The present application relates generally to electronic transactions, and more particularly, to methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing personalized media services over a network.
Various types of communications devices have become ubiquitous in today's marketplace. It is not uncommon for a single individual to now own and operate multiple electronics and/or communications devices that serve differing purposes. For example, an individual may utilize a wireline telephone in the home, in addition to a cellular telephone and/or a personal digital assistant (PDA) operating over a wireless cellular network for use when the individual is away from home. In addition, most individuals in the United States now own multiple television sets in the home, which may be Internet enabled (e.g., IPTV). For example, many households now have televisions throughout the home, e.g., living room, recreation room, bedrooms, and/or kitchen. This may be, in part, because of the increasing affordability of televisions, as well as the diverse programming content available today.
With regard to television advertising, many viewers have become increasingly inundated with a wide variety of advertisements, as evidenced by the increasing demand for personal recording devices. While consumers are not generally opposed to advertising, per se, they may object to the volume of these advertisements, which interrupt programming at inopportune times from the viewpoint of the audience. Thus, the timing of an advertisement can be important; that is, presenting the right advertisement at the right time. By contrast, online purchasing is becoming more prevalent, due in part to its convenience. That is, a consumer who accesses a business' website for product information is more likely to be ready to make a purchase. As a result, many enterprises have now set up online catalogs through a dedicated website to induce sales. Over time, as television advertising becomes more ineffective, advertisers will have to seek new ways to push product information to consumers.
What is needed, therefore, is a way to provide personalized media services over a network.
Exemplary embodiments include methods for implementing electronic transactions. A method includes receiving log-in credentials and addressing data for an electronic commerce website and assigning a combined device identifier and personal information number (PIN) code to an account record. The combined device identifier and PIN code uniquely identifies an individual associated with the log-in credentials. The method also includes mapping the combined device identifier and PIN code to the log-in credentials within the account record. In response to receiving a request for information, the method includes searching the electronic commerce website for data matching an element of the request and presenting results of the search to a device associated with the device identifier.
Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the exemplary embodiments, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:
The detailed description explains the exemplary embodiments, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Media and media device-related services are provided in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The types of services that may be provided include, e.g., electronic transactions, event-driven marketing activities, personalized composite channels, customized communication channels, personalized electronic traffic reporting, personalized media file libraries, and personalized electronic programming guides. The electronic transaction services are described in greater detail in
Turning now to
As shown in
The web server 106 is also in communication with the media device STB 114 via the networks 108. The web server 106 may be an electronic commerce enterprise that provides goods and services to its customers via, e.g., a dedicated website. The web server 106 may provide these goods and services through an online electronic catalog or similar means. In addition, the web server 106 is in communication with a storage device 110, which may store the electronic product catalogs, as well as customer profile records that contain information about customers who purchase goods and services from the electronic commerce enterprise. In addition, the web server 106 may store purchase information including payment options (e.g., mode of payment for goods and services).
Each of the web server 106 and service provider system 104 may be implemented using a high-speed processing device (e.g., a computer system) that is capable of handling high volume activities conducted via communications devices (e.g., the media device STB 114), as well as via related network entities.
The content server 107 is in communication with the media device 102, via the service provider system 104 over the networks 108. The content server 107 may be implemented at a video head end office (VHO), regional video services office (VSO) or other source of content that distributes programming, news, and/or gaming on a local, national, or international basis. While only one content server 107 is shown for ease of illustration, it will be understood that the content server 107 may be one of many content servers in communication with the network system of
In exemplary embodiments, the media device STB 114 includes a computer processor. Alternatively, if integrated with the media device 102, the combined media device 102 and STB 114 may implement a computer processor. The computer processor executes applications for implementing the electronic transaction services and event-driven marketing services. These applications are referred to herein as the e-transaction application 116, and the marketing application 117, respectively. In exemplary embodiments, a user of the media device 102 establishes an account that is managed by the applications 116 and 117. Alternatively, management of the account may be shared by the applications 116, 117 and a network entity (e.g., the service provider system 104). For example, authentication procedures and market profiles related to the account may be managed by the service provider system 104. The authentication procedures and market profiles are described further herein. Account records for the accounts identify each of the media devices belonging to a community of users (e.g., household) and provide other information as described herein. Account records may be stored in memory at the media device STB 114 and/or at an external network entity, such as the web server 106 (in the storage device 110) or the service provider system 104 in the storage device 112. While only a single media device 102 is shown in
The system of
The networks 108 may employ various wireless communications and transmissions protocols, such as personal communications service (PCS), WiFi, Ultrawideband, Bluetooth, and satellite transmission, as well as different wireline protocols, such as telephone communications, cable communications and power line communications, to name a few.
Referring now to
At step 202, the user of the media device 102 enters log-in credentials for the website of the web server 106 (e.g., a user name and password that the electronic commerce enterprise uses to authenticate the user to its website-website user account). The user may optionally enter addressing data for the website (e.g., a uniform resource locator). The e-transaction application 116 includes a user interface that guides the user (via a display screen on the media device 102) to enter this information. The options provided by the user interface may be selected via input features and functions (e.g., up/down, left/right arrow keys, ‘select’ key, etc.) provided on the media device 102 and/or input device 118 using, e.g., the input device 118.
At step 204, the e-transaction application 116 assigns a device identifier and personal identification number (PIN) code of the user to an account record. The device identifier identifies the media device (as well as household) through which the user is providing the account set up information. For example, the device identifier may be, e.g., a globally unique identifier (GUID), MAC address, and/or serial number, assigned to the media device STB 114 at the time of manufacture. This information may be readily ascertained by the e-transaction application 116 without user input. For example, the STB 114 associated with the media device 102 may be configured to send the unique device identifier (e.g., GUID, MAC address, serial number, etc.) to the e-transaction application 116. The PIN code refers to a unique numeric or alphanumeric character string (e.g., 4-digits) that identifies the individual at the media device 102. Other account users (e.g., family members) that share media devices may create their own unique PIN codes. Thus, the combined device identifier and PIN code may identify not only a household for which the device identifier is assigned via the account, but also the identity of each individual in the household. Further, upon entering the unique PIN code at the time of program viewing at the device, the e-transaction application 116 may track the viewing activities (e.g., channel surfing) conducted by the viewer.
At step 206, the combined device identifier and PIN code are mapped to the user's log-in credentials in the account record. A sample mapping of a record containing combined device identifiers and PIN codes to a record of user log-in credentials for an account record is shown in
Once the account record is created, a user with maximum defined access control privileges (e.g., head of household, parent, etc.), as configured via the e-transaction application 116, may manage other users established in the account as shown and described, e.g., in
In addition, once the account record is established, it may be stored, e.g., in the STB 114 or external authentication system on the network 108, and users listed in the account may initiate an electronic transaction as described in steps 208-236 of
At step 208, the e-transaction application 116 receives a request for information from the user (e.g., via the input device 118). The request may be implemented by a user interface screen provided by the e-transaction application 116. As shown in
At step 212, it is determined whether a match was found. If not, a response message is presented on the display of the media device 102 indicating that the search was unsuccessful at step 214. This may be due to, e.g., a product subject to the search being sold out. In this instance, the e-transaction application 116 waits for the next user request at step 216. On the other hand, if a match is found, the e-transaction application 116 prompts the user to purchase the item resulting from the search at step 218. Again, this may be implemented by the user interface component of the e-transaction application 116 via the display on the media device 102.
If the purchase is not accepted by the user at step 220, the e-transaction application 116 waits for the next request at step 216. If, however, the purchase is accepted by the user at step 220, the e-transaction application 116 prompts the user for a PIN code at step 222. This step may be optional where the user has previously entered a PIN code (e.g., at the beginning of the programming viewing). The e-transaction application 116 receives the PIN code and uses the combined device identifier and PIN code to retrieve the user log-in credentials from the account record at step 224. The combined device identifier and PIN code and the log-in credentials are authenticated at step 226. The authentication may be performed by the e-transaction application 116 or by another network entity, such as the service provider system 104.
If the authentication performed in step 226 is unsuccessful (e.g., invalid entry) at step 228, an error message is presented to the user via the media device 102 display at step 230 and the e-transaction application 116 waits for the next user request at step 216. Otherwise, if the entries are valid at step 228, the e-transaction application 116 uses the log-in credentials of the user to log in to the website (e.g., the web server 106) at step 232. The e-transaction application 116 presents purchase information from the website on the media device 102 at step 234 and executes the purchase at step 236. The purchase information may include payment options (e.g., credit card information), shipping information, total costs, etc. If the user has previously purchased goods from the website, the electronic commerce enterprise may have a record of these purchases, including bank/credit card information, user name, and/or address. In this instance, the bank/credit information, user name, and/or address may be displayed on the media device 102 for confirmation by the user prior to finalizing the purchase. Once the purchase has been accepted, the e-transaction application 116 may execute a purchase order for the purchase and transmit the purchase order to the website.
If the purchase is for a media file or other non-tangible product, the purchase may be executed by downloading the media file to the media device 102 or to another device specified by the user. As used herein, the term “media file” shall refer to any representation of media content, such as a transmitted or stored audio signal, video signal, or image signal, for example. In exemplary embodiments, the media file is a video media file. In another embodiment, the media file is a near real-time video media file. As used herein, the term “near-real time” shall refer to a nearly contemporaneous transmission and delivery of the media file, and that such delivery may include small delays as a result of transfer among multiple transmission paths.
As described above, the account record may include additional information, such as an account value and balance. The e-transaction application 116 may include a feature that enables an account holder to establish a monetary fund for each account user via the PIN code for each user. The monetary fund may be a financial account that is linked to the account holder's bank account and to each of the account users in the account record as desired by the account holder. This feature, referred to herein as ‘e-wallet’, allows a user in the account to purchase goods/services via the e-transaction application 116, which in turn, provides an updated account balance for each user upon completion of a purchase transaction. The e-wallet feature may be implemented as part of a personalized electronic programming guide, which is described further in
The user interface screen 280 of
As indicated above, event-driven marketing activities may be implemented for users of the account. The event-driven marketing activities provide marketing information that is targeted to an individual viewer's tastes and preferences. According to exemplary embodiments, the marketing application 117 monitors and logs viewing activities by the user of the media device 102 and, based upon the occurrence of an event, e.g., an amount of time spent tuned into an interactive channel, the marketing application 117 prompts the user to interact with the marketing application 117, which may result in a product sale. The marketing application 117 may capture viewer information, such as the types of programming content the viewer has interest in (e.g., personal preferences or interests), as well as the viewing habits (e.g., particular time of day, number of hours, etc. a viewer is watching television). This information may be facilitated, e.g., using the combined device identifier and PIN code, as well as the interactive activities conducted by the viewer (e.g., purchasing activities using the log-in credentials).
According to exemplary embodiments, a user interface component of the marketing application 117 guides the user to enter information into the media device STB 114 via the input device 118. The marketing application 117 may employ the same authentication procedures as those described in
Turning now to
At step 308, the marketing application 117 identifies user-specific items for sale based, in part, upon the products available via the interactive channel. Determining which items to present to the viewer for sale may be implemented by identifying a marketing profile for the viewer and mapping the viewing activities of the viewer and the marketing profile to corresponding items for sale. The marketing profile specifies characteristics of a group targeted for an advertising/marketing campaign. For example, if the customer profile for the viewer indicates that the subject viewer is 35 years old and male, and the viewing activities indicate that the subject viewer frequently watches sports on ESPN®, as well as programming on the SCI-FI® channel, a marketing profile directed to this demographic is identified and used to select specific items available for purchase (e.g., sports gear, science fiction DVDs). The viewing activities may be logged by the marketing application 117 in order to assess the viewer's personal preferences. In determining the viewer's preferences, criteria such as an amount of time the media device 102 is tuned into the interactive channel may be taken into account. In addition, or alternatively, a frequency in which the media device 102 is tuned into a specified program presented via the interactive channel may be considered. Further, other criteria, such as various interactions conducted by the viewer at the media device 102 (e.g., purchase transaction history with, e.g., the web server 106) may be considered in determining the viewer's preferences. The marketing profile may be received and stored directly in the STB 114, or may be managed by an external network entity, such as the web server 106 or service provider system 104.
Turning back to step 304, if the PIN code is not known or the marketing application 117 identifies user-specific items for sale based upon the products available via the interactive channel at step 308, the marketing application 117 monitors the amount of time the media device 102 is tuned into the interactive channel at step 310. The marketing application 117 may be configured to define a threshold time value that is used as a trigger event. If the time threshold has not been exceeded at step 312, the process returns to step 310 and the marketing application 117 continues to monitor the time in which the device 102 is tuned into the interactive channel. Otherwise, if the time threshold has been exceeded, the marketing application 117 displays a prompt on the display of the media device 102 to interact at step 314.
If the user does not accept in response to the prompt at step 316, the on-screen prompt is removed from the display screen at step 318 and the programming proceeds as normal. Otherwise, if the user accepts the prompt to interact at step 316, then one of two courses of actions may be taken. For example, if the PIN code has been previously established at step 304, then the process will proceed with steps 320 and 322. However, if the PIN code was not previously established from step 304, then the course of action directed to steps 324-334 is taken.
For example, if the PIN code has been previously established at step 304, then once the user accepts the prompt to interact at step 316, the marketing application 117 retrieves and displays user-specific items for sale at step 320 (as described above with respect to step 308), and the purchase is executed at step 322.
Alternatively, if the PIN code has not been previously established from step 304, and the user has accepted the prompt to interact at step 316, the marketing application 117 prompts the user for a PIN code at step 324. At step 326, the device identifier, PIN code, and viewer log-in credentials are authenticated (as described in
As described above with respect to the e-transaction application 116, a personal fund (also referred to as ‘personal fund account’) may be established by a master account holder for one or more users listed in the account record using the e-wallet feature. The e-wallet feature may be accessed directly, e.g., via a personalized electronic programming guide or by selecting a function on the input device 118. The e-wallet feature may also provide account balances on the display of the media device 102 upon the completion of an electronic purchase.
As indicated above, various additional services may be implemented, such as personalized composite channel services, personalized electronic traffic reporting services, customized communication channels, personalized media file libraries, and personalized electronic programming guides.
The personalized composite channel services enable a user to customize the presentation of media content based upon viewer preferences and, optionally, based upon a size of the display screen of a media device. In particular, the user may select multiple video content streams for simultaneous viewing on the media device. The personalized electronic traffic reporting services enable a user to create a customized or personal electronic traffic report where multiple picture-in-picture panels of a media device are populated with live Internet Protocol-based video feeds associated with the Internet Protocol addresses of the video feeds for simultaneous viewing. The customized communication channel services enable a user to define a community of users of media devices and provide customized content to members of the community of users. The personalized media file library services enable a user to create a personalized media file library and receive updates to the library as new media files are discovered. The personalized electronic programming guide services enable a user to customize the presentation of programming content within a personal, user-specific electronic programming guide.
The system of
As shown in
The service provider system 406 may be implemented using a high-speed processing device (e.g., a computer system) that is capable of handling high volume activities conducted via communications devices (e.g., the media device STB 410), as well as via related network entities.
The networks 408 may employ various wireless communications and transmissions protocols, such as personal communications service (PCS), WiFi, Ultrawideband, Bluetooth, and satellite transmission, as well as different wireline protocols, such as telephone communications, cable communications and power line communications, to name a few.
In exemplary embodiments, the media device STB 410 includes a computer processor. The computer processor executes applications for implementing service applications 414. According to exemplary embodiments, these service applications 414 include a composite media application, a traffic application, a media application, a programming guide application, and a custom communication application. In exemplary embodiments, a user of the media device 402 establishes an account that is managed by the applications 414. Alternatively, management of the account may be shared by the applications 414 and a network entity (e.g., the service provider system 406). For example, authentication procedures, community content records, media file libraries, and log files may be managed by the service provider system 406. The authentication procedures, community content records, media file libraries, and log files are described further herein.
Files stored on the media device STB 410 may include composite media records, log files, composite media traffic records, personalized EPGs, community content records, and media file records/libraries. Alternatively, some or all of these files may be stored at an external network entity, such as the service provider system 406.
The system of
At step 440, the composite media application receives the channel selections from the user of the media device 402. The channels are distributed as video broadcast streams transmitted by a video broadcast source, such as one of the content sources 416A-416n. At step 442, a composite media channel record is created for the user. The composite media channel record contains various fields for storing information. For example, the composite media channel record may contain fields for identifying a broadcast channel content stream (e.g., the channel selected) and/or user identification of the user. At step 444, the composite media application stores the content stream identifier for each of the selected channels, as well as the user identifier in the composite media channel record. The user identification may be implemented in a similar manner as that described above in
At step 446, the composite media application receives a request from the user to access a composite media channel, such as the composite media channel 480. This may be implemented, e.g., by selecting the composite media channel 480 listed in the EPG via the display screen 478. At step 448, the composite media application retrieves the composite media channel record for the composite media channel 480. At step 450, the composite media application populates picture-in-picture (PIP) panels of the media device display screen with content streams associated with content stream identifiers for the channel selections associated with the composite media channel 480.
Another feature of the composite media application includes allowing the user to select an order in which the content video streams are displayed on the display device of the media device 402. This may be implemented via an ORDER column 460 shown in
In exemplary embodiments, the composite media application enables the user to select multiple video broadcast streams for simultaneous viewing. If the viewer is configuring a composite media channel, such as the composite media channel 480, for a large-screen television, the composite media application enables the user to select a greater number of video broadcast streams to be simultaneously displayed on the display screen. However, if the user is configuring the composite media channel 480 for a smaller television screen, too many PIP panels, which are decreased in size to fit the screen, may not benefit the viewer. The composite media application enables the viewer to create multiple scrollable PIP pages, with each page containing a number of PIP panels. In this manner, the user may scroll from page to page using, e.g., control functions established by the composite media application through the input device 412. The user may also configure the ordering of the PIP panels for each page as described above.
The viewing activities of the user may be tracked in a log file. The log file may contain, e.g., the user identification information, the channels viewed by the user, and the time of viewing. The log file may be distributed by the composite media application to an external entity, such as the service provider system 406 for analysis. Alternatively, or additionally, the log file may be stored in the STB 410 of the media device 402 and displayed to the user upon request.
At step 506, the traffic application creates and stores a composite media traffic record for a traffic route defined by the selection. At step 508, the composite media traffic record is mapped to a user identifier of the user. The user identification may be implemented in a similar manner as that described above in
Another feature of the traffic application includes allowing the user to select an order in which the video camera streams are displayed on the display device of the media device 402. This may be implemented via an ORDER column 558 shown in
In exemplary embodiments, the traffic application enables the user to select multiple video camera streams for simultaneous viewing (e.g., one traffic route may include three separate physical locations that define a route). If the viewer is configuring an electronic traffic report for a large-screen television, the traffic application enables the user to select a greater number of video camera streams to be simultaneously displayed on the display screen. However, if the user is configuring an electronic traffic report for a smaller television screen, too many PIP panels, which are decreased in size to fit the screen, may not benefit the viewer. The traffic application enables the viewer to create multiple scrollable PIP pages, with each page containing a number of PIP panels (e.g., when configuring multiple traffic routes). In this manner, the user may scroll from page to page using, e.g., control functions established by the traffic application through the input device 412.
In an exemplary embodiment, additional information may be included in the electronic traffic report. For example, one of the content sources 416A-416n may provide an RSS text feed that describes or supplements the traffic conditions existing at the time the video stream is transmitted.
At step 602, the programming guide application displays a listing of content on the media device 402 that is available from the various content sources 416a-416n. As shown in
At step 604, the programming guide application receives the content selection from a user of the media device 402. At step 606, the programming guide application creates and stores electronic programming guide (EPG) file including the content selection, content selection identifiers, and a user identifier of the user. The user identification may be implemented in a similar manner as that described above in
At step 714, the custom communication application presents content received from the content source on the media device 402 associated with the request.
As described above, the exemplary embodiments can be in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the exemplary embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments execute specific microprocessor machine instructions. The computer program product code could also be implemented using electronic logic circuits or a microchip.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.