Method and apparatus for printing coupons and the like
First Claim
1. In a system having a host computer including an interactive facility for interacting with a television viewer, and an electronic device, coupled to said host computer via a communications network, for interacting with said host computer according to television programming, a method for monitoring television viewer activity and generating a coupon based thereon, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. generating, according to said television viewer activity detected by said electronic device, viewer selection data;
b. generating, based on said viewer selection data, coupon printing data from the interactive facility for transmission to said television viewer;
c. transmitting said coupon printing data from the interactive facility to said electronic device for said television viewer;
d. generating, at said printer, said coupons according to said coupon printing data.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device and method for accessing remote electronic facilities and displaying associated information on a conventional television set. The electronic device self-configures itself upon power-up or reset by initiating a data call to a configuring facility. Information related to available facilities and programming, autonomous mail checking is downloaded to the electronic device. The electronic device displays a menu including several user selectable facilities on the display for a user. The user chooses one of the options from the menu by use of a remote keypad control, similar to a conventional television remote control. The options available include printing, electronic mail and other news and information services. Interfacing the electronic device with a stylus-type pointing device permits sketching and drawing on the television, including superposition of images on captured television images. Captured images of graphics or text are optionally stored or forwarded to a user through a mail facility accessed through operation of the system.
292 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a system having a host computer including an interactive facility for interacting with a television viewer, and an electronic device, coupled to said host computer via a communications network, for interacting with said host computer according to television programming, a method for monitoring television viewer activity and generating a coupon based thereon, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. generating, according to said television viewer activity detected by said electronic device, viewer selection data; b. generating, based on said viewer selection data, coupon printing data from the interactive facility for transmission to said television viewer; c. transmitting said coupon printing data from the interactive facility to said electronic device for said television viewer; d. generating, at said printer, said coupons according to said coupon printing data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for displaying selection options on a television correspondinq to television programming and for generating print media in response to a viewer selecting among said selection options, said system comprising:
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a communications network; a host computer, coupled to said communications network, including a facility for generating printer data responsive to purchasing information received over said communications network; an electronic device including; a television interface for interfacing to a television; a communications interface for interfacing to said communication network coupled in turn to said host computer; a printer; an input device for producing a plurality of control signals; and a controller, coupled to said television interface and to said communication interface, for printing printer data received over said communication network from said host computer, said controller including; means, responsive to a first of said plurality of control signals, for generating said purchasing information for initiating a purchase of a product displayed on said television; means, coupled to said printer and responsive to a second of said plurality of control signals, for generating print media according to said printer data received from said host computer. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for monitoring television viewer activity and generating print media based thereon, said system comprising:
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a host computer including; a first communications interface for interfacing to a communications network; an interactive facility, coupled to said first communications interface, for interacting with said television viewer responsive to viewer interaction data that is received over said communications network; means for storing said viewer interaction data; and means, coupled to said first communications interface, for generating and transmitting printer data responsive to said stored viewer interaction data; and an electronic device including; a second communications interface for interfacing to a communications network and, in turn, to said host computer; a television-interface for interfacing to a television; a printer; an input device for providing control signals; a controller comprising; means, responsive to said control signals from said input device, for generating said viewer interaction data corresponding to said television programming; and means, coupled to said printer and responsive to said input device, for generating print media according to said printer data received from said host computer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A system for monitoring television viewer activity and generating print media based thereon, said system comprising:
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a host computer including; a first communications interface for interfacing to a communications network; and a facility, coupled to said first communications interface, for generating and transmitting printer data responsive to viewer selection data; and an electronic device including; a second communications interface for interfacing to a communications network and, in turn, to said host computer; a television interface for interfacing to a television; a printer; an input device for providing control signals; a controller comprising; means, coupled to said second communications interface, for generating said viewer selection data; means, coupled to said printer and responsive to said control signals from said input device, for generating print media according to said printer data received from said host computer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for automatically monitoring television viewer activity and generating coupons based thereon, said system comprising:
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a host computer including; a first communications interface for interfacing to a communications network; and a facility, coupled to said first communications interface, for generating and transmitting coupon printing data responsive to a viewer profile; and an electronic device including; a second communications interface for interfacing to a communications network and, in turn, to said host computer; a television interface for interfacing to a television; a printer; an input device for printing control signals; a controller comprising; means, coupled to said second communications interface, for generating said viewer profile; means, coupled to said printer and responsive to said control signals from said input device, for generating coupons according to said coupon printing data received from said host computer. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification