Systems and methods for providing a token registry and encoder

• US 20090158316A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Backchannelmedia Incorporated
• Inventors: Kokernak, Michael, Noland, Madeleine
• Granted Patent: US 8,051,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for using tokens to link the television and the Internet platforms. The tokens are tightly encoded into the content and a registry controls the linking of the television content to specific Internet-based content. The registry also polices the validity of the tokens and optionally provides the token owner with continued control over the Internet content associated with that token. When the two platforms are linked successfully, the consumer receives quality content, while being protected from unwanted Internet content.

Claims

1. In a television distribution system having a backchannel communication path, a system for marking content viewed on a television, comprising:

a token registry for generating a token representative of a unique identifier and having a database storing information associated with a generated token,

an encoder process for inserting the token into content that is to be delivered over the television distribution system and for updating the database to indicate the specific content carrying the inserted token,

a video receiving device having a process for detecting the token encoded within content being received by the device for at least one of tracking the token presence, displaying a visual cue to the user that the content includes a response opportunity, and tracking such user responses to the token-encoded content, and

a user controller generating a command signal indicating a user response to the token-encoded content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the original token generated by the token registry is updated with a security hash generated by the encoder tying a token to the content into which the token is encoded.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the hash generated by the encoder is a function of elements of video, audio, and/or data within the content and that the hash is detectable by the receiving device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the token registry includes a means for associating with the token a link representative of a pointer to a site of a computer network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the token encoder includes means for specifying a visual presentation associated with the respective token.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the token encoder inserts the token data into the content such that the token is detectable by the receiving device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the token encoder inserts the token multiple times within the content at a selected periodic rate.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the token encoder includes a time stamp for time stamping the occurrence of the token within the content.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the token encoder inserts multiple different tokens into the television content.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a user or device in the supply chain transmits the signal back to the token registry and the token registry includes a process for validating the token.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the token registry includes a rules engine for defining rules associated with a respective token.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the rules engine includes a process for generating time-controlled delivery of content through a link to a computer site on a network.

13. The system of claim 11, further including an outlet site for allowing a user to purchase one or more tokens and for token owners to sell tokens to other users.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the video receiving device has a process for generating and transmitting a data signal over a backchannel communication path regarding the presence of and user responses to token-encoded content, further comprising

a device manager for receiving the data signals from the video receiving devices and sending messages to those video receiving devices, and

a digital gateway for associating data signals from the video receiving devices and preparing data for distribution to users over a computer network.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising

a web-based application for distributing data over a computer network to at least one of a consumer, an advertiser, a content creator, a media provider, and a retailer.

16. In a television distribution network having a backchannel communication path, a method for tracking content viewed on a television, comprising:

generating a token representative of a unique identifier and storing information associated with a generated token into a database,

encoding the token into television content that is to be delivered over the cable television network and updating the database to indicate the specific content carrying the inserted token,

providing a set-top box device having a process for detecting content carrying the token for tracking the token being displayed for view, and

responding to a user generated command signal directing the set-top box device to generate a data signal to be transmitted over the backchannel communication path and to identify the token being viewed by the user.