Structure and method for displaying commercials and sending purchase orders by computer

• US 5,957,695 A
• Filed: 02/15/1996
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zillion Tv
• Original Assignee: TV Interactive Corporation
• Inventors: Redford, Peter M., Stern, Donald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US08/601,936
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/16 P, 434/307 R, 434/308, 434/317, 434/365, 348/6, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/734, 455/3.1, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/4.2, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.37, 340/825.55, 340/825.6 P, 340/825.72, 340/825.76, 340/825.33, 379/93.24, 379/93.13, 379/93.12, 379/93.19, 379/100.08, 380/24, 380/30
• US Class Current: 434/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0677 Optical disk device, e.g. CD-ROM, DVD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2166 for mass storage, e.g. in document filing systems information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In accordance with this invention, a remote control for an interactive media can include a printed publication and/or a storage media and/or a data button. One embodiment of a remote control includes a printed publication (such as a book, magazine or a catalog) and one or more buttons physically attached to the printed publication to allow users to remotely control use of associated electronic content by a host device. Another embodiment of a remote control has a housing capable of removably holding a storage media encoded with electronic content associated with a button of the remote control. Yet another embodiment of a remote control has at least one data button which permits the user to select the data to be displayed by the host device. An autostart driver in the host device detects insertion of a storage media into a peripheral and automatically starts an application. The application interprets button codes transmitted by the remote control and displays the results or initiates other events. An application development system allows an author to quickly create interactive media applications.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer to display a commercial selection and to send a purchase order, said computer having at least a processor, a monitor and a signal receiver, said method comprising:

displaying one or more articles on said monitor;

displaying on said monitor said commercial selection automatically inserted by said computer during said display of said one or more articles;

using said signal receiver, to sense a wireless signal encoded with a button code from a remote control during said displaying of commercial selection; and

sending a purchase order to an advertiser of said commercial selection after receipt of said button code.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of choosing said commercial selection at random from a plurality of commercial selections prior to said displaying step.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said commercial selection includes a video recording and said step of displaying comprises showing said video recording on said monitor.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising filling in a credit card number in said purchase order.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a message on said monitor requesting entry of a password.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a form on said monitor.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sending comprises using a modem.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sending comprises faxing.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying on said monitor detailed information advertised in said commercial selection in response to a wireless signal encoded with another button code, wherein said detailed information is about a product or service.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said detailed information includes price.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said detailed information includes information on a shop.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying on said monitor a message requesting entry of at least one attribute advertised in said commercial, wherein said at least one attribute is of a product or service.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying on said monitor an index of advertisers.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer includes a battery for protecting against loss of information stored in memory, and the method further comprises using a credit card number from the memory.

15. The method of claim 1 comprising repeatedly displaying different commercials on said monitor.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said processor executes an application during said of displaying.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a telephone to communicate with said advertiser.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying on said monitor of said commercial selection includes detecting a commercial tag.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending a purchase order further includes transmitting a signal through the Internet.

20. A computer readable storage media encoded with software and configured to cause a computer that executes said software to perform the following:

display one or more articles;

automatically insert a display of a commercial selection during said display of said one or more articles;

prepare a purchase order in response to receipt of a wireless signal encoded with a button code from a remote control; and

send said prepared purchase order to an advertiser of said commercial.

21. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 being encoded with a plurality of commercial selections, wherein said software when executed causes said computer to choose said commercial selection at random from said plurality of commercial selections.

22. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 wherein said commercial selection includes a video recording and said software when executed causes said computer to show said video recording on said monitor.

23. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 wherein said software when executed causes said computer to fill in a credit card number in said purchase order.

24. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 wherein said software when executed causes said computer to display a message requesting entry of a password.

25. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 wherein said software when executed causes said computer to display a form on said monitor.

26. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 wherein said software when executed causes said computer to send said prepared purchase order by facsimile.

27. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 wherein said software when executed causes said computer to send said prepared purchase order via modem.

28. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 wherein said software when executed causes said computer to display detailed information advertised in said commercial, wherein said detailed information is about a product or service.

29. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 being further encoded with a price advertised in said commercial, wherein said software when executed causes said computer to display said price and wherein said price is of a product or service.

30. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 being further encoded with a shop advertised in said commercial, wherein said software when executed causes said computer to display said shop and wherein said shop is for a product or service.

31. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 wherein said display of commercial selection further includes detection of a commercial tag.

32. The computer readable storage media of claim 20 wherein said prepared purchase order is transmitted through the Internet.

33. A computer system comprising:

a signal receiver capable of receiving a signal from a remote control;

means for displaying one or more articles, said means for displaying being operatively coupled to said signal receiver;

means for automatically inserting a display of a commercial selection during a display of said one or more articles, said means for automatically inserting being operatively coupled to said means for displaying;

means for preparing a purchase order in response to receipt of said signal, said means for preparing being operatively coupled to said signal receiver and to said means for displaying; and

means for sending a prepared purchase order to an advertiser indicated by said commercial selection, said means for sending being operatively coupled to said means for preparing.

34. The computer system of claim 33 further comprising means for choosing said commercial selection at random from a plurality of commercial selections.

35. The computer system of claim 33 wherein said means for preparing comprises means for automatically filling in a credit card number in said purchase order.

36. The computer system of claim 35 further comprising a memory card coupled to a battery for protecting against loss of memory, said memory card being coupled to said means for preparing, and wherein said means for preparing further comprises means for retrieving a credit card number from said memory card, and further wherein said means for preparing automatically fills in the credit card number retrieved by said means for retrieving.

37. The computer system of claim 33 wherein said means for preparing comprises means for displaying a message requesting entry of a password.

38. The computer system of claim 33 further comprising means for displaying detailed information about a product or service advertised in said commercial selection in response to receipt of an another signal by said signal receiver, said means for displaying detailed information being operatively coupled to said signal receiver and said means for displaying a commercial selection.

39. The computer system of claim 33 further comprising means for displaying a message requesting entry of attributes of a product or service advertised in said commercial selection in response to receipt of an another signal, said means for displaying a message being operatively coupled to said signal receiver and to said means for displaying a commercial selection.

40. The computer system of claim 33 wherein said means for sending comprises a modem.

41. The computer system of claim 33 wherein said means for sending comprises a fax card.

42. The computer system of claim 33 wherein said means for displaying a commercial selection further includes means for detecting a commercial tag.

43. The computer system of claim 33 wherein said means for sending a prepared purchase order further includes means for transmitting orders through the Internet.

44. A method of operating a computer to display a commercial selection and to send a purchase order, said computer having at least a processor and a monitor, said method comprising:

displaying information on said monitor;

automatically detecting, during said displaying, a tag in said information, said tag indicating a commercial to be displayed;

automatically inserting said commercial to be displayed on said monitor during displaying of said information; and

sending a purchase order to an advertiser indicated in a commercial selection selected by a user.

45. The method of claim 44 further includes selecting a commercial at random from a plurality of commercial selections.

46. A computer readable storage media encoded with software and configured to cause a computer that executes said software to perform the following:

display one or more articles;

automatically detect, during said display, a tag indicating a commercial to be displayed;

automatically insert said commercial to be displayed during display of said one or more articles; and

send a purchase order to an advertiser indicated in a commercial selection selected by a user.

47. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46 wherein the computer is programmed to perform the following during automatic detection:

select a commercial at random from a plurality of commercial selections.

48. A computer system comprising:

logic for displaying one or more articles;

logic for automatically detecting a tag indicating a commercial to be displayed;

logic for automatically inserting said commercial to be displayed during displaying of said one or more articles; and

logic for sending a purchase order to an advertiser indicated in a commercial selection selected by a user.

49. The computer system of claim 48 wherein said logic for automatically detecting further includes logic for selecting a commercial at random from a plurality of commercial selections.