Television One-Button Purchase via Metadata Extraction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Viewers of television content often lack easy access to additional information and purchase options for the content they are watching, requiring them to leave the TV and use a separate device to search for details or make purchases.

Innovation Solution

A system where a television extracts metadata from the content stream and uses stored purchasing data to facilitate a one-button purchase process, connecting to online stores to buy related products without further viewer interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a viewer wants to access additional information or purchase content related to the program being watched, then they can obtain more information and make purchases, but they must leave the television and use a separate device such as a computer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessing information and making purchasesVSAvoidtime required to switch devices and search for content

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the television set with a database system and online store interface, merging previously separate functions (viewing content, searching for information, and making purchases) into a single integrated system. The television extracts metadata from the content stream and uses it to query the database and initiate purchases without requiring the viewer to switch devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the online store connections, payment methods, and product database access before the viewer needs them. When the viewer presses the purchase button, the system has already prepared the transaction environment, extracted relevant metadata, and identified available products, enabling immediate purchase without device switching or searching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If the television extracts metadata and automates the purchase process, then the purchasing process is simplified and automated, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of purchase processVSAvoidcomplexity of television system

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The television system is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a content display device and an automated purchase system. The same processor and metadata extraction capabilities used for content analysis are leveraged for product identification and purchase initiation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware and reducing overall system complexity despite increased functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9137576B2Device based one button shopping using metadata

Publication Date: 2015.09.15 VIZIO INC

AI summary

A television is interfaced to one or more on-line stores through a network connection. The television has purchasing data stored in a configuration file. Upon execution of a “one-button buy” function, metadata from a content stream and the purchasing data is used to find a purchase item related to the content stream, decide upon an on-line store and purchase the purchase item from the on-line store. In some embodiments, the a “one-button buy” function is a dedicated “buy” button on a remote control that is associated with the television. In some embodiments, without any further interaction, the purchase item is billed to the viewer and shipped to the viewer as if the viewer found the purchase item through the on-line store from a personal computer.