Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for presenting branding elements with electronic content. In one implementation, a method is provided that includes receiving, from a user device, a request that identifies a segment of electronic content and that contains information specifying a display configuration of the user device. The method further includes selecting first metadata including information defining how at least one branding element is to be presented based on the display configuration of the user device, and selecting second metadata for the requested segment of electronic content, the second metadata including information related to presenting the requested segment of electronic content. Additionally, the method includes instructing the user device to generate a presentation based on the selected first metadata and the selected second metadata, the presentation including the requested segment of electronic content and the at least one branding element.

Abstract: Delivery of content such as advertisements to audience members. Profile data is collected regarding audience members to whom advertisements may be delivered, such that a given audience member has an established profile data. Upon receiving a request to serve an advertisement to an audience member, a recognition that the target of the request is the given audience member is made. Then it is determined that a particular advertisement should be served to the given audience member. The determination includes recognition of the given audience member and corresponding selection advertisements optimized for the recognized audience member. A configurable delivery decision making mode allows pre-optimized as well as delivery time factoring for determining advertisements. Performance criteria and revenue allocation based upon data provider participation are also provided.

Abstract: A network system provides delivery of customized target content, such as advertising, to individual users. There is transmission of a common spot content stream to a large group of the users. Each home client user communicates through a telecommunications network, such as the Internet, for connection to a portal to receive continuing media, such as streaming audio or video. The user installs receiver software at his home client processor for receiving both the streaming media and a content stream. The media stream includes spot markers placed at appropriate locations in the media stream by the publisher to designate locations for insertion of spot content and optionally to identify specific characteristics of the media stream. The content stream includes content units, such as audio advertising, together with spot content frames, which include parameters having values designated by the spot content provider to be the target audience.

Abstract: Owners of editorial video and/or audio content that is delivered over the Internet or other networks can enroll in an advertising affiliate network. Video and/or audio advertisements, or other marketing messages, are then delivered into the video and/or audio content when the content is accessed by a user. Bypassing of the advertising content may be prevented.

Abstract: A network system provides delivery of customized target content, such as advertising, to individual users. There is transmission of a common spot content stream to a large group of the users. Each home client user communicates through a telecommunications network, such as the Internet, for connection to a portal to receive continuing media, such as streaming audio or video. The user installs receiver software at his home client processor for receiving both the streaming media and a content stream. The media stream includes spot markers placed at appropriate locations in the media stream by the publisher to designate locations for insertion of spot content and optionally to identify specific characteristics of the media stream. The content stream includes content units, such as audio advertising, together with spot content frames, which include parameters having values designated by the spot content provider to be the target audience.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for presenting ad content with electronic content. In one implementation a method is provided that includes receiving, from a user device, a request that identifies a segment of electronic content, and selecting a set of ad metadata for the identified segment of electronic content, the selected set of ad metadata including information defining how ad content is to be presented. The method also includes selecting a set of content metadata for the identified segment of electronic content, the selected set of content metadata including information related to presenting the segment of electronic content, and instructing the user device to generate a presentation based on the selected set of ad metadata and the selected set of content metadata, the presentation including the segment of electronic content and at least one ad content element.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selecting advertisements for display over a communications network and, more particularly, to systems and methods for selecting video advertisements for display within internet web pages based on relevance, bid price, past performance, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Delivery of content such as advertisements to audience members. Profile data is collected regarding audience members to whom advertisements may be delivered, such that a given audience member has an established profile data. Upon receiving a request to serve an advertisement to an audience member, a recognition that the target of the request is the given audience member is made. Then it is determined that a particular advertisement should be served to the given audience member. The determination includes recognition of the given audience member and corresponding selection advertisements optimized for the recognized audience member. A configurable delivery decision making mode allows pre-optimized as well as delivery time factoring for determining advertisements. Performance criteria and revenue allocation based upon data provider participation are also provided.

Abstract: Universal synchronization of profiles of audience members targeted for the delivery of content. A unique global identifier may be assigned to and used to manage a profiled audience member. This identifier may also be associated to an authoritative identifier and cookie information used in connection with the collection of profile data. An authoritative identifier may be received in connection with activity, and might not be accompanied by a global identifier. The authoritative identifier may then be used to identify the global identifier, which in turn may be used to identify the cookie related information of record for the profiled audience member. Comparing the cookie related information to previously retained cookie information may be used to determine that the cookie information for a particular, profiled audience member has changed, so that it can be restored.

Abstract: Owners of editorial video and/or audio content that is delivered over the Internet or other networks can enroll in an advertising affiliate network. Video and/or audio advertisements, or other marketing messages, are then delivered into the video and/or audio content when the content is accessed by a user. Bypassing of the advertising content may be prevented.

Abstract: At times, it may be desirable to determine that a client system is, or to determine the number of client systems that are, presenting particular dynamic content when an auditable event occurs in the dynamic content. One manner of making the determination may include accessing presentation time information that indicates the time(s) at which one or more client systems present particular dynamic content and accessing event time information indicating the time(s) at which one or more auditable events occur in the dynamic particular content. Based on the presentation time information and the event time information, it may be possible to determine that a client system is, or to determine the number of client systems that are, presenting particular dynamic content when an auditable event occurs in the dynamic content.

Abstract: In accordance with one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for inserting spot content into a media stream. The method includes receiving, at a client system, a media stream that includes one or more media content units and at least one spot marker. The at least one spot marker designates a spot location for inserting one or more spot content units and includes a category of a media content unit. The method further includes detecting the at least one spot marker in the received stream, and selecting at least one spot content unit based on the category of the media content unit. In response to the detection, the selected at least one spot content unit is inserted into the stream at the spot location, thereby generating a stream including the one or more media content units and the selected spot content unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selecting advertisements for display over a communications network and, more particularly, to systems and methods for selecting video advertisements for display within internet web pages based on relevance, bid price, past performance, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and apparatus to associate video content. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for associating video content involving the steps of requesting a webpage by a user computer and determining whether a keyword is present on the webpage requested by the user computer. Furthermore, the method includes the step of creating a link on the webpage from the keyword to the video file. Additionally, the method involves displaying the video file when the link is activated. In addition to methods for associating video content, the present invention provides a system for video content association. The system for video content association includes at least one video file stored in a database. Furthermore, the system for video content association includes a video association controller configured to receive a request for video content association when a webpage is requested by a user computer and determine whether the webpage contains at least one keyword.

Abstract: A client-side advertising application may work with an advertising back-end and a content downloading system to perform one or more of the following functions: download advertising content, manage the downloaded advertising content, define the user experience, facilitate the dynamic insertion of the downloaded advertising content into or around downloaded programming content, and ensure auditing messages are sent to an auditing server.

Abstract: Techniques are described that permit the flexible introduction of branding elements into or around video rendered by a media player. One or more sets of metadata related to the presentation of branding elements may be collected, and then one or more sets of the metadata may be selected based on business rules when the media player requests a particular piece of content. The selected metadata may indicate what branding element is to be displayed, and how it is to be displayed (e.g., position of element in video rendering window). The media player is then instructed based on the metadata to access and appropriately place the branding elements in or outside of the video rendering window (e.g., overlayed on top of the video content).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to identify and associate video content. In one implementation, a method is provided that includes requesting a webpage by a user computer and determining whether a keyword is present on the webpage requested by the user computer. Furthermore, the method includes creating a link on the webpage from the keyword to the video file and displaying the video file when the link is activated.

Abstract: A client-side advertising application may work with an advertising back-end and a content downloading system to perform one or more of the following functions: download advertising content, manage the downloaded advertising content, define the user experience, facilitate the dynamic insertion of the downloaded advertising content into or around downloaded programming content, and ensure auditing messages are sent to an auditing server.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selling one or more advertisements and displaying the one or more advertisements in a fixed placement for a set duration of time on a web page within an Internet website in combination with displaying advertisements from the same advertiser in contextually relevant locations within the website.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selecting advertisements for display over a communications network and, more particularly, to systems and methods for selecting video advertisements for display within internet web pages based on relevance, bid price, past performance, or a combination thereof.