Methods, systems, and computer program products for obtaining consumer information over a communications network

• US 8,065,698 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Glasgow, Jay O., Branam, Michael Glenn, Dodgen, Jeffrey David
• Primary Examiner(s): Koenig; Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro; Alfonso
• Application Number:
  US11/370,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20070214470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 725 10- 21, 725 34- 61, 705/14.41, 705/14.49
• US Class Current: 725/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Default media services are provided to a multi-user multimedia device over a communications network responsive to identification of the multi-user multimedia device. Additional media services are provided to the multi-user multimedia device over the communications network responsive to obtaining confirmation that a particular one of a group of users of the multi-user multimedia device is currently using the multi-user multimedia device. Demographic information for the particular one of the group of users and device information for the multi-user multimedia device may be provided to an advertiser over the network in real-time, for example, so that advertising may be targeted accordingly. Related methods, systems, and devices are also discussed.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining consumer information, the method comprising:

authenticating a multimedia device;

receiving device identification information that uniquely identifies the multimedia device;

providing default media services comprising audio and video content to the multimedia device over a communications network based on a bandwidth of a connection to the multimedia device, the device identification information independent of a current user that is currently using the multimedia device;

displaying a prompt to input information that uniquely identifies the current user from multiple users of the multimedia device;

receiving a personal identification number that uniquely identifies the current user from the multiple users of the multimedia device;

querying a database storing customer information for the multiple users of the multimedia device;

receiving a confirmation that the personal identification number is associated with the multimedia device;

retrieving a favorites list of programming associated with the personal identification number;

sending the favorites list of programming to the multimedia device;

retrieving demographic information from the database that is associated with the personal identification number and that does not reveal a name of the current user;

sending the demographic information to an advertiser;

comparing the device identification information and the demographic information to rules for broadcasting advertising content of the advertiser;

determining the device identification information and the demographic information satisfy the rules for broadcasting the advertising content;

broadcasting the advertising content to the multimedia device to which the default media services were provided over the communications network;

monitoring outgoing calls from communications devices associated with the current user after the advertising content is broadcast;

monitoring incoming calls to the advertiser after the advertising content is broadcast; and

matching telephone numbers of the outgoing calls to the incoming calls to determine calls that were responsive to the advertising content,

wherein an effectiveness of the advertising content may be determined.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for the favorites list of programming associated with the personal identification number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the rules specify a demographic type matching the demographic information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the outgoing calls for a predetermined time after the advertising content is broadcast.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the demographic information comprises receiving a location within the current user'"'"'s premises.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a total number of the calls that were responsive to the advertising content.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising incrementing a counter associated with the current user when an outgoing call matches an incoming call.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the rules specify household location for the multimedia device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising further comprising incrementing a counter associated with a communications device associated with the current user that increments when an outgoing call from the communications device matches an incoming call to the advertiser.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the demographic information from the database comprises retrieving the demographic information from local memory in the multimedia device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein querying the database storing the customer information comprises querying local memory in the multimedia device for the multiple users of the multimedia device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the personal identification number comprises receiving the personal identification number from a remote control.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a personal electronic programming guide associated with the personal identification number.

14. A system for obtaining consumer information, the system comprising:

a processor executing instructions stored in memory that cause the processor to;

send device identification information to authenticate a multimedia device;

receive default media services comprising audio and video content at the multimedia device from a communications network based on a bandwidth of a connection to the multimedia device;

display a prompt to input information that uniquely identifies a current user from multiple users of the multimedia device;

receive a personal identification number that uniquely identifies the current user from the multiple users of the multimedia device;

query a database storing customer information for the multiple users of the multimedia device;

receive a confirmation that the personal identification number is associated with the multimedia device;

retrieve a favorites list of programming associated with the personal identification number;

retrieve demographic information from the database that is associated with the personal identification number and that does not reveal a name of the current user;

send the demographic information to an advertiser;

compare the device identification information and the demographic information to rules for broadcasting advertising content of the advertiser;

determine the device identification information and the demographic information satisfy the rules for broadcasting the advertising content;

receive the advertising content at the multimedia device to which the default media services were provided over the communications network;

monitor outgoing calls from communications devices associated with the current user after the advertising content is broadcast;

monitor incoming calls to the advertiser after the advertising content is broadcast; and

match telephone numbers of the outgoing calls to the incoming calls to determine calls that were responsive to the advertising content,

wherein an effectiveness of the advertising content may be determined.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein monitoring the outgoing calls comprises monitoring the outgoing calls for a predetermined time after the advertising content is broadcast.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein monitoring the incoming calls comprises monitoring the incoming calls for a predetermined time after the advertising content is broadcast.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein receiving the demographic information comprises receiving a location of the multimedia device within the current user'"'"'s premises.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

authenticating a multimedia device;

receiving device identification information that uniquely identifies the multimedia device;

providing default media services comprising audio and video content to the multimedia device over a communications network based on a bandwidth of a connection to the multimedia device, the device identification information independent of a current user that is currently using the multimedia device;

displaying a prompt to input information that uniquely identifies the current user from multiple users of the multimedia device;

receiving a personal identification number that uniquely identifies the current user from the multiple users of the multimedia device;

querying a database storing customer information for the multiple users of the multimedia device;

receiving a confirmation that the personal identification number is associated with the multimedia device;

retrieving a favorites list of programming associated with the personal identification number;

sending the favorites list of programming to the multimedia device;

retrieving demographic information from the database that is associated with the personal identification number and that does not reveal a name of the current user;

sending the demographic information to an advertiser;

comparing the device identification information and the demographic information to rules for broadcasting advertising content of the advertiser;

determining the device identification information and the demographic information satisfy the rules for broadcasting the advertising content;

broadcasting the advertising content to the multimedia device to which the default media services were provided over the communications network;

monitoring outgoing calls from communications devices associated with the current user after the advertising content is broadcast;

monitoring incoming calls to the advertiser after the advertising content is broadcast; and

matching telephone numbers of the outgoing calls to the incoming calls to determine calls that were responsive to the advertising content,

wherein an effectiveness of the advertising content may be determined.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising receiving a request for the favorites list of programming associated with the personal identification number.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the rules specify a demographic type matching the demographic information.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising monitoring the outgoing calls for a predetermined time after the advertising content is broadcast.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising monitoring the incoming calls for a predetermined time after the advertising content is broadcast.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising determining a total number of the calls that were responsive to the advertising content.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising incrementing a counter associated with the current user when an outgoing call matches an incoming call.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising incrementing a counter associated with a communications device associated with the current user that increments when an outgoing call from the communications device matches an incoming call to the advertiser.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein retrieving the demographic information from the database comprises retrieving the demographic information from local memory in the multimedia device.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein querying the database storing the customer information comprises querying local memory in the multimedia device for the multiple users of the multimedia device.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein receiving the personal identification number comprises receiving the personal identification number from a remote control.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising retrieving a personal electronic programming guide associated with the personal identification number.