Programmable, interactive task oriented hotspot, image map, or layer hyperlinks within a multimedia program and interactive product, purchase or information page within a media player, with capabilities to purchase products right out of media programs and/ or media players

• US 20060089843A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Flather
• Original Assignee: David Flather
• Inventors: Flather, David
• Application Number:
  US10/972,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089843A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Described is a system and method whereby special layers, hotspots or image maps can be programmed in to media displayed through common Internet enabled media players so that users or viewers of the media can interact in a minimally obtrusive fashion with the media being shown to perform a host of tasks or actions. Such tasks or duties can take the form of but are not limited to initiating a purchase transaction, requesting more information to be sent via electronic mail and so on. In addition, special, Internet enabled (or static, non Internet/hyper linked pages) feature pages can be programmed to appear at preset time codes at any point within a media program. The purpose of such pages can be diverse including but not limited to the role of advertising or offering products for sale relating or not relating to the media program, promoting related or unrelated media programs or acting as a bridging point connecting together a series of media programs, much like an index of a book points to the chapters of the book. Such multimedia programs can be displayed on devices including but not limited to computer screens, personal organizers with wireless Internet connections or even a television screen. Users viewing media can interact with the program in viewing environments including but not limited to: Internet type connections, telecommunication (telephone, ISDN, ADSL), VSAT satellite, and other wire and wireless transmission including as well as video conferencing. The goal of the interaction is to provide a useful and minimally interruptive form of advertising, enacting the sale of a product or service or communicating information in a synchronized manner that may or may not relate to the media being played. The interaction can take the form but is not limited to sending a follow up email containing a special offer or information, or the interaction can even prompt the person(s) to initiate a purchase process for a good or service being promoted in conjunction with the media program. In other embodiments, viewers may interact with a given program by means of a plurality of options that include but are not limited to selecting an icon or banner or pressing a button on a remote control. The resulting action sequence will then be initiated, be it a request for information, a purchase activity and so on.

Claims

1. The process and method whereby a transparent layer, semi-transparent layer or other layer is inserted over an electronic delivery media stream so as to define a “

hotspot”

, image map, hyperlink area or region that relates to the whole or to the part of an image or media program, product or service being shown within an Internet connected media player environment so that when an individual viewing the media or entertainment in an Internet connected media player environment (whether logged in or not), the individual will be able to interact with some form of interactive or pointing device (including but not limited to interactive methods such as a computer mouse, a touch screen display or voice commands). Such interaction by the individual or user with the image maps, layers or “

hotspots”

that form a skin or layer overlaid over the media will enable can perform a plurality of tasks including but not limited to the task of sending an electronic follow up email message to be electronically delivered to the corresponding email address listed in the database record that forms a part of the individual'"'"'s unique profile or data set.

An example of this would be a small icon that would appear over the wheel of a car being shown on the screen as a part of a commercial advertisement or as a part of a media program such as a movie. The individual viewing the car onscreen would see the icon and could use their computer mouse to click on it, pass over it etc. to enact some additional electronic information to be provided about the wheel of the car shown. Such interaction could even lead to a new screen appearing in which the individual could buy the wheel right out of the commercial or media program he is watching.

An icon may not even need appear visually to the eye, as the electronic hotspot or image map may form a completely transparent layer or skin so as to not distort the main image behind, while still providing a programmed link that can send an email to the individual'"'"'s email address. In such instances, users of the media would be informed ahead of time that there are layers over definable objects or regions within the media program that when interacted with, will cause a subsequent event.

The functionality of this process that I seek protection on could also be tailored or customized so the individual does not even need to enter his payment details such as credit card number if the database information shows that the individual has opted in to an auto-pay or auto-bill program whereby the product or service they interacted with is automatically billed to their service account or through the company that is providing the electronic connection for data or media transfer on their visual device (their service provider). Users of the system could even be extended credit and pay for the purchases by check or other means from invoices to be delivered at a later time.

I also seek protection on the means of these processes. These processes can be facilitated through commonly accepted computer programming languages and techniques including but not limited to the use of electronic cookies and/or JavaScripts.

2. The process and method whereby a transparent layer, semi-transparent layer or other layer is inserted over an electronic delivery media stream so as to define a “

hotspot”

, layer, image map, hyperlink area or region that relates to the whole or to the part of an image or media program, product or service being shown within an Internet connected media player environment so that when an individual views the media or entertainment in said Internet connected media player environment, said individual will be able to interact with some form of interactive or pointing device (including but not limited to items such as a computer mouse or even a touch screen display). Such interaction by the individual or user with the image maps, layers or “

hotspots”

that are a skin or layer overlaid over the media will enable a plurality of duties to be performed including but not limited to the creation/appearance of a new screen or purchase page (while leaving the original screen with media viewer functional in the background) with purchase information and options that relate specifically to the product or service that the hotspot refers to. Many or all of the necessary details (these details may be referred to as fields) can already be pre-populated with data that forms a part of the user'"'"'s unique profile or data set drawn up from the database that was accessed during an automatic or manual login or sign up procedure.

An example of this would be a small icon that would appear over the hat a man is wearing on the screen as a part of a commercial or as a part of a media program such as a movie. The individual viewing the man in the hat on-screen would see the icon and could use their computer mouse to click on it, pass over it etc. to enact a new screen appearing in which the individual could buy the hat right out of the commercial or media program he is watching. The individual may also be able to select the size or color or even style of hat as a part of the process. Once the purchase is completed the individual could resume watching the media in the background by closing off the screen used to facilitate the purchase.

An icon may not even need appear visually to the eye, as the electronic hotspot, layer or image map may form a completely transparent layer or skin so as to not distort the main image behind, while still providing a programmed link that can display new information or open a new screen that displays more information or an opportunity to electronically purchase the good or service.

The functionality of this process I seek protection on could also be tailored or customized so the individual does not even need to enter his payment details such as credit card number if the database information in their database records show that the individual has opted in to an auto-pay or auto-bill program whereby the product or service they interacted with is automatically billed to their service account or through the company that is providing the electronic connection for data or media transfer on their visual device (their service provider).

I also seek protection on the means of these processes. These processes can be facilitated through commonly accepted computer programming languages and techniques including but not limited to the use of electronic cookies and/or Java Scripts.

3. The process and method whereby as outlined in 1 and 2 above, the “

hotspots”

, “

layers”

or “

image maps”

can be programmed to perform a variety of tasks or actions including but not limited to sending an email to the individual'"'"'s email address, opening a new screen that displays more information and so on.

I also seek protection on the means of these processes. These processes can be facilitated through commonly accepted computer programming languages and techniques including but not limited to the use of electronic cookies and/or Java Scripts.

4. The process and method whereby within a media player environment'"'"'s viewing area a “

special interactive product and/or information page or screen”

appears at some point during the program a user is watching. This special page may appear at the beginning or at the end of the program or at any point between the start and the end of the program.

This interactive product and/or information page or screen may be used for multiple purposes at the same time (for instance when activated at the end of a media program). In such an instance, it can be used to provide a link between a series of media programs, whereby the page offers both information and/or links to subsequent segments of the program when a program is broken into a series or number of episodes. The links to additional media programs may also be used to link to related or unrelated programs or media that do not form a part of the series being viewed.

The special interactive product and/or information page or screen can also contain descriptions and/or images of products or services.

This special interactive product and/or information page or screen may include products and/or services to be bought right from this page which when a user initiates a purchase, he would automatically be taken to a secured “

checkout page”

.

This special interactive product and/or information page or screen may also include products and/or services that can have more information sent to the user by simply having the user interact with the page to solicit a follow up email for example. This may be accomplished with some “

interactive communication tool”

including but not limited to a computer mouse, a touch screen display or auditory command.

The special interactive product and/or information page or screen could be fully multi-media enabled itself capable of showing motion and playing audio.