Method and system for supporting interactive commercials displayed on a display device using a telephone network

• US 6,178,446 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1997
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gerszberg, Irwin, Martin, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLYNN, NATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/001,578
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 348/8, 348/12, 348/13, 348/2, 348/10, 348/6, 348/7, 455/5.1, 709/217-219, 345/327
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A subscriber to a service will have the ability to order or request additional information on products that are being advertised. The service will have the ability to know which commercial is being aired in which subscriber initiated the request. The subscriber to the service upon viewing a commercial on a display terminal can click on the advertisement to alert the advertiser that the customer is interested in the item that is being advertised. Such interest may include, receiving an information pamphlet, receiving a coupon, and ordering the product directly from the manufacturer or distributor through a requisition request.

Claims

1. A method for supporting interactive commercials displayed on a display device using a telephone network, comprising the steps of:

sending commercial information from at least one television network to a communication server located in said telephone network;

storing said commercial information in a memory means;

selecting a commercial being displayed on said display screen by pressing an actuation means to generate subscriber request by a subscriber;

transmitting said subscriber request through said telephone network to said communication server;

decoding said subscriber request;

comparing said decoded subscriber request with said stored commercial information;

storing said subscriber request and information regarding a particular commercial if a match is found;

determining what type of action is being requested by the subscriber from the decoded subscriber request;

if a subscriber has requested more information regarding the subject matter of the commercial, checking a database to determine if additional information is available, to said communication server;

sending said subscriber unit additional information for display on said display means if additional information is available to said communication server; and

sending said subscriber request to appropriate advertiser if additional information is not available to said communication server.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending a message from said communication server to said subscriber if a match is not found; and

displaying said message on said display screen.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said commercial information comprises:

an identity of said commercial;

a time at which said commercial was broadcasted; and

a channel number for which said commercial was broadcasted on.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said subscriber request comprises:

a subscriber identity;

channel number;

a time at which said subscriber request was initiated;

a message type indicating an identity of said subscriber request.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one television network frequently sends updated commercial information to said communication server.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

if a subscriber has requested to purchase the subject matter of the commercial, communication server checks a database to determine how the subscriber wants to pay, wherein said database comprises credit card or bank account information for direct debit and shipping address information;

sending a purchase order to appropriate advertiser.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

if a subscriber has requested to purchase the subject matter of the commercial, sending a payment authorization form to said subscriber unit for display on said display screen, wherein the subscriber fills in the appropriate information on-line;

sending completed payment authorization form to said communication server; and

sending purchase order to appropriate advertiser.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

if a subscriber has requested to purchase subject matter of the commercial, generating a paper payment authorization form which is mailed to said subscriber.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said actuation means is at least one button on a control means which communicates with a subscriber unit which is associated with said display screen.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said control means is a remote control device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said display screen is a video telephone.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said actuation means is a touch screen of the display screen.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending said subscriber an electronic coupon if said subscriber has requested a coupon and a coupon is available.

14. A system for supporting interactive commercials using a telephone network, comprising:

a communication server located in said telephone network for receiving commercial information from at least one television network;

memory means for storing said commercial information sent to said communication server;

display means for displaying interactive commercials;

a subscriber unit connected to said display means which has an associated control means which allows a subscriber to create a subscriber request for a commercial being displayed by pressing an actuation means on said control means, wherein said subscriber unit transmits said subscriber request to said communication server through said telephone network;

wherein said communication server decodes said subscriber request and compares the decoded subscriber request with said stored commercial information and stores the subscriber request and information regarding a particular commercial if a match is found;

wherein said communication server determines what type of action is being requested by the subscriber from the decoded subscriber request and if a subscriber has requested more information regarding the subject matter of the commercial, checking a database to determine if additional information is available, to said communication server;

means for sending said subscriber unit additional information for display on said display means if additional information is available to said communication server;

means for sending said subscriber request to appropriate advertiser if additional information is not available to said communication server.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said commercial information comprises:

an identity of said commercial;

a time at which said commercial was broadcasted; and

a channel number for which said commercial was broadcasted on.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said subscriber request comprises:

a subscriber identity;

a channel number;

a time at which said subscriber request was initiated;

a message type indicating an identity of said subscriber request.

17. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

database means with additional information regarding products or services shown in said commercials, wherein said communication server copies the additional information from said database means and sends the additional information to said subscriber unit for display on said display means.

18. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

database means which comprises credit card or bank account information for direct debit and shipping address information, wherein said communication server can access said database means if it is determined that the subscriber wants to buy the product or service shown in said commercial.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein if a subscriber has requested to purchase the product or service shown in the commercial, the communication server sends a payment authorization form to said subscriber unit for display on said display means, wherein the subscriber fills in the appropriate information on-line and sends the completed payment authorization form to the communication server which sends a purchase order to appropriate advertiser.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein if a subscriber has requested to purchase the product or service shown in the commercial, the communication server generates a paper payment authorization form which is mailed to said subscriber.

21. The system according to claim 14, wherein said display means is a television.

22. The system according to claim 14, wherein said display means is a video telephone.

23. The system according to claim 14, wherein said control means is a remote control.

24. The system according to claim 14, wherein said control means is built into said subscriber unit.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein said subscriber unit and said control means are built into said video telephone.

26. The system according to claim 23, wherein said actuation means in as least one predetermined button on said remote control.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein said actuation means is a touch screen on said video telephone.

28. The system according to claim 14, wherein said commercial information comprises:

an identity of said commercial; and

a time at which said commercial was broadcasted.

29. The system according to claim 14, wherein said subscriber request comprises:

a subscriber identity;

a time at which said subscriber request was initiated; and

a message type indicating an identity of said subscriber request.