Internet appliance system and method

1. A system comprising:

a user-analysis component configured to examine at least one user action and content associated with the action; and

an advertisement delivery component configured to perform an economic optimization and to determine at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content, and the economic optimization.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the user-analysis component performs at least one pattern recognition algorithm.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component retrieves the at least one advertisement from a local memory.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component acquires the at least one advertisement from a wireless broadcast.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component acquires the at least one advertisement from wired network.

6. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a financial accounting system for accounting for delivery of the advertisement.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one advertisement is time-sensitive, and wherein the advertisement delivery component determines the at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least on a time.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component determines the at least one advertisement to present to a user based on at least a user profile.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement subsidizes the user action.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement subsidizes content associated with the user action.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component performs an optimization to determine an advertisement to deliver.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component performs a user-sensitive cost-benefit optimization to determine an advertisement to deliver.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component is adapted to be audited.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component is adapted to be audited without compromising a user content access privacy.

15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component provides a decryption key for decrypting encrypted content.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the decryption key is provided as an incentive to the user to receive the advertisement.

17. The system according to claim 1 , wherein use of the content associated with the action requires compensation to the third party, and wherein an advertiser compensates the third party for delivery of the advertisement.

18. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component determines at least one advertisement to present based on at least the content associated with the user action.

19. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component determines at least one advertisement to present based on at least the user profile.

20. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component delivers advertisements in a manner sensitive to previously delivered advertisements.

21. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the content associated with the user action is delivered over the Internet.

22. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the content associated with the user action comprises a video program.

23. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component delivers at least one advertisement based on a competitive process.

24. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the content associated with the user action is precoded for insertion of advertisements.

25. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the user is provided with an option to avoid delivery of a determined advertisement.

26. The system according to claim 25 , wherein an exercise of the option leads to a loss of advertiser subsidy.

27. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the advertisement delivery component is location sensitive.

28. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the content associated with the user action comprises a web page.

29. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the user profile comprises a demographic profile.

30. A method comprising:

examining, using at least one automated processor, at least one user action and content associated with the action;

determining, with the at least one automated processor, based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content, and an economic optimization, at least one advertisement to present to a user; and

communicating a signal corresponding to the at least one advertisement.

31. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the examining step performs at least one pattern recognition algorithm.

32. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step retrieves the at least one advertisement from a local memory.

33. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step acquires the at least one advertisement from a wireless broadcast.

34. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step acquires the at least one advertisement from wired network.

35. The method according to claim 30 , further comprising financially accounting for accounting for delivery of the advertisement.

36. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the at least one advertisement is time-sensitive, and wherein the determining step determines the at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least on a time.

37. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step determines the at least one advertisement to present to a user based on at least a user profile.

38. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the advertisement subsidizes the user action.

39. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the advertisement subsidizes content associated with the user action.

40. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step performs an optimization to determine an advertisement to deliver.

41. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step performs a user-sensitive cost-benefit optimization to determine an advertisement to deliver.

42. The method according to claim 30 , further comprising the step of auditing the delivery of the advertisement.

43. The method according to claim 30 , further comprising the step of auditing the delivery of the advertisement without compromising a user content access privacy.

44. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step provides a decryption key for decrypting encrypted content.

45. The method according to claim 44 , wherein the decryption key is provided as an incentive to the user to receive the advertisement.

46. The method according to claim 30 , wherein use of the content associated with the action requires compensation to the third party, and wherein an advertiser compensates the third party for delivery of the advertisement.

47. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step determines at least one advertisement to present based on at least the content associated with the user action.

48. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step determines at least one advertisement to present based on at least the user profile.

49. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step delivers advertisements in a manner sensitive to previously delivered advertisements.

50. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the content associated with the user action is delivered over the Internet.

51. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the content associated with the user action comprises a video program.

52. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step delivers at least one advertisement based on a competitive process.

53. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the content associated with the user action is precoded for insertion of advertisements.

54. The method according to claim 30 , further comprising the step of providing the user with an option to avoid delivery of a determined advertisement.

55. The method according to claim 54 , wherein a user exercise of the option leads to a loss of advertiser subsidy.

56. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the determining step is location sensitive.

57. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the content associated with the user action comprises a web page.

58. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the user profile comprises a demographic profile.

59. A computer readable storage media for controlling a general purpose computer to perform a method comprising the steps of:

examining at least one user action and content associated with the action; and

determining at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content, and an economic optimization.

60. A system comprising:

a user-analysis component configured to examine at least one user action and content associated with the action; and

an advertisement delivery component that determines at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content,

wherein the user-analysis component is further configured to perform at least one pattern recognition algorithm.

61. A system comprising:

a user-analysis component configure to examine at least one user action and content associated with the action; and

an advertisement delivery component configured to perform a user-sensitive cost-benefit optimization and to determine at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content, and the user-sensitive cost-benefit optimization.

62. A system comprising:

a user-analysis component configured to examine at least one user action and content associated with the action; and

an advertisement delivery component configured to determine at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content,

wherein the advertisement delivery component is further configured to be audited without compromising a user content access privacy.

63. A system comprising:

a user-analysis component configured to examine at least one user action and content associated with the action; and

an advertisement delivery component configured to determine at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content,

wherein the advertisement delivery component determines an advertisement to deliver through a competitive process resulting in an economic optimization dependent on the content associated with the user action.

64. A system comprising:

a user-analysis component configured to examine at least one user action and content associated with the action; and

an advertisement delivery component configured to determine at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content,

wherein the user is provided with an option to avoid delivery of a determined advertisement.

65. The system according to claim 64 , wherein an exercise of the option leads to a loss of advertiser subsidy.

66. A system comprising:

a user-analysis component configured to examine at least one user action and content associated with the action; and

an advertisement delivery component configured to determine at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content,

wherein the advertisement delivery component provides a decryption key for decrypting encrypted content.

67. The system according to claim 66 , wherein the decryption key is provided as an incentive to the user to receive the advertisement.

68. A method comprising:

examining, using at least one automated processor, at least one user action and content associated with the action;

determining, with the at least one automated processor, at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content, comprising performing at least one pattern recognition algorithm; and

communicating a signal corresponding to the at least one advertisement.

69. A method comprising:

examining, using at least one automated processor, at least one user action and content associated with the action;

determining, with the at least one automated processor, at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content, and a user-sensitive cost-benefit optimization; and

communicating a signal corresponding to the at least one advertisement.

70. A method comprising:

examining, using at least one automated processor, at least one user action and content associated with the action;

determining, with the at least one automated processor, at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content;

auditing the delivery of the advertisement without compromising a user content access privacy; and

communicating a signal corresponding to the at least one advertisement.

71. A method comprising:

examining, using at least one automated processor, at least one user action and content associated with the action;

determining, with the at least one automated processor, at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content, wherein the advertisement delivery component determines an advertisement to deliver through a competitive process resulting in an economic optimization dependent on the content associated with the user action; and

communicating a signal corresponding to the at least one advertisement.

72. A method comprising:

examining, using at least one automated processor, at least one user action and content associated with the action;

determining, with the at least one automated processor, at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content; and

providing the user, by the at least one automated processor, with an option to avoid delivery of a determined advertisement.

73. The method according to claim 72 , wherein a user exercise of the option leads to a loss of advertiser subsidy.

74. A method comprising:

examining, using at least one automated processor, at least one user action and content associated with the action;

determining, with the at least one automated processor, at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content associated with the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated content, comprising providing a decryption key for decrypting encrypted content; and

communicating a signal corresponding to the at least one advertisement.

75. The method according to claim 74 , wherein the decryption key is provided as an incentive to the user to receive the advertisement.

76. A system comprising:

a user-analysis component configured to examine at least one user action and content expressly referenced by the action; and

an advertisement delivery component configured to determine at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the expressly referenced content, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and content expressly referenced by the prior user actions.

77. A method comprising:

examining, using at least one automated processor, at least one user action and content expressly referenced by the action;

determining, with the at least one automated processor, at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the content expressly referenced by the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and content expressly referenced by the prior user actions; and

communicating a signal corresponding to the at least one advertisement.

78. A system comprising:

a user-analysis component configured to examine at least one user action and information content referenced by the action;

an advertisement selection component configured to determine at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the information content referenced by the user action, an economic optimization based on at least the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated information content; and

an advertisement delivery component, configured to deliver the determined at least one advertisement, in conjunction with the information content referenced by the user action, to the user.

79. The system according to claim 78 , wherein the user-analysis component performs at least one pattern recognition algorithm.

80. The system according to claim 78 , further comprising a financial accounting system for accounting for delivery of the advertisement.

81. The system according to claim 78 , wherein the advertisement delivery component is configured to be audited without compromising a user content access privacy.

82. The system according to claim 78 , wherein the advertisement delivery component delivers advertisements in a manner sensitive to previously delivered advertisements.

83. The system according to claim 78 , wherein the advertisement delivery component delivers at least one advertisement based on a competitive process.

84. The system according to claim 78 , wherein the content associated with the user action is precoded for insertion of advertisements.

85. The system according to claim 78 , wherein the content referenced by the user action comprises a web page.

86. A method comprising:

examining at least one user action and information content referenced by the action;

determining, using at least one automated processor, at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the information content referenced by the user action, an economic optimization performed through a competition for placement based on at least the user action, and a user profile derived from prior user actions and associated information content; and

delivering the determined at least one advertisement, through an automated communication network, in conjunction with the information content referenced by the user action, to the user.

87. A method comprising:

examining at least one user action and user-requested content referenced by the action;

determining, using at least one automated processor, at least one advertisement to present to a user based at least in part on the user action, the user-requested content referenced by the user action, an economic optimization based on at least the user action and parameters associated with a set of competing advertisements; and

delivering the determined at least one advertisement, through an automated communication network, in conjunction with the user-requested content referenced by the user action, to the user.