Patent ID: 8341664
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of selecting advertising for display on a subscriber-selected television channel using a set top box comprising: detecting an occurrence of an event at the set top box, wherein the event is selected from the group consisting of a change of channel, a change of channel coupled with continuous viewing for a minimum time period, and a change of time, wherein the change of time is indicative of the commencement of a program on the subscriber-selected television channel; sending a download trigger signal responsive to the event from the set top box via an out-of-band-channel to a headend; receiving the download trigger signal at the headend; selecting one or more advertisements for download to the set top box using demographic or common channel preference pattern information associated with the set top box; sending the selected advertisements to the set top box in response to receipt of the download trigger signal, wherein the sending response occurs in real-time following the receiving of the download trigger signal; storing the advertisements in a local storage of the set top box; receiving at the set top box at a time determined at the headend an advertising trigger signal sent from the headend via the out-of-band channel; and substituting at the set top box an advertisement retrieved from the local storage for a television broadcast feed in response to receipt of the advertising trigger signal.