Interactive video distribution systems – System for awarding coupon – token – or credit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-08
2004-07-20
Miller, John (Department: 2614)
Interactive video distribution systems
System for awarding coupon, token, or credit
C725S022000, C725S009000, C725S017000, C725S020000, C725S024000, C705S014270
Reexamination Certificate
active
06766524
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to supplementing broadcast television programming with interactive content.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks and gateways. The Internet includes a backbone of high-speed communication lines between major nodes, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational, and other computer systems. The WorldWide Web (the Web) is a collection of formatted hypertext pages—located on numerous computer systems around the world—that are logically connected by the Internet.
Web browsers provide user interfaces to the Web, allowing individuals to access Internet content from personal computers. Internet terminals, such as those pioneered by WebTV Networks, Inc., have made the Web more accessible by eliminating the need for a personal computer. Instead, Internet terminals, or “set-top boxes,” provide Web access using an ordinary television (TV) set as a display and a remote control or wireless keyboard for user (e.g., viewer) input.
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional interactive television system
100
that includes a broadcast source
105
, a set-top box
110
, an ordinary analog television set
115
, and a remote control
117
. Set-top box
110
and television set
115
collectively form a receiver, and may be integrated. Television set
115
displays video data, including a graphical user interface
116
and broadcast video
118
, conveyed from set-top box
110
by a video link
120
. Video link
120
is an RF (radio frequency), S-video, composite video, or other video link. Set-top box
110
includes a network connection
122
to the Internet. Connection
122
is typically accomplished using a telephone or cable modem.
Set-top box
110
includes hardware and software for receiving and decoding a broadcast video signal
125
, and for providing video data to television set
115
via video link
120
. Set-top box
110
also includes hardware and software for providing a viewer with graphical user interface
116
, capable of displaying both broadcast video and Web content (e.g., HTML or XML pages). A viewer operates remote control
117
to control set-top box
110
to display broadcast TV, browse the Web, and send or receive e-mail. Viewers may also control set-top box
110
using a keyboard (not shown).
Commercial advertising supports the majority of broadcast television. Such advertising is not as effective as it might be, because viewers often use commercials as an opportunity to break from viewing their televisions or to flip to other channels. Advertisers are understandably troubled by either of these alternatives. To make matters worse, again from the perspective of advertisers, recent advances in recording technology have made it easier for viewers to avoid watching commercials. There is therefore a need for a means of encouraging viewers to watch commercials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention encourages viewers to pay attention to TV programs (e.g., commercials) by offering viewers some incentive to watch. In one embodiment, viewers are notified that they can receive frequent-flier miles for answering one or more simple questions at the conclusion of the program. To verify that the viewer paid attention, the answer to the question may be based on the content of the program. A sponsor of a TV commercial might ask, for example, that the viewer identify the name of the sponsor or the color of an announcer's shirt. A correct answer indicates that the viewer watched the commercial, and that the viewer is therefore entitled to some reward. Possible rewards include entry into a prize drawing or points, such as frequent-flier miles, toward a prize. In other embodiments, viewers need not provide a “correct” answer, but may be rewarded for merely participating in the interactive program. Such participation may include selecting an icon with a pointing device, pressing one or more buttons on a remote control, or sending an email message to a location identified in the program.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5508731 (1996-04-01), Kohorn
patent: 5539822 (1996-07-01), Lett
patent: 5855008 (1998-12-01), Goldhaber et al.
patent: 6415438 (2002-07-01), Blackketter et al.
patent: 6530082 (2003-03-01), Del Sesto et al.
patent: 6681393 (2004-01-01), Bauminger et al.
patent: 2002/0133816 (2002-09-01), Greene et al.
Advnaced Television Enhancement FOrum Specification (ATVEF), Version 1.1 revision 26, (Feb. 2, 1999_.*
Request For Comments (RFC) 791, “Internet Protocol, DARPA Internet Program Protocol Specification,” Sep. 1981.
Advanced Television Enhancement Forum Specification (ATVEF), Version 1.1 revision 26, (Feb. 2, 1999).
R. Panabaker, S. Wegerif, and D. Zigmond, “The Transmission of IP Over the Vertical Blanking Interval of a Television Signal,” (Feb. 1999).
J. Postel, “User Datagram Protocol,” (Aug. 1980), identified as page “ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc768.txt”.
“Netcentives Launches Global Incentive Program,” Netcentives Press (downloaded Oct. 25, 1999), identified as page “http://www.netcentives.com/press/archive/NC19991021a.html”.
“ClickReward™, It all adds up,” Netcentives Press (downloaded Oct. 25, 1999), identified as page “http://www.netcentives.com/clickrewards/index.html”.
S. Deering, “Host Extensions for IP Multicasting” (Aug. 1989).
Electronic Industries Association EIA-608, “Recommended Practice for Line 21 Data Service”(Sep. 1994).
Electronic Industries Association EIA-746A, “Transport of Internet Uniform Resource Locator (URL) Information Using Text-2 (T-2) Service” (Sep. 1998).
Matheny John R.
Zigmond Daniel J.
Ma Johnny
Miller John
WebTV Networks Inc.
Workman Nydegger
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