Patent ID: 8700449

Claim:
A method for targeting an advertisement, the method comprising: storing a profile tag in each of a plurality of digital devices each associated with a different user, each profile tag comprising demographic information of the user associated with the digital device; transmitting first and second target tags each comprising demographic information of a plurality of users, the first target tag being associated with a first advertisement and the second target tag being associated with a second advertisement; caching the first and second advertisements in the plurality of digital devices; identifying a first number of matches defined by a first measure of similarity between the first target tag and the profile tags of the plurality of users; supplying the first number to a first advertiser attempting to play the first advertisement during a first commercial break; identifying a second number of matches defined by a second measure of similarity between the second target tag and the profile tags of the plurality of users; supplying the second number to a second advertiser attempting to play the second advertisement during the first commercial break; enabling the first and second advertisers to compete for a right to advertise during the first commercial break, said first and second advertisers to make offers using the first and second matching numbers; using the offers to select one of the first and second advertisements; and playing the selected advertisement during the first commercial break.