Method for utilizing visual cue in conjunction with web access

• US 7,392,312 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack A. Turpin, RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: LV Partners LP (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Philyaw, Jeffry Jovan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone, Jason D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pollack, Melvin H
• Application Number:
  US09/705,514
• Time in Patent Office: 2,791 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709217-219, 709/225, 709/231, 725 13- 21, 725109-117, 715/513, 715/514, 715716-718, 715/861
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/30 Types of network names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

The use of a visual indicia or cue facilitates computer based access of a network by a consumer witnessing a presentation. A visual indicia or cue is provided during the presentation indicative of a relationship between the visual indicia or cue in the presence of a location on a network. This allows this location on the network to be accessed by a computer having an appropriate input device for responding to a released control signal associated with the visual indicia or cue wherein such response of the input device will connect the computer to the location.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating computer based access to a location on a network by a consumer witnessing a presentation at a consumer viewing site that is broadcast to the consumer over a broadcast network at the consumer viewing site, which broadcast is operable to make available to a plurality of consumers the presentation, comprising the steps of:

providing a visual cue as a part of and during a broadcast presentation apparent to the consumer at the consumer viewing site and indicative of a relationship between the visual cue and the presence of the location on the network that will attract the consumer'"'"'s attention, the visual cue provided in close association with the occurrence of a control signal that is part of and provided during the broadcast presentation and which control signal is in association with the visual cue, wherein the visual cue and control signal are part of the broadcast before transmission thereof over the broadcast network;

releasing the control signal in conjunction with the broadcast presentation such that it will be part of the broadcast presentation, the step of releasing occurring during the presentation broadcast;

providing at the consumer site a computer having an input device responsive to the control signal; and

controlling the computer in response to release of the control signal by the step of recognizing the control signal with the input device and then extracting the control information contained in the control signal to enable and control the computer to access the location on the network upon both the appearance of the visual cue and receipt of the control signal during the broadcast presentation, which control is facilitated from the presentation broadcast with no user intervention.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

attracting the consumer'"'"'s attention to the computer for interacting with the location on the network in association with the access thereto.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a visual cue precedes the step of releasing the control signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of releasing the control signal precedes the step of providing a visual cue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of providing the visual cue and releasing the control signal occur simultaneously.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the steps of providing the visual cue and releasing the control signal occur within a defined interval of time.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of:

animating the visual cue during its appearance wherein the animation is accompanied by the control signal.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising the steps of:

detaching one or more moving segments from a stationary portion of the visual cue; and

traversing a path with each detached segment about the stationary portion of the visual cue to a predetermined position adjacent thereto.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the stationary portion of the visual cue forms an alphanumeric character and the moving segment resembles a punctuation mark.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the stationary portion of the visual cue forms an iconic figure and the moving segment resembles an element of said iconic figure.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of releasing a control signal comprises the step of:

providing an audible sound signal as a part of the broadcast presentation having a recognizable characteristic that is identifiable by the input device on the computer each time it occurs, the sound signal comprising the control signal.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of releasing a control signal comprises the step of:

providing a light signal having a recognizable characteristic that is identifiable by the input device on the computer each time it occurs, the light signal comprising the control signal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cue includes a logo.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast presentation witnessed by the consumer includes a program having audio and video content.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast presentation witnessed by the consumer includes a broadcast communication having audio and video content.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast presentation witnessed by the consumer includes a live presentation.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast presentation witnessed by the consumer includes a recorded presentation.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of releasing the control signal occurs via the broadcast presentation.