Method and apparatus for targeting virtual objects

A method of targeting virtual objects, comprising:

• providing a video program containing one or more virtual object locations;
• providing virtual objects for one or more of the virtual object locations;
• providing at least one alternate virtual object for at least one of the one or more virtual object locations, wherein the providing at least one alternate virtual object comprising:
• multiplying, for each virtual object, a virtual object group ranking percentage by a virtual object location group breakdown percentage to obtain a result for each virtual object;
• and
• ranking the result of each virtual object to each virtual object location from best match to worst match;
• distributing the virtual objects, wherein the distributing of the plurality of virtual objects comprising;
• assigning a weighting to each of the plurality of virtual objects;
• and
• executing a correlation algorithm;
• providing a retrieval plan to a terminal, wherein the retrieval plan at the terminal designates which of the one or more virtual object locations displays an alternate virtual object in said video program;
• and reporting displayed virtual object to a remote location.

A method of targeting virtual objects from a remote location to terminals, comprising:

• creating a package of targeted virtual objects, wherein assigning of targeted virtual objects for the package comprises:
• multiplying, for each virtual object, a virtual object group ranking percentage by a virtual object location group breakdown percentage to obtain a result for each virtual object;
• and
• ranking the result of each virtual object to each virtual object location from best match to worst match;
• providing the package to one or more of the terminals, wherein the providing of the targeted virtual objects comprises:
• assigning a weighting to each of the targeted virtual objects;
• and
• executing a correlation algorithm;
• generating a group assignment matrix;
• providing the group assignment matrix to one or more of the terminals;
• generating a retrieval plan;
• providing the retrieval plan to one or more of the terminals;
• and
• providing a video program to one or more of the terminals, the video program including at least one virtual object location;
• at one or more of the terminals receiving the video program, retrieving one of the targeted virtual objects for display in the at least one virtual object location;
• and reporting the retrieved one of the targeted virtual objects to the remote location.

A method for assigning targeted virtual objects to virtual object locations in one or more video programs, comprising:

• identifying the one or more video programs to carry the targeted virtual objects;
• assigning the targeted virtual objects to target categories;
• dividing one or more target categories into groups of viewers;
• ranking one or more of the video programs based on the target categories and a first percentage of total viewers in one or more groups of viewers;
• ranking the targeted virtual objects based on a second percentage of total viewers in one or more groups of viewers;
• determining, for one or more of the video programs and one or more of the targeting categories, targeted virtual objects with overall highest rankings, based on multiplying the first and the second percentages;
• assigning one or more targeted virtual objects as default virtual objects;
• assigning one or more targeted virtual objects as alternate virtual objects;
• assigning the default virtual objects and the alternate virtual objects to the virtual object locations;
• and
• reporting the assigned virtual objects from terminals to a remote location.

A method for targeting virtual objects to subscribers in a television program delivery system, comprising:

• gathering information related to the subscribers;
• reporting gathered information related to the subscribers at their terminals to a remote location;
• analyzing the gathered information to determine a subscriber profile for one or more of the subscribers;
• correlating the subscriber profile with categories of virtual objects, wherein one or more virtual object categories includes at least one virtual object;
• selecting a first virtual object and a second virtual object from the correlated virtual object categories, wherein the selecting of the first and second virtual objects comprises:
• multiplying, for each at least one virtual objects, a virtual object group ranking percentage by a virtual object location group breakdown percentage to obtain a result for each virtual object;
• and
• ranking the results from best match to worst match;
• and
• designating the first virtual object for display in a video program to a first subscriber and the second virtual object for display in a video program to a second subscriber, wherein the designating of the first and second virtual objects comprising:
• assigning a weighting to each of the plurality of virtual objects;
• and
• executing a correlation algorithm.

A computer readable medium encoded with a routine, executable by a processor, for targeting virtual objects to an individual viewer and to groups of viewers, the routine, comprising:

• a group definition routine that determines target categories of viewer characteristics;
• a group assignment routine that assigns individual viewer terminals a group number for each of the target categories;
• a virtual object location routine that determines available virtual object locations in a video program;
• a virtual object assignment routine comprising:
• multiplying, for each virtual object, a virtual object group ranking percentage by a virtual object location group breakdown percentage to obtain a result for each virtual object;
• and
• ranking the result of each virtual object to each virtual object location from best match to worst match;
• a distribution routine comprising:
• assigning a weighting to each of the plurality of virtual objects;
• and
• executing a correlation algorithm;
• and
• a retrieval plan generator that generates a plan for retrieving one or more virtual objects for display in one or more of the available virtual object locations, wherein the plan is generated based on the group number at least partially based on reported viewer data from the viewer terminals.

A method for targeting virtual objects to viewers;

• comprising:
• recognizing a virtual object location in a video program;
• receiving one or more virtual objects in a transmission, wherein determining the one or more virtual objects transmitted comprises:
• multiplying, for each virtual object, a virtual object group ranking percentage by a virtual object location group breakdown percentage to obtain a result for each virtual object;
• ranking the result of each virtual object to each virtual object location from best match to worst match;
• assigning a weighting to each of the plurality of virtual objects;
• and
• executing a correlation algorithm;
• generating a retrieval plan that instructs viewers' terminals to insert one or more of the virtual objects into one or more of the virtual objects in the video program;
• and
• reporting inserted virtual objects from the viewers' terminals to a remote location.

A method for targeting virtual objects to locations in a video program, comprising:

• identifying virtual objects received from a transmission for insertion into one or more of the locations in said video program, wherein assigning the virtual object to be placed in the transmission comprises:
• multiplying, for each virtual object, a virtual object group ranking percentage by a virtual object location group breakdown percentage to obtain a result for each virtual object;
• and
• ranking the result of each virtual object to each location in a video program from best match to worst match;
• assigning a weighting to each of the plurality of virtual objects;
• and
• executing a correlation algorithm;
• providing one or more of the identified virtual objects for insertion based on an identity of a terminal that displays the program;
• and reporting Inserted virtual objects to a remote location.

A method for targeting virtual objects from a central location to terminals, comprising:

• identifying the terminals based on characteristics of individual terminals and terminal groups;
• identifying virtual object locations in video programs for display at the terminals;
• targeting the virtual objects for insertion into the virtual object locations based on the identities of the terminals, wherein the targeting the virtual objects comprises:
• multiplying, for each virtual object, a virtual object group ranking percentage by a virtual object location group breakdown percentage to obtain a result for each virtual object;
• and
• ranking the result of each virtual object to each virtual object location from best match to worst match;
• assigning a weighting to each virtual object;
• and
• executing a correlation algorithm;
• and
• reporting inserted virtual objects to the central location.