System and method of incentivized advertising

• US 9,633,363 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thnx, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thnx, LLC
• Inventors: Price, Timothy James, Armato, Antonina, Yang, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Sittner, Matthew T
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANSARI, AZAM A
• Application Number:
  US14/076,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 705 141, 705 1439
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0249 based upon budgets or funds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of methods and systems of incentivized advertising are presented. A content identifier identifying a digital content item, such as a song, is displayed on a user computing device. The digital content item is typically of the type available for a purchase price by the general public. A selection icon is provided in visual association with the content identifier. If the icon is selected by the user, an advertisement media item, such as a video advertisement, is presented on the user computing device. If the advertisement media item is presented for at least a requisite ad impression period, the digital content item is imparted to the user for free. Follow-up ad engagement views are typically presented to the user with a button to redeem the earned digital content item. Administrator and server elements are configured to facilitate performance of the method, and to optimize efficient use of advertiser'"'"'s budget.

Claims

1. A method of incentivized advertising, the method comprising:

providing an app for download via a network accessible app store and subsequently obtaining user registration information, the app configured to be downloaded to a computing device of a user equipped with a touch display and a separate web browser, the app configured to cause the computing device to at least;

communicate over a network with one or more servers hosting ads, one or more systems hosting respective libraries of digital content items, including at least a third party library of content, and an application server,

wherein communication over a network with one or more systems hosting respective libraries of digital content items further comprises communication with a third party system for a first plurality of digital content items in a library of digital content items and access, via an application programming interface (API), metadata from the third party system, the first plurality of digital content items including at least music or movie digital content, wherein the third party system offers the first plurality of digital content items for sale;

provide a search user interface enabling the user to search the third party library of content items;

at least partly in response to a determination that the user has provided a user search query via the search user interface, transmit the user search query over the network to the third party system via the API;

receive over the network, via the API, search results resulting from a user search query of the third party library of content items, the search results comprising digital content items corresponding to the user search query;

provide a user navigable listing of the digital content items corresponding to the user search query via the touch display, the listing including respective digital content identifiers, associated touch activated selection icons, and associated touch activated preview controls;

access a preview having a pre-determined time length of a given digital content item from the third party system via the API in response to a determination that the user has activated an associated touch activated preview control;

in response to a determination that the user has activated an associated touch activated selection icon for a first digital content item in the listing of digital content items corresponding to the user search query, enable a streaming video advertisement from an advertisement server to be streamed from the advertisement server and presented to the user via the user computing device and inhibiting the user'"'"'s ability to fast forward through the streamed advertisement when presented to the user;

after at least a portion of the video advertisement has been presented to the user, cause an engagement to occur between the user and a sponsor of the video advertisement at least partly in response to a user action, the engagement comprising at least one of a sponsor landing page engagement, a social media page engagement, or an email engagement;

at least partly in response to a determination that the video advertisement has been presented to the user for at least an ad impression period, the ad impression period less than a full length of the video advertisement and a determination that the engagement, comprising at least one of a sponsor landing page engagement, a social media page engagement, or an email engagement, occurred, enable the first digital content item to be downloaded without digital rights management (DRM), at the user computing device over the network from the third party system.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the search user interface enables the user to search the third party library of digital content items by artist name, album name, and song name.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the listing of digital content items comprises cover art, a song name, and an album name for respective content items.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

selecting content items of the third party library of digital content items that have a first popularity characteristic;

generating a list of content items of the third party library from the selected content items that have the first popularity characteristic;

providing the list of content items of the third party library from the selected content items that have the first popularity characteristic to the user computing device;

in response to a determination that the user has activated an associated touch activated selection icon for a second digital content item in the list of content items of the third party library from the selected content items, enabling a second streaming video advertisement to be presented to the user via the user computing device;

at least partly in response to a determination that the second video advertisement has been presented to the user for a second ad impression period, enabling the second digital content item to be received at the user computing device from the third party system.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising issuing a redemption code to the user, the redemption code being redeemable in exchange for at least one digital content item.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising acquiring from the third party a plurality of redemption codes for redemption of content items from the third party library for future distribution to users that have viewed advertisements.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising acquiring from the third party a plurality of redemption codes for redemption of content items from the third party library, for future distribution to users, wherein a given redemption code in the plurality of redemption codes is electronically transferable by the user to a second user, thereby allowing the second user to acquire a content item from the third party library using the redemption code.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the app is configured to generate user interfaces that mimic in appearance an operating system of the user computing device.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising automatically exhibiting, on the user computing device, an advertiser landing page after the video advertisement has been presented for at least the ad impression period.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the engagement is a social media page engagement.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing an interface enabling the sponsor to customize the engagement by specifying one or more of the following for the engagement:

a landing page URL,

a social profile link, or

email text,

wherein the engagement is based at least in part on the sponsor customization.

12. A computer storage system comprising a non-transitory storage device, said computer storage system having stored thereon executable program instructions that direct a computer system to at least:

communicate over a network with one or more servers hosting ads, one or more systems hosting respective libraries of digital content items, including at least a third party library of content, and an application server,

wherein communication over a network with one or more systems hosting respective libraries of digital content items further comprises communication with a third party system for a first plurality of digital content items in a library of digital content items, and

access, via an application programming interface (API), metadata from the third party system, the first plurality of digital content items including at least music, television, game, software application, or movie digital content, wherein the third party system offers the first plurality of digital content items for sale;

provide a search user interface enabling the user to search the third party library of content items;

at least partly in response to a determination that the user has provided a user search query via the search user interface, transmit the user search query over the network to the third party system via the API;

receive over the network, via the API, search results resulting from a user search query of the third party library of content items, the search results comprising digital content items corresponding to the user search query;

provide a user navigable listing of the digital content items corresponding to the user search query via the touch display, the listing including respective digital content identifiers, associated touch activated selection icons, and associated touch activated preview controls;

access a preview having a pre-determined time length of a given digital content item from the third party system via the API in response to a determination that the user has activated an associated touch activated preview control;

in response to a determination that the user has activated an associated touch activated selection icon for a first digital content item in the listing of digital content items corresponding to the user search query, cause a streaming video advertisement from an advertisement server to be streamed for presentation to the user and inhibit the user'"'"'s ability to fast forward through the streamed advertisement when presented to the user;

after at least a portion of the video advertisement has been presented to the user, cause an engagement to occur between the user and a sponsor of the video advertisement at least partly in response to a user action, the engagement comprising at least one of a sponsor landing page engagement, a social media page engagement, or an email engagement;

at least partly in response to a determination that the video advertisement has been presented to the user for at least an ad impression period, the ad impression period less than a full length of the video advertisement and a determination that the engagement, comprising at least one of a sponsor landing page engagement, a social media page engagement, or an email engagement, occurred, enable the first digital content item to be downloaded without digital rights management (DRM) at a user computing device from the third party system.

13. The computer storage system of claim 12, wherein the search user interface enables the user to search the third party library of digital content items by artist name, album name, and song name.

14. The computer storage system of claim 12, wherein the listing of digital content items comprises cover art, a song name, and an album name for respective content items.

15. The computer storage system of claim 12, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to:

select content items of the third party library of digital content items that have a first popularity characteristic;

generate a list of content items of the third party library from the selected content items that have the first popularity characteristic;

provide the list of content items of the third party library from the selected content items that have the first popularity characteristic to the user computing device;

in response to a determination that the user has activated an associated touch activated selection icon for a second digital content item in the list of content items of the third party library from the selected content items, enable a second streaming video advertisement to be presented to the user via the user computing device;

at least partly in response to a determination that the second video advertisement has been presented to the user for a second ad impression period, enable the second digital content item to be received at the user computing device from the third party system.

16. The computer storage system of claim 12, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to issue a redemption code to the user, the redemption code being redeemable in exchange for at least one digital content item.

17. The computer storage system of claim 12, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to generate user interfaces that mimic in appearance an operating system of the user computing device.

18. The computer storage system of claim 12, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to acquire from the third party a plurality of redemption codes for redemption of content items from the third party library for future distribution to users that have viewed advertisements.

19. The computer storage system of claim 12, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to acquire from the third party a plurality of redemption codes for redemption of content items from the third party library, for future distribution to users, wherein a given redemption code in the plurality of redemption codes is electronically transferable by the user to a second user, thereby allowing the second user to acquire a content item from the third party library using the redemption code.

20. The computer storage system of claim 12, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to automatically exhibit, on the user computing device, an advertiser landing page after the video advertisement has been presented for at least the ad impression period.

21. The computer storage system of claim 12, wherein the engagement is a social media page engagement.

22. The computer storage system of claim 12, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to provide an interface enabling the sponsor to customize the engagement by specifying one or more of the following for the engagement:

a landing page URL,

a social profile link, or

email text,

wherein the engagement is based at least in part on the sponsor customization.

23. A system comprising:

at least one computing device;

a computer storage system comprising a non-transitory storage device, said computer storage system having stored thereon executable program instructions that direct a computer system to at least;

communicate over a network with one or more servers hosting ads, one or more systems hosting respective libraries of digital content items, including at least a third party library of content, and an application server,

wherein communication over a network with one or more systems hosting respective libraries of digital content items further comprises communication with a third party system for a first plurality of digital content items in a library of digital content items;

access, via an application programming interface (API), metadata from the third party system, the first plurality of digital content items including at least music, television, game software application, or movie digital content, wherein the third party system offers the first plurality of digital content items for sale;

provide a search user interface enabling the user to search the third party library of content items;

at least partly in response to a determination that the user has provided a user search query via the search user interface, transmit the user search query over the network to the third party system via the API;

receive over the network, via the API, search results resulting from a user search query of the third party library of content items, the search results comprising digital content items corresponding to the user search query;

provide a user navigable listing of the digital content items corresponding to the user search query via the touch display, the listing including respective digital content identifiers, associated touch activated selection icons, and associated touch activated preview controls;

access a preview having a pre-determined time length of a given digital content item from the third party system via the API in response to a determination that the user has activated an associated touch activated preview control;

in response to a determination that the user has activated an associated touch activated selection icon for a first digital content item in the listing of digital content items corresponding to the user search query, cause a streaming video advertisement from an advertisement server to be streamed for presentation to the user via a user computing device and inhibit the user'"'"'s ability to fast forward through the streamed advertisement when presented to the user;

after at least a portion of the video advertisement has been presented to the user, cause an engagement to occur between the user and a sponsor of the video advertisement at least partly in response to a user action, the engagement comprising at least one of a sponsor landing page engagement, a social media page engagement, or an email engagement;

at least partly in response to a determination that the video advertisement has been presented to the user for at least an ad impression period and a determination that the engagement, comprising at least one of a sponsor landing page engagement, a social media page engagement, or an email engagement, occurred, enable the first digital content item to be downloaded without digital rights management (DRM) at the user computing device from the third party system.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the search user interface enables the user to search the third party library of digital content items by artist name, album name, and song name.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the listing of digital content items comprises cover art, a song name, and an album name for respective content items.

26. The system of claim 23, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to:

select content items of the third party library of digital content items that have a first popularity characteristic;

generate a list of content items of the third party library from the selected content items that have the first popularity characteristic;

provide the list of content items of the third party library from the selected content items that have the first popularity characteristic to the user computing device;

in response to a determination that the user has activated an associated touch activated selection icon for a second digital content item in the list of content items of the third party library from the selected content items, enable a second streaming video advertisement to be presented to the user via the user computing device;

at least partly in response to a determination that the second video advertisement has been presented to the user for a second ad impression period, enable the second digital content item to be received at the user computing device from the third party system.

27. The system of claim 23, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to issue a redemption code to the user, the redemption code being redeemable in exchange for at least one digital content item.

28. The system of claim 23, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to generate user interfaces that mimic in appearance an operating system of the user computing device.

29. The system of claim 23, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to acquire from the third party a plurality of redemption codes for redemption of content items from the third party library for future distribution to users that have viewed advertisements.

30. The system of claim 23, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to acquire from the third party a plurality of redemption codes for redemption of content items from the third party library, for future distribution to users, wherein a given redemption code in the plurality of redemption codes is electronically transferable by the user to a second user, thereby allowing the second user to acquire a content item from the third party library using the redemption code.

31. The system of claim 23, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to automatically exhibit, on the user computing device, an advertiser landing page after the video advertisement has been presented for at least the ad impression period.

32. The system of claim 23, further comprising the user computing device.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the engagement is a social media page engagement.

34. The system of claim 23, the executable program instructions further configured to direct the computer system to provide an interface enabling the sponsor to customize the engagement by specifying one or more of the following for the engagement:

a landing page URL,

a social profile link, or

email text,

wherein the engagement is based at least in part on the sponsor customization.