WO2002058393A1 - Procede et systeme permettant de completer une programmation televisuelle par des magazines envoyes par courrier electronique - Google Patents

Procede et systeme permettant de completer une programmation televisuelle par des magazines envoyes par courrier electronique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002058393A1
WO2002058393A1 PCT/US2002/001119 US0201119W WO02058393A1 WO 2002058393 A1 WO2002058393 A1 WO 2002058393A1 US 0201119 W US0201119 W US 0201119W WO 02058393 A1 WO02058393 A1 WO 02058393A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
viewer
programming
database
video programming
triggers
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/001119
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
John Woods
David Gilman
Original Assignee
I-Request, Inc.
Davis, T., Ron
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
Priority claimed from US10/027,958 external-priority patent/US20030167465A1/en
Application filed by I-Request, Inc., Davis, T., Ron filed Critical I-Request, Inc.
Publication of WO2002058393A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002058393A1/fr

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]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/235—Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
    • 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
    • H04N21/25883—Management of end-user data being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address
    • 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
    • H04N21/4786—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application e-mailing
    • 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
    • H04N21/854—Content authoring
    • 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
    • H04N7/08—Systems 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
    • H04N7/087—Systems 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
    • H04N7/088—Systems 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
    • 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
    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to video programming and, more specifically, to interactive television.
  • An interactive television system and method for generating video programming combined with triggers and then, in turn, for viewing that video programming as the triggers present information associated with the triggers When triggered by the viewer, the remote control will generate a request using a user interface coupled to at least one of the set top box or the television. The request, being based on a user selection of the presented information associated with the triggers, will retrieve information at the request processing system based on the generated request and will present the retrieved information that is based on the request at a user computer system coupled to the request processing system.
  • the system allows the viewer to passively view video programming and to request such information as might interest the viewer.
  • the appropriate conduit for receiving the information is the viewer's e-mail platform.
  • the invention will generate and assemble information associated with the program based upon the triggers embedded in the programming.
  • FIGURE 1 is an overview of the several phases of the system
  • FIGURE 2 is a view of the apparatus used at the production phase to link programming content to triggers
  • FIGURE 3 shows the graphic user interface on the producer's desktop software product
  • FIGURE 4 shows the graphic "bug" in situ on the display of an enabled television
  • FIGURE 5 shows the resized television picture along with the mask showing the several billboards and the several links and selection boxes;
  • FIGURE 6 displays a demographic sorting desktop for linking the triggers in a program according the likely demographic features of the viewer
  • FIGURE 7 displays the methods of disseminating the enhanced programming to several viewers
  • FIGURE 8 displays the mechanism used to respond to requests for e-magazines
  • FIGURE 9 displays the sent e-magazine with several of sorts of elements that might be useful
  • FIGURE 10 displays the mechanism for assembling an e-magazine with special articles for the intended audience
  • FIGURE 11 portrays the process of registering for the service where the registration is used for initiating a demographic file for the user or users
  • FIGURE 12 portrays the process of producing enhanced program content for the system
  • FIGURE 13 portrays the process of requesting a e-magazine.
  • FIGURE 1 represents an overview of the inventive method and system. This FIGURE 1 portrays four phases in the method: the pre-production phase, the viewing phase, the mask and e-Zine production phase, and the reviewing phase. These phases are not in strict chronological order. For the viewer in the viewing phase to use the system, masks must already exist and these are produced in the mask and e-Zine production phase.
  • the pre-production phase begins with a programming source 101.
  • the programming source may be any form of video programming, though most likely it is on a non- volatile medium, such as some form of tape, film, or optical disc such as a CD or DVD.
  • the selection of a viewing source is limited only by the qualifier that it be recorded on a non-volatile source. Even flash memory sticks such as the SanDisk Compact Flash® or the Sony Memory Stick® would serve as such media.
  • Whatever the source 101 it is the object of pre-production to add to that recorded medium appropriate triggers.
  • the producer of the enhanced programming draws the base program from the programming source 101 in by means of a computer (here the producer's desktop 110) imbeds a series of unique triggers into the programming by ATVEF standard means. Though not limited by the method used, this process is analogous to imbedding closed- captioning in the NTSC or PAL standard signal. Simply put, the producer places additional information that enhances the base video programming on the signal without requiring additional signal capacity. This additional information is expressed in embedded "triggers" used to generate masks available to the viewer.
  • the producer draws the configuration and content of the triggers from a trigger database 120.
  • triggers help to either define the mask itself or, as in the preferred embodiment, direct an advanced set-top box 210 to where the masks are found.
  • the triggers will be uniform resource locators, or URL's. While the preferred embodiment uses URL's, any unique code can be used, such as binary or decimal codes imbedded in the programming, for it is the sole purpose of the codes to evoke from an advanced set top box 210 appropriate masks to match the programming at defined times throughout the viewing.
  • non-URL type code that would be workable, though not the preferred embodiment, would be a multi-place binary number that included codes to populate a masked template that would be displayed on the screen.
  • the code itself would be merely a concatenation of discreet billboard and button codes as will be discussed in greater depth when discussing the mask.
  • a mask template might be stored in non- volatile memory in the set-top box 210.
  • These billboards and buttons serve to allow the viewer to interact with his television 220 by means of the advanced set top box 210. They are, in short, opportunities to make a selection. Where standard codes exist for each billboard and button, the concatenation of those codes is an effective means to carry out the inventive method and implement the inventive system.
  • the producer uses the production desktop 110 to meaningfully relate that which is portrayed on the screen with a series of masks. For example, should the viewer be watching a documentary movie on the shrines of Kyoto, a view of the Fushimiinari or Fox Shrine might be accompanied by billboards for various travel agencies and buttons requesting information about 1) tourism and travel in the Kyoto area; 2) the history of the Fushimiinari Shrine from 771 A.D. in Kyoto; 3) clothing appropriate for touring the Kyoto area given its climate and culture; and 4) gifts and souvenirs evocative of Kyoto, such as green tea and silk.
  • One advantage of the imbedding of URL triggers in the programming is that the precise way of filling out a mask is dynamic and not set at the time of pre-production.
  • the producer may later place at the URL masks that differ in time. If, for instance, one supplier of green tea discontinues their advertising contract, a producer might substitute a different billboard on the mask stored at the URL, even though he does so months after pre-production and imbedding of the triggers is complete.
  • the advanced set top box may or may not include many of the functions of a standard cable set top box, however, the advanced set top box adds the interactivity with the system. Indeed, the inventors envision a time where the market for these services are such that television manufacturers incorporate the ASTB circuitry 210 into televisions 220.
  • the ASTB 210 includes the ability to perceive and to read the imbedded triggers in programming regardless of where the circuitry resides.
  • the ASTB 210 When connected to a programming source by any conventional broadcast means, the ASTB 210 sends an invitation through an upstream communication ability back to a clearinghouse.
  • the clearinghouse might be any sort of service provider.
  • a multiple services operator is a corporation broadcasting more than one television network. Clearinghouses would include local cable television providers.
  • An essential element of the set top box is the ability to communicate by some means with the clearinghouse. These means might include upstream transmission through television broadcast means, such as through coaxial cable wave-guides; transmission through hard wired telephone lines; PCS or cell phone communication; or any suitable communications link that will bring a signal back to the clearinghouse.
  • the clearinghouse transmits through the advanced set top box 210 to the television 220 enhanced programming as produced at the pre- production phase.
  • the advanced set top box retains the most recent trigger broadcast in a register.
  • the purpose of the register is to share the recent trigger needed to generate a screen for the viewer. Each time a new trigger is broadcast it replaces the trigger that was stored in the register.
  • the advanced set top box uses the codes stored as a trigger to generate a selections mask. If the trigger is a code representative of a URL, the advanced set top box retrieves the information stored at the URL by means of any communication channel available to the set top box to so retrieve the information. Like the upstream channel earlier described, any appropriate communications link will serve.
  • the advanced set top box draws the meaning of those triggers from the trigger database 120.
  • This is the same database that pre-production used to identify the codes and to imbed them into the programming.
  • the ASTB 210 draws the current billboards associated with individual code elements of the concatenated code, these it positions into a mask template stored in the ASTB 210 or alternatively in the trigger database 120.
  • the trigger database 120 contains the contents that will fill the mask. From such information, the ASTB 210 has the necessary information to form the mask on the screen around a compressed view of the video programming.
  • the advanced set top box 210 has generated a mask.
  • This mask presents the viewer with a number of billboards and buttons to indicate specific selections that represent requests for information.
  • the viewer selects by appropriate means, in the preferred embodiment by means of a remote control device that allows scrolling through the buttons, those buttons representative of the viewer's request for information.
  • the viewer "transmits" the request by means of a separate selection, hi the preferred embodiment, this separate selection is a button on the mask appropriately marked with a legend such as "send" or "submit”.
  • the viewing phase is complete. Production of mask content to be presented to the viewer must be completed before the viewing phase.
  • the production software constructs the mask by a process that is closely analogous to the production of e-Zines generated based upon the viewer's submitted requests. Both the e-Zine and the mask are based upon templates and are constructed in a similar manner.
  • a producer takes the generated list of "attachment points" discussed above and selects buttons and billboards to associate with each of the attachment points, thereby generating screen masks.
  • the URL's associated with each distinct "attachment point” are stored in the trigger database 120. After the producer has selected those billboards and buttons that will fill the mask, the producer unites those with a mask template 315 to create a mask. Once the mask is satisfactory to the producer, the producer stores the mask at the URL associated with the attachment point. By this means the producer creates a mask for each attachment point within the video programming, thereby completing the production task.
  • the mask template 315 might be stored within the advanced set top box 210 such that all of the unique features of a particular mask are set forth in the concatenated code.
  • a code and a mask template 315 will create a proper populated mask, h such an embodiment this is accomplished at the time of imbedding triggers.
  • More complex is the process of creating e-Zines.
  • the system To respond properly to the viewer's submitted requests, the system must include e-Zine articles associated with each potential request. Thus, if a viewer requests information about travel in Kyoto, there must exist on article database 322 an article that corresponds with that request. In a preferred embodiment there are a plurality of articles corresponding with that request and demographic factors unique to the particular viewer and stored in a registration and profile database 320 will serve to further pinpoint the choices of the viewer.
  • the viewer when an 18-year-old viewer requests clothing suitable for touring in Kyoto, the viewer receives an article describing clothing from Abercrombie & Fitch where a 45-year-old viewer might receive an article descriptive of clothing from Nordstrom or Eddie Bauer.
  • the producer can select and associate the requests and demographics of the viewer in such a manner as to optimize marketing on the viewers they have. The viewer sees only that which would interest them.
  • the enhancement server 310 draws appropriate articles from the e-Zine article database 322 based upon the received requests from the viewer and the viewer's profile stored in the registration and profile database 320 and places those articles in the e-Zine template 318. Once the template is filled and an appropriate e-Zine results, the enhancement server places the completed e-Zine on the Internet at a unique URL.
  • An alternate embodiment of invention includes the placement of the e-Zine at a PURL.
  • a PURL is a private uniform resource locator which uniquely identifies an intended recipient of a document, the document or set of documents to be delivered, and (optionally) other parameters specific to the delivery process period. The intended recipient of a document uses the PURL to retrieve the document.
  • the server upon retrieval of the document, customizes the behavior of the retrieval based upon attributes included in the PURL as well as log information associated with the retrieval in a database.
  • This architecture and usage of PURL' s enables secure document delivery and tracking of document receipt.
  • PURL's are temporary, dynamically generated, uniform resource locators. Once the server notices that a specific individual has accessed the specific document, the document can be removed from the server, thereby allowing both privacy and economy of space in the database.
  • the PURL need not be immediately removed but can have a certain latency that may be programmed by the server.
  • the use of PURL's also allows, if desired, the use of passwords before the electronic magazine stored at the PURL can be accessed.
  • the server may also identify the specific recipient accessing the document and check the same against those individuals having the ability to view the document, hi short, security is available at this point in the process.
  • the enhancement server 310 places the e-Zine article on the Internet 338 it sends a link to the URL imbedded in an e-mail message to the viewer.
  • the e-Zine is produced almost immediately after the selections are transferred to the enhancement server.
  • the information should be available in his e-mail box in the time that it takes to move across the room to the computer.
  • the beauty of this system is that he doesn't have to turn off the television and move across the room.
  • the e-mails are stored in his e-mail box according to whatever e-mail system the viewer uses. When the viewer chooses to review his mail, the information will be available.
  • this lag in time is a very desirable aspect of this invention.
  • viewers do not wish to be troubled by the in-depth information that they have requested at the time of viewing, but rather, wish to review that information when their mood changes from that of a viewer to that of a browser.
  • the ability to store e-mail information in one's e-mail box is what differentiates this from most interactive television that immediately demands one's attention, drawing it away from the program at hand. While there are other advantages to this invention, this one is a key distinction.
  • the viewer at some time after submitting the request, sits at his home computer or office computer 401 and browses his e-mail. There he finds the e-mail from the enhancement server containing the link to the e-Zine. By following that link from the e- mail the viewer downloads the e-Zine for browsing.
  • the articles in the e-Zine are themselves imbedded with additional links that take the viewer to additional sources of information; to stores offering particular products; to services and agencies that can arrange travel; and any of a myriad of other products, services or information sources that meet the parameters of either the expressed request of the viewer's or those presumed from the viewer's personality profile. In either regard, selected articles assure the optimum dissemination of information to viewers.
  • programming content need not be merely documentary films.
  • any type of video programming, including advertisements may carry these imbedded triggers to the advantage of the sponsor, h the contexts of commercial advertising one can readily imagine information that supplements an ad shown on the screen. Take for example the advertisement of a new model car. Let us assume for example that one of the attributes of the advertised car is that it received a J.D. Powers® rating for quality. In that instance, the triggers within the content would evoke a mask that included a button allowing the request of the J.D. Powers® report that so rated the automobile.
  • FIGURE 2 shows the pre-production phase in-depth.
  • both the programming source 101 and the programming recorder 189 simply allow for the reading and recording on non- volatile media.
  • the mask associated with the video programming may not change througliout as might be the case with a situation comedy such as Seinfeld or Friends.
  • the associated mask might change quite frequently throughout the programming.
  • the option remains with the producer or the owner of the content to attach to programming contents such attachment points and to associate with those attachment points such masks as are likely to induce the greatest viewer satisfaction, or the most successful marketing of the various products of the sponsors.
  • the producer finds it easy and therefore economical to attach additional content to the video programming.
  • URL's are attached at the attachment points in the video programming. Nonetheless, in the alternate embodiment, it is necessary to construct the masks at the time of production.
  • the producer's desktop requires access to more than just the trigger database 120 but also to a billboard database 135 and a button database 140. These may be maintained at the producer's site, or the producer may have access to them through a communication link, or as shown in this FIGURE 2 through the Internet 125.
  • the producer draws from the billboard database billboards for the sponsors of the enhanced content. These billboards are icon-like artwork to fill assigned places in the video mask and are associated with the sponsors in a manner to allow the viewer to select the billboard and receive information available through that sponsor.
  • the billboards may or may not be active; activity is not required to practice the invention.
  • a button database 140 exists to associate buttons with requests for information as indicated above.
  • FIGURE 3 portrays a screen 190 from the producer's desktop software. As the producer views the video programming in the center of the screen 190 the producer will populate masks with drag and drop icons belonging to the sponsors of the enhanced programming. These billboard signs go into slots 191, 192, 193 and 194. Similarly, the software provides article buttons to the producer to populate the article button slots 195, 196, 197, 198 and 199. The software presents a graphic user interface (GUI) allowing the producer to easily drag and drop buttons into place and to fasten the same to attachment points within the programming.
  • GUI graphic user interface
  • FIGURE 4 displays the television screen 225 generated by the advance set top box 210.
  • the presence of a "bug" 221 in the upper right corner of the screen indicates the advance set top box's readiness to receive the viewer's request to commence interactive operation.
  • the advance set top box 210 indicates that enhanced programming is present.
  • the viewer indicates his selection on a remote control.
  • FIGURE 5 portrays the mask generated or retrieved by the advance set top box 210 as a result of the viewer initiation of the interactive process.
  • the interactive "bug" is replaced by the trademark 228.
  • the various buttons populate the mask in the slots set forth at 231.
  • the billboards are present in the 237 position and request buttons for submit or submitting all of the potential selections exists at 234.
  • one purpose of the invention is to provide a minimum distraction from the passive activity of television viewing. For this reason a slightly reduced screen appears in 240 allowing the viewer to continue to see as the principal element of the screen the video programming. It is the intent of the invention that the whole screen remain visible at a slightly lower resolution than when the mask is not present.
  • FIGURE 6 portrays a second screen in the producer's desktop.
  • This screen allows the producer to associate articles with anticipated requests by the viewer.
  • the producer can select from among a plurality of articles available on a particular topic to select that article that is most likely to appeal to a particular demographic.
  • This screen 273 comprises the associative means for the articles.
  • the requesting means are listed.
  • FIGURE 7 shows some of the hardware necessary for the preferred embodiment of the system.
  • the sum of several sources for enhanced video programming with imbedded triggers are apparent.
  • the upstream channel be the same as the downstream channel for information coming to the set top box 210, there is no requirement that the received broadcast be "live.”
  • signals might be received from a radio tower 246, a satellite dish 249, through cable distribution 252, or from recorded media such as tape or DVD 255.
  • the advance set top box 210 becomes receptive to filling masks with matter drawn from the enhancement server.
  • the advance set top box portrays the bug 221 on the screen 220 indicating the presence of enhanced programming.
  • the register containing the most recent URL trigger directs the set top box to pull down from the enhancement server the current mask stored at the given URL as a web page.
  • This web page the advance set top box 210 portrays on the screen 220 and awaits the viewer's selection.
  • the enhanced server then refers to the trigger or enhancement database 120 to understand the meaning of the selection packet received
  • the figure also portrays the workings of an embodiment where rather than URL's unique codes are imbedded in the programming.
  • the most recent code is sent from the register of the set top box 210, the concatenated code is directed at the enhancement server, the server then draws the mask template 130 and the billboard signs associated with that trigger from the billboard sign database 135. Similarly, it draws the buttons associated with that code from the button server 140 and composes a completed mask. This it sends 258 back to the set top box 210 for portrayal on the screen.
  • both embodiments can work simultaneously on the server.
  • the mask sent at 258 is a complete HTML document with a section 240 displaying a lower resolution full picture of the current video programming as portrayed in FIGURE 5.
  • the key to the system is the providing of e-Zines to viewers in response to their selections. These e-Zines are to be tailored to the selections and also to the demographics available with regard to the individual viewers. Viewers have registered on the system and have provided demographic data about themselves which is stored in a registration profile database 065. Producers can select such demographic factors as they find necessary to effectively tie the user to a particular or several purchasing demographics. Once the user has completed the survey relating to this demographic, the user is then allowed to participate in the system. Where a household consists of multiple users, there might be a sign on screen that allows a viewer to designate which of the several users is currently watching, or at least which is requesting the service.
  • the viewer watches the television 220 along with the enhanced material provided by the advance set top box 210.
  • the ASTB 210 will report which ASTB 210 is interacting with which viewer.
  • that selection packet is sent to the selection server 338 one of four servers within the collective enhancement server 310.
  • the hardware contained within the enhancement server need not be confined to a single computer, nor is it necessary that it be four computers. In fact, one skilled in the art knows how to distribute and to group the tasks described as assigned to the enhancement server among any number of computers for efficiency and load.
  • the selection server 338; the e-Zine compiler and server 341; the PURL allocator and server 344; and the e-mail server 347 refer in fact to different functions that are accomplished within the collective enhancement server 310.
  • that server 338 reconstructs the selection by reference to the billboard database 135, the trigger or enhancement database 120, and the button database 140.
  • the request is then sent to the e-Zine compiler where articles are selected from the e-Zine database 335 based upon the demographic of the identified viewer as drawn from the registration and profile database 065.
  • the e-Zine compiler When compiled, the e-Zine compiler requests a URL from the URL allocator and server 344 and stores the e-Zine at that URL on the server.
  • the URL may be dynamic such that each viewer could be served by a single URL.
  • the e-Zine compiler requests of the e-mail server that an e-mail be sent with the URL indicated by the URL allocator and server 344 to the viewer's e-mail box. Again, where multiple viewers live in a single household, the viewer's log on will indicate to which e-mail box the message is to be sent.
  • the consumer receives the e-mail on the consumer's computer 401 and using the links provided, views the e-Zine and the content therein.
  • links contained within the e-Zine send the user back to the Internet 125 to browse the websites of various sponsors referred within the e-Zine or information sources contained in bibliographies to articles.
  • FIGURE 9 shows a composed e-Zine resulting from the process set forth in FIGURE 8.
  • This e-Zine 337 also has an area for billboards 325. Though these billboards are much like those described at 228 in FIGURE 5, they do not necessarily have to be the same billboards.
  • the vagaries of sponsorship agreements may well change the composition of the billboard bar. In any regard, the bar is consistent in look and feel to the bar that was created in the mask 228.
  • Pane 334 is the information requested. That pane will move independently so that both the billboard bar 325 and the table of contents 328 remain visible, as well as branding reminding the viewer of the source of the e-Zine 331. As the user scrolls down they allow opportunities to purchase the products relevant to the "attachment point.”
  • FIGURE 10 yields insight as to the means by which the compiler compiles articles.
  • the selection packet is a series of single selection id's 324.
  • article selector A all demographic groups would receive the same article 57 326.
  • an external factor for instance the season of the year, is used to select from among a series of articles at 328.
  • article 57 326 corresponds with the article selection 324.
  • article selector C may indicate a group of articles, in this case article group 3, then the viewer's zip code 332 is considered by the compiler because the producer has associated particular articles with particular zip codes.
  • article 57 326 is selected by virtue of the sort and association designated by the producer.
  • multiple demographic data can further refine the selection process.
  • Example D of the article selector shows where an article button 324 defines a script, in this case script 3, as applicable.
  • Script 3 in turn along with the viewer's zip code 332 results in a sorting process 334 that winnows the field down to article 57 326.
  • FIGURE 11 portrays the method used to register for the system.
  • the viewer initiates an order for service, or enrolls.
  • the viewer might call the clearinghouse and as a part of the enrollment the operator might administer a questionnaire over the telephone 040; the viewer may order the service at a website where part of the ordering includes completing the questionnaire on the website; the clearinghouse may send a questionnaire to the viewer in a welcome to the service package; or, any number of other means to discern the demographic factors that define the viewer.
  • the data is entered on the server.
  • the registrar which may be a human, a software agent, or a systematic method based on the viewer's completed questionnaire builds a profile representative of the viewer's demographic.
  • the registrar stores the complete demographic profile in the registration database. As described above, that profile is used to detennine which articles, goods and services are presented to the viewer through the service. Periodically 060 it will be necessary to update the profile. Many demographics are variable over time, such as the age of the viewer. Other things, such as income, also change. The viewer is probably well motivated to make these changes, thereby allowing the service to provide the viewer with articles that the viewer will find more relevant than the universal default article.
  • One way of allowing such an update is to provide a web page for account maintenance and periodically to send e-mail invitations inviting the update. Such is not the only way, and it is well known within the art to update a demographic profile. Any of the currently practiced means would be applicable.
  • FIGURE 12 portrays the process of production of enhanced media.
  • the service must go out and arrange sponsors for the programming 150.
  • These sponsors would offer graphic art that would correspond in size into a standard set by the producer to populate the slots of the billboard.
  • HTML is the likely standard of the industry, these graphic elements would likely be in a file format compatible with HTML, such as jpegs or gifs.
  • These graphic images would be stored in association with the identity of the particular sponsor in a billboard database. Because of the association of these sponsors and the supporting graphics, the producer's desktop 110 easily constructs masks and e-Zines containing references to the advertising sponsor.
  • the producer obtains program content from any suitable source and at 156 reviews the content and develops an attachment script for the program content indicating the current focus of the content from moment to moment.
  • this attachment script describes the various attachment points within the video program and is suggestive of the article content appropriately associated with the attachment points.
  • the producer has the choice of keeping the same mask throughout the show or varying the mask from topic to topic as the focus of the video programming changes.
  • the producer Based upon the attachment scripts, the producer creates unique codes, or "triggers" to identify each, attachment point as the producer sees fit. These codes, as indicated above, can be URL's or concatenated numeric codes. In any regard, these codes are imbedded at 162 in the programming according to industry standards to create an enhanced program. In its imbedded state, the video content is then recorded onto a non-volatile medium in order to allow for distribution through a broadcast system. Once the attachment script is formed and the triggers are imbedded in the programming, at 166 the producer develops appropriate masks to correspond with the imbedded triggers. These the producer stores at 169 in a trigger or enhancement database in association with each attachment point in the programming content in each content set.
  • the masks stored in association with each trigger may be varied from time to time.
  • the content might be a movie such as Tora Tora Tora
  • the attachment points in the movie might remain constant, but the masks associated with that movie might vary from showing to showing.
  • a network chooses to show the movie in July, where one set .of sponsors might include United States Navy Recruiting, a showing in December might include historic tours of Hawaii in the billboard slot formerly occupied by the United States Navy.
  • the triggers remain constant in both showings, the content stored in association with those triggers, or in the case of the preferred embodiment, at the URL's as masks, would vary from showing to showing. This fact proves the inherent flexibility of the inventive method.
  • the attachment script is sent or stored in a fashion to give access at the time of e-Zine production.
  • the script is available to the e-Zine content producer along with the trigger codes at 178.
  • the e-Zine producer develops magazine content based upon the known focus of the video programming at the attachment point and associated with each button or billboard in the associated mask, including variations or additions associated with each demographic group tracked in the registration process 181.
  • the e-Zine producer stores these articles in a manner consistent with the described article database above.
  • FIGURE 13 describes the inventive method commencing at the point where the system presents the viewer the opportunity to interact with the video content.
  • the set top box initiates an invitation inducing the display of the bug 221 overlaid on the video picture portrayed on the screen 220. This indicates to the viewer that the system is ready to respond to any of the viewer's requests for content. In the course of watching television, something the viewer sees in the video content on the screen evokes the viewer's interest, causing the viewer at 353 to initiate the process of interactive dialog with the inventive system.
  • the system responds to the viewer by filling the screen with the mask portrayed in FIGURE 5 or a variant thereof based upon content selected by the producer.
  • the preferred method of filling the screen is to draw a completed mask from the URL that is stored as a trigger imbedded in the video programming.
  • An alternate embodiment of the invention allows for the composition of the mask based on codes imbedded in the video content.
  • buttons and billboards presented by any appropriate means the viewer selects from among the several buttons and billboards presented by any appropriate means, though a navigating remote control is the preferred embodiment.
  • a scrolling remote control the invention envisions the ability of the viewer by activating buttons on a remote control to move from one billboard to another and from one button to another, selecting or deselecting them as the viewer sees fit, and finally when the selections represent the viewer's choices to submit by activating the first of the two buttons portrayed at 234. Where the viewer desires all of the buttons and billboards to be selected, they simply activate the second of the two buttons.
  • the set top box 210 Upon submission, at 365, the set top box 210 compiles the viewer's selections and assembles from those selections a selection packet. This the set top box 210 transmits, at 365, by means of the upstream communication link described above to the enhancement server 310 specifically to the selection server therein at 338.
  • the selection server at 368, to determine the program, the buttons, and the billboards selected at 371 the selections are passed to the e-Zine compiler 341 to build an e-Zine according to those selections, hi the manner described in FIGURE 10, the e-Zine compiler, at 377 fills the e-Zine template with articles drawn from the e-Zine database. Appropriate billboards are filled in the compiler at 380. Requests from the URL allocator and server 344 a URL at which to store the completed e-Zine. At 383 the compiler stores the e-Zine at the URL on the server.
  • the e-mail server 347 sends an e-mail containing a link to the URL through the Internet 125 to the consumer's e-mail box.
  • the URL might be a personal uniform resource locator ensuring special behavior of the URL in response to the storing and recalling from that URL.
  • the viewer reviews the e-mail contained in the e-mail box at 391 and selects the link that directs the viewer's Internet browser to the URL to recall the e-Zine stored there.
  • the viewer browses the e-Zine and any links contained therein to further URL's on the Internet.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Computer Graphics (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de télévision et un procédé interactifs permettant de créer une programmation vidéo (110) associée à des déclencheurs (120), et ensuite de visualiser cette programmation vidéo à mesure que les déclencheurs présentent les informations qui leur sont associées. Lorsque qu'elle est déclenchée par le téléspectateur, la commande à distance crée une demande au moyen d'une interface d'utilisateur couplée au boîtier décodeur (210) et/ou à la télévision (220), cette demande étant fonction d'un choix d'utilisateur des informations présentées associées aux déclencheurs ; cette demande récupère les informations au niveau du système de traitement de demandes en fonction de la demande créée ; et elle présente les informations récupérées en fonction de la demande, au niveau d'un système informatique d'utilisateur couplé au système de traitement de demandes.
PCT/US2002/001119 2001-01-17 2002-01-17 Procede et systeme permettant de completer une programmation televisuelle par des magazines envoyes par courrier electronique WO2002058393A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26247101P 2001-01-17 2001-01-17
US60/262,471 2001-01-17
US10/027,958 2001-12-20
US10/027,958 US20030167465A1 (en) 2001-01-17 2001-12-20 Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002058393A1 true WO2002058393A1 (fr) 2002-07-25

Family

ID=26703082

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2002/001119 WO2002058393A1 (fr) 2001-01-17 2002-01-17 Procede et systeme permettant de completer une programmation televisuelle par des magazines envoyes par courrier electronique

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2002058393A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005117442A1 (fr) * 2004-05-25 2005-12-08 Chellomedia Programming B.V. Declenchement d'un contenu ameliore
US8132210B2 (en) 2003-06-02 2012-03-06 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Video disc player for offering a product shown in a video for purchase
US9456252B2 (en) 2007-09-07 2016-09-27 Rovi Guides, Inc. Cross-platform messaging

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5404505A (en) * 1991-11-01 1995-04-04 Finisar Corporation System for scheduling transmission of indexed and requested database tiers on demand at varying repetition rates
US5600366A (en) * 1995-03-22 1997-02-04 Npb Partners, Ltd. Methods and apparatus for digital advertisement insertion in video programming
US5652615A (en) * 1995-06-30 1997-07-29 Digital Equipment Corporation Precision broadcast of composite programs including secondary program content such as advertisements
US5661516A (en) * 1994-09-08 1997-08-26 Carles; John B. System and method for selectively distributing commercial messages over a communications network
US5774666A (en) * 1996-10-18 1998-06-30 Silicon Graphics, Inc. System and method for displaying uniform network resource locators embedded in time-based medium
US5946646A (en) * 1994-03-23 1999-08-31 Digital Broadband Applications Corp. Interactive advertising system and device
US6072982A (en) * 1994-08-02 2000-06-06 Haddad; Joseph C. Interactive audiovisual distribution system
US6263507B1 (en) * 1996-12-05 2001-07-17 Interval Research Corporation Browser for use in navigating a body of information, with particular application to browsing information represented by audiovisual data

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5404505A (en) * 1991-11-01 1995-04-04 Finisar Corporation System for scheduling transmission of indexed and requested database tiers on demand at varying repetition rates
US5946646A (en) * 1994-03-23 1999-08-31 Digital Broadband Applications Corp. Interactive advertising system and device
US6072982A (en) * 1994-08-02 2000-06-06 Haddad; Joseph C. Interactive audiovisual distribution system
US5661516A (en) * 1994-09-08 1997-08-26 Carles; John B. System and method for selectively distributing commercial messages over a communications network
US5600366A (en) * 1995-03-22 1997-02-04 Npb Partners, Ltd. Methods and apparatus for digital advertisement insertion in video programming
US5652615A (en) * 1995-06-30 1997-07-29 Digital Equipment Corporation Precision broadcast of composite programs including secondary program content such as advertisements
US5774666A (en) * 1996-10-18 1998-06-30 Silicon Graphics, Inc. System and method for displaying uniform network resource locators embedded in time-based medium
US6263507B1 (en) * 1996-12-05 2001-07-17 Interval Research Corporation Browser for use in navigating a body of information, with particular application to browsing information represented by audiovisual data

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8132210B2 (en) 2003-06-02 2012-03-06 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Video disc player for offering a product shown in a video for purchase
WO2005117442A1 (fr) * 2004-05-25 2005-12-08 Chellomedia Programming B.V. Declenchement d'un contenu ameliore
US9456252B2 (en) 2007-09-07 2016-09-27 Rovi Guides, Inc. Cross-platform messaging
US9838747B2 (en) 2007-09-07 2017-12-05 Rovi Guides, Inc. Cross-platform messaging

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20070266413A1 (en) Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
US7039684B2 (en) Method and system for collecting and providing multimedia content
US8041750B2 (en) Method and apparatus for organizing and playing data
US8768781B2 (en) Method and system for improved E-commerce shopping
US9336528B2 (en) System and method for overlay advertising and purchasing utilizing on-line video or streaming media
US11663638B2 (en) Method and system for improved E-commerce shopping
US20070157243A1 (en) Method and System for Supplementing Television Programming with E-Mailed Magazines
US20100146042A1 (en) Interactive customizable broadcast
US20120296739A1 (en) System For Selling Products Based On Product Collections Represented In Video
WO2011038296A1 (fr) Procédé pour présenter un menu défini par l'utilisateur de choix de contenus numériques, organisé sous la forme d'un anneau d'icônes entourant un volet de visualisation
JP4801908B2 (ja) 放送番組の広告入札受付システムおよび番組表示システム
US20100050205A1 (en) Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
US20030167465A1 (en) Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
JP2011175329A (ja) 電子チラシへの広告コンテンツ配信装置、広告コンテンツ配信システム、広告コンテンツ配信方法、及びプログラム
WO2002058393A1 (fr) Procede et systeme permettant de completer une programmation televisuelle par des magazines envoyes par courrier electronique
US20030167470A1 (en) Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
US20090144778A1 (en) Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
US20070157233A1 (en) Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
TWM561849U (zh) 依網址內容製作活動頁面的電子設備
US20240095792A1 (en) Method and system for improved e-commerce shopping
JP2001306784A (ja) マーケティングシステム
KR20010092630A (ko) 영상물과 연계된 정보를 제공하는 인터넷 정보제공 시스템및 방법

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ OM PH PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG UZ VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: JP