Virtual group shopping mall
First Claim
1. A system for enabling remote shopping transactions comprising:
- a content server configured to receive a viewer selection of streaming content from an electronic device, the streaming content having embedded therein one or more markers corresponding to merchandise or services shown in the streaming content, the content server further configured to provide a unicast link to the electronic device upon receipt of the selection, the unicast link providing the streaming content to the electronic device;
a catalog server comprising hardware configured to store a catalog of the merchandise or services shown in the streaming content, wherein the catalog server is further configured to receive a connection request from the content server;
wherein the content server initiates the connection request upon receiving a selection of at least one of the one or more markers in the streaming content and establishes a connection between the catalog server and the electronic device for viewing the catalog;
wherein the content server is further configured to pause the streaming content upon establishing the connection between the catalog server and the electronic device, and to resume the streaming content from a point where the streaming content was paused upon disconnecting the connection between the catalog server and the electronic device; and
a virtual group shopping mall comprising information corresponding to the merchandise or the service corresponding to the selection, wherein the virtual shopping mall is accessible by selected entities allowed by the viewer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
As a movie/television show, etc. is being watched, a viewer is able to purchase items viewed during a presentation. A viewer may stop the presentation either to purchase merchandise or services or alternatively, save items for later in a “virtual group shopping mall.” A voice or written message may be added to allow more content to be placed with each saved item. A group may be identified and given access to the virtual shopping mall. This enables members of the group, such as friends, to see shopping preferences of others in a group. Further, shopping lists may be generated for group members based upon items placed in the virtual mall, thereby enabling a list of “must haves” for the group. Purchases may be made using M-commerce or a potential purchaser may be directed to a store having a product or service desired for purchase.
63 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A system for enabling remote shopping transactions comprising:
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a content server configured to receive a viewer selection of streaming content from an electronic device, the streaming content having embedded therein one or more markers corresponding to merchandise or services shown in the streaming content, the content server further configured to provide a unicast link to the electronic device upon receipt of the selection, the unicast link providing the streaming content to the electronic device; a catalog server comprising hardware configured to store a catalog of the merchandise or services shown in the streaming content, wherein the catalog server is further configured to receive a connection request from the content server; wherein the content server initiates the connection request upon receiving a selection of at least one of the one or more markers in the streaming content and establishes a connection between the catalog server and the electronic device for viewing the catalog; wherein the content server is further configured to pause the streaming content upon establishing the connection between the catalog server and the electronic device, and to resume the streaming content from a point where the streaming content was paused upon disconnecting the connection between the catalog server and the electronic device; and a virtual group shopping mall comprising information corresponding to the merchandise or the service corresponding to the selection, wherein the virtual shopping mall is accessible by selected entities allowed by the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method of enabling shopping transactions, the computer including a processor and a storage medium, the method comprising:
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receiving a viewer selection of streaming content from an electronic device, the streaming content having embedded therein one or more markers corresponding to merchandise or services shown in the streaming content; creating, by the processor, a unicast link to the electronic device upon receipt of the viewer selection, the unicast link providing the streaming content to the electronic device; transmitting a connection request to a catalog server upon receipt of a selection of at least one of the one or more markers in the streaming content; providing, to the electronic device, a connection to the catalog server, the catalog server storing a catalog of the merchandise or services shown in the streaming content; pausing the streaming content upon providing the connection to the catalog server and resuming the streaming content from the point where the streaming content was paused upon disconnecting the connection between the catalog server and the electronic device; and enabling the placement of the selection within a virtual shopping mall, the mall being accessible by members of a group selected by the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for enabling shopping transactions, comprising:
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means for receiving a viewer selection of streaming content from an electronic device, the streaming content having embedded therein one or more markers corresponding to merchandise or services shown in the streaming content; means for creating a unicast link to the electronic device upon receipt of the selection, the unicast link providing the streaming content to the electronic device; means for transmitting a connection request to a catalog server upon receipt of a selection of at least one of the one or more markers in the streaming content by a viewer; providing, to the electronic device, a connection to a catalog server, the catalog server storing a catalog of the merchandise or services shown in the streaming content; means for pausing the streaming content upon providing the connection to the catalog server and resuming the streaming content from the point where the streaming content was paused upon disconnecting the connection between the catalog server and the electronic device; and means for enabling the placement of the selection within a virtual shopping mall, the mall being accessible by members of a group selected by the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer program product embodied in a tangible computer readable medium, for enabling shopping transactions, comprising:
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first module executable by a computer for receiving a viewer selection of streaming content from an electronic device, the streaming content having embedded therein one or more markers corresponding to merchandise or services shown in the streaming content; a second module executable by the computer for creating a unicast link to the electronic device upon receipt of the selection, the unicast link providing the streaming content to the electronic device; a third module executable by the computer for transmitting a connection request to a catalog server upon receipt of a selection of at least one of the one or more markers in the streaming content by a viewer; a fourth module executable by the computer for providing, to the electronic device, a connection to a catalog server, the catalog server storing a catalog of merchandise or services shown in the streaming content; a fifth module executable by the computer for pausing the streaming content upon providing the connection to the catalog server and resuming the streaming content from the point where the streaming content was paused upon disconnecting the connection between the catalog server and the electronic device; and a sixth module executable by the computer for enabling the placement of the selection within a virtual shopping mall, the mall being accessible by members of a group selected by the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification