METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL SHOPPING

• US 20080271084A1
• 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:
  US12/172,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20080271084A1
• 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, an element identified in motion picture programming can be made identifiable by a viewer of the motion picture programming, and thereby enabling a viewer to determine the source, location, or other information referred to by the element. Using this concept, for example, a viewer viewing a soap opera is able to use a device to electronically select a element identified in the broadcast. In turn, information referred to by the content 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 an element in motion picture programming;

storing digital information about the element;

displaying the element to a viewer;

in response to viewing the element, the viewer selecting the element; and

in response to the viewer selecting the element, displaying the stored digital information to the viewer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information includes purchase information referred to by the element.

3. The method of claim 2, including, in response to viewing the stored digital information, the viewer purchasing a product or service referred to by the element.

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

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

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

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

8. A system comprising:

a processor coupled to a viewing device, the processor configured to;

(a) store digital information about an element identified in motion picture programming;

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

(c) deliver the element to the viewing device; and

a computer program operating on the viewing device to display the element to a viewer and to deliver at least a portion of the received digital information to the viewer in response to the viewer selecting the element from the viewing device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the digital information includes purchase information referred to by the element.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer program is configured to, in response to the viewer viewing the stored digital information, direct the viewer to a location to purchase a product or service referred to by the element.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configure to store the digital information during the editing process of the motion picture programming.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configure to store the digital information after the motion picture programming is recorded, but before the delivery of the motion picture programming.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to store the digital information before the motion picture programming is recorded.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the motion picture programming is stored in a digital format for delivery to the user, and wherein the processor is configured to store the digital information as part of the digital motion picture programming data.

15. A method, comprising:

identifying an element in motion picture programming;

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

storing the still image;

storing digital information about the element;

displaying the still image to a viewer;

in response to viewing the still image, the viewer selecting the element in the still image; and

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

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the digital information includes purchase information referred to by the element.

17. The method of claim 16, including, in response to viewing the stored digital information, the viewer purchasing a product or service referred to by the element.

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

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

20. A system comprising:

a processor coupled to a viewing device, the processor configured to;

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

(b) store digital information about the element identified in motion picture programming;

(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 the still image to a viewer and to deliver at least a portion of the received digital information to the viewer in response to the viewer selecting the element in the still image.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the digital information includes purchase information referred to by the element.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer program is configured to, in response to the viewer viewing the stored digital information, direct the viewer to a location to purchase a product or service referred to by the element.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to store the digital information before the motion picture programming is recorded.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the motion picture programming is stored in a digital format for delivery to the user, and wherein the processor is configured to store the digital information as part of the digital motion picture programming data.