Polling interactive television viewers

• US 20020124247A1
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Houghton, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/090,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124247A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and techniques for polling interactive television viewers by preparing a set of polling requests, connecting to one or more set top systems of one or more interactive television viewers, sending the set of polling requests to the one or more set top systems of the one or more interactive television viewers, receiving responses to the set of polling requests, evaluating the responses to the set of polling requests, and preparing a new polling request including two or more elements selected based on the evaluation of the response to the set of polling requests.

Claims

1. A method of polling interactive television viewers, the method comprising:

preparing a set of polling requests that each ask an interactive television viewer to select an element from a group of two or more elements;

connecting to one or more set top systems of one or more interactive television viewers;

sending the set of polling requests to the one or more set top systems of the one or more interactive television viewers;

receiving responses to the set of polling requests from one or more interactive television viewers;

evaluating the responses to the set of polling requests; and

preparing a new polling request including two or more elements selected based on the evaluation of the responses to the set of polling requests.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein two polling requests have two different sets of elements.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each element appearing in the set of polling requests is different from the every other element appearing in the set of polling requests.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating the responses includes tallying the responses that have been received after a time limit.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the time limit is applied relative to a period that begins when the polling request is initially displayed to an interactive television viewer.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the time limit is common to all of the interactive television viewers.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying particular content to the interactive television viewers based on evaluating the responses.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the particular content includes a graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the particular content includes multimedia data.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein displaying particular content to the interactive television viewer comprises displaying the particular content using the set top system.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising designating polling rules for targeting the interactive television viewers.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining context information of interactive television viewers.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising applying the targeting rules to the context information to identify targeted interactive television viewers.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein determining the context information includes determining television programming being viewed by an interactive television viewer at a particular time.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein determining television programming being viewed comprises determining the television programming tuned to by a set top box.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein determining television programming being viewed comprises determining the television programming using an EPG.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining context information associated with television programming available for delivery to the interactive television viewer.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein determining the context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a television signal received by a set top box.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a channel identification number.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a broadcaster identifier.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a television series.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon an episode of a television show.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon an EPG identity.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a program content category.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the set of polling requests includes prompting the interactive television viewer to select one element in the polling request of two or more elements.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the set of polling requests includes prompting an interactive television viewer to rank order a list of elements.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein determining two or more elements in the new polling request includes a most selected element in a first polling request and a most selected element in a second polling request.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the set of polling requests continues until there is one element that has not been selected to a lesser degree than other elements in any polling request of the most selected elements and the other elements.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating the responses includes determining which element in the polling request received the most votes.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein determining two or more elements in the new polling request includes a least selected element in a first polling request and a least selected element in a second polling request.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the set of polling requests includes sending an instant message.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the set of polling requests includes sending an electronic mail message.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the set of polling requests includes sending a display to overlay television programming.

21. The method of 17 wherein preparing a set of polling requests includes preparing the polling requests based on context information associated with the television programming.

35. A method of participating in an interactive television poll, the method comprising:

connecting to a host;

receiving a set of polling requests;

completing the polling requests;

transmitting the responses to the polling requests; and

receiving a new polling request including two or more elements selected based on the responses of one or more interactive television viewers to the set of polling requests.

36. A communications apparatus being for polling interactive television viewers, the apparatus configured to:

prepare a set of polling requests that each ask an interactive television viewer to select an element from a group of two or more elements;

connect to one or more set top systems of one or more interactive television viewers;

send the set of polling requests to the one or more set top systems of the one or more interactive television viewers;

receive responses to the set of polling requests from one or more interactive television viewers;

evaluate the responses to the set of polling requests; and

prepare a new polling request including two or more elements selected based on the evaluation of the responses to the set of polling requests.

37. A communications apparatus for participating in interactive television polling, the apparatus being configured to:

connect to a host;

receive a set of polling requests;

complete the polling requests;

transmit the responses to the set of polling requests; and

receive a new polling request including two or more elements selected based on the responses of one or more interactive television viewers to the set of polling requests.

38. A computer program for polling interactive television viewers, the computer program being stored on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

prepare a set of polling requests that each ask an interactive television viewer to select an element from a group of two or more elements;

connect to one or more set top systems of one or more interactive television viewers;

send the set of polling requests to the one or more set top systems of the one or more interactive television viewers;

receive responses to the set of polling requests from one or more interactive television viewers;

evaluate the responses to the set of polling requests; and

prepare a new polling request including two or more elements selected based on the evaluation of the responses to the set of polling requests.

39. A computer program for participating in interactive television polling, the computer program being stored on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

connect to a host;

receive a set of polling requests;

complete the polling requests;

transmit the responses to the polling requests; and

receive a new polling request including two or more elements selected based on the responses of one or more interactive television viewers to the set of polling requests.