Method and system to save context for deferred transaction via interactive television

• US 20020013950A1
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tomsen, Mai-lan
• Application Number:
  US09/728,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013950A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A viewer can save content and context related to a transaction conducted via an interactive television system. The transaction can involve obtaining information or ordering goods/services available from the Internet via the interactive television system. As an example, while the viewer is watching a television commercial, the viewer can defer a transaction related to a product advertised in the television commercial or defer the viewing of the television commercial itself. Information related to the television commercial may be saved in a shopping cart for subsequent processing. Later, when the viewer wishes to continue the transaction or view the television commercial, the viewer may retrieve the shopping cart information, replay the television commercial, and then complete of the previously deferred transaction.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a broadcast segment as part of an interactive television transmission;

responsive to a first command received from a user input device, storing information associated with a transaction related to the broadcast segment; and

responsive to a second command received from the user input device and subsequent to providing at least a portion of the broadcast segment, retrieving the stored information associated with the transaction and providing content related to the broadcast segment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the information associated with the transaction includes deferral of the transaction until the second command is received.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast segment comprises a commercial.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying one or more items in a shopping cart, including an item identifying the transaction;

providing at least some of the retrieved stored information related to the transaction in response to selection of the item in the shopping cart identifying the transaction; and

in response to selection of the item in the shopping cart, providing content related to the broadcast segment by displaying context information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein providing the context information includes streaming at least a portion of the broadcast segment.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein providing the context information includes providing supplemental information related to subject matter in the broadcast segment.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

prompting for a selection to complete the transaction or to view additional context information; and

in response to the selection, completing the transaction or providing the additional context information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting for user selection to conduct the transaction or to defer the transaction;

responsive to user selection to defer the transaction, storing information related to the transaction in a shopping cart; and

responsive to user selection to conduct the transaction, processing user input information related to conducting the transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to receiving the second command, connecting to a communication network to obtain at least some additional information useable for the transaction.

10. A machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon to:

receive a broadcast segment as part of an interactive television transmission;

responsive to a first command received from a user input device, store information associated with a transaction related to the broadcast segment; and

responsive to a second command received from the user input device and subsequent to providing at least a portion of the broadcast segment, retrieve the stored information associated with the transaction and provide content related to the broadcast segment.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon to:

display one or more items in a shopping cart, including an item identifying the transaction;

provide at least some of the retrieved stored information related to the transaction in response to selection of the item in the shopping cart identifying the transaction; and

in response to selection of the item in the shopping cart, provide content related to the broadcast segment by displaying context information.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon to:

prompt for a selection to complete the transaction or to view additional context information; and

in response to the selection, complete the transaction or provide the additional context information.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12 wherein providing the additional context information includes streaming at least a portion of the broadcast segment.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon to, subsequent to receiving the second command, connect to a communication network to obtain at least some additional information useable for the transaction.

15. A client apparatus for an interactive television, the client apparatus comprising:

a communication interface to receive supplemental information as part of a broadcast segment in an interactive television transmission;

a processor responsive to a first command received via the communication interface from a user input device to trigger storage of data associated with a transaction related to the broadcast segment; and

a storage unit to store the data associated with the transaction related to the broadcast segment and to store at least a portion of the supplemental information in response to the first command, the processor being responsive to a second command, received via the communication interface from the user input device and subsequent to display of at least a portion of the broadcast segment, to retrieve the stored data and some of the supplemental information from the storage unit and to provide the retrieved data and supplemental information for viewing by an end user.

16. The client apparatus of claim 15 wherein, in response to the second command received from the user input device, the processor is capable to:

provide one or more items for display in a shopping cart, including an item identifying the transaction;

provide at least some of the data or supplemental information from the storage unit related in response to selection of the item in the shopping cart; and

in response to selection of the item in the shopping cart, provide content related to the broadcast segment by triggering a display of context information.

17. The client apparatus of claim 15 wherein the communication interface, processor, and storage unit comprise part of a set top box coupleable to a display device.

18. The client apparatus of claim 15 wherein the communication interface, processor, and storage unit comprise components of a display device.

19. A system, comprising:

a television network connectable to a communication network to provide a broadcast segment, having supplemental information, as part of an interactive television transmission; and

a client terminal coupleable to the television network, the client terminal including;

a communication interface to receive the supplemental information as part of the broadcast segment;

a processor responsive to a first command received via the communication interface from a user input device to trigger storage of data associated with a transaction related to the broadcast segment; and

a storage unit to store the data associated with the transaction related to the broadcast segment and to store at least a portion of the supplemental information in response to the first command, the processor being responsive to a second command, received via the communication interface from the user input device and subsequent to display of at least a portion of the broadcast segment, to retrieve the stored data and some of the supplemental information from the storage unit and to provide the retrieved data and supplemental information for viewing by an end user.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the client terminal is capable to communicate with the television network via a cable modem to a modem termination system coupled to the television network.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising a component to store a subsequent broadcast and interactive television information related to the subsequent broadcast, while the retrieved data and supplemental information is viewed by the end user.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein, in response to the second command received from the user input device, the processor is capable to:

provide one or more items for display in a shopping cart at the client terminal, including an item identifying the transaction;

provide at least some of the data or supplemental information from the storage unit related in response to selection of the item in the shopping cart at the client terminal; and

in response to selection of the item in the shopping cart, provide content related to the broadcast segment by triggering a display of context information at the client terminal.