Method and system for integrating television brand advertising with promotional marketing

• US 8,739,203 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quotient Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quotient Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Bova, Alfred T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dubasky, Gigi L
• Application Number:
  US13/113,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20110225604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 725/23, 705/14.1, 705 1413- 1414, 705/14.23, 705/14.49
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0249 based upon budgets or funds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A method for integrating television brand advertising with promotional marketing includes providing an image to be displayed in different television commercials for products from different advertisers, the image indicating a website; and providing at the website coupon offers for the products from the different advertisers. The image will alert a viewer of the television commercial that a special coupon offer is available at a website. The viewer will go to the website and be able to select from one or more coupon offers available to consumers in their market area. The consumer then prints the coupons, or adds credit to a coupon card, which is then redeemed at the retailer. The system allows for Point Of Sale (POS) redemption, or more traditional redemption through a coupon clearinghouse. The television commercials may be encoded with information to be used at a television signal processing location for selecting the images, and different images may be provided to television signal processing locations associated with different market areas.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

communicating to a video signal processing location first data indicating a plurality of commercials into which to insert indicators comprising a first image that indicates that a coupon is available via a web-based server;

communicating to the video signal processing location second data indicating, for each commercial in the plurality of commercials, data that associates the commercial with a particular price point of a plurality of price points, the particular price point being for a particular coupon associated with the commercial;

wherein the first data and the second data collectively indicate at least that, prior to transmitting a first commercial, the video signal processing location is to insert into the first commercial a first indicator comprising the first image and a second image that indicates that a first coupon, for a first product associated with the first commercial, is available on the web-based server at a first price point, of the plurality of price points;

wherein the first data and the second data collectively indicate at least that, prior to transmitting a second commercial, the video signal processing location is to insert into the second commercial a second indicator comprising the first image and a third image that indicates that a second coupon, for a second product associated with the second commercial, is available on the web-based server at a second price point, of the plurality of price points, the second price point being different than the first price point;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first price point and the second price point are one of a coupon discount or coupon value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to the first commercial being transmitted with the first price point, receiving updated coupon information that includes an update to the first price point; and

communicating to the video signal processing location updated second data indicating the update to the first price point;

wherein the first data and the updated second data collectively indicate at least that, prior to retransmitting a first commercial, the video signal processing location is to insert into the first commercial an indicator comprising the first image and a fourth image that indicates the update to the first price point of the plurality of price points.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting to a coupon provider coupon statistics for the first coupon corresponding to the first price point, the coupon statistics including at least one of;

redemption statistics for the first coupon, print statistics for the first coupon, or storage statistics for the first coupon;

receiving the updated coupon information from the coupon provider in response to the coupon statistics.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving coupon information from a plurality of coupon providers, the coupon information describing a plurality of coupon offers, the coupon information further indicating the plurality of price points and a second plurality of commercials associated with the plurality of coupon offers;

wherein the coupon information further indicates, for each coupon offer of the plurality of coupon offers, a first parameter corresponding to one or more geographic market areas that are desired by an advertiser;

using the first parameter for each coupon offer of the plurality of coupon offers to determine, for each of multiple video signal processing locations, into which of the second plurality of commercials the first image is to be inserted;

determining the plurality of commercials into which the video signal processing location is to insert the first image based on the first parameter for each of the plurality of coupon offers.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting to a coupon provider coupon statistics for the first coupon corresponding to the first price point, the coupon statistics including at least one of;

redemption statistics for the first coupon, print statistics for the first coupon, or storage statistics for the first coupon;

receiving updated coupon information from the coupon provider in response to the coupon statistics, the updated coupon information including updated first parameters; and

re-selecting the multiple video signal processing locations based on and responsive to receiving the update of the one or more parameters.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the web-based server, a request from a particular computing device;

determining that the particular computing device is in a geographic area that corresponds to the video signal processing location;

selecting a set of coupon offers for the particular computing device based at least on which of a plurality of coupon offers are associated with the plurality of commercials into which the video signal processing location was instructed to insert indicators comprising the first image;

in response to the request from the particular computing device, providing a user of the particular computing device with access to the selected set of coupon offers via the web-based server.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing the user, via the web-based server, with one or more of:

a printable coupon corresponding to the first price point, or an electronically stored coupon corresponding the first price point.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image indicates at least a portion of a Uniform Resource Locator.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data comprises the first image and the second image.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data and the second data collectively indicate to the video signal processing location to insert the first indicator by graphically overlaying the first indicator upon the first commercial.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of commercials;

receiving a first image that indicates that a coupon is available via a web-based server;

receiving advertisement information that at least identifies a set of commercials in the plurality of commercials into which to insert indicators comprising the first image prior to transmission of the commercials, and at least indicates, for each particular commercial of the identified set of commercials, a separate image to include with the first image in a particular indicator to be inserted in the particular commercial, wherein the separate image indicates a price point, the price point being for a particular coupon associated with the particular commercial;

based on the advertisement information, prior to transmitting a first commercial, inserting into the first commercial a first indicator comprising the first image and a second image that indicates that a first coupon, for a first product associated with the first commercial, is available on the web-based server at a first price point of a plurality of price points;

based on the advertisement information, prior to transmitting a second commercial, inserting into the second commercial a second indicator comprising the first image and a second image that indicates that a second coupon, for a second product associated with the second commercial, is available on the web-based server at a second price point of the plurality of price points, wherein the second price point is different than the first price point;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the first price point and the second price point are one of a coupon discount or coupon value.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first image indicates at least a portion of a Uniform Resource Locator.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

subsequent to transmitting the first commercial with the first price point, receiving updated advertisement information that includes an update to the first price point; and

based on the updated advertisement information, prior to retransmitting the first commercial, inserting into the first commercial an indicator comprising the first image and a fourth image that indicates the updated first price point.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the advertisement information comprises the first image and the second image.

25. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting the first indicator by graphically overlaying the first indicator upon the first commercial.

16. A method comprising:

communicating, across one or more networks, to multiple video signal processing locations, advertisement information configured to facilitate identification of a particular commercial into which the multiple video signal processing locations are to insert indicators prior to transmission of the particular commercial, wherein the indicators indicate that a coupon offer is available via a web-based server;

communicating to a first video signal processing location first indicator information describing a first indicator that the first video signal processing location is to insert into the particular commercial prior to transmitting the particular commercial, the first indicator depicting a first price point, of a plurality of price points, and indicating that a first coupon, for a product associated with the particular commercial, is available on the web-based server at the first price point;

communicating to a second video signal processing location second indicator information describing a second indicator that the second video signal processing location is to insert into the same particular commercial prior to transmitting the particular commercial, the second indicator depicting a second price point, of the plurality of price points and different than the first price point, and indicating that a second coupon, for the same product associated with the same particular commercial, is available on the web-based server at the second price point;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein communicating the first indicator comprises communicating to the first video signal processing location a first image that indicates that a coupon is available via the web-based server and information indicating the first price point;

wherein the first video signal processing location is configured to build the first indicator using the first image and the information indicating the first price point.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information indicating the first price point is a second image.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first image indicates at least a portion of a Uniform Resource Locator.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the first price point and the second price point are one of a coupon discount or coupon value.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving coupon information from a coupon provider, the coupon information describing the coupon offer, the coupon information further indicating that the coupon offer is associated with the particular commercial;

wherein the coupon information further indicates, for each particular price point of the plurality of price points, including the first price point and the second price point, a first parameter corresponding to one or more geographic market areas that are targeted for the particular price point offer;

using the first parameter for each particular price point of the plurality of price points to determine which of the plurality price points to indicate to which of the multiple video signal processing locations.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, at the web-based server, a request from a particular computing device;

determining that the particular computing device is in a geographic area that corresponds to the first video signal processing location;

in response to the request from the particular computing device, providing a user of the particular computing device with access to the coupon offers via the web-based server at the first price point.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing the user, via the web-based server, with one or more of:

a printable coupon corresponding to the first price point, or an electronically stored coupon corresponding the first price point.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the first indicator information indicates to the first video processing location to insert the first indicator by graphically overlaying the first indicator upon the particular commercial.

27. A system comprising:

one or more server computer devices, the one or more server computer devices comprising one or more processors that are collectively configured to execute instructions that cause;

communicating to a video signal processing location first data indicating a plurality of commercials into which to insert indicators comprising a first image that indicates that a coupon is available via a web-based server;

communicating to the video signal processing location second data indicating, for each commercial in the plurality of commercials, data that associates the commercial with a particular price point of a plurality of price points, the particular price point being for a particular coupon associated with the commercial;

wherein the first data and the second data collectively indicate at least that, prior to transmitting a first commercial, the video signal processing location is to insert into the first commercial a first indicator comprising the first image and a second image that indicates that a first coupon, for a first product associated with the first commercial, is available on the web-based server at a first price point, of the plurality of price points;

wherein the first data and the second data collectively indicate at least that, prior to transmitting a second commercial, the video signal processing location is to insert into the second commercial a second indicator comprising the first image and a third image that indicates that a second coupon, for a second product associated with the second commercial, is available on the web-based server at a second price point, of the plurality of price points, the second price point being different than the first price point.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the instructions further cause:

wherein each of the first price point and the second price point are one of a coupon discount or coupon value;

subsequent to the first commercial being transmitted with the first price point, receiving updated coupon information that includes an update to the first price point; and

communicating to the video signal processing location updated second data indicating the update to the first price point;

wherein the first data and the updated second data collectively indicate at least that, prior to retransmitting a first commercial, the video signal processing location is to insert into the first commercial an indicator comprising the first image and a fourth image that indicates the update to the first price point of the plurality of price points.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the instructions further cause:

receiving coupon information from a plurality of coupon providers, the coupon information describing a plurality of coupon offers, the coupon information further indicating the plurality of price points and a second plurality of commercials associated with the plurality of coupon offers;

wherein the coupon information further indicates, for each coupon offer of the plurality of coupon offers, a first parameter corresponding to one or more geographic market areas that are desired by an advertiser;

using the first parameter for each coupon offer of the plurality of coupon offers to determine, for each of multiple video signal processing locations, into which of the second plurality of commercials the first image is to be inserted;

determining the plurality of commercials into which the video signal processing location is to insert the first image based on the first parameter for each of the plurality of coupon offers;

transmitting to a coupon provider coupon statistics for the first coupon corresponding to the first price point, the coupon statistics including at least one of;

redemption statistics for the first coupon, print statistics for the first coupon, or storage statistics for the first coupon;

receiving updated coupon information from the coupon provider in response to the coupon statistics, the updated coupon information including updated first parameters; and

re-selecting the multiple video signal processing locations based on and responsive to receiving the update of the one or more parameters.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the instructions further cause:

wherein the first image indicates at least a portion of a Uniform Resource Locator;

receiving, at the web-based server, a request from a particular computing device;

determining that the particular computing device is in a geographic area that corresponds to the video signal processing location;

selecting a set of coupon offers for the particular computing device based at least on which of a plurality of coupon offers are associated with the plurality of commercials into which the video signal processing location was instructed to insert indicators comprising the first image;

in response to the request from the particular computing device, providing a user of the particular computing device with access to the selected set of coupon offers via the web-based server;

providing the user, via the web-based server, with one or more of;

a printable coupon corresponding to the first price point, or an electronically stored coupon corresponding the first price point.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the second data comprises the first image and the second image.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the first data and the second data collectively indicate to the video signal processing location to insert the first indicator by graphically overlaying the first indicator upon the first commercial.

33. A system comprising:

one or more server computer devices, the one or more server computer devices comprising one or more processors that are collectively configured to execute instructions that cause;

receiving a plurality of commercials;

receiving a first image that indicates that a coupon is available via a web-based server;

receiving advertisement information that at least identifies a set of commercials in the plurality of commercials into which to insert indicators comprising the first image prior to transmission of the commercials, and at least indicates, for each particular commercial of the identified set of commercials, a separate image to include with the first image in a particular indicator to be inserted in the particular commercial, wherein the separate image indicates a price point, the price point being for a particular coupon associated with the particular commercial;

based on the advertisement information, prior to transmitting a first commercial, inserting into the first commercial a first indicator comprising the first image and a second image that indicates that a first coupon, for a first product associated with the first commercial, is available on the web-based server at a first price point of a plurality of price points;

based on the advertisement information, prior to transmitting a second commercial, inserting into the second commercial a second indicator comprising the first image and a second image that indicates that a second coupon, for a second product associated with the second commercial, is available on the web-based server at a second price point of the plurality of price points, wherein the second price point is different than the first price point.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the instructions further cause:

wherein each of the first price point and the second price point are one of a coupon discount or coupon value;

wherein the first image indicates at least a portion of a Uniform Resource Locator;

subsequent to transmitting the first commercial with the first price point, receiving updated advertisement information that includes an update to the first price point; and

based on the updated advertisement information, prior to retransmitting the first commercial, inserting into the first commercial an indicator comprising the first image and a fourth image that indicates the updated first price point;

wherein the advertisement information comprises the first image and the second image.

35. The system of claim 33, further comprising inserting the first indicator by graphically overlaying the first indicator upon the first commercial.

36. A system comprising:

one or more server computer devices, the one or more server computer devices comprising one or more processors that are collectively configured to execute instructions that cause;

communicating, across one or more networks, to multiple video signal processing locations, advertisement information configured to facilitate identification of a particular commercial into which the multiple video signal processing locations are to insert indicators prior to transmission of the particular commercial, wherein the indicators indicate that a coupon offer is available via a web-based server;

communicating to a first video signal processing location first indicator information describing a first indicator that the first video signal processing location is to insert into the particular commercial prior to transmitting the particular commercial, the first indicator depicting a first price point, of a plurality of price points, and indicating that a first coupon, for a product associated with the particular commercial, is available on the web-based server at the first price point;

communicating to a second video signal processing location second indicator information describing a second indicator that the second video signal processing location is to insert into the same particular commercial prior to transmitting the particular commercial, the second indicator depicting a second price point, of the plurality of price points and different than the first price point, and indicating that a second coupon, for the same product associated with the same particular commercial, is available on the web-based server at the second price point.

37. The system of claim 36,

wherein communicating the first indicator comprises communicating to the first video signal processing location a first image that indicates that a coupon is available via the web-based server and information indicating the first price point;

wherein the first video signal processing location is configured to build the first indicator using the first image and the information indicating the first price point.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the information indicating the first price point is a second image.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the instructions further cause:

wherein each of the first price point and the second price point are one of a coupon discount or coupon value;

receiving coupon information from a coupon provider, the coupon information describing the coupon offer, the coupon information further indicating that the coupon offer is associated with the particular commercial;

wherein the coupon information further indicates, for each particular price point of the plurality of price points, including the first price point and the second price point, a first parameter corresponding to one or more geographic market areas that are targeted for the particular price point offer;

using the first parameter for each particular price point of the plurality of price points to determine which of the plurality price points to indicate to which of the multiple video signal processing locations.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the instructions further cause:

wherein the first image indicates at least a portion of a Uniform Resource Locator;

receiving, at the web-based server, a request from a particular computing device;

determining that the particular computing device is in a geographic area that corresponds to the first video signal processing location;

in response to the request from the particular computing device, providing a user of the particular computing device with access to the coupon offers via the web-based server at the first price point;

further comprising providing the user, via the web-based server, with one or more of;

a printable coupon corresponding to the first price point, or an electronically stored coupon corresponding the first price point.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the first indicator information indicates to the first video processing location to insert the first indicator by graphically overlaying the first indicator upon the particular commercial.