Method and system for allowing viewers to purchase program products

• US 6,131,086 A
• Filed: 04/02/1997
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Sparico, Thomas M., Jindal, Sanjay K., Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, JOHN W
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYES, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US08/831,968
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/327, 345/327
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• 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 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

To allow viewers to easily purchase products shown in entertainment programs, the viewers call an operator terminal. The operator terminal is networked to a central controller, which is also networked to remote terminals. Remote terminal operators enter data about props used in programs, copies of which are to be offered for sale. These remote terminals transmit this data to the central controller for storage in a database. Operators at the operator terminals can access the data stored at the central controller to respond calls from viewers seeking to purchase products.

Claims

1. A system for allowing a viewer to purchase products shown in an entertainment program comprising:

means for storing in a database descriptive program information identifying a particular entertainment program in which a product was shown, and product information relating to a product shown in the particular entertainment program;

means for receiving a telephone call from the viewer, the telephone call comprising a request about the product shown in the entertainment program, the request containing a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;

means for identifying the product information in the database using the subset of the product information and the subset of descriptive program information; and

means for communicating to the viewer the identified information about the product.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for placing an order with a vendor for the product.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the identifying means includes:

a central processing unit.

4. The system of claim 1, and further including:

means for identifying the particular entertainment program in the database using the subset of the descriptive program information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the descriptive program information includes:

information about characters and a plot of the entertainment program.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the descriptive program information further includes:

information identifying a portion of the entertainment program in which the product is shown.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the descriptive program information further includes:

a count value that corresponds to the time the product was shown in the entertainment program.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for receiving a telephone call includes:

means for automatically receiving first information communicated during said telephone call; and

means for transferring said telephone call to a live operator after the receipt of said first information.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the request at a time different from the viewing of the entertainment program by the viewer.

8. A method for allowing a viewer to purchase products shown in an entertainment program comprising the steps of:

storing descriptive program information identifying a particular entertainment program;

storing product information relating to a product shown in the particular entertainment program;

receiving from the viewer a request about the product shown in the particular entertainment program, the request containing a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;

providing to a database the subset of product information through an operator terminal;

identifying the particular entertainment program using the subset of the descriptive program information;

identifying the stored product information using the subset of the product information; and

communicating to the viewer the identified information about the product.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

placing an order with a vendor for the product.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of identifying the particular entertainment program includes the step of:

performing a search using a database search engine.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of communicating further comprises the step of:

interactively providing to the viewer information about the product.

12. The method according to claim 8, and further including the step of:

receiving the descriptive product information from a viewer at a remote location.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the descriptive program information includes:

information describing characters and a plot of the entertainment program.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the descriptive program information further includes:

information identifying a portion of the entertainment program in which the product is shown.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the descriptive program information further includes:

a count value that corresponds to the time the product was shown in the entertainment program.

39. The system of claim 8, wherein the receiving step includes receiving a telephone call.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the step of receiving a telephone call includes:

automatically receiving first information communicated during said telephone call; and

transferring said telephone call to a live operator after the receipt of said first information.

16. An operator terminal for accessing information about a product corresponding to a prop used in an entertainment program, and for use with a central facility having a database and an interface unit to receive calls, the operator terminal comprising:

means for receiving a descriptive identification of an entertainment program;

means for receiving a request about a product shown in the entertainment program, comprising a telephone connection between the viewer and an operator at the operator terminal;

means for transmitting a query to the database relating to the request, the query based on the descriptive identification and the request about the product; and

means for receiving from the database product information about the product identified in the request.

17. The operator terminal according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for conveying the received product information to the viewer.

50. The operator terminal according to claim 16, further comprising:

an interactive voice response unit including a voice prompt system.

18. An operator terminal for accessing information about a product corresponding to a prop used in an entertainment program, and for use with a central facility having a database and an interface unit to receive calls, the operator terminal comprising:

an interactive voice response unit including a voice prompt system

means for receiving a descriptive identification of an entertainment program;

means for receiving a request about a product shown in the entertainment program;

means for transmitting a query to the database relating to the request, the query based on the descriptive identification and the request about the product; and

means for receiving from the database product information about the product identified in the request.

51. The operator terminal according to claim 18, wherein the means for receiving the request includes:

a telephone connection between the viewer and an operator at the operator terminal.

52. The operator terminal according to claim 18, further comprising:

means for conveying the received product information to the viewer.

19. A method for accessing, through an operator terminal located in a central facility, information about a product shown in an entertainment program, comprising the steps of:

receiving a descriptive identification of an entertainment program;

receiving from an entertainment program viewer a request about a product shown in the entertainment program through a telephone connection between the viewer and an operator at the operator terminal;

transmitting a query relating to the request, the query based on the descriptive identification and the request about the product; and

receiving product information about the product identified in the request.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of:

conveying the received product information to the viewer.

53. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

providing information about products shown in the entertainment program;

asking the viewer a series of questions to identify the particular entertainment program; and

transmitting requests received from viewers to an operator at the operator terminal.

21. A method for accessing, through an operator terminal located in a central facility, information about a product shown in an entertainment program, comprising the steps of:

receiving a descriptive identification of an entertainment program;

receiving from an entertainment program viewer a request about a product shown in the entertainment program;

transmitting a query relating to the request, the query based on the descriptive identification and the request about the product; and

receiving product information about the product identified in the request;

providing information about products shown in the entertainment program;

asking the viewer a series of questions to identify the particular entertainment program; and

transmitting requests received from viewers to an operator at the operator terminal.

44. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of:

conveying the received product information to the viewer.

54. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of receiving a request includes the step of:

receiving a request through a telephone connection between the viewer and an operator at the operator terminal.

22. A system for allowing entertainment program viewers to purchase products shown in an entertainment program comprising:

a remote terminal for entering descriptive program data and product data about a product used in the entertainment program;

a central controller, coupled to the remote terminal, for receiving and storing the entered descriptive program data and product data from the remote terminal; and

an operator terminal, coupled to the central controller, for using a subset of the descriptive program data to access from the central controller information about the product used in the entertainment program.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the remote terminal includes:

means for entering the descriptive program information and the product information, wherein the product information includes information identifying how the product was used in the program;

a local database storing the entered descriptive program information and product information; and

means for transmitting to the central controller the descriptive progam information and the product information stored in the local database.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the central controller includes:

means for receiving from the operator terminal a request about the product shown in the entertainment program, the request containing a subset of the descriptive program information and the product information;

means for identifying the product information in the database using the subset of the descriptive program information and the product information; and

means for sending to the operator terminal the identified information about the product.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the operator termianl includes:

an interface unit to receive calls;

means for receiving from the interface unit a request about a product shown in the entertainment program;

means for remotely transmitting a query to the central controller relating to the request; and

means for receiving from the central controller product information about the product identified in the request.

27. A system for allowing a viewer to purchase products shown in an entertainment program comprising:

means for storing in a database descriptive program information identifying a particular entertainment program in which a product was shown, and product information relating to a product shown in the particular entertainment program;

means for receiving from the viewer a request about the product shown in the entertainment program at a time different from the viewing of the entertainment program by the viewer, the request containing a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;

means for identifying the product information in the database using the subset of the product information and the subset of descriptive program information; and

means for communicating to the viewer the identified information about the product.

31. The system according to claim 27, further comprising:

means for placing an order with a vendor for the product.

32. The system according to claim 27, wherein the identifying means includes:

a central processing unit.

33. The system of claim 27, and further including:

means for identifying the particular entertainment program in the database using the subset of the descriptive program information.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the descriptive program information includes:

information about characters and a plot of the entertainment program.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the descriptive program information further includes:

information identifying a portion of the entertainment program in which the product is shown.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the descriptive program information further includes:

a count value that corresponds to the time the product was shown in the entertainment program.

37. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for receiving a telephone call includes:

means for automatically receiving first information communicated during said telephone call; and

means for transferring said telephone call to a live operator after the receipt of said first information.

38. The system of claim 27 wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the request at a time different from the viewing of the entertainment program by the viewer.

28. A method for allowing a viewer to purchase products shown in an entertainment program comprising the steps of:

storing descriptive program information identifying a particular entertainment program;

storing product information relating to a product shown in the particular entertainment program;

receiving from the viewer a telephone call including a request about the product shown in the particular entertainment program, the request containing a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;

identifying the particular entertainment program using the subset of the descriptive program information;

identifying the stored product information using the subset of the product information; and

communicating to the viewer the identified information about the product.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the step of receiving a telephone call includes:

automatically receiving first information communicated during said telephone call; and

transferring said telephone call to a live operator after the receipt of said first information.

41. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of:

placing an order with a vendor for the product.

42. The method according to claim 28, wherein the step of identifying the particular entertainment program includes the step of:

performing a search using a database search engine.

43. The method according to claim 28, and further including the step of:

providing to a database the subset of product information through an operator terminal.

45. The method according to claim 28, wherein the step of communicating further comprises the step of:

interactively providing to the viewer information about the product.

46. The method according to claim 28, and further including the step of:

receiving the descriptive product information from a viewer at a remote location.

47. The method of claim 28, wherein the descriptive program information includes:

information describing characters and a plot of the entertainment program.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the descriptive program information further includes:

information identifying a portion of the entertainment program in which the product is shown.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the descriptive program information further includes:

a count value that corresponds to the time the product was shown in the entertainment program.