Universally interactive request for information

Abstract

A request for information (RFI) system is provided for use in communications networks including broadcast networks and the Internet. In one implementation, a code identifying an item of media content of interest (e.g. television, newspaper, magazines, billboards, radio) is captured and input to an RFI system that includes stored media tags and a search tool for matching inputs to the stored media tags. Upon receipt of the captured code, the RFI system matches the captured code with the stored media tags and provides a response to the user based on the match. The response may include or relate to follow-on or premium information relating to the content of interest. Using this information, an RFI data center or an RFI platform may credit value to a rewards account established for the network user based on the user's verified consumption of assets and/or data requests. Further, the RFI data center or RFI platform may be used to collect consumer behavior information, including purchasing decisions made by the user after consumption of assets, and correlate the consumer behavior information with the user's verified asset consumption.

1 . A method for use in providing additional information related to items of media content, comprising:
 providing a network platform, comprising:
 stored media tags, each said tag relating to a defined item of media content of interest; and 
 a search tool for matching codes relating to said defined items of media content to said stored media tags; 
   receiving a code relating to one of said defined items of media content;   operating said network platform to match said code to a corresponding one of said media tags; and   providing a response to a user based on said corresponding one of said media tags.   
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said defined items of media content comprise one or more items of broadcast television content, broadcast radio content, newspaper content, magazine content, billboard content, web content, and print collateral content. 
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said codes relating to said defined items of media content comprise one or more of numeric identifiers, alphanumeric identifiers, alphabetic identifiers, barcodes, and quick response codes. 
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said codes relating to said defined items of media content further comprise one or more of snippets of said defined items of media content and images of said defined items of media content. 
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said receiving said code relating to said one of said defined items of media content comprises receiving one of a typed entry, a transmission of an image, a transmission of an audio recording, a transmission of a voice recording, and a transmission of a video recording. 
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said stored media tags are associated with web-based assets relating to said defined items of media content of interest. 
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said web-based assets comprise one or more of static webpage content, dynamic webpage content, web-based coupons, online surveys, online contests, and e-commerce enabled sales materials. 
     
     
         8 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said providing said response comprises directing a user device to a landing website provided by a producer of said corresponding one of said media tags. 
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said landing website comprises a nested search widget configured to link pages within said landing website to said network platform. 
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said landing website comprises an e-commerce engine configured to enable online purchases. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said providing said response comprises directing the user device to a webpage provided within a centralized media asset portal. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing a membership account for a user;   receiving one or more inputs defining automated selections from among said stored media tags;   in response to said inputs, operating said network platform to identify selected ones of said stored media tags based on said automated selections; and   associating said selected ones of said stored media tags with said membership account of the user.   
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more filtering criteria relating to said inputs defining said automated selections; and   operating said network platform to apply said filtering criteria to said inputs in identifying said selected ones of said stored media tags.   
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said network platform further comprises a directory tool for organizing ones of said stored media tags associated with said membership account. 
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising forwarding a weblink associated with one of said stored media tags from said membership account to another user. 
     
     
         21 . A network platform for providing additional information related to media content of interest, comprising:
 one or more memory structures for storing media tags, each said media tag relating to a defined item of media content of interest;   a search tool configured to:
 receive a code relating to one of said defined items of media content of interest; and 
 match said code relating to said defined item of media content of interest to said stored media tags; and 
   a routing structure, said routing structure configured to provide a response to a user device based on said match between said code and said stored media tags.   
     
     
         22 . A method for use in obtaining additional information related to items of media content of interest, comprising:
 capturing, using an interface of a user device, a code relating to a defined item of media content of interest;   transmitting said captured code to a network platform, the network platform configured to match said captured code to a library of stored media tags; and   receiving a response based on a match between said captured code and a corresponding one of said stored media tags.   
     
     
         23 . A method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said defined item of media content comprises one of broadcast television content, broadcast radio content, newspaper content, magazine content, billboard content, web content, and print collateral content. 
     
     
         24 . A method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said code relating to said defined item of media content comprises one of a numeric identifier, an alphanumeric identifier, an alphabetic identifier, a barcode, and a quick response code. 
     
     
         25 . A method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said code relating to said defined item of media content comprises a snippet of said defined item of media content or an image of said defined item of media content. 
     
     
         26 . A method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said capturing said code relating to said defined item of media content comprises storing a typed entry, storing an image, recording an audio segment, recording a voice segment, or recording a video segment. 
     
     
         27 . A method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said stored media tags are associated with web-based assets relating to numerous defined items of media content. 
     
     
         28 . A method as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein said web-based assets comprise one or more of static webpage content, dynamic webpage content, web-based coupons, online surveys, online contests, and e-commerce enabled sales materials. 
     
     
         29 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said receiving said response comprises receiving routing information directing said user device to a landing website provided by a producer of said corresponding one of said stored media tags. 
     
     
         33 . A method as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein said landing website comprises a nested search widget configured to link pages within said landing website to the network platform. 
     
     
         34 . A method as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein said landing website comprises an e-commerce engine configured to enable online purchases. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said receiving said response comprises receiving routing information directing said user device to a webpage provided within a centralized media content portal. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 transmitting, to the network platform, membership inputs for establishing a membership account for a user;   transmitting, to the network platform, auto-tagging inputs from the user, wherein said auto-tagging inputs define automated selections from among said stored media tags, and wherein said auto-tagging inputs are applied to identify ones of said stored media tags based on said automated selections and associate said selected ones of said stored media tags with said membership account; and   accessing, through said interface of said user device, said membership account to view web-based assets associated with said selected ones of said stored media tags.   
     
     
         39 . A method as set forth in  claim 38 , further comprising:
 receiving, through said interface of said user device, filtering criteria relating to said auto-tagging inputs; and   transmitting said filtering criteria to the network platform for application to said auto-tagging inputs during said identification of said selected ones of said stored media tags.   
     
     
         40 . A system for obtaining additional information related to items of media content of interest, comprising:
 an interface configured to receive a code relating to a defined item of media content;   a transmitter operative to transmit said captured code to a network platform, the network platform configured to match said captured code against a number of stored media tags;   a receiver operative to receive a response from the network platform based on a match between said captured code and a corresponding one of said stored media tags; and   a processor operative to analyze said response and retrieve a web-based asset for a user, said web-based asset associated with said corresponding one of said stored media tags.   
     
     
         41 .- 49 . (canceled)