Method, system, and apparatus for providing action selections to an image referencing a product in a video production

• US 6,615,408 B1
• Filed: 01/15/1999
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Grischa Corporation, Inc.
• Inventors: Lash, Todd, Kaiser, David H., Weber, Jay C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoye, Michael W
• Application Number:
  US09/231,283
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 725/112, 725/113, 725/60, 725/34, 725/32
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Disclosed are a method, apparatus and system for providing action selections to an image referencing a product in a video production. According to the disclosure a method for providing action selections to an image referencing a product in a video production, said method includes (1) communicating a video production to a reproducing apparatus, said video production comprising a placement zone and a trigger zone at least partially coincident with said placement zone, wherein said trigger zone comprises a trigger resource identifier, and wherein said placement zone comprises an image referencing a product; (2) communicating to said reproducing apparatus an indication that an action selection interface associated with said product is available in response to a request corresponding to said trigger; and (3) communicating to said reproducing apparatus a characterization of said action selection interface, wherein said action selection interface comprises a selectable action. An apparatus according to the invention may include a server programmed to interact and provide action resources to. A system according to the disclosure may include the facility communicating the video production to the reproducing apparatus which sends a request to the server which provides action resources.

Claims

1. A method for providing action selections to an image referencing a product in a video production, said method comprising:

communicating a video production to a reproducing apparatus, said video production comprising a placement zone and a trigger zone at least partially coincident with said placement zone, wherein said trigger zone comprises a trigger resource identifier, and wherein said placement zone comprises an image referencing a product;

communicating to said reproducing apparatus an indication that an action selection interface associated with said product is available in response to a request corresponding to a trigger in said trigger zone, the visual indication is communicated to said reproducing apparatus only if said reproducing apparatus supports a type of selectable action in said action selection interface;

communicating to said reproducing apparatus a characterization of said action selection interface, wherein said characterization of said action selection interface comprises at least one selectable action associated with the product and wherein the characterization of said action selection interface is integrated with the video production prior to being communicated to the reproducing apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication of the selection of said selectable action;

retrieving an action resource associated with said selectable action; and

communicating said action resource to said reproducing apparatus.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said video production is communicated over a television network.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said video production is distributed in a tangible medium.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said video production is transferred over a computer network.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said indication of said action selection interface comprises a visual highlight.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said reproducing apparatus is coupled to a viewing device.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said selectable action comprises a product purchase action.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said selectable action comprises a promotion participation action.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said selectable action comprises an information request action.

11. The method according to claim 2 wherein said action resource is selected responsive to a profile of a user associated with said reproducing apparatus.

12. A method for creating a video production including a placement zone and a trigger zone and comprising an image referencing a product and having a selectable action available for communication to a reproducing apparatus, said method comprising:

selecting a placement zone in a video production, said placement zone comprising an image referencing a product;

selecting a trigger zone in said video production corresponding to said placement zone;

embedding a reference in said trigger zone in said video production to an action selection interface, wherein when reproduced on compatible equipment and communicated to a display, at least one selectable action in said action selection interface is selectable by a viewer, wherein the action selection interface is communicated to the display only if said reproducing apparatus supports a type of at least one selectable action in said action selection interface and wherein the action selection interface is integrated with the video production prior to being communicated to the reproducing apparatus.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said video production comprises a first track comprising said trigger zone and a second track comprising said placement zone, wherein said first and second tracks are synchronized.

14. Apparatus comprising a processor, a storage, and an input-output system, said apparatus configured for communication with a reproducing apparatus via a data network, programmed instructions configuring said apparatus to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request from a reproducing apparatus, said request corresponding to a trigger from a trigger zone in a video production communicated to said reproducing apparatus;

determining whether an action selection interface associated with said request is available; and

communicating a characterization of said action selection interface to said reproducing apparatus if the reproducing apparatus supports a type of a selectable action of the action selection interface, wherein the characterization of the action selection interface is integrated with the video production.

15. A system for providing action selections to an image referencing a product in a video production and operable for use with a reproducing apparatus configured for communication with a display, a data network, and a selection device, comprising:

a video production communication device, said communication device communicating a video production comprising a placement zone and a trigger zone to said reproducing apparatus; and

an action resource provider configured for communication with said reproducing apparatus via said data network, said action resource provider receiving a request from said reproducing apparatus corresponding to a trigger in said trigger zone of said video production, said action resource communicating a characterization of an action selection interface to said reproducing apparatus responsive to said request, said action selection interface comprising a selectable action, wherein the characterization of the action selection interface is communicated to the reproducing apparatus only if said reproducing apparatus supports a type of the selectable action in said action selection interface and wherein the characterization of said action selection interface is integrated with the video production and communicated to the reproducing apparatus.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein said action resource provider further:

receives a request from said reproducing apparatus corresponding to said selectable action;

retrieves an action resource associated with said selectable action; and

communicates an action resource associated with said selectable action to said reproducing apparatus.