Quote and information system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A television set-top box, comprising:
- a tuner for receiving signals representing television programming and delivering the signals representing television programming to a display interface;
a central processor;
a bar code reader, operatively coupled to the central processor, to read bar codes; and
program means, running on the central processor, for receiving bar code information from the bar code reader.
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Abstract
A quote and information system for use within the home. A subscriber utilizes a set-top box as a vehicle for navigating a menu system to solicit quotes from vendors using a service provider as an intermediary. Requests for quotes are anonymously forwarded to appropriate vendors and quotes returned to the subscriber. In other embodiments, the menu system can be used to obtain hierarchical categorized information or to register products in order to receive offers from local vendors relating to those products.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A television set-top box, comprising:
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a tuner for receiving signals representing television programming and delivering the signals representing television programming to a display interface;
a central processor;
a bar code reader, operatively coupled to the central processor, to read bar codes; and
program means, running on the central processor, for receiving bar code information from the bar code reader. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of obtaining quotes, comprising:
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at a set-top box, submitting a request for quote (RFQ) to a service provider;
at the service provider, resubmitting the RFQ to a plurality of vendors;
at the service provider, receiving a plurality of quotes from vendors; and
at the service provider, forwarding the quotes to the set-top box for communication to a subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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19. A method of registering a product, comprising:
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at a set-top box, submitting product registration data to a service provider;
at the service provider, entering the product registration data into a database, at the service provider, matching the product registration data to a plurality of vendor registrations submitted by a plurality of vendors;
at the service provider, sending the product registration data to a plurality of matching vendors;
at the service provider, receiving a plurality submissions from the plurality of matching vendors; and
forwarding the submissions to the set-top box for communication to a subscriber.
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29. A method of obtaining information, comprising:
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at a set-top box, submitting a request for information to a service provider;
at the service provider, receiving the request for information and matching the request for information with a plurality of vendor submissions, at the service provider, sending the plurality of vendor submissions to the set-top box for communication to a subscriber.
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35. A television set-top box, comprising:
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a tuner for receiving signals representing television programming and delivering the signals representing television programming to a display interface;
a central processor;
a product identification reader, operatively coupled to the central processor, to read a product identifier; and
program means, running on the central processor, for receiving information from the product identification reader.
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Specification