Method and system for controlling and auditing content/service systems
View Patent ↗An improved interactive network system is provided that allows the Network Operator to control the transfer of information to and from the network end users, the system preferably using triggers or markers embedded within the programming broadcast to users via the network. As a consequence of this system, the Network Operator is able to efficiently garner revenues from third parties transacting business over the network and to control the look and feel of programming offered to network users. Additionally the system can be used as a means of limiting network access, filtering programming, providing on-screen graphics or audible signals for particular programming types or providers, bookmarking programming, profiling network users, targeting advertising, and simplifying network transactions.
1. A method of monitoring a transaction between a receiver and a content provider occurring over a network operated by a network operator, wherein said content provider offers on-demand programming relating to the transaction, the method comprising the steps of:
accepting a user request for the on-demand programming by the receiver, said user request containing request information;
stripping at least a portion of the request information from said user request;
inserting third party parameters into said user request to form a modified user request;
directing said modified user request to the content provider;
intercepting a user request response directed to the receiver by the content provider, wherein said user request response comprises at least a portion of the transaction; and
permitting the transaction to proceed if the content provider abides by said third party parameters.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said third party parameters are comprised of a set of business rules.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of appending third party markers to said user request response, said appending step performed by the content provider.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: if the content provider is determined to be an authorized content provider, replacing said stripping, inserting, and directing steps with the step of directing said user request to said authorized content provider.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a set of additional third party parameters to the content provider in response to a request from the content provider for said set of additional third party parameters.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of directing said modified user request to a substitute content provider if the content provider does not abide by said third party parameters.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: extracting transaction information from said intercepted user request response; and storing said extracted transaction information.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of displaying at least a portion of said extracted transaction information.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of displaying at least one advertisement simultaneously with said portion of said extracted transaction information.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said at least one advertisement includes linking information to a specific content provider.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transaction is a financial transaction and said user request is a user purchase request, said method further comprising the step of entering said user purchase request into a data base controlled by a third party.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of displaying at least a portion of said entered user purchase request.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: directing a request for additional information pertaining to said user purchase request to the content provider, wherein said directing step is performed by said third party; receiving said additional information from said content provider; and storing said additional information in said third party controlled data base.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: directing a request for updated information pertaining to said user purchase request to the content provider, wherein said directing step is performed by said third party; receiving said updated information from said content provider; and storing said updated information in said third party controlled data base.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: requesting finalization of said user purchase request by the receiver; finalizing said initiated purchase with the user receiver, wherein said finalizing step is performed by said third party; and providing finalized purchase information to the content provider by said third party.