System and method for encouraging viewers to watch television programs
First Claim
1. In a broadcasting network that includes a broadcast signal source configured to broadcast television programming to one or more television receivers that are configured to display the television programming to one or more viewers, a method for offering reward incentives for the one or more viewers to watch the television programming, the method comprising:
- broadcasting a television program to one or more television viewers via one or more television receivers;
using a reward notice to alert the one or more viewers of a possibility of receiving a reward for viewing at least a portion of the program, the reward notice being associated with reward notice triggers having time stamps that are repeatedly transmitted with the broadcast of the program and that can be used to determine a time in which the one or more viewers tune into the program and select the reward notice;
soliciting an email response from the one or more the viewers;
identifying a group of the one or more viewers who viewed the program and that will be rewarded for viewing the program, wherein a determination that the one or more viewers in the identified group viewed the program is at least partially based upon whether the one or more viewers submitted the solicited email response; and
providing a reward to each viewer in the identified group of viewers.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described are methods and apparatus for encouraging viewers to pay attention to television programs, commercials in particular, by offering viewers some incentive to watch. In one embodiment, viewers are notified that they can receive frequent-flier miles for answering one or more simple questions at the conclusion of the commercial. To verify that the viewer paid attention to the commercial, the answer to the question may be based on the content of the commercial. A sponsor might ask, for example, that the viewer identify the name of the sponsor or the color of an announcer'"'"'s shirt. A correct answer indicates that the viewer watched the commercial, and that the viewer is therefore entitled to some reward. For example, viewers who watch the commercial may be entered in a prize drawing, or may receive prize points, such as frequent-flier miles. In other embodiments, viewers may verify that they watched a given program by selecting an icon or pressing a button on a remote control.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. In a broadcasting network that includes a broadcast signal source configured to broadcast television programming to one or more television receivers that are configured to display the television programming to one or more viewers, a method for offering reward incentives for the one or more viewers to watch the television programming, the method comprising:
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broadcasting a television program to one or more television viewers via one or more television receivers;
using a reward notice to alert the one or more viewers of a possibility of receiving a reward for viewing at least a portion of the program, the reward notice being associated with reward notice triggers having time stamps that are repeatedly transmitted with the broadcast of the program and that can be used to determine a time in which the one or more viewers tune into the program and select the reward notice;
soliciting an email response from the one or more the viewers;
identifying a group of the one or more viewers who viewed the program and that will be rewarded for viewing the program, wherein a determination that the one or more viewers in the identified group viewed the program is at least partially based upon whether the one or more viewers submitted the solicited email response; and
providing a reward to each viewer in the identified group of viewers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a broadcasting network that includes a broadcast signal source configured to broadcast television programming and one or more television receivers that are configured to display the television programming to one or more viewers, a method for offering reward incentives for the one or more viewers to watch the television programming, the method comprising:
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broadcasting a program;
repeatedly broadcasting, with the program, reward notice triggers corresponding to a reward notice that is displayed with the program and that identifies the program as content for which a viewer will be rewarded for monitoring the content, wherein each reward notice trigger includes a time stamp that can be used to determine a time in which the reward notice is selected by the viewer;
upon the viewer selecting the reward notice, determining the time in which the viewer selected the reward notice based upon the time stamp of the reward notice trigger that was being broadcast during the selection of the reward notice; and
determining that the viewer monitored the program based upon the time in which the viewer selected the reward notice. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product for use in a broadcasting network that includes a broadcast signal source configured to broadcast television programming to one or more television receivers that are configured to display the television programming to one or more viewers, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for offering reward incentives for the one or more viewers to watch the television programming, the method comprising:
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broadcasting a television program to one or more television viewers via one or more television receivers;
using a reward notice to alert the one or more viewers of a possibility of receiving a reward for viewing at least a portion of the program, the reward notice being associated with reward notice triggers having time stamps that are repeatedly transmitted with the broadcast of the program and that can be used to determine a time in which the one or more viewers tune into the program and select the reward notice;
soliciting an email response from the one or more the viewers;
identifying a group of the one or more viewers who viewed the program and that will be rewarded for viewing the program, wherein a determination that the one or more viewers in the identified group viewed the program is at least partially based upon whether the one or more viewers submitted the solicited email response; and
providing a reward to each viewer in the identified group of viewers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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24. A computer program product for use in a broadcasting network that includes a broadcast signal source configured to broadcast television programming and one or more television receivers that are configured to display the television programming to one or more viewers, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for offering reward incentives for the one or more viewers to watch the television programming, the method comprising:
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broadcasting a program;
repeatedly broadcasting, with the program, reward notice triggers corresponding to a reward notice that is displayed with the program and that identifies the program as content for which a viewer will be rewarded for monitoring the content, wherein each reward notice trigger includes a time stamp that can be used to determine a time in which the reward notice is selected by the viewer;
upon the viewer selecting the reward notice, determining the time in which the viewer selected the reward notice based upon the time stamp of the reward notice trigger that was being broadcast during the selection of the reward notice; and
determining that the viewer monitored the program based upon the time in which the viewer selected the reward notice. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification