US20050273808A1 - Method For Companies To Conduct Transactions During Media Broadcasts - Google Patents

Method For Companies To Conduct Transactions During Media Broadcasts Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20050273808A1
US20050273808A1 US11/160,815 US16081505A US2005273808A1 US 20050273808 A1 US20050273808 A1 US 20050273808A1 US 16081505 A US16081505 A US 16081505A US 2005273808 A1 US2005273808 A1 US 2005273808A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
information
broadcast
viewer
computer
communication medium
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/160,815
Inventor
Robert Zeidman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=25080687&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US20050273808(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US11/160,815 priority Critical patent/US20050273808A1/en
Publication of US20050273808A1 publication Critical patent/US20050273808A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/466Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/4667Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/258Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H04N21/25866Management of end-user data
    • H04N21/25891Management of end-user data being end-user preferences
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/435Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/442Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44213Monitoring of end-user related data
    • H04N21/44222Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity
    • H04N21/44224Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4622Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • H04N21/478Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4782Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • H04N21/478Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4784Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application receiving rewards
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6106Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6125Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6156Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6175Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/81Monomedia components thereof
    • H04N21/812Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/08Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division
    • H04N7/087Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only
    • H04N7/088Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only the inserted signal being digital
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/16Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • H04N21/478Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

Definitions

  • the present invention allows companies to conduct transactions during a broadcast.
  • One transaction would be a product purchase whereby product information is sent to the viewer, payment and shipping information is sent back to the company selling the product.
  • Other types of transactions are possible.
  • medical diagnoses can be transmitted whereby medical symptoms are sent to a doctor and prescription information is returned to the viewer.
  • conversations about the content being broadcast can be transmitted between two or more people, for example in a fan club.
  • Other applications of this invention are also possible and these examples are used for illustration purposes and are not intended to limit the invention's applications.
  • broadcast encompasses all forms of transmitting media content to an end user, including radio wave broadcasts such as network television and network radio broadcasts, cable broadcasts such as cable television, and streaming media broadcasts such as video and audio over an Internet connection that may be via telephone lines, television cables, radio waves, etc.
  • the invention provides a method and apparatus for recording the amount of time spent watching a particular broadcast.
  • the invention also provides a method and apparatus for recording the sponsoring companies or organizations for each broadcast.
  • the invention provides a method and apparatus for the viewer to send information to another location.
  • the user watches an Internet connected television.
  • HTTP protocol communications from a Web server are sent to the television, which places a cookie or updates an existing cookie on the television hard drive.
  • This cookie contains information including the time of day, the television channel, the name of the television show, and each sponsor of the show.
  • the viewer can use the Internet connected television to connect to a website.
  • This website can belong to the television network or a particular sponsor or a central clearing house for coupons.
  • the website examines the cookie and retrieves the information in it.
  • Each sponsor can then offer advertisements, coupons, discounts, and other enticements to purchase goods based on the amount of time the viewer spent watching a sponsored broadcast.
  • Each viewer can respond with an e-commerce transaction that includes credit card information and shipping information in order to initiate a purchase and have the product shipped to the viewer.
  • the user watches an Internet connected television.
  • data is sent to a centralized database for the network or the sponsor or a third party reseller.
  • the data contain information including the time of day, the television channel, the name of the television show, and each sponsor of the show.
  • the data also contain a user identifier such as a name, user ID, credit card number and verification information, billing address, or shipping address.
  • the viewer can use the Internet connected television to connect to a website that has access to the central database. This website can belong to the television network or a particular sponsor or a third party reseller.
  • the user identification information is sent to the website which then examines the central database and retrieves the information in it for this particular user.
  • Each sponsor can then offer advertisements, coupons, discounts, and other enticements to purchase goods based on the amount of time the viewer spent watching a sponsored broadcast. Or the sponsor can initiate a product purchase and shipment.
  • the user watches a streaming media broadcast from a Web server using a computer with an Internet connection.
  • HTTP protocol communications from a Web server are sent to the computer, which places a cookie or updates and existing cookie on the computer hard drive.
  • This cookie contains information including the time of day, the website that is the source of the broadcast, the name of the broadcast content, and each sponsor of the broadcast.
  • the viewer can use the computer to connect to a website.
  • This website can belong to the television network or a particular sponsor or a third party reseller.
  • the website examines the cookie and retrieves the information in it.
  • Each sponsor can then offer advertisements, coupons, discounts, and other enticements to purchase goods based on the amount of time the viewer spent watching a sponsored broadcast. Or the sponsor can initiate a product purchase and shipment.
  • the user watches a streaming media broadcast from a Web server using a computer with an Internet connection.
  • data is sent to a centralized database for the network or the sponsor or a third party reseller.
  • the data contains information including the time of day, the website that is the source of the broadcast, the name of the broadcast content, and each sponsor of the show.
  • the data also contain a user identifier such as a name, user ID, credit card number, billing address, or shipping address.
  • the viewer can use the computer to connect to a website that has access to the central database. This website can belong to the television network or a particular sponsor or a central clearing house for coupons.
  • the user identifier information is sent to the website which then examines the central database and retrieves the information in it for this particular user.
  • Each sponsor can then offer advertisements, coupons, discounts, and other enticements to purchase goods based on the amount of time the viewer spent watching a sponsored broadcast.
  • Each viewer can respond with an e-commerce transaction that includes credit card information and shipping information in order to initiate a purchase and have the product shipped to the viewer.
  • FIG. 1 shows an Internet-enabled television, a network TV broadcast transmitter, a database server, and the Internet, in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a computer, a streaming media server, a database server, and the Internet, in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 shows a mechanism for combining broadcast information with broadcast content during a broadcast transmission.
  • FIG. 4 shows a general format and a specific format for encoding embedded information in a stream of data.
  • FIG. 5 shows a mechanism for separating broadcast information and broadcast content from a broadcast transmission.
  • FIG. 6 shows a format for storing the embedded information on the client storage device in a database.
  • FIG. 7 shows an algorithm within the decoder that strips out embedded information and creates the database records.
  • FIG. 8 shows an algorithm within the database server that gives transaction information back to the viewer.
  • FIG. 9 shows data that is contained in blocks in the database on the database server.
  • FIG. 1 shows one configuration where an Internet-enabled television 106 with a hard disk 107 receives broadcasts 104 from a network television station via transmitter 101 .
  • the Internet-enabled TV 106 is also connected for two-way communication to a database server 103 via the Internet 102 .
  • the computer is connected to the Internet via telephone lines 105 using a modem.
  • the database server is connected to the Internet via a T-1 connection 100 .
  • the television 106 receives one-way transmissions 104 from the network broadcast transmitter 101 .
  • Embedded in the transmission are HTTP protocol messages containing information about the show being broadcast, the sponsors of the show, and the current time. Other information can also be embedded and sent to the television 106 such as information about specific products for sale including pricing information.
  • the embedded information is stored on the hard disk 107 in the form of a cookie.
  • the television 106 connects to the database server 103 which is part of a website on the Internet 102 .
  • the database server 103 queries the cookie on the television 106 in order to determine which shows were watched, during which times, which advertisers sponsored those shows or those segments of shows, and which products were being advertised.
  • the database server can search its database for coupons, advertisements, discounts, and other enticements to buy products or services from the advertiser, and deliver these enticements via the Internet 102 to the television 106 .
  • the database server can search its database product information such as pricing and availability, and the database server can deliver this information via the Internet 102 to the television 106 .
  • the television 106 receives one-way transmissions 104 from the network broadcast transmitter 101 .
  • Embedded in the transmission are HTTP protocol messages containing information about the show being broadcast, the sponsors of the show, and the current time. Other information can also be embedded and sent to the television 106 such as information about specific products for sale including pricing information.
  • the embedded information is stored on the hard disk 107 .
  • the television 106 connects to the database server 103 which is part of a website on the Internet 102 .
  • the television 106 sends the information on the hard disk 107 to the database server 103 via the Internet 102 .
  • the database server 103 stores the information in its database.
  • the database server can search the database for coupons, advertisements, discounts, and other enticements to buy products or services from the advertiser, and deliver these enticements via the Internet 102 to the television 106 .
  • the database server can search its database product information such as pricing and availability, and the database server can deliver this information via the Internet 102 to the television 106 .
  • FIG. 2 shows another configuration where a computer 203 receives streaming media broadcasts from a streaming media server 200 via the Internet 102 .
  • the computer 203 is also connected for two-way communication to a database server 103 via the Internet 102 .
  • the computer is connected to the Internet via telephone lines 202 using a modem.
  • the database server is connected to the Internet via a T-1 connection 100 .
  • the streaming media server is connected to the Internet via a T-1 connection 201 .
  • the computer 203 receives transmissions from the streaming media server 200 via the Internet 102 .
  • Embedded in the transmission are messages containing information about the show being broadcast, the sponsors of the show, and the current time. Other information can also be embedded and sent to the television 106 such as information about specific products for sale including pricing information.
  • the embedded information is stored on the computer's hard disk in the form of a cookie.
  • the computer 203 connects to the database server 103 which is part of a website on the Internet 102 .
  • the database server 103 queries the cookie on the computer 203 in order to determine which shows were watched, during which times, which advertisers sponsored those shows or those segments of shows, and which products were being advertised.
  • the database server can search its database for coupons, advertisements, discounts, and other enticements to buy products or services from the advertiser, and deliver these enticements via the Internet 102 to the computer 203 .
  • the database server can search its database product information such as pricing and availability, and the database server can deliver this information via the Internet 102 to the television 106 .
  • the computer 203 receives transmissions from the streaming media server 200 via the Internet 102 .
  • Embedded in the transmission are messages containing information about the show being broadcast, the sponsors of the show, and the current time. Other information can also be embedded and sent to the television 106 such as information about specific products for sale including pricing information.
  • the embedded information is stored on the computer's hard disk.
  • the computer 203 connects to the database server 103 which is part of a website on the Internet 102 .
  • the computer 203 transmits the information on its hard disk to the database server 103 via the Internet 102 .
  • the database server 103 stores the information in the database.
  • the database server can search its database for coupons, advertisements, discounts, and other enticements to buy products or services from the advertiser, and deliver these enticements via the Internet 102 to the computer 203 .
  • the database server can search its database product information such as pricing and availability, and the database server can deliver this information via the Internet 102 to the television 106 .
  • FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which content with embedded information is created from normal broadcast content.
  • the method shown can be implemented in hardware or software or combinations of hardware and software.
  • Sponsor information 302 and product information 307 are translated into a format such as HTTP protocol using HTTP translator 303 .
  • the information is then combined with the programming content 301 , such as a television show or streaming video, through multiplexer 305 .
  • the multiplexer inserts the sponsor information at regular periods, or frames, throughout the broadcast by using timer 304 .
  • a frame may be a single television picture scan, or it may be a single frame of streaming video data or it may be an arbitrary amount of data.
  • the sponsor information can be inserted into the data stream at a time or in such a way that it does not destroy data, such as during the vertical blanking time of a television frame scan.
  • the data is then put into the transmitter 306 , which is then transmitted as analog or digital data 300 .
  • FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a general format and a specific format for the embedded sponsor information as a stream of data.
  • a packet is inserted before a frame of content data, which includes the head 400 , content name 401 , the current date 402 , the current time 403 , the sponsor name 404 , and other data 405 as required.
  • the head 400 can be a start-of-slice (SOS) flag or an end-of-slice (EOS) flag, which signal the start or end of a time slice respectively.
  • SOS start-of-slice
  • EOS end-of-slice
  • FIG. 4 provides an example of specific information: the head is provided as “start-of-slice” 406 , content name is provided as “Star Trek” 407 , the date is provided as “Jan.
  • FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the sponsor information is separated from the broadcast content using hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software.
  • the software portion of the implementation may be a stand-alone media player program or a plug-in to a Web browser.
  • the broadcast stream 300 which may be a television broadcast, a radio broadcast, an audio stream, or a video stream, is received by a receiver 501 that converts the signal to one that is usable by the decoder 502 that splits the information into programming content 503 and sponsor information 504 .
  • the programming content 503 is sent to a presentation device 505 such as a computer, a screen, or a personal music player such as an Apple iPod.
  • the sponsor information 504 is recorded on a storage device 506 such as a hard disk.
  • FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of the format for storing the embedded information on the client storage device 506 in a database.
  • entry block 600 For each television show, audio clip, or video clip there is an entry block 600 containing several records.
  • the first record contains the name of the content.
  • Sponsors may then sponsor 1 to 4 slices of a one-hour broadcast.
  • Associated with each time slice in the database are 3 records.
  • One record contains the name of the time slice.
  • Another record contains the number of minutes during that time slice that the viewer was actually watching the broadcast.
  • Another record contains a link to a sponsor block in the database for the sponsor of that time slice.
  • a sponsor block such as 601 or 602 , contains multiple records.
  • One record contains the name of the sponsor.
  • Another record contains information about the sponsor.
  • Other records contain links to content that is sponsored by the sponsor. Having both content blocks and sponsor blocks in the database, with links to each other, allows the database to easily be searched for all content sponsored by a specific sponsor, or all sponsors of particular content.
  • FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the algorithm within the decoder 502 that strips out embedded information and creates the database records 600 , 601 , 602 .
  • This algorithm may be implemented in software or hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Execution starts at block 700 where a frame of broadcast content is received. The content information is separated out and sent to the output device by executing block 701 . Execution of block 702 searches for embedded sponsor information in the broadcast. If there is no embedded sponsor information, execution is transferred to block 707 . This may be due to the fact that the viewer has switched between a broadcast containing embedded information to some other broadcast not containing embedded information. At block 702 , if there is embedded sponsor information, block 703 is executed, extracting that information.
  • Block 704 is then executed where viewing counters are incremented. These viewing counters keep track of the precise time slices during which the viewer has viewed the content.
  • the embedded information is examined for an end-of-slice marker that signals the end of a time slice. If this marker is found, execution is transferred to block 707 . Otherwise, execution is transferred to block 706 where the embedded information is examined for a start-of-slice marker that signals the start of a time slice. If this marker is found, execution is transferred to block 708 . Otherwise execution is transferred back to block 700 and the process is repeated.
  • Block 707 is executed when a time slice has ended or the viewer has switched to another type of broadcast. When this block is executed, the viewing counters are recorded in the database on the client machine. Execution is then transferred to block 708 .
  • Block 708 is executed at the start of a new time slice. This block resets the viewing counters and transfers execution to block 700 , starting the entire process over.
  • FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the algorithm within the database server 103 that performs a transaction with the viewer. Execution starts in block 800 when a request for a transaction is received from the viewer. Execution continues to block 801 where, through a handshaking protocol, the information in the client database stored in storage device 506 on the viewer's computer 203 or Internet connected TV 106 is used to query the database of database server 103 . Execution continues to block 802 where the database server searches its database for matches with the sponsors reported by the viewer. Execution continues to block 803 where links to sponsor Web pages are retrieved from the database server based on the information from the viewer.
  • Execution continues to block 804 where an entire HTML page is created which contains links to all products corresponding to the time slices that the viewer was viewing specific content. Execution continues to block 805 where this Web page is then sent back to the viewer. At this time, the viewer can click on links to obtain coupons, discounts, special offers, etc. or to complete e-commerce type transactions.
  • FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the data that is contained in tables in the database on the database server 103 .
  • table 900 contains multiple records.
  • One record contains the sponsor name.
  • One of these records contains the criteria for the viewer to receive transaction information about a specific product. For example, only if the viewer is watching the broadcast during a specific time slice that a product is being advertised will the product be offered to the viewer for purchase.
  • the other record contains a link to a database table for the particular product.
  • Each product has a table of records such as 901 and 902 .
  • the table includes a record of the product name, and a number of other records that contain information about pricing information, availability information, etc. that should be offered to the viewer.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Social Psychology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Graphics (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

A system and method that allows a company or companies to conduct commercial transactions with broadcast viewers immediately during a broadcast or at a later time. The amount of time a viewer spends watching a particular broadcast is recorded along with information about the company or companies sponsoring the broadcast. The viewer accesses a central database, which sends back to the viewer advertisements, coupons, discounts, contests, product information, and product purchase information, based on information about the viewer and the specific times the viewer watched broadcasts or segments of broadcasts that were sponsored by the company or companies.

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
  • The present application is a continuation-in-part application of copending U.S. patent application, entitled “METHOD FOR ADVERTISERS TO SPONSOR BROADCASTS WITHOUT COMMERCIALS,” Ser. No. 09/767,819, filed on Jan. 22, 2001.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Conducting transactions over the Internet has become fairly commonplace. However, more people own televisions than computers and in general people spend more time watching television than surfing the Internet. Television viewers represent a captive audience. However, television tends to be a purely passive experience. Yet consumers, particularly those that are inclined toward impulse buying, would certainly enjoy the ability to immediately purchase products that they see during a broadcast, whether the product is displayed during a commercial advertisement or during the content of the television show or movie.
  • Currently there are only a limited number of interactive features available for television viewers. Commercial transactions occur in only one direction—advertisements from the broadcast sponsors to the broadcast viewers. Completing the transaction—payment from the viewer to the sponsor—must occur by other means. This invention addresses the ability to complete the transaction much in the same way that e-commerce allows transactions via the Internet. The transactions described by this invention are not limited to television broadcasts, but are applicable to other types of broadcasts including streaming media on the Internet. This invention can be used to allow commercial transactions via any type of content broadcast.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention allows companies to conduct transactions during a broadcast. One transaction would be a product purchase whereby product information is sent to the viewer, payment and shipping information is sent back to the company selling the product. Other types of transactions are possible. For example, medical diagnoses can be transmitted whereby medical symptoms are sent to a doctor and prescription information is returned to the viewer. In another application, conversations about the content being broadcast can be transmitted between two or more people, for example in a fan club. Other applications of this invention are also possible and these examples are used for illustration purposes and are not intended to limit the invention's applications. For use in this patent, the term “broadcast” encompasses all forms of transmitting media content to an end user, including radio wave broadcasts such as network television and network radio broadcasts, cable broadcasts such as cable television, and streaming media broadcasts such as video and audio over an Internet connection that may be via telephone lines, television cables, radio waves, etc.
  • The invention provides a method and apparatus for recording the amount of time spent watching a particular broadcast. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for recording the sponsoring companies or organizations for each broadcast. The invention provides a method and apparatus for the viewer to send information to another location.
  • In one embodiment, the user watches an Internet connected television. At various regular intervals, such as the vertical blanking interval of the television signal, HTTP protocol communications from a Web server are sent to the television, which places a cookie or updates an existing cookie on the television hard drive. This cookie contains information including the time of day, the television channel, the name of the television show, and each sponsor of the show. At that time or at a later time of the viewer's choosing, the viewer can use the Internet connected television to connect to a website. This website can belong to the television network or a particular sponsor or a central clearing house for coupons. When connecting to the website, using the standard HTTP protocol, the website examines the cookie and retrieves the information in it. Each sponsor can then offer advertisements, coupons, discounts, and other enticements to purchase goods based on the amount of time the viewer spent watching a sponsored broadcast. Each viewer can respond with an e-commerce transaction that includes credit card information and shipping information in order to initiate a purchase and have the product shipped to the viewer.
  • In a second embodiment, the user watches an Internet connected television. At various regular intervals, such as the vertical blanking interval of the television signal, data is sent to a centralized database for the network or the sponsor or a third party reseller. The data contain information including the time of day, the television channel, the name of the television show, and each sponsor of the show. The data also contain a user identifier such as a name, user ID, credit card number and verification information, billing address, or shipping address. At that time, or at a later time, the viewer can use the Internet connected television to connect to a website that has access to the central database. This website can belong to the television network or a particular sponsor or a third party reseller. When connecting to the website, using the standard HTTP protocol, the user identification information is sent to the website which then examines the central database and retrieves the information in it for this particular user. Each sponsor can then offer advertisements, coupons, discounts, and other enticements to purchase goods based on the amount of time the viewer spent watching a sponsored broadcast. Or the sponsor can initiate a product purchase and shipment.
  • In a third embodiment, the user watches a streaming media broadcast from a Web server using a computer with an Internet connection. At various regular intervals during the broadcast, HTTP protocol communications from a Web server are sent to the computer, which places a cookie or updates and existing cookie on the computer hard drive. This cookie contains information including the time of day, the website that is the source of the broadcast, the name of the broadcast content, and each sponsor of the broadcast. At that time or at a later time of the viewer's choosing, the viewer can use the computer to connect to a website. This website can belong to the television network or a particular sponsor or a third party reseller. When connecting to the website, using the standard HTTP protocol, the website examines the cookie and retrieves the information in it. Each sponsor can then offer advertisements, coupons, discounts, and other enticements to purchase goods based on the amount of time the viewer spent watching a sponsored broadcast. Or the sponsor can initiate a product purchase and shipment.
  • In a fourth embodiment, the user watches a streaming media broadcast from a Web server using a computer with an Internet connection. At various regular intervals during the broadcast, data is sent to a centralized database for the network or the sponsor or a third party reseller. The data contains information including the time of day, the website that is the source of the broadcast, the name of the broadcast content, and each sponsor of the show. The data also contain a user identifier such as a name, user ID, credit card number, billing address, or shipping address. At any time, the viewer can use the computer to connect to a website that has access to the central database. This website can belong to the television network or a particular sponsor or a central clearing house for coupons. When connecting to the website, using the standard HTTP protocol, the user identifier information is sent to the website which then examines the central database and retrieves the information in it for this particular user. Each sponsor can then offer advertisements, coupons, discounts, and other enticements to purchase goods based on the amount of time the viewer spent watching a sponsored broadcast. Each viewer can respond with an e-commerce transaction that includes credit card information and shipping information in order to initiate a purchase and have the product shipped to the viewer.
  • Further features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention are described in the detailed description below, which is given by way of example only.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiment but are for explanation and understanding only.
  • (1) FIG. 1 shows an Internet-enabled television, a network TV broadcast transmitter, a database server, and the Internet, in accordance with the present invention.
  • (2) FIG. 2 shows a computer, a streaming media server, a database server, and the Internet, in accordance with the present invention.
  • (3) FIG. 3 shows a mechanism for combining broadcast information with broadcast content during a broadcast transmission.
  • (4) FIG. 4 shows a general format and a specific format for encoding embedded information in a stream of data.
  • (5) FIG. 5 shows a mechanism for separating broadcast information and broadcast content from a broadcast transmission.
  • (6) FIG. 6 shows a format for storing the embedded information on the client storage device in a database.
  • (7) FIG. 7 shows an algorithm within the decoder that strips out embedded information and creates the database records.
  • (8) FIG. 8 shows an algorithm within the database server that gives transaction information back to the viewer.
  • (9) FIG. 9 shows data that is contained in blocks in the database on the database server.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiment but are for explanation and understanding only.
  • Exemplary configurations according to the present invention are illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 shows one configuration where an Internet-enabled television 106 with a hard disk 107 receives broadcasts 104 from a network television station via transmitter 101. The Internet-enabled TV 106 is also connected for two-way communication to a database server 103 via the Internet 102. In this embodiment, the computer is connected to the Internet via telephone lines 105 using a modem. In this embodiment, the database server is connected to the Internet via a T-1 connection 100.
  • The television 106 receives one-way transmissions 104 from the network broadcast transmitter 101. Embedded in the transmission are HTTP protocol messages containing information about the show being broadcast, the sponsors of the show, and the current time. Other information can also be embedded and sent to the television 106 such as information about specific products for sale including pricing information. The embedded information is stored on the hard disk 107 in the form of a cookie. At that time or at a later time, the television 106 connects to the database server 103 which is part of a website on the Internet 102. The database server 103 queries the cookie on the television 106 in order to determine which shows were watched, during which times, which advertisers sponsored those shows or those segments of shows, and which products were being advertised. Based on this information, the database server can search its database for coupons, advertisements, discounts, and other enticements to buy products or services from the advertiser, and deliver these enticements via the Internet 102 to the television 106. Similarly the database server can search its database product information such as pricing and availability, and the database server can deliver this information via the Internet 102 to the television 106.
  • In another embodiment, the television 106 receives one-way transmissions 104 from the network broadcast transmitter 101. Embedded in the transmission are HTTP protocol messages containing information about the show being broadcast, the sponsors of the show, and the current time. Other information can also be embedded and sent to the television 106 such as information about specific products for sale including pricing information. The embedded information is stored on the hard disk 107. During the broadcast or at a later time, the television 106 connects to the database server 103 which is part of a website on the Internet 102. The television 106 sends the information on the hard disk 107 to the database server 103 via the Internet 102. The database server 103 stores the information in its database. At that time or at a later time, based on which advertiser sponsored the show or show segments, the amount of time spent watching the show or show segments, and which products were being advertised, the database server can search the database for coupons, advertisements, discounts, and other enticements to buy products or services from the advertiser, and deliver these enticements via the Internet 102 to the television 106. Similarly the database server can search its database product information such as pricing and availability, and the database server can deliver this information via the Internet 102 to the television 106.
  • FIG. 2 shows another configuration where a computer 203 receives streaming media broadcasts from a streaming media server 200 via the Internet 102. The computer 203 is also connected for two-way communication to a database server 103 via the Internet 102. In this embodiment, the computer is connected to the Internet via telephone lines 202 using a modem. In this embodiment, the database server is connected to the Internet via a T-1 connection 100. In this embodiment, the streaming media server is connected to the Internet via a T-1 connection 201.
  • The computer 203 receives transmissions from the streaming media server 200 via the Internet 102. Embedded in the transmission are messages containing information about the show being broadcast, the sponsors of the show, and the current time. Other information can also be embedded and sent to the television 106 such as information about specific products for sale including pricing information. The embedded information is stored on the computer's hard disk in the form of a cookie. At that time or at a later time, the computer 203 connects to the database server 103 which is part of a website on the Internet 102. The database server 103 queries the cookie on the computer 203 in order to determine which shows were watched, during which times, which advertisers sponsored those shows or those segments of shows, and which products were being advertised. Based on this information, the database server can search its database for coupons, advertisements, discounts, and other enticements to buy products or services from the advertiser, and deliver these enticements via the Internet 102 to the computer 203. Similarly the database server can search its database product information such as pricing and availability, and the database server can deliver this information via the Internet 102 to the television 106.
  • In another embodiment, the computer 203 receives transmissions from the streaming media server 200 via the Internet 102. Embedded in the transmission are messages containing information about the show being broadcast, the sponsors of the show, and the current time. Other information can also be embedded and sent to the television 106 such as information about specific products for sale including pricing information. The embedded information is stored on the computer's hard disk. During the broadcast or at a later time, the computer 203 connects to the database server 103 which is part of a website on the Internet 102. The computer 203 transmits the information on its hard disk to the database server 103 via the Internet 102. The database server 103 stores the information in the database. At a later time, based on which advertiser sponsored the show or show segments, the amount of time spent watching the show or show segments, and which products were being advertised, the database server can search its database for coupons, advertisements, discounts, and other enticements to buy products or services from the advertiser, and deliver these enticements via the Internet 102 to the computer 203. Similarly the database server can search its database product information such as pricing and availability, and the database server can deliver this information via the Internet 102 to the television 106.
  • FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which content with embedded information is created from normal broadcast content. The method shown can be implemented in hardware or software or combinations of hardware and software. Sponsor information 302 and product information 307 are translated into a format such as HTTP protocol using HTTP translator 303. The information is then combined with the programming content 301, such as a television show or streaming video, through multiplexer 305. The multiplexer inserts the sponsor information at regular periods, or frames, throughout the broadcast by using timer 304. A frame may be a single television picture scan, or it may be a single frame of streaming video data or it may be an arbitrary amount of data. The sponsor information can be inserted into the data stream at a time or in such a way that it does not destroy data, such as during the vertical blanking time of a television frame scan. The data is then put into the transmitter 306, which is then transmitted as analog or digital data 300.
  • FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a general format and a specific format for the embedded sponsor information as a stream of data. A packet is inserted before a frame of content data, which includes the head 400, content name 401, the current date 402, the current time 403, the sponsor name 404, and other data 405 as required. The head 400 can be a start-of-slice (SOS) flag or an end-of-slice (EOS) flag, which signal the start or end of a time slice respectively. FIG. 4 provides an example of specific information: the head is provided as “start-of-slice” 406, content name is provided as “Star Trek” 407, the date is provided as “Jan. 1, 2000” 408, the time is provided as “9:07 PM” 409, the sponsor is provided as “Proctor and Gamble” 410, and a special offer 411 is included for the viewer at this time. All of this data would be digitally encoded into electrical pulses representing bits of ones and zeroes.
  • FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the sponsor information is separated from the broadcast content using hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software. The software portion of the implementation may be a stand-alone media player program or a plug-in to a Web browser. The broadcast stream 300, which may be a television broadcast, a radio broadcast, an audio stream, or a video stream, is received by a receiver 501 that converts the signal to one that is usable by the decoder 502 that splits the information into programming content 503 and sponsor information 504. The programming content 503 is sent to a presentation device 505 such as a computer, a screen, or a personal music player such as an Apple iPod. The sponsor information 504 is recorded on a storage device 506 such as a hard disk.
  • FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of the format for storing the embedded information on the client storage device 506 in a database. For each television show, audio clip, or video clip there is an entry block 600 containing several records. The first record contains the name of the content. There are sections for each time slice of the content broadcast. These time slices may, for example, be 15-minute intervals so that there are 4 slices in a one-hour broadcast. Sponsors may then sponsor 1 to 4 slices of a one-hour broadcast. Associated with each time slice in the database are 3 records. One record contains the name of the time slice. Another record contains the number of minutes during that time slice that the viewer was actually watching the broadcast. Another record contains a link to a sponsor block in the database for the sponsor of that time slice. There may be multiple records for links to multiple sponsors of a broadcast time slice.
  • A sponsor block, such as 601 or 602, contains multiple records. One record contains the name of the sponsor. Another record contains information about the sponsor. Other records contain links to content that is sponsored by the sponsor. Having both content blocks and sponsor blocks in the database, with links to each other, allows the database to easily be searched for all content sponsored by a specific sponsor, or all sponsors of particular content.
  • FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the algorithm within the decoder 502 that strips out embedded information and creates the database records 600, 601, 602. This algorithm may be implemented in software or hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Execution starts at block 700 where a frame of broadcast content is received. The content information is separated out and sent to the output device by executing block 701. Execution of block 702 searches for embedded sponsor information in the broadcast. If there is no embedded sponsor information, execution is transferred to block 707. This may be due to the fact that the viewer has switched between a broadcast containing embedded information to some other broadcast not containing embedded information. At block 702, if there is embedded sponsor information, block 703 is executed, extracting that information. Block 704 is then executed where viewing counters are incremented. These viewing counters keep track of the precise time slices during which the viewer has viewed the content. In block 705, the embedded information is examined for an end-of-slice marker that signals the end of a time slice. If this marker is found, execution is transferred to block 707. Otherwise, execution is transferred to block 706 where the embedded information is examined for a start-of-slice marker that signals the start of a time slice. If this marker is found, execution is transferred to block 708. Otherwise execution is transferred back to block 700 and the process is repeated.
  • Block 707 is executed when a time slice has ended or the viewer has switched to another type of broadcast. When this block is executed, the viewing counters are recorded in the database on the client machine. Execution is then transferred to block 708.
  • Block 708 is executed at the start of a new time slice. This block resets the viewing counters and transfers execution to block 700, starting the entire process over.
  • FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the algorithm within the database server 103 that performs a transaction with the viewer. Execution starts in block 800 when a request for a transaction is received from the viewer. Execution continues to block 801 where, through a handshaking protocol, the information in the client database stored in storage device 506 on the viewer's computer 203 or Internet connected TV 106 is used to query the database of database server 103. Execution continues to block 802 where the database server searches its database for matches with the sponsors reported by the viewer. Execution continues to block 803 where links to sponsor Web pages are retrieved from the database server based on the information from the viewer. Execution continues to block 804 where an entire HTML page is created which contains links to all products corresponding to the time slices that the viewer was viewing specific content. Execution continues to block 805 where this Web page is then sent back to the viewer. At this time, the viewer can click on links to obtain coupons, discounts, special offers, etc. or to complete e-commerce type transactions.
  • FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the data that is contained in tables in the database on the database server 103. For each sponsor, there is a table 900 that contains multiple records. One record contains the sponsor name. For each product, there are two records. One of these records contains the criteria for the viewer to receive transaction information about a specific product. For example, only if the viewer is watching the broadcast during a specific time slice that a product is being advertised will the product be offered to the viewer for purchase. The other record contains a link to a database table for the particular product. Each product has a table of records such as 901 and 902. The table includes a record of the product name, and a number of other records that contain information about pricing information, availability information, etc. that should be offered to the viewer.
  • Various modifications and adaptations of the operations that are described here would be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the above disclosure. Many variations and modifications within the scope of the invention are therefore possible. The present invention is set forth by the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving a broadcast with embedded information; b) extracting content from said broadcast, c) presenting said content to the viewer; d) extracting said embedded information from said broadcast; e) storing said embedded information; f) transmitting said embedded information and viewer information to a remote computer; and g) receiving transaction information.
2. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving a broadcast with information embedded into the broadcast at regular time periods, said information including timestamps; b) extracting content from said broadcast, c) presenting said content to the viewer; d) extracting said embedded information from said broadcast; e) incrementing counters for counting time slices during said time periods; f) storing said embedded information and said counter values; g) transmitting said embedded information and said counter values and viewer information to a remote computer; and h) receiving transaction information.
3. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) embedding information about a broadcast along with the broadcast content; and b) broadcasting said content with said embedded information to a remote viewer.
4. The method of claim further comprising a) receiving information from said viewer about said broadcast; and b) transmitting transaction information to said viewer based on said information received.
5. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) embedding information about said broadcast along with said broadcast content at regular time periods; and b) broadcasting said content with said embedded information to a remote viewer.
6. The method of claim further comprising a) receiving information from said viewer about said broadcast; b) receiving counter values for the number of time slices viewed by said viewer; and c) transmitting transaction information to said viewer based on said information received and said counter values received.
7. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving information about a broadcast from a remote viewer; and b) transmitting transaction information to the remote viewer based on said information received.
8. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving information about a broadcast from a remote viewer; b) receiving counter values for the number of time slices viewed by the viewer; and c) transmitting transaction information to the remote viewer based on said information received and said counter values received.
9. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving information about a broadcast from a remote viewer; b) searching a database for information about sponsors of the content of said broadcast and the product information offered by said sponsors; c) creating a displayable page containing sponsor information and product information based on said database information and said information received from said viewer; and d) transmitting said displayable page back to said viewer.
10. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving information about a broadcast from a remote viewer; b) receiving counter values for the number of time slices viewed by said viewer; c) searching a database for information about sponsors of the content and the products offered by said sponsors; d) creating a displayable page containing sponsor information and product information based on said database information and said information received from said viewer; and e) transmitting said displayable page back to said viewer.
11. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a broadcast medium, a storage device, a presentation device, a communication medium, and a computer whereby a) said computer receives a broadcast with embedded information via said broadcast medium; b) said computer extracts content from said broadcast; c) said computer presents extracted content to the viewer via said presentation device; d) said computer extracts said embedded information from said broadcast; e) said computer stores said embedded information on said storage device; f) said computer transmits said embedded information and viewer information to a remote computer via said communication medium; and g) said computer receives transaction information via said communication medium.
12. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a broadcast medium, a storage device, a presentation device, a communication medium, and a computer whereby a) said computer receives a broadcast with information embedded into the broadcast at regular time periods, said information including timestamps via said broadcast medium; b) said computer extracts content from said broadcast; c) said computer presents said extracted content to the viewer via said presentation device; d) said computer extracts said embedded information from said broadcast; e) said computer increments counters for counting time slices during said time periods; f) said computer stores said embedded information and said counter values on said storage device; g) said computer transmits said embedded information and said counter values and viewer information to a remote computer via said communication medium; and h) said computer receives transaction information via said communication medium.
13. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a broadcast medium and a computer whereby a) said computer embeds information about a broadcast along with the broadcast content; and b) said computer broadcasts said content with said embedded information to a remote viewer via said broadcast medium.
14. The apparatus of claim further comprising a communication medium whereby a) said computer receives information from said viewer about said broadcast via said communication medium; and b) said computer transmits product information to said viewer via said communication medium.
15. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a broadcast medium and a computer whereby a) said computer embeds information about said broadcast along with the broadcast content at regular time periods; and b) said computer broadcasts said content with said embedded information to a remote viewer via said broadcast medium.
16. The apparatus of claim further comprising a communication medium whereby a) said computer receives information from said viewer about said broadcast via said communication medium; b) said computer receives counter values for the number of time slices viewed by said viewer via said communication medium; and c) said computer transmits product information to said viewer via said communication medium.
17. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a communication medium and a computer whereby a) said computer receives information about a broadcast from a remote viewer via said communication medium; b) said computer transmits product information to the remote viewer via said communication medium.
18. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a communication medium and a computer whereby a) said computer receives information about a broadcast from a remote viewer via said communication medium; b) said computer receives counter values for the number of time slices viewed by the viewer via said communication medium; and c) said computer transmits product information to the remote viewer via said communication medium.
19. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a storage device, a presentation device, a communication medium, and a computer whereby a) said computer receives information about a broadcast from a remote viewer via said communication medium; b) said computer searches a database for information about sponsors of the content of said broadcast and the product information offered by said sponsors; c) said computer creates a displayable page containing sponsor information and product information based on said database information and said information received from said viewer; d) said computer transmits said displayable page back to said viewer via said communication medium.
20. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a communication medium and a computer whereby a) said computer receives information about a broadcast from a remote viewer via said communication medium; b) said computer receives counter values for the number of time slices viewed by said viewer via said communication medium; c) said computer searches a database for information about sponsors of the content and the products offered by said sponsors; d) said computer creates a displayable page containing sponsor information and product information based on said database information and said information received from said viewer; and e) said computer transmits said displayable page back to said viewer via said communication medium.
US11/160,815 2001-01-22 2005-07-11 Method For Companies To Conduct Transactions During Media Broadcasts Abandoned US20050273808A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/160,815 US20050273808A1 (en) 2001-01-22 2005-07-11 Method For Companies To Conduct Transactions During Media Broadcasts

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/767,819 US8316390B2 (en) 2001-01-22 2001-01-22 Method for advertisers to sponsor broadcasts without commercials
US11/160,815 US20050273808A1 (en) 2001-01-22 2005-07-11 Method For Companies To Conduct Transactions During Media Broadcasts

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/767,819 Continuation US8316390B2 (en) 2001-01-22 2001-01-22 Method for advertisers to sponsor broadcasts without commercials

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050273808A1 true US20050273808A1 (en) 2005-12-08

Family

ID=25080687

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/767,819 Active 2027-07-04 US8316390B2 (en) 2001-01-22 2001-01-22 Method for advertisers to sponsor broadcasts without commercials
US11/160,815 Abandoned US20050273808A1 (en) 2001-01-22 2005-07-11 Method For Companies To Conduct Transactions During Media Broadcasts

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/767,819 Active 2027-07-04 US8316390B2 (en) 2001-01-22 2001-01-22 Method for advertisers to sponsor broadcasts without commercials

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (2) US8316390B2 (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030110507A1 (en) * 2001-12-11 2003-06-12 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. System for and method of shopping through television
US20060080725A1 (en) * 2004-10-13 2006-04-13 Nokia Corporation Systems and methods for recording digital media content
US20080304518A1 (en) * 2007-06-06 2008-12-11 Nebuad, Inc. Network device for embedding data in a data packet sequence
US20100001832A1 (en) * 2008-07-03 2010-01-07 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Method and apparatus for biometric identification of a user in a broadcast communication receiver
US20100228814A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2010-09-09 Lava Two ,LLC Forward path multi-media management system with end user feedback to distributed content sources
US20100241527A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2010-09-23 Lava Two, Llc Transaction management system in a multicast or broadcast wireless communication network
US20100285875A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2010-11-11 Lava Two, Llc Gaming device for multi-player games
US20160142677A1 (en) * 2012-11-14 2016-05-19 Rounds Entertainment Ltd. Multi-User Interactive Virtual Environment Including Broadcast Content and Enhanced Social Layer Content
US10200668B2 (en) * 2012-04-09 2019-02-05 Intel Corporation Quality of experience reporting for combined unicast-multicast/broadcast streaming of media content
US10387949B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2019-08-20 Roku, Inc. System and method for providing interactive advertisement
US10387920B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2019-08-20 Roku, Inc. System and method for offering and billing advertisement opportunities

Families Citing this family (29)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020030764A1 (en) * 2000-09-06 2002-03-14 Min-Young Kim Digital TV for use in a home wide web and method of changing a channel in the same
US7992161B2 (en) * 2001-05-22 2011-08-02 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method and apparatus for providing incentives for viewers to watch commercial advertisements
US8832754B2 (en) * 2002-05-03 2014-09-09 Tvworks, Llc System and method for providing synchronized events to a television application
US9959544B2 (en) * 2003-05-22 2018-05-01 International Business Machines Corporation Updating an application on a smart card and displaying an advertisement
US20050229227A1 (en) * 2004-04-13 2005-10-13 Evenhere, Inc. Aggregation of retailers for televised media programming product placement
US7711313B2 (en) * 2004-05-14 2010-05-04 Google Inc. Broadcast monitoring system and method for intelligent optimization
US7668808B2 (en) * 2005-03-10 2010-02-23 Yahoo! Inc. System for modifying queries before presentation to a sponsored search generator or other matching system where modifications improve coverage without a corresponding reduction in relevance
US9015740B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2015-04-21 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual devices
CN106877957B (en) * 2005-12-12 2019-08-27 尼尔逊媒介研究股份有限公司 The method, apparatus and system of media are collected in the family
US20070288277A1 (en) 2005-12-20 2007-12-13 Neuhauser Alan R Methods and systems for gathering research data for media from multiple sources
US9386327B2 (en) 2006-05-24 2016-07-05 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Secondary content insertion apparatus and methods
US8280982B2 (en) 2006-05-24 2012-10-02 Time Warner Cable Inc. Personal content server apparatus and methods
US8024762B2 (en) 2006-06-13 2011-09-20 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for providing virtual content over a network
US8468561B2 (en) 2006-08-09 2013-06-18 Google Inc. Preemptible station inventory
US8181206B2 (en) 2007-02-28 2012-05-15 Time Warner Cable Inc. Personal content server apparatus and methods
US8896764B2 (en) * 2007-03-13 2014-11-25 Sony Corporation System and method for effectively performing a remote control configuration procedure
US9503691B2 (en) * 2008-02-19 2016-11-22 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for enhanced advertising and promotional delivery in a network
US8312484B1 (en) * 2008-03-28 2012-11-13 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for blocking selected commercials
US20110225026A1 (en) * 2008-06-13 2011-09-15 Google Inc. Map-Based Interface for Booking Broadcast Advertisements
US9094477B2 (en) * 2008-10-27 2015-07-28 At&T Intellectual Property I, Lp System and method for providing interactive on-demand content
US9124769B2 (en) 2008-10-31 2015-09-01 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Methods and apparatus to verify presentation of media content
FR2980944A1 (en) * 2011-09-29 2013-04-05 France Telecom Method for monitoring actions of user e.g. televiewer, development of consumer loyalty, involves transmitting usage data determined from broadcast stream information, and receiving data defining rights that is determined from usage data
US20130125160A1 (en) * 2011-11-16 2013-05-16 Microsoft Corporation Interactive television promotions
US8818846B2 (en) * 2012-08-24 2014-08-26 Wms Gaming, Inc. Gaming incentives based on measured effect of user web activity
US9098511B1 (en) 2012-10-02 2015-08-04 Google Inc. Watch time based ranking
US20140282786A1 (en) 2013-03-12 2014-09-18 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for providing and uploading content to personalized network storage
US8863164B1 (en) * 2013-05-02 2014-10-14 This Technology, Inc. Server side adaptive bit rate reporting
US20160080903A1 (en) * 2013-05-09 2016-03-17 1AppWorks, Inc Digital network of local content network stations
TWI573451B (en) * 2016-04-27 2017-03-01 王公誠 Playback system for video with replaceable commodities

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5488423A (en) * 1994-11-17 1996-01-30 U.S. Narrow Networks, Inc. Home communication method and apparatus
US5801747A (en) * 1996-11-15 1998-09-01 Hyundai Electronics America Method and apparatus for creating a television viewer profile
US5915243A (en) * 1996-08-29 1999-06-22 Smolen; Daniel T. Method and apparatus for delivering consumer promotions
US5982445A (en) * 1996-10-21 1999-11-09 General Instrument Corporation Hypertext markup language protocol for television display and control
US6002394A (en) * 1995-10-02 1999-12-14 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
US6058430A (en) * 1996-04-19 2000-05-02 Kaplan; Kenneth B. Vertical blanking interval encoding of internet addresses for integrated television/internet devices
US6073171A (en) * 1997-01-23 2000-06-06 Zenith Electronics Corporation Two-way communication protocol for a web television
US6097383A (en) * 1997-01-23 2000-08-01 Zenith Electronics Corporation Video and audio functions in a web television
US6098106A (en) * 1998-09-11 2000-08-01 Digitalconvergence.Com Inc. Method for controlling a computer with an audio signal
US6144402A (en) * 1997-07-08 2000-11-07 Microtune, Inc. Internet transaction acceleration
US6766524B1 (en) * 2000-05-08 2004-07-20 Webtv Networks, Inc. System and method for encouraging viewers to watch television programs

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5872588A (en) * 1995-12-06 1999-02-16 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for monitoring audio-visual materials presented to a subscriber
US6647548B1 (en) * 1996-09-06 2003-11-11 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. Coded/non-coded program audience measurement system
US6075971A (en) * 1998-03-27 2000-06-13 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for providing and monitoring coupons via a network
US7051351B2 (en) * 1999-03-08 2006-05-23 Microsoft Corporation System and method of inserting advertisements into an information retrieval system display
US7103904B1 (en) * 1999-06-30 2006-09-05 Microsoft Corporation Methods and apparatus for broadcasting interactive advertising using remote advertising templates

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5488423A (en) * 1994-11-17 1996-01-30 U.S. Narrow Networks, Inc. Home communication method and apparatus
US6002394A (en) * 1995-10-02 1999-12-14 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
US6058430A (en) * 1996-04-19 2000-05-02 Kaplan; Kenneth B. Vertical blanking interval encoding of internet addresses for integrated television/internet devices
US5915243A (en) * 1996-08-29 1999-06-22 Smolen; Daniel T. Method and apparatus for delivering consumer promotions
US5982445A (en) * 1996-10-21 1999-11-09 General Instrument Corporation Hypertext markup language protocol for television display and control
US5801747A (en) * 1996-11-15 1998-09-01 Hyundai Electronics America Method and apparatus for creating a television viewer profile
US6073171A (en) * 1997-01-23 2000-06-06 Zenith Electronics Corporation Two-way communication protocol for a web television
US6097383A (en) * 1997-01-23 2000-08-01 Zenith Electronics Corporation Video and audio functions in a web television
US6144402A (en) * 1997-07-08 2000-11-07 Microtune, Inc. Internet transaction acceleration
US6098106A (en) * 1998-09-11 2000-08-01 Digitalconvergence.Com Inc. Method for controlling a computer with an audio signal
US6766524B1 (en) * 2000-05-08 2004-07-20 Webtv Networks, Inc. System and method for encouraging viewers to watch television programs

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8261306B2 (en) * 2001-12-11 2012-09-04 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. System for and method of shopping through television
US20030110507A1 (en) * 2001-12-11 2003-06-12 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. System for and method of shopping through television
US10387920B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2019-08-20 Roku, Inc. System and method for offering and billing advertisement opportunities
US10387949B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2019-08-20 Roku, Inc. System and method for providing interactive advertisement
US20060080725A1 (en) * 2004-10-13 2006-04-13 Nokia Corporation Systems and methods for recording digital media content
US20080304518A1 (en) * 2007-06-06 2008-12-11 Nebuad, Inc. Network device for embedding data in a data packet sequence
US7715448B2 (en) * 2007-06-06 2010-05-11 Red Aril, Inc. Network device for embedding data in a data packet sequence
US8509748B2 (en) * 2007-08-31 2013-08-13 Lava Two, Llc Transaction management system in a multicast or broadcast wireless communication network
US20100228814A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2010-09-09 Lava Two ,LLC Forward path multi-media management system with end user feedback to distributed content sources
US20100254297A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2010-10-07 Lava Two, Llc Transaction management system in a multicast or broadcast wireless communication network
US20100241527A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2010-09-23 Lava Two, Llc Transaction management system in a multicast or broadcast wireless communication network
US8572176B2 (en) 2007-08-31 2013-10-29 Lava Two, Llc Forward path multi-media management system with end user feedback to distributed content sources
US20100285875A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2010-11-11 Lava Two, Llc Gaming device for multi-player games
US9654719B2 (en) * 2008-07-03 2017-05-16 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Method and apparatus for biometric identification of a user in a broadcast communication receiver
US10063900B2 (en) 2008-07-03 2018-08-28 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Method and apparatus for biometric identification of a user in a broadcast communication receiver
US20100001832A1 (en) * 2008-07-03 2010-01-07 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Method and apparatus for biometric identification of a user in a broadcast communication receiver
US10582241B2 (en) 2008-07-03 2020-03-03 DISH Technologies L.L.C. Method and apparatus for biometric identification of a user in a broadcast communication receiver
US10687101B2 (en) * 2008-07-03 2020-06-16 DISH Technologies L.L.C. Method and apparatus for biometric identification of a user in a broadcast communication receiver
US10200668B2 (en) * 2012-04-09 2019-02-05 Intel Corporation Quality of experience reporting for combined unicast-multicast/broadcast streaming of media content
US9686512B2 (en) * 2012-11-14 2017-06-20 Kik Interactive Inc. Multi-user interactive virtual environment including broadcast content and enhanced social layer content
US20160142677A1 (en) * 2012-11-14 2016-05-19 Rounds Entertainment Ltd. Multi-User Interactive Virtual Environment Including Broadcast Content and Enhanced Social Layer Content

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US8316390B2 (en) 2012-11-20
US20020100055A1 (en) 2002-07-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20050273808A1 (en) Method For Companies To Conduct Transactions During Media Broadcasts
US20190007749A1 (en) Method for advertisers to sponsor broadcasts without commercials
US7194754B2 (en) Method and system to defer transactions conducted via interactive television
US7103908B2 (en) Method and system to save context for deferred transaction via interactive television
US7313802B1 (en) Method and system to provide deals and promotions via an interactive video casting system
US8229349B2 (en) Apparatus and method for facilitating a purchase using information provided on a media playing device
US9591266B2 (en) Video-on-demand and targeted advertising
JP4908757B2 (en) Internet-based submission of cable network content
US20090217319A1 (en) Method and system for providing targeted television advertising
KR20010096589A (en) Method of advertising and selling articles and services using digital TV receiver and internet
JP2001061111A (en) Advertisement display method, televising device, medium and advertising method
CN102271282A (en) Method and device for distributing advertisement and/or contant to multimedia device
US20020054091A1 (en) Method and system to defer transactions conducted via interactive television
JP2000236306A (en) System and method for applying reception proof of medium communication
KR20040098630A (en) Content delivery apparatus and content creation method
JP2002330416A (en) Streaming advertisement distribution system and streaming advertisement distribution method
JP2011125045A (en) Broadcast method for program including television cm image, and television cm image type switching device
KR100538146B1 (en) Method and system for managing contents utilizing protocol system for data television broadcast
KR100600568B1 (en) Method and system for gathering and processing protocol for digital broadcasting system
JP2005020662A (en) Data multiplex broadcasting utilization method and data multiplex broadcast receiving apparatus
US20170238066A1 (en) Method and computer program product for selectively displaying advertisments during media playback
KR20020078262A (en) system for cumulative pointing of advertising broadcasting visual

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION