Upstream/downstream network and/or content delivery apparatus and methods

Abstract

Apparatus and methods in the field of bi-directional (or interactive) networks. In some embodiments, bi-directional networks which provide, include, and/or enable point-of-purchase options (e.g., to or within displays or plays of media such as movies, television, and/or video). In some embodiments, bi-directional networks which permit or allow product placements to be directly monetized. In some embodiments, bi-directional or interactive networks which provide and/or include selectively visible advertising. In some embodiments, bi-directional or interactive networks which provide or include selectively visible advertising or point of purchase opportunities which are uniquely associated, affiliated, or connected to a consumer interest. In still other embodiments, methods and/or apparatus for increasing advertising and/or product placement effectiveness and/or for apportioning profits related to commercialization of advertised goods and/or services.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 storing in an address database consumer viewer delivery address information;   storing in a payment database consumer viewer payment account information;   transmitting data comprising a program feed from a program feed source in a bi-directional data network to a display screen displaying said program feed to a consumer viewer, the program feed including movie or television program content;   transmitting data comprising covert or invisible advertising data, not initially visibly displayed on the display screen to the consumer viewer, from a source in said bi-directional network to said display screen displaying said movie or television program content feed or to a hardware device communicably connected to said display screen;   the consumer viewer, viewing said display screen, activating a query comprising a data request upon viewing a desired product displayed in said movie or television program content feed;   processing said data request, including by querying a database connected to said bi-directional data network, for available data, to determine whether product information is available for particular products displayed on said display screen at the particular time during which said data request is initiated by said consumer viewer activated query;   displaying available product information for the particular products displayed on said display screen at the particular time during which said data request is initiated by said consumer viewer activated query;   providing a point of purchase opportunity for the consumer viewer to purchase the products for which available product information is displayed on said display screen; and   accessing said address and payment databases upon consumer viewer acceptance of said point of purchase opportunity to purchase one or more products, and debiting or charging said stored consumer viewer payment account for a price or prices of the one or more products purchased and initiating delivery of the one or more products purchased to said stored consumer viewer delivery address.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bi-directional network comprises a cable plant including a network of coaxial cable, a head end, and a plurality of viewer network terminations or terminals. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bi-directional network comprises a cable plant comprising a network of coaxial cable communicably connected with fiber optic transmission lines. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the network includes, comprises, or uses a wireless or satellite network. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , where a viewer may, when a desirable product or service is displayed in a movie or television or video program, call upon said bi-directional network to provide, by accessing a database:
 product information, actor or actress information, size, price, retail store availability, future or current sale information, information regarding other products within the same brand, competing brand products, a product purchase opportunity, a subscribe-to-product opportunity, or coupon opportunities.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein revenue from products purchased by a consumer viewer is apportioned among the network, a product manufacturer or seller, an advertiser, a movie producer, and/or a television producer. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  whereupon when a consumer viewer activates a query comprising a data request, one or more visual cues are displayed on said display screen to indicate products and/or services for which information, advertising, product purchase or subscribe-to opportunities are available. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said one or more visual cues comprise highlight(s), shading, halo(s), text, audible indicators. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  whereupon when a consumer viewer activates a query comprising a data request, a time stamp is recorded or a time sequence is measured, and the time stamp or time sequence is compared to a database to ascertain matching products or services for delivery of downstream data pertinent to the viewer product or service interest. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein product placements and/or advertisements and/or point of purchase opportunities and/or information is provided, upon request or query of a viewer, for products or services audibly discussed, but not visually displayed in a movie or television program or video display. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein a plurality of merchant accounts or micro-networks are communicably connected to said bi-directional network. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein product placement advertising fees are determined according to number of counted viewer queries and/or information requests and/or purchases. 
     
     
         13 . A method of delivering advertising or point of purchase opportunities which are initially covert or invisible but which are capable of conversion by viewers, upon specific action or request made by viewers, to be overt or visible, comprising:
 storing in an address database consumer viewer delivery address information;   storing in a payment database consumer viewer payment account information;   transmitting data comprising a program feed from a program feed source in a bi-directional data network to a display screen displaying said program feed to a consumer viewer, the program feed including movie or television program content;   the consumer viewer, viewing said display screen, activating a query comprising a data request upon viewing a desired product displayed in said movie or television program content feed;   processing said data request, including by querying a database connected to said bi-directional data network, for available data, to determine whether product information is available for particular products displayed on said display screen at the particular time during which said data request is initiated by said consumer viewer, a presence of available data in said database initiating a conversion of a covert, non-program-interruptive product placement advertisement, not initially interruptively displayed on said display screen, to a visible advertisement comprising a display of available product information for the particular products displayed on said display screen at the particular time during which said data request is initiated by said consumer viewer activated query;   providing a point of purchase opportunity for the consumer viewer to purchase the products for which available product advertising information is displayed on said display screen; and   accessing said address and payment databases upon consumer viewer acceptance of said point of purchase opportunity to purchase one or more products, and debiting or charging said stored consumer viewer payment account for a price or prices of the one or more products purchased and initiating delivery of the one or more products purchased to said stored consumer viewer delivery address.   
     
     
         14 . A method or process comprising:
 broadcasting or delivering movie or video or television content over broadband network to viewing subscribers with no overt or visible advertising being displayed in the movie or television content;   broadcasting, delivering, or making available advertising or product placement or point of purchase opportunities to viewers upon the request or action of the viewers.