Interactive television targeted message system
View Patent ↗An interactive television system is provided in which targeted messages may be sent to users. The interactive television system may use an interactive television program guide or other interactive applications to provide interactive television services to users. An e-mail or other messaging application may be used to receive the messages. The messaging application may be separate from the program guide or other interactive television application or may be part of the program guide or other interactive television application. Messages may be targeted based on the television channels to which the user subscribes or based on which settings the user has established in the program guide or other application or based on any other suitable criteria.
1. A method for providing a targeted message from a server to a user of an interactive television application, comprising:
receiving at user equipment a message distributed from a first location, the message including targeting criteria related to particular programming content;
comparing at the user equipment the targeting criteria to user information stored on the user equipment to determine whether the user has subscribed to the particular programming content; and
responsive to the determination, presenting the message to the user if the user has not subscribed to the particular programming content, wherein the message promotes the particular programming content.
2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the message is distributed through the Internet or a television distribution facility.
3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the message is distributed through the Internet and a television distribution facility.
4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the presenting the message comprises presenting the message using a set-top box.
5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the presenting the message comprises presenting the message using a digital video recorder.
6. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:
using the interactive television application to set a reminder based upon user input; and
comparing the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the reminder.
7. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:
using the interactive television application to set a favorite setting; and
comparing the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the favorite setting.
8. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:
using the interactive television application to set a parental control; and
comparing the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the parental control.
9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:
using the interactive television application to select content for recording; and
comparing the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the content that is selected for recording.
10. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing the message from an interactive television application provider or a television service provider.
11. The method defined in claim 1 , wherein the message is a first message, the method further comprising:
comparing targeting criteria associated with a second message distributed from the first location to the stored user information to determine whether the user has subscribed to further programming content; and
presenting the second message to the user if the user has subscribed to the further programming content.
12. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising presenting the user with an option to order the particular programming content.
13. A method for providing a targeted message from a server to a user of an interactive television application, comprising:
creating a message including targeting criteria related to particular programming content at a first location; and
distributing the message from the first location to user equipment, wherein:
the targeting criteria are compared, at the user equipment, to user information stored on the user equipment to determine whether the user has subscribed to the particular programming content, and
responsive to the determination, the message is presented to the user if the user has not subscribed to the particular programming content, wherein the message promotes the particular programming content.
14. The method defined in claim 13 , wherein the distributing the message comprises providing the message from an interactive television application provider or a television service provider.
15. A system for providing a targeted message to a user of an interactive television application, comprising:
user equipment that receives a message including targeting criteria related to particular programming content and compares the targeting criteria with stored user information to determine whether the user has subscribed to the particular programming content, and that causes the message to be presented to the user if the user has not subscribed to the particular programming content, wherein the message promotes the particular programming content.
16. The system defined in claim 15 , further comprising a first processor that creates the message and that causes the message to be distributed, wherein the first processor is part of a television distribution facility.
17. The system defined in claim 15 , further comprising a first processor that creates the message and that causes the message to be distributed, wherein the first processor also causes the message to be distributed through the Internet.
18. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the user equipment comprises a set-top box.
19. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the user equipment comprises a digital video recorder.
20. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the user equipment also sets a reminder based upon user input and compares the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the reminder.
21. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the user equipment also sets a favorites setting based upon user input and compares the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the favorites setting.
22. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the user equipment also sets a parental control based upon user input and compares the targeting criteria to stored user information relating to the parental control.
23. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the user equipment also selects content for recording based upon user input and compares the targeting criteria to the stored user information relating to the content for recording.
24. The system defined in claim 15 further comprising a first processor that creates the message and that causes the message to be distributed, wherein the first processor is part of an interactive television application provider or a television service provider.
25. The system defined in claim 15 , wherein the message is a first message and wherein the user equipment also compares targeting criteria associated with a second message distributed from the first location to the stored user information to determine whether the user has subscribed to further programming content, and causes the second message to be presented to the user if the user has subscribed to the further programming content.
26. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the user equipment also provides the user with an option to order the particular programming content.
27. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to subscribe to the particular programming content by selecting the message.
28. The method defined in claim 13 further comprising allowing the user to subscribe to the particular programming content by selecting the message.
29. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the user equipment allows the user to subscribe to the particular programming content by selecting the message.