Method and apparatus for distributing promotional materials
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a set-top box comprising a processor, a television program stream;
presenting, by the set-top box, the television program stream;
detecting, by the set-top box, a coupon tag in the television program stream;
retrieving, by the set-top box, the coupon tag from the television program stream;
transmitting, by the set-top box, to a remote server a request for coupon information, the request comprising at least a portion of the coupon tag, an identifier of the set-top box, and descriptive information about the television program stream, wherein the coupon information received from the remote server comprises one of a first coupon and a second coupon, wherein the remote server selects the first coupon responsive to determining from a scheduled presentation date of the television program stream and an approximate time when the request was received by the remote server that the television program stream is consistent with the scheduled presentation date, and wherein the remote server selects the second coupon responsive to determining from the scheduled presentation date of the television program stream and the approximate time when the request was received by the remote server that the television program stream is being presented from a recording thereof;
receiving, by the set-top box, coupon information associated with a coupon without receiving the coupon itself responsive to a determination that a coupon offer is available at approximately a time when the request was transmitted;
presenting, by the set-top box, the coupon information contemporaneously with at least a portion of the television program stream; and
transmitting, by the set-top box, to the remote server a coupon request initiated by a remote controller of the set-top box, wherein the coupon request is transmitted responsive to the remote controller initiating the coupon request within a predetermined time, and wherein transmitting the coupon request causes the remote server to store the coupon at a remote database associated with a user of the set-top box.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a memory coupled to a processor. The processor can be operable to receive a request for promotional information responsive to a media processor detecting a promotional tag in a media program stream and transmit to the media processor promotional information associated with a promotion responsive to a determination that a promotional offer is available. The processor can also be operable to receive from the media processor a request for redeemable material associated with the promotion and store the redeemable material in a portion of a database associated with a user of the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.
20 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving, by a set-top box comprising a processor, a television program stream; presenting, by the set-top box, the television program stream; detecting, by the set-top box, a coupon tag in the television program stream; retrieving, by the set-top box, the coupon tag from the television program stream; transmitting, by the set-top box, to a remote server a request for coupon information, the request comprising at least a portion of the coupon tag, an identifier of the set-top box, and descriptive information about the television program stream, wherein the coupon information received from the remote server comprises one of a first coupon and a second coupon, wherein the remote server selects the first coupon responsive to determining from a scheduled presentation date of the television program stream and an approximate time when the request was received by the remote server that the television program stream is consistent with the scheduled presentation date, and wherein the remote server selects the second coupon responsive to determining from the scheduled presentation date of the television program stream and the approximate time when the request was received by the remote server that the television program stream is being presented from a recording thereof; receiving, by the set-top box, coupon information associated with a coupon without receiving the coupon itself responsive to a determination that a coupon offer is available at approximately a time when the request was transmitted; presenting, by the set-top box, the coupon information contemporaneously with at least a portion of the television program stream; and transmitting, by the set-top box, to the remote server a coupon request initiated by a remote controller of the set-top box, wherein the coupon request is transmitted responsive to the remote controller initiating the coupon request within a predetermined time, and wherein transmitting the coupon request causes the remote server to store the coupon at a remote database associated with a user of the set-top box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, comprising:
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receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a first request for coupon information responsive to a media processor detecting a coupon tag received with a media program stream; transmitting, by the system, to the media processor coupon information associated with a coupon, without transmitting the coupon itself, responsive to a determination that a coupon offer is available at approximately a time when the first request is received; receiving, by the system, from the media processor a second request to acquire the coupon responsive to an action generated by an input device of the media processor; storing, by the system, the coupon in a database associated with a user of the media processor responsive to receiving the second request for the coupon, wherein the coupon is one of a first coupon and a second coupon; selecting, by the system, the first coupon responsive to determining from a scheduled presentation date of the media program and an approximate time when the second request was received that the presentation of the media program is consistent with the scheduled presentation date; and selecting, by the system, the second coupon responsive to determining from the scheduled presentation date and the approximate time when the second request was received that the media program is being presented from a recording of the media program. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A server, comprising:
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a memory to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory;
wherein responsive to executing the instructions, processor performs operations comprising;receiving a request for promotional information responsive to a media processor detecting a promotional tag in a media program stream; transmitting to the media processor promotional information associated with a promotion item responsive to a determination that a promotional offer is available; receiving from the media processor a request for redeemable material associated with the promotion item; storing the redeemable material in a portion of a database associated with a user of the media processor, wherein the redeemable material is a coupon, and wherein the coupon is one of a first coupon and a second coupon; selecting the first coupon responsive to determining that the media program stream is being presented by the media processor during a program presentation schedule; and selecting the second coupon responsive to determining that the media program stream is being presented by the media processor from a recording thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification