Attracting User Attention to Advertisements

Abstract

One or more videos are presented to a user. The videos include a plurality of hidden artifacts. The videos also include advertisements. The user looks for the hidden artifacts in the videos. Whenever the user finds the hidden artifacts in one of the videos, the user selects locations in the videos that correspond to the hidden artifacts. A computing device performs different actions depending on which ones of the hidden artifacts the user is able to find. For example, the computing device can provide different rewards to the user depending on which ones of the hidden artifacts the user is able to find.

1 . A method of advertising, the method comprising:
 presenting one or more videos to a user, the one or more videos containing a plurality of hidden artifacts, the one or more videos containing advertisements;   receiving a plurality of selection inputs from the user, the selection inputs indicating locations in the one or more videos that correspond to a plurality of selected artifacts, the selected artifacts being among the hidden artifacts; and   performing, by a computing system, different actions depending on which ones of the hidden artifacts are among the plurality of selected artifacts.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the method further comprises: increasing a point total for the user in response to receiving one or more of the selection inputs; and   wherein performing different actions comprises: providing a given reward to the user after the user's point total exceeds a given threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: after providing the given reward to the user, reducing the user's point total. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the method further comprises:
 presenting a rewards catalog to the user, the rewards catalog listing a plurality of rewards; and 
 receiving, from the user, a selection in the rewards catalog of the given reward; and 
   wherein providing the given reward to the user comprises providing the given reward to the user in response to receiving the selection in the rewards catalog of the given reward.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: establishing a profile for the user, the profile associated with the user's point total, the profile persisting during times when the one or more videos are not being presented to the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein establishing the account comprises:
 collecting demographic data regarding the user; and   tracking viewing habits of the user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing different actions comprises: entering the user in a drawing for a prize. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing different actions comprises: providing a coupon to the user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to redeem the coupon; and   storing data that indicates that the user redeemed the coupon.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: presenting to the user a savings features that indicates a total value of coupons associated with the selected artifacts. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: presenting to the user an image of a given hidden artifact while a given video is being presented to the user, the given hidden artifact being among the plurality of hidden artifacts, the given video being among the one or more videos, an appearance of the image of the given hidden artifact changing after the given hidden artifact has appeared in the given video without being selected. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more videos include a given video; and   wherein the method further comprises modifying the given video to include one or more of the hidden artifacts.   
     
     
         13 . A computing system that comprises:
 a data storage system that stores instructions; and   a processing unit that reads and executes the instructions, execution of the instructions by the computing system configuring the computing system to:
 stream one or more videos to a client device, the one or more videos containing a plurality of hidden artifacts, the one or more videos containing advertisements; 
 receive a plurality of selection inputs from the client device, the selection inputs indicating locations in the one or more videos that correspond selected artifacts, the selected artifacts being among the hidden artifacts; 
 provide different rewards to a user depending on which ones of the hidden artifacts are among the selected artifacts. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computing system of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the one or more videos include a given video; and   wherein execution of the instructions further configures the computing system to modify the given video to include one or more of the advertisements.   
     
     
         15 . The computing system of  claim 13 , wherein execution of the instructions further configures the computing system to provide a clue to the user when the selected artifacts indicates a particular combination of one or more of the hidden artifacts, the clue providing information regarding a location of one of the hidden artifacts. 
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 13 , wherein execution of the instructions configures the computing system to provide the user with an opportunity to participate in a next round of a tournament when particular ones of the hidden artifacts are among the selected artifacts. 
     
     
         17 . The computing system of  claim 14 , wherein execution of the instructions further configures the computing system to:
 increase a point total for the user in response to receiving each of the selection inputs;   enable the user to claim a first reward after the user's point total exceeds a first threshold; and   enable the user to claim a second reward after the user's point total exceeds a second threshold.   
     
     
         18 . The computing system of  claim 14 , where execution of the instructions further configures the computing system to:
 receive, from the user, a photograph of a physical object; and   increase the user's point total in response receiving the photograph.   
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable data storage medium that stores instructions, execution of the instructions by a processing unit of a computing system configuring the computing system to:
 stream a video to a client device, the video containing a plurality of hidden artifacts, the one or more videos containing advertisements;   receive a plurality of selection inputs from the client device, the selection inputs indicating locations in the video that correspond selected artifacts, the selected artifacts being among the hidden artifacts;   provide a first reward to a user when the selected artifacts include a first combination of the hidden artifacts; and   provide a second reward to the user when the selected artifacts include a second combination of the hidden artifacts.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable data storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein execution of the instructions configures the computing system to:
 provide a coupon to the user after receiving selection input indicating locations in the one or more videos corresponding to one or more of the hidden artifacts; and   receive, from a mobile computing device, a request to redeem the coupon.