Method of delivering advertising through an interactive video distribution system
First Claim
1. A method of delivering advertising through a head end facility of an interactive video distribution system, said method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting an advertisement to an interactive video subscriber unit in connection with an interactive video program;
receiving, at said head end facility over a return path, a request to register said advertisement in a menu;
generating an entry for said advertisement in said menu;
communicating to said subscriber unit, said menu in a video still image;
obtaining, at said head end facility over said return path, a selection request for said entry; and
providing to said subscriber unit, in response to said selection request, supplementary advertising information associated with said advertisement.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive video distribution system includes a plurality of interactive video subscriber units (22), a head end facility (54), and a video distribution medium (56). The head end facility (54) is configured to transmit advertisements (40, 42) in connection with an interactive video program (36) and receive requests from one of the subscriber units (22′) to register the advertisements (40, 42) in a menu (116). In response to each of the requests, the head end facility (54) generates a entries (118, 144) associated with the advertisements (40, 42) in the menu (116). The menu (116) is communicated in a first video still image (134) to the subscriber unit (22′) through the medium (56). The head end facility (54) is further configured to obtain a selection request for one of entries (118, 144) and provide supplementary advertising information (148) associated with the selected one of advertisements (40, 42) to the subscriber unit (22′).
466 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of delivering advertising through a head end facility of an interactive video distribution system, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an advertisement to an interactive video subscriber unit in connection with an interactive video program;
receiving, at said head end facility over a return path, a request to register said advertisement in a menu;
generating an entry for said advertisement in said menu;
communicating to said subscriber unit, said menu in a video still image;
obtaining, at said head end facility over said return path, a selection request for said entry; and
providing to said subscriber unit, in response to said selection request, supplementary advertising information associated with said advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
assigning an advertisement identifier to said advertisement;
inserting said advertisement into said interactive video program at a predetermined time period during said interactive video program, said predetermined time period being described by a start signal and a stop signal, and said assigning and said inserting steps being performed prior to said transmitting step; and
utilizing said advertisement identifier to identify said advertisement in response to said received request.
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3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting a logo into said advertisement prior to said transmitting step, wherein said logo informs a subscriber of said subscriber unit that said advertisement can be registered in said menu.
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4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiving step comprises the step of providing to said subscriber unit a message indicating receipt of said request.
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5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said advertisement is a first advertisement, said transmitting, receiving, and generating steps are performed at a first instant, and said method further comprises the steps of:
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transmitting a second advertisement to said interactive video subscriber unit in connection with said interactive video program at a second instant;
receiving, at said head end facility over said return path, a second request to register said second advertisement in said menu; and
generating a second entry for said second advertisement in said menu prior to said communicating step.
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6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second instant occurs after said first instant, and said method further comprises the step of configuring said menu to give priority to said second entry over said first entry.
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7. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein following said communicating step, said method further comprises the steps of:
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obtaining, at said head end facility over said return path, a second selection request for said second entry; and
providing to said subscriber unit, in response to said second selection request, supplementary advertising information associated with said second advertisement.
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8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said communicating step occurs automatically following completion of said interactive video program.
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9. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting, at said head end facility over said return path, a command to perform said communicating step.
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10. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supplementary advertising information includes an intrasystem link for accessing a memory portion of said interactive video distribution system, and said method further comprises the steps of:
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detecting, at said head end facility over said return path, a command for activating said intrasystem link;
obtaining data related to said advertisement from said memory portion; and
forwarding said data to said interactive video subscriber unit.
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11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said advertisement is associated with a commercial enterprise, said supplementary advertising information includes a purchase option, and said method further comprises the steps of:
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a) receiving, at said head end facility over said return path, a command for selecting said purchase option; and
b) forwarding a purchase order in response to said step a) to said commercial enterprise.
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12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said head end facility includes a web browser configured to provide access to the Internet, said supplementary advertising information includes a hyperlink for navigating toward an Internet web site of a provider associated with said advertisement, and said method further comprises the steps of:
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detecting, at said head end facility over said return path, a command for activating said hyperlink; and
invoking said web browser to connect said interactive video subscriber unit to said Internet web site in response to said activated hyperlink.
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13. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of removing said entry from said menu following said providing step.
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14. An interactive video distribution system comprising:
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a plurality of interactive video subscriber units;
a head end facility configured to transmit an advertisement in connection with an interactive video program and receive a request from one of said subscriber units to register said advertisement in a menu; and
a video distribution medium coupled between said head end facility and said plurality of interactive video subscriber units, said video distribution medium being configured to convey said advertisement to each of said interactive video subscriber units on a forward path and convey said request from said one of said subscriber units to said head end facility on a return path. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
said system additionally comprises an editing facility configured to generate said advertisement and said interactive program for transmission from said head end facility, said editing facility being further configured to assign an advertisement identifier to said advertisement and insert said advertisement into said interactive video program at a predetermined time period during said interactive video program; and
said head end facility includes a processor configured to utilize said advertisement identifier to identify said advertisement in response to said received request.
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17. A system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said editing facility is further configured to insert a logo into said advertisement, said logo informing a subscriber of said one of said subscriber units that said advertisement can be registered in said menu.
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18. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said video distribution system is configured to provide to said one of said subscriber units a message indicating a receipt of said request.
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19. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said head end facility includes a processor having a computer program configured to manage a plurality of menus, one each of said menus being associated with one each of said plurality of interactive video subscriber units.
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20. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein:
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said head end facility includes a processor having a computer program configured to produce a video still image of said menu, said advertisement having an entry in said menu; and
said video distribution system is configured to communicate said video still image for display on a video screen of said one of said interactive video subscriber units and convey a selection request for said entry on said return path.
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21. A system as claimed in claim 20 wherein:
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said computer program is further configured to provide supplementary advertising information associated with said advertisement; and
said video distribution medium is configured to communicate said supplementary advertising information for display on said video screen and convey a command for a portion of said supplementary advertising information on said return path.
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22. A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said supplementary advertising information is provided in a second video still image associated with said entry.
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23. A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said supplementary advertising information includes:
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an intrasystem link for accessing a memory portion of said head end facility;
a purchase option for communicating a purchase order to a commercial enterprise associated with said advertisement; and
a hyperlink for navigating toward an Internet web site of said commercial enterprise;
wherein said command identifies one of said intrasystem link, said purchase option, and said hyperlink.
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24. A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein:
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said portion of said supplementary advertising information includes a hyperlink for navigating toward an Internet web site of a provider associated with said advertisement; and
said head end facility includes a web browser for accessing the Internet to connect said one of said interactive video subscriber units to said Internet web site when said hyperlink is activated.
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25. A method of delivering advertising through a head end facility of an interactive video distribution system, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a plurality of full-motion video (FMV) advertisements to an interactive video subscriber unit in connection with an interactive video program;
receiving, at said head end facility over a return path, requests to register a first and a second FMV advertisement from said plurality of FMV advertisements in a menu, one each of said requests being associated with one each of said first and second FMV advertisements;
providing messages indicating receipt of each of said requests;
generating a first entry associated with said first FMV advertisement in said menu;
generating a second entry associated with said second FMV advertisement in said menu;
communicating said menu in a first video still image to said subscriber unit, said communicating step being performed automatically following the completion of said interactive video program;
obtaining, at said head end facility over said return path, a selection request for one of said first and second entries;
providing to said subscriber unit, in response to said selection request, a hyperlink in a second video still image for navigating toward an Internet web site of a provider associated with said one of said first and second FMV advertisements;
detecting, at said head end facility over said return path, a command for activating said hyperlink; and
invoking a web browser of said head end facility to connect said interactive video subscriber unit to said Internet web site in response to said activated hyperlink. - View Dependent Claims (26)
obtaining, at a second instant, a second selection request for a second one of said first and second entries;
providing to said subscriber unit, in response to said second selection request, a second hyperlink in a third video still image for navigating toward a second Internet web site of a second provider associated with said second one of said first and second FMV advertisements;
detecting, at said head end facility over said return path, a command for activating said second hyperlink; and
invoking said web browser to connect said interactive video subscriber unit to said second Internet web site in response to said activated second hyperlink.
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Specification