U.S. patent application number 09/731115 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-05 for systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities.
This patent application is currently assigned to United Video Properties, Inc.. Invention is credited to Herrington, W. Benjamin, Reichardt, M. Scott.
Application Number | 20020124255 09/731115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22618387 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020124255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reichardt, M. Scott ; et
al. |
September 5, 2002 |
Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive
advertisement and merchandising opportunities
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing enhanced advertising and
merchandising opportunities are described. Advertisements may be
provided for passive programming such as television programs,
commercials, pay-per-view programs, passive video products, or
other suitable passive programming. Interactive advertisements may
be provided in interactive applications such as interactive
television program guides, web browsers, home shopping
applications, operating systems, or other suitable interactive
applications.
Inventors: |
Reichardt, M. Scott; (Tulsa,
OK) ; Herrington, W. Benjamin; (Tulsa, OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard M. Feustel, Jr.
FISH & NEAVE
1251 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10020-1104
US
|
Assignee: |
United Video Properties,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
22618387 |
Appl. No.: |
09/731115 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60170060 |
Dec 10, 1999 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/42 ;
348/E5.105; 348/E5.108; 348/E7.054; 725/32; 725/51; 725/60 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4622 20130101;
H04N 21/4314 20130101; G06Q 30/0277 20130101; H04N 5/44543
20130101; H04N 21/426 20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101; H04N 21/4316
20130101; H04N 21/812 20130101; H04N 5/4401 20130101; H04N 21/482
20130101; H04N 21/4821 20130101; G06Q 30/0241 20130101; H04N 21/478
20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N 7/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/42 ; 725/32;
725/51; 725/60 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/025; H04N
007/10; G06F 003/00; H04N 005/445; G06F 013/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing access to a passive video product from an
interactive application comprising: providing a branded selectable
option within an interactive application display; and providing a
passive video product associated with the brand in response to a
user selecting the option from the interactive application
display.
2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing
interactive content with the passive video product.
3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein: the interactive content
comprises an alert icon; and the method further comprises providing
a merchandising opportunity to the user in response to the user
selecting the alert icon.
4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein the alert icon is overlaid
onto the passive video product.
5. The method defined in claim 2 wherein: the interactive content
comprises a television program listing; and the method further
comprises providing additional information for the television
program listing in response to the user selecting the televison
program listing.
6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein: the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide; and the
branded selectable option is a branded selectable menu option of
the interactive television program guide.
7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the interactive
application is a web browser.
8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the passive
video product comprises tuning equipment associated with the user
to a television channel.
9. A method for providing advertisements for passive programming
within an interactive application implemented at least in part on
user equipment comprising: providing an advertisement for passive
programming in an interactive application display; and providing
the advertised passive programming on the user equipment in
response to the user selecting the advertisement from the
interactive application display.
10. The method defined in claim 9 wherein the passive programming
is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a
passive video product segment.
11. The method defined in claim 9 further comprising retrieving the
advertisement associated with the passive programming.
12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein retrieving an
advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a
schedule.
13. The method defined in claim 11 wherein retrieving an
advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a
real-time flag.
14. The method defined in claim 9 wherein the advertisement is
branded.
15. The method defined in claim 9 wherein the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide, an
operating system, a home shopping application, or a web
browser.
16. The method defined in claim 9 wherein: the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide; and
providing the advertisement in the interactive application display
comprises providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in
the interactive television program guide.
17. The method defined in claim 9 wherein providing the advertised
passive programming comprises tuning the user equipment to a
channel on which the programming is provided.
18. A method for providing advertisements within an interactive
application implemented at least in part on user equipment
comprising: providing branded passive programming to the user
equipment; providing a user associated with the user equipment with
an opportunity to indicate a desire to access additional
information associated with the branded passive programming; and
providing an interactive display on the user equipment in response
to the user indicating a desire to access the additional
information, wherein the display comprises an advertisement for an
advertiser associated with the brand of the branded passive
programming.
19. The method defined in claim 18 wherein the passive programming
is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a
passive video product segment.
20. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising retrieving
the advertisement.
21. The method defined in claim 20 wherein retrieving an
advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a
schedule.
22. The method defined in claim 20 wherein retrieving an
advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a
real-time flag.
23. The method defined in claim 18 wherein the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide, an
operating system, a home shopping application, or a web
browser.
24. The method defined in claim 18 wherein: the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide; and
providing the interactive display comprises providing the
advertisement as a panel advertisement in an interactive television
program guide display.
25. A method for providing advertisement space to advertisers
across television-related products comprising: allocating
advertisement time for an advertiser on an interactive application
and during a passive program; and providing an advertisement for
the advertiser within a display for the interactive product and
with the passive program, during the allocated advertisement
time.
26. The method defined in claim 25 further comprising: providing a
user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in the
interactive application; and providing the passive program in
response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive
application.
27. The method defined in claim 25 wherein the passive program is a
television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a
passive video product segment.
28. The method defined in claim 25 wherein the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide, an
operating system, a home shopping application, or a web
browser.
29. A system for providing access to a passive video product from
an interactive application comprising: means for providing a
branded selectable option within an interactive application
display; and means for providing a passive video product associated
with the brand in response to a user selecting the option from the
interactive application display.
30. The system defined in claim 29 further comprising means for
providing interactive content with the passive video product.
31. The system defined in claim 30 wherein: the interactive content
comprises an alert icon; and the system further comprises means for
providing a merchandising opportunity to the user in response to
the user selecting the alert icon.
32. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the alert icon is
overlaid onto the passive video product.
33. The system defined in claim 30 wherein: the interactive content
comprises a television program listing; and the system further
comprises means for providing additional information for the
television program listing in response to the user selecting the
televison program listing.
34. The system defined in claim 20 wherein: the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide; and the
branded selectable option is a branded selectable menu option of
the interactive television program guide.
35. The system defined in claim 20 wherein the interactive
application is a web browser.
36. The system defined in claim 20 wherein the means for providing
the passive video product comprises means for tuning equipment
associated with the user to a television channel.
37. A system for providing advertisements for passive programming
within an interactive application implemented at least in part on
user equipment comprising: means for providing an advertisement for
passive programming in an interactive application display; and
means for providing the advertised passive programming on the user
equipment in response to the user selecting the advertisement from
the interactive application display.
38. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the passive program is a
television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a
passive video product segment.
39. The system defined in claim 37 further comprising means for
retrieving the advertisement.
40. The system defined in claim 39 wherein the means for retrieving
the advertisement comprises means for retrieving an advertisement
according to a schedule.
41. The system defined in claim 39 wherein the means for retrieving
the advertisement comprises means for retrieving an advertisement
according to a real-time flag.
42. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the advertisement is
branded.
43. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide, an
operating system, a home shopping application, or a web
browser.
44. The system defined in claim 9 wherein: the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide; and the
means for providing the advertisement in the interactive
application display comprises means for providing the advertisement
as a panel advertisement in the interactive television program
guide.
45. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the means for providing
the advertised programming comprises means for tuning the user
equipment to a channel on which the advertised programming is
provided.
46. A system for providing advertisements within an interactive
application running at least in part on user equipment comprising:
means for providing branded passive programming to the user
equipment; means for providing a user associated with the user
equipment with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access
additional information associated with the branded passive
programming; and means for providing an interactive display on the
user equipment in response to the user indicating a desire to
access the additional information, wherein the display comprises an
advertisement for an advertiser associated with the brand of the
branded passive programming.
47. The system defined in claim 46 wherein the passive programming
is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a
passive video product segment.
48. The system defined in claim 46 further comprising means for
retrieving the advertisement.
49. The system defined in claim 48 wherein the means for retrieving
an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to
a schedule.
50. The system defined in claim 48 wherein the means for retrieving
an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to
a real-time flag.
51. The system defined in claim 46 wherein the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide, an
operating system, a home shopping application, or a web
browser.
52. The system defined in claim 46 wherein: the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide; and the
means for providing the interactive display comprises means for
providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in an
interactive television program guide display.
53. A system for providing advertisement space to advertisers
across television related-products comprising: means for allocating
advertisement time for an advertiser on an interactive application
and during a passive program; and means for providing an
advertisement for the advertiser within a display for the
interactive product and with the passive program, during the
allocated advertisement time.
54. The system defined in claim 53 further comprising: means for
providing a user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in
the interactive application; and means for providing the passive
program in response to the user selecting the advertisement in the
interactive application.
55. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the passive program is a
television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a
passive video product segment.
56. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide, an
operating system, a home shopping application, or a web
browser.
57. A system for providing access to a passive video product from
an interactive application comprising: user equipment on which an
interactive application is at least partly implemented, wherein the
interactive application is configured to: provide a display on the
user equipment, wherein the display comprises a branded selectable
option; and provide a passive video product associated with the
branded selectable option on the user equipment in response to a
user selecting the option.
58. The system defined in claim 57 wherein the interactive
application is further configured to provide interactive content
with the passive video product.
59. The system defined in claim 58 wherein: the interactive content
comprises an alert icon; and wherein the interactive application is
further configured to provide a merchandising opportunity to the
user in response to the user selecting the alert icon.
60. The system defined in claim 59 wherein the alert icon is
overlaid onto the passive video product.
61. The system defined in claim 58 wherein: the interactive content
comprises a television program listing; and wherein the interactive
application is further configured to provide additional information
for the television program listing in response to the user
selecting the televison program listing.
62. The system defined in claim 57 wherein: the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide; and the
branded selectable option is a branded selectable menu option of
the interactive television program guide.
63. The system defined in claim 57 wherein the interactive
application is a web browser.
64. The system defined in claim 57 wherein the interactive
application is configured to provide the passive programming by
tuning the user equipment to a television channel on which the
passive programming is provided.
65. A system for providing advertisements for passive programming
within an interactive application comprising: user equipment on
which an interactive application is at least partly implemented,
wherein the interactive application is configured to: provide a
display on the user equipment, wherein the display comprises an
advertisement for passive programming; and provide the passive
programming in response to the user selecting the
advertisement.
66. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the passive program is a
television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a
passive video product segment.
67. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive
application is further configured to retrieve the
advertisement.
68. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive
application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement
according to a schedule.
69. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive
application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement
according to a real-time flag.
70. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the advertisement is
branded.
71. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide, an
operating system, a home shopping application, or a web
browser.
72. The system defined in claim 65 wherein: the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide; and the
interactive television program guide is configured to provide the
advertisement as a panel advertisement.
73. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive
application is configured to provide the passive programming by
tuning the user equipment to a television channel on which the
passive programming is provided.
74. A system for providing advertisements within an interactive
application comprising: user equipment on which an interactive
application is at least partly implemented, wherein the interactive
application is configured to: provide a display on the user
equipment, wherein the display comprises branded passive
programming; provide a user with an opportunity to indicate a
desire to access additional information associated with the branded
passive programming; and provide a display in response to the user
indicating a desire to access the additional information, wherein
the display comprises an advertisement for an advertiser associated
with the brand of the branded passive programming.
75. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the passive programming
is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a
passive video product segment.
76. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the interactive
application is further configured to retrieve the
advertisement.
77. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the interactive
application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement
according to a schedule.
78. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the interactive
application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement
according to a real-time flag.
79. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide, an
operating system, a home shopping application, or a web
browser.
80. The system defined in claim 73 wherein: the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide; and the
interactive television program guide is configured to provide the
advertisement as a panel advertisement.
81. A system for providing advertisement time to advertisers across
television related products comprising: a distribution facility
configured to provide passive programming having an advertisement
for an advertiser during a given time block; and user equipment on
which an interactive application is at least partly implemented,
wherein the interactive application is configured to provide a
display comprising an advertisement for the advertiser during the
give time block.
82. The system defined in claim 81 wherein the interactive
application is further configured to: provide a user with an
opportunity to select the advertisement in the display provided by
the interactive application; and provide the passive programming in
response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive
application.
83. The system defined in claim 81 wherein the passive programming
is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a
passive video product segment.
84. The system defined in claim 81 wherein the interactive
application is an interactive television program guide, an
operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application No. 60/170,060, filed Dec. 10, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to passive and interactive
advertising and merchandising systems and methods and, more
particularly, television products for performing the same.
[0003] Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide
viewers with a large number of television channels. Viewers have
traditionally consulted printed television program schedules to
determine the programs being broadcast at a particular time. More
recently, passive and interactive electronic television program
guides have been developed that allow television program
information to be displayed on a viewer's television. Promotional
channels such as barker channels have also been developed that
advertise various premium channel and pay-per-view promotions.
[0004] Passive electronic television program guides typically
provide a scrolling or paging list of program listings on a
dedicated television channel. The TV Guide Channel is a passive
program guide in which viewers are presented with promotional
videos or trailers in one portion of the screen and program
listings in another.
[0005] Interactive television program guides are typically
implemented on set-top boxes and allow users to navigate through
television program listings using a remote control. In a typical
program guide, various groups of television program listings are
displayed in predefined or user-selected categories. Program
listings are typically displayed in a grid or table. Some
interactive guides are client-server based and some others are
on-line. In client-server based guides, program guide data is
typically provided to the set-top in response to requests from the
guide that are processed by a server at a cable system head-end. In
on-line guides, users may access a web site with their personal
computer or Internet enabled set-top box to obtain program listings
and other program related information.
[0006] Another type of program guide is the hybrid
passive/interactive television program guide. A hybrid guide may be
based on a passive guide channel containing a listings portion over
which an interactive guide portion has been overlaid.
[0007] As suggested above, barker channels are typically
promotional channels that display full screen promotions of
pay-per-view programs. A barker channel may overlay price,
ordering, event code, and time information over such promotions and
even instruct the user on how to order the promoted pay-per-view
program.
[0008] Such systems have been limited in their abilities to
integrate sponsorship, advertising, and merchandising opportunities
among passive video products such as barker channels, passive
guides, and interactive guides.
[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide enhanced advertising and merchandising opportunities within
passive and interactive programming and applications such as, for
example, program guides.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] This and other objects of the present invention are
accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present
invention by providing systems and methods in which passive
programming, such as, for example, television programming,
pay-per-view programming, commercials, one or more passive video
products (e.g., barker channels, passive program guides, or other
video products), or any other suitable passive program, and an
interactive television program guide, or other interactive
software, are provided. The interactive guide, or other interactive
software (e.g., a web browser, operating system software, home
shopping application, or any other suitable type of software any of
which may sometimes be referred to herein as "interactive
applications"), may integrate interactive program sponsorship,
advertising, merchandising opportunities, or any suitable
combination thereof, with the video content of the passive
programming. Some features of such a system are described, for
example, in Reichardt et al. U.S. provisional patent application
Serial No. 60/170,060, filed Dec. 10, 1999, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0011] In accordance with the present invention, a main facility
(e.g., a satellite uplink facility) may provide data from a data
source to any number of distribution facilities (e.g., cable system
headends, broadcast distribution facilities, a satellite
distribution facilities, or any other suitable distribution
facilities). There may be multiple data sources, some of which may
be located at different facilities, which provide data to the main
facility for localization and distribution. The data transmitted by
the main facility to the distribution facilities may include data
suitable for the interactive application. For example, the data may
include television programming data (e.g., titles, channels,
content information, rating information, advertising information,
or any other information associated with television programming),
and may also include other data for additional services other than
television program listings (e.g., weather information, associated
Internet web links, computer software, video clips, non-television
advertisements etc.). Any suitable combination of programming data
and other data may sometimes be referred to herein as "program
guide data."
[0012] The main facility may also provide one or more videos for
passive video products to the distribution facilities. The videos
may be transmitted in real-time by the main facility to the
distribution facilities for real-time distribution to user
television equipment of any number of viewers. Alternatively, the
main facility may transmit videos to the distribution facilities
where the videos may be stored. The distribution facilities may
later distribute the videos to the user television equipment of any
number of viewers in real-time. This approach may be referred to as
a "store-and-forward" video distribution scheme. If desired, a
combination of the two approaches may be used. In still another
suitable store-and-forward approach, passive guide videos may be
provided on storage media (e.g., laser disks, digital versatile
discs (DVDs), etc.), that are provided to the distribution
facilities via the mail.
[0013] The distribution facilities may generate and distribute
passive video product display screens, such as passive electronic
program guide display screens or barker channel display screens,
over dedicated television channels. Passive guide channel display
screens may contain, for example, television programming data
(e.g., program listings), other data, videos, or any suitable
combination thereof.
[0014] The distribution facilities may distribute the program guide
data for use by an interactive program guide. The interactive
program guide may run wholly on a user's television equipment or
partially on the television equipment and partially on a program
guide server.
[0015] Program sponsorship and interactive advertising between one
or more passive video products, or other television programming,
may be integrated with interactive advertising within an
interactive application such as, for example, interactive
television program guide or any other interactive software (e.g., a
web browser, operating system software, or any other suitable type
of software). The interactive application may include, for example,
one or more graphic advertisements. The graphic advertisements may
promote any suitable product or service, including, but not limited
to, passive programming. When a promotion is aired on the passive
video product or other type of television channel, the system may
display an interactive advertisement indicating the promotion and,
if applicable, its sponsor. In response to a viewer selecting the
interactive advertisement, the system may tune the viewer's
equipment to the passive video product or other channel.
[0016] In another aspect of the invention, passive video products
or other television programming may be branded (i.e., have an ad
inserted from a source of products or services). In response to a
viewer indicating a desire to access interactive content, the
system may provide the interactive content with an advertisement
for the advertiser associated with the brand.
[0017] The interactive application may be programmed to display a
linked interactive advertisement using any suitable synchronization
approach. For example, in a timing-based synchronization approach,
program guide data may include a schedule (i.e., a timing synch)
that indicates to the interactive guide scheduled times for linked
interactive advertisements. In another communications-based
synchronization approach, a passive video product may include, for
example, a flag in its header (e.g., in its vertical blanking
interval (VBI)) that alerts the interactive guide (or other
hardware or software running in the user's equipment) to find and
retrieve interactive content for a particular advertiser. If
desired, this communications-based synchronization approach may be
combined with the aforementioned timing-based synchronization
approach. For example, interactive graphics may be downloaded to
the interactive guide at the same time (or substantially the same
time) as the promotions are provided to distribution facilities.
These and other approaches may facilitate collection of
advertisement revenues for time blocks across multiple platforms.
For example, time blocks may be sold for time on two products--a
passive video product and an interactive program guide. As another
example, time blocks may be sold for time on a regular television
channel and an interactive program guide.
[0018] Conventional television programming or passive video product
promotions may be combined with interactive impulse-purchase
features. The purchasing features may be provided by an interactive
guide, or may be provided by non-program guide software. For
example, a passive video product segment, promotion, or
conventional television program may promote or otherwise include
information about particular products or services. When interactive
content is available for a product or service, an alert icon may be
overlaid onto a video signal associated with the segment,
promotion, or program to alert a user that interactive content is
available.
[0019] When a user selects such an icon, a point-of-purchase window
may be displayed in which purchase information for the product or
service may be displayed. When a user completes a purchase, a
full-screen display of the passive video product or conventional
program may be redisplayed. Alternatively, a user may be provided
with an opportunity to order other merchandise from, for example, a
TV Guide Store.
[0020] Advertiser sponsorship may also be combined with interactive
impulse-purchase fulfillment. When a conventional television or
passive video product feature or segment is sponsored by a sponsor,
an icon may be overlaid on a viewed screen that alerts the user to
additional information concerning, for example, the subject of the
feature or segment. In response to a user selecting the icon,
interactive content, such as, for example, a point-of-purchase
window, may be displayed. The products or services offered in the
point-of-purchase window may be from the sponsor of the segment or
feature, from a featured source, or from any other source.
[0021] Further features of the invention, its nature and various
advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and
the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative
system in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] FIGS. 2a-2e show illustrative arrangements for the
interactive application equipment of FIG. 1 in accordance with
various embodiments of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 is an illustrative schematic block diagram of the
user television equipment of FIGS. 2a-2d in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a generalized schematic block diagram of portions
of the illustrative user television equipment of FIG. 3 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 5 is an illustrative interactive television program
guide main menu screen in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0027] FIG. 6 is an illustrative passive guide display screen in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 7 is an illustrative hybrid guide display screen in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 8 is an illustrative information screen in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIGS. 9a-9d show illustrative display screens for combining
program sponsorship and interactive advertising in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIGS. 10a-10f show illustrative display screens for
combining conventional television programming with interactive
impulse-purchase features in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0032] FIGS. 11a-11c show illustrative display screens for
combining advertiser sponsorship with interactive impulse-purchase
fulfillment in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in
providing selectable options within interactive applications that
allow users to access passive video products in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 13 is an illustrative flowchart of steps involved in
providing advertisements for passive programming from interactive
applications in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0035] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in
providing advertisements for advertisers during passive programming
and from within interactive applications in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in
providing advertisements for advertisers within interactive
applications based on branded passive programming in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] An illustrative system 10 in accordance with one embodiment
of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. For purposes of
clarity, and not by way of limitation, system 10 is described
herein as providing an interactive television program guide. In
practice, and as described herein, system 10 may be any suitable
system for providing passive programming and interactive
applications. For example, data sources 14 may provide data for,
for example, home shopping applications, operating system software,
or any other application.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, main facility 12 may provide program
guide or other application data from data source 14 within main
facility 12 to application equipment 17 via communications link 18.
There may be multiple data sources 14 but only one has been shown
to avoid over complicating FIG. 1. If desired, program guide data
sources 14 may also be located at facilities separate from main
facility 12, such as at local information services 15, and may
provide data to main facility 12 for localization and distribution.
Data sources 14 may be any suitable computer or computer based
system for obtaining data (e.g., manually from an operator,
electronically via a computer network or other connection, or via
storage media) and for putting the data into electronic form for
distribution by main facility 12. Link 18 may be a satellite link,
a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave
link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other
suitable communications link. If desired, one or more data sources
14 may provide data for both a passive and an interactive guide.
Alternatively, data may be provided by one or more separate data
sources 14 for each guide.
[0039] Local information service 15 may be any suitable facility
for obtaining data particular to a localized region and for
providing the data to main facility 12 over communications link 41.
Local information service 15 may be, for example, a local weather
station that measures weather data, a local newspaper that obtains
local high school and college sporting information, or any other
suitable provider of information. Local information service 15 may
be a local business with a computer for providing main facility 12
with, for example, local ski reports, fishing conditions, menus,
etc., or any other suitable provider of information. Link 41 may be
a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic
link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such
links, or any other suitable communications link.
[0040] The program guide data transmitted by main facility 12 to
application equipment 17 may include television programming data
(e.g., program identifiers, times, channels, titles, and
descriptions) and other data for services other than television
program listings (e.g., help text, pay-per-view information,
weather information, sports information, music channel information,
associated Internet web links, associated software, etc.). There
are preferably numerous pieces or installations of application
equipment 17, although only one is shown in FIG. 1 to avoid
over-complicating FIG. 1.
[0041] Program guide data may be transmitted by main facility 12 to
application equipment 17 using any suitable approach. Data files
may, for example, be encapsulated as objects and transmitted using
a suitable Internet based addressing scheme and protocol stack
(e.g., a stack which uses the user datagram protocol (UDP) and
Internet protocol (IP)). Systems in which program guide data is
transmitted from a main facility using such protocols are
described, for example, in Gollahon et al. U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/332,624, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0042] Main facility 12 may also provide videos for passive video
products to application equipment 17. Videos for the passive video
products may be transmitted in real-time by main facility 12 to
application equipment 17 for real-time distribution to the user
television equipment of any number of users. Alternatively, main
facility 12 may transmit or otherwise provide (e.g., on portable
storage media) videos to application equipment 17 for storage.
Portions of application equipment 17 may later distribute the
videos to user television equipment of any number of users in
real-time. This approach may be referred to as a
"store-and-forward" video distribution scheme. If desired, a
combination of the two approaches may be used. Systems in which
videos are both distributed directly in real-time and
stored-and-forwarded in real-time are described, for example, in
Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,448, filed Jun.
11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety. The application of such an approach in a hybrid guide
system is described, for example, in Knudson et al. U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is
hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0043] Main facility 12 may distribute videos in real-time or for
store-and-forwarding by portions of application equipment 17 using
any suitable approach. As described, for example, in
above-mentioned Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/332,448, main facility 12 may schedule videos for distribution
according to a promotional philosophy. As taught therein,
promotional philosophies are selection algorithms that attempt to
maximize the effectiveness of promotions by selecting promotions
for distribution during times in which expected audiences will view
the promotions. An operator at main facility 12 may, for example,
generate one or more promotional philosophy templates that are used
by main facility 12 to generate a national playlist of promotional
events. The promotional philosophy templates and national playlist
may be provided to application equipment 17 as part of the program
guide data.
[0044] In approaches where alternative sources of videos are
provided by main facility 12 to application equipment 17, such as
in the store-and-forward approach described in above-mentioned Kern
et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,448, equipment at
application equipment 17 may generate a local playlist of
promotional events according to the promotional philosophy
templates. If the promotional events scheduled by the national
playlist are unavailable or undesirable to the application
equipment 17, the local playlist may schedule alternative videos
instead of the undesirable ones scheduled by the national playlist.
The application equipment 17 may generate program guide display
screens with the nationally selected or alternative videos and
program guide data according to the local playlist. The display
screens are distributed to viewers for viewing on their
televisions.
[0045] The videos supplied by main facility 12 may include
promotional videos such as short videos (i.e., videos less than
three minutes in length), video trailers promoting a television
program, or the like. The videos may be supplied by video source
11. Video source 11 may be based, for example, on a library of
video clips stored on a video juke box (a multiple-compact disc or
digital video disc storage system) or any other suitable
combination of hardware and software for storing such videos.
Videos may be provided in any suitable format. For example, video
signals may be provided in an analog signal format using the
National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) signal format or in
a digital signal format such as a Moving Picture Experts Group
(MPEG) format.
[0046] If desired, data source 14 and video source 11 may be
combined into a single information source. This information source
may provide program guide data, videos, or any suitable combination
thereof. The data provided by such an information source may be
used by application equipment 17 to provide a passive guide, an
interactive guide, or both. The videos may be used for whole screen
or partial screen displays.
[0047] Program guide or other application data and videos may be
transmitted by transmission system 24 to application equipment 17
via link 18. Transmission system 24 may include any equipment
suitable for encoding the program guide data and videos and
providing the encoded data and videos to transmitter 111.
Transmitter 111 is preferably a digital satellite uplink
transmitter, but may be any suitable analog, digital, radio
frequency, optical, microwave, terrestrial, or other type of
transmitter. Transmission system 24 may encode the data as, for
example, component object model (COM) objects that are transmitted
using an Internet based addressing scheme and Internet based
transport and network protocols such as the user datagram protocol
(UDP) and the Internet protocol (IP). Electronic program guide
systems that transfer UDP packets and COM objects using a UDP/IP
protocol stack are described in above-mentioned Gollahon et al.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,624, filed Jun. 11,
1999.
[0048] An interactive television program guide or other interactive
software (e.g., a web browser, operating system software, or any
other suitable software) is implemented on application equipment
17. Various architectures for interactive television program guide
systems and various interactive guide features are described, for
example, in above-mentioned Knudson et al. U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999. Five illustrative
arrangements for application equipment 17 are shown in FIGS. 2a-2e.
As shown in FIGS. 2a-2d, application equipment 17 may include user
television equipment 22 and equipment located at distribution
facility 16.
[0049] The interactive television program guide or other software
may run totally on user television equipment 22 as shown in FIGS.
2a and 2c, or may run partially on user television equipment 22 and
partially on distribution facility 16 using a suitable
client-server or distributed processing approach as shown in FIGS.
2b and 2d.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 2a-2e, distribution facility 16 may be any
suitable distribution facility (e.g., a cable system headend, a
broadcast distribution facility, a satellite distribution facility,
or any other suitable type of distribution facility). As
illustrated in FIGS. 2a-2d, distribution facility 16 may have
reception system 23 for receiving videos, data, or a suitable
combination thereof from transmitter 111 using receiver 27.
Receiver 27 is preferably a digital satellite downlink receiver,
but may be any suitable analog, digital, radio-frequency, optical,
microwave, terrestrial, or other type of receiver.
[0051] Distribution facility 16 may have screen generator 117 for
generating passive video product display screens containing videos
and data. Screen generator 117 may be implemented using any
suitable hardware, software, or combination thereof. Screen
generator 117, may be, for example, a Windows NT process running on
a personal computer with a Pentium II microprocessor.
[0052] Screen generator 117 may use an object-oriented approach to
generate video product display screens. The use of COM objects, for
example, may allow changes to be made to the format and
functionality of some of the features of system 10 without
requiring changes to other system components. Such an approach may
allow one main facility 12 to provide and manage a number of
different passive guides and other video products from a central
location. Screen generators that may be used to create video
product display screens using an object-oriented approach are
described, for example, in Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/332,539, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated
by reference herein in its entirety.
[0053] Distribution equipment 21 may distribute passive video
product display screens on a dedicated channel and, if desired,
television programming on multiple analog or digital channels, to
multiple users via communications paths 20. Distribution equipment
21 may include, for example, a cable headend modulator, and any
other or additional equipment suitable for transmitting television
programming and passive guide display screens over communications
paths 20. Alternatively, distribution equipment 21 may include
suitable hardware and software for delivering videos in real-time
or substantially real-time via the Internet (e.g., using the
M-bone). If desired, television programming and video products may
be provided over separate communications paths.
[0054] Distribution equipment 21 of FIGS. 2a-2d may also include
suitable hardware for providing program guide or other application
data to user television equipment 22 over communications path 20.
Distribution equipment 21 may include, for example, suitable
transmission hardware for distributing program guide data on a
television channel sideband, in the vertical blanking interval of a
television channel, using an in-band digital signal, using an
out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data
transmission technique. The data may, for example, be provided over
a phone line when communications path 20 include separate paths for
data and television signals.
[0055] Communications path 20 may be any communications path or
paths suitable for distributing program guide or other application
data. Communications path 20 may include, for example, a satellite
link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a
microwave link, an Internet link, a data-over-cable service
interface specification (DOCSIS) link, a digital subscriber line
(DSL) link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable
communications link. Communications path 20 may allow distribution
facility 16 to distribute television programming to user television
equipment 22. There are typically multiple pieces of user
television equipment 22 and multiple associated communications
paths 20, although only one piece of user television equipment 22
and communications path 20 are shown in FIGS. 2a-2d to avoid over
complicating the figures. If desired, television programming may be
provided over separate communications paths (not shown).
[0056] FIG. 2b shows an illustrative arrangement for application
equipment 17 in a client-server based or distributed interactive
program guide system. The approach shown in FIG. 2b may also be
used to provide other applications. As shown in FIG. 2b,
distribution equipment 21 may include application server 25.
Application server 25 may be any suitable software, hardware, or
combination thereof for providing a client-server based program
guide. Application server 25 may, for example, run a suitable
database engine (e.g., SQL Server by Microsoft) and provide program
guide data, passive guide characteristics, or any suitable
combination thereof, in response to queries generated by a program
guide client implemented on user television equipment 22.
Alternatively, application server 25 may poll the program guide
client and provide data when necessary. If desired, application
server 25 may be located at main facility 12 or some other location
(not shown).
[0057] A program guide or other application client running on user
television equipment 22 may retrieve program guide data, passive
guide characteristics, or any suitable combination thereof, from
application server 25 using any suitable client-server based
approach. The program guide client may, for example, pass SQL
requests as messages to application server 25. In another suitable
approach, the program guide or other application may invoke remote
procedures that reside on application server 25 using one or more
remote procedure calls. Application server 25 may execute SQL
statements for such invoked remote procedures. In still another
suitable approach, client objects executed by the program guide may
communicate with server objects executed by application server 25
using, for example, an object request broker (ORB). This may
involve using, for example, Microsoft's Distributed Component
Object Model (DCOM) approach.
[0058] In another approach, program guide display pages may be
generated at distribution facility 16 using a graphics engine or
video production equipment. The display pages are then encoded into
an MPEG or other suitable digital format for distribution. The
program guide display pages may be decoded by a thin program guide
client running on user television equipment 22 to produce program
guide display screens seen by the user. Client-server based program
guides of this type are described, for example, in Marshall et al.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,501, filed Jun. 11, 1999,
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
[0059] The program guide or other application client may
communicate with application server 25 over communications path 20
using any suitable network and transport layer protocols, if
desired. A protocol stack may be used which includes, for example,
Sequenced Packet Exchange/Internetwork Packet Exchange (SPX/IPX)
layers, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
layers, AppleTalk Transaction Protocol/Datagram Delivery Protocol
(ATP/DDP) layers, or any other suitable network and transport layer
protocols. If desired DOCSIS may also be used. A suitable
client-server based approach may also be used for providing
non-program guide software, if desired.
[0060] FIGS. 2c and 2d show illustrative Internet based systems for
providing an interactive television program guide or other
interactive application. Distribution facility 16 may, for example,
include Internet service system 61. Internet service system 61 may
use any suitable combination of hardware and software capable of
obtaining or providing program guide or other application data,
passive guide characteristics, or any suitable combination thereof,
for or to the guide using an Internet based approach (e.g., the
HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)). If desired, Internet service
system 61 may be located at a facility that is separate from
distribution facility 16.
[0061] If the program guide or other application is implemented on
user television equipment 22 of application equipment 17 as shown
in FIG. 2c, Internet service system 61 (or other suitable equipment
at program guide distribution facility 16 that is connected to
Internet service system 61) may provide program guide or other
application data, to user television equipment 22 via the Internet,
or via distribution equipment 21 using any suitable Internet-based
approach (e.g., using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) over a Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) type link). If the program
guide or other application implemented on application equipment 17
is a client-server application as shown in FIG. 2d, application
server 25 may obtain program guide or other application data from
Internet service system 61. Alternatively, the data may be provided
by main facility 12 to distribution facility 16 via the Internet
and Internet service system 61. The program guide data may be
distributed by distribution equipment 21 to the guide using any
suitable distribution scheme.
[0062] In still another embodiment, distribution equipment 21 may
include suitable hardware (not shown) on which a first portion or
version of the interactive television program guide or other
software may be implemented. A second portion or version of the
program guide or other software may be implemented on user
television equipment 22. The two versions or portions of the
interactive program guide or other software may communicate using
any suitable peer-to-peer communications scheme (e.g., messaging,
remote procedure calls, etc.) and perform interactive program guide
or other functions distributively between distribution facility 16
and user television equipment 22.
[0063] Another suitable arrangement in which an on-line program
guide or other software may be implemented on application equipment
17 is shown in FIG. 2e. On-line program guide systems are
described, for example, in Boyer et al. U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 08/938,028, filed Sep. 18, 1997, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The user may have
personal computer (PC) 231 on which a program guide client or web
browser is implemented. Personal computer 231 may be connected to
Internet service system 235 via Internet link 233. Internet service
system 235 may use any suitable combination of computer hardware
and software capable of providing an on-line program guide or other
server application or web site.
[0064] An illustrative arrangement for user television equipment 22
is shown in FIG. 3. As shown, user television equipment 22 may
receive video signals and data from distribution facility 16 or
application server 25 at input 26. During normal television
viewing, a viewer may tune set-top box 28 to a desired television
channel. The signal for that television channel may then be
provided at video output 30. The signal supplied at output 30 may
be a radio-frequency (RF) signal on a predefined channel (e.g.,
channel 3 or 4), an analog demodulated video signal, a digital
signal provided to television 36 on an appropriate digital bus
(e.g., a bus using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard, (not shown)), or any other suitable
output. The video signal at output 30 is received by optional
secondary storage device 32.
[0065] The interactive television program guide or other software
may run on set-top box 28, on television 36 (if television 36 has
suitable processing circuitry and memory), on a suitable analog or
digital receiver connected to television 36, or on digital storage
device 31 if digital storage device 31 has suitable processing
circuitry and memory. The interactive television program guide or
other software may also run cooperatively on a suitable combination
of these devices. Interactive television application systems in
which a cooperative interactive television program guide
application runs on multiple devices are described, for example, in
Ellis U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/186,598, filed Nov. 5,
1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
[0066] Secondary storage device 32 can be any suitable type of
analog or digital program storage device or player (e.g., a
videocassette recorder, a digital versatile disc (DVD) player,
etc.). Program recording and other features may be controlled by
set-top box 28 using control path 34. If secondary storage device
32 is a videocassette recorder, for example, a typical control path
34 involves the use of an infrared transmitter coupled to an
infrared receiver in the videocassette recorder that normally
accepts commands from a remote control such as remote control 40.
Remote control 40 may be used to control set-top box 28, secondary
storage device 32, and television 36.
[0067] If desired, a user may record programs, program guide data,
passive guide videos, or a combination thereof in digital form on
optional digital storage device 31. Digital storage device 31 may
be a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable
of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such
as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage
device. Interactive television program guide systems that have
digital storage devices are described, for example, in Hassell et
al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/157,256, filed Sep. 17,
1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
[0068] Digital storage device 31 can be contained in set-top box 28
or it can be an external device connected to set-top box 28 via an
output port and appropriate interface. Digital storage device 31
may, for example, be contained in a local media server. If
necessary, processing circuitry in set-top box 28 formats the
received video, audio and data signals into a digital file format.
Preferably, the file format is an open file format such as the
Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard or the Moving
Joint Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG) standard. The resulting
data is streamed to digital storage device 31 via an appropriate
bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard), and is stored on digital storage
device 31. In another suitable approach, an MPEG-2 data stream or
series of files may be received from distribution equipment 21
(FIGS. 2a-2d) and stored.
[0069] Television 36 receives video signals from secondary storage
device 32 via communications path 38. The video signals on
communications path 38 may be generated by secondary storage device
32 when playing back a prerecorded storage medium (e.g., a
videocassette or a recordable digital video disc), may be generated
by digital storage device 31 when playing back a pre-recorded
digital medium, may be passed through from set-top box 28, may be
provided directly to television 36 from set-top box 28 if secondary
storage device 32 is not included in user television equipment 22,
or may be received directly by television from input 26 when, for
example, set-top box 28 is not included in user television
equipment 22. During normal television viewing, the video signals
provided to television 36 correspond to a desired channel to which
a viewer has tuned set-top box 28.
[0070] Set-top box 28 may have memory 44. Memory 44 may be any
memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory
(RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a
combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing
instructions, data, or a suitable combination thereof for use by
the program guide or other application.
[0071] In client-server based approaches, set-top box 28 may have
communications device 37 for communicating directly with
application server 25 (FIG. 2d) or Internet service system 61 (FIG.
2d) over communications path 20 (FIG. 2d). Communications device 37
may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard,
cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an
Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable
communications device. Television 36 may also have such a suitable
communications device if desired.
[0072] In an alternative approach, user television equipment 22
(FIG. 2d) may communicate with Internet service system 61 (FIG. 2d)
via distribution equipment 21 (FIG. 2d) using our comments path 20
or another suitable communication path.
[0073] A more generalized embodiment of user television equipment
22 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, program guide
data from distribution facility 16 is received by control circuitry
42 of user television equipment 22. The functions of control
circuitry 42 may be provided in set-top box 28. Alternatively,
these functions may be integrated into an advanced television
receiver, personal computer television (PC/TV), personal computer
231 or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of
such arrangements may be used.
[0074] User television equipment 22 may also have secondary storage
device 47 and digital storage device 49 for recording programming.
Secondary storage device 47 may be any suitable type of analog or
digital program storage device (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a
digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.). Program recording and other
features may be controlled by control circuitry 42. Digital storage
device 49 may be, for example, a writeable optical storage device
(such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a
magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or
any other digital storage device.
[0075] User television equipment 22 may also have memory 63. Memory
63 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random
access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard
disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable
for storing instructions, data, or a suitable combination thereof
for use by control circuitry 42.
[0076] User television equipment 22 may also have communications
device 51 for communicating with distribution equipment 21 (FIG.
2a), application server 25 (FIG. 2b), or Internet service system 61
(FIGS. 2c-2d) via communications path 20. Communications device 51
may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard,
cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an
Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable
communications device.
[0077] A user may control the operation of user television
equipment 22 with user input device 46. User input device 46 may be
a pointing device, wireless remote control, keyboard, touch-pad,
voice recognition system, or any other suitable user input device.
To watch television, a user may instruct control circuitry 42 to
display a desired television channel on display device 45. Display
device 45 may be any suitable television, monitor, or other
suitable display device. To access the functions of the program
guide or other software, a user may instruct the program guide or
other software implemented on application equipment 17 to generate
a main menu or other desired display screen for display on display
device 45.
[0078] For purposes of clarity, and not by way of limitation,
suitable displays for an interactive program guide are now
described herein below. These displays and their approaches for
providing advertisements and merchandising opportunities are only
illustrative and similar displays, display elements, and approaches
may be used for other applications. For example, panel
advertisements and other display elements may be incorporated into
other applications.
[0079] Turning first to FIG. 5, a main menu screen 100 is shown.
Main menu screen 100 may be accessed by pressing a "guide" key on
remote control 40. As illustrated, screen 100 may include menu 102
of selectable program guide features 106. If desired, program guide
features 106 may be organized according to feature type. In menu
102, for example, program guide features 106 have been organized
into three columns. The interactive television program guide may
generate a display screen for a particular program guide feature
when a user selects that feature from menu 102 with, for example,
highlight region 120.
[0080] Main menu screen 100 may include one or more selectable
advertisements 108. Selectable advertisements 108 may, for example,
include text and graphics advertising pay-per-view programs or
other programs, channels, or products. When a user selects a
selectable advertisement 108 with, for example, highlight region
120, the program guide may display information (e.g., pay-per-view
information) or take other actions related to the content of the
advertisement. Pure text advertisements may be presented, if
desired, as illustrated by selectable advertisement banner 110.
[0081] Main menu screen 100 may also include other screen elements.
The brand of the program guide product may be indicated, for
example, using a product brand logo graphic such as product brand
logo graphic 112. The identity of the television service provider
may be presented, for example, using a service provider logo
graphic such as service provider logo graphic 114. The logos may be
included in the program guide data allowing for on-the-fly
configurability of the display screens. Video window 501 may
include video from a currently tuned channel.
[0082] The user may access a passive video product from an
interactive guide or other software. If desired, the interactive
guide or other software may include one or more branded screen
elements, such as illustrative branded menu feature 505, to provide
the user with an opportunity to access a passive video product. In
this example, the user is provided with an opportunity to access
the TV Guide Channel, a passive guide, directly from menu 102. In
response to the user selecting branded feature 505, the interactive
guide or other software may tune the user's equipment (e.g.,
television 36 or personal computer 231) to the channel on which the
passive guide is carried.
[0083] FIG. 6 shows an illustrative passive guide display screen
601. Display screen 601 includes a half-screen video display area
607, a half-screen listings area 603, and separator bar 605.
Separator bar 605 may display the current time and indicate the
time slots for which listings are displayed. The program listings
may scroll continuously or page periodically to display program
listings for additional channels. Program listings may be displayed
in subsets according to one or more organization criteria and
sorted in various ways.
[0084] Passive guide display screen 601 is only illustrative of one
suitable passive video product. Passive video product display
screens may include any suitable combination of videos, listings,
text, graphics and other content. For example, passive video
products may include a near-full-screen video of a promoted
program, plus a small text area with ordering details for the
promoted program (e.g., a barker channel). Alternatively, they may
include a quarter-screen video, accompanied by quarter screen text
with ordering or viewing instructions, and a half-screen of
scrolling program listings. These examples are merely illustrative,
and other passive video product approaches may be used.
[0085] If desired, program listings area 603 may be replaced or
overlaid with interactive program listings to provide the user with
a hybrid passive/interactive television program guide. The hybrid
guide may be generated by the interactive guide using any suitable
technique to overlay program listings display areas, text display
areas, graphic display areas, video display areas, or interactive
feature areas onto the passive guide display screen, or to
otherwise replace passive guide content. Interactive feature areas
may include any suitable interactive program guide feature and may
replace or supplement a passive feature of the passive guide. The
interactive guide may also generate the hybrid guide immediately
when a user tunes to the passive guide channel. Hybrid
passive/interactive television program guides are described, for
example, in Reynolds et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/400,391, filed Sep. 21, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety. An illustrative hybrid
passive/interactive program guide is shown in FIG. 7.
[0086] The interactive guide may, for example, overlay a passive
listings display area (e.g., program listings area 603 of FIG. 6)
with an interactive listings area in response to a user indicating
a desire to select a program listing by, for example, pressing an
arrow key on remote control 40. The interactive guide may determine
the first program listing displayed and may display the interactive
listings starting with that first program listing. The interactive
guide may determine the current time slot and channel that are
being displayed by the passive guide based, for example, on passive
guide characteristics (e.g., currently displayed screen components,
size and location of screen components, current listings, etc.).
Systems in which passive guide characteristics are used to
synchronize passive and interactive program listings are described,
for example, in above-mentioned Reynolds et al. U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/400,391, filed Sep. 21, 1999. In still
another suitable approach, the interactive guide may determine the
type of listings displayed (e.g., whether they are movie listings,
spots listings, etc.), and display interactive listings for the
same type.
[0087] The interactive guide may indicate to a user that a hybrid
guide is active by, for example, displaying a highlight region.
FIG. 7 shows an illustrative hybrid guide having interactive grid
701 and highlight region 151. The operation of grid 701 may be
similar to full-screen television listings displays as described,
for example, in above-mentioned Knudsen et al. U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999. The user may
position highlight region 151 by entering appropriate commands with
user input device 46. For example, if user input device 46 has a
keypad, the user can position highlight region 151 using "up,"
"down," "left," and "right" using, for example, cursor keys on user
input device 46. Alternatively, a touch sensitive screen,
trackball, voice commands, or other suitable device may be used to
move highlight region 151 or to select program listings without the
use of highlight region 151. In still another approach, the user
may speak the title of a television program listing into a voice
request recognition system which will issue an appropriate command
or request to the interactive guide. Any other suitable approach
may also be used. In response to the user positioning highlight
region 151, the guide may display interactive listings for
additional channels (e.g., when the user positions highlight region
151 up or down), or for additional time slots (e.g., when the user
positions highlight region 151 left or right).
[0088] The user may indicate a desire to access additional
information for a program by, for example, pressing an info key on
remote control 40. In response, the interactive guide may display
an additional information screen for the currently highlighted
program listing. FIG. 8 shows illustrative information screen 801.
Information screen 801 may include, for example, an area 805 that
displays the title, channel, rating, and air time of the program.
Information screen 801 may also include other information, such as
a description of the program, in window 803. Video window 811 may
display the currently tuned channel. When the user accesses
information screen 801 from a hybrid guide or from the passive
video product, video window 811 may display the passive video
product. Information screen 801 may also provide selectable
features 807 for providing users with access to other interactive
guide features. Interactive program guide systems in which
additional information screens provide users with access to
interactive guide features are described, for example, in Rudnick
et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,268, filed Jul. 16,
1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
[0089] The system may integrate program sponsorship and interactive
advertising between conventional programming or one or more video
products and interactive software such as an interactive television
program guide. The interactive television program guide or other
software may include, for example, one or more graphic
advertisements, such as selectable graphics 108 (FIG. 5).
Selectable graphics 108 may promote any suitable product or
service. When a promotion is aired on the passive video product or
within other programing, the interactive guide or other software
may display an interactive advertisement indicating the promotion
and, if applicable, its sponsor. In response to the user selecting
the interactive advertisement, the interactive guide may tune the
user's equipment to the passive video product or other channel.
[0090] The interactive guide may be programmed to display a linked
interactive advertisement using any suitable approach. For example,
the program guide data may include a schedule (i.e., a timing
synch) that indicates to the interactive guide scheduled times for
linked interactive advertisements. In another suitable approach, a
passive video product may include, for example, a flag in its
header (e.g., in its vertical blanking interval (VBI)) that alerts
the interactive guide (or other hardware or software running in the
user's equipment) to find and retrieve interactive content for a
particular advertiser. If desired, this communications-based
synchronization approach may be combined with the aforementioned
timing-based synchronization approach. For example, interactive
graphics may be downloaded to an interactive guide at the same time
(or substantially the same time) that the promotions are provided
to distribution facilities within the system. Such an approach may
provide the system provider or some other interested entity with an
opportunity to collect advertisement revenues for time blocks
across multiple platforms. For example, time blocks may be sold for
time on two products--a passive video product and an interactive
program guide.
[0091] In one suitable approach, the interactive guide may be
provided with playlists that schedule the passive guide promotions,
and with passive guide characteristics. Passive guide
characteristics include information that indicates what content is
displayed by the passive video product, as well as how the content
is being displayed. Systems in which playlists and passive video
product characteristics are provided to an interactive guide to
integrate passive video product and interactive guide content and
functionality are described, for example, in above-mentioned
Reynolds et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/400,391, filed
Sep. 21, 1999.
[0092] Screen generator 117 (FIGS. 2a-2d) may track passive guide
characteristics such as the currently displayed screen components
of the passive video product display screen (e.g., videos, program
listings grid, etc.), the size and location of the components, the
listings that are being displayed, the period with which listings
are paged or the speed with which listings are scrolled, which
program segment is currently active in the video portion of the
passive video product, the content of the videos (e.g., programs or
products that are promoted by a video), the channel and call
letters of the passive video product, a source identifier or other
identifier of the passive video product, or any other suitable
information. If desired, local or national playlists may also be
provided to the interactive guide as part of the passive video
product characteristics. The passive video product characteristics
may be provided to distribution equipment 21 or application server
25 for use by the interactive television program guide. The passive
video product characteristics may be provided to the guide or a
guide client periodically, continuously, on-demand, or with any
other suitable frequency based on the system architecture
underlying the guide.
[0093] Comparing FIGS. 9a-9d illustrates how combining program
sponsorship and interactive advertising between a passive guide and
an interactive television program guide may be performed. In FIG.
9a, selectable advertisement graphic 108 of main menu screen 100
includes an advertisement for Faith Hill on Insider. The segment is
sponsored by Miller Lite. This graphic is displayed in the
interactive guide when the passive guide provides the sponsored
segment. In response to the user selecting advertisement graphic
108, the interactive guide may tune the user's television or
personal computer to the passive guide channel, where the sponsor
identifier may appear on the video (FIG. 9b). In this example, the
identifier may appear at the beginning of the segment. The segment
may then air (FIG. 9c), and be followed by or interrupted by an
advertisement for the sponsor (FIG. 9d). This approach may allow
the provider of the interactive software (e.g., the interactive
guide) and the passive video product (e.g., the passive guide) to
sell time-blocks across multiple platforms. If desired, selectable
advertisement graphic 108 may be provided by non-program guide
software (e.g., a web browser, computer operating system,
etc.).
[0094] Conventional television programming or passive video product
promotions may be combined with interactive impulse-purchase
features. The purchasing features may be provided by an interactive
guide or by non-program guide software. For example, a passive
video product segment or promotion (or a conventional television
program) may promote or otherwise include information about
particular products or services. When interactive content is
available for the product or service, the interactive guide may
overlay an alert icon onto the video signal to alert the user that
interactive content is available. The interactive guide or other
software may determine that there is related interactive content
using any suitable approach. The programming may, for example,
include a suitable header in its vertical blanking interval (VBI).
Alternatively, the interactive software may be provided with
characteristics of the programming and, if applicable, a playlist
for the channel. Any other suitable approach may be used.
[0095] When the user selects such an icon, an interactive guide or
other software may display a point-of-purchase window in which
purchase information for the product or service is displayed. When
the user completes the purchase, the guide or other software may
return to full-screen display of the passive video product or
conventional program. Alternatively, the user may be provided with
an opportunity to order other merchandise from, for example, a TV
Guide Store.
[0096] Comparing FIGS. 10a-10f illustrates how conventional
television programming or passive video product promotions may be
combined with interactive impulse-purchase features. As shown in
FIGS. 10a and 10b, a passive video product channel includes a TV
Music News segment. At some point in the segment, interactive
content related to the content of the segment may be available. In
this example, there may be interactive content available for 'N
Sync (FIG. 10c). The interactive software may display an icon, such
as alert icon 1000. In response to the user selecting alert icon
1000, the interactive software may display an interactive window.
In this example, the additional information may be available
merchandise (the Star Profile CD), and a point-of-purchase window
1010 may be displayed (FIG. 10d). If desired, the passive
programming may be resized (as shown), and additional
advertisements or other graphics may be displayed.
[0097] The user may return to full-screen video if the user does
not want to order the original product or any additional products.
If the user indicates a desire to order the product by, for
example, selecting "Yes", the interactive software may prompt the
user to add the product to a shopping cart (e.g., by selecting "No"
in FIG. 10e). If desired, a suitable one-click ordering approach
may be used. If the user wants to order additional products (e.g.,
by selecting "Yes" in FIG. 10e), the interactive software may
provide the user with access to a virtual store. The store may be
provided via the Internet, a private network, programmed into the
interactive software, or provided using any other suitable
approach. FIG. 10f shows an illustrative virtual store display
screen 1030. The store may display related items for sale (e.g.,
other CDs by 'N Sync, other CDs by similar artists, other CDs, for
the same record label, etc.) that the user may select and purchase.
The store may also provide options that the user may select to view
other available products.
[0098] The system may combine advertiser sponsorship with
interactive impulse-purchase fulfillment. When a passive video
product feature or segment is sponsored by a particular sponsor,
the system may overlay an icon that alerts the user to additional
information concerning, for example, the subject of the feature or
segment. In response to a user selecting the icon, the system may
display interactive content such as, for example, a
point-of-purchase window. The products or services offered in the
point-of-purchase window may be from the sponsor of the segment or
feature, from a featured source, or from some other source.
[0099] Comparing FIGS. 11a-11c illustrates how advertiser
sponsorship may be combined with interactive impulse-purchase
fulfillment. A passive video product segment may be sponsored, for
example, by DiGiorno and feature an interview with Papa John's
Pizza (FIG. 11a). If interactive content is available for the
segment, interactive software may display an alert icon 1100 (FIG.
11b). In response to a user selecting alert icon 1100, the
interactive software may display the interactive content. In this
example, the interactive content may be a recipe for Papa John's
Pizza (FIG. 11c). Point-of-purchase window 1120 may be displayed to
allow the user to order products associated with the interactive
content, in this example, ingredients for the recipe. Window 1120
may include an advertisement for the provider of the ingredients,
in this example, Peapod Grocery Delivery Service. This approach may
provide for a three-way sale of advertisements. DiGiorno, Papa
John's, and Pea Pod may each advertise in connection with
impulse-purchase fulfillment. Moreover, as in this example, the
advertisers may be selected to be complimentary to one another and
may interact synergistically, thereby enhancing the advertising
value of the individual advertisements.
[0100] If desired, integrating conventional television advertising
or sponsorship, interactive advertising, and impulse-purchase
fulfillment may be performed using Intent-based technologies.
Conventional television programing and passive video products may
be augmented or otherwise coordinated with an interactive guide or
other software using markup language documents, such as Hypertext
Markup Language (HTML) documents. Systems in which passive video
products and interactive guide content and functionality are
augmented and coordinated using Intent-delivered data are
described, for example, in Allison et al. U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/368,825, filed Aug. 5, 1999, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0101] FIGS. 12-15 are flowcharts of illustrative steps involved in
providing features of one embodiment of the present invention. In
practice, the steps shown in FIGS. 12-15 may be performed in any
suitable order, some may be deleted, and others added. Some of the
steps shown in FIGS. 12-15 involve providing users with
opportunities to interact with the system, performing various
processes, or providing various displays. These and other steps may
be performed by, for example, a client application that is
programmed to generate or download screens suitable to provide such
opportunities, an Internet browser that downloads suitable pages to
provide such opportunities, peer applications, or using any other
suitable approach. In non-on-line arrangements, processing for
these operations may be performed by a client, a server, or
distributed among peer applications, depending on the chosen system
implementation and the processing requirements of such operations.
In on-line arrangements, such processing may be performed by user
television equipment 22, personal computer 231, or Internet service
systems 61 and 235, depending on, for example, the processing and
storage capabilities of user television equipment 22 or personal
computer 231, the chosen implementation for the interactive
applications, the processing requirements of such operations, or
other factors. For purpose of clarity, the following discussion
will describe the steps shown in FIGS. 12-15 as being performed by
"the system," which is intended to include any suitable system,
such as, for example, any non-on-line or on-line arrangement
suitable for performing the steps.
[0102] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in
providing selectable options within interactive applications that
allow users to access passive video products (e.g., a barker
channel, passive guide, or other passive video product). At step
1200, the system may provide an interactive menu of options such
as, for example, an interactive program guide, home shopping, or
other menu. The interactive menu may include a selectable option
for the passive video product (step 1210). The option may be
branded to indicate the name or source of the passive video product
(e.g., branded "The TV Guide Channel" as shown in FIG. 5).
[0103] At step 1220, the system may provide the passive video
product to a user in response to the user selecting the option.
Providing the passive video product may be accomplished using any
suitable approach. For example, the system may tune the user's
television equipment to a digital or analog television channel
carrying the passive video product. In another suitable approach,
for example, the system may access an Internet site that provides a
real-time passive video product (i.e., a passive product that is
not provided on-demand, as opposed to other types of content on the
Internet).
[0104] At step 1230, the system may provide interactive content
with the passive video product. The system may, for example,
provide an alert icon. In response to the user selecting the alert
icon or otherwise indicating a desire to access interactive
content, the system may provide the user with a merchandising
opportunity to, for example, purchase products related to what is
showing in the passive video product (step 1240). In another
approach, the system may provide additional information for the
passive video product such as, for example, descriptions, reviews,
or any other suitable information (step 1250). The interactive
content provided at step 1230 may include, for example, interactive
television program listings. In one suitable approach, the system
may overlay interactive program listings over a passive program
guide to provide a hybrid guide. The system may provide additional
information for a selected listing (step 1250).
[0105] FIG. 13 is an illustrative flowchart of steps involved in
providing advertisements for passive programming from interactive
applications. At step 1300, the system may retrieve advertisements
for passive programming. The passive programming may be any
suitable passive programming such as, for example, television
programs, pay-per-view programs, commercials, segments within
passive video products, or any other suitable passive programming.
The advertisements may include any suitable content such as, for
example, text, graphics, audio, video, animations, other suitable
content, or any suitable content thereof. The advertisements may be
branded--i.e., they may include brands or logos for sponsors. For
example, the advertisement for the Insider segment, as shown in
FIG. 9a, is branded by Miller Lite. The system may retrieve
advertisements using any suitable approach. For example, the system
may retrieve advertisements according to a schedule (step 1310),
according to a real-time flag (step 1320), using a combination of
these approaches, or any other suitable approach, from local memory
or from a remote server.
[0106] At step 1330, the system provides retrieved advertisements
within an interactive application. The interactive application may
be any suitable interactive application such as, for example, an
interactive program guide, a home shopping application, operating
system software, a web browser, or any other suitable interactive
application. The advertisement may be provided as, for example, a
panel advertisement, a banner advertisement, a full-screen
advertisement, or using any other suitable format. The system
provides the advertised passive programming at step 1340. Providing
the advertised passive programming may be accomplished using any
suitable approach. For example, the system may tune the user's
television equipment to a television channel carrying the passive
programming. In another suitable approach, for example, the system
may access an Internet site that provides the passive programming
in real time.
[0107] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in
providing advertisements for advertisers during passive programming
and from within interactive applications. At step 1400, the system
may allocate advertisement time for an advertiser on at least one
interactive product (e.g., interactive television program guide,
operating system, web browser, home banking application, or other
suitable interactive application) and at least one passive program
(e.g., television program, pay-per-view program, movie, passive
guide channel or barker channel segment, or other suitable
programming). At step 1410, the system may provide an advertisement
for the advertiser simultaneously on the interactive product and
during the passive program. This may allow the system provider to
sell advertisers advertisement time across multiple platforms or
products. The advertiser may brand the program and the
advertisement within the interactive application.
[0108] At step 1420, the system may provide the user with an
opportunity to select the advertisement in the interactive product.
At step 1430, the system provides the advertised passive program in
response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive
application. The system may provide the advertised passive program
using any suitable approach. For example, the system may tune the
user's television equipment to a television channel carrying the
passive programming. In another suitable approach, for example, the
system may access an Internet site that provides the passive
programming in real time.
[0109] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in
providing advertisements for advertisers within interactive
applications based on branded passive programming. The steps shown
in FIG. 15 provide for advertisements within interactive
applications based on the branding of passive programming. At step
1500, the system may retrieve advertisements. The advertisements
may include any suitable content such as, for example, text,
graphics, audio, video, animations, other suitable content, or any
suitable combination thereof. The advertisements may be retrieved
using any suitable approach. For example, the system may retrieve
advertisements according to a schedule (step 1510), according to a
real-time flag (step 1520), using a combination of these
approaches, or any other suitable approach, from local memory or a
remote server.
[0110] At step 1530, the system may provide passive programming
branded with an advertiser's brand. The programming may be branded
by the source of the programming, main facility 12, distribution
facility 16, Internet service system 235, or at any other suitable
facility. At step 1540, the system may provide a user with an
opportunity to access interactive information provided from an
interactive application such as, for example, an interactive
television program guide, a web browser, an operating system, a
home shopping application, or other suitable interactive
application. The system may, for example, provide a selectable or
non-selectable icon that indicates the availability of interactive
information associated with the programming. In addition to the
interactive information, the interactive application may provide an
advertisement for the advertiser associated with the brand on the
branded passive programming (step 1550).
[0111] Thus, systems and methods for coordinating interactive and
passive advertisements and merchandising opportunities are
provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present
invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments,
which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of
limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims
which follow.
* * * * *