Method and apparatus for coupon dispensing based on media content viewing

• US 10,089,645 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2012
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Anguiano, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Luis A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrei, Radu
• Application Number:
  US13/732,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,101 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/02 Affine transformations for image registration G06T3/147; for image mosaicing G06T3/4038
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to dispensing coupons to viewers of media content and in particular, providing coupons to an individual to buy the product just after having viewed a commercial or other media program featuring that product.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a set top box, a live stream of media content;

receiving, by the set top box, advertising information that identifies a type of product and a location where an electronic coupon is redeemable, the electronic coupon enabling purchase at a reduced price of the type of product;

receiving, by set top box, content information that identifies one or more segments of the media content in which the type of product is displayed;

receiving, by the set top box, information identifying a location of a user associated with the set top box;

determining, by the set top box, whether a distance between the location of the user and the location where the electronic coupon is redeemable is less than or equal to a predetermined distance;

outputting, by the set to box, a live viewing stream that is live streaming video from the set top box to a television;

executing software, by the set top box, that monitors the live viewing stream as compared to the received live stream;

outputting, by the set top box, to the television an electronic link to the electronic coupon whenever the type of product is displayed by the television based on the outputting of the live viewing stream using the content information identifying the one or more segments of the media content, if the distance between the location of the user and the location where the electronic coupon is redeemable is determined to be less than or equal to the predetermined distance and the software determines, by monitoring the live viewing stream as compared to the received live stream, that the live viewing stream is output from the set top box to the television within less than a threshold time after the live stream of media content is received by the set top box;

receiving, by the top box set, an input from a remote control of the set top box;

when the input from the remote control corresponds to a selection of the electronic link, sending, by the set top box, the electronic coupon to a mobile device linked to the set top box, the mobile device being different from the set top box; and

concluding, by set top box, the receiving of the media content without displaying the electronic link to the electronic coupon if the distance between the location of the user and the location where the electronic coupon is redeemable is not determined to be less than or equal to the predetermined distance and the software determines the live viewing stream is not output from the set top box within less than the threshold time after the live stream of media content is received by the set top box.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the threshold time is selected by a merchant offering the product for sale.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the media content is a commercial for a particular product.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the media content is a movie that includes a particular product used in in the movie.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the particular product is a motor vehicle being driven by one of the actors.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the motor vehicle is a motorcycle.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the threshold time corresponds to an end user watching the media content live, at the same time it is being delivered to the configured computing system.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the threshold time is ten (10) minutes.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the threshold time is five (5) hours.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the configured computing system is a set-top box.

11. The method according to claim 3 wherein the particular product is a perishable good.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the perishable good is a food product.

13. A system, comprising:

a set top box;

a processor within the set top box; and

a non-transitory computer-readable memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive a live stream of media content;

receive advertising information that identifies a type of product and a location where an electronic coupon is redeemable, the electronic coupon enabling purchase at a reduced price of the type of product;

receive content information that identifies one or more segments of the media content in which the type of product is displayed;

receive information identifying a location of a user associated with the set top box;

determine whether a distance between the location of the user and the location where the electronic coupon is redeemable is less than or equal to a predetermined distance;

output a live viewing stream from the set top box to a television;

monitor the live viewing stream as compared to the received live stream;

output an electronic link to the electronic coupon whenever the type of product is displayed by the television based on the outputting of the live viewing stream from the top set box to the television using the content information identifying the one or more segments of the media content, if the processor determines the distance between the location of the user and the location where the electronic coupon is redeemable is less than or equal to the predetermined distance and the processor determines, by monitoring the live viewing stream as compared to the received live stream, that the live viewing stream is output from the set top box to the television within less than a threshold time after the live stream of media content is received by the set top box;

receive an input from a remote control of the configured computing system while the electronic link to the electronic coupon is displayed; and

responsive to receiving the input from the remote control of the set top box while the electronic link to the electronic coupon is displayed, send the electronic coupon to a mobile device linked to the set top box, the mobile device being different from the set top box.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the media content is a commercial for a particular product.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the media content includes a particular product used in the media content.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the threshold time corresponds to the user watching the media content live, at the same time it is being delivered to the configured computing system.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the configured computing system is a set-top box.