Method and system for capture of location specific media related information and delivery through communications network
First Claim
1. A method for delivering specific data related to a principal program, to one or more subscribers receiving said principal program, said method comprising:
- embedding a watermark within said principal program, first transmitting said principal program with the embedded watermark to said one or more subscribers;
decoding, at a central location not in physical proximity to a principal program presentation device for said one or more subscribers, said embedded watermark to determine the specific related data to be transmitted to said one or more subscribers, the specific related data including at least one of an offer to said one or more subscribers, telephone number, World Wide Web address, coupon, and advertisement; and
second transmitting, in response to said decoded watermark, said specific data related to said principal program from the central location to said one or more subscribers through a communications network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and system for two way communications between multimedia providers and subscribers utilizes encryption technology for embedding a watermark containing specific data, or a pointer to specific data relating to a multimedia program in the principal program itself. The principal program may include, but is certainly not limited to a television broadcast, cable or satellite program, multimedia over the Internet, a paging service, or radio broadcast. The specific data may include web addresses, hyperlinks, telephone numbers, advertisements or any information related to the principal program. A decoder decodes the embedded data which may point to the related data stored in a database, or may include the related data. The related data is then delivered to the subscriber of the principal program through an appropriate medium, such ADSI, Internet, or radio. The subscriber receives the specific data, which may be delivered simultaneous with the delivery of the principal program, on an appropriate device, such as an ADSI enabled telephone, remote control or wireless telephone, or directly in a web browser. The specific data may also be available for retrieval at a later time. The decoding of the embedded data may occur at the subscriber'"'"'s receiver, or preferably at a central location, such as the head end of a cable operator, satellite transmitter or Internet service provider.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for delivering specific data related to a principal program, to one or more subscribers receiving said principal program, said method comprising:
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embedding a watermark within said principal program, first transmitting said principal program with the embedded watermark to said one or more subscribers; decoding, at a central location not in physical proximity to a principal program presentation device for said one or more subscribers, said embedded watermark to determine the specific related data to be transmitted to said one or more subscribers, the specific related data including at least one of an offer to said one or more subscribers, telephone number, World Wide Web address, coupon, and advertisement; and second transmitting, in response to said decoded watermark, said specific data related to said principal program from the central location to said one or more subscribers through a communications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for delivering a principal program and specific data related to said principal program to one or more subscribers, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining, at a central location not in physical proximity to a principal program presentation device for said one or more subscribers, whether said principal program includes an embedded watermark; decoding, at the central location, said embedded watermark from said principal program; and transmitting, in response to said decoded watermark, said specific related data from the central location to said one or more subscribers through a communications network, the specific related data including at least one of an offer to said one or more subscribers, telephone number, World Wide Web address, coupon, and advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communications system for delivering specific data related to a principal program, to one or more subscribers receiving said principal program, comprising:
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a decoder for decoding a watermark embedded in a principal program at a central location not in physical proximity to a principal program presentation device for said one or more subscribers, wherein said watermark contains data from which said specific related data may be identified, the specific related data including at least one of an offer to said one or more subscribers, telephone number, World Wide Web address, coupon, and advertisement; and delivery means for delivering said specific data related to said principal program from the central location to a receiving device associated with said one or more subscribers in response to the decoded watermark. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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15. A communications system for delivering specific data related to a principal program, to one or more subscribers receiving said principal program, comprising:
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a decoder for decoding a watermark embedded in a principal program at a central location not in physical proximity to a principal program presentation device for said one or more subscribers, wherein said specific related data is contained within said watermark, the specific related data including at least one of an offer to said one or more subscribers, telephone number, World Wide Web address, coupon, and advertisement; and delivery means for delivering said specific data related to said principal program from the central location to a receiving device associated with said one or more subscribers in response to the decoded watermark. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification