Patent ID: 8875171

Claim:
A method of inserting commercials within television channels processed by a host device for output to a viewer, the host device having a targeting engine and a switch engine configured to facilitate inserting commercials within the television channels, the method comprising: generating insertions instructions with the targeting engine, the insertion instructions sufficient for use in directing the switch engine to insert commercials for a number of specified insertion opportunities; storing the insertion instructions within a database associated with the switch engine prior to occurrence of the insertion opportunities; and for each specified insertion opportunity, automatically loading the switch engine with a corresponding one or more of the insertion instructions stored within the database by directly delivering the insertion instructions from the database to the switch engine such that the insertion instructions are provided to the switch engine without the targeting engine instructing the switch engine of the one or more to be inserted commercials and without requiring the switch engine to request the insertion instructions, the switch engine relying on the insertion instructions automatically loaded from the database to identify the to be inserted commercials.