Method and apparatus for the identification of products displayed in media programs

• US 20070078774A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gadge Brown
• Original Assignee: Gadge Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Gadge
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the identification of products in a media program and making such products available for consumer purchase is presented. A consumer utilizes a “BeamBack” device to initiate a “screen grab” and thereby express interest in a placed and/or advertised product. An identifying marker is transmitted in response to the consumer'"'"'s interest to a product web-site, where still images of the product are displayed upon linking of the identifying marker to another marker identifying the still image. The identifying marker can be transmitted to the consumer'"'"'s “BeamBack” device, computer, or web-page or directly to the product'"'"'s web-site.

Claims

1. A method of making a product publicized in a visual or audio media available to a consumer for purchase via a web-site, the method comprising the steps of:

utilizing a still image of the product corresponding to the product'"'"'s publication in the visual or audio media;

assigning a first identifying marker to the still image to identify the visual or audio media in which the product is published;

assigning a second identifying marker to identify the time and place of the publication of the visual or audio media in which the product is published;

linking the first identifying marker and the second identifying marker together to identify the product; and

displaying the product on the web-site.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting at least one of the first and second identifying markers to the web-site.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

retrieving the second identifying marker by means of a “

BeamBack”

device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of utilizing a still image of the product corresponding to the product'"'"'s publication in the visual or audio media further comprises at least one of the steps of:

identifying the product;

correlating placement of the product in the visual or audio media; and

capturing a still image of the product.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting at least one of the first and second identifying markers to the web-site further comprises at least one of the steps of:

transmitting to at least one of a consumer'"'"'s computer, web-enabled device and web-page; and

transmitting from at least one of a consumer'"'"'s computer, web-enabled device and web-page.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

activating the “

BeamBack”

device, by at least one of push button or pass swiping, to initiate retrieval of the second identifying marker.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a means for purchase of the product via the web-site.

8. An apparatus for making a product publicized in a visual or audio media available to a consumer for purchase via a web-site, the apparatus comprising:

a “

BeamBack”

device, for transmitting a signal corresponding to a “

screen grab”

of the publicized product; and

an interface for reception of the signal transmitted by the “

BeamBack”

device,

wherein an identifying marker corresponding to the time and place of publication of the product is transmitted upon reception of the signal transmitted by the “

BeamBack”

device, and

wherein a still image of the publicized product is made available on a web-site on the basis of the transmitted identifying marker.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a means for at least one of video or audio communication of the product.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a means for the consumer to purchase the publicized product.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein another identifying marker is used to correlate between the transmitted identifying marker and the still image of the publicized product.