Method and system for providing targeted advertisements

A system for providing targeted advertising over a media delivery network during an interactive session comprising:

• a head end having a merge processor, a profile processor, a file server, and a broadcast server;
• a distribution network connected to the head end;
• and
• at least one set-top box connected to the distribution network,
• wherein the merge processor collects viewing selections from the at least one set-top box, wherein the viewing selections are collected from a subscriber's selections of programs on the at least one set-top box from an interactive menu screen, and wherein the profile processor receives the viewing selections from the merge processor, analyzes the viewing selections along with account information, assigns a demographic group and a customer profile to the subscriber, and, upon receiving a request for a targeted advertising insert from the at least one set-top box, directs the file server to deliver the targeted advertising to the at least one set-top box based on the analysis of the viewing selections, and
• wherein the at least one set-top box uploads the viewing selections to the merge processor when requesting the targeted advertising insert.

A system for providing targeted advertising over a media delivery network during an interactive session comprising:

• a head end comprising:
• a file server for delivering advertisements;
• a merge processor that stores subscriber event data;
• a profile processor that analyzes subscriber event data, determines demographics, assigns customer profiles, and issues display instructions;
• a plurality of set-top boxes connected to the head end, each set-top box comprising a processor for:
• collecting a plurality of event records that describe selected commands from a subscriber to a particular set-top box, wherein the plurality of event records are collected from the subscriber's selections of programs on a set-top terminal from an interactive menu screen, said plurality of event records making up the event data;
• uploading latest event data to the merge processor when a new targeted advertisement is to be inserted;
• and
• receiving from the head end targeted advertisements and commands to display certain advertisements,
• wherein the file server receives the display instructions from the profile processor and delivers advertisements corresponding to the display instructions to the plurality of set-top boxes for display.

A method for providing advertisements targeted at individual viewers during an interactive session comprising:

• providing a set-top box to each of the individual viewers, wherein the set-top box is connected to a head end;
• tracking the individual viewers' viewing selections and storing the viewers' viewing selections as event data, wherein the event data comprises the viewer's selections of programs on the set-top boxes from an interactive menu screen, and wherein the event data are uploaded to a head end when a new targeted advertisement is to be inserted;
• analyzing the event data to compile a profile for each viewer;
• and
• upon receiving a request from the set-top box for inserting targeted advertisements, delivering advertisements targeted to at least one viewer according to the at least one viewer's profile.