Apparatus and method for generating product coupons in response to televised offers
First Claim
1. A system for transmitting token information embedded in a video signal from a first location to a second location remote from said first location, the system comprising:
- a data storage medium at said first location, said token information stored in said data storage medium;
a detector at said first location for monitoring a video signal to detect a token identifier embedded in said video signal;
a controller at said first location for retrieving token information from said data storage medium in response to detection of said embedded token identifier, said token information corresponding to said embedded token identifier, said controller embedding said token information in said video signal;
a receiver at said second location for receiving a video signal having embedded token information transmitted from said first location;
an output device at said second location; and
a controller at said second location for reading embedded token information from said video signal and outputting a token having said token information via said output device in response to detection of said embedded token information.
16 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Coupon information is stored in a memory at a cable television station. The cable television station may simultaneously transmit multiple video signals, each representing different sources of television programming, over multiple television channels on the cable network. The video signal may at times, such as during a product advertisement or other offer, include an embedded coupon identifier. A coupon subsystem at the cable television station monitors each video signal and retrieves coupon information from a database when it detects a corresponding embedded coupon identifier and embeds the coupon information into the video signal before transmitting it. Coupon information may be embedded using teletext standards. A subscriber unit at the television viewer'"'"'s site receives the television signal and includes a teletext decoder that extracts the coupon information. The television programming aurally or visually alerts the viewer that a coupon may be generated. If the viewer actuates an input device, such as a button on a television remote control, a printer generates a coupon bearing the coupon information. The coupon may have an anti-counterfeiting stripe. The subscriber unit may keep track of the coupons printed and prevent the user from printing those coupons again.
315 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for transmitting token information embedded in a video signal from a first location to a second location remote from said first location, the system comprising:
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a data storage medium at said first location, said token information stored in said data storage medium; a detector at said first location for monitoring a video signal to detect a token identifier embedded in said video signal; a controller at said first location for retrieving token information from said data storage medium in response to detection of said embedded token identifier, said token information corresponding to said embedded token identifier, said controller embedding said token information in said video signal; a receiver at said second location for receiving a video signal having embedded token information transmitted from said first location; an output device at said second location; and a controller at said second location for reading embedded token information from said video signal and outputting a token having said token information via said output device in response to detection of said embedded token information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for transmitting token information embedded in a video signal from a first location to a second location remote from said first location, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a data storage medium at said first location, said token information stored in said data storage medium; detecting a token identifier embedded in said video signal at said first location; retrieving token information at said first location from said data storage medium in response to detection of said embedded token identifier, said token information corresponding to said embedded token identifier; embedding said token information in said video signal at said first location; receiving a video signal at said second location having embedded token information transmitted from said first location; and reading embedded token information from said video signal and outputting a token having said token information at said second location in response to detection of said embedded token information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification