Apparatus and method for television viewer interest expression in advertiser goods and services

• US 20040187158A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seaman, James Wesley, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Fellenstein, Craig William, Galli, Doreen Lynn
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/86
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for allowing television viewers to express their interest in goods or services advertised on television. The present invention is comprised of a Viewer Preference Program, a Viewer Interest Program, and a Viewer Expression Program. The Viewer Expression Program interfaces with the viewer database, the advertiser database, and the cable provider program and runs the cable provider program, the Viewer Preference Program, and the Viewer Interest Program. The Viewer Preference Program allows the viewer to input the method by which he/she desires to be contacted and the type of information he/she desires to receive from the advertiser. The viewer may indicate an interest during any commercial or program and the Viewer Interest Program records the time and channel of interest. The Viewer Interest Program then cross-references the advertisement with the advertiser responsible for the advertisement and sends the requested information to the viewer.

Claims

1. A method for indicating the type of information a viewer will receive regarding a good or service and the delivery method in which said viewer receives said information, said method comprising:

designating a contact method;

designating a type of information requested;

receiving said requested information via said contact method; and

wherein said receiving step occurs upon viewer indication of interest in a good or service via an interactive television interface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said indication occurs simultaneously with said advertisement.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said contact method is via a pop-up screen on said television.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said requested information is a pamphlet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said requested information is a promotional offer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said requested information is a coupon.

7. A method comprising:

displaying a program;

receiving a viewer interest indication in said program; and

sending information relating to said program to said viewer via a viewer designated delivery method.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said program is a commercial which advertises goods or services.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said sending step occurs substantially contemporaneous with said receiving step.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

recording the time and channel associated with said program when said receiving step occurs;

cross-referencing said time and said channel with a database; and

wherein said cross-referencing step determines an advertiser associated with said program.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said program contains an identifying tag that designates an advertiser associated with said program.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

notifying an advertiser of said viewer interest indication; and

notifying said viewer that said sending step has occurred.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said program is displayed during said receiving step and said sending step.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

selecting said information based on a viewer profile; and

wherein said viewer interest indication contains said viewer profile.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein said delivery method is via a pop-up screen on a television.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein said requested information is a pamphlet.

17. The method of claim 7 wherein said requested information is promotional offers.

18. The method of claim 7 wherein said requested information is a coupon.

19. A method comprising:

designating a delivery method;

designating a type of information requested;

displaying a program;

receiving a viewer interest indication in said program; and

sending said information designated by said viewer to said viewer via said delivery method.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said receiving step occurs simultaneously with said program.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said program is a commercial which advertises goods or services.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said sending step occurs substantially contemporaneous with said receiving step.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

recording the time and channel associated with said program when said receiving step occurs;

cross-referencing said time and said channel with a database; and

wherein said cross-referencing step determines an advertiser associated with said program.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said program contains an identifying tag that designates an advertiser associated with said program.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

notifying an advertiser of said viewer interest indication; and

notifying said viewer that said sending step has occurred.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein said program is displayed during said receiving step and said sending step.

27. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

selecting said information based on a viewer profile; and

wherein said viewer interest indication contains said viewer profile.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein said delivery method is via a pop-up screen on a television.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein said requested information is a pamphlet.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein said requested information is a promotional offer.

31. The method of claim 19 wherein said requested information is a coupon.

32. A program product operable on a computer, said program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium;

wherein said computer usable medium comprises instructions comprising;

instructions for designating a contact method;

instructions for designating a type of information requested; and

instructions for receiving said requested information via said contact method; and

wherein said receiving step occurs upon viewer indication of interest in a good or service via an interactive television interface.

33. The program product of claim 32 wherein said indication occurs simultaneously with said advertisement.

34. The program product of claim 32 wherein said contact method is via a pop-up screen on said television.

35. The program product of claim 32 wherein said requested information is a pamphlet.

36. The program product of claim 32 wherein said requested information is a promotional offer.

37. The program product of claim 32 wherein said requested information is a coupon.

38. A program product operable on a computer, said program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium;

wherein said computer usable medium comprises instructions comprising;

instructions for displaying a program;

instructions for receiving a viewer interest indication in said program; and

instructions for sending information relating to said program to said viewer via a viewer designated delivery method.

39. The program product of claim 38 wherein said program is a commercial which advertises goods or services.

40. The program product of claim 38 wherein said sending step occurs substantially contemporaneous with said receiving step.

41. The program product of claim 38 further comprising:

instructions for recording the time and channel associated with said program when said receiving step occurs;

instructions for cross-referencing said time and said channel with a database; and

wherein said cross-referencing step determines an advertiser associated with said program.

42. The program product of claim 38 wherein said program contains an identifying tag that designates an advertiser associated with said program.

43. The program product of claim 38 further comprising:

instructions for notifying an advertiser of said viewer interest indication; and

instructions for notifying said viewer that said sending step has occurred.

44. The program product of claim 38 wherein said program is displayed during said receiving step and said sending step.

45. The program product of claim 38 further comprising:

instructions for selecting said information based on a viewer profile; and

wherein said viewer interest indication contains said viewer profile.

46. The program product of claim 38 wherein said delivery method is via a pop-up screen on said television.

47. The program product of claim 38 wherein said requested information is a pamphlet.

48. The program product of claim 38 wherein said requested information is a promotional offer.

49. The program product of claim 38 wherein said requested information is a coupon.

50. A program product operable on a computer, said program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium;

wherein said computer usable medium comprises;

a viewer preferences program; and

a viewer interest program;

51. The program product of claim 50 further comprising:

wherein said viewer preferences program comprises;

instructions for designating a delivery method;

instructions for designating a type of information requested;

wherein said viewer interest program comprises;

instructions for displaying a program;

instructions for receiving a viewer interest indication in said program; and

instructions for sending said information designated by said viewer to said viewer via said delivery method.

52. The program product of claim 51 wherein said receiving step occurs simultaneously with said program.

53. The program product of claim 51 wherein said program is a commercial which advertises goods or services.

54. The program product of claim 51 wherein said sending step occurs substantially contemporaneous with said receiving step.

55. The program product of claim 51 further comprising:

instructions for recording the time and channel associated with said program when said receiving step occurs;

instructions for cross-referencing said time and said channel with a database; and

wherein said cross-referencing step determines an advertiser associated with said program.

56. The program product of claim 51 wherein said program contains an identifying tag that designates an advertiser associated with said program.

57. The program product of claim 51 further comprising:

instructions for notifying an advertiser of said viewer interest indication; and

instructions for notifying said viewer that said sending step has occurred.

58. The program product of claim 51 wherein said program is displayed during said receiving step and said sending step.

59. The program product of claim 51 further comprising:

instructions for selecting said information based on a viewer profile; and

wherein said viewer interest indication contains said viewer profile.

60. The program product of claim 51 wherein said delivery method is via a pop-up screen on a television.

61. The program product of claim 51 wherein said requested information is a pamphlet.

62. The program product of claim 51 wherein said requested information is a promotional offer.

63. The program product of claim 51 wherein said requested information is a coupon.