Providing targeted content based on a user's preferences

Abstract

Targeted Content solutions can be provided using a variety of techniques. Targeted Content can be provided in place of generic advertisements on a first device or on personal computing devices. Targeted Content can be presented during, or in place of, generic advertisements in Content (e.g., television content, streaming content, etc.). Targeted Content can be provided in individual and/or group environments. In a group environment, Users and/or Devices can be grouped into a shared advertising group and Targeted Content can be selected based on Profiles of one or more members of the group. Feedback can be received regarding Targeted Content and payout amount can be determined.

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         81 . A method for computerized distribution of content by way of a content distribution system to a user that has an account on, and that is identified by, the content distribution system, comprising:
 maintaining an identity of the user while logged onto the content distribution system;   receiving a goods and services provider profile comprising a collection of delineating information about a goods & services provider, wherein the goods and services provider profile is accessible by the user;   blocking visibility to the user of goods, services, products, content, marketers, reviewers and/or content producers based upon preferences in a profile associated with the user;   receiving from the user a master profile and at least a first assertion that indicates an intention to purchase identified products, wherein
 the master profile comprises a private profile connected to the user that helps to delineate the identity of the user, and 
 the first assertion comprises a forward-looking declaration of the user's intention to take future action related to one or more goods or services and which may be qualified with a probability and/or a condition; 
   providing content to the user in accordance with preferences specified in the master profile; and   generating an integrity rating that is indicative of a correlation between the user's actual purchase of products and the intention indicated in the assertion.   
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81  further comprising:
 receiving from at least a first product champion, registered as a user of the content distribution system, content regarding one or more products, the content comprising information pertaining to at least a first specified goods and services provided by the goods and services provider; and 
 crediting an account associated with the first product champion, an amount specified by the goods and services provider for providing information regarding the first specified goods and services. 
 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 81  further comprising:
 storing within the master profile, in accordance with inputs received from the user, at least a first product preference indicative of a preference of the user with respect to at least a first aspect of a first product; 
 comparing at least a first field in the goods and services provider profile with a first corresponding field in the master profile to generate a provider rating indication; 
 receiving targeted content containing information pertaining to at least a first aspect of the first product provided by the goods and services provider, wherein the targeted content is selected based upon the user's private profile; 
 comparing the first aspect of the first product to the first product preference to generate a product rating indication; 
 generating a certificate that provides information to the first user of the provider rating indication and the product rating indication; 
 receiving at least a content consumption indication from the first user indicating a desire to receive the targeted content; and 
 providing the targeted content in accordance with the content consumption indication. 
 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83  further comprising:
 receiving an independent reviewer certification comprising a trusted check on facts and source for specific comparative metrics about a provider, product, or service; 
 comparing the independent reviewer certification with the goods and services provider profile to generate a certifier indication; and 
 generating the certificate and adding information indicative of the certifier indication to the certificate. 
 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 83  further comprising:
 receiving a marketer profile, comprising a collection of delineating information about a marketer that may be used by consumers to filter their marketing content; 
 comparing the marketer profile with the master profile to generate a marketer indication; and 
 generating the certificate and adding information indicative of the marketer indication to the certificate. 
 
     
     
         86 . A method, implemented at least in part by one or more computing devices, for providing targeted advertising to a group of users, the method comprising:
 grouping a plurality of users into a shared advertising group;   determining one or more targeted advertisements to be presented to the shared advertising group, wherein the determining the one or more targeted advertisements is based, at least in part, on profiles of the plurality of users in the shared advertising group, wherein the profiles comprise,
 a user profile, for each user of the content distribution system, wherein each user profile includes a collection of information provided by the user that delineates an identity for the user; 
 an individual profile comprising a user profile created by a first individual user while logged into the content distribution system, wherein each individual profile further includes individual user preference information provided or authorized by the first individual user; and 
 a certifier profile comprising a user profile created by a second individual user, while logged into the content distribution system, on behalf of a certifier, for a certifier associated with the content distribution system, wherein each certifier profile further includes a collection of information provided by users of the content distribution system regarding the certifier; and 
   providing the one or more targeted advertisements for presentation to the shared advertising group.   
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86  wherein grouping the plurality of users into the shared advertising group comprises:
 determining that the plurality of users are in virtual proximity, comprising a plurality of users consuming the same content at the same time; 
 determining that the plurality of users are presented the same one or more targeted advertisements; and 
 determining that the time to present the one or more target advertisements is individually selected for each of the plurality of users. 
 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86  wherein determining the one or more targeted advertisements to be presented to the shared advertising group comprises:
 evaluating available advertisements based on payout rate for each of the plurality of users; and 
 selecting the one or more targeted advertisements, from the available advertisements, that have a highest aggregate payout rate among the plurality of users. 
 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 86  further comprising:
 receiving feedback for at least one of the one or more targeted advertisements; and 
 determining payout amount based, at least in part, on the received feedback. 
 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 86  wherein providing the one or more targeted advertisements for presentation to the shared advertising group comprises:
 providing the one or more targeted advertisements for playback on computing devices of the plurality of users substantially simultaneous with playback of one or more generic commercial advertisements on a first device. 
 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 86  wherein determining one or more targeted advertisements to be presented to the shared advertising group comprises:
 determining that a user, of the plurality of users, has agreed to be a champion and promote a product or service related to at least one of the one or more targeted advertisements. 
 
     
     
         92 . A method, implemented at least in part by a computing device, for participating in a shared advertising group comprising a plurality of users, the method comprising:
 associating the plurality of users with the shared advertising group, wherein one of the plurality of users is a user of a computing device;   providing, at least in part by the computing device, context information associated with content, wherein the content is being watched by the user on a first device;   reproducing, by the computing device, one or more targeted advertisements, wherein the one or more targeted advertisements have been selected for presentation to the shared advertising group, and wherein the one or more targeted advertisements have been selected based, at least in part, on profiles of the plurality of users in the shared advertising group, wherein the profiles comprise,
 a user profile, for each user of the content distribution system, wherein each user profile includes a collection of information provided by the user that delineates an identity for the user; 
 an individual profile comprising a user profile created by a first individual user while logged into the content distribution system, wherein each individual profile further includes individual user preference information provided or authorized by the first individual user; 
 a certifier profile comprising a user profile created by a second individual user, while logged into the content distribution system, on behalf of a certifier, for a certifier associated with the content distribution system, wherein each certifier profile further includes a collection of information provided by users of the content distribution system regarding the certifier; and 
   receiving feedback, by the computing device entered by the user, for at least one of the one or more targeted advertisements.   
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92  further comprising:
 displaying, by the computing device, payout information associated with viewing the one or more targeted advertisements. 
 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93  wherein the payout information is based, at least in part, on demographic information associated with the user. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 93  wherein the payout information is based, at least in part, on profile information associated with the user, wherein the profile information comprises:
 an indication of the user's intention to purchase; and 
 an indication of the user's past performance. 
 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 92  further comprising:
 presenting, by the computing device, an alert indicating that at least one of the one or more targeted advertisements is a high-value targeted advertisement. 
 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 92  further comprising:
 displaying, by the computing device, available targeted advertisements; and 
 receiving, by the computing device, a selection of at least one of the one or more targeted advertisements from the displayed available targeted advertisements. 
 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 97  wherein the available targeted advertisements are displayed with associated payout information. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 92  wherein the one or more targeted advertisements are received from a targeted advertising computing system. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 92  further comprising:
 controlling, by the computing device, the first device, wherein the controlling comprises muting the first device during the presentation of the one or more targeted advertisements.