Patent ID: 8818871
Filing Date: 2014-08-26
Classification: G06Q,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for electronically transacting a purchase between a purchaser and a merchant, the method comprising: providing interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment with means for offering incentives, the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment having a removable attachment means for removably mating a data carrier medium with the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment, such that when the data carrier medium is mated to the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment, the data carrier medium communicates with the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment via electrical signals; accruing the incentives by using the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment to view programming; automatically storing accrued incentives on the data carrier medium via the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment in response to viewing the programming via impression based ads; and redeeming a discount or a value corresponding to the accrued incentives present on the data carrier medium when the purchase is made; wherein the data carrier medium comprises a processor for cooperatively processing the accrued incentives, and an incentive is validated by a first digital signature and a use of the incentive is validated by a second digital signature; and wherein the data carrier medium generates the second digital signature, and the second digital signature is stored on the data carrier medium with an original version of the incentive including the first digital signature to produce a redeemed version of the incentive on the data carrier medium that is unique.