Method and apparatus for collecting viewer survey data and for providing compensation for same
First Claim
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1. A method of transmitting a media program to a user computer, comprising:
- transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey, wherein transmitting the message comprises receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user computer, determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information, and transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media program to the user based on the determination;
wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising;
a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and a viewing history of the identified entity selected from;
viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses;
if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey, transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer, accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses, and providing the special version of the media program, generating profile information from the survey responses, and presenting a further media program having advertisements selected based on the survey responses;
wherein the identified entity is offered an option to view the special version of the media program if;
an amount of time elapsed since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity is less than a survey time period, and the number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity exceeds N, and the user has not deleted more than a specified amount of previously accepted survey responses; and
if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would not like to complete the survey, transmitting a standard version of the media program.
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Abstract
To address the requirements described above, a method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user computer. The method permits the user to provide survey responses in exchange for viewing a media program with fewer advertisement, and permits the user to manage the survey responses.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of transmitting a media program to a user computer, comprising:
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transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey, wherein transmitting the message comprises receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user computer, determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information, and transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media program to the user based on the determination;
wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising;
a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and a viewing history of the identified entity selected from;
viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses;if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey, transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer, accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses, and providing the special version of the media program, generating profile information from the survey responses, and presenting a further media program having advertisements selected based on the survey responses;
wherein the identified entity is offered an option to view the special version of the media program if;
an amount of time elapsed since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity is less than a survey time period, and the number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity exceeds N, and the user has not deleted more than a specified amount of previously accepted survey responses; andif a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would not like to complete the survey, transmitting a standard version of the media program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for transmitting a media program to a user computer, comprising:
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means for transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey, wherein the means for transmitting the first message to the user commuter comprises;
means for receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user commuter;
means for determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information; and
means for transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media o ram to the user based on the determination, wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising;
a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and a viewing history of the identified entity selected from;
viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses;means for transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer, for accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses, and for providing the special version of the media program if a second message received from the user computer indicates that the user would like to complete the survey, and wherein the identified entity is offered an option to view the special version of the media program if;
an amount of time elapsed since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity is less than a survey time period, and the number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity exceeds N, and the user has not deleted more than a specified amount of previously accepted survey responses; andmeans for transmitting a standard version of the media program if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would not like to complete the survey. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user computer, comprising:
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a media program provider computer, having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to operate as a specially programmed computer, the instructions comprising instructions for; transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey, receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user computer;
determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information; and
transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media program to the user based on the determination;if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey, performing steps comprising the steps;
transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer;
accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses; and
providing the special version of the media program;
wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising;
a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted;
a viewing history of the identified entity, the viewing history selected from the group comprising;
viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and
a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and
survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses; and
wherein the identified entity is determined to be offered an option to view the special version of the media program if;
the time elapsed since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity is less than a survey time period; and
the number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity exceeds N; and
the user has not deleted more than a specified amount of previously accepted survey responses; andif a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey is not received, transmitting a standard version of the media program. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of transmitting a media program to a user computer, comprising:
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transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey, wherein transmitting the message comprises receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user computer, determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information, and transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media program to the user based on the determination;
wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising;
a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and a viewing history of the identified entity selected from;
viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses; and
wherein the identified entity history data further comprises a login history of the identified entity comprising an elapsed login time between accepting identity information associated with the identified entity and an immediate preceding acceptance of identity information associated with the identified entity;if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey, transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer, accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses, providing the special version of the media program, generating profile information from the survey responses, and presenting a further media program having advertisements selected based on the survey responses; and if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would not like to complete the survey, transmitting a standard version of the media program.
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37. A method of transmitting a media program to a user computer, comprising:
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transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey; if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey, transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer, accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses, and providing the special version of the media program; correlating advertisements presented with the media program with the survey responses; and
presenting the retrieved survey responses with the correlated advertisements;after transmitting the special version of the media program to the user computer in response to the accepted survey responses, accepting a request to modify the survey responses, retrieving the survey responses;
accepting modified survey responses, and storing the modified survey responses; andif a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would not like to complete the survey, transmitting a standard version of the media program. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. An apparatus for transmitting a media program to a user computer, comprising:
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means for transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey, wherein the means for transmitting the first message to the user computer comprises;
means for receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user computer;
means for determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information; and
means for transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media program to the user based on the determination, wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising;
a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and a viewing history of the identified entity selected from;
viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted, and survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses; and
wherein the identified entity history data further comprises a login history of the identified entity comprising an elapsed login time between accepting identity information associated with the identified entity and an immediate preceding acceptance of identity information associated with the identified entity;means for transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer, for accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses, and for providing the special version of the media program if a second message received from the user computer indicates that the user would like to complete the survey; and means for transmitting a standard version of the media program if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would not like to complete the survey.
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42. An apparatus for transmitting a media program to a user computer, comprising:
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means for transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey; means for transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer, for accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses, and for providing the special version of the media program if a second message received from the user computer indicates that the user would like to complete the survey; means for correlating advertisements presented with the media program with the survey responses; and
means for presenting the retrieved survey responses with the correlated advertisements;means for accepting a request to modify the survey responses, for retrieving the survey responses, for accepting modified survey responses and for storing the modified survey responses after transmitting the special version of the media program to the user computer in response to the accepted survey responses; and means for transmitting a standard version of the media program if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would not like to complete the survey. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user computer, comprising:
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a media program provider computer, having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to operate as a specially programmed computer, the instructions comprising instructions for; transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey, receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user computer;
determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information; and
transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media program to the user based on the determination;if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey, performing steps comprising the steps;
transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer;
accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses; and
providing the special version of the media program;
wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising;
a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted;
a viewing history of the identified entity, the viewing history selected from the group comprising;
viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and
a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and
survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses; and
wherein the identified entity history data further comprises a login history of the identified entity comprising an elapsed login time between accepting identity information associated with the identified entity and an immediate preceding acceptance of identity information associated with the identified entity; andif a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey is not received, transmitting a standard version of the media program.
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47. An apparatus for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user computer, comprising:
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a media program provider computer, having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to operate as a specially programmed computer, the instructions comprising instructions for; transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey; if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey, performing steps comprising the steps;
transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer;
accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses; and
providing the special version of the media program;accepting a request to modify the survey responses, for retrieving the survey responses, for accepting modified survey responses and for storing the modified survey responses after transmitting the special version of the media program to the user computer in response to the accepted survey responses; correlating advertisements presented with the media program with the survey responses; and
presenting the retrieved survey responses with the correlated advertisements; andif a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey is not received, transmitting a standard version of the media program. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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Specification