The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 17, 2009
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2005
Tadamasa Kitsukawa, Wyckoff, NJ (US);
Andrew M. Proehl, New York, NY (US);
Gong Szedo, New York, NY (US);
Keiichi Totsuka, Weehawken, NJ (US);
Tadamasa Kitsukawa, Wyckoff, NJ (US);
Andrew M. Proehl, New York, NY (US);
Gong Szedo, New York, NY (US);
Keiichi Totsuka, Weehawken, NJ (US);
Sony Corporation/Sony Electronic Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Electronic coupons are provided for items comprising products and services. The coupon information is received along with broadcasts of associated television programs. Selected coupon modes alert a viewer when coupon information is available for an item. The viewer alert comprises displayed marks superimposed over the broadcast of the television program. The displayed marks comprise indicators for each item for which coupon data is available, and the indicators may be representative of the items to which the indicators correspond. The coupon information for a particular item is selected when the viewer selects the indicator corresponding to the item in which the viewer is interested. Upon selection, the coupon information is displayed along with the broadcast of the currently selected television program. Coupon information may be selected for storage on a removable recording medium along with data corresponding to the television program with which the coupon information is associated. The coupon information is redeemed by the viewer by a merchandise retailer or dealer.