Game Card System for Tracking Television Commercial Viewership
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for increasing television commercial viewership, such as Nielsen Ratings, are inaccurate due to viewers skipping commercials using DVRs and channel surfing, and previous solutions like the Matheny and Newton systems either annoy viewers or require complex integration into TV devices.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system where players log onto a game management server to select TV programs, receive a game card with commercial icons, and earn prizes by correctly identifying aired commercials, providing incentives to watch commercials without forcing viewers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Nielsen Ratings tracking method is used, then viewership numbers can be obtained, but the accuracy of ratings is reduced due to viewers skipping commercials with DVRs and channel surfing
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides immediate feedback to viewers by offering prizes and rewards when they correctly identify commercials that aired during the program. This feedback mechanism motivates viewers to pay attention to commercials and verifies their viewing through the game interaction, thereby improving measurement accuracy while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical Nielsen Ratings tracking system with a gaming-based verification system. Instead of relying on passive television set monitoring, the system uses interactive game cards and trivia questions that require active viewer participation, thereby eliminating the inaccuracies caused by DVR skipping and channel surfing.
2Productivity
If previous methods like Matheny and Newton systems are used to compel viewers to watch commercials, then commercial viewership increases, but viewer annoyance increases or device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows viewers to voluntarily participate in the commercial viewing game by choosing to play when they want to watch the program. Viewers self-select to engage with the game and earn prizes through their own actions, rather than being forced or compelled by external constraints, thereby increasing viewership without causing annoyance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of viewer engagement by transforming the commercial viewing experience from a passive obligation into an active game with variable rewards. The game card system with its unique combinations of commercials and trivia questions creates a dynamic engagement model that motivates viewers without forcing them, thus improving productivity while avoiding harmful factors.
3Productivity
If Newton apparatus is used to prevent channel switching during commercials, then commercial viewership increases, but device complexity increases requiring integration into TV devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a game card as an intermediary between the viewer and the commercial viewing process. The game card contains the commercial schedule and trivia questions, serving as a mediator that guides viewers through the commercial viewing experience without requiring complex technical integration into television devices. This simplifies the system while maintaining effective commercial viewership.
Data Source
AI summary
A game for increasing viewership of television commercials is provided. The game provides a game card having a plurality of spaces arranged in multiple rows and columns. A player receives a game card associated with a particular participating program. The plurality of spaces on the game card are individually assigned icons representing commercials that may air during the program or special icons having special game-related attributes. During viewing of the program, a player is discouraged from switching channels or fast-forwarding during commercial breaks by requiring the player to match airing commercials with representative icons on the game card. If all spaces of a rank (i.e., row, column, or diagonal) on the game card contain icons representing aired commercials, the player wins. A game card verification process is provided as well to ensure that the player has in fact viewed the commercials while watching the program.