Enhanced television services
First Claim
1. A method for a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast by a service provider over a subscriber television network wherein the TV viewer uses a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, and wherein the remote control transmits signals for the subscriber television network, said method comprising:
- a) incorporating event identification data into the content, wherein said event identification data associates the content with an ability for the TV viewer to perform interactive tasks associated with the event by using the remote control;
b) broadcasting for display an indicator visible to the TV viewer, wherein said indicator indicates to the TV viewer that the TV viewer is able to perform said interactive tasks using the remote control and that the provider is ready to receive input from the TV viewer;
c) accepting input data from the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates an electronic switch on the remote control, said data indicating that the TV viewer desires detailed information, wherein said input data is accepted only during the period that the indicator is displayed to the TV viewer;
d) broadcasting for display said detailed information so as to be visible to the TV viewer;
e) accepting and capturing data that is generated by the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates at least one electronic switch on the remote control in response to said detailed information;
f) using said captured data to incrementally form a query; and
g) creating a transaction from the query, wherein;
a TV viewer can initiate a call to action by activating one or more switches on the remote control, wherein said call to action is a request for a return communication with detailed information regarding an event or product; and
the call to action is a TV viewer request for a return telephone call, a text message, or an email communication initiated by the service provider.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system to permit TV viewers to interact with program content broadcast over a subscriber network, such as cable, satellite, internet, or cellular telephone. The details of the ability for the viewer to interact is embedded as data in the program signal. The subscription provider broadcasts a visual indicator as a small icon during programming that informs the viewer that interaction is permitted. The viewer then uses a remote control to purchase products, vote on events, respond to polls, download files, request information, and request callback actions. The TV viewer uses the remote control to send information to a set-top box front-end application, and to iteratively create transactions that are batched and then sent to a back-end core application and database which then handles fulfillment.
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Citations
71 Claims
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1. A method for a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast by a service provider over a subscriber television network wherein the TV viewer uses a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, and wherein the remote control transmits signals for the subscriber television network, said method comprising:
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a) incorporating event identification data into the content, wherein said event identification data associates the content with an ability for the TV viewer to perform interactive tasks associated with the event by using the remote control; b) broadcasting for display an indicator visible to the TV viewer, wherein said indicator indicates to the TV viewer that the TV viewer is able to perform said interactive tasks using the remote control and that the provider is ready to receive input from the TV viewer; c) accepting input data from the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates an electronic switch on the remote control, said data indicating that the TV viewer desires detailed information, wherein said input data is accepted only during the period that the indicator is displayed to the TV viewer; d) broadcasting for display said detailed information so as to be visible to the TV viewer; e) accepting and capturing data that is generated by the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates at least one electronic switch on the remote control in response to said detailed information; f) using said captured data to incrementally form a query; and g) creating a transaction from the query, wherein; a TV viewer can initiate a call to action by activating one or more switches on the remote control, wherein said call to action is a request for a return communication with detailed information regarding an event or product; and the call to action is a TV viewer request for a return telephone call, a text message, or an email communication initiated by the service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast by a service provider over a subscriber television network wherein the TV viewer uses a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, and wherein the remote control transmits signals for the subscriber television network, said system comprising:
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a) a component that incorporates event identification data into the content, wherein said event identification data associates the content with an ability for the TV viewer to perform interactive tasks associated with the event by using the remote control; b) a component that broadcasts for display an indicator visible to the TV viewer, wherein said indicator indicates to the TV viewer that the TV viewer is able to perform said interactive tasks using the remote control and that the provider is ready to receive input from the TV viewer; c) a component that accepts input data from the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates an electronic switch on the remote control, said data indicating that the TV viewer desires detailed information, wherein said input data is accepted only during the period that the indicator is displayed to the TV viewer; d) a component that broadcasts for display said detailed information so as to be visible to the TV viewer; e) a component that accepts and captures data that is generated by the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates at least one electronic switch on the remote control in response to said detailed information; f) a component that uses said captured data to incrementally form a query; and g) a component that creates a transaction from the query, wherein; a TV viewer can initiate a call to action by activating one or more switches on the remote control, wherein said call to action is a request for a return communication with detailed information regarding an event or product; and the call to action is a TV viewer request for a return telephone call, a text message, or an email communication initiated by the service provider. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A system for a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast by a service provider over a subscriber television network wherein the TV viewer uses a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, and wherein the remote control transmits signals for the subscriber television network, said system comprising:
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a) a means for incorporating event identification data into the content, wherein said event identification data associates the content with an ability for the TV viewer to perform interactive tasks associated with the event by using the remote control; b) a means for broadcasting for display an indicator visible to the TV viewer, wherein said indicator indicates to the TV viewer that the TV viewer is able to perform said interactive tasks using the remote control and that the provider is ready to receive input from the TV viewer; c) a means for accepting input data from the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates an electronic switch on the remote control, said data indicating that the TV viewer desires detailed information, wherein said input data is accepted only during the period that the indicator is displayed to the TV viewer; d) a means for broadcasting for display said detailed information so as to be visible to the TV viewer; e) a means for accepting and capturing data that is generated by the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates at least one electronic switch on the remote control in response to said detailed information; f) a means for using said captured data to incrementally form a query; and g) a means for creating a transaction from the query, wherein; a TV viewer can initiate a call to action by activating one or more switches on the remote control, wherein said call to action is a request for a return communication with detailed information regarding an event or product; and the call to action is a TV viewer request for a return telephone call, a text message, or an email communication initiated by the service provider. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A system to enable a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast onto a television set by a service provider over a subscriber television network allowing the TV viewer to use a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, wherein the remote control transmits signals for the subscriber television network, said system comprising:
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a) at least one multiple cable television system network, b) a back-end component that resides with the service provider and which interacts with the at least one multiple cable television system network;
said back-end component further comprising;i) web portal components; ii) a business application engine component; iii) a common business services component; and iv) a component that allows third party integration; and
,c) a central data base, wherein the at least one multiple cable television system network functions as the service provider; and wherein each of the at least one multiple cable television system network further comprises;
at least one front-end component that handles TV user interaction with the subscriber television network, andwherein each of the at least one multiple cable television system network further comprises; i) a component that permits the TV viewer to purchase products; ii) a component that permits the TV viewer to download software or data; iii) a component that permits the TV viewer to vote or be polled; iv) a component that permits the TV viewer to request information; v) a component that permits the TV viewer to initiate a call to action control, wherein said call to action is a request for a return communication with detailed information regarding an event or product; and vi) a component that permits authentication of TV viewers. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A system to enable a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast onto a television set by a service provider over a subscriber television network allowing the TV viewer to use a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, wherein the remote control transmits signals for the subscriber television network, said system comprising:
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a) at least one multiple cable television system network, b) a back-end component that resides with the service provider and which interacts with the at least one multiple cable television system network;
said back-end component further comprising;i) web portal components; ii) a business application engine component; iii) a common business services component; and iv) a component that allows third party integration; and
,c) a central data base, wherein the at least one multiple cable television system network functions as the service provider; and wherein each of the at least one multiple cable television system network further comprises;
at least one front-end component that handles TV user interaction with the subscriber television network, andwherein each of the at least one multiple cable television system network further comprises; i) a component that permits the TV viewer to purchase products; ii) a component that permits the TV viewer to download software or data; iii) a component that permits the TV viewer to vote or be polled; iv) a component that permits the TV viewer to request information; v) a component that permits the TV viewer to initiate a call to action control, wherein said call to action is a request for a return communication with detailed information regarding an event or product; and vi) a component that permits authentication of TV viewers, wherein; the back-end component further communicates with third-party vendors and payment service providers, thereby allowing the TV viewer to interact with said third-party vendors and payment service providers using the remote control; and the back-end component further comprises; a) an order management component that processes product orders from the TV viewer; b) a product management component that maintains product images, pricing, discounts, categories, features, descriptions, inventory, storage, supplier, fulfillment methods, and fulfillment logic; c) an event management component that further comprises vendor maintenance functions of editing and deleting events; d) an inventory management component serves as a vendor interface to product inventory data; e) a dashboard management component that serves as a secure interface for the third-party vendors and payment service providers to view data on their event performance and information in near real-time and to generate ad-hoc reports from said data; f) an identity management component; g) a subscriber management component wherein the subscriber is the TV viewer; and h) a user management component wherein the user is the vendor. - View Dependent Claims (71)
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Specification