US5604542A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Using the vertical blanking interval for transporting electronic coupons
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1995-02-08
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Granted: 1997-02-18
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Expires: 2015-02-08
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for transmitting an electronic advertisement within the vertical blanking interval of a video signal. The system includes an encoder that formats and inserts an electronic advertisement into the vertical blanking interval of the video signal, a transmitter that transmits the video signal and the electronic advertisement, a receiver that receives the video signal and the electronic advertisement, and a decoder which removes the electronic advertisement from the video signal. The electronic advertisement can be consumed by an end user by printing the ad, or by displaying the ad on a monitor. The printed advertisement can be returned to the advertiser by a carrier service. The advertiser may accredit an account of the end user upon receipt of the returned advertisement to provide an inducement to read the ad. The system may further have a demographic server located within a network of computers. The server may correlate demographic data of the end user with demographic data provided with the electronic advertisement so that the advertisement is routed to a targeted end user.
Inventors
- 👤 Rick Dedrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25883; H04N21/254; H04N21/2543; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for distributing an electronic advertisement, comprising: an encoder that inserts the electronic advertisement into a vertical blanking interval of a video programming signal; a transmitting device that transmits the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement; a receiving device that receives the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement; a decoder that removes the electronic advertisement from the vertical blanking interval of the video programming signal; and, a metering server which correlates a user profile transmitted with the electronic advertisement with a user profile located within a demographic database that is stored within said metering server, and transfers the electronic advertisement to an end user computer which has a user profile that corresponds to the transmitted user profile.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for distributing an electronic advertisement, comprising: an encoder that inserts the electronic advertisement into a vertical blanking interval of a video programming signal; a transmitting device that transmits the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement; a receiving device that receives the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement; a decoder that removes the electronic advertisement from the vertical blanking interval of the video programming signal; and, a metering server which correlates a user profile transmitted with the electronic advertisement with a user profile located within a demographic database that is stored within said metering server, and transfers the electronic advertisement to an end user computer which has a user profile that corresponds to the transmitted user profile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a computer which displays the electronic advertisements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a computer and a printer that prints out the electronic advertisements into a coupon which can be redeemed by an end user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an advertising source which generates the electronic advertisement.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for distributing an electronic advertisement, comprising: encoder means for inserting the electronic advertisement into a vertical blanking interval of a video programming signal; transmitting means for transmitting the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement; receiving means for receiving the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement; decoder means for removing the electronic advertisement from the vertical blanking interval of the video programming signals; and, metering means for correlating a user profile transmitted with the electronic advertisement with a user profile located within an end user database that is stored within said metering means and transferring the electronic advertisement to an end user computer which has a user profile that corresponds to the transmitted user profile.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for distributing an electronic advertisement, comprising: encoder means for inserting the electronic advertisement into a vertical blanking interval of a video programming signal; transmitting means for transmitting the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement; receiving means for receiving the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement; decoder means for removing the electronic advertisement from the vertical blanking interval of the video programming signals; and, metering means for correlating a user profile transmitted with the electronic advertisement with a user profile located within an end user database that is stored within said metering means and transferring the electronic advertisement to an end user computer which has a user profile that corresponds to the transmitted user profile.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising a computer which displays the decoded electronic advertisement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising a computer and a printer that prints out the electronic advertisement into a coupon which can be redeemed by an end user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising an advertising source which generates the electronic advertisement.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for transmitting electronic advertisements, comprising the steps of: a) generating an electronic advertisement; b) inserting the electronic advertisement into a vertical blanking interval of a video programming signal; c) transmitting the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement to a metering server; d) receiving the video programming signal and the electronic advertisements; e) removing the electronic advertisement from the video programming signal; and, comparing a user profile that is transmitted with the electronic advertisement with a user profile within a demographic database that is stored within said metering server; and, transmitting the electronic advertisement to an end user computer if the transmitted user profile corresponds to the database user profile.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for transmitting electronic advertisements, comprising the steps of: a) generating an electronic advertisement; b) inserting the electronic advertisement into a vertical blanking interval of a video programming signal; c) transmitting the video programming signal and the electronic advertisement to a metering server; d) receiving the video programming signal and the electronic advertisements; e) removing the electronic advertisement from the video programming signal; and, comparing a user profile that is transmitted with the electronic advertisement with a user profile within a demographic database that is stored within said metering server; and, transmitting the electronic advertisement to an end user computer if the transmitted user profile corresponds to the database user profile.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the steps of printing the electronic advertisement as a coupon, and mailing the coupon to an advertising source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 10, wherein an end user is provided with a credit for making the coupon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of providing user profile information that is printed onto the coupon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-18 | 2000-08-19 | 2001-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-18 | 2004-08-19 | 2005-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-18 | 2008-08-19 | 2009-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |