PROVIDING PRODUCT INFORMATION DURING MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMS

• US 20100153226A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kenny, Patrick J., Heinmiller, Wayne Robert, Barnes, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 9,838,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12

Abstract

A method and system provides information and purchasing services for products placed in multimedia content. Product metadata coordinated in time with the multimedia content may be used to determine the product and obtain product information. A user may send a notification at a time when the product occurs in the multimedia content, and the time may be used to coordinate the product metadata. Product information may be provided to the user. The user may be given the option to purchase the product. Validation of the user may occur in order to authorize the purchase.

Claims

1. A method for providing product information over a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), comprising:

receiving multimedia content from the MCDN, including receiving product metadata coordinated in time with the multimedia content;

responsive to receiving a user notification proximate to a time when a placed product occurs in the multimedia content, determining, with an application server, coordinated product metadata for the placed product based on the time; and

using the coordinated product metadata to obtain product information for the placed product.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting product information for the placed product to a user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the product information includes information from a vendor of the placed product.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting to a user a list of placed products occurring in the multimedia content when the user notification is received; and

receiving a command from the user indicating selection of at least one of the placed products on the list.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to purchase the selected product.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

validating the identity of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said validating comprises determining the global-positioning system location of a wireless telephony device associated with the user.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said validating comprises determining the network identity of a multimedia handling device (MHD) associated with the user, wherein the MHD is used for said receiving and said outputting.

9. A system for accessing product information over a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), comprising:

a processor; and

storage accessible to the processor, including processor executable instructions to;

decode multimedia content received from the MCDN, wherein product metadata coordinated in time with the multimedia content is also received from the MCDN;

respond to receiving a user alert indicating product interest at a time when a placed product occurs in the multimedia content by determining the placed product from the coordinated product metadata; and

associate the user alert with the placed product.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising program instructions executable to:

respond to said instructions to associate by obtaining product information for the placed product.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising program instructions executable to:

output the product information to a display; and

respond to receiving a command from a user to purchase the placed product by initiating a purchase of the placed product.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising program instructions executable to:

apply a charge for the price of the placed product; and

cause the placed product to be delivered to the user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a multimedia handling device (MHD) associated with the user under a service contract is used to execute said instructions to decode multimedia content, and wherein said instructions executable to apply a charge include program instructions executable to charge a user account according to the service contract.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising program instructions executable to:

validate an identity of the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said instructions executable to validate include instructions executable to determine the global-positioning system location of a wireless telephony device associated with the user.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said instructions executable to validate include instructions executable to determine a network identity of the MHD registered to the user.

17. Computer-readable memory media, including processor executable instructions for distributing product information over a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), said instructions executable to:

send multimedia content and product metadata coordinated in time with the multimedia content to client a multimedia handling device (MHD);

respond to receiving a request from a user for product information, at a time when a placed product occurs in the multimedia content by using the coordinated product metadata to obtain product information for the placed product; and

send the product information to the client MHD.

18. The memory media of claim 17, further comprising program instructions executable to:

respond to receiving a request to purchase the placed product by causing the placed product to be ordered on behalf of the user.

19. The memory media of claim 18, further comprising program instructions executable to:

validate an identity of the user, including obtaining user information from an account for MCDN services associated with the user.

20. The memory media of claim 19, wherein a price of the placed product is charged to the account for MCDN services.

21. The memory media of claim 19, further comprising program instructions executable to:

charge the user for a price of the placed product; and

send a receipt for the placed product to the user.