Method for advertisers to sponsor broadcasts without commercials

Abstract

A system and method that allows content to be broadcast without commercial interruption, yet lets the company or companies that sponsor the broadcast to offer advertisements and discounts and various special offers to the viewers at a later time. The amount of time a viewer spends watching a particular broadcast is recorded along with information about the sponsoring companies or organizations for the broadcast. The viewer later accesses a central database, which sends back to the viewer advertisements, coupons, discounts, contests, and other enticements to purchase products, based on the amount of time the viewer spent watching broadcasts or segments of broadcasts that were sponsored by the advertiser.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving a broadcast corresponding to a user identifier using a video receiver of a viewer system, the broadcast including embedded information and content;   identifying embedded information in the broadcast using a decoder of the viewer system;   extracting the content from the broadcast and splitting the extracted content from the embedded information using the decoder, the embedded information being one or more data packets inserted into the broadcast with a frame of content;   sending the extracted content to a display device of the viewer system using the decoder;   storing the embedded information in a data storage device of the viewer system using the decoder;   incrementing a viewing counter using the decoder to record viewing information corresponding to an amount of time the content is viewed;   transmitting the user identifier and the viewing information to a server using a transmitter of the viewer system; and   receiving an enticement based on the user identifier and the viewing information using the viewer system, the enticement corresponding to a sponsor of the content.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the user identifier is a serial number. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewer system is of a type from the group consisting of: an Internet-enabled television and a computer. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the enticement is received from the server. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the enticement is received from a second server. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein a period of time elapses before the transmitter of the viewer system transmits the user identifier and the viewing information to the server. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein a period of time elapses before the viewer system receives the enticement. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the decoder sends the extracted content to the display device of the viewer system without commercial interruption. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing information includes an amount of time the content is sent to the display device of the viewer system. 
     
     
         10 . A viewer system comprising:
 a display device;   a data storage device;   a video receiver for receiving a broadcast corresponding to a user identifier, the broadcast including embedded information and content;   a decoder for identifying embedded information in the broadcast, the decoder for extracting the content from the broadcast and for splitting the extracted content from the embedded information, the embedded information being one or more data packets inserted into the broadcast with a frame of content, the decoder for sending the extracted content to the display device, the decoder for storing the embedded information in the data storage device, the decoder for incrementing a viewing counter for recording viewing information corresponding to an amount of time the content is viewed; and   a network connection for transmitting the user identifier and the viewing information to a server, the network connection for receiving an enticement based on the user identifier and the viewing information, the enticement corresponding to a sponsor of the content.   
     
     
         11 . The viewer system of  claim 10 , wherein the user identifier is a serial number. 
     
     
         12 . The viewer system of  claim 10 , wherein the viewer system is of a type from the group consisting of: an Internet-enabled television and a computer. 
     
     
         13 . The viewer system of  claim 10 , wherein the enticement is received from the server. 
     
     
         14 . The viewer system of  claim 10 , wherein the enticement is received from a second server. 
     
     
         15 . The viewer system of  claim 10 , wherein a period of time elapses before the user identifier and the viewing information is transmitted to the server. 
     
     
         16 . The viewer system of  claim 10 , wherein a period of time elapses before the enticement is received. 
     
     
         17 . The viewer system of  claim 10 , wherein the content is sent to the display device of the viewer system without commercial interruption. 
     
     
         18 . The viewer system of  claim 10 , wherein the viewing information includes an amount of time the content is sent to the display device of the viewer system. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 combining content with embedded information in a broadcast using a multiplexer, the multiplexer inserting the embedded information into the broadcast at pre-defined intervals throughout the broadcast;   transmitting the broadcast using a transmitter to a viewer system corresponding to a user identifier, the broadcast including the embedded information and the content;   receiving from the viewer system via a network connection, the user identifier and viewing information, the viewing information corresponding to an amount of time the content is viewed at the viewer system;   retrieving user information associated with the user identifier using a data processor;   searching a database using the data processor for an enticement based on the user information and the viewing information, the enticement corresponding to a sponsor of the content; and   transmitting the enticement to the viewer system via the network connection.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein the user identifier is a serial number. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein the viewer system is of a type from the group consisting of: an Internet-enabled television and a computer. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , further comprising storing user information and enticement information in the database. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , further comprising causing the content of the broadcast to be presented on a display device of the viewer system. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein the broadcast is transmitted without commercial interruption. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein transmitting the enticement occurs at a later time relative to transmitting the broadcast. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein searching the database for the enticement is further based on the amount of time the content was viewed at the viewer system. 
     
     
         27 . A system comprising:
 a multiplexer for combining content with embedded information in a broadcast, the multiplexer for inserting the embedded information into the broadcast at pre-defined intervals throughout the broadcast;   a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast to a viewer system corresponding to a user identifier, the broadcast including the embedded information and the content;   a network connection for receiving, from the viewer system, the user identifier and viewing information, the viewing information corresponding to an amount of time the content is viewed at the viewer system;   a data processor for retrieving user information associated with the user identifier, and for searching a database for an enticement based on the user information and the viewing information, the enticement corresponding to a sponsor of the content; and   the network connection for transmitting the enticement to the viewer system.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the user identifier is a serial number. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the viewer system is of a type from the group consisting of:
 an Internet-enabled television and a computer.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the database stores user information and enticement information. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the multiplexer configures the content of the broadcast to be presented on a display device of the viewer system. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the transmitter transmits the broadcast without commercial interruption. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the network connection transmits the enticement at a later time relative to transmitting the broadcast. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the data processor searches the database for the enticement based on the amount of time the content was viewed at the viewer system.