System and method for using a unique identifier to integrate an offline experience with an online experience

• US 7,376,592 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Music Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Music Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Waldman, Julian David
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi; Hani M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KESACK, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/205,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,125 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 715/517, 715/530, 705/1, 705/5, 705/13, 705/15, 705/26, 705/27, 705/37, 705/35, 705/25, 705/14, 705/44, 705/41, 705/500, 455/405, 455/406
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method of using a unique identifier to integrate an offline experience of a user with an online experience of the user. The method includes receiving a unique identifier during a transaction related to the online experience. The method further includes using the unique identifier to obtain at least one of an offline experience identifier and a user identifier, the offline experience identifier being usable to access at least one offline experience data item which is relevant to the offline experience, the user identifier being usable to access at least one user data item which is relevant to the user. The method further includes tailoring the online experience based on at least one offline experience data item and at least one user data item.

Claims

1. A method of using a unique identifier to integrate an offline experience of a user with an online experience of the user, comprising:

generating a unique identifier based on both an offline experience identifier and a user identifier, the offline experience identifier being operable to access at least one offline experience data item which is relevant to the offline experience, the user identifier being operable to access at least one user data item which is relevant to the user;

receiving the unique identifier during a transaction related to the online experience;

using the unique identifier to obtain at least one of the offline experience identifier and the user identifier; and

tailoring the online experience based on at least one offline experience data item and at least one user data item,

wherein the unique identifier is a numerical result of a mathematical algorithm applied to the offline experience identifier and the user identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier comprises at least one of a character string and a bar code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction comprises at least one of:

scanning at least a portion of a physical object, the portion being imprinted with the unique identifier;

soliciting and accepting manual input of the unique identifier; and

accessing the unique identifier from a storage medium.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user data item is selected from the group consisting payment information, contact information, demographic information, and preference information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the demographic data is selected from the group consisting of marital status, income level, occupation, number of children, number of relatives, a biological feature and a biological measurement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a tailored portion of the online experience is exclusive to the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tailoring of the online experience comprises at least one of:

providing a link to a site offering content relevant to at least one of the offline experience and the user;

facilitating the purchase of an item relevant to at least one of the offline experience and the user;

providing a discount to the user;

presenting an advertisement to the user;

presenting an opportunity to the user; and

digitally transmitting a media selection to the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the media selection has been identified by the time at which the user experienced the media selection, the venue through which the user experienced the media selection, and information regarding a presentation order of at least one media selection presented through the venue.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user has identified the time and the venue.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the offline experience is a media selection experienced by the user and the offline experience data item comprises at least one of a title of the media selection, a person associated with the media selection, a time at which the media selection was experienced by the user, and a venue through which the media selection was experienced by the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the media selection is an audio selection that is heard by the user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the media selection is a video selection that is at least one of heard and seen by the user.

13. The method claim 1, wherein the offline experience is an event experienced by the user and the offline experience data item comprises at least one of a name of the event, a person associated with the event, a type of the event, a time of the event, and a place of the event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the event is at least one of a concert, a show, a presentation, a lecture, and a speech that is attended by the user.

15. A storage medium containing a software program capable of causing a system to execute actions in using a unique identifier to integrate an offline experience of a user with an online experience of the user, the actions comprising:

generating a unique identifier based on an offline experience identifier and a user identifier, the offline experience identifier being usable to access at least one offline experience data item which is relevant to the offline experience, the user identifier being usable to access at least one user data item which is relevant to the user;

receiving a unique identifier during a transaction related to the online experience;

using the unique identifier to obtain at least one of the offline experience identifier and the user identifier, the offline experience identifier being usable to access at least one offline experience data item which is relevant to the offline experience, the user identifier being usable to access at least one user data item which is relevant to the user; and

tailoring the online experience based on at least one offline experience data item and at least one user data item,

wherein the unique identifier is a numerical result of a mathematical algorithm applied to the offline experience identifier and the user identifier.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the unique identifier comprises at least one of a character string and a bar code.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the transaction comprises at least one of:

scanning at least a portion of a physical object, the portion being imprinted with the unique identifier;

soliciting and accepting manual input of the unique identifier; and

accessing the unique identifier from a storage medium.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the user data item is selected from the group consisting payment information, contact information, demographic information, and preference information.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the demographic data is selected from the group consisting of marital status, income level, occupation, number of children, number of relatives, a biological feature and a biological measurement.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein a tailored portion of the online experience is exclusive to the user.

21. The medium of claim 15, wherein the tailoring of the online experience comprises at least one of:

providing a link to a site offering content relevant to at least one of the offline experience and the user;

facilitating the purchase of an item relevant to at least one of the offline experience and the user;

providing a discount to the user;

presenting an advertisement to the user;

presenting an opportunity to the user; and

digitally transmitting a media selection to the user.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein the media selection has been identified by the time at which the user experienced the media selection, the venue through which the user experienced the media selection, and information regarding a presentation order of at least one media selection presented through the venue.

23. The medium of claim 22, wherein the user has identified the time and the venue.

24. The medium of claim 15, wherein the offline experience is a media selection experienced by the user and the offline experience data item comprises at least one of a title of the media selection, a person associated with the media selection, a time at which the media selection was experienced by the user, and a venue through which the media selection was experienced by the user.

25. The medium of claim 24, wherein the media selection is an audio selection that is heard by the user.

26. The medium of claim 24, wherein the media selection is a video selection that is at least one of heard and seen by the user.

27. The medium claim 15, wherein the offline experience is an event experienced by the user and the offline experience data item comprises at least one of a name of the event, a person associated with the event, a type of the event, a time of the event, and a place of the event.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein the event is at least one of a concert, a show, a presentation, a lecture, and a speech that is attended by the user.

29. A system including a microprocessor operating under the control of at least one software program capable of causing the system to execute actions in using a unique identifier to integrate an offline experience of a user with an online experience of the user, the actions comprising:

generating a unique identifier based on an offline experience identifier and a user identifier, the offline experience identifier being usable to access at least one offline experience data item which is relevant to the offline experience, the user identifier being usable to access at least one user data item which is relevant to the user;

receiving the unique identifier during a transaction related to the online experience;

using the unique identifier to obtain at least one of the offline experience identifier and the user identifier; and

tailoring the online experience based on at least one offline experience data item and at least one user data item,

wherein the unique identifier is a numerical result of a mathematical algorithm applied to the offline experience identifier and the user identifier.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the unique identifier comprises at least one of a character string and a bar code.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the transaction comprises at least one of:

scanning at least a portion of a physical object, the portion being imprinted with the unique identifier;

soliciting and accepting manual input of the unique identifier; and

accessing the unique identifier from a storage medium.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the user data item is selected from the group consisting payment information, contact information, demographic information, and preference information.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the demographic data is selected from the group consisting of marital status, income level, occupation, number of children, number of relatives, a biological feature and a biological measurement.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein a tailored portion of the online experience is exclusive to the user.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the tailoring of the online experience comprises at least one of:

providing a link to a site offering content relevant to at least one of the offline experience and the user;

facilitating the purchase of an item relevant to at least one of the offline experience and the user;

providing a discount to the user;

presenting an advertisement to the user;

presenting an opportunity to the user; and

digitally transmitting a media selection to the user.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the media selection has been identified by the time at which the user experienced the media selection, the venue through which the user experienced the media selection, and information regarding a presentation order of at least one media selection presented through the venue.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the user has identified the time and the venue.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the offline experience is a media selection experienced by the user and the offline experience data item comprises at least one of a title of the media selection, a person associated with the media selection, a time at which the media selection was experienced by the user, and a venue through which the media selection was experienced by the user.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the media selection is an audio selection that is heard by the user.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the media selection is a video selection that is at least one of heard and seen by the user.

41. The system claim 39, wherein the offline experience is an event experienced by the user and the offline experience data item comprises at least one of a name of the event, a person associated with the event, a type of the event, a time of the event, and a place of the event.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the event is at least one of a concert, a show, a presentation, a lecture, and a speech that is attended by the user.

43. A system capable of using a unique identifier to integrate an offline experience of a user with an online experience of a user, comprising:

means for generating a unique identifier based on an offline experience identifier and a user identifier, the offline experience identifier being usable to access at least one offline experience data item which is relevant to the offline experience, the user identifier being usable to access at least one user data item which is relevant to the user;

means for receiving a unique identifier during a transaction related to the online experience;

means for using the unique identifier to obtain at least one of an offline experience identifier and a user identifier; and

means for tailoring the online experience based on at least one offline experience data item and at least one user data item,

wherein the unique identifier is a numerical result of a mathematical algorithm applied to the offline experience identifier and the user identifier.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the unique identifier comprises at least one of a character string and a bar code.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the transaction comprises at least one of:

scanning at least a portion of a physical object, the portion being imprinted with the unique identifier;

soliciting and accepting manual input of the unique identifier; and

accessing the unique identifier from a storage medium.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the user data item is selected from the group consisting payment information, contact information, demographic information, and preference information.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the demographic data is selected from the group consisting of marital status, income level, occupation, number of children, number of relatives, a biological feature and a biological measurement.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein a tailored portion of the online experience is exclusive to the user.

49. The system of claim 43, wherein the tailoring of the online experience comprises at least one of:

providing a link to a site offering content relevant to at least one of the offline experience and the user;

facilitating the purchase of an item relevant to at least one of the offline experience and the user;

providing a discount to the user;

presenting an advertisement to the user;

presenting an opportunity to the user; and

digitally transmitting a media selection to the user.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the media selection has been identified by the time at which the user experienced the media selection, the venue through which the user experienced the media selection, and information regarding a presentation order of at least one media selection presented through the venue.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the user has identified the time and the venue.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the offline experience is a media selection experienced by the user and the offline experience data item comprises at least one of a title of the media selection, a person associated with the media selection, a time at which the media selection was experienced by the user, and a venue through which the media selection was experienced by the user.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the media selection is an audio selection that is heard by the user.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the media selection is a video selection that is at least one of heard and seen by the user.

55. The system claim 43, wherein the offline experience is an event experienced by the user and the offline experience data item comprises at least one of a name of the event, a person associated with the event, a type of the event, a time of the event, and a place of the event.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the event is at least one of a concert, a show, a presentation, a lecture, and a speech that is attended by the user.

58. The system method of claim 43 further comprising:

means for prompting the user to enter time and venue information associated with when and where a media broadcast was transmitted; and

means for accessing a list of previous broadcasts of the entered venue by the entered time and for identifying a media selection associated with the entered time.

57. A method of using a unique identifier to integrate an offline experience of a user with an online experience of the user, comprising:

generating a unique identifier based on an offline experience identifier and a user identifier,

receiving the unique identifier during a transaction related to the online experience;

using the unique identifier to obtain at least one of the offline experience identifier and the user identifier, the offline experience identifier being usable to access at least one offline experience data item which is relevant to the offline experience, the user identifier being usable to access at least one user data item which is relevant to the user;

tailoring the online experience based on at least one offline experience data item and at least one user data item;

prompting the user to enter time and venue information associated with when and where a media broadcast was transmitted; and

accessing a list of previous media broadcasts of the entered venue by the entered time and identifying a media selection associated with the time,

wherein the unique identifier is a numerical result of a mathematical algorithm applied to the offline experience identifier and the user identifier.