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Interactive privilege supply system

  • US 8,700,454 B2
  • Filed: 12/18/2003
  • Issued: 04/15/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An interactive privilege supply system in which a user terminal device, a privilege supply device, and a product supply device are connected via a network,wherein said product supply device includes means for generating privilege data in which a privilege is interlocked with time;

  • said user terminal device includes means for generating entry data within a predetermined period of time in accordance with said privilege data and contingency data, which is contained in program data for a broadcast program, wherein said program data is transmitted at least from said privilege supply device, and wherein at least a portion of said contingency data is intended to induce viewer interest in said broadcast program and to promote sales of any of a product and service associated with said privilege data; and

    said privilege supply device includes means for generating result data, which contains validity period information about product privilege purchase, in accordance with a relationship between said contingency data and said entry data, andwherein said privilege supply device uses an electronic program guide (EPG) for a data broadcast or a home page to announce said contingency data, andwherein said viewer can view more information concerning said contingency data by interactively selecting a portion of said EPG data associated with said contingency data, the more information concerning said contingency data varying on a program-to-program basis,the more information including information indicative of a game relating to the program and a product, the game being a game in which the viewer may participate, and the product being a product that the viewer may purchase at a reduced cost by using points accumulated according to the viewer'"'"'s success in the game, the viewer'"'"'s success in the game being related to the accuracy with which the viewer can predict an outcome to occur within the broadcast program, wherein the broadcast program is a live event whose subject is defined as the event transpires, and wherein the viewer can participate in the game before and after start of transmission of the program data for the broadcast program related to the game for reception by the user terminal device,wherein said privilege data represents a number of points for providing to the viewer as a privilege, based on participation by the viewer in the game relating to the program,wherein the number of points is dependent upon a timing relationship between a time at which the viewer causes the user terminal device to generate the entry data for the game and a time at which transmission of the program data for the program related to the game for reception by the user terminal device starts,wherein, when the entry data for the game is caused to be generated before the start of transmission of the program data for the program related to the game, a first number of points is providable to the viewer as the privilege and, when the entry data for the game is caused to be generated after the start of transmission of the program data for the program related to the game, a second number of points is providable to the viewer as the privilege, wherein the first number of points exceeds the second number of points.

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