Method For Companies To Conduct Transactions During Media Broadcasts

• US 20050273808A1
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Marc Zeidman
• Original Assignee: Robert Marc Zeidman
• Inventors: Zeidman, Robert Marc
• Application Number:
  US11/160,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273808A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method that allows a company or companies to conduct commercial transactions with broadcast viewers immediately during a broadcast or at a later time. The amount of time a viewer spends watching a particular broadcast is recorded along with information about the company or companies sponsoring the broadcast. The viewer accesses a central database, which sends back to the viewer advertisements, coupons, discounts, contests, product information, and product purchase information, based on information about the viewer and the specific times the viewer watched broadcasts or segments of broadcasts that were sponsored by the company or companies.

Claims

1. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving a broadcast with embedded information;

b) extracting content from said broadcast, c) presenting said content to the viewer;

d) extracting said embedded information from said broadcast;

e) storing said embedded information;

f) transmitting said embedded information and viewer information to a remote computer; and

g) receiving transaction information.

2. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving a broadcast with information embedded into the broadcast at regular time periods, said information including timestamps;

b) extracting content from said broadcast, c) presenting said content to the viewer;

d) extracting said embedded information from said broadcast;

e) incrementing counters for counting time slices during said time periods;

f) storing said embedded information and said counter values;

g) transmitting said embedded information and said counter values and viewer information to a remote computer; and

h) receiving transaction information.

3. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) embedding information about a broadcast along with the broadcast content;

and b) broadcasting said content with said embedded information to a remote viewer.

4. The method of claim further comprising a) receiving information from said viewer about said broadcast;

and b) transmitting transaction information to said viewer based on said information received.

5. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) embedding information about said broadcast along with said broadcast content at regular time periods;

and b) broadcasting said content with said embedded information to a remote viewer.

6. The method of claim further comprising a) receiving information from said viewer about said broadcast;

b) receiving counter values for the number of time slices viewed by said viewer; and

c) transmitting transaction information to said viewer based on said information received and said counter values received.

7. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving information about a broadcast from a remote viewer;

and b) transmitting transaction information to the remote viewer based on said information received.

8. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving information about a broadcast from a remote viewer;

b) receiving counter values for the number of time slices viewed by the viewer; and

c) transmitting transaction information to the remote viewer based on said information received and said counter values received.

9. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving information about a broadcast from a remote viewer;

b) searching a database for information about sponsors of the content of said broadcast and the product information offered by said sponsors;

c) creating a displayable page containing sponsor information and product information based on said database information and said information received from said viewer; and

d) transmitting said displayable page back to said viewer.

10. A method for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the method comprising a) receiving information about a broadcast from a remote viewer;

b) receiving counter values for the number of time slices viewed by said viewer;

c) searching a database for information about sponsors of the content and the products offered by said sponsors;

d) creating a displayable page containing sponsor information and product information based on said database information and said information received from said viewer; and

e) transmitting said displayable page back to said viewer.

11. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a broadcast medium, a storage device, a presentation device, a communication medium, and a computer whereby a) said computer receives a broadcast with embedded information via said broadcast medium;

b) said computer extracts content from said broadcast;

c) said computer presents extracted content to the viewer via said presentation device;

d) said computer extracts said embedded information from said broadcast;

e) said computer stores said embedded information on said storage device;

f) said computer transmits said embedded information and viewer information to a remote computer via said communication medium; and

g) said computer receives transaction information via said communication medium.

12. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a broadcast medium, a storage device, a presentation device, a communication medium, and a computer whereby a) said computer receives a broadcast with information embedded into the broadcast at regular time periods, said information including timestamps via said broadcast medium;

b) said computer extracts content from said broadcast;

c) said computer presents said extracted content to the viewer via said presentation device;

d) said computer extracts said embedded information from said broadcast;

e) said computer increments counters for counting time slices during said time periods;

f) said computer stores said embedded information and said counter values on said storage device;

g) said computer transmits said embedded information and said counter values and viewer information to a remote computer via said communication medium; and

h) said computer receives transaction information via said communication medium.

13. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a broadcast medium and a computer whereby a) said computer embeds information about a broadcast along with the broadcast content;

and b) said computer broadcasts said content with said embedded information to a remote viewer via said broadcast medium.

14. The apparatus of claim further comprising a communication medium whereby a) said computer receives information from said viewer about said broadcast via said communication medium;

and b) said computer transmits product information to said viewer via said communication medium.

15. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a broadcast medium and a computer whereby a) said computer embeds information about said broadcast along with the broadcast content at regular time periods;

and b) said computer broadcasts said content with said embedded information to a remote viewer via said broadcast medium.

16. The apparatus of claim further comprising a communication medium whereby a) said computer receives information from said viewer about said broadcast via said communication medium;

b) said computer receives counter values for the number of time slices viewed by said viewer via said communication medium; and

c) said computer transmits product information to said viewer via said communication medium.

17. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a communication medium and a computer whereby a) said computer receives information about a broadcast from a remote viewer via said communication medium;

b) said computer transmits product information to the remote viewer via said communication medium.

18. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a communication medium and a computer whereby a) said computer receives information about a broadcast from a remote viewer via said communication medium;

b) said computer receives counter values for the number of time slices viewed by the viewer via said communication medium; and

c) said computer transmits product information to the remote viewer via said communication medium.

19. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a storage device, a presentation device, a communication medium, and a computer whereby a) said computer receives information about a broadcast from a remote viewer via said communication medium;

b) said computer searches a database for information about sponsors of the content of said broadcast and the product information offered by said sponsors;

c) said computer creates a displayable page containing sponsor information and product information based on said database information and said information received from said viewer;

d) said computer transmits said displayable page back to said viewer via said communication medium.

20. An apparatus for allowing companies to conduct transactions during media broadcasts, the apparatus comprising a communication medium and a computer whereby a) said computer receives information about a broadcast from a remote viewer via said communication medium;

b) said computer receives counter values for the number of time slices viewed by said viewer via said communication medium;

c) said computer searches a database for information about sponsors of the content and the products offered by said sponsors;

d) said computer creates a displayable page containing sponsor information and product information based on said database information and said information received from said viewer; and

e) said computer transmits said displayable page back to said viewer via said communication medium.