Apparatus and method for facilitating a purchase using information provided on a media playing device

• US 9,111,311 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Poltorak Media LLC (General Patent Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alexander Poltorak
• Inventors: Poltorak, Alexander I.
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US14/030,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/3.01, 455/3.06, 455/3.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/37 via a different channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• 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: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 : specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 : Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 : Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and method for facilitating a purchase in conjunction with media content information. The apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a transmission of media content, information regarding the content, and information for facilitating a purchase of at least one of a copy of the content, a good, and/or a service. The content may include broadcast media content and entertainment media content. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to process the information regarding the content and the information for facilitating a purchase of the copy of the content, the good, and/or the service. The apparatus also includes a display device for displaying information.

Claims

1. A media player, comprising:

at least one wireless receiver;

at least one device configured to play media content;

at least one input device configured to receive human input;

at least one transmitter;

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the at least one wireless receiver, the at least one device configured to play media content, the at least one input device, the at least one transmitter, and the at least one memory;

wherein;

the at least one memory is machine-readable;

the at least one memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor; and

when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor configures the media player to;

receive through the at least one wireless receiver media content and together with the media content information regarding at least one of a product and a service, the information comprising a price of the at least one of the product and the service, the price being transmitted together with the media content,

obtain from a user through the at least one input device a purchase request for the at least one of the product and the service,

process the purchase request and the information to generate a purchase requisition message for the at least one of the product and the service, and

transmit the purchase requisition message through the at least one transmitter to effect a purchase of the at least one of the product and the service.

2. A media player according to claim 1, wherein:

when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor configures the media player to transmit the purchase requisition message to a central processing facility; and

the purchase requisition message identifies an account for making a payment for the at least one of the product and the service.

3. A media player according to claim 1, wherein:

the media player is a portable device;

the at least one transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter; and

when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor configures the media player to transmit the purchase requisition message wirelessly.

4. A media player according to claim 3, wherein:

when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor configures the media player so that the purchase requisition message identifies the media content.

5. A media player according to claim 4, wherein the media content is contained in a wireless broadcast, and the at least one wireless receiver is configured to receive the wireless broadcast.

6. A media player according to claim 3, further comprising a display coupled to the at least one processor, wherein:

when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor configures the media player to cause the display to show the price of the at least one of the product and the service.

7. A media player according to claim 3, further comprising a display coupled to the at least one processor, wherein:

when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor configures the media player to play the media content through the at least one device configured to play media content, and to show the price of the at least one of the product and the service on the display during playing of the media content.

8. A media player according to claim 3, wherein the media content comprises audio content, the at least one device configured to play media content is configured to play the audio content, the media player further comprises a display coupled to the at least one processor, and the at least one processor renders on the display, during playing of the audio content, the information regarding the at least one of the product and the service.

9. A media player according to claim 3, wherein the media content comprises video content, the at least one device configured to play media content is configured to play the video content, and when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor configures the media player to announce audibly, during playing of the video content, at least part of the information regarding the at least one of the product and the service.

10. A media player according to claim 3, wherein the media content comprises video content, the at least one device configured to play media content is configured to play the video content, the media player further comprises a display coupled to the at least one processor, and when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor configures the media player to announce audibly at least part of the information regarding the at least one of the product and the service, the at least part of the information comprising the price of the at least one of the product and the service.

11. An article of manufacture comprising one or more memory devices storing machine-executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor of a media player, configure the media player to:

receive through a wireless receiver of the media player media content and together with the media content information regarding at least one of a product and a service, the information comprising a price of the at least one of the product and the service, the price being transmitted together with the media content;

receive from a user of the media player through an input device of the media player a purchase request for the at least one of the product and the service;

process the purchase request and the information to generate a purchase requisition message for purchase of the at least one of the product and the service; and

transmit the purchase requisition message through a transmitter of the media player, for processing of the purchase requisition message to effect the purchase of the at least one of the product and the service.

12. An article of manufacture according to claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the media player, configure the media player to transmit the purchase requisition message to a central processing facility, and the purchase requisition message is generated by the media player so that the purchase requisition message identifies an account for making a payment for the at least one of the product and the service.

13. An article of manufacture according to claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the media player, configure the media player to transmit the purchase requisition message wirelessly, and to play the media content.

14. An article of manufacture according to claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the media player, configure the media player so that the purchase requisition message identifies the media content.

15. An article of manufacture according to claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the media player, configure the media player to receive the media content and the media content information in a broadcast.

16. An article of manufacture according to claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the media player, further configure the media player to render the price on a display of the media player.

17. An article of manufacture according to claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the media player, further configure the media player to render the price on a display of the media player during playing of the media content by the media player.

18. An article of manufacture according to claim 13, wherein the media content comprises audio content, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the media player, further configure the media player to render on a display of the media player, during playing of the audio content by the media player, at least part of the information.

19. An article of manufacture according to claim 13, wherein the media content comprises video content, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the media player, further configure the media player to announce audibly, during playing of the video content by the media player, at least part of the information regarding the at least one of the product and the service.

20. An article of manufacture according to claim 13, wherein the media content comprises video content, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the media player, further configure media player to announce audibly the price.

21. An article of manufacture comprising one or more memory devices storing machine-executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus, configure the apparatus to:

transmit wirelessly to a media player media content and information regarding at least one of a product and a service, the information comprising a price of the at least one of the product and the service;

receive from the media player a purchase requisition message generated by the media player in response to receipt by the media player of the media content and the information transmitted by the apparatus;

process a payment for purchasing the at least one of the product and the service, in response to receipt of the purchase requisition message.

22. An article of manufacture according to claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor further configure the apparatus to cause a delivery of the at least one of the product and the service to a user of the media player.

23. An article of manufacture according to claim 21, wherein the purchase requisition message identifies an account of a user of the media player, and the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor further configure the apparatus to cause a payment to be made from the account.

24. An article of manufacture according to claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor configure the apparatus to transmit the media content by broadcasting the media content.

25. An article of manufacture according to claim 21, wherein the media content comprises compressed audio content.

26. An article of manufacture according to claim 21, wherein the media content comprises video content.

27. An article of manufacture according to claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor configure the apparatus to receive from the media player the purchase requisition message through a central processing facility.