Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Webtv Networks, Inc.

Other

John R Matheny

Daniel John Zigmond

Dean J Blackketter

Timothy F Park

Sharon F Glusker

Stephen G Perlman

Christopher M White

Patrick P Bonnaure

Phillip York Goldman

Bruce A Leak

Methods and apparatus for encouraging viewers to pay attention to commercials by incentivizing viewers to watch. Viewers are notified that they can receive rewards for answering one or more questions during or at the conclusion of the commercial. To verify that the viewer paid attention to the commercial, the answer to the question may be based on the content of the commercial. A sponsor might ask, for example, that the viewer identify the name of the sponsor or the color of an announcer's shirt. A correct answer indicates that the viewer watched the commercial, and the viewer is therefore entitled to some reward. For example, viewers who watch the commercial may be entered in a prize drawing, or may receive prize points, such as frequent-flier miles. In other embodiments, viewers may verify that they watched a given program by selecting an icon or pressing a button on a remote control.

System and method for encouraging viewers to watch television programs

A television receiving system displays an advertisement for a future television program. If the future television program is identified as recordable, the system also displays an option to set a reminder for the advertised program and/or an option to record the advertised program on a video recorder. If a viewer of the advertisement selects the reminder option, then a reminder is programmed in the system. If the viewer selects the record option, then the system automatically programs the video recorder to record the advertised program. If the viewer has established an interactive session during a television advertisement, and has not completed the interactive session when the advertisement ends, then the current television program is paused until the interactive session is completed.

Scheduling the recording of television programs

Described are methods and apparatus for encouraging viewers to pay attention to television programs, commercials in particular, by offering viewers some incentive to watch. In one embodiment, viewers are notified that they can receive frequent-flier miles for answering one or more simple questions at the conclusion of the commercial. To verify that the viewer paid attention to the commercial, the answer to the question may be based on the content of the commercial. A sponsor might ask, for example, that the viewer identify the name of the sponsor or the color of an announcer's shirt. A correct answer indicates that the viewer watched the commercial, and that the viewer is therefore entitled to some reward. For example, viewers who watch the commercial may be entered in a prize drawing, or may receive prize points, such as frequent-flier miles. In other embodiments, viewers may verify that they watched a given program by selecting an icon or pressing a button on a remote control.

Television program pause for interactive sessions

A television program is received that includes an index that identifies multiple television program segments contained in the television program. The index of program segments is displayed to a television viewer, and the television viewer is allowed to select at least one program segment for recording. The index of program segments can identify the name of each program segment, the time period during which each program segment is transmitted, the program type for each program segment, the content rating for each program segment, or whether the viewer is required to watch a particular program segment. The selected program segments may be recorded on a video recorder. The television viewer is also allowed to select the order of viewing of the program segments.

Method and apparatus for indexing video programs

Initiating a user session at an internet terminal using a smart card is provided. An internet terminal is coupled to a server system. The internet terminal detects the presence of a smart card. The smart card includes a memory such as a programmable ROM (PROM), any form of erasable PROM (EPROM) or flash memory having stored therein identification information. The internet terminal reads a unique smart card identifier from the smart card and transmits the identifier a server. The server locates configuration information associated with a particular user of the server based upon the unique smart card identifier. The configuration information may include a defined customer environment or customer preferences for customizing the operation of the internet terminal such as the type of on-screen keyboard presented by the internet terminal, the font used by the internet terminal for displaying text, background music options, and e-mail options. After locating the configuration information, the server downloads the configuration information to the internet terminal. Thus, a user is able to initiate a user session from any internet terminal coupled to the server system and obtain access to the environment and preferences associated with the particular user.

Initiating a user session at an internet terminal using a smart card

A method and apparatus for providing physical security for a user account and supplying access to the environment and preferences associated with a particular user are provided. An internet terminal is coupled to a server system. The internet terminal detects the presence of a smart card. The smart card includes a memory such as a programmable ROM (PROM), any form of erasable PROM (EPROM) or Flash memory having stored therein identification information. The internet terminal reads the identification information from the smart card and transmits the identification information to a server. According to another aspect of the present invention an internet terminal can be configured by a server. The server receives identification information from an internet terminal. The identification information uniquely identifies a smart card. The server locates configuration information associated with a particular user of the server based upon the identification information. The configuration information may include customer preferences for customizing the operation of the internet terminal such as the type of on-screen keyboard presented by the internet terminal, the font used by the internet terminal for displaying text, background music options, and e-mail options. In any event, after locating the configuration information, the server downloads the configuration information to the internet terminal.

Method and apparatus for providing physical security for a user account

A method and computer program product for automatically regenerating information at a client system without user intervention in the event of power disruption or disruption in communication between the client system and a server. A first communication session is established between the client system and the server. The status of the power connection of the client system is monitored as well as monitoring the status of the communication link between the client system and the server. If there is no disruption in the power connection or communication link at the client system, the server automatically downloads data blocks from the server for storage at the client system. On the other hand, if the power connection or communication link is disrupted, a sustaining device is enabled to ensure that writing of any current block of data from the server is completed, and thereafter, upon resuming power or the communication link at the client system, the server then resumes downloading of only those remaining data blocks from the server that had not been downloaded at the time of disruption.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

John R Matheny