Systems and methods for awarding affinity points based upon remote control usage

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing and promoting television programming, advertisements, and other content to selected viewers. A display is provided on a remote control device, prompts are provided on the display, and viewer responses to those prompts are monitored, stored in memory, and thereafter processed to reward viewers for responding properly to the prompts. Various methods for promoting such programs are also described.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 08 / 080,315, filed on May 15, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08 / 999,716, filed on Oct. 6, 1997, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08 / 823,507 filed on Mar. 24, 1997. The disclosures of each of the above-listed applications are incorporated fully herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to television systems and the Internet and, more particularly, to systems and methods for effectively promoting television programming, for developing viewership loyalty within selected demographic groups, and for selectively delivering advertising, promotional, and other content to television viewers desiring such content. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Recently, substantial attention has been directed to the field of digital cable television systems, the Internet, and to methods of p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is about improving advertising and promotional content for television viewers. It involves providing a display on a remote control device and selectively providing advertising and promotional content based on the channel or program the user is watching. The user can earn rewards for interacting with the remote control device, such as by selecting a channel or program or providing proper responses to questions. The invention also includes promoting affinity awards programs using visual indicators in a program guide or banners on screens. The technical effects of the invention include providing real-time advertising and promotional content to television viewers and rewarding them for interacting with the remote control device."

Problems solved by technology

While the foregoing patents describe numerous methodologies for providing advertising and / or coupon information to selected individuals or demographic groups via a cable television network or the Internet, the described systems suffer from several disadvantages.

First, many of the systems require that current programming content provided to a viewer on a television screen or computer monitor be interrupted while advertising or other promotional content is provided on the screen or monitor.

This, tends to irritate television viewers and computer users and, therefore, reduces the effectiveness of any advertising or promotional content that has been provided.

Similarly, the systems described above do not allow for advertising or promotional content to be selectively delivered to a viewer in a manner that is responsive in real time to viewer channel or content selections.

Nor do the systems described above allow for the effective promotion of television viewership affinity awards programs or “watch-and-win” programs.

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