Method and system for controlling and auditing content/service systems

• US 20040153385A1
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Accelerate Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Allibhoy, Nizar, Johnson, Stephen M., Fernandez-Silva, Joaquin, Elliott, L. Dane
• Application Number:
  US10/758,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153385A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• 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

Abstract

An improved interactive network system is provided that allows the Network Operator to control the transfer of information to and from the network end users, the system preferably using triggers or markers embedded within the programming broadcast to users via the network. As a consequence of this system, the Network Operator is able to efficiently garner revenues from third parties transacting business over the network and to control the look and feel of programming offered to network users. Additionally the system can be used as a means of limiting network access, filtering programming, providing on-screen graphics or audible signals for particular programming types or providers, bookmarking programming, profiling network users, targeting advertising, and simplifying network transactions.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a plurality of financial transactions between a user receiver and at least one content provider coupled to the user receiver by a network, wherein the tracking is performed by a third party separate from the user receiver and separate from the at least one content provider, the method comprising the steps of:

storing preliminary information for each of the plurality of financial transactions in a third party controlled data base;

obtaining supplemental information for each of the plurality of financial transactions in said third party controlled data base, wherein said obtaining step is performed by the third party;

storing said supplemental information for each of the plurality of financial transactions in said third party controlled data base;

displaying summary information for each of the plurality of financial transactions upon receipt of a display request from the user receiver, wherein said summary information is comprised of at least a portion of said stored preliminary information;

permitting selection of one or more of the financial transactions by the user receiver for finalization;

finalizing said selected one or more financial transactions; and

providing transaction finalization information to each of the at least one content providers affected by said selected one or more financial transactions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying at least one advertisement simultaneously with said summary information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one advertisement includes linking information to a specific content provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said summary information is comprised of purchase tracking information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said summary information is comprised of purchase status information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining display capabilities for the user receiver; and

matching a format corresponding to said displayed summary information to said determined display capabilities.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said finalizing step is further comprised of the step of displaying at least one checkout display screen.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of displaying at least one advertisement simultaneously with said at least one checkout display screen.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one advertisement includes linking information to a specific content provider.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said displayed summary information is displayed as a semi-transparent screen overlay.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said displayed summary information utilizes only a portion of said determined display capabilities of the user receiver.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

permitting selection of one or more of the financial transactions by the user receiver for additional information inquiry;

obtaining said additional information for said selected financial transactions from said third party controlled data base; and

displaying said additional information for said selected financial transactions.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

permitting selection of one or more of the financial transactions by the user receiver for additional information inquiry;

obtaining said additional information for said selected financial transactions from the at least one content provider affected by said selected one or more financial transactions; and

displaying said additional information for said selected financial transactions.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of finalizing said selected one or more financial transactions is performed by a network operator.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of charging each of the at least one content providers affected by said selected one or more financial transactions.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said charging step is performed by an operator of said network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said fee is based on a total number of finalized financial transactions.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said fee to a specific content provider of said at least one content providers is based on a total number of finalized financial transactions occurring between said user receiver and said specific content provider.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said fee is based on a cost associated with said finalized financial transactions.

20. A network-based system for supporting a financial transaction, the system comprising:

a network;

a content provider coupled to said network, wherein said content provider supplies enhanced content programming relating to said financial transaction;

a receiver coupled to said network, said receiver capable of receiving said enhanced content programming and interacting with said content provider via said network;

third party means for intercepting data relating to the financial transaction flowing between said content provider and said receiver via said network;

third party means for directly obtaining supplemental information from said content provider relating to the financial transaction;

a database coupled to said network and said third party means for storing at least a portion of said intercepted data and said supplemental information;

third party means for selecting a portion of said stored data and information to be displayed;

a display coupled to said receiver for displaying said selected portion of said stored data and information;

third party means for finalizing the financial transaction with said receiver; and

third party means for providing financial transaction finalization information to said content provider.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said third party intercepting means detects triggers contained within said enhanced content programming.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said receiver is selected from the group consisting of set-top boxes, telephones, PDAs, and computers.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said network is selected from the group consisting of cable, fiber optics, telephone lines, terrestrial broadcast systems, and satellite broadcast systems.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means for determining a set of display capabilities for said receiver; and

third party means for formatting said selected portion of said stored data and information to correspond to said set of display capabilities.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein said displayed selected portion of said stored data and information is a semi-transparent overlay.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein said displayed selected portion of said stored data and information utilizes only a portion of a screen corresponding to said display.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein said third party intercepting means, said third party means for directly obtaining supplemental information, said third party selecting means, said third party finalizing means, and said third party means for providing financial transaction finalization information is a third party controller coupled to said content provider and to said receiver via said network.

28. The system of claim 20, further comprising third party means for displaying at least one advertisement on said display, said at least one advertisement displayed simultaneously with said selected portion of said stored data and information.