Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing interactive content-based activities

• US 20060075452A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/958,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20060075452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• 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 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• 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

Exemplary embodiments relate to methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing interactive content-based activities. The method includes selecting a content identifier in response to a broadcast. The content identifier is associated with the broadcast. The method also includes initiating a request for an activity via the content identifier. The content identifier is mapped to the activity.

Claims

1. A method for implementing interactive content-based activities, comprising:

selecting a content identifier in response to a broadcast, the content identifier associated with the broadcast; and

initiating a request for an activity via the content identifier, the content identifier being mapped to the activity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content identifier is received simultaneous with the broadcast.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting a log of content identifiers associated with current or recent broadcasts, wherein the selecting includes selecting a content identifier from the log.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast includes at least one of:

a video program;

an audio program;

music;

news;

sports;

advertisement;

promotion;

movie;

radio frequency broadcast; and

Internet radio broadcast.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content identifier is transmitted using Radio Data System or Radio Broadcast Data System standards.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is initiated during the broadcast that is associated with the selected content identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity includes at least one of:

a content download including at least one of;

software;

document;

music file;

video file;

image; and

a multi-media item;

information relating to the broadcast;

a document;

additional data related to the broadcast;

a contest entry;

a product purchase; and

a service purchase.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content identifier is selected via at least one of a:

personal computer;

personal digital assistant;

a web-enabled cellular telephone; and

a web-enabled digital media device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is initiated via at least one of a:

personal computer;

personal digital assistant;

a web-enabled cellular telephone; and

a web-enabled digital media device.

10. An apparatus for implementing interactive content-based activities, comprising:

a content receiver for receiving a broadcast and a content identifier, the content identifier associated with the broadcast; and

a content storage/player in communication with the content receiver, the content storage/player operable for selecting the content identifier from the content receiver and initiating a request for an activity via the content identifier, the content identifier being mapped to the activity.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the content identifier is received simultaneous with the broadcast.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the content storage/player includes:

a local data transceiver for receiving supplementary content information from a receiving device, the receiving device providing a broadcast event;

a display means in communication with the local data transceiver, the display means operable for displaying the supplementary content information and selectable options;

an input means for requesting the supplementary content information and selecting one of the available options; and

a network data transceiver for initiating a request for an activity associated with the broadcast event, the activity mapped to the supplementary content information.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the broadcast includes at least one of:

a video program;

an audio program;

music;

news;

sports;

advertisement;

promotion;

movie;

radio frequency broadcast; and

Internet radio broadcast.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the request is initiated during the broadcast that is associated with the selected content identifier.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the activity includes at least one of:

a content download including at least one of;

software;

document;

music file;

video file;

image; and

a multi-media item;

information relating to the broadcast;

a document;

a contest entry;

a product purchase; and

a service purchase.

16. A method for implementing interactive content-based activities, comprising:

associating a content identifier with a broadcast event;

mapping the content identifier to an activity, the activity including at least one of a product purchase, a service purchase, an information request, a contest entry, and a promotional event;

storing results of the mapping in a table;

receiving a request to initiate the activity, the request including a corresponding content identifier;

retrieving information relating to the activity from the table; and

executing the request.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the broadcast event includes at least one of:

a video program;

an audio program;

music;

news;

sports;

advertisement;

promotion;

movie;

radio frequency broadcast; and

Internet radio broadcast.

18. A system for implementing interactive content-based activities, comprising:

a transaction server for associating a content identifier with a broadcast event and mapping the content identifier to an activity, the activity including at least one of a product purchase, a service purchase, an information request, a contest entry, and a promotional event;

a storage device in communication with the transaction server, the storage device operable for storing results of the mapping in a table; and

a network link to a content storage/player, the content storage/player in communication with a receiver;

wherein upon receiving a request to initiate the activity from the content storage/player, the transaction server retrieves information relating to the activity from the table and executes the request, the request including a corresponding content identifier.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the broadcast event includes at least one of:

a video program;

an audio program;

music;

news;

sports;

advertisement;

promotion;

movie;

radio frequency broadcast; and

Internet radio broadcast.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the request is initiated during the broadcast event that is associated with the selected content identifier.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the activity includes at least one of:

a content download including at least one of;

software;

document;

music file;

video file;

image; and

a multi-media item;

information relating to the broadcast;

a document;

a contest entry;

a product purchase; and

a service purchase.

22. A computer program product for establishing a trusted network, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

selecting a content identifier in response to a broadcast, the content identifier associated with the broadcast; and

initiating a request for an activity via the content identifier, the content identifier being mapped to the activity.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the content identifier is received simultaneous with the broadcast.