Interactive Multiple Channel User Enrollment, Purchase Confirmation Transactional System with Fulfillment Response Feature for Video On Demand Cable Systems
First Claim
1. A multiple channel purchasing method permitting a user-viewer to participate in a purchasing program for goods and services via a user-viewer'"'"'s interactive television set communicatively coupled via a cable system network to a cable head end which is communicatively coupled via a communications network to a shop on-demand computer server, said shop on-demand computer server further communicatively coupled to a cellular telephone communications network, a voice over internet protocol (VoIP), a terrestrial telephone network, and a global computer communications network (Internet), the interactive multiple channel user enrollment method comprising:
- advertising said goods or services upon command of said user-viewer via said interactive television set and said cable head end;
in response to a buy-now command by said user-viewer for specific goods or services transmitted via said interactive television set to said cable head end, determining whether said user-viewer is enrolled in a shop on-demand purchasing program by correlating a unique set identification (id) code, unique to said interactive television set, with a user-viewer id code on either said shop on-demand computer server or a stored list of approved user-viewer id codes at said cable head end;
confirming a purchase of said specific goods or services via said interactive television set to said cable head end and shop on-demand computer server and via one supplemental communications channel from the group of communications channels including said cellular telephone communications network, said VoIP, said terrestrial telephone network, and said Internet by initiating a confirmation indicator from said shop on-demand computer server directed to said user-viewer via said one supplemental communications channel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-channel process enrolls user-viewers via VOD inputs and supplemental communications channels (cell phone, VoIP, land-line telephone, Internet or fax). Goods are advertised for the shop on-demand (OD) process via user'"'"'s interactive TV (STB enabled TV set). A buy-now command is sent with the STB-ID code to the cable head end (HE) and shop OD client application operative thereat and to the shop OD computer server. If the set ID code matches the approved list at the HE, a purchase-confirmation is sent to the user via the STB-TV from the cable HE. One methodology sends a local confirm via metadata or specially configured VA asset. Supplemental communications channels handle supplemental confirms to the user. If not enrolled, supplemental communications network gathers user-viewer profile data. The profile lists user-selectable supple-comm message format (email, voice, text, fax). Non-enrollees may be given discounts to enroll. PINs are also used to control purchasing processes.
171 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A multiple channel purchasing method permitting a user-viewer to participate in a purchasing program for goods and services via a user-viewer'"'"'s interactive television set communicatively coupled via a cable system network to a cable head end which is communicatively coupled via a communications network to a shop on-demand computer server, said shop on-demand computer server further communicatively coupled to a cellular telephone communications network, a voice over internet protocol (VoIP), a terrestrial telephone network, and a global computer communications network (Internet), the interactive multiple channel user enrollment method comprising:
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advertising said goods or services upon command of said user-viewer via said interactive television set and said cable head end;
in response to a buy-now command by said user-viewer for specific goods or services transmitted via said interactive television set to said cable head end, determining whether said user-viewer is enrolled in a shop on-demand purchasing program by correlating a unique set identification (id) code, unique to said interactive television set, with a user-viewer id code on either said shop on-demand computer server or a stored list of approved user-viewer id codes at said cable head end;
confirming a purchase of said specific goods or services via said interactive television set to said cable head end and shop on-demand computer server and via one supplemental communications channel from the group of communications channels including said cellular telephone communications network, said VoIP, said terrestrial telephone network, and said Internet by initiating a confirmation indicator from said shop on-demand computer server directed to said user-viewer via said one supplemental communications channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A purchasing method permitting a user-viewer to participate in a purchasing program for goods and services via a user-viewer'"'"'s interactive television set communicatively coupled via a cable system network to a cable head end which is communicatively coupled via a communications network to a shop on-demand computer server comprising:
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advertising said goods or services upon command of said user-viewer via said interactive television set and said cable head end;
in response to a buy-now command by said user-viewer for specific goods or services transmitted via said interactive television set to said cable head end, determining whether said user-viewer is enrolled in a shop on-demand purchasing program by correlating a unique set identification (id) code, unique to said interactive television set, with a user-viewer id code on either said shop on-demand computer server or a stored list of approved user-viewer id codes at said cable head end;
confirming a purchase of said goods or services to said user-viewer on said interactive television set with a confirmation indicator sent from either said shop on-demand computer server to said user-viewer interactive television set via said cable head end or sent from a shop on-demand client application operative at said cable head end. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A multiple channel purchasing method and user enrollment method permitting a user-viewer to enroll and participate in a purchasing program for goods and services via a user-viewer'"'"'s interactive television set communicatively coupled via a cable system network to a cable head end which is communicatively coupled via a communications network to a shop on-demand computer server, said shop on-demand computer server further communicatively coupled to a cellular telephone communications network, a voice over internet protocol (VoIP), a terrestrial telephone network, and a global computer communications network (Internet), the interactive multiple channel user enrollment method comprising:
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advertising said goods or services upon command of said user-viewer via said interactive television set and said cable head end;
in response to a buy-now command by said user-viewer for specified goods or services transmitted via said interactive television set to said cable head end, determining whether said user-viewer is enrolled in a shop on-demand purchasing program by correlating a unique set identification (id) code, unique to said interactive television set with a user-viewer id code on either said shop on-demand computer server or a stored list of approved user-viewer id codes at said cable head end;
in the absence of a correlation between said set id code and said user-viewer id code, enrolling said user-viewer either via user profile data sent via said interactive television set to said cable head end to said shop on-demand computer server or a shop on-demand client application operative at said cable head end; and
,confirming a purchase of said specific goods or services via said interactive television set to said cable head end and shop on-demand computer server and via one supplemental communications channel from the group of communications channels including said cellular telephone communications network, said VoIP, said terrestrial telephone network, and said Internet by initiating a confirmation indicator form said shop on-demand computer server directed to said user-viewer via said one supplemental communications channel.
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Specification