Universally interactive request for information

Abstract

A request for information (RFI) system is provided for use in communications networks including broadcast networks and the Internet. In one implementation, a code identifying an item of media content of interest (e.g. television, newspaper, magazines, billboards, radio) is captured and input to an RFI system that includes stored media tags and a search tool for matching inputs to the stored media tags. Upon receipt of the captured code, the RFI system matches the captured code with the stored media tags and provides a response to the user based on the match. The response may include or relate to follow-on or premium information relating to the content of interest. Using this information, an RFI data center or an RFI platform may credit value to a rewards account established for the network user based on the user's verified consumption of assets and/or data requests. Further, the RFI data center or RFI platform may be used to collect consumer behavior information, including purchasing decisions made by the user after consumption of assets, and correlate the consumer behavior information with the user's verified asset consumption.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 409,002, entitled “UNIVERSALLY INTERACTIVE REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION,” filed on Nov. 1, 2010 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 367,588, entitled “REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RELATED TO MEDIA CONTENT,” filed on Jul. 26, 2010, both of which are related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 467,890, entitled “REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RELATED TO BROADCAST NETWORK CONTENT,” filed on May 18, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 024,714, entitled “VERIFYING AND ENCOURAGING ASSET CONSUMPTION IN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK,” filed on Feb. 1, 2008, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 887,750, entitled “COMPENSATING FOR AD-SKIPPING IN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK,” filed on Feb. 1, 2007, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0039]The utility described above provides several benefits to broadcast network users, MVPDs, programming networks, asset providers, and RFI providers. First, the utility allows asset providers to more effectively target assets to users because asset providers may craft follow-on assets and information that are tailored to particular user profiles. Second, users are able to consume content of interest (e.g., television or radio program, magazine articles) without interruption and consume follow-on assets in an interactive environment at a separate time, allowing asset providers to achieve the benefits of high impact, large reach advertising as well

Problems solved by technology

Of course, though, there are limitations to the effectiveness of television advertising.

For example, air time for such advertising is expensive, particularly in connection with programming having the largest audiences of the most desirable demographics.

In part because of the high value of such advertising spots, advertisers are limited, as a practical matter, to brief time intervals to make the desired impression and convey sufficient information to advance potential sales opportunities.

Moreover, because of the passive nature of the broadcast experience, viewers are generally not in a position to immediately consummate a transaction or even, in most cases, to record informa

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