Advertisement subsidized video-on-demand system

• US 6,553,178 B2
• Filed: 09/08/1994
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissim Corp.
• Original Assignee: Max Abecassis
• Inventors: Abecassis, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/303,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,148 Days
• Field of Search: 358/342, 358/335, 358/310, 358/311, 358/312, 360/33.1, 360/35.1, 455/2, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/3.3, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 348/6, 348/7, 340/825.31, 386/83, 386/46, 386/1, 386/92, 386/95
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/022 Control panels
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/12 by sensing distinguishing features of or on records, e.g. diameter end mark
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2587 Laser Discs; Optical disc using analog recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/14 specially adapted to record on, or to reproduce from, more than one track simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 : Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 : on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/22 : per use
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 : for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 : for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/48 : for recognising items expressed in broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 : of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 : for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 : for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 : using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 : Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234318 : by decomposing into objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : 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 21/25891 : 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 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/44016 : involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 : Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• 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 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 : receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 : represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/4448 : for frame-grabbing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 : the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

A random access pointcast video delivery system provides the capability for a viewer to select a video advertisement. The video advertisement is automatically customized responsive to the application of the viewer'"'"'s video content preferences to a video segment map defining a plurality of video segments. The viewer is compensated for the verified apparent viewing of the selected advertisement independently of the purchase of the advertised product or service. Where the advertisement is associated with a credit, the viewing of the advertisement subsidizes the viewer'"'"'s receipt of other video and communication services. Where a viewing of a video results in a purchase, a deposit in the purchase is automatically escrowed until after the buyer has received satisfactory delivery of the purchase.

Claims

1. A video-on-demand system comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of feature length motion pictures and video advertisements;

communicating means for receiving a communication from a viewer;

processing means for selecting, responsive to the communication and from the plurality of feature length motion pictures and video advertisements, a feature length motion picture and a video advertisement;

retrieving means for retrieving the selected feature length motion picture and video advertisement;

transmitting means for transmitting the retrieved feature length motion picture and video advertisement to the viewer;

verifying means for interactively verifying an apparent viewing, by the viewer, of at least a portion of the transmitted video advertisement; and

subsidizing means for applying a credit for the apparent viewing of the video advertisement against charges for feature length motion pictures provided to the viewer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is a request for a specific feature length motion picture, and the video advertisement is for a product shown in the requested feature length motion picture.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is a request for a specific feature length motion picture;

and wherein the credit is augmented by a purchase of a product advertised by the video advertisement.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

purchasing means for processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitted video advertisement; and

escrowing means, responsive to the processing, for escrowing a deposit for the purchase until after a predefined period of time following delivery of the purchase.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

purchasing means for processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitted video advertisement and utilizing a credit facility preestablished with a provider of the feature length motion pictures.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

purchasing means for processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitted video advertisement and utilizing a credit facility preestablished with a provider of the feature length motion pictures; and

escrowing means, responsive to the processing, for escrowing a deposit for the purchase until after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase.

7. A video-on-demand system comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of videos;

communicating means for receiving, from a viewer, a request for product information;

processing means for selecting, responsive to the request for product information and from the plurality of videos, a video comprising product information;

random accessing means for retrieving the selected video;

transmitting means for transmitting the retrieved video to the viewer;

verifying means for interactively verifying an apparent viewing, by the viewer, of at least a portion of the transmitted video; and

subsidizing means for applying a credit for the apparent viewing of the video against charges for feature length motion pictures provided to the viewer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the request for product information is contemporaneously responsive to a product shown in a feature length motion pictures provided to the viewer.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the credit is augmented by a purchase of a product advertised by the transmitted video.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

purchasing means for processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitting of the video; and

escrowing means, responsive to the processing, for escrowing a deposit for the purchase until after a predefined period of time following delivery of the purchase.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

purchasing means for processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing utilizing a credit facility preestablished with a provider of the feature length motion pictures.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

purchasing means for processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitted video and utilizing a credit facility preestablished with a provider of the feature length motion pictures; and

escrowing means, responsive to the processing, for escrowing a deposit for the purchase until after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase.

13. A method of providing video-on-demand services, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of feature length motion pictures and videos;

receiving a communication from a viewer;

selecting, responsive to the communication and from the plurality of feature length motion pictures and videos, a feature length motion picture and a video;

retrieving the selected feature length motion picture and video;

transmitting the retrieved feature length motion picture and video to the viewer;

interactively verifying an apparent viewing, by the viewer, of at least a portion of the transmitted video; and

applying a credit for the apparent viewing of the video against charges for feature length motion pictures provided to the viewer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the credit is augmented by a purchase of a product advertised by the transmitted video.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the credit is independent of a purchase of a product advertised by the transmitted video, and further comprising the step of:

processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitted video.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the credit is independent of a purchase of a product advertised by the transmitted video, and further comprising step of:

processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing utilizing a credit facility preestablished with a provider of the feature length motion pictures.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitted video; and

escrowing, responsive to the processing, a deposit for the purchase until after a predefined period of time following delivery of the purchase.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitted video and utilizing a credit facility preestablished with a provider of the feature length motion pictures; and

escrowing, responsive to the processing, a deposit for the purchase until after a predefined period of time following delivery of the purchase.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitted video; and

escrowing, responsive to the processing, a deposit for the purchase until after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

processing a purchase by the viewer, the processing being integrated with the transmitted video and utilizing a credit facility preestablished with a provider of the feature length motion pictures; and

escrowing, responsive to the processing, a deposit for the purchase until after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase.