Method and System for Improved Interactive Television Processing

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed to provide providing a transactional environment. The system includes a database that stores user registration and product information data. A set-top box is also provided that communicates with a remote controller with a touch screen and a server broadcasts the product information data to a plurality of set-top boxes for display on touch screens of remote controller communicating with the set-top boxes, respectively, without the product information being designated for a specific user of one set-top box. The server also transmits updated product information data that replaces a portion of the original product information data. Furthermore, a processor compares data relating to a transaction request from a user of one set-top box with user registration data stored in the database to identify the user, and that generates customized transaction data that is transmitted to the identified user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing an electronic transactional environment, comprising:
 a database configured to store user registration data and product information data relating to a plurality of products;   a set-top box communicatively coupled to a remote control device having a touch screen;   a server configured to:
 broadcast the product information data of at least one of the plurality of products to a plurality of set-top boxes, including the set-top box, to be displayed on touch screens of a plurality of remote control devices communicatively coupled to the plurality of set-top boxes, respectively, without the product information data being designated for a specific user of one of the plurality of set-top boxes, and 
 transmit updated product information data that replaces at least a portion of the previously transmitted product information data of the at least one of the plurality of products to the plurality of set-top boxes to be displayed on the touch screens of the plurality of remote control devices, respectively; and 
   a processor configured to:
 compare data relating to a transaction request from a user of the set-top box with user registration data of the user stored in the database to identify the user, and 
 generate customized transaction data for the identified user of the set-top box, 
   wherein the server is further configured to transmit the customized transaction data to the set-top box to be displayed on the touch screen of the remote control device communicatively coupled to the step-top box of the identified user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to transmit the updated product information data to the plurality of set-top boxes on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate the customized transaction data for the identified user of the set-top box based on a state of a virtual shopping basket of the identified user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to transmit the product information data, the updated product information data, and the customized transaction data to the set-top box over a computer network. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction request from the user of the set-top box is generated through a voice response system integrated in the remote control device communicatively coupled to the set-top box. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server broadcasts the product information data to the plurality of set-top boxes and transmits the updated product information data and the customized transaction data to the set-top box of the identified user via satellite. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server broadcasts the product information data to the plurality of set-top boxes and transmits the first updated product information data and the customized transaction data to the set-top box of the identified user through a content provider. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customized transaction data is presented on the touch screen of the remote control device communicatively coupled to the step-top box of the identified user via a user interface application. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to receive a purchase order executed by the identified user via the user interface application. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to transmit navigation information, which enables navigation of multiple pages of the user interface application. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to process a product request executed by the user interface application and to provide real-time confirmation of the product request to the identified user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product information data relating to at least one of the plurality of products includes product information and order information for the at least one of the plurality of products, and the product information data includes a first portion for display of an initial page for a first product of the plurality of products and a second portion for display of a second page for a second product of the plurality of products. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customized transaction data includes at least one of a specialized price based on the identified user, payment options available for the identified user, tax calculation and shipping and handling calculations based on the identified user's geographical location, shipping and handling options available for the identified user, and coupons and rebates available to the identified user. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product information data includes metadata that defines how the product information data is presented on the touch screen of the remote control device communicatively coupled to the step-top box of the identified user via a user interface application. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to transmit the updated product information data via a continuous data stream to the set top box of the identified user, wherein the second updated product information data replaces at least part of the first updated product information data displayed on the touch screen of the remote control device communicatively coupled to the step-top box of the identified user. 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing an electronic transactional environment, comprising:
 storing, in a database, user registration data and product information data relating to a plurality of products;   broadcasting, by a server the product information data of at least one of the plurality of products to a plurality of set-top boxes to be displayed on touch screens of a plurality of remote control devices communicatively coupled to the plurality of set-top boxes, respectively, without the product information data being designated for a specific user of one of the plurality of set-top boxes;   transmitting, by the server, updated product information data that replaces at least a portion of the previously transmitted product information data of the at least one of the plurality of products to the plurality of set-top boxes to be displayed on the touch screens of the plurality of remote control devices, respectively;   comparing, by a processor, data relating to a transaction request from a user of one of the plurality of set-top boxes with user registration data of the user stored in the database to identify the user of the one set-top box;   generating, by the processor, customized transaction data for the identified user of the one set-top box; and   transmitting, by the server, the customized transaction data to the one set-top box to be displayed on the touch screen of the remote control device communicatively coupled to the one step-top box of the identified user.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising transmitting, by the server, the updated product information data to the plurality of set-top boxes on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising generating, by the processor, the customized transaction data for the identified user of the one set-top box based on a state of a virtual shopping basket of the identified user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising transmitting, by the server, the product information data, the updated product information data, and the customized transaction data to the one set-top box of the identified user over a computer network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising generating the transaction request through a voice response system integrated in the remote control device communicatively coupled to the one set-top box of the identified user. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising visually displaying the product information data via a user interface application on the remote control device communicatively coupled to the one set-top box of the identified user. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising transmitting, by the server, navigation information that enables navigation of multiple pages of the user interface application. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising receiving, by the server, a purchase order executed by the identified user of the one set-top box via the user interface application. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising presenting the customized transaction data on the remote control device communicatively coupled to the one set-top box of the identified user as part of the user interface application. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 processing, by the processor, a product request; and   transmitting, by the server, real-time confirmation of the product request to the one set-top box of the identified user.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising transmitting, by the server, second updated product information data via a continuous data stream to the one set-top box of the identified user, wherein the second updated product information data replaces at least part of the updated product information data displayed on the touch screen of the remote control device communicatively coupled to the step-top box of the identified user.