METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING VIEWER SURVEY DATA AND FOR PROVIDING COMPENSATION FOR SAME

• US 20100077095A1
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Kilar, Jason Alan, Wong, Robert Masao, Tom, Richard Waiven, Wei, Eugene Chuan-Huai
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• 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 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

To address the requirements described above, a method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user computer. The method permits the user to provide survey responses in exchange for viewing a media program with fewer advertisement, and permits the user to manage the survey responses.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a media program to a user computer, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey;

if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey, performing steps comprising the steps of;

transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer;

accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses; and

providing the special version of the media program;

if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would not like to complete the survey, transmitting a standard version of the media program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the special version of the media program comprises fewer advertisements than a standard version of the media program.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

previous to the transmission of the first message to the user computer, receiving a media program request from the user computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first message is transmitted in response to the media program request.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the first message is transmitted after the media program request and in response to an advertisement opportunity within the media program, wherein an advertisement is scheduled to be included in the standard version of the media program during the advertisement opportunity; and

the special version of the media program omits the advertisement.

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

if a second message is not received within a time period after transmitting the first message to the user computer, the second message indicating whether the user would like to complete the survey, providing the special version of the media program.

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

generating profile information from the survey responses; and

presenting a further media program having advertisements selected based on the survey responses.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting the first message to the user computer comprises the steps of:

receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user computer;

determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information; and

transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media program to the user based on the determination.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the user computer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising:

a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted;

a viewing history of the identified entity, the viewing history selected from the group comprising;

viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and

a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and

survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the identified entity is determined to be offered an option to view the second version of the media program if:

the time elapsed since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity is less than a survey time period; and

the number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity exceeds N; and

the user has not deleted more than a specified amount of previously accepted survey responses.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the identified entity history data further comprises a login history of the identified entity.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the login history of the identified entity comprises an elapsed login time between accepting identity information associated with the identified entity and an immediate preceding acceptance of identity information associated with the identified entity.

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

after transmitting the second version of the media program to the user computer in response to the accepted survey responses, performing steps comprising the steps of;

accepting a request to modify the survey responses;

retrieving the survey responses;

accepting modified survey responses; and

storing the modified survey responses.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the retrieved survey responses comprise first survey responses provided in response to a first survey having a first plurality of questions, each of the first plurality of survey questions associated with at least one of a plurality of survey question categories; and

wherein the retrieved survey responses are organized into at least one of a plurality of survey categories.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the retrieved survey responses comprise;

first survey responses provided in response to a first survey having a first plurality of questions; and

second survey responses provided in response to a second survey having a second plurality of questions;

wherein the retrieved survey responses are organized according to the first survey and the second survey.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

correlating profile information with the survey responses; and

presenting the retrieved survey responses with the correlated profile information.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

correlating advertisements presented with the media program with the survey responses; and

presenting the retrieved survey responses with the correlated advertisements.

20. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of transmitting a third message comprising a survey to the user computer, comprises the steps of:

generating a global list of prioritized questions;

determining which of the global list of prioritized questions are unanswered by the entity; and

dynamically generating the survey questions transmitted to the user computer as the Y highest priority questions unanswered by the entity.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a message from the user computer comprising user comments regarding an advertisement presented in the standard version of the media program.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein user comments are entered by the user immediately after presentation of the media program.

23. An apparatus for transmitting a media program to a user computer, comprising:

means for transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey;

means for transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer, for accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses, and for providing the special version of the media program if a second message received from the user computer indicates that the user would like to complete the survey; and

means for transmitting a standard version of the media program if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would not like to complete the survey.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the special version of the media program comprises fewer advertisements than a standard version of the media program.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving a media program request from the user computer previous to the transmission of the first message to the user computer.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first message is transmitted in response to the media program request.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein:

the first message is transmitted after the media program request and in response to an advertisement opportunity within the media program, wherein an advertisement is scheduled to be included in the standard version of the media program during the advertisement opportunity; and

the special version of the media program omits the advertisement.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for providing the special version of the media program if a second message is not received within a time period after transmitting the first message to the user computer, the second message indicating whether the user would like to complete the survey.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for generating profile information from the survey responses; and

means for presenting a further media program having advertisements selected based on the survey responses.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for transmitting the first message to the user computer comprises:

means for receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user computer;

means for determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information; and

means for transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media program to the user based on the determination.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the user computer.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the user.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising:

a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted;

a viewing history of the identified entity, the viewing history selected from the group comprising;

viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and

a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and

survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the identified entity is determined to be offered an option to view the second version of the media program if:

the time elapsed since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity is less than a survey time period; and

the number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity exceeds N; and

the user has not deleted more than a specified amount of previously accepted survey responses.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the identified entity history data further comprises a login history of the identified entity.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the login history of the identified entity comprises an elapsed login time between accepting identity information associated with the identified entity and an immediate preceding acceptance of identity information associated with the identified entity.

37. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for accepting a request to modify the survey responses, for retrieving the survey responses, for accepting modified survey responses and for storing the modified survey responses after transmitting the second version of the media program to the user computer in response to the accepted survey responses.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein:

the retrieved survey responses comprise first survey responses provided in response to a first survey having a first plurality of questions, each of the first plurality of survey questions associated with at least one of a plurality of survey question categories; and

wherein the retrieved survey responses are organized into at least one of a plurality of survey categories.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein:

the retrieved survey responses comprise;

first survey responses provided in response to a first survey having a first plurality of questions; and

second survey responses provided in response to a second survey having a second plurality of questions;

wherein the retrieved survey responses are organized according to the first survey and the second survey.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

means for correlating profile information with the survey responses; and

means for presenting the retrieved survey responses with the correlated profile information.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

means for correlating advertisements presented with the media program with the survey responses; and

means for presenting the retrieved survey responses with the correlated advertisements.

42. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for transmitting a third message comprising a survey to the user computer, comprises:

means for generating a global list of prioritized questions;

means for determining which of the global list of prioritized questions are unanswered by the entity; and

means for dynamically generating the survey questions transmitted to the user computer as the Y highest priority questions unanswered by the entity.

43. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for receiving a message from the user computer comprising user comments regarding an advertisement presented in the standard version of the media program.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein user comments are entered by the user immediately after presentation of the media program.

45. An apparatus for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user computer, comprising:

a media program provider computer, having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to operate as a specially programmed computer, the instructions comprising instructions for;

transmitting a first message to the user computer, the first message comprising an offer to view a special version of at least a portion of the media program in exchange for completion of a survey;

if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey, performing steps comprising the steps;

transmitting a third message comprising the survey to the user computer;

accepting and storing a fourth message comprising survey responses; and

providing the special version of the media program;

if a second message is received from the user computer indicating that the user would like to complete the survey is not received, transmitting a standard version of the media program.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the special version of the media program comprises fewer advertisements than a standard version of the media program.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

means for receiving a media program request from the user computer previous to the transmission of the first message to the user computer.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the first message is transmitted in response to the media program request.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein:

the first message is transmitted after the media program request and in response to an advertisement opportunity within the media program, wherein an advertisement is scheduled to be included in the standard version of the media program during the advertisement opportunity; and

the special version of the media program omits the advertisement.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

providing the special version of the media program if a second message is not received within a time period after transmitting the first message to the user computer, the second message indicating whether the user would like to complete the survey.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

generating profile information from the survey responses; and

presenting a further media program having advertisements selected based on the survey responses.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the instructions for transmitting the first message to the user computer further comprise instructions for:

receiving identification information uniquely identifying an entity selected from the group comprising the user and the user computer;

determining whether to offer to view a special version of the media program based at least in part on the identity information; and

transmitting the first message comprising the offer to view the special version of the media program to the user based on the determination.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the user computer.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the user.

55. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the special version of the media program is offered at least in part according history data selected from the group comprising:

a survey history of the identified entity, the survey history comprising a time elapsed since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted;

a viewing history of the identified entity, the viewing history selected from the group comprising;

viewing duration information for the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and

a number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since immediately preceding survey responses from the identified entity were accepted; and

survey management history of the identified entity, comprising deleted previously accepted survey responses.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the identified entity is determined to be offered an option to view the second version of the media program if:

the time elapsed since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity is less than a survey time period; and

the number of media programs viewed by the identified entity since the immediately preceding survey responses were received from the identified entity exceeds N; and

the user has not deleted more than a specified amount of previously accepted survey responses.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the identified entity history data further comprises a login history of the identified entity.

58. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the login history of the identified entity comprises an elapsed login time between accepting identity information associated with the identified entity and an immediate preceding acceptance of identity information associated with the identified entity.

59. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for accepting a request to modify the survey responses, for retrieving the survey responses, for accepting modified survey responses and for storing the modified survey responses after transmitting the second version of the media program to the user computer in response to the accepted survey responses.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein:

the retrieved survey responses comprise first survey responses provided in response to a first survey having a first plurality of questions, each of the first plurality of survey questions associated with at least one of a plurality of survey question categories; and

wherein the retrieved survey responses are organized into at least one of a plurality of survey categories.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein:

the retrieved survey responses comprise;

first survey responses provided in response to a first survey having a first plurality of questions; and

second survey responses provided in response to a second survey having a second plurality of questions;

wherein the retrieved survey responses are organized according to the first survey and the second survey.

62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

correlating profile information with the survey responses; and

presenting the retrieved survey responses with the correlated profile information.

63. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

correlating advertisements presented with the media program with the survey responses; and

presenting the retrieved survey responses with the correlated advertisements.

64. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the instructions for transmitting a third message comprising a survey to the user computer, comprise instructions for:

generating a global list of prioritized questions;

determining which of the global list of prioritized questions are unanswered by the entity; and

dynamically generating the survey questions transmitted to the user computer as the Y highest priority questions unanswered by the entity.

65. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for receiving a message from the user computer comprising user comments regarding an advertisement presented in the standard version of the media program.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein user comments are entered by the user immediately after presentation of the media program.