Receiver and System Using an Electronic Questionnaire for Advanced Broadcast Services

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a computer-implemented method for a digital broadcast system is described. The method involves an operation of receiving an electronic questionnaire that includes a plurality of questions registered to avoid duplication of any one of the plurality of questions. The electronic questionnaire, when processed by a receiver of the digital broadcast system, generates for display a plurality of questions. The receiver acquires answers to the electronic questionnaire, where the answers are used in adjusting content subsequently downloaded to the receiver.

1 . A computer-implemented method for a digital broadcast system, the method comprising:
 receiving an electronic questionnaire by a digital receiver of the digital broadcast system, the electronic questionnaire includes a plurality of questions that are registered to avoid duplication of any one of the plurality of questions;   processing the electronic questionnaire to generate for display a plurality of questions; and   acquiring answers to the electronic questionnaire by the receiver, the answers being used in adjusting content subsequently downloaded to the receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic questionnaire comprises a plurality of questions targeted to solicit information from a viewer and a unique question identifier for each of the plurality of registered questions. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic questionnaire further comprises a reply format identifier that identifies an answer format that comprises at least one of a Boolean type answer, a variable integer type answer, a multiple selection type answer, a single selection type answer, and a variable text type answer. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of questions are registered to formulate the electronic questionnaire by submitting a question inquiry request and receiving a response that identifies whether the question inquiry request either has been granted or has been denied, the question inquiry request comprises (i) a proposed question and (ii) information that identifies a reply format to the proposed question. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein the response comprises information to identify whether the request has been granted or denied, and either (i) a question identifier that uniquely identifies a registered question identical or similar to the proposed question when the request has been granted so as to avoid registration of duplicate questions from different service providers, or (ii) information to identify one or more reasons for a denial of the request. 
     
     
         6 . A digital receiver comprising:
 a storage device configured to store (i) an electronic questionnaire received from at least one service provider of a digital broadcast system and (ii) answers directed to questions within the electronic questionnaire; and   a processing logic coupled to the storage device, the processing logic configured to process information within the electronic questionnaire to generate one or more displayable images including a plurality of questions that are unique and registered for universal access by multiple service providers including the at least one service provider, the plurality of questions being adapted to prompt the answers to the displayed question for use in altering content received by the receiver.   
     
     
         7 . The digital receiver of  claim 6 , wherein each question for the electronic questionnaire comprises a question identifier and a question associated with the question identifier. 
     
     
         8 . The digital receiver of  claim 7  wherein the electronic questionnaire further comprises a reply format identifier that comprises at least one of a Boolean type answer, a variable integer type answer, a multiple selection type answer, a single selection type answer, and a variable text type answer. 
     
     
         9 . The digital receiver of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of questions are registered to formulate the electronic questionnaire by submitting a question inquiry request and receiving a response that identifies whether the question inquiry request either has been granted or has been denied, the question inquiry request comprises (i) a proposed question and (ii) information that identifies a reply format to the proposed question. 
     
     
         10 . The digital receiver of  claim 9 , wherein the response comprises information to identify whether the request has been granted or denied, and either (i) a question identifier that uniquely identifies a registered question identical or similar to the proposed question when the request has been granted so as to avoid registration of duplicate questions from different service providers, or (ii) information to identify one or more reasons for a denial of the request. 
     
     
         11 . A broadcast system, comprising:
 a digital receiver; and   a registration entity in communication with a digital receiver, the registration entity adapted to receive a question inquiry request being information that identifies a proposed question for registration and subsequent inclusion in an electronic questionnaire, the electronic questionnaire being downloaded to the digital receiver for subsequent display so that information pertaining to answers to the displayed questions within the electronic questionnaire is routed to the service provider in order to tailor content transmitted to the digital receiver.   
     
     
         12 . The broadcast system of  claim 11 , wherein the question inquiry request received by the registration entity comprises (i) information that identifies a reply format to the proposed question and (ii) the proposed question. 
     
     
         13 . The broadcast system of  claim 12 , wherein the reply format to the proposed question includes at least one of a Boolean and an integer type. 
     
     
         14 . The broadcast system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic questionnaire comprises a question identifier and a question associated with the question identifier. 
     
     
         15 . The broadcast system of  claim 14  wherein the electronic questionnaire further comprises a type of answer identifier that comprises at least one of a Boolean type answer, a variable integer type answer, a multiple selection type answer, a single selection type answer, and a variable text type answer. 
     
     
         16 . The broadcast system of  claim 11 , wherein the response comprises information to identify whether the request has been granted or denied, and either (i) a question identifier that uniquely identifies a registered question identical or similar to the proposed question when the request has been granted so as to avoid registration of duplicate questions from different service providers, or (ii) information to identify one or more reasons for a denial of the request.