(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`17 January 2002 (17.01.2002)
`
`
`
`PCT
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 02/05557 A2
`
`(51) International Patent Classification7:
`
`H04N 7/173
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/IB01/01032
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`11 June 2001 (11.06.2001)
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`09/612,870
`
`English
`
`English
`
`10 July 2000 (10.07.2000)
`
`US
`
`(71) Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION [FT/FT]; Keilalah—
`dentie 4, FIN—02150 Espoo (FT).
`
`(81) Designated States (national): AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ,
`BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK,
`DM, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL,
`IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU,
`LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT,
`RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA,
`UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW.
`
`(84) Designated States (regional): ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian
`patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European
`patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE,
`IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CF,
`CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`(71) Applicant 0’or LC only): NOKIA INC. [US/US]; 6000
`Connection Drive, Irving, TX 75039 (US).
`
`Published:
`
`(72) Inventors: RAUTILA, Heikki; Taavinharju 21 B AS. A2,
`FIN—02180 Espoo (FT). RISSANEN, Jussi; Pajalahdentie
`6 A 18, FIN—00200 Helsinki (FI). TANSKANEN, Erkki;
`Luhtipolku 24 A 90, FIN—01660 Vantaa (PI).
`
`(74) Agent: STUART, Michael, C.; Cohen, Pontani, Lieber—
`man & Pavane, Suite 1210, 551 Fifth Avenue, New York,
`NY 10176 (US).
`
`without international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt of that report
`
`For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the ”Guid-
`ance Notes on Codes andAbbreviations ” appearing at the begin-
`ning ofeach regular issue ofthe PCT Gazette.
`
`(54) Title: SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZING TELEVISION PREFERENCES OVER A WIRELESS NET—
`WORK
`
`
`CUSTOM~
`IzING
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TVTRANS-
`MISSION70
`SATELLITE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`BROADCAST
`
`Al
`
`02/05557A2
`
`(57) Abstract: A system for interacting with viewers of television programming includes a television set and a network terminal
`for each such user. The terminals are connected by the network to an interactive server which maintains a first database of persistent
`information for each user and a second database of current preference information for each user. The current preference information
`includes registrations of users as viewing particular programs or as participating in certain activities chronicled in television pro—
`grams, such as lotteries, polls, and product promotions. According to information in the first and second databases and according
`O to current user requests, the interactive server forwards information to users’ terminals, modifies content of all television program—
`ming, or modifies content of television programming, targeted to certain users or groups of users for selection by those users cable
`or satellite set—top boxes.
`
`SONY - Ex.-1009
`
`1
`
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
`
`SONY - Ex.-1009
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
`
`1
`
`

`

`WO 02/05557
`
`PCT/IB01/01032
`
`Systems And Methods For Characterizing Television
`
`Preferences Over A Wireless Network
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1.
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`This
`
`invention relates generally‘
`
`to systems
`
`and. methods
`
`for characterizing television. preferences
`
`over
`
`a
`
`computer
`
`network.
`
`More
`
`specifically,
`
`the
`
`invention
`
`relates
`
`to
`
`Characterizing
`
`television
`
`preferences over the Internet using a wireless device.
`
`2.
`
`Description of the Related Art
`
`Wireless
`
`communication
`
`devices
`
`are
`
`fast
`
`becoming
`
`the
`
`communications media
`
`of
`
`choice
`
`for
`
`transporting data,
`of
`the devices.
`
`and communicating data between users
`Many
`types of wireless devices are
`
`currently being used such as cellular phones, wireless
`
`telephones, personal digital assistants
`
`(PDAs),
`
`laptop
`
`computers and other devices with small displays which
`
`display text and icons to users of
`
`the devices.
`
`The
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`strong push in current wireless technology development
`
`is to use wireless devices for varied applications and
`
`which
`
`allow users
`
`of
`
`such
`
`devices
`
`to
`
`seamlessly
`
`integrate
`
`events
`
`and
`
`needs
`
`in
`
`their
`
`lives while
`
`maintaining adequate communication power
`
`to receive and
`
`transmit all of
`
`the data and information which has an
`
`impact on them.
`
`The
`
`Internet
`
`has
`
`also
`
`fast
`
`become
`
`the
`
`communications mediunl of choice for
`
`transporting‘ many
`
`forms of data,
`
`including wireless data,
`
`throughout
`
`the
`
`world.
`
`Due
`
`to its
`
`far—reaching
`
`connectivity,
`
`the
`
`Internet
`
`is particularly well—suited to transport
`
`an
`
`individual's data concerning personal preferences
`
`for
`
`parameters
`
`associated with different
`
`systems.
`
`In
`
`2
`
`

`

`WO 02/05557
`
`PCT/IB01/01032
`
`particular, most people have particular preferences for
`
`television. programming, advertising'
`
`and. other content.
`
`There
`
`does not exist
`
`today a
`
`system or method
`
`for
`
`setting such preferences with a wireless device through
`
`the Internet.
`
`Such systems and methods would greatly
`
`simplify and enhance a user's television viewing habits
`
`and make
`
`it
`
`extremely easy for
`
`such habits
`
`to be
`
`influenced, categorized and exploited by advertisers or
`
`other purveyors of television information.
`
`10
`
`There
`
`thus exists
`
`a need for methods
`
`and
`
`15
`
`2O
`
`25
`
`3O
`
`systems
`
`for
`
`characterizing
`
`television
`
`information
`
`related
`
`to
`
`a user's
`
`preferences
`
`for
`
`programming,
`
`advertising and other content.
`
`Such systems and methods
`
`should. be seamlessly'
`
`integrable with.
`
`the Internet and
`
`usable with
`
`existing wireless
`
`devices.
`
`Moreover,
`
`information generated by setting television preferences
`
`should. be
`
`formatted so it
`
`can be made available to
`
`advertisers,
`
`programmers
`
`and
`
`other
`
`providers
`
`of
`
`television content.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present
`
`invention characterizes television
`
`preferences of
`
`an individual using a wireless device
`
`which
`
`is
`
`in communication with a
`
`computer network.
`
`Preferably;
`
`the computer‘ network is the Internet, but
`
`the invention may be implemented on any form of computer
`
`network such as a local area network (LAN) or wide area
`
`network (WAN).
`
`In a preferred embodiment, users equipped with
`
`television sets and communication terminals communicate
`
`via the Internet with an interactive server
`
`that
`
`is
`
`provided. with.
`
`a
`
`television. signal.
`
`The
`
`interactive
`
`server maintains a first database containing persistent
`
`information regarding each user.
`
`The user communicates,
`
`3
`
`

`

`WO 02/05557
`
`PCT/IB01/01032
`
`through a terminal, current preferences to a second data
`
`base
`
`in the
`
`interactive
`
`server
`
`such
`
`as
`
`television
`
`program favorites,
`
`advertising
`
`favorites,
`
`hobbies,
`
`interests
`
`and other
`
`specific
`
`television preferences
`
`which. can be characterized .by'
`
`the interactive server.
`
`The interactive server is operable to modify television
`
`programming
`
`being
`
`transmitted
`
`to
`
`the
`
`users.
`
`In
`
`accordance with the first and second databases and with
`
`current user
`
`requests,
`
`the
`
`interactive server
`
`sends
`
`information to users'
`
`terminals and modifies television
`
`programming. Modification of television programming may
`
`consist of
`
`findifying the contents of a channel for all
`
`users, or appending content
`
`to a channel
`
`for selective
`
`presentation by users‘ set—top boxes to certain users.
`
`These
`
`and
`
`other
`
`features
`
`of
`
`the present
`
`apparent
`
`from the
`
`following
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`invention will
`
`become
`
`detailed description considered in conjunction with the
`
`accompanying drawings.
`
`It is to be understood, however,
`
`that
`
`the drawings are designed solely for purposes of
`
`illustration and not as a definition of
`
`the limits of
`
`the invention,
`
`for which reference should be made to the
`
`appended claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`In.
`
`the
`
`drawings,
`
`wherein.
`
`like
`
`reference
`
`numerals
`
`identify‘
`
`similar
`
`elements
`
`throughout
`
`the
`
`several views:
`
`Figure l
`
`is a block diagram of a system for
`
`characterizing’
`
`a user‘s television. preferences with.
`
`a
`
`wireless device over the Internet;
`
`Figure
`
`2
`
`is
`
`a
`
`high—level
`
`flow diagram
`
`depicting‘
`
`a
`
`typical
`
`scenario in which the system of
`
`Figure
`
`l
`
`is
`
`deployed
`
`to
`
`effect
`
`interaction of
`
`a
`
`television viewer with television content.
`
`4
`
`

`

`WO 02/05557
`
`PCT/IB01/01032
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Referring now to Figure l, a block diagram of
`
`a
`
`systenl
`
`for setting a user's television. programming
`
`preferences is depicted.
`
`It will be appreciated that
`
`the present
`
`invention is applicable to customizing other
`
`media content such as radio,
`
`jukeboxes, movies and other
`
`media.
`
`For convenience throughout,
`
`the media will be
`
`referred to
`
`as
`
`television content,
`
`programming,
`
`or
`
`10
`
`signals.
`
`There is a plurality of users, each equipped with a
`
`terminal 10 and a television set 80.
`
`(The dotted lines
`
`from XX~1
`
`to XX—n connote plurality of an unspecified
`
`(open—ended)
`
`number.)
`
`The
`
`terminals
`
`10 may‘ be
`
`any
`
`15
`
`devices capable of communicating via the Internet.
`
`Thus
`
`they‘ may‘ be personal
`
`computers
`
`(PCs) or
`
`they‘ may‘ be
`
`devices
`
`such
`
`as wireless
`
`telephones,
`
`personal
`
`data
`
`assistants (PDAs), palmtop computers, etc.
`
`It is likely
`
`that new types of
`
`terminal devices will be devised in
`
`20
`
`the
`
`future
`
`that will
`
`be
`
`usable
`
`as
`
`terminals
`
`in
`
`25
`
`30
`
`conjunction with
`the present
`invention.
`terminals 110
`can communicate with the
`
`Each
`Internet
`
`of
`30,
`
`typically though
`not
`network 20 which. may
`
`necessarily
`through
`telephone
`include the PSTN,
`the wireless
`
`telephone network,
`
`ISDN lines, DSL
`
`lines,
`
`etc.
`
`The
`
`terminals
`
`10 may
`
`communicate with
`
`the
`
`Internet
`
`30
`
`bidirectionally.
`
`(In Fig.
`
`I,
`
`interconnecting lines
`
`without arrowheads are bidirectional.)
`
`Each user also has a television set 80. Television
`
`sets may'
`
`receive television.
`
`signals
`
`in a variety‘ of
`
`ways,
`
`such
`
`as broadcast,
`
`cable,
`
`or satellite.
`
`A
`
`television. set equipped.
`
`to receive cable or satellite
`
`signals typically has associated with it a set—top box
`
`84, which, as is known in the art, can interact with the
`
`5
`
`

`

`WO 02/05557
`
`PCT/IB01/01032
`
`incoming signal
`
`for
`
`channel
`
`selection and the
`
`like.
`
`Typically,
`
`each television set
`
`80
`
`has provision to
`
`display‘
`
`supplementary' material
`
`(i.e., material
`
`in
`
`addition to the normal programming on a channel)
`
`in a
`
`small window 82,
`
`such.
`
`that
`
`the normal programming is
`
`substantially "visible while supplementary' material
`
`is
`
`displayed
`
`in
`
`the
`
`window
`
`82.
`
`Alternatively,
`
`supplementary material may be displayed superimposed on
`
`the
`
`normal
`
`programming,
`
`in
`
`the manner
`
`of movie
`
`10
`
`subtitles.
`
`Users at
`
`terminals 10 communicate via the Internet
`
`with interactive server
`
`(IS) 40. Associated with IS 40
`
`are databases 42
`
`for
`
`storing‘ user‘ account
`
`information
`
`and
`
`44
`
`for
`
`storing user
`
`registration information.
`
`15
`
`persistent
`
`Generally,
`
`account
`
`information.
`
`includes
`
`information.
`
`such as
`
`a user‘s
`
`name,
`
`sex,
`
`age/date of
`
`birth, address, credit card numbers, general
`
`likes and
`
`dislikes,
`
`hobbies,
`
`and
`
`so
`
`forth, while
`
`registration
`
`information includes volatile information such as that
`
`2O
`
`the user is currently viewing a particular program,
`
`that
`
`she wishes to participate in a current poll or special
`
`offer mentioned on a television program, or the like.
`
`18 40 receives TV programming 50, which IS 40 will
`
`forward for transmission to television sets 80. As will
`
`25
`
`be discussed below,
`
`the
`
`TV
`
`programming
`
`50 may
`
`modified or
`
`augmented prior
`
`to such
`
`forwarding
`
`be
`
`in
`
`accordance with the present invention.
`
`IS 40 also receives
`
`customizing information 60,
`
`which may include advertisements, announcements of polls
`
`3O
`
`and candidate
`
`lists for polls,
`
`product
`
`information,
`
`special offers,
`
`lottery statistics,
`
`lottery results,
`
`etc. As a design choice, customizing information 60 may
`
`be provided to IS 40 directly from some source proximate
`
`6
`
`

`

`WO 02/05557
`
`PCT/IB01/01032
`
`to IS 40,
`
`remotely via the Internet
`
`(as from a remote
`
`web server) or any combination of the two.
`
`Several scenarios will
`
`now Ibe discussed.
`
`in. which
`
`the present
`
`invention enables users, by registering with
`
`IS 40 through their terminals IO,
`
`to exert
`
`some control
`
`over what appears on their TV sets 80.
`
`Simpler scenarios involve those of TV sets 80 that
`
`receive TV programming via broadcast;
`
`these TV sets must
`
`display everything contained in the received signal on a
`
`selected channel, as opposed to those of TV sets 80 that
`
`receive satellite or cable signals and process them in a
`
`set—top box 84 which allows selections to be culled from
`
`the received signal on a selected channel.
`
`A user watching via broadcast a particular program,
`
`here called Program—A by way of reference, can use her
`
`terminal
`
`10 communicate to IS 40 that
`
`she is watching
`
`Program—A.
`
`She is said to have "registered" as watching
`
`Program—A.
`
`Some identification contained in the message
`
`from terminal 10,
`
`such as a wireless phone number or an
`
`email address,
`
`identifies her account
`
`in database 42,
`
`fron1 which. demographic information.
`
`(e.g., her
`
`sex and
`
`age) are extracted.
`
`(In an alternative embodiment,
`
`such
`
`demographic information may be part of
`
`the message sent
`
`from terminal
`
`10,
`
`perhaps
`
`from a
`
`template
`
`stored
`
`therein.)
`
`The registration (including demographics)
`
`is
`
`stored in registration. database 44.
`
`It
`
`is a design
`
`choice
`
`when.
`
`to
`
`remove
`
`registration.
`
`entries
`
`from
`
`registration database
`
`44;
`
`for
`
`example
`
`a
`
`registration
`
`stating that a user is watching a particular program can
`
`be
`
`removed. when.
`
`that progranl
`
`is over;
`
`a
`
`registration
`
`stating that a user wishes to participate in a poll may
`
`be
`
`removed when
`
`the poll
`
`is
`
`completed,
`
`plus
`
`some
`
`predetermined time during which participants may review
`
`poll results.
`
`lO
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`7
`
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`

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`Periodically,
`
`a
`
`function
`
`in
`
`IS
`
`40
`
`reviews
`
`registrations 44
`
`to deduce demographic patterns.
`
`For
`
`example, it may be found that more females aged 17 to 30
`
`are watching Program—A than any other single demographic
`
`replace
`to
`elect
`then
`40 Hdght
`IS
`group.
`advertisements contained on the corresponding channel
`
`the
`in
`
`TV programming 50 with advertisements more appropriate
`
`to females aged 17 to 30.
`
`These other more appropriate
`
`advertisements would have been obtained by IS 40 as part
`
`of customizing information 60.
`
`Thus, everyone watching
`
`Program—A,
`
`regardless
`
`of whether
`
`receiving
`
`it via
`
`broadcast, cable, or satellite, will see the substituted
`
`advertisements
`
`in lieu of
`
`those provided in the
`
`TV
`
`programming 50 stream.
`
`Another
`
`scenario within
`
`the
`
`capabilities
`
`of
`
`broadcast TV reception is illustrated in Fig. 2. Line A
`
`indicates that a user is watching a particular program
`
`(again called Program—A).
`
`Line B indicates that at
`
`the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`same time the user's terminal 10 is displaying a menu,
`
`2O
`
`one of the selections on which is "VOTE".
`
`In Program—A
`
`25
`
`30
`
`it is announced that viewers will be polled for
`
`their
`
`views on some topic presented in Program—A.
`
`The user
`
`may register to vote in the poll.
`
`At
`
`some time later
`
`(allowing time for all who wish to register to do so)
`
`IS
`
`40
`
`adds content
`
`to the TV' programming to cause each
`
`user's
`
`TV set
`
`to display in a
`
`small window (while
`
`Program—A.
`
`remains
`
`substantially'
`
`visible)
`
`a
`
`legend
`
`indicating
`
`that
`
`actual
`
`voting
`
`has
`
`commenced,
`
`as
`
`indicated in line C of Fig.
`
`2.
`
`(All viewers via
`
`broadcast of Program—A see this,
`
`regardless of whether
`
`they have registered to vote.)
`
`The length of
`
`time the
`
`legend is left on is a design choice.
`
`Only those who
`
`have
`
`registered to vote
`
`(determined by polling the
`
`voting
`
`registrations
`
`in
`
`registrations
`
`database
`
`42)
`
`8
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`

`

`WO 02/05557
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`receive a voting menu on their terminals 10 from IS 40
`
`via Internet 30, as indicated on line D of Fig. 2.
`
`The
`
`user makes
`
`a
`
`selection and
`
`sends
`
`IS 40
`
`a message
`
`containing the selection. After a reasonable period of
`
`time for voting to take place,
`
`(optionally announced by
`
`legends added to the TV programming, e.g.,
`
`"VOTING ENDS
`
`IN n MINUTES")
`
`IS 40 can check to see that no user has
`
`voted. more
`
`than. once,
`
`and.
`
`then.
`
`tabulate the results.
`
`The
`
`results
`
`are
`
`then sent
`
`to TV sets
`
`80
`
`(seen by
`
`10
`
`everyone watching Program—A) and to the terminals 10 of
`
`only those users who registered to vote, as shown lines
`
`E and F respectively of Fig. 2.
`
`A,
`
`scenario
`
`that
`
`can
`
`have
`
`different
`
`results
`
`according
`
`to whether
`
`a user
`
`is
`
`receiving TV via
`
`15
`
`broadcast
`
`or
`
`through a
`
`set—top
`
`box
`
`from cable or
`
`satellite is
`
`now addressed.
`
`A user
`
`is watching a
`
`particular
`
`program (Program—B),
`
`and.
`
`registers
`
`as
`
`watching Program—B.
`
`She may be interested in a product
`
`that
`
`is advertised during Program—B,
`
`and may' make an
`
`20
`
`entry via her terminal 10 requesting further information
`
`about
`
`the product.
`
`One
`
`simple response would. be
`
`to
`
`obtain the user's email or postal mail address, perhaps
`
`from accounts database 42,
`
`and to mail
`
`the user more
`
`information about
`
`the product.
`
`Providing additional
`
`25
`
`information immediately via the user's TV set 80 is not
`
`feasible if the user is receiving via broadcast, because
`
`the additional
`
`information appended to the broadcast TV
`
`signal would be seen by all viewers of Program—B.
`
`But
`
`if the user is receiving via cable or satellite through
`
`30
`
`'a set—top box 84 it may be possible (according to the
`
`specifics of the cable or satellite transmission method,
`
`as
`
`is
`
`known
`
`in the television arts)
`
`to append
`
`the
`
`additional
`
`information to the television signal
`
`in such
`
`a manner
`
`that only the
`
`intended user's
`
`set~top box
`
`9
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`WO 02/05557
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`extracts it from the signal and displays it to the user.
`
`Or
`
`if
`
`several
`
`users
`
`have
`
`requested
`
`additional
`
`information. on the same advertised. product,
`
`they‘ may
`
`receive it
`
`for ‘viewing simultaneously‘ while users who
`
`have not requested it do not see it.
`
`The ability of
`
`set—top box 84
`
`to extract signals
`
`for particular users
`
`can be used with the present
`
`invention for
`
`tailoring advertisements
`
`to demographic
`
`groups of users. While the basic set of advertising on
`
`lO
`
`a channel can be according to the dominant demographic
`
`group of viewers as discussed above, user account data
`
`42
`
`and. user‘
`
`registration. data 44 are interrogated.
`
`to
`
`determine other
`
`significant
`
`areas
`
`of
`
`interest
`
`among
`
`users,
`
`and. advertisements or
`
`special offers targeted
`
`l5
`
`accordingly‘
`
`to specific groups
`
`are
`
`appended to the
`
`signal with sufficient destination information that
`
`set—
`
`top boxes
`
`84
`
`show the alternative advertisements or
`
`special offers to target users.
`
`product
`
`information,
`
`a
`
`While
`
`an
`
`advertisement,
`
`20
`
`special offer, or the like is being presented to a user,
`
`the user could enter a BUY indication on her terminal
`
`10.
`
`IS 40 determines what product
`
`the user was viewing
`
`at
`
`the time (different users could be seeing different
`
`products).
`
`IS
`
`40
`
`retrieves
`
`the user's
`
`shipping
`
`25
`
`information
`
`and
`
`credit
`
`card
`
`number
`
`from accounts
`
`database
`
`42
`
`and arranges
`
`to ship the advertised or
`
`offered item to the user.
`
`Customizing information 60 may
`
`introduce special
`
`offers in. conjunctiorl with. TV jprogramming' content
`
`as
`
`30
`
`well as in conjunction with advertising.
`
`For example,
`
`while
`
`registered to view a
`
`drama
`
`program,
`
`a user
`
`receives
`
`from IS
`
`40
`
`a message
`
`on her
`
`terminal
`
`10
`
`(accompanied by an audible signal such as a beep to draw
`
`her attention)
`
`that says, e.g.,
`
`"BUY THE DRESS MELANIE
`
`10
`
`10
`
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`WO 02/05557
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`10
`
`IS WEARING—~
`
`ONLY $99"
`
`(where JWelanie
`
`is one cof
`
`the
`
`characters in the drama program).
`
`Lotteries provide another area of application for
`
`the present
`
`invention.
`
`A user signifies on her terminal
`
`10 that she wishes to participate in a lottery (perhaps
`
`in response to advertisements or prompts for the lottery
`
`included jJI
`
`television programming).
`
`If participation
`
`in more than one lottery is possible,
`
`IS 40 sends a menu
`
`back to the user's terminal
`
`10
`
`for
`
`selection. of one
`
`10
`
`lottery.
`
`The user
`
`is
`
`then prompted to enter her
`
`selection of lottery numbers.
`
`The
`
`user's
`
`selection.
`
`of
`
`lottery‘
`
`numbers
`
`forwarded
`
`to
`
`IS
`
`40, which
`
`registers
`
`the
`
`user
`
`is
`
`as
`
`participating in registrations database 44,
`
`and which
`
`15
`
`determines
`
`the user's financial
`
`account number
`
`from
`
`accounts database 42.
`
`Administration. of
`
`the lottery
`
`might be performed in IS 40, but more
`
`typically is
`
`(not
`
`shown)
`
`performed
`
`in
`
`some
`
`other
`
`web
`
`server
`
`accessible through the Internet 30.
`
`IS 40 forwards the
`
`20
`
`user's
`
`selected
`
`lottery
`
`numbers
`
`to
`
`the
`
`lottery
`
`administration.
`
`function,
`
`and sends
`
`a display' message
`
`back to the user's terminal
`
`10 confirming participation
`
`in the lottery and debiting of the user's account.
`
`At
`
`a
`
`later time when the winning lottery numbers
`
`25
`
`have been selected,
`
`the winning numbers might appear
`
`appended
`
`to
`
`television programming,
`
`and
`
`each user
`
`participating (as determined from registrations database
`
`44)
`
`receives from IS 40
`
`(Ml her
`
`terminal
`
`10
`
`a message
`
`personalized according to her individual results (e.g ,
`
`30
`
`"YOU HAVE WON $50,000,000" or
`
`”TWO NUMBERS MATCH——
`
`NO
`
`WINNINGS", etc.).
`
`A user entering the lottery may send a request
`
`to
`
`see
`
`the most
`
`commonly
`
`selected numbers.
`
`(Such
`
`a
`
`function. might be
`
`a menu
`
`item on the aforementioned
`
`11
`
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`
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`WO 02/05557
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`ll
`
`display‘
`
`that
`
`is provided.
`
`to jprompt
`
`the user
`
`to enter
`
`lottery numbers.)
`
`IS 40, upon receiving such a request,
`
`interrogates
`
`the
`
`lottery administration function and
`
`forwards a message for display on the terminals 10 of
`
`all users who have requested to view the most—selected
`
`numbers.
`
`Such a display might
`
`typically be in the form
`
`of a histogram, depicting a line associated with each of
`
`several numbers,
`
`the relative line length indicating the
`
`popularity of
`
`the number.
`
`If
`
`IS 40 detects that
`
`a
`
`10
`
`large number (i.e., above some predetermined threshold)
`
`of users
`
`request
`
`to see
`
`the most
`
`commonly
`
`selected
`
`numbers,
`
`IS
`
`40 will
`
`append
`
`a display thereof
`
`to
`
`television programming.
`
`The
`
`present
`
`invention
`
`permits
`
`chatting
`
`among
`
`15
`
`members of a community.
`
`For example, users registered
`
`as watching ea particular progranl may' enter on their
`
`terminals 10 comments about the program.
`
`These comments
`
`are forwarded by IS 40 for display on the terminals 10
`
`of other users registered as watching that program, as
`
`20
`
`determined from registrations database 44. Also,
`
`IS 40
`
`can cause the comments to appear in the window 82 of TV
`
`set 80 of users viewing the program through a suitable
`
`set—top box.
`
`A user wishing to view television programming in a
`
`25
`
`different
`
`language
`
`can
`
`benefit
`
`from the
`
`present
`
`invention.
`
`Such
`
`a user
`
`registers
`
`as watching the
`
`program, and requests subtitles in another language.
`
`such
`
`subtitles
`
`are not
`
`available,
`
`the user
`
`is
`
`If
`
`so
`
`informed.
`
`If they are available,
`
`IS 40 appends them to
`
`30
`
`a satellite or cable transmission. of
`
`the programx for
`
`extraction by the user's set—top box 84 and subsequent
`
`display to the
`
`uSer
`
`on his
`
`TV
`
`set
`
`80.
`
`In
`
`the
`
`alternative,
`
`an
`
`audio
`
`soundtrack
`
`in
`
`the
`
`requested
`
`language can be fed to the user's terminal 10.
`
`The user
`
`12
`
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`WO 02/05557
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`12
`
`is billed for this service through an account determined
`
`from accounts database 42.
`
`Thus,
`
`the inventive methods and systems provide a
`
`simple
`
`and efficient mechanism for
`
`setting a user's
`
`preferences for viewing television content.
`
`By using a
`
`wireless device and the lnternet,
`
`a quick modality for
`
`communicating‘ preferences is accomplished. and standard
`
`equipment may be used to perform the required functions.
`
`This allows
`
`the inventive methods
`
`and systene to be
`
`10
`
`implemented
`
`economically and with little development
`
`costs. Moreover,
`
`customized or preferred services may
`
`be provided to the user by the broadcaster in view of
`
`the :preferences
`
`selected. by'
`
`the user.
`
`These results
`
`have not heretofore been achieved in the art.
`
`15
`
`While
`
`there have
`
`been
`
`shown
`
`and described and
`
`pointed out
`
`certain novel
`
`features
`
`of
`
`the present
`
`invention as applied to preferred embodiments
`
`thereof,
`
`it will be understood by those skilled in the art
`
`that
`
`various omissions and substitutions and changes in the
`
`methods
`
`and apparatus described. herein,
`
`and.
`
`in their
`
`operation, may be made by those skilled in the art
`
`without departing from the
`
`spirit" and scope of
`
`the
`
`invention.
`
`It
`
`is
`
`expressly
`
`intended
`
`that
`
`all
`
`combinations of those elements and/or method steps which
`
`perform substantially the same function in substantially
`
`the same way to achieve the same results are within the
`
`scope of
`
`the invention.
`
`Substitutions of method steps
`
`and. elements
`
`frowl one described. embodiment
`
`to another
`
`are also fully intended and contemplated.
`
`It
`
`is the
`
`intention,
`
`therefore,
`
`to be limited only as indicated by
`
`the scope of the claims appended hereto.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`3O
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

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`13
`
`CLAIMS
`
`What is claimed is:
`
`l.
`
`A
`
`Hethod
`
`of
`
`providing
`
`interactive
`
`entertainment
`
`to a plurality" of users,
`
`each. having a
`
`television receiver
`
`for
`
`receiving progranl
`
`information
`
`from a service through a first communication path and a
`
`terminal
`
`connected to the service through,
`
`a
`
`two—way
`
`communication. path,
`
`said
`
`method. comprising" the steps
`
`Of:
`
`transmitting'
`
`television‘ programs
`
`to the receivers
`
`through the first communication path;
`
`logging‘
`
`a user
`
`into a network server associated
`
`with the service through the two—way communication path;
`
`said server being informed of user preferences;
`
`controlling in said server,
`
`according to user
`
`preferences,
`
`transmission to a receiver of at
`
`least one
`
`of program. content
`
`and. first
`
`supplemental
`
`information
`
`pertaining to a program; and
`
`receiving information in the terminal over the two—
`
`way communication path from the server descriptive of at
`
`least one of progranl delivery‘
`
`andi
`
`second.
`
`supplemental
`
`information pertaining to a program.
`
`2.
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 1,
`
`wherein
`
`user
`
`preferences input
`
`through a terminal
`
`to the server
`
`in
`
`conjunction with
`
`current
`
`program content partially
`
`alters current program content provided to the user.
`
`3.
`
`The
`
`method
`
`of
`
`claim 1,
`
`wherein
`
`said
`
`supplemental
`
`information is further determined according
`
`to time of transmission of a television program.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`4.
`
`The method of claim 2, wherein:
`
`14
`
`14
`
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`14:
`
`said supplemental
`
`information elicits a vote from a
`
`user;
`
`said user preferences
`
`input
`
`through a
`
`terminal
`
`include a user's vote; and
`
`said supplemental
`
`information subsequently includes
`
`information descriptive of users‘ voting.
`
`5.
`
`A. method. of
`
`:providing interactive video and
`
`data. displays to each. of
`
`a. plurality" of
`
`'users,
`
`each
`
`having a
`
`television.
`
`receiver
`
`and.
`
`a data terminal,
`
`in
`
`10
`
`accordance with information
`
`provided by
`
`each user
`
`through a data terminal, comprising the steps of:
`
`maintaining,
`
`in association with a network server,
`
`a first database of
`
`information for each user including
`
`at
`
`least
`
`one of
`
`identification,
`
`address
`
`information,
`
`15
`
`financial
`
`information, general preference information,
`
`and demographic information;
`
`receiving in the network server
`
`from user data
`
`terminals over the network and maintaining in a second
`
`database,
`
`for
`
`each.
`
`user,
`
`registrationl
`
`information
`
`20
`
`indicating
`
`current
`
`activity and
`
`current
`
`preference
`
`information;
`
`and at least one of:
`
`modifying content
`
`of
`
`television programming
`
`according to current content of said first database
`
`25
`
`and said second database; and
`
`sending a message from the network server over
`
`the network for display on a user's terminal.
`
`15
`
`15
`
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`l 5
`
`6.
`
`The method of claim 5, wherein the step
`
`of modifying
`
`content
`
`of
`
`television programming
`
`comprises:
`
`determining' according to current
`
`registrations in
`
`5
`
`conjunction. with
`
`said
`
`demographic
`
`information
`
`a
`
`determined
`
`preponderant
`
`demographic
`
`group
`
`currently
`
`viewing a television program; and
`
`replacing advertisements in the television program
`
`with advertisements predetermined to be targeted at said
`
`10
`
`determined preponderant demographic group.
`
`7.
`
`The method of claim 5, wherein the step of
`
`modifying content of television programming comprises:
`
`determining according ix) current
`
`registrations in
`
`conjunction with
`
`said
`
`demographic
`
`information
`
`a
`
`15
`
`determined. plurality‘ of demographic groups watching a
`
`particular program;
`
`for
`
`each
`
`of
`
`said
`
`determined
`
`plurality
`
`of
`
`demographic groups
`
`exceeding in size a predetermined
`
`threshold,
`
`replacing advertisements
`
`in the television
`
`20
`
`satellite
`or
`cable
`via
`transmitted
`program as
`transmission with advertisements predetermined to be
`
`targeted at each demographic group and inserting control
`
`information
`
`in
`
`the
`
`television
`
`transmission
`
`for
`
`instructing users'
`
`set—top boxes to extract and forward
`
`25
`
`information targeted at the demographic group.
`
`8.
`
`The method of claim 5, wherein the information
`
`for additional
`request
`a
`includes
`a user
`by‘
`provided.
`information regarding television content
`the user
`is
`
`registered. as viewing,
`
`and. wherein.
`
`the network server
`
`30
`
`arranges for additional
`
`information to be mailed to the
`
`user at an address retrieved from the first database.
`
`16
`
`16
`
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`WO 02/05557
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`
`l6
`
`9.
`
`The method of claim 5, wherein the information
`
`provided.
`
`by‘
`
`a user
`
`includes
`
`a
`
`request
`
`for additional
`
`information regarding television content
`
`the user
`
`is
`
`registered as viewing,
`
`and. wherein.
`
`the network server
`
`appends
`
`such
`
`additional
`
`information.
`
`to
`
`cable
`
`or
`
`satellite television transmission for viewing by the
`
`requesting user.
`
`10.
`
`The method of claim 5, wherein the information
`
`provided.
`
`by’ a user
`
`includes a request
`
`to purchase an
`
`10
`
`item currently featured in television content
`
`the user
`
`is registered as viewing,
`
`and wherein.
`
`the network server arranges
`
`for
`
`the
`
`item to be shipped to the user and arranges to debit
`
`the
`
`user
`
`for cost of
`
`the
`
`item from a
`
`financial account
`
`15
`
`according to the first database.
`
`11.
`
`The method of claim 5, wherein the information
`
`provided by a user includes a request
`
`to participate in
`
`a lottery, and wherein the network server:
`
`prompts the user to select lottery numbers;
`
`receives
`
`and
`
`validates
`
`user—selected
`
`lottery
`
`numbers;
`
`debits the user
`
`for participating'
`
`in the lottery
`
`from a
`
`financial
`
`account
`
`according
`
`to
`
`the
`
`first
`
`database;
`
`enters the user in the lottery; and
`
`sends a message for display to the user confirming
`
`participation in the lottery.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`17
`
`17
`
`

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`WO 02/05557
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`17
`
`12.
`
`The method of claim 5, wherein the information
`
`provided by a user includes a request
`
`to learn the most
`
`commonly selected numbers in a lottery, and wherein the
`
`network server:
`
`obtains the most commonly selected lottery numbers;
`
`and
`
`forwards a message to the requesting user terminal
`
`for displaying said most
`
`commonly
`
`selected lottery
`
`numbers.
`
`10
`
`13.
`
`The method according to claim 12, wherein the
`
`message
`
`for displaying said most
`
`commonly
`
`selected
`
`lottery numbers displays in the form of a histogram.
`
`14.
`
`The method according to claim 12, wherein if
`
`the
`
`number of users
`
`requesting to learn said most
`
`15
`
`commonly
`
`selected
`
`lottery'
`
`numbers
`
`exceeds
`
`predetermined.
`
`threshold,
`
`the network server appends
`
`a
`
`a
`
`display of said most
`
`commonly selected lottery numbers
`
`to television programming.
`
`15.
`
`The method according to claim 5, wherein the
`
`2O
`
`information provided
`
`by
`
`a user
`
`includes
`
`commentary
`
`regarding television program the user is registered as
`
`viewing,
`
`and wherein
`
`the
`
`network
`
`server
`
`forwards
`
`messages
`
`for displaying a
`
`'user's
`
`commentary'
`
`to other
`
`users registered as viewing the same television program.
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

`

`WO 02/05557
`
`PCT/IB01/01032
`
`18
`
`16.
`
`A system for providing interactive video and
`
`data
`
`displays
`
`to
`
`each
`
`of
`
`a plurality of
`
`users,
`
`comprising:
`
`a television receiver associated with each user;
`
`5
`
`a data terminal associated with each user;
`
`a network server;
`
`a network for connecting the data terminals to the
`
`network server;
`
`a first database associated with the network server