WO2002032137A1 - System for communicating information to viewers of a video presentation - Google Patents

System for communicating information to viewers of a video presentation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002032137A1
WO2002032137A1 PCT/CA2000/001190 CA0001190W WO0232137A1 WO 2002032137 A1 WO2002032137 A1 WO 2002032137A1 CA 0001190 W CA0001190 W CA 0001190W WO 0232137 A1 WO0232137 A1 WO 0232137A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
viewer
video presentation
interest
objects
information
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2000/001190
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Brad C. Barrett
John Andrew Vasilakos
Original Assignee
Eye 2 Buy Technology Company
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
Application filed by Eye 2 Buy Technology Company filed Critical Eye 2 Buy Technology Company
Priority to AU2000277665A priority Critical patent/AU2000277665A1/en
Priority to PCT/CA2000/001190 priority patent/WO2002032137A1/en
Publication of WO2002032137A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002032137A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing 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
    • H04N21/431—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
    • H04N21/4312—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management 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
    • H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H04N21/25866—Management of end-user data
    • H04N21/25891—Management of end-user data being end-user preferences
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management 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
    • H04N21/266—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
    • H04N21/2668—Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing 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
    • H04N21/431—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
    • H04N21/4312—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
    • H04N21/4314—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management 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
    • H04N21/462—Content 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
    • H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/4722—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/47815—Electronic shopping
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
    • H04N21/812—Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/858—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
    • H04N21/8586—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot by using a URL
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Definitions

  • This invention relates to systems for co ⁇ miunicating information to viewers of a video presentation, and more particularly, to providing information to a viewer about certain goods and services shown in the video presentation and preferably also to enable the viewer to purchase those goods/services electronically.
  • viewers may see objects in the video presentation that interest them, such as clothing, watches, vehicles, sports equipment, and so on. It would be desirable for the system displaying the video presentation to allow the viewers interactively to: (1) select objects of interest from the video presentation; (2) request immediate information about those objects, such as their manufacturer, price, and description; and (3) place an order to purchase one or more of those objects.
  • the present invention is, in its most basic embodiment, a system for providing information to viewers of a video presentation.
  • the system provides a video presentation and a display for viewing the video presentation.
  • the video presentation presents during the course thereof a plurality of objects which are readily identifiable by the viewer. Some of the objects shown during the course of the video presentation have data associated with them which can be selectively accessed by the viewer upon viewing the video presentation.
  • This information might include, for a particular good or service shown in the video, for example, information about the nature of the good/service and might also include information regarding how the viewer might purchase the good/service.
  • the system will preferably also facilitate and enable purchase of the good/service by the viewer through the system, and can include a system of reward points for purchases made in this manner.
  • This data associated with such goods/services may be encoded within the video presentation itself, or may be stored in one or more databases and remotely accessed by a data access system, which may be associated with the display and/or which may include the communication of data over a communications network such as the internet.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of the system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a television broadcast system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Description
  • the present invention provides information to people viewing a video presentation.
  • the system of the invention provides video data in the form of a video presentation 10 and a display 20 for displaying video presentation 10 to one or more viewers 30.
  • video presentation 10 may be presented through a variety of media, such as videotape, video compact disc (VCD), digital video disc (DVD), satellite broadcast, conventional broadcast, through cable, through streaming video and the like over the internet, or otherwise, but the invention is particularly suited to broadcast and cable television media, which are well known.
  • videotape video compact disc (VCD), digital video disc (DVD), satellite broadcast, conventional broadcast, through cable, through streaming video and the like over the internet, or otherwise, but the invention is particularly suited to broadcast and cable television media, which are well known.
  • VCD video compact disc
  • DVD digital video disc
  • Display 20 may be any display means suitable for displaying a video presentation.
  • a display is a computer monitor.
  • a television is a suitable display.
  • visual data may be provided to a display in the form of a series of images, presented one after another, producing a moving picture to make up what is referred to herein as a "video presentation". Audio data typically accompanies this visual data.
  • An example of a video presentation as referred to herein is the videotape version of a motion picture.
  • a broadcast television program is another example of what is termed herein a "video presentation" .
  • the video presentation 10 of the invention displays during its course a plurality of objects identifiable by the viewer 30.
  • a subset of the plurality of objects shown during the course of the video presentation 10 are predetermined to be of potential interest to viewers, and the invention provides a set of data associated with each one object of this subset of objects.
  • each of the objects of this subset may be referred to as an "object of interest”.
  • this data about each object of interest can be selectively accessed and viewed by the viewer 30 upon viewing video presentation 10, as discussed in greater detail below, thereby allowing a viewer 30 to obtain information about an object of interest shown in the video presentation 10.
  • This information might include, for a particular product shown in the video presentation 10, information about the nature of the product, information regarding its manufacturer, information regarding its price, its product code, and information regarding how the viewer 30 might, purchase the product. For example, for an automobile, this information may include technical specifications and dealership information. It can be appreciated that such objects of interest are also useful for marketing purposes.
  • a viewer 30 who has taken specific steps to selectively view information about a particular object of interest, for example clothing, is more likely to be interested in purchasing goods relating to the object of interest than an average viewer.
  • the invention provides that, during one or more portions of the video presentation 10, one or more of the objects of interest is shown on the display 20 and visible to the viewer 30, possibly along with other objects shown on the display 20 at the same time.
  • Each such portion of the video presentation 10 is referred to hereafter as an "Encoded Video Session", or "EVS”.
  • the video presentation is encoded, by encoder 40, with data which may be interpreted by a decoder 45.
  • This data causes a signal, preferably but not necessarily a visual signal, to be displayed to a viewer 30, thereby indicating to the viewer 30 that an EVS is taking place, and accordingly that an object of interest to the viewer 30 is possibly being shown on the display 20 during that EVS.
  • at least one stationary or moving signal icon 50 is displayed on display 20 during the course of the EVS. The presence of the signal icon 50 and/or its appearance indicates to a viewer 30 that the EVS is taking place.
  • encoder 40 and decoder 45 may one or both be associated with display 20, or remote from it.
  • the specific features of encoder 40 and decoder 45 are not essential to the invention; means for encoding a video presentation with data are well known in the art. Such data may, for example, be embedded in the vertical blanking interval of a video signal.
  • a viewer 30 may decide to request information about one or more of the predetermined objects of interest shown during that EVS, and may call up that information, in a manner described in greater detail below.
  • Means must be provided in the invention to allow a viewer 30 to differentiate objects of interest from other objects shown on the display 20 during an EVS.
  • Such means might take the form of the presentation of individual icons on the display 20 during an EVS, rendering the display 20 a graphical user interface, each icon representing one of the objects of potential interest presently being shown in the video presentation 10.
  • Such icons may be superimposed over or near each object of interest being shown on the display 20, or may be grouped in a different part of the screen in such a way that still allows the viewer 30 to associate a particular icon with a particular object of interest.
  • Such icons may appear automatically as soon as one or more objects of interest appear in the video presentation 10; in this way, these individual icons may also serve as the previously mentioned signal icon 50, such that, if desired, a separate signal icon 50 need not be provided. In a preferred embodiment, however, the individual icons associated with particular objects of interest do not appear automatically, but instead can be called up by a viewer 30 in response to a signal icon 50 which indicates that an EVS is taking place.
  • Icons may be presented in any effective manner, be they placed in a separate secondary window on the display 20, or simply overlaid over the video presentation 10.
  • objects of interest are pre-categorized into convenient categories such as "clothing”, “vehicles”, “art” , “sports equipment”, and so on, and an easily recognizable “category icon” is provided for each category, such that when the viewer 30 responds to a signal icon 50 appearing on the display 20, an individual category icon will appear in a predetermined location on the display 20 for each object of interest then appearing in the video presentation 10.
  • each of the objects are highlighted on the display 20 during an EVS in some other manner, either automatically or in response to a request from the viewer 30.
  • the objects of interest themselves may be presented in a different color, or be circled, or otherwise made to stand out from the rest of the video presentation 10. This may be accomplished by further encoding the video presentation 10 with data representing the relative screen position, or X-Y position, on the display 20 of each of the particular objects of interest in each frame of the EVS.
  • Each frame may also be given its own identification code, if necessary, and the system will have means to correlate data about an object of interest to its X-Y position and its frame identification code.
  • each video presentation 10 each EVS, each object of interest, and so on will also have their own unique codes. The foregoing data and codes may be written into each vertical blanking interval of the video presentation 10.
  • a request from viewer 30 to highlight all objects of interest displayed at a particular point in time might be made by known means, including a remote control that can control an image cursor visible on the display 20, or a computer touch pen touchable to an associated touch pad, or a computer touch pen touchable to the display screen itself, or a "touch" display screen responsive to a person's touch.
  • a remote control that can control an image cursor visible on the display 20, or a computer touch pen touchable to an associated touch pad, or a computer touch pen touchable to the display screen itself, or a "touch" display screen responsive to a person's touch.
  • Such means are well known in the art.
  • the system displays signal icon 50 to viewer 30 during the course of an EVS.
  • Viewer 30 may at that time want to see what objects of interest are being shown on the display 20, and the viewer 30 may then input into the system a request to have the system differentiate objects of interest from other objects. This request may or may not cause video presentation 10 to be interrupted.
  • viewer 30 may then choose to view the information associated with one or more of the objects of interest. Viewer 30 accomplishes this by entering a selective request for information about one or more of the objects of interest. Again, this might be conveniently accomplished by a remote control operated by viewer 30, or by a computer pen or a person's touch operating on a touch screen as described above. It will be appreciated that if objects of interest are represented by icons, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, a viewer 30 can access information about a particular object of interest by selecting and "clicking" the particular icon representing that object with a cursor controlled by the remote control, or touching it as described above. If the objects of interest themselves are highlighted on the display 20, the image of the particular object of interest may be "clicked" on or touched.
  • the information request may be processed immediately, or may be stored and processed later so as not to interrupt the video presentation 10.
  • the necessary data processing means including software responsible for allowing viewer 30 to differentiate objects of interest from other objects, allowing viewer 30 to selectively view information about a particular object of interest, and (if desired) storing an information request and relevant data for later processing, may be associated with display 20 but is not required to be.
  • the system may be configured to react in one of several ways. The system may or may not pause the video presentation 10, and may or may not further highlight on display 20 objects of interest for which viewer 30 desires data.
  • the system may cause "command icons" to appear on display 20, with or without pausing the video presentation 10, and with such command icons superimposed or substituted on the same full-screen as video presentation 10, or displayed simultaneously with the video presentation 10 on a separate split-screen window, or otherwise.
  • Viewer 30 can then select whichever command icon reflects what viewer 30 wishes the system to do. For example, one command icon may be selected to cancel the information request and return to the video presentation 10, another command icon may be selected to pro- cess the information request immediately, and yet another command icon may be selected to store the information request and relevant data for later processing.
  • the system may instead react to the selection of an object of interest by immediately interrupting the video presentation 10 and causing the display 20 to switch from a video display to a graphical information or internet display from which the viewer 30 can retrieve data or select a command, or both.
  • the system can also be modified to allow purchase orders for selected objects of interest to be similarly processed immediately and forwarded to suppliers of those objects.
  • the system can also be configured to put a time limit on any pausing of the video presentation 10, such that the video presentation 10 will automatically resume after a predetermined amount of time in which the system senses no activity from the viewer 30.
  • the system can therefore be configured in any number of ways to suit any functional criteria.
  • this data may itself be encoded within video presentation 10.
  • the video presentation 10 is encoded with information which identifies the objects of interest and data about the objects of interest is instead stored in a remote database 60. If such data is stored in remote database 60, then a data access system 55 must be provided.
  • a variety of suitable data access systems 55 can be satisfactorily employed in the practice of the invention, but a particular data access system contem- plated by the inventors includes the communication of data over a common communications network such as the internet or an interactive television system.
  • a signal in the form of a code representing that object may be sent by the system to the remote database 60; a data processor at the database retrieves the information about the object from database 60 and returns the information associated with that code to the viewer 30.
  • display 20 is preferably able to present graphical internet information, whether in a full-screen or split- screen manner. In any event, display 20 is preferably capable of some form of alternate video/information display or video/internet display.
  • display 20 may need in some cases to switch entirely from a full-screen video display to a full-screen internet display. In other cases, display 20 may simply display information about an object of interest as scrolling text superimposed over a lower portion of display 20 without interrupting the video presentation 10.
  • Display 20 is preferably able to accommodate a plurality of windows simultaneously in a split-screen display mode if desired. Each window is preferably able to display any type of data/image; for example, one window might display a television program, a second window might display an internet web site, and a third window might display some other multimedia communication data. The system is preferably able to accommodate this.
  • each EVS in a video presentation 10 will include encoded data that either directly provides information about each object of interest shown in that EVS, or allows the system to access that information from a remote database 60 through a data access system 55 as described above (for example, an encoded hyperlink to the remote database 60 or to an internet web site).
  • a video presentation can be encoded once and then broadcast in many different ways.
  • Another type of data that may be encoded by the encoder 40 into an EVS are the X-Y position or coordinates of objects of interest shown in that EVS, and the unique identification number of individual objects of interest, of individual frames, of the EVS, and/or of the video presentation 10 itself, so that the system may allow viewer 30 to highlight objects of interest on display 20 during an EVS.
  • a video presentation can be encoded once and then broadcast in many different ways.
  • certain "events" can be encoded into the video presentation 10 and/or accessed through the data access system 55.
  • such events can include an interactive event like a vote, a contest event, a coupon event, and so on.
  • the viewer 30 can, in the same manner described above for accessing data, access information about one or more events.
  • the system preferably allows viewer 30, even after a video presentation 10 is over or even without viewing video presentation 10, to independently view a list of all objects of interest and/or events relating to that video presentation 10, to retrieve information regarding those objects of interest and/or events, to place purchase orders for those objects or participate in events, and so on, in the same or similar manner as described above.
  • the objects of potential interest will typically represent goods and services which might be available to the viewer for purchase.
  • the system may allow for a viewer 30 to select an object of interest and electronically place an order through the system to purchase that object.
  • the system may, upon a viewer 30 selecting an object of interest, retrieve a pre-recorded commercial for that object from a database and play that commercial for the viewer 30 in one of the manners described above (for example, on a window of a split-screen display, or on a full-screen display substituted for the paused video presentation 10, and so on).
  • the system may play the commercial automatically upon the selection by a viewer 30 of an object of interest and only afterwards present the viewer 30 with a selection of com- mands, or the system can simply include the option of viewing a commercial as one of the available commands presented to the viewer 30 upon selection of an object of interest.
  • such commands are implemented by "clicking" on or touching a command icon, as described above.
  • the system selects a commercial from a database containing a plurality of commercials by referencing a consumer profile maintained by the system for the viewer 30 and comparing it against a set of commercial selection criteria, using an algorithm and/or system of algorithms to reference and compare such information.
  • the commercial is then selected and adapted according to a set of commercial adaptation criteria, and only then presented to the viewer 30.
  • the system has a means of creating, generating, and maintaining a database of the consumer profiles of each of its viewers 30.
  • Such consumer profiles preferably include information about each viewer 30 such as his/her name, personal identification data, address, birth date, gender, family information, demographic information, income, credit history, other financial information, employment information, type of residence, payment mechanism information data such as credit card numbers, history of purchases through the system, reward points accumulated (see below for more details about a possible reward points system), history /type of programs watched, personal preferences (such as language, color, animal, public personalities, food, physical locations, fauna, music, and so on), color-blindness, hearing impairment, other disabilities, and any other data and/or information relevant to the viewing and purchasing preferences of the viewer 30.
  • information about each viewer 30 such as his/her name, personal identification data, address, birth date, gender, family information, demographic information, income, credit history, other financial information, employment information, type of residence, payment mechanism information data such as credit card numbers, history of purchases through the system, reward points accumulated (see below for more details about a possible reward points system), history /type of programs watched, personal preferences (such as language, color, animal,
  • the system preferably can automatically create a consumer profile for each viewer 30 (for exam- ple, based at least on the viewing and/or purchasing habits of viewer 30), subject, of course, to any applicable privacy laws,
  • the system also preferably has a means of generating and/or utilizing an algorithm or system of algorithms to reference data and information contained in such consumer profiles and select a commercial from the database of commercials based on a set of commercial selection criteria.
  • a plurality of consumers profiles for different viewers 30 may be associated with one particular display 20 (for exam- pie, different members of one family sharing a single television)
  • the system preferably has means to be able to guess the identity of the particular viewer 30 viewing the video presentation 10 at a given time (for example, based on the type of presentation being watched, the time of day, and so on).
  • the system preferably also has means to be able to recognize a particular viewer 30 and match that viewer 30 with his/her consumer profile regardless of whether the viewer 30 is using a different display 20 than the one normally used by that viewer 30.
  • the system preferably automatically updates relevant consumer profiles after each viewing session.
  • the system may have means of ascertaining that data or commands received from a particular viewer 30 have been transmitted and received in a secure, accurate, and real time manner, thereby ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the data transmis- sion process.
  • One means of doing so is to assign a unique account code and a unique personal identification code or number (“PIN”) to each viewer 30 and/or to each display 20.
  • PIN personal identification code
  • the selected commercial may be adapted to the preferences or needs of the viewer 30 (for example, it may be presented with close captioning for the hearing impaired, or in a different color for people with inabilities to see certain colors).
  • the system may also be able to keep track of whether or not the viewer 30, after viewing a commercial for that object, actually places a purchase order for that object. This type of information would be useful to advertisers in assessing the effectiveness of their commercials.
  • the system is preferably capable of compiling and organizing any desired selection of information from its database of con- sumer profiles that would be of interest to advertisers (for example, in creating mailing lists, in modifying its commercials for greater effectiveness, and so on).
  • the system is preferably able to compare and analyze the performance and effectiveness of a specific video presentation 10 delivered according to the system, based on performance criteria including the value of all goods and/or services sold, the number of sales, the average value of each transaction by a viewer 30, the number of inquiries submitted by a viewer 30, the number of viewers 30 that watch available commercials, the number of viewers 30 that complete all requested or available actions, the geographical location of a viewer 30, other personal information about a viewer 30, times at which video presentations 10 are presented to a viewer 30, other programs a viewer 30 may be watching prior to watching video presentation 10, and so on.
  • the system also allows for interactive commercials that require the input and/or participation of the viewer 30.
  • a commercial may ask the viewer 30 a trivia question, or ask the viewer 30 to choose his/her favorite color of carpet, and so on.
  • the system may require the viewer 30 to interactively participate in the commercial in order to review the remainder of the commercial.
  • the system can be modified to include a module that, for each object of interest actually purchased by a viewer 30, calculates a commission payable to any number of people, including the supplier of the video presentation 10, the operator of the system, the supplier of the object of interest, the creator of the commercial, and so on.
  • the system can, upon the viewer 30 watching a commercial and/or making one or more purchases through the system (or even just by signing up for the system and/or providing information for a consumer profile), reward the viewer 30 with reward points redeemable for future purchases or for delivery of the purchased object.
  • the viewer 30 may immediately spend reward points or save the credits in an electronic account for later use.
  • Reward points may be used to purchase a variety of goods and services (for example, television programming, T-shirts, shipping/delivery services, and so on).
  • the primary source of income for this frequent viewer reward system will be from advertisers who use the system in order to advertise and market their goods and/or services.
  • the system utilizes pre-established parameters, criteria, and guidelines to determine when and to what extent a viewer 30 will be eligible for reward points. For example, the viewer 30 may qualify for a greater number of reward points during certain time periods, or for watching certain video presentations with a given spon- sor or through certain media.
  • the system preferably includes means of comparing the actions of the viewer 30 against the pre-established parameters, criteria, and guidelines to determine the number of reward points to be awarded to each viewer 30.
  • the system preferably also allows each viewer 30 to access a database containing information about the goods and/or services for which reward points can be redeemed, and allow the viewer 30 to access information regarding the reward points in his/her account. Any such redemption of reward points will be recorded by the system in all relevant databases.
  • all of the databases described above may instead be combined into a single master database.
  • the system can also include a random generator that is capable of calculating a set of random criteria by which one or more viewer 30 are rewarded with and receive a prize (for example, one of five cars rewarded to each of five selected viewers 30 who view a specific commercial during the Super Bowl).
  • a random generator that is capable of calculating a set of random criteria by which one or more viewer 30 are rewarded with and receive a prize (for example, one of five cars rewarded to each of five selected viewers 30 who view a specific commercial during the Super Bowl).
  • This reward points system may include means whereby a viewer 30 may instead be rewarded with one or more electronic coupons, which the viewer 30 can arrange for delivery to himself/herself or to a third party.
  • the electronic coupons may be stored by the viewer 30 electronically for later use, or printed on some sort of printing device immediately to become a physical coupon that can be redeemed for some benefit by a participating supplier, including goods and/or services or a discount on goods and/or services.
  • FIG. 2 shows a system 100 according to an example em- bodiment of the invention.
  • System 100 has a CATV head end 110 which broadcasts television programming to a number of televisions 112.
  • Each television 112 has an associated "set top box' 114 which is in two-way data communication with head end 110.
  • Head end 110 receives video programming by way of a satellite receiver 118 or a tape 120 and delivers the programming to televisions 112 by way of a suitable wired, fiber optic or wireless communication network.
  • a database 60 is hosted on a database server 118 which is connected to head end 110.
  • the illustrated embodiment of system 100 has a workstation 124 at which an operator can view a video presentation to identify marketing opportunities associated with objects of interest.
  • Workstation 124 obtains from database 60 a unique identification number for the video presentation and embeds that identification number in the video presentation.
  • the workstation When the operator identifies an EVS within the video presentation the workstation writes to the video presentation a number identifying the objects of interest.
  • the operator also enters a description of the objects of interest. This description is saved in database 60 and associated with a number identifying the object of interest.
  • the operator chooses a category from a set of categories, such as "clothing", “vehicles”, “cosmetics” etc. to associate with each object of interest. The category is also saved in database 60.
  • set top box When a viewer watches an encoded program on the viewer's television 112 set top box reads the codes embedded in the video presentation to identify the start and finish of each EVS. When an EVS is being displayed, set top box 114 superimposes a small icon on the video signal being sent to television 112. This icon cues the viewer to the presence of an EVS. The viewer can press a "select" button on the viewer's remote control 128. When set top box 114 dete ⁇ nines that the select button has been pressed, a computer program running in the set top box reads the identification code and data identifying the EVS for the currently transmitted video presentation and requests from database 60 the data relating to that identification code. Database 60 forwards the requested data by way of head end 110.
  • the data indicates to set top box 114 what types of objects of interest are in the EVS.
  • set top box 114 displays a row of icons which represent the items of interest across a lower portion of the television image.
  • the viewer can select one of the icons, for example a "clothing" icon.
  • set top box displays irrformation about one or more items of cloti ing relating to the objects of interest in the EVS.
  • the set top box displays a small block of text at the bottom of the screen of television 112 which describes the suit being worn by a main character.
  • Set top box preferably also provides a row of one or more icons which can be actuated to display more information about the clothes in question.
  • database 60 produces information which is specific to the geographical location of set top box 114.
  • Database can provide this information if each set top box 114 is associated with a particular geographical region. This permits the operator of system 100 to sell advertising space to merchants in different localities who carry the clothing in question.
  • set top box 114 may display an icon which permits a user to obtain information regarding where the object of interest can be purchased in the viewer's geographical area.
  • set top box proceeds to download from database 60 all of the irrformation associated with the various icons that the viewer may choose to select so that the system can subsequently promptly display the information re- quested by the viewer.
  • the icons to be displayed by set top box 114 are stored in memory within set top box 114 to avoid the bandwidth that would be taken up if the icons were stored only in database 110.
  • the points may be tracked in set top box 114 and periodically uploaded to database 60 or may be tracked in an account for the user in database 60. This encourages users to use the interactive features of system 100.
  • a system for providing information to viewers of a video presentation comprising: a) a video presentation which displays during the course thereof a plurality of objects identifiable by a viewer; b) a display for allowing a viewer to view said video presentation; c) a first set of data associated with each one of a subset of said plurality of objects, said first set of data encoded in said video presentation or stored in a remote database; d) means for allowing said viewer to differentiate members of said subset of said plurality of objects from members not of said subset; e) means for allowing said viewer, upon identifying one of said objects of said subset, to selectively view at least part of said first set of data associated with said object.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
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Abstract

A system for (1) communicating information and/or commercials to viewers of a video presentation regarding goods and/or services shown in the video presentation, (2) faciliting and enabling the electronic purchase of those goods/services, and (3) rewarding frequent viewers of commercials or purchasers of goods.

Description

SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION TO VIEWERS OF A VIDEO PRESENTATION
Technical Field
This invention relates to systems for coπmiunicating information to viewers of a video presentation, and more particularly, to providing information to a viewer about certain goods and services shown in the video presentation and preferably also to enable the viewer to purchase those goods/services electronically.
Background
In the course of watching a video presentation, viewers may see objects in the video presentation that interest them, such as clothing, watches, vehicles, sports equipment, and so on. It would be desirable for the system displaying the video presentation to allow the viewers interactively to: (1) select objects of interest from the video presentation; (2) request immediate information about those objects, such as their manufacturer, price, and description; and (3) place an order to purchase one or more of those objects.
Summary of Invention
The present invention is, in its most basic embodiment, a system for providing information to viewers of a video presentation.
The system provides a video presentation and a display for viewing the video presentation. The video presentation presents during the course thereof a plurality of objects which are readily identifiable by the viewer. Some of the objects shown during the course of the video presentation have data associated with them which can be selectively accessed by the viewer upon viewing the video presentation. This information might include, for a particular good or service shown in the video, for example, information about the nature of the good/service and might also include information regarding how the viewer might purchase the good/service. The system will preferably also facilitate and enable purchase of the good/service by the viewer through the system, and can include a system of reward points for purchases made in this manner.
This data associated with such goods/services may be encoded within the video presentation itself, or may be stored in one or more databases and remotely accessed by a data access system, which may be associated with the display and/or which may include the communication of data over a communications network such as the internet.
Brief Description of Drawings
In drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention, but which should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope of the invention in any way:
Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of the system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a television broadcast system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Description
As described previously herein, the present invention provides information to people viewing a video presentation.
As shown in Figure 1 , the system of the invention provides video data in the form of a video presentation 10 and a display 20 for displaying video presentation 10 to one or more viewers 30.
The invention contemplates that video presentation 10 may be presented through a variety of media, such as videotape, video compact disc (VCD), digital video disc (DVD), satellite broadcast, conventional broadcast, through cable, through streaming video and the like over the internet, or otherwise, but the invention is particularly suited to broadcast and cable television media, which are well known.
Display 20 may be any display means suitable for displaying a video presentation. One example of such a display is a computer monitor. In a preferred embodiment, a television is a suitable display.
As is well known, visual data may be provided to a display in the form of a series of images, presented one after another, producing a moving picture to make up what is referred to herein as a "video presentation". Audio data typically accompanies this visual data. An example of a video presentation as referred to herein is the videotape version of a motion picture. A broadcast television program is another example of what is termed herein a "video presentation" .
The video presentation 10 of the invention, like any other video presentation, displays during its course a plurality of objects identifiable by the viewer 30. "Objects", as referred to herein, includes all identifiable things incorporated within the images presented by the video presentation. A very large number of discrete objects may be seen and identified by a viewer 30 during the course of video presentation 10.
It is understandable that some of the objects shown during the video presentation might hold more interest for viewers than others. An attractive or expensive consumer product (such as an automobile) shown in a movie, for example, might be expected to hold more interest for most viewers than, say, an ordinary sheet of paper. In the invention, a subset of the plurality of objects shown during the course of the video presentation 10 are predetermined to be of potential interest to viewers, and the invention provides a set of data associated with each one object of this subset of objects. Hereafter, each of the objects of this subset may be referred to as an "object of interest".
The invention provides that this data about each object of interest can be selectively accessed and viewed by the viewer 30 upon viewing video presentation 10, as discussed in greater detail below, thereby allowing a viewer 30 to obtain information about an object of interest shown in the video presentation 10. This information might include, for a particular product shown in the video presentation 10, information about the nature of the product, information regarding its manufacturer, information regarding its price, its product code, and information regarding how the viewer 30 might, purchase the product. For example, for an automobile, this information may include technical specifications and dealership information. It can be appreciated that such objects of interest are also useful for marketing purposes. A viewer 30 who has taken specific steps to selectively view information about a particular object of interest, for example clothing, is more likely to be interested in purchasing goods relating to the object of interest than an average viewer.
The invention provides that, during one or more portions of the video presentation 10, one or more of the objects of interest is shown on the display 20 and visible to the viewer 30, possibly along with other objects shown on the display 20 at the same time. Each such portion of the video presentation 10 is referred to hereafter as an "Encoded Video Session", or "EVS".
To produce an EVS, the video presentation is encoded, by encoder 40, with data which may be interpreted by a decoder 45. This data causes a signal, preferably but not necessarily a visual signal, to be displayed to a viewer 30, thereby indicating to the viewer 30 that an EVS is taking place, and accordingly that an object of interest to the viewer 30 is possibly being shown on the display 20 during that EVS. In a preferred embodiment, at least one stationary or moving signal icon 50 is displayed on display 20 during the course of the EVS. The presence of the signal icon 50 and/or its appearance indicates to a viewer 30 that the EVS is taking place.
It will be appreciated that encoder 40 and decoder 45 may one or both be associated with display 20, or remote from it. The specific features of encoder 40 and decoder 45 are not essential to the invention; means for encoding a video presentation with data are well known in the art. Such data may, for example, be embedded in the vertical blanking interval of a video signal.
When an EVS is taking place, a viewer 30 may decide to request information about one or more of the predetermined objects of interest shown during that EVS, and may call up that information, in a manner described in greater detail below.
Means must be provided in the invention to allow a viewer 30 to differentiate objects of interest from other objects shown on the display 20 during an EVS. Such means might take the form of the presentation of individual icons on the display 20 during an EVS, rendering the display 20 a graphical user interface, each icon representing one of the objects of potential interest presently being shown in the video presentation 10. Such icons may be superimposed over or near each object of interest being shown on the display 20, or may be grouped in a different part of the screen in such a way that still allows the viewer 30 to associate a particular icon with a particular object of interest. Such icons may appear automatically as soon as one or more objects of interest appear in the video presentation 10; in this way, these individual icons may also serve as the previously mentioned signal icon 50, such that, if desired, a separate signal icon 50 need not be provided. In a preferred embodiment, however, the individual icons associated with particular objects of interest do not appear automatically, but instead can be called up by a viewer 30 in response to a signal icon 50 which indicates that an EVS is taking place.
Icons may be presented in any effective manner, be they placed in a separate secondary window on the display 20, or simply overlaid over the video presentation 10. However, in a preferred embodiment, objects of interest are pre-categorized into convenient categories such as "clothing", "vehicles", "art" , "sports equipment", and so on, and an easily recognizable "category icon" is provided for each category, such that when the viewer 30 responds to a signal icon 50 appearing on the display 20, an individual category icon will appear in a predetermined location on the display 20 for each object of interest then appearing in the video presentation 10.
In another embodiment of the invention, rather than dis- playing individual icons representing objects of interest, each of the objects are highlighted on the display 20 during an EVS in some other manner, either automatically or in response to a request from the viewer 30. For example, the objects of interest themselves may be presented in a different color, or be circled, or otherwise made to stand out from the rest of the video presentation 10. This may be accomplished by further encoding the video presentation 10 with data representing the relative screen position, or X-Y position, on the display 20 of each of the particular objects of interest in each frame of the EVS. Each frame may also be given its own identification code, if necessary, and the system will have means to correlate data about an object of interest to its X-Y position and its frame identification code. Typically, each video presentation 10, each EVS, each object of interest, and so on will also have their own unique codes. The foregoing data and codes may be written into each vertical blanking interval of the video presentation 10.
A request from viewer 30 to highlight all objects of interest displayed at a particular point in time might be made by known means, including a remote control that can control an image cursor visible on the display 20, or a computer touch pen touchable to an associated touch pad, or a computer touch pen touchable to the display screen itself, or a "touch" display screen responsive to a person's touch. Such means are well known in the art.
Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system displays signal icon 50 to viewer 30 during the course of an EVS. Viewer 30 may at that time want to see what objects of interest are being shown on the display 20, and the viewer 30 may then input into the system a request to have the system differentiate objects of interest from other objects. This request may or may not cause video presentation 10 to be interrupted.
Once objects of potential interest are revealed by the system to viewer 30 in response to this request, viewer 30 may then choose to view the information associated with one or more of the objects of interest. Viewer 30 accomplishes this by entering a selective request for information about one or more of the objects of interest. Again, this might be conveniently accomplished by a remote control operated by viewer 30, or by a computer pen or a person's touch operating on a touch screen as described above. It will be appreciated that if objects of interest are represented by icons, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, a viewer 30 can access information about a particular object of interest by selecting and "clicking" the particular icon representing that object with a cursor controlled by the remote control, or touching it as described above. If the objects of interest themselves are highlighted on the display 20, the image of the particular object of interest may be "clicked" on or touched.
The information request may be processed immediately, or may be stored and processed later so as not to interrupt the video presentation 10. The necessary data processing means, including software responsible for allowing viewer 30 to differentiate objects of interest from other objects, allowing viewer 30 to selectively view information about a particular object of interest, and (if desired) storing an information request and relevant data for later processing, may be associated with display 20 but is not required to be. Upon viewer 30 signaling a desire for data regarding one or more objects of interest, the system may be configured to react in one of several ways. The system may or may not pause the video presentation 10, and may or may not further highlight on display 20 objects of interest for which viewer 30 desires data. In one embodiment of the invention, the system may cause "command icons" to appear on display 20, with or without pausing the video presentation 10, and with such command icons superimposed or substituted on the same full-screen as video presentation 10, or displayed simultaneously with the video presentation 10 on a separate split-screen window, or otherwise. Viewer 30 can then select whichever command icon reflects what viewer 30 wishes the system to do. For example, one command icon may be selected to cancel the information request and return to the video presentation 10, another command icon may be selected to pro- cess the information request immediately, and yet another command icon may be selected to store the information request and relevant data for later processing. In a different embodiment of the invention, the system may instead react to the selection of an object of interest by immediately interrupting the video presentation 10 and causing the display 20 to switch from a video display to a graphical information or internet display from which the viewer 30 can retrieve data or select a command, or both. In addition to processing commands to retrieve and present information about objects of interest, the system can also be modified to allow purchase orders for selected objects of interest to be similarly processed immediately and forwarded to suppliers of those objects. Further, the system can also be configured to put a time limit on any pausing of the video presentation 10, such that the video presentation 10 will automatically resume after a predetermined amount of time in which the system senses no activity from the viewer 30. The system can therefore be configured in any number of ways to suit any functional criteria. As for the data which provides viewer 30 with information about the objects of interest, this data may itself be encoded within video presentation 10. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the video presentation 10 is encoded with information which identifies the objects of interest and data about the objects of interest is instead stored in a remote database 60. If such data is stored in remote database 60, then a data access system 55 must be provided. A variety of suitable data access systems 55 can be satisfactorily employed in the practice of the invention, but a particular data access system contem- plated by the inventors includes the communication of data over a common communications network such as the internet or an interactive television system. It will be understood that when viewer 30 chooses to view information about a particular object of interest, a signal in the form of a code representing that object may be sent by the system to the remote database 60; a data processor at the database retrieves the information about the object from database 60 and returns the information associated with that code to the viewer 30.
In an embodiment of the invention which incorporates communication of data over the internet as part of the data access system 55, it is convenient to associate further data with each object of interest at the video presentation level which allows the system to follow a hyperlink between each potential object of interest shown during an EVS and the associated information stored in database 60. Further hyperlink data may also be provided to allow the transfer of viewer 30 to an internet web site, where the viewer 30 may obtain information regarding an object of interest and/or electronically place an order to purchase that object of interest. Again, display 20 is preferably able to present graphical internet information, whether in a full-screen or split- screen manner. In any event, display 20 is preferably capable of some form of alternate video/information display or video/internet display. For example, display 20 may need in some cases to switch entirely from a full-screen video display to a full-screen internet display. In other cases, display 20 may simply display information about an object of interest as scrolling text superimposed over a lower portion of display 20 without interrupting the video presentation 10. Display 20 is preferably able to accommodate a plurality of windows simultaneously in a split-screen display mode if desired. Each window is preferably able to display any type of data/image; for example, one window might display a television program, a second window might display an internet web site, and a third window might display some other multimedia communication data. The system is preferably able to accommodate this.
The encoder 40 will therefore need to be able, in order to produce an EVS, to encode the video presentation with different types of data. For example, each EVS in a video presentation 10 will include encoded data that either directly provides information about each object of interest shown in that EVS, or allows the system to access that information from a remote database 60 through a data access system 55 as described above (for example, an encoded hyperlink to the remote database 60 or to an internet web site). A video presentation can be encoded once and then broadcast in many different ways. Another type of data that may be encoded by the encoder 40 into an EVS are the X-Y position or coordinates of objects of interest shown in that EVS, and the unique identification number of individual objects of interest, of individual frames, of the EVS, and/or of the video presentation 10 itself, so that the system may allow viewer 30 to highlight objects of interest on display 20 during an EVS. Again, a video presentation can be encoded once and then broadcast in many different ways. In addition to such data, certain "events" can be encoded into the video presentation 10 and/or accessed through the data access system 55. For example, such events can include an interactive event like a vote, a contest event, a coupon event, and so on. The viewer 30 can, in the same manner described above for accessing data, access information about one or more events.
Of course, the system preferably allows viewer 30, even after a video presentation 10 is over or even without viewing video presentation 10, to independently view a list of all objects of interest and/or events relating to that video presentation 10, to retrieve information regarding those objects of interest and/or events, to place purchase orders for those objects or participate in events, and so on, in the same or similar manner as described above.
It will be appreciated that in a commercial embodiment, the objects of potential interest will typically represent goods and services which might be available to the viewer for purchase. As previously discussed, the system may allow for a viewer 30 to select an object of interest and electronically place an order through the system to purchase that object.
A number of further variations of this system are possible. For example, the system may, upon a viewer 30 selecting an object of interest, retrieve a pre-recorded commercial for that object from a database and play that commercial for the viewer 30 in one of the manners described above (for example, on a window of a split-screen display, or on a full-screen display substituted for the paused video presentation 10, and so on). The system may play the commercial automatically upon the selection by a viewer 30 of an object of interest and only afterwards present the viewer 30 with a selection of com- mands, or the system can simply include the option of viewing a commercial as one of the available commands presented to the viewer 30 upon selection of an object of interest. In a preferred embodiment, such commands are implemented by "clicking" on or touching a command icon, as described above.
In another variation, the system selects a commercial from a database containing a plurality of commercials by referencing a consumer profile maintained by the system for the viewer 30 and comparing it against a set of commercial selection criteria, using an algorithm and/or system of algorithms to reference and compare such information. The commercial is then selected and adapted according to a set of commercial adaptation criteria, and only then presented to the viewer 30. In this case, the system has a means of creating, generating, and maintaining a database of the consumer profiles of each of its viewers 30. Such consumer profiles preferably include information about each viewer 30 such as his/her name, personal identification data, address, birth date, gender, family information, demographic information, income, credit history, other financial information, employment information, type of residence, payment mechanism information data such as credit card numbers, history of purchases through the system, reward points accumulated (see below for more details about a possible reward points system), history /type of programs watched, personal preferences (such as language, color, animal, public personalities, food, physical locations, fauna, music, and so on), color-blindness, hearing impairment, other disabilities, and any other data and/or information relevant to the viewing and purchasing preferences of the viewer 30. Even where the viewer 30 may not have deliberately and/or mindfully established a consumer profile on the system, the system preferably can automatically create a consumer profile for each viewer 30 (for exam- ple, based at least on the viewing and/or purchasing habits of viewer 30), subject, of course, to any applicable privacy laws,
The system also preferably has a means of generating and/or utilizing an algorithm or system of algorithms to reference data and information contained in such consumer profiles and select a commercial from the database of commercials based on a set of commercial selection criteria. Where a plurality of consumers profiles for different viewers 30 may be associated with one particular display 20 (for exam- pie, different members of one family sharing a single television), the system preferably has means to be able to guess the identity of the particular viewer 30 viewing the video presentation 10 at a given time (for example, based on the type of presentation being watched, the time of day, and so on). The opposite may also be true, in that the system preferably also has means to be able to recognize a particular viewer 30 and match that viewer 30 with his/her consumer profile regardless of whether the viewer 30 is using a different display 20 than the one normally used by that viewer 30. The system preferably automatically updates relevant consumer profiles after each viewing session.
Further, the system may have means of ascertaining that data or commands received from a particular viewer 30 have been transmitted and received in a secure, accurate, and real time manner, thereby ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the data transmis- sion process. One means of doing so is to assign a unique account code and a unique personal identification code or number ("PIN") to each viewer 30 and/or to each display 20.
Lastly, based on the consumer profile of the viewer 30, the selected commercial may be adapted to the preferences or needs of the viewer 30 (for example, it may be presented with close captioning for the hearing impaired, or in a different color for people with inabilities to see certain colors).
The system may also be able to keep track of whether or not the viewer 30, after viewing a commercial for that object, actually places a purchase order for that object. This type of information would be useful to advertisers in assessing the effectiveness of their commercials. In fact, the system is preferably capable of compiling and organizing any desired selection of information from its database of con- sumer profiles that would be of interest to advertisers (for example, in creating mailing lists, in modifying its commercials for greater effectiveness, and so on). The system is preferably able to compare and analyze the performance and effectiveness of a specific video presentation 10 delivered according to the system, based on performance criteria including the value of all goods and/or services sold, the number of sales, the average value of each transaction by a viewer 30, the number of inquiries submitted by a viewer 30, the number of viewers 30 that watch available commercials, the number of viewers 30 that complete all requested or available actions, the geographical location of a viewer 30, other personal information about a viewer 30, times at which video presentations 10 are presented to a viewer 30, other programs a viewer 30 may be watching prior to watching video presentation 10, and so on.
The system also allows for interactive commercials that require the input and/or participation of the viewer 30. For example, a commercial may ask the viewer 30 a trivia question, or ask the viewer 30 to choose his/her favorite color of carpet, and so on. The system may require the viewer 30 to interactively participate in the commercial in order to review the remainder of the commercial. The system can be modified to include a module that, for each object of interest actually purchased by a viewer 30, calculates a commission payable to any number of people, including the supplier of the video presentation 10, the operator of the system, the supplier of the object of interest, the creator of the commercial, and so on.
In another variation of the system, the system can, upon the viewer 30 watching a commercial and/or making one or more purchases through the system (or even just by signing up for the system and/or providing information for a consumer profile), reward the viewer 30 with reward points redeemable for future purchases or for delivery of the purchased object. The viewer 30 may immediately spend reward points or save the credits in an electronic account for later use. Reward points may be used to purchase a variety of goods and services (for example, television programming, T-shirts, shipping/delivery services, and so on). The primary source of income for this frequent viewer reward system will be from advertisers who use the system in order to advertise and market their goods and/or services.
Preferably, the system utilizes pre-established parameters, criteria, and guidelines to determine when and to what extent a viewer 30 will be eligible for reward points. For example, the viewer 30 may qualify for a greater number of reward points during certain time periods, or for watching certain video presentations with a given spon- sor or through certain media. The system preferably includes means of comparing the actions of the viewer 30 against the pre-established parameters, criteria, and guidelines to determine the number of reward points to be awarded to each viewer 30. The system preferably also allows each viewer 30 to access a database containing information about the goods and/or services for which reward points can be redeemed, and allow the viewer 30 to access information regarding the reward points in his/her account. Any such redemption of reward points will be recorded by the system in all relevant databases. Of course, all of the databases described above may instead be combined into a single master database.
The system can also include a random generator that is capable of calculating a set of random criteria by which one or more viewer 30 are rewarded with and receive a prize (for example, one of five cars rewarded to each of five selected viewers 30 who view a specific commercial during the Super Bowl).
This reward points system may include means whereby a viewer 30 may instead be rewarded with one or more electronic coupons, which the viewer 30 can arrange for delivery to himself/herself or to a third party. The electronic coupons may be stored by the viewer 30 electronically for later use, or printed on some sort of printing device immediately to become a physical coupon that can be redeemed for some benefit by a participating supplier, including goods and/or services or a discount on goods and/or services.
Example
Figure 2 shows a system 100 according to an example em- bodiment of the invention. System 100 has a CATV head end 110 which broadcasts television programming to a number of televisions 112. Each television 112 has an associated "set top box' 114 which is in two-way data communication with head end 110. Head end 110 receives video programming by way of a satellite receiver 118 or a tape 120 and delivers the programming to televisions 112 by way of a suitable wired, fiber optic or wireless communication network. A database 60 is hosted on a database server 118 which is connected to head end 110.
At least some of the prograrrmring delivered by system 100 has been encoded as described above. The illustrated embodiment of system 100 has a workstation 124 at which an operator can view a video presentation to identify marketing opportunities associated with objects of interest. Workstation 124 obtains from database 60 a unique identification number for the video presentation and embeds that identification number in the video presentation. When the operator identifies an EVS within the video presentation the workstation writes to the video presentation a number identifying the objects of interest. The operator also enters a description of the objects of interest. This description is saved in database 60 and associated with a number identifying the object of interest. Prefera- bly the operator chooses a category from a set of categories, such as "clothing", "vehicles", "cosmetics" etc. to associate with each object of interest. The category is also saved in database 60.
When a viewer watches an encoded program on the viewer's television 112 set top box reads the codes embedded in the video presentation to identify the start and finish of each EVS. When an EVS is being displayed, set top box 114 superimposes a small icon on the video signal being sent to television 112. This icon cues the viewer to the presence of an EVS. The viewer can press a "select" button on the viewer's remote control 128. When set top box 114 deteπnines that the select button has been pressed, a computer program running in the set top box reads the identification code and data identifying the EVS for the currently transmitted video presentation and requests from database 60 the data relating to that identification code. Database 60 forwards the requested data by way of head end 110. The data indicates to set top box 114 what types of objects of interest are in the EVS. In response set top box 114 displays a row of icons which represent the items of interest across a lower portion of the television image. By pressing a button on remote control 128 the viewer can select one of the icons, for example a "clothing" icon. In response, set top box displays irrformation about one or more items of cloti ing relating to the objects of interest in the EVS. For example, the set top box displays a small block of text at the bottom of the screen of television 112 which describes the suit being worn by a main character. Set top box preferably also provides a row of one or more icons which can be actuated to display more information about the clothes in question. Preferably database 60 produces information which is specific to the geographical location of set top box 114. Database can provide this information if each set top box 114 is associated with a particular geographical region. This permits the operator of system 100 to sell advertising space to merchants in different localities who carry the clothing in question. For example, set top box 114 may display an icon which permits a user to obtain information regarding where the object of interest can be purchased in the viewer's geographical area.
Preferably, when a viewer first indicates interest in an EVS, set top box proceeds to download from database 60 all of the irrformation associated with the various icons that the viewer may choose to select so that the system can subsequently promptly display the information re- quested by the viewer. Most preferably the icons to be displayed by set top box 114 are stored in memory within set top box 114 to avoid the bandwidth that would be taken up if the icons were stored only in database 110.
Each time a viewer uses remote control 128 to view information from an EVS the viewer is rewarded with some points. The points may be tracked in set top box 114 and periodically uploaded to database 60 or may be tracked in an account for the user in database 60. This encourages users to use the interactive features of system 100.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A system for providing information to viewers of a video presentation, said system comprising: a) a video presentation which displays during the course thereof a plurality of objects identifiable by a viewer; b) a display for allowing a viewer to view said video presentation; c) a first set of data associated with each one of a subset of said plurality of objects, said first set of data encoded in said video presentation or stored in a remote database; d) means for allowing said viewer to differentiate members of said subset of said plurality of objects from members not of said subset; e) means for allowing said viewer, upon identifying one of said objects of said subset, to selectively view at least part of said first set of data associated with said object.
PCT/CA2000/001190 2000-10-13 2000-10-13 System for communicating information to viewers of a video presentation WO2002032137A1 (en)

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