Patent Application
20060090182
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and systems of multimedia advertising.
2. Background Art
It is believed that multimedia advertising, and in particular television or video commercials, is the most effective method of advertising products and services. Television commercials, for example, are one of the more common types of multimedia advertisements. The commercials typically run from 30 to 60 seconds and air on broadcast or cable television and are advantageous because they allow advertisers to reach a broad geographical area with a single advertisement. In fact, some advertisements air across the nation, such as during the Super Bowl and other nationally televised events.
The disadvantage of television commercials is that it may be cost prohibitive for some advertisers to purchase air time on broadcast or cable television channels. As such, these advertisers are left with secondary advertising sources, such as print advertising. Print advertising is more cost effective than television commercials but, typically, less persuasive.
Accordingly, what is needed is a cost effective means for providing multimedia advertising.
The present invention contemplates a number of features and configurations for multimedia advertising, including a system having a multimedia interface for creating multimedia advertisements for a plurality of advertisers. The multimedia advertisements preferably include video and content information.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the multimedia interface is accessible through a webpage. The webpage preferably includes features for recording video and associating content information, such as a title, product description, and the like, with the advertisement. The webpage is preferably accessible to advertisers so that the advertiser can easily change the video and/or content information of their advertisement.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the multimedia interface is accessible to personnel of the service provider, such as personnel at a headend of a cable service provider. In this manner, the personnel may input the video and content information for creating the advertisement. In particular, the advertiser may simply email dialogue and other advertising content to the operators such that the operators create the advertisement at the headend for the advertisers, such as by hiring their own actors and using recording equipment at the headend.
The system preferably includes a navigatable database in communication with the multimedia interface for automatically storing the multimedia advertisements. The stored advertisements are preferably accessible through a navigation interface such that customers may navigate the database for desired advertisements. Preferably, the database is navigatable according to content information associated with the advertisers.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the navigation interface is accessible through an electronic programming guide (EPG). In this manner, a settop box or other device of a subscriber of the service provider may access the EPG for searching the advertisements.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the navigation interface is accessible through a webpage. In this manner, a user may access the webpage to search through the advertisements.
The above features and advantages, along with other features and advantages of the present invention, are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The user access point 20 may include any number of features for communicating with the headend 14, such as a settop box (STB), a computer, and the like. The network 16 may include any type of network, such as a public telephone switching network (PTSN), a fiber cable network, a wireless network, and the like. In this manner, the headend 14 may provide television, high speed data, and other services over the network 16 to a subscriber at the user access point 20.
The video menu 30 includes a number of buttons 38 for rewinding, playing, forwarding, pausing, and recording video. The video is shown in a display window 40. The video may be recorded directly from a device attached to user access point 20, such as the user's computer, and delivered over the network 16 to the headend 14, it may be emailed or otherwise sent to the headend 14, and/or it may be created by operators at the headend 14. The video is displayed in the display window 40 during recording and playback. A user may manipulate the video menu 30 to control playing, recording, and editing of the video. A submit button 42 is provided for submitting the video and content information to the database 28.
The content menu 32 includes a number of input fields for receiving content information that is to be associated with the video. Together, the video and content information define the multimedia advertisement. The content menu 32 may include any number of input fields for associating content information with the video, including a category field 50, a title field 52, and a description field 54. The category field 50 indicates the type of service provided by the advertiser, the title field 52 indicates the name, phone number, and address of the advertiser's business or service, and the description field 54 describes the advertiser's business or product that is the subject of the advertisement. Of course, any number of additional input fields may be included without deviating from the scope and contemplation of the present invention.
The multimedia interface 26 may be provided through a webpage hosted by the headend 14 or other entity and/or through an application program that runs on the user's computer. Preferably, it is a standard application that may run through the webpage or on the user's computer to record or edit multimedia video and input the content information. For example, an advertiser may access the interface 26 through a webpage and record the video through a video recorder attached to their home computer and/or they may upload previously recorded video from their home computer. In addition, operators at the headend unit may input the video and content information for the advertisers on-site so that the advertisers may simply email or otherwise deliver their video and content information to the headend operators for the operators to input the information into the database 28. In particular, the advertisers may specify dialogue and other advertising content of the advertisement so that operators at the headend 14 may create the advertisement for the advertiser, such as by hiring actors and filming the advertisement using on-site equipment. Preferably, the video and content information may be updated to include new video or new content information so that the advertisers may easily update their advertisements, such as to describe daily specials and/or seasonal events.
The multimedia interface 26, as described above, is configured for recording video, which may then be used for on demand viewing. The present invention, however, is not so limited. Rather, other multimedia elements are contemplated for the advertisements, such as narrated and unarrated slide-shows. For example, the video menu 30 may be replaced with a slide-show menu (not show) that may be used to search a computer hard-drive, a remote database, such as an interactive two-way plant, and/or a removable storage medium for digital pictures, art, and the like such that the pictures may be selected for playing in a slide-show. In addition, the slide-show menu may include features for including audio and other special effects with the pictures, if desired to provide a narrated slide-show. Furthermore, other multimedia elements, such as interactive gaming and other interactive features are contemplated for the advertisements. In particular, the present invention contemplates carouseling interactive applications that permit the user to interact with the advertisement.
As shown, the navigation interface (EPG) 60 includes a number of selectable buttons and menus for providing typical EPG operations, such as a ‘Favorites’ button 62, a ‘Digital Recordings’ button 64, a ‘Search’ button 66, a ‘Listings by Channel’ button 68, a ‘OnDemand’ button 70, a ‘What's On’ button 72, a ‘TV Timers’ button 74, a ‘HDTV’ button 76, and a ‘Premium’ button 78. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the navigation interface 60 further includes a ‘Yellow’ button 80. A display window 84 provides information regarding a highlighted button, which is shown to be the ‘Yellow’ button 80.
The category buttons include, but are not limited to, a ‘Food & Dining’ button 86, an ‘Automotive’ button 88, an ‘Education’ button 90, a ‘Health & Medicine’ button 92, a ‘Home & Garden’ button 94, a ‘Legal & Financial’ button 96, a ‘Personal Care’ button 98, a ‘Real Estate’ button 100, a ‘Retail Shopping’ button 102, and a ‘Travel & Transportation’ button 104. The display window 84 provides a textual description for a geographical area associated with the highlighted category button. In particular, the window 84 notes that the ‘Food & Dining’ button 86 is highlighted, such as with a cursor or other pointing item, and that selection of this button 86 corresponds with the best in local Philadelphia cuisine. The geographical area of Philadelphia is preferably learned with location logic from a user profile of the user and/or through a network address associated with the user access point through which the user accesses the navigation interface 60. Preferably, the advertisements located for each category are sorted according to the geographical area of the user so that local advertisements are located first. In addition, a search button 106 is preferably included for locating advertisements associated with search criteria inputted into a search field 108, such as textual description on content information likely to be found in the title or description of the advertisements and/or some other advertisement locating indicator.
The sub-category buttons include, but are not limited to, an ‘American’ button 110, a ‘Chinese’ button 112, a ‘Desert & Coffee’ button 114, an ‘Italian’ button 116, a ‘Japanese’ button 118, a ‘Mexican’ button 120, a ‘News & Noteworthy’ button 122, a ‘Pizza’ button 124, a ‘Seafood’ button 126, and a ‘Sandwiches & Salads’ button 128. The display window 84 provides a textual description for a highlighted sub-category, which is shown to be the sub-category indicated with the ‘Japanese’ button 118.
The advertisement interface 164 further includes a ‘Contact’ button 182, a ‘Reservation’ button, 184, and an ‘Order’ button 186. These buttons are generally referred to as commerce buttons because they permit the user to interact with the business associated with the advertisement. The ‘Contact’ button 182 calls up a new menu (not show) or other interface that permits the user to email the advertiser, and optional, a phone interface that permits the user to communicate direct through the EPG with the advertiser. The ‘Reservation’ button 184 calls up a new menu (not show) or other interface that permits the user to make a reservation, such as for dinner, with the advertiser. The ‘Order’ button 186 calls up a new menu (not show) or other interface that permits the user order carry-out or home-delivery from the advertiser.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
