Method and system for controlling and auditing content/service systems
First Claim
1. A method of tracking a plurality of financial transactions between a user receiver and at least one content provider coupled to the user receiver by a network, wherein the tracking is performed by a third party separate from the user receiver and separate from the at least one content provider, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing preliminary information for each of the plurality of financial transactions in a third party controlled data base;
obtaining supplemental information for each of the plurality of financial transactions in said third party controlled data base, wherein said obtaining step is performed by the third party;
storing said supplemental information for each of the plurality of financial transactions in said third party controlled data base;
displaying summary information for each of the plurality of financial transactions upon receipt of a display request from the user receiver, wherein said summary information is comprised of at least a portion of said stored preliminary information;
permitting selection of one or more of the financial transactions by the user receiver for finalization;
finalizing said selected one or more financial transactions; and
providing transaction finalization information to each of the at least one content providers affected by said selected one or more financial transactions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved interactive network system is provided that allows the Network Operator to control the transfer of information to and from the network end users, the system preferably using triggers or markers embedded within the programming broadcast to users via the network. As a consequence of this system, the Network Operator is able to efficiently garner revenues from third parties transacting business over the network and to control the look and feel of programming offered to network users. Additionally the system can be used as a means of limiting network access, filtering programming, providing on-screen graphics or audible signals for particular programming types or providers, bookmarking programming, profiling network users, targeting advertising, and simplifying network transactions.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of tracking a plurality of financial transactions between a user receiver and at least one content provider coupled to the user receiver by a network, wherein the tracking is performed by a third party separate from the user receiver and separate from the at least one content provider, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing preliminary information for each of the plurality of financial transactions in a third party controlled data base;
obtaining supplemental information for each of the plurality of financial transactions in said third party controlled data base, wherein said obtaining step is performed by the third party;
storing said supplemental information for each of the plurality of financial transactions in said third party controlled data base;
displaying summary information for each of the plurality of financial transactions upon receipt of a display request from the user receiver, wherein said summary information is comprised of at least a portion of said stored preliminary information;
permitting selection of one or more of the financial transactions by the user receiver for finalization;
finalizing said selected one or more financial transactions; and
providing transaction finalization information to each of the at least one content providers affected by said selected one or more financial transactions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A network-based system for supporting a financial transaction, the system comprising:
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a network;
a content provider coupled to said network, wherein said content provider supplies enhanced content programming relating to said financial transaction;
a receiver coupled to said network, said receiver capable of receiving said enhanced content programming and interacting with said content provider via said network;
third party means for intercepting data relating to the financial transaction flowing between said content provider and said receiver via said network;
third party means for directly obtaining supplemental information from said content provider relating to the financial transaction;
a database coupled to said network and said third party means for storing at least a portion of said intercepted data and said supplemental information;
third party means for selecting a portion of said stored data and information to be displayed;
a display coupled to said receiver for displaying said selected portion of said stored data and information;
third party means for finalizing the financial transaction with said receiver; and
third party means for providing financial transaction finalization information to said content provider. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification