Method and apparatus for advertisement placement in a user dialog on a set-top box
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatuses for presenting targeted advertisements to DVR users are described. After a DVR has finished playing a recorded television program, or in response to other specified events, the DVR presents a screen which comprises a “save or delete” menu. In addition to the “save” and “delete” options, the menu additionally comprises one or more other options. Each of these other options may correspond to a separate promotional item. For example, a user's selection of such an option may cause the DVR to display or play an advertisement on the user's television set. Additionally or alternatively, these other options, when selected by a user, may cause the DVR to display a user interface through which the user can actually purchase a product or service. The product or service advertised or offered may be one that was featured or referenced in the television program that the user was just watching.
1. A method for presenting information through a multimedia device, the method comprising:
receiving, at the multimedia device, user input whose receipt causes the multimedia device to cease playing a content stream;
in response to receiving the user input, determining whether an end of the content stream has been reached;
in response to receiving the user input and determining that the end of the content stream has been reached, displaying particular information to a user of the multimedia device, the particular information comprising at least one advertisement and a menu that comprises both
(a) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to delete the content stream; and
(b) another user-selectable option that presents the user an option of expressly saving the content stream at the multimedia device instead of deleting the content stream.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the particular information comprises a particular user-selectable option, and further comprising:
receiving particular user input that indicates selection of the particular user-selectable option; and
in response to receiving the particular user input, displaying, to the user, a subsequent menu, wherein the subsequent menu comprises at least one of:
(a) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service;
(b) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can request information about a product or service to be sent to the user;
(c) an interface through which the user can submit an answer to a question via the multimedia device;
(d) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to send a request to a request-receiving entity, wherein the request asks the request-receiving entity to send specified information to at least one of (i) a specified e-mail address and (ii) a specified postal address;
(e) a user-selectable option, user selection of which cause the multimedia device to provide the user with an ability to schedule an upcoming content stream for recording; and
(f) an interface through which the user can request downloading of a particular video for later viewing.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the particular information comprises a particular user-selectable option, and further comprising:
receiving particular user input that indicates selection of the particular user-selectable option; and
in response to receiving the particular user input, charging a selling entity a specified monetary amount.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the particular information comprises a particular user-selectable option, and further comprising:
receiving particular user input that indicates selection of the particular user-selectable option; and
in response to receiving the particular user input, recording data that indicates that the particular user-selectable option was selected.
5. A method as recited in claim 4 , further comprising:
displaying one or more additional user-selectable options that were selected for display based on the data;
wherein the one or more additional user-selectable options were selected for display due to the one or more additional user-selectable options being in a same category as the particular user-selectable option.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein displaying the particular information to the user of the multimedia device further comprises displaying titles of one or more television programs that the user can select in order to cause the multimedia device to record corresponding television programs at a later time.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising selecting the particular information for display from among a plurality of particular information items based at least in part on electronic program guide information.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising selecting the particular information for display from among a plurality of particular information items based at least in part on one or more words in a closed caption stream.
9. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising selecting the particular information for display from among a plurality of particular information items based at least in part on previous television viewing behaviors of the user.
10. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising selecting the particular information for display from among a plurality of particular information items based at least in part on whether the multimedia device is currently configured to operate according to constraints associated with a specified mode of operation.
11. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising selecting the particular information for display from among a plurality of particular information items based at least in part on geographical address information that is associated with an owner of the multimedia device.
12. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising selecting the particular information for display from among a plurality of particular information items based at least in part on demographic information that is associated with an owner of the multimedia device.
13. A method as recited in claim 9 , wherein selecting the particular information for display from among a plurality of particular information items based at least in part on previous television viewing behaviors of the user comprises selecting the particular information for display based at least in part on particular content streams that have been displayed to the user in their entirety at normal speed.
14. A method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the particular content streams are television commercials.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the particular information to the user of the multimedia device further comprises displaying one or more particular user-selectable menu options in an order that is based on a frequency with which each of the one or more particular user-selectable menu options was previously selected.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: the multimedia device downloading the advertisement in response to receiving the user input.
17. A method for presenting information through a multimedia device, the method comprising:
the multimedia device determining whether a last part of a content stream has been streamed to a display;
in response to determining that the last part of the content stream has been streamed to the display, the multimedia device displaying, to a user of the multimedia device, a menu that comprises (1) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to delete the content stream and (2) another user-selectable option that presents the user an option of expressly saving the content stream at the multimedia device instead of deleting the content stream; and
the multimedia device displaying particular information concurrently with the menu, the particular information comprising at least one of:
(a) an advertisement;
(b) an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service;
(c) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display an advertisement to the user;
(d) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service;
(e) an interface through which the user can submit an answer to a question via the multimedia device;
(f) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to send a request to a request-receiving entity, wherein the request asks the request-receiving entity to send specified information to at least one of (i) a specified e-mail address and (ii) a specified postal address;
(g) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which cause the multimedia device to provide the user with an ability to schedule an upcoming content stream for recording; and
(h) an interface through which the user can request downloading of a particular video for later viewing.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the particular information comprises an advertisement.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the particular information comprises an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the particular information comprises a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display an advertisement to the user.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the particular information comprises a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the particular information comprises a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to send a request to a request-receiving entity, wherein the request asks the request-receiving entity to send specified information to at least one of (i) a specified e-mail address and (ii) a specified postal address.
23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the particular information comprises a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which cause the multimedia device to provide the user with an ability to schedule an upcoming content stream for recording.
24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the particular information comprises an interface through which the user can request downloading of a particular video for later viewing.
25. An apparatus for presenting information through a multimedia device, the apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and
a storage medium on which are stored instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:
receiving, at the multimedia device, user input whose receipt causes the multimedia device to cease playing a content stream;
in response to receiving the user input, determining whether an end of the content stream has been reached;
in response to receiving the user input and determining that the end of the content stream has been reached, displaying particular information to a user of the multimedia device, the particular information comprising at least one advertisement and a menu that comprises both
(a) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to delete the content stream; and
(b) another user-selectable option that presents the user an option of expressly saving the content stream at the multimedia device instead of deleting the content stream.
26. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 , wherein the particular information comprises a particular user-selectable option, and wherein the steps further comprise:
receiving particular user input that indicates selection of the particular user-selectable option; and
causing a subsequent menu to be displayed to the user in response to the particular user input being received, wherein the subsequent menu comprises at least one of: (a) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service; (b) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can request information about a product or service to be sent to the user; (c) an interface through which the user can submit an answer to a question via the multimedia device; (d) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to send a request to a request-receiving entity, wherein the request asks the request-receiving entity to send specified information to at least one of (i) a specified e-mail address and (ii) a specified postal address; (e) a user-selectable option, user selection of which cause the multimedia device to provide the user with an ability to schedule an upcoming content stream for recording; and (f) an interface through which the user can request downloading of a particular video for later viewing.
27. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 , wherein the particular information comprises a particular user-selectable option, and wherein the steps further comprise:
receiving particular user input that indicates selection of the particular user-selectable option; and
causing a selling entity to be charged a specified monetary amount in response to the particular user input being received.
28. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 , wherein the particular information comprises a particular user-selectable option, and wherein the steps further comprise:
receiving particular user input that indicates selection of the particular user-selectable option; and
recording, in response to the particular user input being received, data that indicates that the particular user-selectable option was selected.
29. An apparatus as recited in claim 28 , wherein the steps further comprise:
causing one or more additional user-selectable options, which were selected for display based on the data, to be displayed;
wherein the one or more additional user-selectable options were selected for display due to the one or more additional user-selectable options being in a same category as the particular user-selectable option.
30. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 , wherein the causing the particular information to be displayed to the user of the multimedia device further comprises causing titles of one or more television programs, which the user can select in order to cause the multimedia device to record corresponding television programs at a later time, to be displayed to the user.
31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for presenting particular information through a multimedia device, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out steps of:
receiving, at the multimedia device, user input whose receipt causes the multimedia device to cease playing a content stream;
in response to receiving the user input, determining whether an end of the content stream has been reached;
in response to receiving the user input and determining that the end of the content stream has been reached, displaying particular information to a user of the multimedia device, the particular information comprising at least one advertisement and a menu that comprises both
(a) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to delete the content stream; and
(b) another user-selectable option that presents the user an option of expressly saving the content stream at the multimedia device instead of deleting the content stream.
32. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 31 , wherein the particular information comprises a particular user-selectable option, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out steps of:
receiving particular user input that indicates selection of the particular user-selectable option; and
in response to receiving the particular user input, displaying, to the user, a subsequent menu, wherein the subsequent menu comprises at least one of: (a) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service; (b) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can request information about a product or service to be sent to the user; (c) an interface through which the user can submit an answer to a question via the multimedia device; (d) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to send a request to a request-receiving entity, wherein the request asks the request-receiving entity to send specified information to at least one of (i) a specified e-mail address and (ii) a specified postal address; (e) a user-selectable option, user selection of which cause the multimedia device to provide the user with an ability to schedule an upcoming content stream for recording; and (f) an interface through which the user can request downloading of a particular video for later viewing.
33. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 31 , wherein the particular information comprises a particular user-selectable option, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out steps of:
receiving particular user input that indicates selection of the particular user-selectable option; and
in response to receiving the particular user input, charging a selling entity a specified monetary amount.
34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 31 , wherein the particular information comprises a particular user-selectable option, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out steps of:
receiving particular user input that indicates selection of the particular user-selectable option; and
in response to receiving the particular user input, recording data that indicates that the particular user-selectable option was selected.
35. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 34 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out steps of:
displaying one or more additional user-selectable options that were selected for display based on the data;
wherein the one or more additional user-selectable options were selected for display due to the one or more additional user-selectable options being in a same category as the particular user-selectable option.
36. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 31 , wherein displaying the particular information to the user of the multimedia device further comprises displaying titles of one or more television programs that the user can select in order to cause the multimedia device to record corresponding television programs at a later time.
37. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for presenting particular information through a multimedia device, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out steps of:
the multimedia device determining whether a last part of a content stream has been streamed to a display;
in response to determining that the last part of the content stream has been streamed to the display, the multimedia device displaying, to a user of the multimedia device, a menu that comprises (1) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to delete the content stream and (2) another user-selectable option that presents the user an option of expressly saving the content stream at the multimedia device instead of deleting the content stream; and
the multimedia device displaying particular information concurrently with the menu, the particular information comprising at least one of:
(a) an advertisement;
(b) an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service;
(c) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display an advertisement to the user;
(d) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service;
(e) an interface through which the user can submit an answer to a question via the multimedia device;
(f) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to send a request to a request-receiving entity, wherein the request asks the request-receiving entity to send specified information to at least one of (i) a specified e-mail address and (ii) a specified postal address;
(g) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which cause the multimedia device to provide the user with an ability to schedule an upcoming content stream for recording; and
(h) an interface through which the user can request downloading of a particular video for later viewing.
38. An apparatus for presenting information through a multimedia device, the apparatus comprising:
the multimedia device determining whether a last part of a content stream has been streamed to a display;
in response to determining that the last part of the content stream has been streamed to the display, the multimedia device displaying, to a user of the multimedia device, a menu that comprises (1) a user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to delete the content stream and (2) another user-selectable option that presents the user an option of expressly saving the content stream at the multimedia device instead of deleting the content stream; and
the multimedia device displaying particular information concurrently with the menu, the particular information comprising at least one of:
(a) an advertisement;
(b) an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service;
(c) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display an advertisement to the user;
(d) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to display, to the user, an interface through which the user can purchase a product or service;
(e) an interface through which the user can submit an answer to a question via the multimedia device;
(f) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which causes the multimedia device to send a request to a request-receiving entity, wherein the request asks the request-receiving entity to send specified information to at least one of (i) a specified e-mail address and (ii) a specified postal address;
(g) a menu that comprises at least one user-selectable option, user selection of which cause the multimedia device to provide the user with an ability to schedule an upcoming content stream for recording; and
(h) an interface through which the user can request downloading of a particular video for later viewing.