least a portion of the electronic devices. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of confirming that each targeted user is actually using an electronic device through a biometric recognition technique. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of delivering a content stream to each of the electronic devices of the targeted users. 
   
   
       26 . A method for placing a targeted advertisements, said method comprising the steps of:
 identifying a user of an electronic device;   selecting a targeted advertisement linked to the identity of the user;   monitoring a content stream for a targeted advertisement placement opportunity;   recognizing a targeted advertisement placement opportunity in relation to the content stream; and   causing the rendering of the targeted advertisement on the electronic device in accordance with the targeted advertisement placement opportunity.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of transmitting the targeted advertisement to the electronic device over a network. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of identifying a provider of the content stream. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of identifying a user of an electronic device comprises the step of using a biometric recognition technique. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of causing the rendering of the targeted advertisement on the electronic device in accordance with the targeted advertisement placement opportunity comprises the step of displacing an advertisement in the content stream with the targeted advertisement. 
   
   
       31 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 establishing in a computer environment an account for a content provider, the account representing the content provider's share of revenue derived from advertisement placement in relation to a content stream associated with the content provider;   tracking advertisement placement in relation to the content stream associated with the content provider;   calculating the content provider's share of revenues generated from the advertisement placement; and   adjusting the account of the content provider to reflect the content provider's share of revenues.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of placing advertisements in relation to the content stream associated with the content provider. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the advertisements are targeted advertisements. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of monitoring the content stream for advertisement placement opportunities. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the step of placing advertisements in accordance with the advertisement placement opportunities. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the advertisements are targeted advertisements. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of displacing an advertisement in the content stream with another advertisement. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of replacing an advertisement in the content stream with a targeted advertisement. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the steps of establishing a communication path with an electronic device and delivering an advertisement to the electronic device over the communication path wherein the electronic device is able to render both the content stream and the advertisement. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the advertisement is a targeted advertisement. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the step of transmitting the content stream to the electronic device. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the step of identifying a user of the electronic device using a biometric recognition technique. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising the step of selecting targeted advertisements linked to the identity of the user. 
   
   
       44 . A system for placing targeted advertisements, said system comprising:
 a user identification module for identifying a user of an electronic device;   an advertisement selection module for selecting a targeted advertisement linked to the identity of the user;   an opportunity detection module for recognizing targeted advertisement placement opportunities; and   a switching module for causing the rendering the targeted advertisement on the electronic device in accordance with the advertisement placement opportunity.   
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising a storage medium for storing the targeted advertisement, said storage medium being associated with the electronic device. 
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising a user interface for the electronic device, wherein a biometric sensor is integrated into said user interface, said biometric sensor providing a signal to the user identification module, said signal carrying information related to a captured biometric characteristic. 
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the user interface is selected from the group consisting of a remote control, a keyboard, keypad, and a computer mouse. 
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein said biometric sensor is at least one of a fingerprint scanner, a voice capturing device, and a heartbeat capturing device. 
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising a reporting module, said reporting module operable to generate a report regarding the rendering of the targeted advertisement. 
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising a content tracking module, said content tracking module operable to facilitate the identification of a provider of a content stream into which the targeted advertisement is placed. 
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising a network gateway module for receiving targeted advertisements from a remote location. 
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising a microprocessor. 
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein each of the user identification module, advertisement selection module, opportunity detection module, and switching module is at least partially implemented using computer readable instructions, said computer readable instructions being executed on the microprocessor. 
   
   
       54 . A system for managing a targeted advertising campaign, said system comprising:
 a comparison module for comparing a target profile to user profiles stored in an electronic database to thereby identify a group of targeted users;   an advertisement delivery module for delivering a targeted advertisement associated with the targeted profile to an electronic device associated with each of the targeted users; and   a content identification module for facilitating the identification of providers of content streams into which the targeted advertisement is placed.   
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising a subscription module for delivering user selected content streams to electronic devices. 
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising a revenue calculation module for calculating a share of advertising revenues for content providers. 
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising an enrollment module for enrolling users. 
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising at least one biometric sensor for capturing biometric reference samples from users. 
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising an electronic device, said electronic device able to render the targeted advertisement. 
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising an opportunity detection module for recognizing advertisement placement opportunities. 
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 60 , further comprising a switching module for causing the rendering the targeted advertisement in accordance with the advertisement placement opportunities. 
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 a user identification module for identifying a user of an electronic device; and   an advertisement selection module for selecting a targeted advertisement linked to the identity of the user.   
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 establishing in a computer environment a database of user profiles;   comparing a target profile to the user profiles in the database to thereby determine a group of targeted users;   transmitting the targeted advertisement over a network to an electronic device associated with each of the targeted users;   identifying a provider of a content stream;   calculating a share of advertising revenues for the provider; and   adjusting an account of the provider to reflect the provider's share of the advertising revenues.   
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining an identity of a user further comprises the step of using a non-biometric recognition technique. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of determining an identity of a user further comprises the step of using a non-biometric recognition technique. 
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the step of identifying a user of the electronic device using a non-biometric recognition technique. 
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the user identification module identifies the user of the electronic device using at least one of a serial number of the electronic device, a phone number of the electronic device, and an IP address of the electronic device.