Information providing apparatus and method, information receiving apparatus and method, lots-drawing system and method and medium

• US 7,802,281 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Saito, Tadashi, Sugiyama, Hirotaka, Tani, Nobutaka, Tada, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Shang; Annan Q
• Application Number:
  US09/572,814
• Time in Patent Office: 3,779 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32- 36, 725 60- 61, 463 16- 19, 463 22- 42
• US Class Current: 725/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/68 Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

The invention makes it possible to draw lots for a present in real time in association with a broadcast program. A broadcasting station broadcasts information relating to lot for a present that is associated with a broadcast program by superimposing it on a video signal in vertical blanking intervals. The lot information is decoded by a decoder and viewed by a viewer on a TV receiver. When the viewer commands the decoder to enter the lot for the present, the decoder accesses a present call center and an automatic lots-drawing system draws lots. A drawing result is transmitted to the broadcasting station and announced during the broadcast of the program. A sponsor sends the present product to winner viewers based on winner data.

Claims

1. An information providing apparatus comprising:

first combining means for combining product information and gift information of a product relating to a drawing to be performed, with information of a completed broadcast program showing the product to thereby provide first combined information, and outputting the first combined information for broadcast transmission to a plurality of end users;

first judging means for judging whether the broadcast time of a target scene of a broadcast program in which to introduce the product to be presented has been reached;

inserting means for inserting a start signal into said broadcast program when said target scene has been reached;

receiving means for receiving drawing result information indicating at least one winner of the drawing from a facility that determines the drawing winners, the drawing results being generated based on participation of the plurality of end users that is transmitted from an end user equipment;

second combining means for combining the drawing result information received by the receiving means with information of the broadcast program to thereby provide second combined information, and outputting the second combined information including the drawing winners for broadcast transmission to a plurality of end user equipment via a uni-directional network; and

second judging means for judging whether an alternative button depression has been manipulated corresponding to re-accessing a call center with an updated purchase order independent of said first judging means,

wherein a photograph of the drawing winner with information of a completed broadcast program is displayed at the plurality of end user equipment, and

wherein the product is used in the broadcast program and a displaying period of a message announcing the drawing matches a displaying period during which the product is used in the broadcast program and the start signal is inserted between the outputting of the first combined information and the outputting of the second combined information.

2. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising third combining means for combining a signal indicating a time point when to display the information relating to the drawing with information of the broadcast program, and outputting combined information.

3. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product information relating to the drawing is product information relating to a product to be presented to viewers in the broadcast program.

4. The information providing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the end user equipment is television equipment.

5. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product information relating to the drawing is product information relating to a product marketed by a sponsor of the broadcast program.

6. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first combining means inserts the product information relating to the drawing into blanking intervals of the information of the broadcast program.

7. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second combining means superimposes the drawing result information on an effective portion of a video signal of the broadcast program, whereby information of at least one prize winner is broadcast superimposed on the effective portion of the broadcast program video signal for subsequent display at the plurality of end user equipment.

8. An information providing method comprising the steps of:

combining product information and gift information of a product relating to a drawing to be performed with information of a completed broadcast program showing the product to thereby provide first combined information, and outputting the combined information for broadcast transmission to a plurality of end users;

judging whether the broadcast time of a target scene of a broadcast program in which to introduce the product to be presented has been reached;

inserting a start signal into said broadcast program when said target scene has been reached;

receiving drawing result information indicating at least one winner of the drawing from a facility that determines the drawing winners, the drawing results being generated based on participation of the plurality of end users that is transmitted from an end user equipment;

combining the received drawing result information with information of the broadcast program, to thereby provide second combined information, and outputting the second combined information including the drawing winners for broadcast transmission to a plurality of end user equipment via a uni-directional network;

displaying a photograph of the drawing winner with information of a completed broadcast program at the plurality of end user equipment;

judging whether an alternative button depression has been manipulated corresponding to re-accessing a call center with an updated purchase order; and

superimposing the product information that is used in the broadcast program on horizontal scanning lines in vertical blanking intervals,

wherein a displaying period of a message announcing the drawing matches a displaying period during which the product is used in the broadcast program and the start signal is inserted between the outputting of the first combined information and the outputting of the second combined information.

9. An information receiving apparatus comprising:

extracting means for extracting product information and gift information of a product relating to a drawing to be performed that has been combined with information of a completed broadcast program showing the product and being provided via a uni-directional network;

display control means for generating a message about a gift of the product based on the product information and the gift information of the product relating to the drawing that has been extracted by the extracting means, and displaying the message with the product;

entry judging means for judging whether an instruction to enter the drawing has been input;

storing means for storing information of an entry destination of the drawing;

means for reading and writing data to a data card;

execution means for performing an operation of entering the drawing by communicating with the entry destination that is stored in the storing means based on a judgment result of the entry judging means;

receiving means for receiving drawing result information indicating at least one winner of the drawing from a facility that determines the drawing winners, the drawing results being generated based on participation of the plurality of end users that is transmitted from an end user equipment;

second judging means for judging whether an alternative button depression has been manipulated corresponding to re-accessing a call center with an updated purchase order,

wherein a photograph of the drawing winner with information of a competed broadcast program is displayed at the plurality of end user equipment, and

wherein the product is used in the broadcast program and a displaying period of a message announcing the drawing matches a displaying period during which the product is used in the broadcast program and the start signal is inserted between the outputting of the first combined information and the outputting of the second combined information.

10. The information receiving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the storing means further stores an access destination to be accessed in buying a product corresponding to the drawing, the information receiving apparatus further comprising:

purchase judging means for judging whether an instruction to buy the product corresponding to the drawing has been input; and

accessing means for performing an operation of accessing the access destination that is stored in the storing means based on a judgment result of the purchase judging means.

11. The information receiving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the product information relating to the drawing is product information relating to a product to be presented to viewers.

12. The information receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the product is a product that is used in the broadcast program.

13. The information receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the product is a product that is marketed by a sponsor of the broadcast program.

14. An information receiving method comprising the steps of:

extracting product information and gift information of a product relating to a drawing to be performed that has been combined with information of a completed broadcast program showing the product and being provided via a uni-directional network;

generating a message about a gift of the product based on the product information and the gift information of the product relating to the drawing that has been extracted by the extracting step, and displaying the message with the product;

judging whether an instruction to enter the drawing has been input;

storing information of an entry destination of the drawing;

reading and writing data to a data card;

performing an operation of entering the drawing by communicating with the entry destination that was stored in the storing step based on a judgment result of the entry judging step,

receiving drawing result information indicating at least one winner of the drawing from a facility that determines the drawing winners, the drawing results being generated based on participation of the plurality of end users that is transmitted from an end user equipment,

wherein said operation of entering the drawing requires program and data previously stored in said data card; and

judging whether an alternative button depression has been manipulated corresponding to re-accessing a call center with an updated purchase order,

wherein a photograph of the drawing winner with information of a completed broadcast program is displayed at the plurality of end user equipment, and

wherein the product is used in the broadcast program and a displaying period of a message announcing the drawing matches a displaying period during which the product is used in the broadcast program and the start signal is inserted between the outputting of the first combined information and the outputting of the second combined information.

15. An information processing apparatus comprising:

entry accepting means for accepting an entry corresponding to gift information and product information of a product relating to a drawing to be performed that has been combined with information of a completed broadcast program showing the product and being provided via a uni-direction network;

determining means for determining winners of the drawing from entrants accepted by the entry accepting means,

wherein said determining means includes;

a plurality of first determining means, wherein each first determining means determines winner candidates of a drawing based on entrants of a lot located within a prescribed area from a provider of said broadcast program; and

a second determining means that receives determined winner candidate information from each of said plurality of first determining means and determines said winners of the drawing from said received determined winner candidate information;

output means for outputting a determination result of the determining means to a provider of the broadcast program while the broadcast program is being provided; and

judging means for judging whether a purchase order signal is received,

wherein the drawing results are generated based on participation of the plurality of end users that is transmitted from an end user equipment,

wherein a photograph of the drawing winner with information of a completed broadcast program is displayed at the plurality of end user equipment, and

wherein the product used in the broadcast program and a displaying period of a message announcing the drawing matches a displaying period during which the product is used in the broadcast program and the start signal is inserted between the outputting of the first combined information and the outputting of the second combined information.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

purchase accepting means for accepting a purchase order for a product corresponding to the drawing; and

transmitting means for transmitting information of a person who has made the purchase order that has been accepted by the purchase accepting means to a sponsor of the product corresponding to the drawing in response to acceptance by the purchase accepting means.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the product is a product that is used in the broadcast program.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the product is a product that is marketed by a sponsor of the broadcast program.

19. An information processing method comprising:

accepting an entry corresponding to product information and gift information of a product relating to a drawing to be performed that has been combined with information of a completed broadcast program showing the product and being provided via a uni-direction network;

determining winners of the drawing from entrants accepted by the entry accepting step,

wherein said determining includes;

first determining winner candidates of a drawing based on at least one set of entrants of a lot located within a prescribed area from a provider of said broadcast program; and

second determining said winners of the drawing from said determined winner candidates based on at least one set of entrants of a lot;

outputting a determination result of the determining step to a provider of the broadcast program while the broadcast program is being provided; and

judging whether a purchase order signal is received,

wherein the drawing results are generated based on participation of the plurality of end users that is transmitted from an end user equipment,

wherein a photograph of the drawing winner with information of a completed broadcast program is displayed at the plurality of end user equipment, and

wherein the product used in the broadcast program and a displaying period of a message announcing the drawing matches a displaying period during which the product is used in the broadcast program and the start signal is inserted between the outputting of the first combined information and the outputting of the second combined information.