Television tuning device screen saver advertising

• US 6,973,664 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fries, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ustaris, Joseph G.
• Application Number:
  US09/681,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20020104082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725/34, 725/35, 725/42, 725/131, 725/139, 725/151, 345/867
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection

Abstract

Television tuning device screen saver advertising is disclosed. The television tuning device that is connectable to the Internet. While the user has his or her device connected to the Internet, advertising information may be cached. When the device enters a screen saver mode, the previously cached information is displayed. The advertising information can be targeted to the user based on demographic and other information, and can be interactive. The advertising information may also cause the device to tune to a particular channel related to the advertising information, such that both are displayed. The advertising information is unrelated to any sponsor of the television tuning device.

Claims

1. A method performed by a television tuning device able to at least translate an incoming signal into a picture on a display, the television tuning device also being connected to the Internet, the method comprising:

displaying information at the television device comprising at least one of television programming and Internet content;

entering a screen saver mode upon detecting a first predetermined condition comprising user inactivity with one or more input devices operatively coupled to the television tuning device;

in response to entering the screen saver mode, tuning to a particular television channel and displaying television programming from the particular television channel; and

while in the screen saver mode, replacing the displayed information with advertising information, the advertising information being displayed with an exit segment that can be selected to exit the screen saver mode, wherein the television tuning device exits the screen saver mode in response to the exit segment being selected rather than exiting the screen saver mode in response to other user activity detected at the one or more input devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second predetermined condition comprising exiting of the screen saver mode; and

,

replacing the advertising information with the displayed information on the display in response to the second predetermined condition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertising information comprises an offering for sale of at least one of a good and a service, such that the user is able to immediately purchase the at least one of the good and the service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing displayed information on the display with the advertising information comprises retrieving the advertising information as previously cached.

5. The method of claim 4, further initially comprising caching the advertising information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the advertising information is cached as downloaded from the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying second advertising information on the display.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertising information has been provided by an advertiser, and is written in a predetermined markup language.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined markup language comprises HyperText Markup Language (HTML).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed information on the display comprises a tuned-to television channel, and replacing the displayed information on the display with the advertising information comprises tuning to a different television channel related to the advertising information being displayed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the displayed information on the display with the advertising information comprises selecting the advertising information based on information particular to a user.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the television programming is displayed simultaneously with advertising.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the advertising corresponds to the television programming that it is being displayed with.

14. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing the method recited in claim 13.

15. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing the method recited in claim 1.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the advertising information has been provided by an advertiser, and is written in a predetermined markup language.

17. The computer program product medium of claim 16, wherein the predetermined markup language comprises HyperText Markup Language (HTML).

18. The computer program product of claim 15, the method further initially comprising selecting the advertising information based on information particular to a user.