Method and system for providing rewards for responses to broadcast programming

Abstract

A broadcast signal having reward and broadcast (programming and/or advertising) content is broadcast, and viewers provide reward responses in response to queries in the broadcast content. Viewers also provide consumer data associated with the reward response provided. Rewards may then be awarded based on the accuracy of the reward response as well as the utilization of the associated consumer data provided.

1 . A method of operating a reward program comprising the steps of:
 a. a broadcast server computer accessing a viewer profile database to retrieve a viewer profile associated with a viewer;   b. the broadcast server computer generating personalized reward content for the viewer by using the viewer profile;   c. the broadcast server computer generating a broadcast signal comprising the personalized reward content and broadcast content;   d. the broadcast server computer transmitting the broadcast signal via a transmission network only to the viewer for which the personalized reward content has been personalized;   e. a receiving device at a viewer premises receiving the broadcast signal;   f. the receiving device outputting the broadcast content and the personalized reward content from the received broadcast signal;   g. the receiving device inputting from the viewer a reward response in association with the broadcast content and the personalized reward content;   h. the receiving device transmitting the reward response to the broadcast server computer;   i. the broadcast server computer verifying the accuracy of the reward response; and   j. the broadcast server computer awarding, in accordance with the accuracy of the reward response, a reward to a reward account stored on behalf of the viewer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the personalized reward content is transmitted only to the viewer for which the reward content has been personalized by transmitting the personalized reward content to an addressable set-top box associated with the viewer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reward comprises reward points. 
     
     
         4 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reward content comprises a visual or audible cue displayed to the viewer via the receiving device. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the broadcast content comprises programming or advertising content. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the personalized reward content is interleaved with the broadcast content, wherein the personalized reward content is viewed separately from the broadcast content. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the personalized reward content is integrated with the broadcast content, wherein the personalized reward content is viewed at the same time as the broadcast content. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the broadcast signal is broadcast via a cable television distribution system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the broadcast signal is broadcast via a satellite distribution system. 
     
     
         16 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the broadcast signal is broadcast via the Internet. 
     
     
         20 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the viewer enters the reward response via a handheld computing device. 
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the broadcast signal is a television broadcast signal and the broadcast content is television broadcast content. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the broadcast signal is an Internet broadcast signal and the broadcast content is Internet broadcast content. 
     
     
         33 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A system for operating a reward program comprising:
 a. a broadcast server computer programmed to
 access a viewer profile database to retrieve a viewer profile associated with a viewer; 
 generate personalized reward content for the viewer by using the viewer profile; 
 generate a broadcast signal comprising the personalized reward content and broadcast content; and 
 transmit the broadcast signal via a transmission network only to the viewer for which the personalized reward content has been personalized; 
   b. a receiving device at a viewer premises programmed to
 receive the broadcast signal; 
 output the broadcast content and the personalized reward content from the received broadcast signal; 
 input from the viewer a reward response in association with the broadcast content and the personalized reward content; and 
 transmit the reward response to the broadcast server computer; 
   wherein the broadcast server computer is further programmed to:
 verify the accuracy of the reward response; and 
 award, in accordance with the accuracy of the reward response, a reward to a reward account stored on behalf of the viewer. 
   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the broadcast server
 computer is programmed to transmit the personalized reward content only to the viewer for which the personalized reward content has been personalized by transmitting the personalized reward content to an addressable set-top box associated with the viewer. 
 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the reward comprises reward points. 
     
     
         38 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the reward content comprises a visual or audible cue displayed to the viewer via the receiving device. 
     
     
         42 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the broadcast content comprises programming or advertising content. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the broadcast server computer is programmed to generate a broadcast signal comprising personalized reward content and broadcast content by interleaving the personalized reward content with the broadcast content, wherein the personalized reward content is viewed separately from the broadcast content. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the broadcast server computer is programmed to generate a broadcast signal comprising personalized reward content and broadcast content by integrating the personalized reward content with the broadcast content, wherein the personalized reward content is viewed at the same time as the broadcast content. 
     
     
         48 - 63 . (canceled)