System and method for synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications

• US 20120210339A1
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Cheng, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 9,325,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for the synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications, providing interactive content synchronized with on-air television programming. There is provided a system comprising a client device with a display device and an input device and running a synchronization application. The client device receives digital data transmitted from a server, and transmits user feedback information generated from user interactions with the digital data back to the server. The digital data are interactive advertisements, such as online social games, that increase users'"'"' awareness of the advertised products or messages. The digital data are delivered to the user'"'"'s client device in synchronization with the broadcasting of on-air television commercials.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing interactive application content with broadcasting program information, the method comprising:

receiving a digital data from a server into a client device in synchronization with broadcasting of an on-air commercial programming through a television transmitted from a television broadcasting station;

providing an interactive environment on a display device using the digital data; and

transmitting a user feedback information generated from a user action within the interactive environment to the server.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising terminating the client device reception of the digital data in synchronization with termination of the on-air commercial programming through the television transmitted from the television broadcasting station.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to the client device receiving the digital data receiving a detection alert generated from a signal detector, and wherein the receiving of the digital data is in response to receiving the detection alert generated from the signal detector.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to the client device receiving the digital data receiving a detection alert generated from a signal detector, and wherein the receiving of the digital data is in response to receiving the detection alert generated from the signal detector, and wherein the signal detector generates the detection alert in response to detection of an emitted signal comprising audio, visual or digital frequencies from the television.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data is an offer to win coupons or other prizes by accessing a social networking website, a broadcaster website or an advertiser website to claim coupons or other prizes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data comprises a social miniature game allowing multiple users to compete for coupons or prizes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data comprises an application allowing a user to send product coupons or prizes to other users.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data comprises an application allowing a user of the client device to communicate with other users in order to persuade them to buy a product.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data comprises an interactive advertisement prompting a user with questions to answer before allowing the user to claim coupons or prizes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data comprises a single-player miniature game that allows a user to win coupons if the user wins the miniature game.

11. A system for synchronizing interactive application content with broadcasting program information, the system comprising:

a server;

a television;

a display screen; and

a client device configured to;

receive a digital data from a server into a client device in synchronization with broadcasting of an on-air commercial programming through a television transmitted from a television broadcasting station;

provide an interactive environment on a display device using the digital data; and

transmit an user feedback information generated from a user action within the interactive environment to the server.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the client device is further configured to terminate the client device reception of the digital data in synchronization with termination of the on-air commercial programming through the television transmitted from the television broadcasting station.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein prior to the client device receiving the digital data receiving a detection alert generated from a signal detector, and wherein the receiving of the digital data is in response to receiving the detection alert generated from the signal detector.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein prior to the client device receiving the digital data receiving a detection alert generated from a signal detector, and wherein the receiving of the digital data is in response to receiving the detection alert generated from the signal detector, and wherein the signal detector generates the detection alert in response to detection of an emitted signal comprising audio, visual or digital frequencies from the television.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital data is an offer to win coupons or other prizes by accessing a social networking website, a broadcaster website or an advertiser website to claim coupons or other prizes.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital data comprises a social miniature game allowing multiple users to compete for coupons or prizes.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital data comprises an application allowing a user to send product coupons or prizes to other users.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital data comprises an application allowing a user of the client device to communicate with other users in order to persuade them to buy a product.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital data comprises an interactive advertisement prompting a user with questions to answer before allowing the user to claim coupons or prizes.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital data comprises a single-player miniature game that allows a user to win coupons if the user wins the miniature game.