System and method for monetizing broadcast media based on the number of viewers

• US 8,355,951 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lead Technology Capital Management, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lead Technology Capital Management, LLC
• Inventors: Daniel, Isaac S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US12/702,762
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 725/12, 725/9, 725/10, 348/135, 348/143, 348/152, 348/161, 348/208.1, 348/211.14, 713/186, 382/115, 382/118, 700/258, 700/259, 705/14.69
• US Class Current: 705/14.69
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10

Abstract

A system comprising at least one processor, at least one sensor electronically connected to the at least one processor, at least one means for electronically connecting at least one broadcasting device to the system, wherein the at least one means for electronically connecting at least one broadcasting device is electronically connected to the at least one processor, and computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to use the at least one sensor to determine how many persons or the identity of a person that is capable of perceiving a content broadcasted through at least one broadcasting device electronically connected to the system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a. at least one processor;

b. at least one sensor electronically connected to the at least one processor;

c. at least one means for electronically connecting at least one media content broadcasting device to the system, wherein the at least one means for electronically connecting at least one media content broadcasting device is electronically connected to the at least one processor; and

d. computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to;

i. use a user input device to allow at least one user to purchase authorization to perceive media content to be broadcasted on the at least one media content broadcasting device, wherein purchasing authorization to perceive media content to be broadcasted on the at least one media content broadcasting device comprises allowing the at least one user to purchase authorization for a number of persons to perceive media content to be broadcasted on the at least one media content broadcasting device;

ii. use the at least one sensor to determine a number persons that are capable of perceiving the media content broadcasted through the at least one media content broadcasting device; and

iii. control the media content based on the number of persons that is determined to be capable of perceiving the media content, wherein controlling the media content includes any or all of the following;

ceasing the media content, pausing the media content, playing the media content, or continuing to play the media content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions are further operative to control the media content if the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content exceeds or does not correspond to the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions are further operative to use the user input device to allow the at least one user to change or add to the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one means for communicating with a local device, wherein the means for communicating with a local device is electronically connected to the at least one processor.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one means for communicating with a media content provider, wherein the at least one means for communicating is electronically connected to the at least one processor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the computer executable instructions are further operative to use the at least one means for communicating with a media content provider to transmit or receive information to or from the media content provider.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the information is any or all of the following types of information:

media content, the number of persons authorized to view the media content, billing information, and software updates.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to use the at least one media content broadcasting device to prompt the at least one user to add to or change the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content when it is determined that the number of persons capable of perceiving the media content is greater than or not equal to the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one occupancy sensor positioned near an entrance or exit to a space where the media content is played, wherein the at least one occupancy sensor is operative to determine a number of persons entering or leaving the space where the media content is played.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein purchasing authorization to perceive media content comprises paying a fee for authorization to perceive media content, wherein the fee is based in whole, or in part, on the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one means for restricting access to a space where the media content is played, wherein the restriction is based on the number of persons attempting to enter or leave the space where the media content is played.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to allow the at least one user to select or change the number of persons authorized to perceive the content.

12. A method comprising:

a. using at least one user input device to allow at least one user to purchase authorization to perceive media content, wherein purchasing authorization to perceive media content comprises purchasing authorization for a number of persons to perceive the media content;

b. using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the media content; and

c. controlling the media content based on the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content, wherein controlling the media content based on a number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content comprises wherein controlling the media content includes any or all of the following;

ceasing the media content, pausing the media content, playing the media content, or continuing to play the media content.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising using the at least one media content broadcasting device to prompt the at least one user to add to or change the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content when it is determined that the number of persons capable of perceiving the media content is greater than or not equal to the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the media content comprises a movie.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein controlling the media content based on a number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content comprises:

a. playing the media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content is equal to or less than the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content; and

b. ceasing to play the media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content exceeds the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising using at least one occupancy sensor positioned near an entrance or exit to a space where the media content is played to determine a number of persons entering or leaving a space where the media content is played.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein purchasing authorization to perceive media content comprises paying a fee for authorization to perceive media content, wherein the fee is based in whole, or in part, on the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising restricting access to a space where the media content is played based on the number of persons attempting to enter or leave the space where the media content is played.

25. The method of claim 12, further comprising allowing the at least one user to select or change the number of persons authorized to perceive the content.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

a. using at least one user input device to allow at least one user to purchase authorization to perceive media content, wherein purchasing authorization to perceive media content comprises purchasing authorization for a number of persons to perceive the media content;

b. using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the media content; and

c. controlling the media content based on the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content, wherein controlling the media content includes any or all of the following;

ceasing the media content, pausing the media content, playing the media content, or continuing to play the media content.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein controlling the media content based on a number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content comprises:

a. playing the media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content is equal to or less than the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content; and

b. ceasing to play the media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the media content exceeds the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer executable instructions are further operative to use at least one occupancy sensor positioned near an entrance or exit to a space where the media content is played to determine a number of persons entering or leaving a space where the media content is played.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein purchasing authorization to perceive media content comprises paying a fee for authorization to perceive media content, wherein the fee is based in whole, or in part, on the number of persons authorized to perceive the media content.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer executable instructions are further operative to restrict access to a space where the media content is played based on the number of persons attempting to enter or leave the space where the media content is played.