System and method for encouraging viewers to watch television programs
First Claim
1. At a television set-top box receiver that is configured to display video television programming that is broadcast from a broadcast signal source to one or more viewers and to receive, display, and store web content encoded in the broadcast from the broadcast signal source, a method for offering reward incentives for the one or more viewers to watch video commercial programs broadcast during commercial breaks, the method comprising:
- at a set-top box receiver, and during a commercial break, receiving a broadcast signal from a broadcast signal source, the broadcast including a video commercial program;
detecting a reward notice trigger in the received broadcast signal, the reward notice trigger storing a location and identity of a reward template stored on the set-top box receiver and at least some text for display to the viewer as notice that the reward notice trigger has been received;
upon detecting the reward notice trigger, generating a reward notice alerting the viewer of a reward for viewing the video commercial program, wherein the reward notice is associated with the reward notice trigger and has a graphical form as defined by the reward template;
detecting a query trigger in the received broadcast signal, the query trigger being received after the reward notice trigger and including a question field storing a question, wherein the question is about content of the video commercial program and a correct answer to the question generally requiring prior viewing of the video commercial program;
displaying the reward notice and, after receiving viewer selection of the reward notice, generating a query interface allowing the viewer to input an answer to the question in the question field of the query trigger, the query interface being based on the query trigger; and
transmitting the answer input by the viewer to a central server for a determination as to whether the viewer is entitled to a reward, entitlement to the reward being based at least in part on the central server determining that the viewer watched the video commercial program as a result of the viewer providing a correct answer to the question from the query trigger.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for encouraging viewers to pay attention to commercials by incentivizing viewers to watch. Viewers are notified that they can receive rewards for answering one or more questions during or at the conclusion of the commercial. To verify that the viewer paid attention to the commercial, the answer to the question may be based on the content of the commercial. A sponsor might ask, for example, that the viewer identify the name of the sponsor or the color of an announcer'"'"'s shirt. A correct answer indicates that the viewer watched the commercial, and the viewer is therefore entitled to some reward. For example, viewers who watch the commercial may be entered in a prize drawing, or may receive prize points, such as frequent-flier miles. In other embodiments, viewers may verify that they watched a given program by selecting an icon or pressing a button on a remote control.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. At a television set-top box receiver that is configured to display video television programming that is broadcast from a broadcast signal source to one or more viewers and to receive, display, and store web content encoded in the broadcast from the broadcast signal source, a method for offering reward incentives for the one or more viewers to watch video commercial programs broadcast during commercial breaks, the method comprising:
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at a set-top box receiver, and during a commercial break, receiving a broadcast signal from a broadcast signal source, the broadcast including a video commercial program; detecting a reward notice trigger in the received broadcast signal, the reward notice trigger storing a location and identity of a reward template stored on the set-top box receiver and at least some text for display to the viewer as notice that the reward notice trigger has been received; upon detecting the reward notice trigger, generating a reward notice alerting the viewer of a reward for viewing the video commercial program, wherein the reward notice is associated with the reward notice trigger and has a graphical form as defined by the reward template; detecting a query trigger in the received broadcast signal, the query trigger being received after the reward notice trigger and including a question field storing a question, wherein the question is about content of the video commercial program and a correct answer to the question generally requiring prior viewing of the video commercial program; displaying the reward notice and, after receiving viewer selection of the reward notice, generating a query interface allowing the viewer to input an answer to the question in the question field of the query trigger, the query interface being based on the query trigger; and transmitting the answer input by the viewer to a central server for a determination as to whether the viewer is entitled to a reward, entitlement to the reward being based at least in part on the central server determining that the viewer watched the video commercial program as a result of the viewer providing a correct answer to the question from the query trigger. - 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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Specification