Television apparatus with resident commerce execution microprocessor

Abstract

A television set having a resident microprocessor configured to enable direct purchasing of advertised goods or services during playback of advertising content. The microprocessor receives a purchase instruction from a viewer through a wireless remote-control or voice input interface, presents a purchase interface embedded within or overlaid on the advertising content, and executes all buyer-side transactional steps entirely within the television, including checkout preparation, use of locally stored purchaser details and payment credentials or tokens, user confirmation, and order preparation. Only a completed transaction authorisation message excluding raw payment credentials is transmitted to a vendor commerce endpoint. The system supports real-time and live-streamed advertisements, provides secure on-device processing, reduced latency, and local user confirmation prior to order completion.

Description

[0001] Title of the Invention: Television Apparatus with Resident Commerce Execution Microprocessor.

[0002] Technical Field: The invention relates to audiovisual display systems, and in particular to a television apparatus configured to execute commercial purchase transactions locally within the device.

[0003] Background of the Invention: Conventional smart televisions generally rely on external applications, cloud-based processing, or companion devices to complete purchases initiated while viewing audiovisual content. In these systems, payment authentication and buyer-side transaction processing occur outside the television, requiring the transfer of user payment credentials to external infrastructure and the use of third-party checkout processes. This increases security exposure, transaction latency, and reliance on external commerce ecosystems.

[0004] At the priority date of this application, no commercially available television system performs fully local buyer-side transaction preparation, including payment credential handling and token generation, fully within the television hardware itself.

[0005] There therefore remains a need for a television apparatus capable of locally executing the buyer-side stages of a purchase transaction, without reliance on external checkout applications or remote commerce servers.

[0006] Summary of the Invention: The invention provides a television apparatus comprising a resident microprocessor; a secure execution environment configured to store and process payment credentials within the device; a token generator configured to derive a single-use transaction token from said credentials; and a communication interface configured to transmit a tokenised purchase request to an external vendor system.

[0007] The resident microprocessor is configured to execute the entire buyer-side purchase workflow locally, such that no raw payment credentials leave the device. Only the generated token, together with product and transaction data, is transmitted externally.

[0008] The invention therefore relocates the buyer-side transaction execution pipeline into the resident microprocessor of the television itself, enabling local tokenisation and purchase request formation without reliance on external checkout applications or cloud-based commerce systems, thereby improving security, reducing transaction latency, and integrating transactional capability directly into the audiovisual playback environment.

[0009] Brief Description of the Drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a television apparatus including the resident microprocessor and associated components. Figure 2 illustrates an internal secure execution and tokenisation architecture. Figure 3 illustrates an example purchase and tokenisation flow carried out within the device.

[0010] Detailed Description of Embodiments: The television apparatus comprises a display panel, at least one user input interface, and a network interface. A resident microprocessor is housed within the television chassis and is configured to manage both media playback and transaction execution.

[0011] The resident microprocessor includes, or communicates with: a secure execution environment configured to store, retrieve, and use payment credentials without exposing them externally; a token generator configured to generate a single-use payment token; and a transaction control module configured to assemble a complete purchase request.

[0012] Payment credentials are stored locally and processed exclusively within the secure execution environment.

[0013] Operation of the System: During playback of broadcast, streamed, or recorded media, a user may indicate a wish to purchase a product or service associated with the displayed content.

[0014] In some embodiments, the audiovisual content may include advertising material or promotional segments identifying products or services that may be purchased. The purchase process described herein is initiated in response to user input while such content is displayed.

[0015] Upon receipt of a purchase instruction, the resident microprocessor identifies the product associated with the displayed content, retrieves stored payment credentials within the secure execution environment, generates a single-use transaction token, and assembles a purchase request containing the token and product information.

[0016] The purchase request is transmitted to a vendor system. The vendor system verifies the token with the payment network and performs stock and fulfilment checks. A confirmation or rejection message is returned to the television, which displays the result to the user.

[0017] No raw payment credentials leave the television at any point.

[0018] Advantages and Industrial Applicability: The invention provides enhanced security, reduced dependency on external checkout interfaces, reduced transaction latency, a seamless in-content purchasing experience, and commercial model control for the device manufacturer.

[0019] The invention may be implemented in any television apparatus configured to present audiovisual content and receive user interaction, without requiring modification of external network infrastructure.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 04 May 2026 (04.05.2026)

1. A television set comprising:- a resident microprocessor;- a viewer input interface;- a secure execution environment operable by the resident microprocessor; and- a protected local store accessible only within the secure execution environment and configured to store purchaser details and payment credentials; wherein the resident microprocessor is configured, in response to playback of advertising content, to:(a) receive a purchase instruction from a viewer via the viewer input interface;(b) present a purchase interface within or overlaid on the advertising content;(c) obtain vendor and product descriptor data associated with the advertising content;(d) execute, within the secure execution environment of the television and without delegation of buyer-side transactional processing to any external application, server or processing device, buyer-side transactional steps required to complete a purchase, including checkout preparation, retrieval of purchaser details, generation or retrieval of a payment token, user confirmation, and order preparation; and(e) transmit a transaction authorisation message to a vendor commerce endpoint, wherein the message excludes raw payment credentials and includes a payment token and associated transaction data.

2. The television set according to claim 1, wherein the viewer input interface comprises at least one of a wireless remote-control receiver and a microphone.

3. The television set according to any preceding claim, wherein the advertising content comprises embedded purchasable elements associated with corresponding product or service descriptors.

4. The television set according to any preceding claim, wherein the advertising content comprises live or streamed advertisements.

5. The television set according to any preceding claim, wherein the resident microprocessor maintains locally stored purchaser details comprising at least purchaser identity data and delivery address data accessible within the secure execution environment.

6. The television set according to any preceding claim, wherein payment credentials are stored locally within the secure execution environment and are used only after explicit user confirmation obtained via the purchase interface.

7. The television set according to any preceding claim, wherein payment authorisation is performed using a payment token generated within the secure execution environment, such that only the payment token and associated transaction parameters are included in the transmitted transaction authorisation message.

8. The television set according to any preceding claim, wherein the resident microprocessor caches vendor identifiers and product descriptor data associated with the advertising content locally for use during execution of the buyer-side transactional steps.

9. The television set according to any preceding claim, wherein the resident microprocessor presents a confirmation interface requiring user confirmation prior to generating the transaction authorisation message.

10. The television set according to any preceding claim, wherein purchaser details and payment credentials are stored in the protected local store accessible only within the secure execution environment.

11. A method performed by a resident microprocessor of a television during playback of advertising content, the method comprising:(a) receiving a purchase instruction from a viewer via a viewer input interface;(b) presenting a purchase interface within or overlaid on the advertising content;(c) obtaining vendor and product descriptor data associated with the advertising content;(d) executing, entirely locally within the television and without delegation of buyer-side transactional processing to any external application, server or processing device, buyer-side transactional steps required to complete a purchase; and(e) transmitting a transaction authorisation message to a vendor commerce endpoint, the message excluding raw payment credentials.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the viewer input interface comprises a wireless remote-control device configured to transmit the purchase instruction to the television.

13. The method according to any of claims 11 or 12, wherein locally stored payment credentials are used only after explicit user confirmation obtained via the purchase interface.

14. The method according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the resident microprocessor caches vendor identifiers and product descriptor data associated with the advertising content locally for use in transaction preparation.

15. The method according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the resident microprocessor implements secure transport protocols and mutual authentication when transmitting the transaction authorisation message to the vendor commerce endpoint.

16. The television set according to any preceding claim, wherein the transaction authorisation message constitutes a finalised purchase instruction generated entirely within the secure execution environment of the television, such that no external application, server, or processing device performs buyer-side transactional processing beyond receipt and fulfilment of the transaction authorisation message.Statement under Article 19 PCTThe present amendments to the claims are submitted in response to the International Search Report and Written Opinion.The amendments clarify the technical implementation of the invention and further define the role of the resident microprocessor within the television apparatus. In particular, the amended claims emphasise that the buyer-side transactional steps required to complete a purchase are executed entirely within the television, without delegation to external applications, servers, or processing devices.The claims have been refined to more clearly specify that purchaser details and payment credentials are stored and processed locally within the device, including within a secure execution environment. The generation and use of payment tokens are also clarified, with the claims specifying that only a completed transaction authorisation message, excluding raw payment credentials, is transmitted to an external vendor system.These amendments further define the architecture and operation of the system as originally disclosed, including the integration of transaction execution into the television environment during playback of audiovisual content. The amendments also improve clarity in relation to user interaction, including the use of a user input interface and presentation of a purchase interface within or overlaid on the displayed content.No amendment introduces subject matter extending beyond the content of the application as originally filed. The description and drawings remain consistent with the amended claims.The amendments are intended to provide greater clarity and precision in the definition of the invention as originally disclosed.

Images