Targeted television content display

A method for displaying a set of targeted content within a display of a set of primary content on a display device at a viewing location, comprising:

• automatically monitoring a display of content by the display device at the viewing location, including tracking changes over time in a set of content being displayed by the display device, wherein the changes are initiated by a viewer;
• automatically ascertaining the identities and/or characteristics of multiple viewers viewing the display device at the viewing location at, or just prior to, the time of a targeted content display opportunity,
• wherein the identities and/or characteristics include at least one of an age, a gender, an income, a facial characteristic, or a vocal characteristic, and
• wherein automatically ascertaining the identities or characteristics includes:
• passively acquiring data regarding physical characteristics of the viewers without requiring affirmative action from the viewers,
• processing the passively acquired data to distinguish each viewer from each other viewer at the viewing location, and
• associating the content displayed, by the display device and/or a manner in, which the content is displayed by the display device with each of the viewers at the viewing location;
• processing instructions and/or data for selecting one of multiple sets of targeted content for display to the viewers during the targeted content display opportunity, individual sets of targeted content associated with at least one of a plurality of content providers, each of the multiple set of targeted content specifying:
• (a) a demographic characteristic associated with a desired viewer of a set of targeted content, and
• (b) a value of the set of targeted content to individual content providers that varies in accordance with the demographic characteristic,
• wherein the one of the multiple sets of targeted content is selected in accordance with:
• a criterion based on the identities and/or the characteristics of the viewers;
• a criterion based on the demographic characteristic associated with the desired viewer;
• a criterion based on the value of the set of targeted content;
• and
• a criterion based on the changes in the set of content being displayed by the display device that are initiated by a viewer;
• allowing the viewers to actively select from among the multiple sets of targeted content;
• receiving the set of primary content at the viewing location;
• receiving the set of targeted content at the viewing location;
• and
• integrating the selected set of targeted content into the set of primary content.

A system for displaying targeted content on a television at a television viewing location, comprising:

• at least one data storage device;
• at least one processor coupled to the data storage device, wherein the processor is configured to
• receive a plurality of sets of primary content at the television viewing location, each of the plurality of sets of primary content having at least one targeted content display opportunity, and each of the plurality of sets of primary content comprising a subset of a category of content;
• receive a plurality of sets of targeted content at the television viewing location, each of the plurality of sets of targeted content adapted for display on the television during a targeted content display opportunity, individual sets of targeted content associated with at least one of a plurality of content providers, and each of the plurality of sets of targeted content specifying:
• (a) a demographic characteristic associated with a desired viewer of a set of targeted content, and
• (b) a value of the set of targeted contend to individual content providers that varies in accordance with the demographic characteristic;
• ascertain the identity and/or a characteristic of a television viewer watching the television at, or just prior to, the time of the targeted content display opportunity,
• wherein the identity and/or characteristic includes at least one of an age, a gender, an income, a facial characteristic, or a vocal characteristic, and
• wherein ascertaining the identity and/or a characteristic of the television viewer includes:
• monitoring the display of at least one set of primary content by the television;
• associating demographic probability information with the displayed at least one set of primary content;
• and
• determining a probable demographic of the television viewer, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the demographic probability information associated with the displayed at least one set of primary content;
• and
• process instructions and/or data to select one of the received plurality of sets of targeted content for display to the television viewer during the targeted content display opportunity in accordance with a criterion based on:
• the identity and/or the characteristic of the television viewer,
• the demographic characteristic associated with the desired viewer of the set of targeted content, and
• the value of the set of targeted contend.