Viewer interaction feedback method and system for use with an interactive ...

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VIEWER INTERACTION FEEDBACK
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USE WITH AN
INTERACTIVE TELECOMMUNICATION
SYSTEM

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to communication systems in general, and in particular to communication systems for measuring user interaction or response, such as television 10 systems for measuring viewer response.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Communications systems which measure viewer response are well-known in the art. An example of such a system is 15 described in U.S. Pat. 4,107,734 and 4,308,554 to Percy et al. Other related technologies are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. 5,481.294 to Thomas et al. and 4,677,466 to Lert, Jr. et al.

A system which provides, in an interactive communica- 20 tions system, interactive information output based on a selection profile is described in U.S. Pat. 4,602,279 to Freeman.

The disclosures of all references mentioned above and throughout the present specification are hereby incorporated 25 herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved communication system for measuring user response. 30

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a viewer response method for use with an interactive telecommunications system, the method including accumulating a user interaction history of a user of the system, the user interaction 35 history including user interaction information associated with a plurality of user interaction events, and providing user-sensible feedback, based at least in part on the user interaction history.

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Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the step of providing user-sensible feedback includes providing user-sensible feedback via the telecommunications system.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment 4J of the present invention the plurality of user interaction events comprises a customized plurality of user interaction events customized to the user.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the interactive telecommunications 50 system includes a television system, and the user interaction history includes a viewing history including viewing information associated with a plurality of viewing events.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the plurality of 55 viewing events includes the user viewing a commercial.

Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the commercial includes a selected commercial selected from a plurality of commercials broadcast via the television system. 60

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the plurality of viewing events includes the viewer viewing at least two commercials, and the at least two commercials include at least two commercials selected, according to at least one predetermined criterion, from a 65 plurality of commercials broadcast via the interactive television system.

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Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the interactive telecommunications system includes a computer network based communications system.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer network based communications system includes a World Wide Web (WWW) based system.

Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the user interaction information includes information supplied by the user while participating in at least one of the plurality of user interaction events.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the step of accumulating a user interaction history of a user includes performing the following steps at least twice: prompting the user to enter a response during a user interaction event, receiving the response entered by the user, and storing the response.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the step of providing user-sensible feedback includes providing an indication that the user is entitled to receive a prize.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the step of providing user-sensible feedback includes providing an indication that the user is entitled to participate in a game.

Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the indication that the user is entitled to participate in the game includes an indication that a winner of the game is entitled to receive a prize.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for playing a game using an interactive television system, the method including accumulating a viewing history of a viewer, the viewing history including viewing information associated with a plurality of viewing events, and authorizing the viewer to participate in a game based, at least in part, on the viewing history.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method also includes the step of providing the game to the user via the interactive television system.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the plurality of viewing events includes the viewer viewing a commercial.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the commercial includes a selected commercial selected from a plurality of commercials broadcast via the interactive television system.

Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the plurality of view events includes the viewer viewing at least two commercials, and the at least two commercials include at least two commercials selected, according to a predetermined criterion, from a plurality of commercials broadcast via the interactive television system.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the interactive television system includes a headend located at a site remote from the viewer, and the method also includes transmitting a message including at least a portion of the viewing history to the headend.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method also includes analyzing the portion of the viewing history at the headend, and modifying the behavior of the interactive television system based, at least in part, on a result of the analyzing step.

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There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an interactive viewer-response telecommunications system including user interaction history apparatus for accumulating a user interaction history of a user of the system, the user interaction 5 history including user interaction information associated with a plurality of user interaction events, and user-sensible feedback apparatus for providing user-sensible feedback, based at least in part on the user interaction history.

There is also provided in accordance with another pre- 1° ferred embodiment of the present invention an interactive television system including viewing history apparatus for accumulating a viewing history of a viewer, the viewing history including viewing information associated with a plurality of viewing events, and gaming authorization appa- :5 ratus for authorizing the viewer to participate in a game based, at least in part, on the viewing history.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a simplified partly pictorial, partly blockdiagram illustration of a communication system for measur- 2J ing user response constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. IB-ID are simplified partly pictorial, partly blockdiagram illustrations of the system of FIG. 1A, useful in understanding the operation thereof; 30

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a portion of the system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the system of FIG. 1A;

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FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred implementation of step 200 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified flowchart illustration of an alternative preferred method of operation of the system of FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED 40
EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to FIG. 1A which is a simplified partly pictorial, partly block-diagram illustration of a communication system for measuring user response constructed 45 and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system of FIG. 1A comprises a communication system, specifically a television system designated generally 100. It is appreciated that the television system 100 is shown in FIG. 1A by way of example only, 50 and that, in general, any appropriate communication system may be used such as, for example, a network-based computer systems such as, for example, an Internet-based system accessing the World Wide Web (WWW).

The terms "user" and "viewer" are used interchangeably 55 throughout the present specification and claims to refer to any person who uses or views a communication system such as, for example, a viewer of the television system 100 or a user of an Internet-based system accessing the World Wide Web. 60

The system of FIG. 1A preferably comprises a television receiver 110, which may be any appropriate television receiver equipped with a display screen 115. The television receiver 110 is preferably operatively attached, typically with appropriate cabling, to a set top box 120. Typically, the 65 set top box 120 comprises an associated removable security element 125, such as a smart card. In a case where broad

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casts to the set top box 120 are encrypted, the removable security element 125 is typically responsible for providing access services necessary to allow decryption of the broadcasts, as is well known in the art.

The set top box 120 is in turn preferably operatively attached, also typically with appropriate cabling, to a connector 130, which may comprise any appropriate connector operatively associated with a television broadcast system 140.

The television broadcast system 140 typically comprises a cable television system or a satellite television system, but another appropriate type of television broadcast system may be used. As is well-known in the art, the set top box 120 is preferably chosen for compatibility with the particular television broadcast system 140, although it is appreciated that a set top box 120 which is compatible with a variety of television broadcast systems may be used.

Typically, the set top box 120 is operative to receive broadcast transmissions from the television broadcast system 140 through the connector 130, and to pass the broadcast transmissions on to the television 110. Preferably, the set top box 120 is also operative to send and/or receive information through a telephone connector 145 and thence via a telephone system (not shown), such as the public switched telephone network, typically communicating with a headend 150 comprised in the television broadcast system 140. The headend 150 is typically operative, as is well known in the art, to control broadcasts over the television broadcast system 140.

The system of FIG. lAalso preferably comprises a remote control unit 155, which may comprise any suitable remote control unit capable of remotely controlling the set top box 120 and/or the television receiver 110. Preferably, the remote control unit 155 controls the set top box 120, which in turn controls the television receiver 110, as is well known in the art.

In FIG. 1A an overlay 160 is shown overlaying a broadcast picture 165 on the display screen 115. The term "overlay", as used throughout the present specification and claims, may refer to any appropriate type of display message which is added to the broadcast picture such as, for example: a full screen overlay; a partial screen overlay; an opaque overlay; a transparent overlay; or any other, appropriate overlay. As is well known in the art, an overlay such as the overlay 160 is typically produced by the set top box 120, typically in response to a command received from the headend 150.

The operation of the apparatus of FIG. 1A is now briefly described. The overlay 160 preferably comprises a message inviting a viewer of the television receiver 110 to indicate willingness to participate in a contest. The terms "contest" and "game" are used interchangeably throughout the present specification and claims to refer to any game, contest, or other participatory event. While typically a contest, in the context of the present specification, refers to a contest which may be played via a television system or other communication system, a contest may also refer to any other appropriate kind of contest or game, such as, for example: a game which is sent to the viewer via the mail; a contest at a site to which admission is restricted; or any other appropriate contest or game, especially a contest or game in which participation is restricted to invited participants.

Alternatively, the user of the system of FIG. 1A may be provided with a prize without participating in a contest; may be provided with free or reduced cost access to pay television services carried by the television broadcast system 140;