Methods and apparatus for classifying an audience in a content distribution network

摘要

Methods and apparatus for identifying, distributing, and/or utilizing data regarding audience qualities within an advertisement management system. In one embodiment, the methods and apparatus of the present invention provide a technique for classifying data collected about an audience, and creating and grouping qualifiers to those classifications. Methods and apparatus for managing an advertising inventory via a management system, and using the aforementioned audience data, are also disclosed. The inventory is defined in one variant by predicted secondary content insertion opportunities and a particular audience of the primary content associated with the insertion opportunity. Subscriber privacy and anonymity is also optionally maintained via e.g., hashing or encrypting data relating to the CPE and/or subscriber, thus ensuring that audience data is not traceable to a specific user account.

主权项

1. A method of advertising management for use in a content distribution network, comprising:
receiving first information regarding a weight or variance to be applied to at least one demographic criteria to be met by a first audience of an advertisement at an advertising management apparatus within said content distribution network; receiving second information regarding at least one parameter relating a second audience to an opportunity for insertion of one or more advertisements at said advertising management apparatus; utilizing said advertising management apparatus to generate first data related to a quality of a match between said first information and said second information; said advertising management apparatus adjusting said weight or said variance to be applied to said at least one demographic criteria to be met by said first audience based at least in part on said first data related to said quality of said match; and utilizing at least said adjusted weight or said adjusted variance to generate second data related to said quality of said match.