REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RELATED TO BROADCAST NETWORK CONTENT

• US 20090288109A1
• Filed: 05/18/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invidi Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Daniel C., Downey, David, Anderson, Bruce J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,146,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A request for information (RFI) system is provided for use in communications networks including broadcast networks and the internet. In one implementation, a viewer of a cable television network enters an RFI input (1) to a digital set top box using a user remote. Based on this RFI input, the digital set top box transmits a data request (2) to an RFI data center. The RFI data center also receives asset data (3) from an asset database so as to associate the RFI input (1) with a particular asset. An RFI request (4) can then be transmitted to the appropriate asset provider. The asset provider can then provide a report such package of assets or follow-on information (5) back to the RFI data center. The RFI data center may then, in turn, provide the package of assets or follow-on information to a user data terminal, for example, of the cable television network viewer, via access through a web-portal or e-mail (6). The digital set top box may also record inputs from the user to verify consumption of assets and track data requests. Using this information, the RFI data center or an RFI platform may credit value to a rewards account established for the network user based on the user'"'"'s verified consumption of assets and/or data requests. Further, the RFI data center or RFI platform may be used to collect consumer behavior information, including purchasing decisions made by the user after consumption of assets, and correlate the consumer behavior information with the user'"'"'s verified asset consumption.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing information to users of a broadcast network, comprising the steps of:

providing a targeted asset system in connection with said broadcast network, wherein assets are targeted to said users of said broadcast network by matching target parameters of an asset to classification parameters of said users;

receiving, from a user equipment device of said broadcast network, request information regarding an indication of interest specific to a broadcast network user, said indication being associated with delivery of first broadcast content to said network user via said user equipment device;

using a data structure for making an association of said request information to a first information provider; and

based on said association, providing information of said first information provider from a remote location to said broadcast network user.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said broadcast network comprises a cable television network and said step of receiving comprises processing a communication from a set top box based on an input from a remote control.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said remote control is a multi-purpose remote control.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said request information identifies a time of said input and a content stream of said first broadcast content.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said request information identifies said first broadcast content.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of providing comprises delivering said information to said network user.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said information is delivered to said network user via a communications network different than said broadcast network.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said information is delivered to said network user via one of access through a web-portal, e-mail, direct mail, or telephone.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of providing information comprises forwarding information regarding said request to an agent for contacting said broadcast network user on behalf of said first information provider.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said user equipment device is associated with multiple users and said method further comprises the step of identifying said broadcast network user associated with said input from among said multiple users.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first broadcast content is an advertisement.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said advertisement is delivered during a break in programming.

13. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said targeted asset system is a targeted advertising system and said first broadcast content is an advertisement targeted to said broadcast network user.

14. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving, from said user equipment device of said broadcast network, one or more signals regarding a consumption status of said first broadcast content.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said first broadcast content is an advertisement targeted to said broadcast network user.

16. A method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a rewards account for said broadcast network user; and

crediting value to said rewards account based on one of said indication of interest specific to said broadcast network user or said consumption status of said first broadcast content.

17. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said consumption status of said first broadcast content comprises information regarding non-consumed first broadcast content, and further comprising the step of adjusting a billing value based at least in part on said non-consumed first broadcast content.

18. A method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the step of collecting, via a platform of said broadcast network, consumer behavior information associated with said network user.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said consumer behavior information comprises information relating to purchasing decisions made by said network user.

20. A method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising the step of crediting value to said rewards account based on said consumer behavior information.

21. A method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising the step of correlating, via said platform of said broadcast network, said consumer behavior information with one of said indication of interest specific to said broadcast network user or said consumption status of said first broadcast content.

22-48. -48. (canceled)

49. An apparatus for use in providing information to users of a broadcast network, comprising:

data structure for receiving, via a first path from a user equipment device of said broadcast network, request information regarding an input from a broadcast network user, said input being associated with delivery of first broadcast content to said broadcast network user via said user equipment device; and

a processor operative for making an identification of said request information to a first information provider and, based on said identification, outputting information of said first information provider from a remote location to a second network device via a second path, wherein said second network device is different than said user equipment device and said second path is separate from said user equipment device.

50. An apparatus as set forth in claim 49, wherein said request information identifies said first broadcast content.

51. An apparatus as set forth in claim 49, wherein said information of said first information provider is output to said second network device via a communications network different than said broadcast network.

52. An apparatus as set forth in claim 49, wherein said information of said first information provider is output to said network user via one of access through a web-portal, e-mail, direct mail, or telephone.

53. An apparatus as set forth in claim 49, wherein said first broadcast content is an advertisement.

54. An apparatus as set forth in claim 49 wherein said data structure is configured to receive, from said user equipment device of said broadcast network, one or more signals regarding a consumption status of said first broadcast content.

55. An apparatus as set forth in claim 54, further comprising a rewards platform for establishing a rewards account for said broadcast network user, wherein value is credited to said rewards account based on one of said consumption status of said first broadcast content or said input from said broadcast network user.

56. An apparatus as set forth in claim 55, further comprising a request for information platform for collecting consumer behavior information associated with said broadcast network user.

57. An apparatus as set forth in claim 56, wherein value is credited to said rewards account based on said consumer behavior information.

58. An apparatus as set forth in claim 56, wherein said request for information platform includes a processor is operative to correlate said consumer behavior information with one of said consumption status of said first broadcast content or said input from said broadcast network user.

59-83. -83. (canceled)

84. A method for use in providing information to users of a broadcast network, comprising the steps of:

delivering, via a user equipment device, first broadcast content to a broadcast network user, wherein said first broadcast content includes a request for information icon (“

RFI icon”

) that indicates an availability of follow-on information corresponding to said first broadcast content;

providing a network platform, separate from said user equipment device, for receiving request information, wherein said request information is associated with a request for information input (“

RFI input”

) from said broadcast network user, and wherein said RFI input is in response to said RFI icon;

receiving, at said network platform, said request information; and

based on said request information, identifying a subject matter of said first broadcast content.

85. A method as set forth in claim 84, wherein said RFI input is entered contemporaneously with the display of said RFI icon.

86. A method as set forth in claim 84, further comprising providing said follow-on information to said first broadcast user via a web-portal.

87. A method as set forth in claim 86, wherein said web-portal is accessible to said first broadcast user via a mobile computing device.

88. A method as set forth in claim 86, further comprising receiving, from said broadcast network user, consumer behavior information for said broadcast network user via said web-portal.

89. A method as set forth in claim 86, wherein said web-portal is linked to one or more third-party databases.

90. A method as set forth in claim 89, further comprising receiving, from said one or more third-party databases, consumer behavior information for said broadcast network user via said web-portal.