Method and system for allowing viewers to purchase program products

Abstract

To allow viewers to easily purchase products shown in entertainment programs, the viewers call an operator terminal. The operator terminal is networked to a central controller, which is also networked to remote terminals. Remote terminal operators enter data about props used in programs, copies of which are to be offered for sale. These remote terminals transmit this data to the central controller for storage in a database. Operators at the operator terminals can access the data stored at the central controller to respond calls from viewers seeking to purchase products.

1 - 40 . (canceled)  
     
     
         41 . A method, comprising: 
 storing (i) descriptive program information identifying a particular entertainment program in which a product is shown, and (ii) product information relating to the product shown in the particular entertainment program;    receiving, from the viewer, a request about the product shown in the entertainment program, the request comprising a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;    identifying the product information using the subset of the product information and the subset of descriptive program information; and    providing the identified information about the product to the viewer.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the request is received independent of a viewing of the entertainment program by the viewer.  
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 placing an order with a vendor for the product.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , further including: 
 identifying the particular entertainment program using the subset of the descriptive program information.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the descriptive program information comprises: 
 information about characters and a plot of the entertainment program.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the descriptive program information further comprises: 
 information identifying a portion of the entertainment program in which the product is shown.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the descriptive program information further comprises: 
 a count value that corresponds to a time that the product is shown in the entertainment program.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 broadcasting the entertainment program.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the entertainment program comprises a cable television program.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the entertainment program does not comprise advertisements.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the request is received at least in part via a telephone communications network.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the receiving comprises: 
 automatically receiving the request communicated during a telephone call from the viewer; and    transferring the telephone call to a live operator after the receipt of the request.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 broadcasting a telephone number via which the request may be received via the telephone communications network.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the telephone number is broadcast prior to a broadcast of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the telephone number is broadcast during a broadcast of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein a telephone number via which the request may be received via the telephone communications network comprises a 900 number.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising: 
 automatically billing a telephone account of the viewer for a price associated with a purchase of the product.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the request is received from a viewer device capable of telephonic communications.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the subset of the descriptive program information comprises a viewer-defined description of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the subset of the descriptive program information comprises an indication of a title of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the subset of the descriptive program information comprises an indication of an episode of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the subset of the descriptive program information comprises a description of a scene of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the subset of the descriptive program information comprises a description of a plot of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the subset of the descriptive program information comprises an indication of a special character appearing on the entertainment program.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the identifying comprises: 
 processing a keyword search on the subset of the descriptive program information;    identifying, based on the processing, the entertainment program; and    identifying, based on the identifying of the entertainment program and on the subset of the product information, the product.    
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the identified information about the product comprises an indication of a price of the product.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the identified information about the product comprises an indication of an availability of the product.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the identified information about the product comprises a graphic presentation of the product.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the subset of the product information comprises an indication of a time code associated with when the product is used during the entertainment program.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the entertainment program comprises a sporting event.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the entertainment program comprises a soap opera.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the entertainment program comprises a sit-com.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the entertainment program comprises a movie.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the request is received from a mobile terminal.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the mobile terminal is capable of at least one of telephonic and Internet communications.  
     
     
         76 . A method, comprising: 
 storing descriptive program information identifying a particular entertainment program;    storing product information relating to a product shown in the particular entertainment program;    receiving, from a viewer, a request associated with the product shown in the particular entertainment program, the request comprising a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;    conducting a first database search to identify the particular entertainment program using the subset of the descriptive program information;    conducting a second database search to identify the stored product information using the subset of the product information; and    communicating to the viewer the identified information about the product.    
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the request is received independent of a viewing of the entertainment program by the viewer.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the subset of the descriptive program information comprises a viewer-defined description of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         79 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving, independent of a viewing of an entertainment program by a viewer, an indication of the entertainment program;    receiving a request about a product shown in the entertainment program;    transmitting a query to a database relating to the request, the query based on the indication and the request; and    receiving from the database product information about the product.    
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , further comprising: 
 conveying the received product information to the viewer.    
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the indication of the entertainment program comprises an entertainment program recording identifier.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the entertainment program recording identifier comprises a VCR Plus+® recording identifier.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 79 , further comprising: 
 placing an order with a vendor for the product.    
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the indication of the entertainment program comprises a description of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the description of the entertainment program comprises: 
 information about characters and a plot of the entertainment program.    
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the description of the entertainment program comprises: 
 information identifying a portion of the entertainment program in which the product is shown.    
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the description of the entertainment program comprises further comprises: 
 a count value that corresponds to a time that the product is shown in the entertainment program.    
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the description of the entertainment program comprises a viewer-defined description of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the description of the entertainment program comprises an indication of a title of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the description of the entertainment program comprises an indication of an episode of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the description of the entertainment program comprises a description of a scene of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the description of the entertainment program comprises a description of a plot of the entertainment program.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the description of the entertainment program comprises an indication of a special character appearing on the entertainment program.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein at least one of the indication of the entertainment program and the request is received from a viewer device capable of telephonic communications.  
     
     
         95 . A method, comprising: 
 storing, at a controller, program identifying data that describes one or more characteristics of an entertainment program and product identifying data that describes one or more characteristics of a product used in the entertainment program;    receiving, at the controller and from a viewer of the entertainment program, a purchase request comprising an indication of a subset of the program identifying data and an indication of a subset of the product identifying data;    identifying, by the controller and based on the received indications, the program identifying data and the product identifying data;    providing, after the identifying, and to the viewer, the product identifying data;    receiving, after the providing, a verification that the viewer desires to purchase the product; and    selling the product to the viewer.    
     
     
         96 . A mobile terminal comprising: 
 a viewer interface via which a viewer may purchase a product shown in a particular entertainment program; and    a controller operatively coupled to the viewer interface and adapted to:    store (i) descriptive program information identifying the particular entertainment program in which the product is shown, and (ii) product information relating to the product shown in the particular entertainment program; 
 receive, from the viewer, a request about the product shown in the entertainment program, the request comprising a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;  
 identify the product information using the subset of the product information and the subset of descriptive program information; and  
   provide the identified information about the product to the viewer.    
     
     
         97 . A mobile terminal comprising: 
 a viewer interface via which a viewer may purchase a product shown in a particular entertainment program; and    a controller operatively coupled to the viewer interface and adapted to: 
 store descriptive program information identifying the particular entertainment program;  
 store product information relating to the product shown in the particular entertainment program;  
 receive, from the viewer, a request associated with the product shown in the particular entertainment program, the request comprising a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;  
 conduct a first database search to identify the particular entertainment program using the subset of the descriptive program information;  
 conduct a second database search to identify the stored product information using the subset of the product information; and  
 communicate to the viewer the identified information about the product.  
   
     
     
         98 . A mobile terminal comprising: 
 a viewer interface via which a viewer may purchase a product shown in an entertainment program; and    a controller operatively coupled to the viewer interface and adapted to: 
 receive, independent of a viewing of the entertainment program by the viewer, an indication of the entertainment program;  
 receive a request about the product shown in the entertainment program;  
 transmit a query to a database relating to the request, the query based on the indication and the request; and  
 receive from the database product information about the product.  
   
     
     
         99 . A mobile terminal comprising: 
 a viewer interface via which a viewer may purchase a prop used in an entertainment program; and    a controller operatively coupled to the viewer interface and adapted to: 
 receive, independent of a viewing of the entertainment program by the viewer, an indication of the entertainment program;  
 receive a request about the prop used in the entertainment program;  
 transmit a query to a database relating to the request, the query based on the indication and the request; and  
 receive from the database product information about the prop.  
   
     
     
         100 . A mobile terminal comprising: 
 a viewer interface via which a viewer may purchase a product shown in an entertainment program; and    a controller operatively coupled to the viewer interface and adapted to: 
 store program identifying data that describes one or more characteristics of the entertainment program and product identifying data that describes one or more characteristics of the product used in the entertainment program;  
 receive, from the viewer, a purchase request comprising an indication of a subset of the program identifying data and an indication of a subset of the product identifying data;  
 identify, based on the received indications, the program identifying data and the product identifying data;  
 provide, after the identifying, and to the viewer, the product identifying data;  
 receive, after the providing, a verification that the viewer desires to purchase the product; and  
 sell the product to the viewer.  
   
     
     
         101 . A system, comprising: 
 a database storing data descriptive of an entertainment program and data descriptive of a product used in the entertainment program;    a viewer interface operable to provide a first indication of a subset of the descriptive program data and a second indication of a subset of the descriptive product data; and    a controller, coupled to the database and the viewer interface, the controller being operable to: 
 receive the first and second indications;  
 identify the descriptive program data and the descriptive product data based on the first and second indications; and  
 provide, after the identifying, the descriptive program data and the descriptive product data to the viewer interface.  
   
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 101 , further comprising: 
 a remote terminal coupled to the controller, the remote terminal being operable to facilitate reviewing of the entertainment program, wherein the reviewing defines the descriptive program data and the descriptive product data.    
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 102 , wherein the remote terminal comprises: 
 means for defining the descriptive program data and the descriptive product data, wherein the descriptive product data comprises information identifying how the product is used in the entertainment program; and    means for transmitting the descriptive program data and the descriptive product data to the controller.    
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein the controller comprises: 
 an Interactive Voice Response Unit (IVRU) operable to receive the first and second indications.    
     
     
         105 . A system, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to: 
 store (i) descriptive program information identifying a particular entertainment program in which a product is shown, and (ii) product information relating to the product shown in the particular entertainment program;  
 receive, from the viewer, a request about the product shown in the entertainment program, the request comprising a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;  
 identify the product information using the subset of the product information and the subset of descriptive program information; and  
 provide the identified information about the product to the viewer.  
   
     
     
         106 . A system comprising: 
 a user interface via which a user may purchase a product shown in a particular entertainment program; and    a controller operatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to: 
 store (i) descriptive program information identifying the particular entertainment program in which the product is shown, and (ii) product information relating to the product shown in the particular entertainment program;  
 receive, from the user, a request about the product shown in the entertainment program, the request comprising a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;  
 identify the product information using the subset of the product information and the subset of descriptive program information; and  
 provide the identified information about the product to the user.  
   
     
     
         107 . A system, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to: 
 store descriptive program information identifying a particular entertainment program;  
 store product information relating to a product shown in the particular entertainment program;  
 receive, from a viewer, a request associated with the product shown in the particular entertainment program, the request comprising a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;  
 conduct a first database search to identify the particular entertainment program using the subset of the descriptive program information;  
 conduct a second database search to identify the stored product information using the subset of the product information; and  
 communicate to the viewer the identified information about the product.  
   
     
     
         108 . A system comprising: 
 a user interface via which a user may purchase a product shown in a particular entertainment program; and    a controller operatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to: 
 store descriptive program information identifying the particular entertainment program;  
 store product information relating to the product shown in the particular entertainment program;  
 receive, from the user, a request associated with the product shown in the particular entertainment program, the request comprising a subset of the descriptive program information and a subset of the product information;  
 conduct a first database search to identify the particular entertainment program using the subset of the descriptive program information;  
 conduct a second database search to identify the stored product information using the subset of the product information; and  
 communicate to the user the identified information about the product.  
   
     
     
         109 . A system, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to: 
 receive, independent of a viewing of an entertainment program by a viewer, an indication of the entertainment program;  
 receive a request about a product shown in the entertainment program;  
 transmit a query to a database relating to the request, the query based on the indication and the request; and  
 receive from the database product information about the product.  
   
     
     
         110 . A system comprising: 
 a user interface via which a user may purchase a product shown in an entertainment program; and    a controller operatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to: 
 receive, independent of a viewing of the entertainment program by the user, an indication of the entertainment program;  
 receive a request about the product shown in the entertainment program;  
 transmit a query to a database relating to the request, the query based on the indication and the request; and  
 receive from the database product information about the product.