Systems and methods for providing marketing messages and incentives based on viewing limits and viewing limit levels

• US 20030126595A1
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Starz Encore Group LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SVOD LLC
• Inventors: Beyler, John C., Sie, John J., DePrez, Gregory R., Casaubon, Jean Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/300,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20030126595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17363 : at or near the user terminal

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention comprises a system for delivering video program content and promotional information to viewing devices at a user location. The system comprises a program distribution system adapted to provide video programs to one or more viewing devices at a user location. In addition the system comprises a viewing control system in communication with the program distribution system and the viewing devices. In one embodiment, the viewing control system is adapted to establish one or more viewing limits for video programs provided to a user during a time period, determining whether the user reaches the one or more viewing limits during the time period, and if the user reaches one or more of the viewing limits during the time period, provide promotional information to the user based on the viewing limit reached. In some embodiments, the video programs comprise programs selected from group including pay per view video on demand (VOD) programs, near VOD programs and subscription VOD.

Claims

1. In a system for delivering video program content to users having one or more viewing devices, a method for providing promotional information to users based on a viewing limit of video programs, the method comprising:

establishing one or more viewing limits for video programs provided to an user during a time period;

determining whether the user reaches the one or more viewing limits during the time period; and

if the user reaches one or more of the viewing limits during the time period, providing promotional information to the end user based on the viewing limit reached.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the video programs comprise programs selected from group including pay per view video on demand (VOD) programs, near VOD programs and subscription VOD.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the video programs comprise video programs which are part of a subscription video on demand (SVOD) service, and wherein the step of establishing one or more viewing limits comprises establishing a number of viewings of video programs to which the end user is entitled based on a subscription level of the user.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the step of providing promotional information to the end user comprises offering the end user the opportunity to upgrade to a higher subscription level for the SVOD service.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the step of providing promotional information to the end user comprises offering the end user the opportunity to purchase one or more additional video programs.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the video programs comprise video programs which are part of a video on demand (VOD) service, and wherein the step of establishing one or more viewing limits comprises establishing a number of viewings of video on demand programs to which the end user is entitled.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the step of providing promotional information to the end user comprises offering the end user the opportunity to purchase one or more additional video on demand programs.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein method comprises:

providing first promotional information when a first viewing limit is reached; and

providing second promotional information when a second viewing limit is reached.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of providing promotional information to the end user comprises providing the end user with free program viewings.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of providing promotional information to the end user comprises providing the end user with award points.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the award points are third party company award points.

12. A system for delivering video program content and promotional information to users having one or more viewing devices, comprising:

a program distribution system adapted to provide video programs to one or more viewing devices at a user location; and

a viewing control system in communication with the program distribution system and the viewing devices, the viewing control system adapted to;

establish one or more viewing limits for video programs provided to a user during a time period;

determining whether the user reaches the one or more viewing limits during the time period; and

if the user reaches one or more of the viewing limits during the time period, provide promotional information to the user based on the viewing limit reached.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the video programs comprise programs selected from group including pay per view video on demand (VOD) programs, near VOD programs and subscription VOD.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the video programs comprise video programs which are part of a subscription video on demand (SVOD) service, and wherein the viewing control system is adapted to establish a number of viewings of video programs to which the end user is entitled based on a subscription level of the user.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the promotional information comprises the opportunity to upgrade to a higher subscription level for the SVOD service.

16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the promotional information comprises the opportunity to purchase one or more additional video programs.

17. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the video programs comprise video programs which are part of a video on demand (VOD) service, and wherein the viewing control system is adapted to establish a number of viewings of video on demand programs to which the end user is entitled.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the promotional information comprises the opportunity to purchase one or more additional video on demand programs.

19. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the viewing control system is adapted to provide first promotional information when a first viewing limit is reached, and provide second promotional information when a second viewing limit is reached.

20. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the promotional information comprises free program viewings.

21. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the promotional information comprises award points.

22. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the award points are third party company award points.