Method and apparatus for providing targeted advertisements

A method for providing contents to a plurality of terminals, comprising:

• receiving a first set of contents targeted for a first coverage area;
• receiving a second set of contents targeted for a second coverage area, wherein the second coverage area overlaps the first coverage area;
• composing one or more videos having included therein contents from the first and second sets;
• encoding the one or more composed videos in accordance with a particular coding scheme;
• multiplexing the one or more encoded videos into one or more transport streams;
• and
• transmitting the one or more transport streams to the plurality of terminals.

A method for presenting advertisements at a terminal, comprising:

• receiving one or more transport streams having included therein one or more encoded videos for a plurality of advertisements;
• receiving an indication of a particular type of advertisement to be presented on a display;
• extracting an encoded video corresponding to the particular type of advertisement to be presented;
• and
• decoding and presenting the extracted video.

An information distribution system comprising:

• at least one insertion server, each insertion server configured to receive first and second sets of contents for first and second coverage areas, respectively, and to compose one or more videos having included therein contents from the first and second sets;
• at least encoder, each encoder coupled to a respective insertion server and configured to encode the one or more composed videos in accordance with a particular coding scheme;
• a transport stream generator coupled to the at least one encoder and configured to multiplex the one or more encoded videos into one or more transport streams;
• and
• a delivery system coupled to the transport stream generator and configured to transmit the one or more transport streams to the plurality of terminals.

A terminal configurable to provide contents, comprising:

• a demodulator operative to receive and demodulate a modulated signal to provide a transport stream;
• a transport de-multiplexer coupled to the demodulator and operative to receive and process the transport stream to provide a sequence of packets for one or more encoded videos for a plurality of advertisements;
• a controller configured to provide an indication of a particular type of advertisement to be presented on a display;
• and
• at least one video decoder coupled to the transport de-multiplexer and configured to receive and decode the sequence of packets to provide decoded video for the particular type of advertisement to be presented.