Abstract: A profile provider: (i) associates a set of devices (including two or more online devices and possibly a set-top box); and (ii) delivers an advertisement targeted using profile information associated with one of the online devices. The advertisement is presented along with media content. If the media content is viewed using a single-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select or receive the media content. If the media content is viewed using a multiple-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select, receive, or present the media content or with an online device associated with one or more of those online devices.

Abstract: An automatic system facilitates selection of media properties on which to display an advertisement, responsive to a profile collected on a first media property, where a behavioral-targeting company calculates expected profit for an ad correlated with the profile and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property. The profit can be calculated by deducting, from the revenues that are expected to be generated from an ad delivered based on the collected profile, at least the price of ad space at a media property where the BT company might like to deliver ads to the profiled visitor. When the calculated profit is positive (i.e., not a loss), the BT company arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property through which the BT company expects to profit.

Abstract: In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel. A relationship is identified between an online user profile and the television program or channel, and the television advertisement is selected based at least in part on information from the online user profile. The selected television advertisement is presented, in association with the television program or channel that is identified as being related to the online user profile, via a set-top box having a corresponding set-top box identifier that is associated with the online user profile.

Abstract: A profile provider: (i) associates a primary online device (OD1) with a set-top box (STB); (ii) a location of OD1 at some point in time is estimated to be “near” the STB, thereby establishing a STB proxy location; (iii) one or more secondary online devices (OD2s) are observed to be located “near” the STB proxy location and are associated with the STB; and (iv) a television advertisement is selected to be directed to the STB, which selection is based at least in part on profile information linked to one of the associated OD2s. The method can be particularly advantageous in situations wherein: the STB is not connected to any computer network; the STB is not ever connected to the same local area network as OD1 or OD2; or television service (used by the STB) and online access (used by OD1 and OD2s) are provided by different service providers.

Abstract: In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel. A relationship is identified between an online user profile and the television program or channel, and the television advertisement is selected based at least in part on information from the online user profile. The selected television advertisement is presented, in association with the television program or channel that is identified as being related to the online user profile, via a set-top box having a corresponding set-top box identifier that is associated with the online user profile.

Abstract: A method is performed using a smart TV, which receives from a television signal source device a television signal feed encoding primary television content and then presents that content. The smart TV receives data via the computer network, including first data representing a to-be-replaced portion of the primary television content and second data representing secondary television content. Using the second data, the smart TV automatically presents the secondary television content in place of the to-be-replaced television content.

Abstract: An automatic system facilitates selection of media properties on which to display an advertisement, responsive to a profile collected on a first media property, where a behavioral-targeting company calculates expected profit for an ad correlated with the profile and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property. The profit can be calculated by deducting, from the revenues that are expected to be generated from an ad delivered based on the collected profile, at least the price of ad space at a media property where the BT company might like to deliver ads to the profiled visitor. When the calculated profit is positive (i.e., not a loss), the BT company arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property through which the BT company expects to profit.

Abstract: A profile provider: (i) associates a primary online device (OD1) with a set-top box (STB); (ii) a location of OD1 at some point in time is estimated to be “near” the STB, thereby establishing a STB proxy location; (iii) one or more secondary online devices (OD2s) are observed to be located “near” the STB proxy location and are associated with the STB; and (iv) a television advertisement is selected to be directed to the STB, which selection is based at least in part on profile information linked to one of the associated OD2s. The method can be particularly advantageous in situations wherein: the STB is not connected to any computer network; the STB is not ever connected to the same local area network as OD1 or OD2; or television service (used by the STB) and online access (used by OD1 and OD2s) are provided by different service providers.

Abstract: A method, performed using one or more servers under the control of an ISP, comprises: (a) receiving an electronic transmission from a requesting server of an IP address and a time and date; (b) automatically determining to which subscriber of the ISP the received IP address was allocated at the received time and date; and (c) automatically transmitting an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider. The delivered offline data concern the subscriber determined to have been allocated the received IP address at the received time and date. The communication does not convey to the offline data provider the subscriber's history of online activity, and the delivery does not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the subscriber.

Abstract: In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel, which in turn is selected based at least in part on information from an online user profile that contains information indicating a user's preference for that television program or channel. The television advertisement is selected based at least in part on additional information from the online user profile that is unrelated to the selected television program or channel. The selected television advertisement is presented on or during the selected television program or channel via a set-top box, which has a set-top box identifier associated with the online user profile.

Abstract: A profile provider: (i) associates a set of devices (including two or more online devices and possibly a set-top box); and (ii) delivers an advertisement targeted using profile information associated with one of the online devices. The advertisement is presented along with media content. If the media content is viewed using a single-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select or receive the media content. If the media content is viewed using a multiple-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select, receive, or present the media content or with an online device associated with one or more of those online devices.

Abstract: A computer system automatically identifies, in response to receipt of first electronic data indicating selected advertisements are desired for a set-top box, certain television programs/channels that permit or desire selected advertisements, and automatically makes available to a device a set of selected television advertisements. The programs/channels are identified using second electronic data. The programs/channels are available for viewing in a time slot during which the first electronic data was received. Each selected advertisement corresponds to an identified television program/channel. The device has access to third electronic data indicating which program/channel is currently being presented via the set-top box, so that a selected television advertisement can be presented via the set-top box while the corresponding program/channel is being presented. The computer system selects and makes available the first set of television advertisements without access to the third electronic data.

Abstract: In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel, which in turn is selected based at least in part on information from an online user profile that contains information indicating a user's preference for that television program or channel. The television advertisement is selected based at least in part on additional information from the online user profile that is unrelated to the selected television program or channel. The selected television advertisement is presented on or during the selected television program or channel via a set-top box, which has a set-top box identifier associated with the online user profile.

Abstract: A profile provider: (i) associates a primary online device (OD1) with a set-top box (STB); (ii) a location of OD1 at some point in time is estimated to be “near” the STB, thereby establishing a STB proxy location; (iii) one or more secondary online devices (OD2s) are observed to be located “near” the STB proxy location and are associated with the STB; and (iv) a television advertisement is selected to be directed to the STB, which selection is based at least in part on profile information linked to one of the associated OD2s. The method can be particularly advantageous in situations wherein: the STB is not connected to any computer network; the STB is not ever connected to the same local area network as OD1 or OD2; or television service (used by the STB) and online access (used by OD1 and OD2s) are provided by different service providers.

Abstract: A profile provider: (i) associates a set of devices (including two or more online devices and possibly a set-top box); and (ii) delivers an advertisement targeted using profile information associated with one of the online devices. The advertisement is presented along with media content. If the media content is viewed using a single-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select or receive the media content. If the media content is viewed using a multiple-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select, receive, or present the media content or with an online device associated with one or more of those online devices.

Abstract: An automatic system facilitates selection of media properties on which to display an advertisement, responsive to a profile collected on a first media property, where a behavioral-targeting company calculates expected profit for an ad correlated with the profile and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property. The profit can be calculated by deducting, from the revenues that are expected to be generated from an ad delivered based on the collected profile, at least the price of ad space at a media property where the BT company might like to deliver ads to the profiled visitor. When the calculated profit is positive (i.e., not a loss), the BT company arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property through which the BT company expects to profit.

Abstract: A method implemented using a programmed hardware computer system comprises: in response to a request to deliver an advertisement received from a TVP or STB (or another entity for the STB), causing a television advertisement to be directed to the STB; storing indicia derived from that direction; and taking an action with respect to an online user interface device (such as a computer, game machine, or mobile phone) associated with the STB, which action is either (i) causing delivery to the online user interface device of an online advertisement targeted based on the presumed viewing of the television advertisement, or (ii) identifying a correlation between the presumed viewing of the television advertisement and subsequent online behavior conducted using the online user interface device that is or has been tracked.

Abstract: An automatic system facilitates selection of media properties on which to display an advertisement, responsive to a profile collected on a first media property, where a behavioral-targeting company calculates expected profit for an ad correlated with the profile and arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property. The profit can be calculated by deducting, from the revenues that are expected to be generated from an ad delivered based on the collected profile, at least the price of ad space at a media property where the BT company might like to deliver ads to the profiled visitor. When the calculated profit is positive (i.e., not a loss), the BT company arranges for the visitor to be tagged with a tag readable by the selected media property through which the BT company expects to profit.

Abstract: In a method for delivering targeted television advertisements based on online behavior, IP addresses indicating online access devices and IP addresses indicating television set-top boxes are electronically associated for a multitude of users. Using user profile information derived from online activity from one of the online access IP addresses, a television advertisement is selected, such as by using behavioral targeting or demographic information, and automatically directed to the set-top box indicated by the set-top IP address associated with that online access IP address. Preferably neither the user profile information nor the electronic association of online access and set-top box IP addresses includes personally identifiable information.

Abstract: A method of accumulating descriptive profile data uses a databank that can be contacted by profile providers who contribute profile elements about an online visitor. The method includes keeping track of which profile provider contributed which elements, so that use of particular elements in targeting electronic third-party advertisements automatically can result in compensation.