Methods and systems that motivate tuning to a transmission channel for a time period
First Claim
1. A method for motivating a user to watch a transmission channel of a broadcast source for a predetermined time period, the method comprising:
- tuning a television equipment device to the transmission channel to receive a television program;
receiving a plurality of portions of a media asset associated with the television program concurrently with the television program over the transmission channel, wherein each portion is received at a different time point in the predetermined time period;
storing, without user input, each of the plurality of received portions;
monitoring activity at the television equipment device to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed;
preventing access to the media asset when the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed; and
enabling access to the media asset after the predetermined time period has elapsed.
18 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for motivating a user to watch a television channel for a predetermined period of time and enabling access to a media asset related to a program provided on the channel. A tuner is tuned to a transmission channel and a program is received concurrently with a portion of a media asset. The viewing behavior is monitored to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before a predetermined time period elapses. When the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period elapses, access to the media asset is prevented. When the user stays tuned to the particular transmission channel for the predetermined time period, access to the media asset is enabled. The media asset may be transmitted to a portable user device, such as a mobile phone.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method for motivating a user to watch a transmission channel of a broadcast source for a predetermined time period, the method comprising:
-
tuning a television equipment device to the transmission channel to receive a television program; receiving a plurality of portions of a media asset associated with the television program concurrently with the television program over the transmission channel, wherein each portion is received at a different time point in the predetermined time period; storing, without user input, each of the plurality of received portions; monitoring activity at the television equipment device to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed; preventing access to the media asset when the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed; and enabling access to the media asset after the predetermined time period has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system for motivating a user to watch a transmission channel of a broadcast source for a predetermined time period, the system comprising:
-
a tuner that is tuned to the transmission channel, the tuner configured to; receive a television program; and receive a plurality of portions of a media asset associated with the television program concurrently with the television program over the transmission channel, wherein each portion is received at a different time point in the predetermined time period; and control circuitry configured to; store, without user input, each of the plurality of received portions; monitor activity at the television equipment device to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed; prevent access to the media asset when the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed; and enable access to the media asset after the predetermined time period has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method for motivating a user to watch a transmission channel of a broadcast source for a predetermined time period, the method comprising:
-
tuning a television equipment device to the transmission channel to receive a television program; receiving at least a portion of a media asset associated with the television program concurrently with the television program over the transmission channel; receiving a trigger from the broadcast source at a particular point in time, unknown to the user, during the predetermined time period, wherein the trigger includes interval length information of the predetermined time period; monitoring activity at the television equipment device to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed; preventing access to the media asset when the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed; and enabling access to the media asset after the predetermined time period has elapsed.
-
-
27. A system for motivating a user to watch a transmission channel of a broadcast source for a predetermined time period, the system comprising:
-
a tuner that is tuned to the transmission channel, the tuner configured to; receive a television program; and receive at least a portion of a media asset associated with the television program concurrently with the television program over the transmission channel; and control circuitry configured to; receive a trigger from the broadcast source at a particular point in time, unknown to the user, during the predetermined time period, wherein the trigger includes interval length information of the predetermined time period; monitor activity at the television equipment device to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed; prevent access to the media asset when the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period has elapsed; and enable access to the media asset after the predetermined time period has elapsed.
-
Specification