System for and method of shopping through television

• US 20030110507A1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Dimitrova, Nevenka, Jasinschi, Radu Serban, Zimmerman, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,261,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2542 for selling goods, e.g. TV shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• 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 21/4532 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• 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 21/8586 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for providing information to television viewers in order to assist them in shopping from an apparently conventional media, such as a television program, as well as making better and more educated shopping decisions are provided. The user selects the product of interest, and if desired, indicates the price, quantity and time frame within which he/she wants to buy the product. The system then acts as an agent on the user'"'"'s behalf to get the best product under best price and shortest time frame as may be desired. When a user sees a product he wants while watching television, he simply can press a point on the screen, talk, or press a button on a remote control or similar keypad and the system shows the current price and availability. If the user wants the product, he can buy it instantly. If the user determines it to be too expensive, he can add the product to his wish-list with a price he would be willing to pay.

Claims

1. A method of performing a transaction using a video device, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring a video signal containing a video program;

extracting from said video signal video enhanced content information representative of at least one product presented on the video program;

presenting to the user the video enhanced content information;

receiving a selection of a product of interest;

performing a search to identify data related to the selected product; and

providing the identified data to a user of the video device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said video signal includes metadata.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of purchasing the selected product.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of filtering the video enhanced content information based on preferences customized by at least one user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said user'"'"'s preferences include values and life style of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified data includes a source of the product of interest, the method further comprising the step of negotiating with the product source and outputting results of the negotiation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prioritizing results of the search performed by the performing step based on predetermined factors.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined factors is at least one of user preferences, availability, or price

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing step is performed by searching sources from at least one predetermined list for a particular category.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the video signal is acquired from at least one video signal source selected from a group consisting of a broadcasting system, a content creator, a service provider, and a set-top box.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the video signal is separated into a plurality of frames, each frame from at least a portion of the plurality of frames being subdivided into selectable regions capable of being selected during the selecting step.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving and analyzing transaction related information from the user.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of periodically monitoring said content information and triggering an action based on user'"'"'s requests or preferences.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of making a personalized catalog for the user.

15. A system for performing a transaction using a video device, said system comprising:

a set-top box for acquiring a video signal containing a video program, said set-top box including a memory, a processor and input/output means associated therewith for transferring the signal, the processor being capable of;

extracting from said video signal video enhanced content information representative of at least one product presented on the video program;

presenting to the user the video enhanced content information;

receiving a selection of a product of interest;

performing a search to identify data related to the selected product; and

providing the identified data to the user;

a video device operatively coupled with the set-top box for displaying the video program, video enhanced content information, and identified data to the user; and

an input device operatively associated with said set-top box for controlling said set-top box.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said video signal includes metadata.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further capable of purchasing the selected product.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further capable of filtering the video enhanced content information based on stored preferences customized by at least one user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said user'"'"'s preferences include values and life style of the user.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the identified data includes a source of the product of interest, the processor further capable of negotiating with the product source and outputting results of the negotiation.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further capable of prioritizing results of the search performed by the performing step based on predetermined factors.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the predetermined factors is at least one of user preference, availability, or price.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor has a predetermined list for a particular category associated therewith, the processor accessing the predetermined list to perform the search for identified data.

24. The system of claim 15 further comprising a source for the video signal, the video signal source being selected from a group consisting of a broadcasting system, a content creator, a service provider, and a set-top box.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the video signal is separated into a plurality of frames, each frame from at least a portion of the plurality of frames being subdivided into selectable regions, the processor capable of selecting at least one selectable region during the selecting step.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further capable of periodically monitoring said content information and triggering an action based on user'"'"'s requests or preferences.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further capable of making a personalized catalog for the user.

28. A method of performing a transaction using a video device, said method comprising the steps of:

acquiring a video signal containing a video program;

customizing preferences for at least one user;

extracting from the video signal video enhanced content information representative of at least one product presented on the video program;

filtering the video enhanced content information based on the preferences;

presenting to the user the filtered video enhanced content information;

receiving a selection of a product of interest;

performing a search to identify a source of the selected product through at least one predetermined list of information sources for a particular category;

negotiating with the identified product source regarding the selected product and outputting results of the negotiation;

prioritizing the results of the search and the negotiations based on predetermined factors;

allowing the user to authorize purchasing of the selected product;

providing feedback information to the user;

completing a purchase transaction for the selected product; and

receiving and analyzing satisfaction response from the user.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of storing said video signal in a storage device.