METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION ABOUT A BEAUTY PRODUCT ELEMENT

• US 20080271083A1
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digital Network Shopping, LLC
• Original Assignee: Digital Network Shopping, LLC
• Inventors: Robinson, Maryse, Thomas, John G.
• Application Number:
  US12/172,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20080271083A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV

Abstract

Disclosed herein, in various embodiments, are methods and apparatus incorporating, among other things, the concept of using, in particular but without limitation, traditionally non-commercial programming as a medium for selling products or services on-line, and again in particular over the Internet. Using this concept, for example, a beauty product element identified in motion picture programming can be made electronically identifiable by a viewer of the programming, and thereby enabling a viewer to determine the source or other information about the beauty product element. Using this concept, for example, a viewer viewing a soap opera is able to use a device to electronically select a beauty product element worn or used by an actor or actress. In turn, information about the beauty product element can be displayed to the viewer, including purchase information. Using this particular concept of the invention, traditionally non-commercial programming can be efficiently used to indirectly advertise goods or services and offer them for sale on-line.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a beauty product element in motion picture programming;

obtaining, from the motion picture programming, a still image having the beauty product element;

storing the still image;

storing digital information about the beauty product element;

displaying the still image to a viewer;

in response to the viewer selecting the beauty product element in the still image, displaying the stored digital information about the beauty product element to the viewer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the beauty product element includes at least one of a hairstyle, a hairpiece, an item of jewelry, a garment, an accessory, or a cosmetic worn by a live actor in the motion picture programming.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the beauty product element includes a prop used in the motion picture programming.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information includes at least one of:

positional data;

time index data;

boundary data;

descriptive data;

or

purchase data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information is stored during the editing process of the motion picture programming.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information is stored after the motion picture programming is shot, but before the delivery of the motion picture programming.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information is stored before the motion picture programming is recorded.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion picture programming is stored in a digital format for delivery to the viewer, and the digital information is stored as part of the digital motion picture programming data.

9. A system comprising:

a server coupled to a viewing device, the viewing device including an input device, the server used to;

a) store a still image obtained from motion picture programming, wherein the still image contains a beauty product element identified in the motion picture programming;

b) store digital information about the beauty product element;

c) deliver to the viewing device the still image; and

d) deliver to the viewing device at least some of the stored digital information; and

a computer program operating on the viewing device to display at least a portion of the stored digital information in response to a viewer selecting the beauty product element in the still image using the input device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the beauty product element includes at least one of a hairstyle, hairpiece, a item of jewelry, a garment, an accessory or a cosmetic worn by a live actor in the motion picture programming.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the beauty product element includes a prop used in the motion picture programming.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the digital information includes at least one of:

positional data;

time index data;

boundary data;

descriptive data, or

purchase data.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the server is configured to store the digital information about the beauty product element before the motion picture programming is recorded.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the server is configured to store the motion picture programming in a digital format for delivery to the viewer, and to store the digital information as part of the digital motion picture programming data.

15. A method comprising:

storing motion picture programming with at least one beauty product element in at least one scene of the motion picture programming, wherein the beauty product element is identified prior to broadcasting the motion picture programming;

storing digital information about the beauty product element;

delivering the motion picture program to a display device, wherein the display device has an associated interactive input device, wherein the input device allows a viewer to select the beauty product element within the motion picture program; and

in response to the viewer selecting the beauty product element within the motion picture program, displaying the stored digital information about the beauty product element to the viewer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the beauty product element includes at least one of a hairstyle, hairpiece, a item of jewelry, a garment, an accessory or a cosmetic worn by a live actor in the motion picture programming.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the beauty product element includes a prop used in the motion picture programming.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the digital information includes at least one of:

positional data;

time index data;

boundary data;

descriptive data;

or

purchase data.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the digital information is stored before the motion picture programming is recorded.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the motion picture programming is stored in a digital format for delivery to the viewer, and the digital information is stored as part of the digital motion picture programming data.

21. A system comprising:

a server coupled to a viewing device, the server used to;

(a) store motion picture programming with at least one beauty product element in at least one scene of the motion picture programming, wherein the beauty product element is identified prior to broadcasting the motion picture programming;

(b) store digital information about the beauty product element; and

(c) deliver the motion picture program to a viewing device, the viewing device including an input device, wherein the input device allows a viewer to select the beauty product element within the motion picture program; and

a computer program operating on the viewing device to display at least a portion of the stored digital information in response to the viewer pointing to the beauty product element in the motion picture programming.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the beauty product element includes at least one of a hairstyle, hairpiece, a item of jewelry, a garment, an accessory or a cosmetic worn by a live actor in the motion picture programming.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the beauty product element includes a prop used in the motion picture programming.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the digital information includes at least one of:

positional data;

time index data;

boundary data;

descriptive data;

or

purchase data.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the server is configured to store digital information before the motion picture programming is recorded.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the server is configured to store the motion picture programming in a digital format for delivery to the viewer, and to store the digital information as part of the digital motion picture programming data.