Abstract: A system for construing a content presentation is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the system includes Input/Output (I/O) circuitry to receive an indicated location, and memory to store scheduling information that includes a location information and date information associated with the location information. A processor identifies at least one media segment for inclusion into a customized media programming stream based on (a) comparing the indicated location to the location information from the scheduling information; and (b) comparing the current date to the associated date information from the scheduling information. Further, the processer assembles a customized media programming stream by adding the at least one identified media segment to the customized media programming stream. The I/O circuitry transmits the customized media programming stream for presentation on a user device.

Abstract: A method, software, database and system for determining an optimal treatment for an illness in an individual and for determining the impact (e.g., side effects and intended benefits) of the treatment in the individual are presented in which an attribute profile of the individual containing genetic and non-genetic attributes is compared against a database containing combinations genetic and non-genetic attributes that are statistically associated with successful treatment of the illness in other individuals.

Abstract: A customized programming content creation system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a media content search engine locates and retrieves media segments, and a storage component stores a user location indicator. A processor accesses scheduling information data structures for the media segments, and filters the media segments to generate a set of current local media segments. The filtering is based on a comparison of a user-associated location value with a geography value from the scheduling information data structure, and a comparison of a current time value with an expiration value from the scheduling information data structure. The set of current local media segments includes at least one local weather segment. The media segments are also filtered to identify at least one current news media segment. An integrated video stream is assembled. The stream is then transmitted for presentation on a user device of the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of creating customized programming content for a user of a media content system includes accessing a user interest profile for the user, the user interest profile comprising a ranked list of a plurality of interest categories; locating at least one media segment corresponding to each of the interest categories of the user interest profile; calculating the correlation between the user interest profile and data describing each of the located media segment, and ranking the media segments based on the correlation; assembling the media segments into a customized media programming stream based on the ranking; and displaying the customized media programming stream to the user.

Abstract: A method, software, database and system for determining an optimal treatment for an illness in an individual and for determining the impact (e.g., side effects and intended benefits) of the treatment in the individual are presented in which an attribute profile of the individual containing genetic and non-genetic attributes is compared against a database containing combinations genetic and non-genetic attributes that are statistically associated with successful treatment of the illness in other individuals.

Abstract: A method, software, database and system for determining an optimal treatment for an illness in an individual and for determining the impact (e.g., side effects and intended benefits) of the treatment in the individual are presented in which an attribute profile of the individual containing genetic and non-genetic attributes is compared against a database containing combinations genetic and non-genetic attributes that are statistically associated with successful treatment of the illness in other individuals.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes starting a first viewing session; receiving one or more programming streams including one or more video programs; storing (e.g., at regular time intervals) program data including identification data describing the one or more video programs and a corresponding time interval; monitoring and/or storing a plurality of interactions with video controls of the particular viewer during the first viewing session; ending the first viewing session; aggregating at least a portion of the plurality of the interactions and the program data in a new session profile that represents the particular viewer's short-term viewing habits; accessing one or more existing signature profiles having signature categories that may represent the long-term viewing habits of a respective viewer; and matching the new session profile with one of the one or more existing signature profiles to deliver a particular viewer a targeted advertisement.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of creating customized programming content for a user of a video content system includes accessing a user interest profile for the user, the user interest profile comprising a ranked list of a plurality of interest categories; locating at least one video segment corresponding to each of the interest categories of the user interest profile; calculating the correlation between the user interest profile and data describing each of the located video segment, and ranking the video segments based on the correlation; assembling the video segments into a customized video programming stream based on the ranking; and displaying the customized video programming stream to the user.

Abstract: A method, software, database and system for determining an optimal treatment for an illness in an individual and for determining the impact (e.g., side effects and intended benefits) of the treatment in the individual are presented in which an attribute profile of the individual containing genetic and non-genetic attributes is compared against a database containing combinations genetic and non-genetic attributes that are statistically associated with successful treatment of the illness in other individuals.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described that relate to a method and system for selecting an advertisement for a subscriber of a multi-platform service operating over a transmission medium. An advertisement computer presents advertisements to the subscriber over a platform included in the multiplatform service. Each of the advertisements is associated with a geographic location. The advertisement computer may receive positive responses to the presentment of the plurality of advertisements and define a target geographic area. A plurality of local advertisement responses from the positive responses are selected by the advertisement computer. Each local advertisement response is associated with a location inside the defined target geographic area. The advertisement computer defines a positive response area based on the plurality of local advertisement responses and selects a first new advertisement.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, advertisements may be inserted into a programming stream in a communications network. For example, a programming stream may be transmitted from a first location to one or more receiving nodes. One or more queues may be aggregated at a node of the network. Each queue may be associated with one or more subscribers and/or may comprise a plurality of queue locations forming an ordered list of advertisements. Each advertisement may be matched (e.g., previously matched) to one or more of the subscribers. The aggregated specific individual queue locations may determine the ordered list of the advertisements within the queues. One or more intervals may be detected in the programming stream within which advertisements may be inserted. Advertisements may be inserted from the queues into the programming stream within the detected one or more intervals. The advertisements may be inserted in accordance with the ordered list.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, advertisement identifiers are stored in a queue in memory in the set top box or elsewhere corresponding to individual subscribers of a television service delivery network. The advertisements are retrieved and displayed in the order dictated by the queue as advertisement avails are detected in the particular channel information stream being watched by that subscriber. Accordingly, the subscriber sees the advertisements regardless of what channel or television program is being watched and sees them in the order dictated by the queue. The invention also is applicable to other information streams including Internet advertising, audio/radio advertising and advertising in electronic program guides.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of transmitting streaming media and advertisements to viewers at a plurality of viewer nodes is disclosed in which a plurality of viewer groups are created. Each viewer node is assigned to one of the plurality of viewer groups, wherein the assigning includes creating an advertising group map disclosing an advertising group to which each viewer belongs and transmitting the advertising group map to each viewer node. At the head end, at least one media stream is received including media content. A plurality of presentation streams is formed, each presentation channel corresponding to one of the viewer groups, by replicating the at least one media stream, each presentation channel including the media content and advertisements, wherein the advertisements replace previously scheduled advertisements. Each of the presentation channels is transmitted to at least one viewer node in said viewer group corresponding to said presentation channel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes monitoring a plurality of actions and inactions with video controls of a particular viewer during a first session, wherein the plurality of actions and inactions form a session profile that represents the particular viewer's short-term viewing habits; correlating one or more session profiles that have similar category values to create a signature profile having signature categories that represents the long-term viewing habits of a particular viewer; and matching a new session profile with an existing signature profile to determine a particular viewer for targeted advertising purposes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for managing advertisement opportunities in a network environment includes retrieving advertisement parameters supplied by an advertiser; creating at least one program substream by dividing a program stream; identifying avails that are positioned within the program stream and dividing the avails into one or more subavails in the at least one program substream; retrieving subscriber characteristics related to viewers of the at least one program substream; and correlating the subscriber characteristics with the advertisement parameters to determine which advertisement is the optimum advertisement to schedule to display in the one or more subavails.

Abstract: An advertisement system and method of identifying targeted advertisements for presentation to one or more viewers. In one aspect, the invention may be a method of identifying targeted advertisements for presentation to one or more viewers, the method comprising: receiving a map based on one or more advertising groups and characterization information derived from at least one of the viewers; and transmitting to equipment associated with the viewers, one or more advertisements each having one or more advertising group identifier, wherein an advertising group identifier matches an advertising group within the map.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of managing advertisements in a digital program stream is disclosed. One or more advertisements are obtained, each advertisement associated with characterization data that facilitates targeting each of the advertisements to a subscriber and an ad bit rate. One or more avails are recognized in the digital program stream, each avail having a characterization and the digital program stream having a program stream bit rate. At least one of the advertisements is identified for insertion into the at least one avail based in part on comparing the characterization data and a characterization of the at least one avail and comparing the ad bit rate for the respective advertisement and the program stream bit rate. The at least one advertisement is inserted into one of the avails, the ad bit rate for the received advertisement being less than or equal to the program stream bit rate.

Abstract: Method and system for managing advertising in program streams. Advertisement opportunities (avails) in a program stream may be divided into sections (subavails) with the goal of directing advertising at a particular target audience (group). A program stream is split into one or more sub-streams to produce additional advertising avail sections (subavails) able to be targeted to a subgroup of subscribers. Subavails may also refer to various advertisement opportunities in different presentation streams (sub-streams). Each sub-stream may be targeted at a subgroup of subscribers with demographic and product preference characteristics. By correlating the subscriber characteristics with advertisement parameters supplied by an advertiser, the system/method determines which advertisement is best to display in the one or more subavails. Accordingly, such a subavail, or group of subavails may be sold to an advertiser, e.g., via an auction.

Abstract: An Ad Management System (AMS) for managing sales and insertion of targeted advertisements into advertising opportunities (“avails”). The AMS provides advertisers an ability to describe their advertisements (ad characteristics) in terms of target market demographics, required ad bandwidth, ad duration, and other ad specific parameters. The AMS receives the ad characteristics and matches the ads to the avails. The AMS tracks different avails including duration and bandwidth of the avail, and uses a number of schemes to determine if the ad can be placed in the avail including comparing bandwidth requirements. The AMS targets advertisements by correlating subscriber characteristics to the ad characteristics. The subscriber characteristics may be associated with groups of subscribers (e.g. nodes in cable television environments) or to individual subscribers.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, advertisement identifiers are stored in a queue in memory in the set top box or elsewhere corresponding to individual subscribers of a television service delivery network. The advertisements are retrieved and displayed in the order dictated by the queue as advertisement avails are detected in the particular channel information stream being watched by that subscriber. Accordingly, the subscriber sees the advertisements regardless of what channel or television program is being watched and sees them in the order dictated by the queue. The invention also is applicable to other information streams including Internet advertising, audio/radio advertising and advertising in electronic program guides.