Architecture is provided for selecting an ad insertion system/server from
a plurality of ad insertion systems/server for receiving broadcast
transmissions and inserted advertisements. A gateway, as part of the
architecture, selects an ad insertion system, in accordance with a
developed client profile and a network factor associated with the
communication performance of the ad insertion system. The gateway
associates the developed profile with a client, and the gateway receives
information relating the network factor from at least one ad insertion
system. The gateway also ascertains the casting services (IP
multicasting, IP multicasting proxy, and IP unicasting) supported by
client. The ad insertion system may use the information about the
supported casting services, with a developed client profile and a network
factor for selecting an ad insertion system.