Interactive information access system

• US 20070078732A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crolley, C., Millard, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/226,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078732A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for interactively vending products and services related to a video program. The invention provides for a video program to be displayed on a user display platform, the video program comprising vendible objects for which information is available in an object information database. An object selection device, which may comprise a user display platform, is used for selecting an object related to the video program. A processor correlates this user-selected object with the vendible object from the database, which may then be available for purchase. A communication network may link the processor with the object information database. Interactive menus delivered to the user display platform present information related to the selected vendible object.

Claims

1. A set of application program interfaces embodied on a computer readable medium for execution on a computer in conjunction with an application program that correlates a user-selected object related to a video program with a vendible object in an object information database, comprising:

(a) a first interface that receives an input from a user for determining a user-selected object related to a video program, the user-selected object selected with a user display;

(b) a second interface that receives an input for establishing a session with an object information database comprising vendible object information; and

(c) a third interface that receives an input for correlating the user-selected object related to a video program with the vendible object information in an object information database.

2. The set of application program interfaces of claim 1 further comprising a fourth interface that receives an input for vending the vendible object in an object information database.

3. The set of application program interfaces of claim 1 wherein the vendible object in an object information database is related to the video program.

4. The set of application program interfaces of claim 1 further comprising a fifth interface that receives an input for manipulating the video program on the user display.

5. The set of application program interfaces of claim 1 further comprising a sixth interface that receives an input for a user-selection device for selecting a user selected object using the user display.

6. The set of application program interfaces of claim 1 further comprising a seventh interface that receives an input related to an interactive menu on the user display.

7. The set of application program interfaces of claim 1 further comprising an eighth interface that receives an input related to access to a user account based on a user identity.

8. A system for vending objects related to a video program comprising:

(a) an object information database comprising information for a vendible object related to a video program;

(b) a user-to-processor interface for selecting, on a user display device,

i) a user-selected object related to the video program, and

ii) for presenting vending options for the vendible object; and

(c) a processor configured to correlate the user-selected object related to the video program with the vendible object in the object information database.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a communication network interface linking the processor and the object information database.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the object information database further comprises a processor for processing purchase orders of vendible objects.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the user-to-processor interface further comprises a device for manipulating the video program.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the user-to-processor interface further comprises an interactive menu displayed on the user display device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the interactive menu further comprises options for vending the vendible object in the object information database.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising a user object selection device used in conjunction with the user display device.

15. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a computerized method for interactively vending objects with a user display device comprising:

(a) establishing a global session between a user display device and at least one application to correlate a user-selected object related to a video program displayed on the display device with a vendible object related to the video program, wherein the vendible object is in an object information database;

(b) accessing the user-selected object information wherein the user-selected object is selected using the user display device;

(c) correlating the user-selected object with the vendible object; and

(d) vending the vendible object related to the video program.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises a communication network linking the at least one application with the object information database.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises establishing the global session by establishing a user session with a user-identity manager.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises an interactive menu displayed on the user display device with information related to the user-selected object.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises a device for manipulating the video program on the user display device.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises a user object selection device used in conjunction with the user display device.