Interactive television targeted message system

• US 20050204382A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US11/042,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20050204382A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/35
• 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 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• 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 21/4786 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• 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 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17345 Control of the passage of the selected programme

Abstract

An interactive television system is provided in which targeted messages may be sent to users. The interactive television system may use an interactive television program guide or other interactive applications to provide interactive television services to users. An e-mail or other messaging application may be used to receive the messages. The messaging application may be separate from the program guide or other interactive television application or may be part of the program guide or other interactive television application. Messages may be targeted based on the television channels to which the user subscribes or based on which settings the user has established in the program guide or other application or based on any other suitable criteria.

Claims

1. A method for providing a targeted message to a user of an interactive television application, comprising:

using the interactive television application to order a product or service;

storing user information relating to the ordered product or service in user equipment;

creating a message having associated targeting criteria at a first location;

distributing the message along with the targeting criteria from the first location to the user equipment;

comparing the targeting criteria to the stored user information relating to the ordered product or service at the user equipment; and

presenting the message to the user when the targeting is criteria are satisfied.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the distributing the message comprises distributing the message through the Internet or a television distribution facility.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the distributing the message comprises distributing the message through the Internet and a television distribution facility.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the presenting the message comprises presenting the message using a set-top box.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the presenting the message comprises presenting the message using a digital video recorder.

7. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

using the interactive television application to set a reminder based upon user input; and

comparing the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the reminder.

9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

using the interactive television application to set a favorite setting; and

comparing the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the favorite setting.

10. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

using the interactive television application to set a parental control; and

comparing the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the parental control.

11. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

using the interactive television application to select content for recording; and

comparing the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the content.

15. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing the message from an interactive television application provider or a television service provider.

3. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

12-14. -14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. A system for providing a targeted message to a user of an interactive television application, comprising:

a first processor that creates a message having associated targeting criteria and that causes the message to be distributed along with the targeting criteria to the user;

user equipment that stores user information relating to a product or service that is ordered using the interactive television application, that compares the targeting criteria with stored user information relating to the ordered product or service and that causes the message to be presented to the user for which the targeting is criteria are satisfied.

18. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the first processor is part of a television distribution facility.

19. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the first processor also causes the message to be distributed through the Internet.

21. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the user equipment comprises a set-top box.

22. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the user equipment comprises a digital video recorder.

23. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the user equipment also sets a reminder based upon user input and compares the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the reminder.

25. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the user equipment also sets a favorites setting based upon user input and compares the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the favorites setting.

26. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the user equipment also sets a parental control based upon user input and compares the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the parental control.

27. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the user equipment also selects content for recording based upon user input and compares the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the content.

31. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the first processor is part of an interactive television application provider or a television service provider.

20. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

28-30. -30. (canceled)

32. (canceled)