METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PARTICIPATORY MEDIA CONTENT

• US 20100145766A1
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: GIBBON, DAVID, VLECK, PAUL VAN, BEGEJA, LEE
• Application Number:
  US12/329,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145766A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing participatory media content to a customer via a network are disclosed. For example, a method receives a request for a first content from a customer, and determines if the customer is associated with a service that provides a participatory media content. The method then selects one or more participatory media content for the customer, if the customer is associated with the service; and provides the customer with the one or more participatory media content and the requested first content.

Claims

1. A method for providing content in a network, comprising:

receiving a request for a first content from a customer;

determining if said customer is associated with a service that provides a participatory media content;

selecting one or more participatory media content for said customer, if said customer is associated with said service; and

providing said customer with said one or more participatory media content and said first content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said customer has viewed at least one of said one or more participatory media content; and

updating a reward information for said customer for each of said one or more participatory media content that said customer has viewed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said reward information associated with each of said one or more participatory media content is different.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said customer wants to update at least one preference for receiving said participatory media content; and

receiving an update for a profile of said customer, if said customer wants to update said at least one preference.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting is based on a profile of said customer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said profile of said customer is created with inputs provided by said customer.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said profile is updated by analyzing said first content.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said reward information is tracked to provide a reward to said customer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said reward comprises at least one of:

providing a free service, providing a free product, providing a service at a reduced cost, providing a product at a reduced cost, providing a coupon to obtain a free service or a free product, providing a coupon to obtain a service or a product at a reduced cost, providing a service operated by a service provider of the network for free or at a reduced cost, providing an additional feature to said service operated by said service provider of the network for free or at a reduced cost, or providing a cash rebate.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said reward information comprises a predefined reward that is specified by the customer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting one or more participatory media content for said customer comprises:

determining a highest bidder; and

selecting one or more participatory media content of said highest bidder for said customer.

12. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of a method for providing content in a network, comprising:

receiving a request for a first content from a customer;

determining if said customer is associated with a service that provides a participatory media content;

selecting one or more participatory media content for said customer, if said customer is associated with said service; and

providing said customer with said one or more participatory media content and said first content.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

determining if said customer has viewed at least one of said one or more participatory media content; and

updating a reward information for said customer for each of said one or more participatory media content that said customer has viewed.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

determining if said customer wants to update at least one preference for receiving said participatory media content; and

receiving an update for a profile of said customer, if said customer wants to update said at least one preference.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said selecting is based on a profile of said customer.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said profile of said customer is created with inputs provided by said customer, or wherein said profile is updated by analyzing said first content.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein said reward information is tracked to provide a reward to said customer.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said reward comprises at least one of:

providing a free service, providing a free product, providing a service at a reduced cost, providing a product at a reduced cost, providing a coupon to obtain a free service or a free product, providing a coupon to obtain a service or a product at a reduced cost, providing a service operated by a service provider of the network for free or at a reduced cost, providing an additional feature to said service operated by said service provider of the network for free or at a reduced cost, or providing a cash rebate.

19. An apparatus for providing content in a network, comprising:

means for receiving a request for a first content from a customer;

means for determining if said customer is associated with a service that provides a participatory media content;

means for selecting one or more participatory media content for said customer, if said customer is associated with said service; and

means for providing said customer with said one or more participatory media content and said first content.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for determining if said customer has viewed at least one of said one or more participatory media content; and

means for updating a reward information for said customer for each of said one or more participatory media content that said customer has viewed.