Method and apparatus for automated bidding and advertisement placement on a set-top box
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatuses for presenting targeted advertisements to DVR users are described. After a DVR has finished playing a recorded television program, or in response to other specified events, the DVR presents a screen which comprises a “save or delete” menu. In addition to the “save” and “delete” options, the menu additionally comprises one or more other options. Each of these other options may correspond to a separate promotional item. For example, a user's selection of such an option may cause the DVR to display or play an advertisement on the user's television set. Additionally or alternatively, these other options, when selected by a user, may cause the DVR to display a user interface through which the user can actually purchase a product or service. The product or service advertised or offered may be one that was featured or referenced in the television program that the user was just watching.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a plurality of values from a plurality of entities, each value of the plurality of values associated with a user-selectable portion of a menu including at least two menu options to be displayed in association with one or more program content items, and each value of the plurality of values further associated with a respective informational item specified by the entity from which the value is received;
ranking the plurality of values to select a particular value for the user-selectable portion of the menu, the particular value associated with a particular informational item;
in response to a multimedia device displaying the menu, causing the multimedia device to display information based on the particular informational item at the user-selectable portion of the menu;
wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing display of an interface for receiving the plurality of values from the plurality of entities.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the interface indicates a number of multimedia devices that have stored but not yet played the one or more program content items.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the interface indicates one or more products or services displayed during the one or more program content items.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the interface is displayed within a web page.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an order to display the particular informational item relative to the at least two menu options based on the selected value.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the particular value occurs in response to a determination that a specified period of time has elapsed.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of values represent bids on the user-selectable portion of the menu.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular informational item is an advertisement.
10. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:
receiving a plurality of values from a plurality of entities, each value of the plurality of values associated with a user-selectable portion of a menu including at least two menu options to be displayed in association with one or more program content items, and each value of the plurality of values further associated with a respective informational item specified by the entity from which the value is received;
ranking the plurality of values to select a particular value for the user-selectable portion of the menu, the particular value associated with a particular informational item;
in response to a multimedia device displaying the menu, causing the multimedia device to display information based on the particular informational item at the user-selectable portion of the menu.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions for causing display of an interface for receiving the plurality of values from the plurality of entities.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the interface indicates a number of multimedia devices that have stored but not yet played the one or more program content items.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the interface indicates one or more products or services displayed during the one or more program content items.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the interface is displayed within a web page.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions for determining an order to display the particular informational item relative to the at least two menu options based on the selected value.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein selecting the value occurs in response to a determination that a specified period of time has elapsed.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the particular informational item is an advertisement.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of values represent bids on the user-selectable portion of the menu.
19. An apparatus comprising:
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that receives a plurality of values from a plurality of entities, each value of the plurality of values associated with a user-selectable portion of a menu including at least two menu options to be displayed in association with one or more program content items, and each value of the plurality of values further associated with a respective informational item specified by the entity from which the value is received;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that ranks the plurality of values to select a particular value for the user-selectable portion of the menu, the particular value associated with a particular informational item;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that in response to a multimedia device displaying the menu, causes the multimedia device to display information based on the particular informational item at the user-selectable portion of the menu.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that causes display of an interface for receiving the plurality of values from the plurality of entities.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the interface indicates a number of multimedia devices that have stored but not yet played the one or more program content items.
22. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the interface indicates one or more products or services displayed during the one or more program content items.
23. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the interface is displayed within a web page.
24. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that determines an order to display the particular informational item relative to the at least two menu options based on the selected value.
25. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the selecting subsystem selects the value occurs in response to a determination that a specified period of time has elapsed.
26. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of values represent bids on the user-selectable portion of the menu.
27. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the particular informational item is an advertisement.