Method and apparatus for managing targeted advertisements for a linear television service

1. A method for managing targeted advertisements, the method comprising:

receiving targeted advertisements;

storing the targeted advertisements as stored advertisements;

determining if an advertisement opportunity duration is known, unknown, or variable;

utilizing a first algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is known, wherein utilizing the first algorithm comprises:

determining W/K for each advertisement, where W is a weight of the advertisement, D is a duration of the advertisement, N is a number of times the advertisement was played, and K is D multiplied by a function of N;

determining the advertisement opportunity duration; and

choosing a group of advertisements with a highest W/K which have durations equal to the advertisement opportunity duration;

utilizing a second algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is unknown; and

utilizing a third algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is variable.

2. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising stored instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 1 .

3. A method for managing targeted advertisements, the method comprising:

receiving targeted advertisements;

storing the targeted advertisements as stored advertisements;

determining if an advertisement opportunity duration is known, unknown, or variable;

utilizing a first algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is known;

utilizing a second algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is unknown, wherein utilizing the second algorithm comprises:

creating a set S comprising advertisements from the stored advertisements having smaller durations;

creating a set B of stored banner advertisements;

selecting advertisements from set B or set S; and

inserting the selected advertisements into the advertisement opportunity window until programming resumes; and

utilizing a third algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is variable.

4. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising stored instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 3 .

5. A method for managing targeted advertisements, the method comprising:

receiving targeted advertisements;

storing the targeted advertisements as stored advertisements;

determining if an advertisement opportunity duration is known, unknown, or variable;

utilizing a first algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is known;

utilizing a second algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is unknown; and

utilizing a third algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is variable, wherein utilizing the third algorithm comprises:

preparing a sorted list of advertisements in decreasing order of W/K, where for each of the advertisements, W is a weight of the advertisement, D is a duration of the advertisement, N is a number of times the advertisement was played, and K is D multiplied by a function of N;

determining an advertisement opportunity duration; and

starting from a highest W/K, selecting advertisements which have durations less than the advertisement opportunity duration.

6. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising stored instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 5 .

7. An apparatus comprising:

an advertisement replacement detector receiving targeted advertisements and storing the targeted advertisements as stored advertisements;

the advertisement replacement detector determining if an advertisement opportunity duration is known, unknown, or variable, and utilizing a first algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is known, utilizing a second algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is unknown, and utilizing a third algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is variable;

wherein the first algorithm comprises:

the advertisement replacement detector determining W/K for each advertisement, where W is a weight of the advertisement, D is a duration of the advertisement, N is a number of times the advertisement was played, and K is D multiplied by a function of N;

the advertisement replacement detector determining the advertisement opportunity duration; and

the advertisement replacement detector choosing a group of advertisements with a highest W/K which have durations equal to the advertisement opportunity duration.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apparatus comprises a cable set-top box.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising internal storage storing the targeted advertisements.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an advertisement replacement detector receiving targeted advertisements and storing the targeted advertisements as stored advertisements;

the advertisement replacement detector determining if an advertisement opportunity duration is known, unknown, or variable, and utilizing a first algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is known, utilizing a second algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is unknown, and utilizing a third algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is variable;

wherein the second algorithm comprises:

the advertisement replacement detector creating a set S comprising advertisements from the stored advertisements having smaller durations;

the advertisement replacement detector creating a set B of stored banner advertisements;

the advertisement replacement detector selecting advertisements from set B or set S; and

the advertisement replacement detector inserting the selected advertisements into the advertisement opportunity window until programming resumes.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an advertisement replacement detector receiving targeted advertisements and storing the targeted advertisements as stored advertisements;

the advertisement replacement detector determining if an advertisement opportunity duration is known, unknown, or variable, and utilizing a first algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is known, utilizing a second algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is unknown, and utilizing a third algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is variable;

wherein the third algorithm comprises:

the advertisement replacement detector preparing a sorted list of advertisements in decreasing order of W/K, where for each of the advertisements, W is a weight of the advertisement, D is a duration of the advertisement, N is a number of times the advertisement was played, and K is D multiplied by a function of N;

the advertisement replacement detector determining an advertisement opportunity duration; and

the advertisement replacement detector starting from a highest W/K, selecting advertisements which have durations less than the advertisement opportunity duration.

12. A method for managing targeted advertisements, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving targeted advertisements;

storing the targeted advertisements as stored advertisements;

determining if an advertisement opportunity duration is known, unknown, or variable;

utilizing a first algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is known;

utilizing a second algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is unknown;

utilizing a third algorithm to choose advertisements from the stored advertisements when the advertisement opportunity duration is variable;

wherein the step of utilizing the first algorithm comprises the steps of:

determining W/K for each advertisement, where W is a weight of the advertisement, D is a duration of the advertisement, N is a number of times the advertisement was played, and K is D multiplied by a function of N;

determining the advertisement opportunity duration; and

choosing a group of advertisements with a highest W/K which have durations equal to the advertisement opportunity duration;

wherein the step of utilizing the second algorithm comprises the steps of:

creating a set S comprising advertisements from the stored advertisements having smaller durations;

creating a set B of stored banner advertisements;

selecting advertisements from set B or set S; and

inserting the selected advertisements into the advertisement opportunity window until programming resumes; and

wherein the step of utilizing the third algorithm comprises the steps of:

preparing a sorted list of advertisements in decreasing order of W/K;

determining an advertisement opportunity duration; and

starting from a highest W/K, selecting advertisements which have durations less than the advertisement opportunity duration.

13. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising stored instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 12 .