Method and System for Controlling and Auditing Content/Service Systems

• US 20090055463A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing LLC (The Woodbridge Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Allibhoy, Nizar, Johnson, Stephen M., Fernandez-Silva, Joaquin, Elliott, L. Dane
• Granted Patent: US 8,301,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

An improved interactive network system is provided that allows the Network Operator to control the transfer of information to and from the network end users, the system preferably using triggers or markers embedded within the programming broadcast to users via the network. As a consequence of this system, the Network Operator is able to efficiently garner revenues from third parties transacting business over the network and to control the look and feel of programming offered to network users. Additionally the system can be used as a means of limiting network access, filtering programming, providing on-screen graphics or audible signals for particular programming types or providers, bookmarking programming, profiling network users, targeting advertising, and simplifying network transactions.

Claims

1. A method of generating revenues for a network offering a plurality of programming options to a user via a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first trigger embedded within one of said plurality of programming options;

replacing said one of said plurality of programming options with at least one enhanced content program, wherein said at least one enhanced content program is provided by at least one content provider;

obtaining revenues from said at least one content provider in response to said replacing step; and

restoring said one of said plurality of programming options.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said restoring step is performed after conclusion of a predefined time period.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting a second trigger embedded within said one of said plurality of programming options wherein said restoring step is performed after detection of said second trigger.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first trigger indicates commencement of a programming interruption.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said second trigger indicates conclusion of a programming interruption.