Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing enhanced advertising and merchandising opportunities are described. Advertisements may be provided for passive programming such as television programs, commercials, pay-per-view programs, passive video products, or other suitable passive programming. Interactive advertisements may be provided in interactive applications such as interactive television program guides, web browsers, home shopping applications, operating systems, or other suitable interactive applications.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for providing access to a passive video product from an interactive application comprising: 
 providing a branded selectable option within an interactive application display; and    providing a passive video product associated with the brand in response to a user selecting the option from the interactive application display.    
     
     
         2 . The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising providing interactive content with the passive video product.  
     
     
         3 . The method defined in  claim 2  wherein: 
 the interactive content comprises an alert icon; and  
 the method further comprises providing a merchandising opportunity to the user in response to the user selecting the alert icon.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method defined in  claim 3  wherein the alert icon is overlaid onto the passive video product.  
     
     
         5 . The method defined in  claim 2  wherein: 
 the interactive content comprises a television program listing; and  
 the method further comprises providing additional information for the television program listing in response to the user selecting the televison program listing.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and  
 the branded selectable option is a branded selectable menu option of the interactive television program guide.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the interactive application is a web browser.  
     
     
         8 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein providing the passive video product comprises tuning equipment associated with the user to a television channel.  
     
     
         9 . A method for providing advertisements for passive programming within an interactive application implemented at least in part on user equipment comprising: 
 providing an advertisement for passive programming in an interactive application display; and    providing the advertised passive programming on the user equipment in response to the user selecting the advertisement from the interactive application display.    
     
     
         10 . The method defined in  claim 9  wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.  
     
     
         11 . The method defined in  claim 9  further comprising retrieving the advertisement associated with the passive programming.  
     
     
         12 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a schedule.  
     
     
         13 . The method defined in  claim 11  wherein retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a real-time flag.  
     
     
         14 . The method defined in  claim 9  wherein the advertisement is branded.  
     
     
         15 . The method defined in  claim 9  wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.  
     
     
         16 . The method defined in  claim 9  wherein: 
 the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and  
 providing the advertisement in the interactive application display comprises providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in the interactive television program guide.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method defined in  claim 9  wherein providing the advertised passive programming comprises tuning the user equipment to a channel on which the programming is provided.  
     
     
         18 . A method for providing advertisements within an interactive application implemented at least in part on user equipment comprising: 
 providing branded passive programming to the user equipment;    providing a user associated with the user equipment with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access additional information associated with the branded passive programming; and    providing an interactive display on the user equipment in response to the user indicating a desire to access the additional information, wherein the display comprises an advertisement for an advertiser associated with the brand of the branded passive programming.    
     
     
         19 . The method defined in  claim 18  wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.  
     
     
         20 . The method defined in  claim 18  further comprising retrieving the advertisement.  
     
     
         21 . The method defined in  claim 20  wherein retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a schedule.  
     
     
         22 . The method defined in  claim 20  wherein retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a real-time flag.  
     
     
         23 . The method defined in  claim 18  wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.  
     
     
         24 . The method defined in  claim 18  wherein: 
 the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and  
 providing the interactive display comprises providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in an interactive television program guide display.  
 
     
     
         25 . A method for providing advertisement space to advertisers across television-related products comprising: 
 allocating advertisement time for an advertiser on an interactive application and during a passive program; and    providing an advertisement for the advertiser within a display for the interactive product and with the passive program, during the allocated advertisement time.    
     
     
         26 . The method defined in  claim 25  further comprising: 
 providing a user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in the interactive application; and  
 providing the passive program in response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive application.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method defined in  claim 25  wherein the passive program is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.  
     
     
         28 . The method defined in  claim 25  wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.  
     
     
         29 . A system for providing access to a passive video product from an interactive application comprising: 
 means for providing a branded selectable option within an interactive application display; and    means for providing a passive video product associated with the brand in response to a user selecting the option from the interactive application display.    
     
     
         30 . The system defined in  claim 29  further comprising means for providing interactive content with the passive video product.  
     
     
         31 . The system defined in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the interactive content comprises an alert icon; and  
 the system further comprises means for providing a merchandising opportunity to the user in response to the user selecting the alert icon.  
 
     
     
         32 . The system defined in  claim 31  wherein the alert icon is overlaid onto the passive video product.  
     
     
         33 . The system defined in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the interactive content comprises a television program listing; and  
 the system further comprises means for providing additional information for the television program listing in response to the user selecting the televison program listing.  
 
     
     
         34 . The system defined in  claim 20  wherein: 
 the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and  
 the branded selectable option is a branded selectable menu option of the interactive television program guide.  
 
     
     
         35 . The system defined in  claim 20  wherein the interactive application is a web browser.  
     
     
         36 . The system defined in  claim 20  wherein the means for providing the passive video product comprises means for tuning equipment associated with the user to a television channel.  
     
     
         37 . A system for providing advertisements for passive programming within an interactive application implemented at least in part on user equipment comprising: 
 means for providing an advertisement for passive programming in an interactive application display; and    means for providing the advertised passive programming on the user equipment in response to the user selecting the advertisement from the interactive application display.    
     
     
         38 . The system defined in  claim 37  wherein the passive program is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.  
     
     
         39 . The system defined in  claim 37  further comprising means for retrieving the advertisement.  
     
     
         40 . The system defined in  claim 39  wherein the means for retrieving the advertisement comprises means for retrieving an advertisement according to a schedule.  
     
     
         41 . The system defined in  claim 39  wherein the means for retrieving the advertisement comprises means for retrieving an advertisement according to a real-time flag.  
     
     
         42 . The system defined in  claim 37  wherein the advertisement is branded.  
     
     
         43 . The system defined in  claim 37  wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.  
     
     
         44 . The system defined in  claim 9  wherein: 
 the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and  
 the means for providing the advertisement in the interactive application display comprises means for providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in the interactive television program guide.  
 
     
     
         45 . The system defined in  claim 37  wherein the means for providing the advertised programming comprises means for tuning the user equipment to a channel on which the advertised programming is provided.  
     
     
         46 . A system for providing advertisements within an interactive application running at least in part on user equipment comprising: 
 means for providing branded passive programming to the user equipment;    means for providing a user associated with the user equipment with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access additional information associated with the branded passive programming; and    means for providing an interactive display on the user equipment in response to the user indicating a desire to access the additional information, wherein the display comprises an advertisement for an advertiser associated with the brand of the branded passive programming.    
     
     
         47 . The system defined in  claim 46  wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.  
     
     
         48 . The system defined in  claim 46  further comprising means for retrieving the advertisement.  
     
     
         49 . The system defined in  claim 48  wherein the means for retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a schedule.  
     
     
         50 . The system defined in  claim 48  wherein the means for retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a real-time flag.  
     
     
         51 . The system defined in  claim 46  wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.  
     
     
         52 . The system defined in  claim 46  wherein: 
 the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and  
 the means for providing the interactive display comprises means for providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in an interactive television program guide display.  
 
     
     
         53 . A system for providing advertisement space to advertisers across television related-products comprising: 
 means for allocating advertisement time for an advertiser on an interactive application and during a passive program; and    means for providing an advertisement for the advertiser within a display for the interactive product and with the passive program, during the allocated advertisement time.    
     
     
         54 . The system defined in  claim 53  further comprising: 
 means for providing a user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in the interactive application; and  
 means for providing the passive program in response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive application.  
 
     
     
         55 . The system defined in  claim 53  wherein the passive program is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.  
     
     
         56 . The system defined in  claim 53  wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.  
     
     
         57 . A system for providing access to a passive video product from an interactive application comprising: 
 user equipment on which an interactive application is at least partly implemented, wherein the interactive application is configured to: 
 provide a display on the user equipment, wherein the display comprises a branded selectable option; and  
 provide a passive video product associated with the branded selectable option on the user equipment in response to a user selecting the option.  
   
     
     
         58 . The system defined in  claim 57  wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide interactive content with the passive video product.  
     
     
         59 . The system defined in  claim 58  wherein: 
 the interactive content comprises an alert icon; and  
 wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide a merchandising opportunity to the user in response to the user selecting the alert icon.  
 
     
     
         60 . The system defined in  claim 59  wherein the alert icon is overlaid onto the passive video product.  
     
     
         61 . The system defined in  claim 58  wherein: 
 the interactive content comprises a television program listing; and  
 wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide additional information for the television program listing in response to the user selecting the televison program listing.  
 
     
     
         62 . The system defined in  claim 57  wherein: 
 the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and  
 the branded selectable option is a branded selectable menu option of the interactive television program guide.  
 
     
     
         63 . The system defined in  claim 57  wherein the interactive application is a web browser.  
     
     
         64 . The system defined in  claim 57  wherein the interactive application is configured to provide the passive programming by tuning the user equipment to a television channel on which the passive programming is provided.  
     
     
         65 . A system for providing advertisements for passive programming within an interactive application comprising: 
 user equipment on which an interactive application is at least partly implemented, wherein the interactive application is configured to: 
 provide a display on the user equipment, wherein the display comprises an advertisement for passive programming; and  
 provide the passive programming in response to the user selecting the advertisement.  
   
     
     
         66 . The system defined in  claim 65  wherein the passive program is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.  
     
     
         67 . The system defined in  claim 65  wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement.  
     
     
         68 . The system defined in  claim 65  wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement according to a schedule.  
     
     
         69 . The system defined in  claim 65  wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement according to a real-time flag.  
     
     
         70 . The system defined in  claim 65  wherein the advertisement is branded.  
     
     
         71 . The system defined in  claim 65  wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.  
     
     
         72 . The system defined in  claim 65  wherein: 
 the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and  
 the interactive television program guide is configured to provide the advertisement as a panel advertisement.  
 
     
     
         73 . The system defined in  claim 65  wherein the interactive application is configured to provide the passive programming by tuning the user equipment to a television channel on which the passive programming is provided.  
     
     
         74 . A system for providing advertisements within an interactive application comprising: 
 user equipment on which an interactive application is at least partly implemented, wherein the interactive application is configured to: 
 provide a display on the user equipment, wherein the display comprises branded passive programming;  
 provide a user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access additional information associated with the branded passive programming; and  
 provide a display in response to the user indicating a desire to access the additional information, wherein the display comprises an advertisement for an advertiser associated with the brand of the branded passive programming.  
   
     
     
         75 . The system defined in  claim 73  wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.  
     
     
         76 . The system defined in  claim 73  wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement.  
     
     
         77 . The system defined in  claim 73  wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement according to a schedule.  
     
     
         78 . The system defined in  claim 73  wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement according to a real-time flag.  
     
     
         79 . The system defined in  claim 73  wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.  
     
     
         80 . The system defined in  claim 73  wherein: 
 the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and  
 the interactive television program guide is configured to provide the advertisement as a panel advertisement.  
 
     
     
         81 . A system for providing advertisement time to advertisers across television related products comprising: 
 a distribution facility configured to provide passive programming having an advertisement for an advertiser during a given time block; and    user equipment on which an interactive application is at least partly implemented, wherein the interactive application is configured to provide a display comprising an advertisement for the advertiser during the give time block.    
     
     
         82 . The system defined in claim  81  wherein the interactive application is further configured to: 
 provide a user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in the display provided by the interactive application; and  
 provide the passive programming in response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive application.  
 
     
     
         83 . The system defined in claim  81  wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.  
     
     
         84 . The system defined in claim  81  wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.