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

• US 20020016965A1
• Filed: 04/11/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tomsen, Mai-Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,103,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/42
• 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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 7/17327 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 on a first screen, the viewer can defer a transaction, capable of being conducted on a second screen, 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 via a first screen;

responsive to a first command received from a user input device, storing information associated with a transaction related to the broadcast segment that is capable of being conducted via a second screen; 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 the first and second screens comprise screens that are capable of being presented by a television set.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second screens comprise screens that are capable of being presented by a computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the content related to the broadcast segment in response to the second command includes presenting at least some of the content via the second screen.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the information associated with the transaction is capable of being entered via the user input device in cooperation with the second screen.

6. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to;

receive a broadcast segment as part of an interactive television transmission and present the broadcast segment via a first screen;

responsive to a first command received from a user input device, store information associated with a transaction related to the broadcast segment that is capable of being conducted via a second screen; 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.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 6 wherein the first and second screens comprise screens that are capable of being presented by a television set.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 6 wherein the first and second screens comprise screens that are capable of being presented by a computer.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 6 wherein the instructions to provide the content related to the broadcast segment in response to the second command includes presenting at least some of the content via the second screen.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 6 wherein at least some of the information associated with the transaction is capable of being entered via the user input device in cooperation with the second screen.

11. 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 and to present the broadcast segment and supplemental information via a first screen;

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 that is capable of being conducted via a second screen; 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.

12. The client apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first and second screens are capable of being presented by a television set.

13. The client apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is responsive to another command received from the user input device to display the second screen.

14. The client apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is capable to provide at least some of the retrieved data and supplemental information via the second screen.

15. The client apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least some of the data associated with the transaction is capable of being entered via the user input device in cooperation with the second screen.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second screens are capable of being presented by a television set coupled to the client terminal.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the processor is responsive to another command received from the user input device to display the second screen.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the processor is capable to provide at least some of the retrieved data and supplemental information via the second screen.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein at least some of the data associated with the transaction is capable of being entered via the user input device in cooperation with the second screen.

16. 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 via a first screen; 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 that is capable of being conducted via a second screen; 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..