Systems and Methods For Efficient Messaging And Targeted IP Multicast Advertisement In Communication Networks

An apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive information indicative of criteria associated with targeted advertisement;
• a processor configured to determine whether the criteria correspond to a characteristic of a household at which the criteria is received;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit a signal for joining a multicast group associated with the criteria in the event the criteria is determined to correspond to the characteristic of the household at which the criteria is received, the receiver also being configured to receive via multicast, the targeted advertisement associated with the criteria, and the processor also being configured to output information for causing a display of the targeted advertisement.

A method comprising:

• transmitting, from the signal transmission apparatus, information content over a first communication band of a communication channel;
• transmitting, from the signal transmission apparatus, one or more messages over a second communication band of a communication channel, the first communication band being different from the second communication band;
• and
• displaying, at the video display device, the received information content and the received one or more messages.

An apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive information content over a first communication band of a communication channel and one or more messages over a second communication band of a communication channel, the first communication band being different from the second communication band;
• and
• a processor configured to output information for causing a display of the received information content and the one or more messages.
• displaying, at the video display device, the received information content and the received one or more messages.