Systems and methods for receiving product data

Systems and methods for receiving product data for products featured in a media asset are described. In some embodiments, the system includes control circuitry that receives from a server data for products featured in a media asset and timestamps for the media asset associated with the products featured in the media asset. The control circuitry generates for display a list including one or more of the products. The control circuitry receives from user input circuitry a selection of a product in the list. The control circuitry transmits to the server a request for a portion of the media asset featuring the selected product based on a timestamp associated with the selected product.

BACKGROUND

Product placement is a form of advertising in media content, such as movies and television programs, in which the advertiser of a product pays to have the product featured in the media content. If a user viewing the media content likes the product appearing in the media content, the user may be interested in receiving more information or in purchasing the product. However, unless the brand and/or model of the product appearing in the media content is obvious to detect, it would be difficult for the user to retrieve further information or to be sure that he is purchasing the same product or a related product that is appearing in the media content being viewed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Systems and methods for receiving product data for products featured in a media asset are described. A user equipment device may be equipped with control circuitry to receive and process product data for products featured in the media asset. For example, the user equipment device may receive a television program and data about the products featured in the television program and timestamps for when the products are featured in the television program. The data about the featured products may include product information, a category, a price, a vendor, a coupon, or any other suitable information for aiding an interested user in receiving more information or in purchasing one or more of the featured products. The featured products may be tangible or intangible in nature. In some embodiments, the media asset includes a plot segment and an advertisement segment, where products are featured in the plot segment of the media asset.

In some embodiments, the user equipment device includes control circuitry to execute an interactive media guidance application. The interactive media guidance application may provide an interface that allows users to navigate media assets and identify a media asset that they wish to view. The interface may additionally include an icon for each media asset that features products in the form of product placement or other suitable advertisements.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to present an option for the user to opt in or opt out of receiving information regarding featured products when the user selects a media asset for display. For example, when a user selects a television program to view, the control circuitry may generate an interstitial screen at the beginning of the television program which informs the user that certain products and/or related products in the television program may be purchased. The interstitial screen may present an option to opt in for receiving information regarding products featured in the television program. The user may optionally trigger the option to opt in or opt out via a dedicated or programmed button on a remote control or a gesture made using a touch screen for the user equipment device.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to generate options for categories of products featured in the media asset. For example, when a user selects a television program to view, the control circuitry may generate an interstitial screen at the beginning of the television program which informs the user that certain products in the television program may be purchased and an option to opt in for receiving information regarding products featured in the television program. The interstitial screen may present categories of products featured in the television program. The user may select one or more categories of products he is interested in having highlighted during the television program.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry receives from a server data for products featured in the media asset and timestamps for the media asset. Each timestamp is associated with one of the products featured in the media asset. The control circuitry selects one or more products and timestamps associated with the products. In some embodiments, the control circuitry may select all products featured in the plot segment of the media asset.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry may select products from a portion of the media asset not yet viewed by the user. The control circuitry may retrieve from a memory a viewing history for the user. The control circuitry may identify a portion of the media asset that is not viewed by the user based on the viewing history. For example, the user may have stopped a one-hour television program after viewing the first 30 minutes and not viewed the last 30 minutes of the television program. In some embodiments, the portion of the media asset includes a portion of the plot segment of the media asset and does not include any portion of the advertisement segment of the media asset. The control circuitry may determine a timestamp related to the portion of the media asset not viewed by the user and identify a product associated with the timestamp.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry may select products from a portion of the media asset that has been previously viewed by the user. The control circuitry may retrieve from a memory a viewing history for the user. The control circuitry may identify a portion of the media asset that has been viewed by the user based on the viewing history. For example, the user may have stopped a one-hour television program after viewing the first 30 minutes and not viewed the last 30 minutes of the television program. In some embodiments, the portion of the media asset includes a portion of the plot segment of the media asset and does not include any portion of the advertisement segment of the media asset. The control circuitry may determine a timestamp related to the portion of the media asset viewed by the user and identify a product associated with the timestamp.

In some embodiments, the user may select a product from the list to express interest and receive subsequent advertisements and/or information for products featured in the media asset related to the product of interest to the user. For example, the user may select the APPLE IPHONE product from the list. The user may receive subsequent advertisements and/or information for APPLE IPHONE products featured in the media asset. For example, the user may select the APPLE IPHONE product from the list. The control circuitry may determine products related to APPLE IPHONE including all APPLE branded products. The user may receive subsequent advertisements and/or information for APPLE branded products featured in the media asset.

The control circuitry may generate for display a list including the selected products. For example, the media asset may feature products including APPLE IPHONE electronics and HYUNDAI SONATA automobiles. In some embodiments, the control circuitry receives a user selection of a product from the list and generates for display a portion of the media asset featuring the selected product. The control circuitry may retrieve the portion of the media asset featuring the selected product based on the timestamp associated with the product. In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display a video clip or an image for each product in the list. In some embodiments, the control circuitry arranges the video clip or the image for each product in the list in a mosaic display. The video clip or the image includes a scene from the media asset featuring the product. In response to receiving a selection of the video clip or the image, the control circuitry generates for display the video clip or the image featuring the selected product. The video clip or the image may be associated with the timestamp for the product. In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an indicator, such as a link, a button, or any suitable indicator, for each product in the list. The indicator allows the user to view the product in context within the media asset. For example, in response to selecting the indicator, the control circuitry may retrieve and generate for display the media asset beginning at a point where the product is featured in the media asset.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an option for the user to purchase the product. In response to receiving a user selection of the option, the control circuitry generates for display product information, a price, a vendor, a coupon, or any other suitable information for the product. Optionally, the control circuitry may transmit an instruction to the server to add the selected product to a wishlist for the user in response to receiving the selection of the option. The control circuitry may select the vendor based on user preferences entered by the user or determined based on the user's past activity. For example, the control circuitry may select the AMAZON PRIME website as the vendor because the user has made his past purchases from that website. Optionally, the control circuitry may substitute the product information for the product with an alternate or similar product based on user preferences. For example, the control circuitry may substitute TIFFANY products featured in the media asset with similar but less expensive products from WALMART because the user has made his past purchases from that vendor.

In some embodiments, in response to receiving a user selection of the option to purchase the product, the control circuitry generates for display information including a list of vendors and respective prices for the product. The user may utilize this information to comparison shop or to confirm that their preferred vendor, if designated, is offering the product for an acceptable price. The control circuitry may generate for display the user's preferred vendor to be first in the list. The control circuitry may generate for display an icon to visually distinguish the user's preferred vendor from other vendors in the list.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an option for a user to add the product to a wishlist for the user. The wishlist may include products the user would like to receive as gifts from others or would like to purchase himself at a later time. The wishlist may be stored locally at a user equipment device or at a server, e.g., a server for an online retailer such as AMAZON. In response to receiving a user selection of the option, the control circuitry transmits to the server an instruction to add the product to the wishlist of the user. In some embodiments, the user may use a gesture to trigger the control circuitry to transmit an instruction to the server to add the selected product to a wishlist for the user. For example, the user may slide his finger in a particular pattern on a touch screen to trigger the action. In another example, the user may press a button on a remote control to trigger the action. The gesture may be independent of the type of media asset, e.g., audio, video, or other suitable type of media asset, in which the trigger is generated.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an advertisement featuring a product that may be purchased by the user. In response to receiving user input to purchase the product, the control circuitry may generate for display at least one of product information, a price, and a vendor for the product featured in the advertisement. The user input may be user pressing a button on a remote control, making a gesture on a touch screen, or any other suitable user input. The user may be required to view the advertisement before triggering the action to purchase the product. The product featured in the advertisement may be featured in or related to a media asset that is displayed subsequent to the advertisement. Alternatively, the product featured in the advertisement may be selected based on user preferences.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display a coupon for a product, such as a product featured in a media asset. The control circuitry may receive the coupon from a vendor that offers the product for purchase. Alternatively, the control circuitry may receive the coupon from an account associated with the user. For example, the control circuitry may receive the coupon from a t-commerce account for the user. The user may send the coupon from their e-mail account to the t-commerce account. Alternatively, the user may direct a vendor to send the coupon directly to the user's t-commerce account. In some embodiments, the control circuitry automatically retrieves a coupon for a particular vendor from the user's t-commerce account and applies the coupon to the purchase price of a product offered by the vendor. This may allow the user to avoid the hassle of searching for the coupon and applying it when purchasing the product from the vendor.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display product information in response to user input to purchase the product. The control circuitry may automatically retrieve the product information including reviews for the product and any other related research to aid the user in making the decision to purchase the product. For example, the control circuitry may retrieve reviews from vendor websites for the product. This may allow the user to avoid the effort of searching for product reviews while making the decision to purchase the product.

In some aspects, the systems and methods described herein provide for a system for receiving product data. The system includes user input circuitry and control circuitry. The control circuitry receives from a server data for a plurality of products featured in a media asset and a plurality of timestamps for the media asset. Each timestamp is associated with one of the plurality of products featured in the media asset. The control circuitry generates for display a list including one or more products of the plurality of products. The control circuitry receives from the user input circuitry a selection of a product in the list. The control circuitry transmits to the server a request for a portion of the media asset featuring the selected product based on a timestamp associated with the selected product.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry retrieves from a memory a viewing history for a user. The control circuitry identifies a portion of the media asset that is not viewed by the user based on the viewing history. The control circuitry determines a timestamp of the plurality of timestamps related to the portion of the media asset not viewed by the user. The control circuitry identifies a product of the plurality of products associated with the timestamp.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry retrieves from a memory a viewing history for a user. The control circuitry identifies a portion of the media asset that has been viewed by the user based on the viewing history. The control circuitry determines a timestamp of the plurality of timestamps related to the portion of the media asset viewed by the user. The control circuitry identifies a product of the plurality of products associated with the timestamp.

In some embodiments, the data for the plurality of products featured in the media asset includes at least one of product information, a category, a price, and a vendor for each product of the plurality of products. In some embodiments, the control circuitry receives a category from the user input circuitry. The control circuitry determines a product of the plurality of products associated with the category.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an option for a user to purchase the product. The control circuitry receives via the user input circuitry a selection of the option. The control circuitry generates for display at least one of product information, a price, and a vendor for the product. In some embodiments, the control circuitry transmits an instruction to the server to add the product to a wishlist for a user in response to receiving the selection of the option.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an option for a user to add the product to a wishlist for the user. The control circuitry receives via the user input circuitry a selection of the option. The control circuitry transmits to the server an instruction to add the product to the wishlist of the user.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an option for a user to opt out of receiving product data. The control circuitry receives via the user input circuitry a selection of the option. The control circuitry prevents display of the list including one or more products of the plurality of products in response to receiving the selection of the option.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display a video clip or an image for each product in the list. The video clip or the image includes a scene from the media asset featuring the product.

In some aspects, the systems and methods described herein provide for a system for receiving product data. The system includes control circuitry. The control circuitry receives from a server data for a plurality of products featured in a media asset. The control circuitry generates for display a list including the plurality of products. The control circuitry determines whether a product in the list is associated with at least one of a coupon and a preferred vendor. The control circuitry visually distinguishes the product from other products in the list in response to determining that the product is associated with at least one of a coupon and a preferred vendor.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry retrieves from a memory a profile for a user. The control circuitry determines that the profile includes the at least one of the coupon and the preferred vendor. The control circuitry further determines that the at least one of the coupon and the preferred vendor included in the profile is associated with the product.

In some embodiments, the coupon is received from a vendor offering the product for purchase. In some embodiments, the coupon is received from one of an e-mail account, a t-commerce account, and a social media account for a user. In some embodiments, the coupon is received at an e-mail account for a user from a vendor offering the product for purchase and transferred to a t-commerce account for the user.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an icon for the product in the list associated with at least one of a coupon and a preferred vendor. In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display a highlight for the product in the list associated with at least one of a coupon and a preferred vendor. In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display the list including the product associated with at least one of a coupon and a preferred vendor in a color different from one or more colors for the other products in the list. In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display the list including the product associated with at least one of a coupon and a preferred vendor above the other products in the list.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display a video clip or an image for each product in the list. The video clip or the image includes a scene from the media asset featuring the product.

In some aspects, the systems and methods described herein include a method, an apparatus, or non-transitory machine-readable media for managing storage space of media assets stored on a storage device configured to execute the functionality described above.

It should be noted, the systems and/or methods described above may be applied to, or used in accordance with, other systems, methods and/or apparatuses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods for receiving product data for products featured in a media asset are described. A user equipment device (e.g., user equipment device300inFIG. 3) may be equipped with control circuitry (e.g., control circuitry304inFIG. 3) to receive and process product data for products featured in the media asset. For example, the user equipment device may receive television program and data about the products featured in the television program and timestamps for when the products are featured in the television program. The user equipment device may receive the data from product data source424. The data about the featured products may include product information, a category, a price, a vendor, a coupon, or any other suitable information for aiding an interested user in receiving more information or in purchasing one or more of the featured products. The featured products may be tangible or intangible in nature. In some embodiments, the media asset includes a plot segment and an advertisement segment, where products are featured in the plot segment of the media asset.FIG. 8is an illustrative embodiment of product data in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the user equipment device includes control circuitry to execute an interactive media guidance application. The interactive media guidance application may provide an interface that allows users to navigate media assets and identify a media asset that they wish to view.FIGS. 1 and 2show illustrative display screens that may be used to provide media guidance application listings in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. The interface may additionally include an icon for each media asset that features products in the form of product placement or other suitable advertisements.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to present an option for the user to opt in or opt out of receiving information regarding featured products when the user selects a media asset for display.FIG. 5is an illustrative display screen for such an option in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. For example, when a user selects a television program to view, the control circuitry may generate an interstitial screen at the beginning of the television program which informs the user that certain products and/or related products in the television program may be purchased. The interstitial screen may present an option to opt in for receiving information regarding products featured in the television program. The user may optionally trigger the option to opt in or opt out via a dedicated or programmed button on a remote control or a gesture made using a touch screen for the user equipment device.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to generate options for categories of products featured in the media asset. For example, when a user selects a television program to view, the control circuitry may generate an interstitial screen at the beginning of the television program which informs the user that certain products in the television program may be purchased and an option to opt in for receiving information regarding products featured in the television program. The interstitial screen may present categories of products featured in the television program. The user may select one or more categories of products he is interested in having highlighted during the television program.FIG. 6is an illustrative display screen for selecting categories in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry receives from a server data for products featured in the media asset and timestamps for the media asset. Each timestamp is associated with one of the products featured in the media asset. The control circuitry selects one or more products and timestamps associated with the products. In some embodiments, the control circuitry may select all products featured in the plot segment of the media asset.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry may select products from a portion of the media asset not yet viewed by the user. The control circuitry may retrieve from a memory, e.g., storage308inFIG. 3, a viewing history for the user. The control circuitry may identify a portion of the media asset that is not viewed by the user based on the viewing history. For example, the user may have stopped a one-hour television program after viewing the first 30 minutes and not viewed the last 30 minutes of the television program. In some embodiments, the portion of the media asset includes a portion of the plot segment of the media asset and does not include any portion of the advertisement segment of the media asset. The control circuitry may determine a timestamp related to the portion of the media asset not viewed by the user and identify a product associated with the timestamp.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry may select products from a portion of the media asset that has been previously viewed by the user. The control circuitry may retrieve from a memory, e.g., storage308inFIG. 3, a viewing history for the user. The control circuitry may identify a portion of the media asset that has been viewed by the user based on the viewing history. For example, the user may have stopped a one-hour television program after viewing the first 30 minutes and not viewed the last 30 minutes of the television program. In some embodiments, the portion of the media asset includes a portion of the plot segment of the media asset and does not include any portion of the advertisement segment of the media asset. The control circuitry may determine a timestamp related to the portion of the media asset viewed by the user and identify a product associated with the timestamp.

In some embodiments, the user may select a product from the list to express interest and receive subsequent advertisements and/or information for products featured in the media asset related to the product of interest to the user. For example, the user may select the APPLE IPHONE product from the list. The user may receive subsequent advertisements and/or information for APPLE IPHONE products featured in the media asset. For example, the user may select the APPLE IPHONE product from the list. The control circuitry may determine products related to APPLE IPHONE including all APPLE branded products. The user may receive subsequent advertisements and/or information for APPLE branded products featured in the media asset.

The control circuitry may generate for display a list including the selected products. For example, the media asset may feature products including APPLE IPHONE electronics and HYUNDAI SONATA automobiles.FIG. 8is an illustrative display screen showing such a display in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the control circuitry receives a user selection of a product from the list and generates for display a portion of the media asset featuring the selected product. The control circuitry may retrieve the portion of the media asset featuring the selected product based on the timestamp associated with the product. In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display a video clip or an image for each product in the list. In some embodiments, the control circuitry arranges the video clip or the image for each product in the list in a mosaic display. The video clip or the image includes a scene from the media asset featuring the product. In response to receiving a selection of the video clip or the image, the control circuitry generates for display the video clip or the image featuring the selected product. The video clip or the image may be associated with the timestamp for the product. In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an indicator, such as a link, a button, or any suitable indicator, for each product in the list. The indicator allows the user to view the product in context within the media asset. For example, in response to selecting the indicator, the control circuitry may retrieve and generate for display the media asset beginning at a point where the product is featured in the media asset.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an option for the user to purchase the product.FIG. 8is an illustrative display screen showing such a display in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In response to receiving a user selection of the option, the control circuitry generates for display product information, a price, a vendor, a coupon, or any other suitable information for the product. Optionally, the control circuitry may transmit an instruction to the server to add the selected product to a wishlist for the user in response to receiving the selection of the option. The control circuitry may select the vendor based on user preferences entered by the user or determined based on the user's past activity. For example, the control circuitry may select the AMAZON PRIME website as the vendor because the user has made his past purchases from that website. Optionally, the control circuitry may substitute the product information for the product with an alternate or similar product based on user preferences. For example, the control circuitry may substitute TIFFANY products featured in the media asset with similar but less expensive products from WALMART because the user has made his past purchases from that vendor.

In some embodiments, in response to receiving a user selection of the option to purchase the product, the control circuitry generates for display information including a list of vendors and respective prices for the product. The user may utilize this information to comparison shop or to confirm that their preferred vendor, if designated, is offering the product for an acceptable price. The control circuitry may generate for display the user's preferred vendor to be first in the list. The control circuitry may generate for display an icon to visually distinguish the user's preferred vendor from other vendors in the list.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an option for a user to add the product to a wishlist for the user.FIG. 7is an illustrative display screen showing such a display in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. The wishlist may include products the user would like to receive as gifts from others or would like to purchase himself at a later time. The wishlist may be stored locally at a user equipment device, e.g., user equipment device300inFIG. 3, or at a server, e.g., a server for an online retailer such as AMAZON. In response to receiving a user selection of the option, the control circuitry transmits to the server an instruction to add the product to the wishlist of the user. In some embodiments, the user may use a gesture to trigger the control circuitry to transmit an instruction to the server to add the selected product to a wishlist for the user. For example, the user may slide his finger in a particular pattern on a touch screen to trigger the action. In another example, the user may press a button on a remote control to trigger the action. The gesture may be independent of the type of media asset, e.g., audio, video, or other suitable type of media asset, in which the trigger is generated.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display an advertisement featuring a product that may be purchased by the user. In response to receiving user input to purchase the product, the control circuitry may generate for display at least one of product information, a price, and a vendor for the product featured in the advertisement. The user input may be user pressing a button on a remote control, making a gesture on a touch screen, or any other suitable user input. The user may be required to view the advertisement before triggering the action to purchase the product. The product featured in the advertisement may be featured in or related to a media asset that is displayed subsequent to the advertisement. Alternatively, the product featured in the advertisement may be selected based on user preferences.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display a coupon for a product, such as a product featured in a media asset. The control circuitry may receive the coupon from a vendor that offers the product for purchase. Alternatively, the control circuitry may receive the coupon from an account associated with the user. For example, the control circuitry may receive the coupon from a t-commerce account for the user. The user may send the coupon from their e-mail account to the t-commerce account. Alternatively, the user may direct a vendor to send the coupon directly to the user's t-commerce account. In some embodiments, the control circuitry automatically retrieves a coupon for a particular vendor from the user's t-commerce account and applies the coupon to the purchase price of a product offered by the vendor. This may allow the user to avoid the hassle of searching for the coupon and applying it when purchasing the product from the vendor.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry generates for display product information in response to user input to purchase the product. The control circuitry may automatically retrieve the product information including reviews for the product and any other related research to aid the user in making the decision to purchase the product. For example, the control circuitry may retrieve reviews from vendor websites for the product. This may allow the user to avoid the effort of searching for product reviews while making the decision to purchase the product.

One of the functions of the media guidance application is to provide media guidance data to users. As referred to herein, the phrase, “media guidance data” or “guidance data” should be understood to mean any data related to content, such as media listings, media-related information (e.g., broadcast times, broadcast channels, titles, descriptions, ratings information (e.g., parental control ratings, critic's ratings, etc.), genre or category information, actor information, logo data for broadcasters' or providers' logos, etc.), media format (e.g., standard definition, high definition, 3D, etc.), advertisement information (e.g., text, images, media clips, etc.), on-demand information, blogs, websites, and any other type of guidance data that is helpful for a user to navigate among and locate desired content selections.

FIG. 1shows illustrative grid program listings display100arranged by time and channel that also enables access to different types of content in a single display. Display100may include grid102with: (1) a column of channel/content type identifiers104, where each channel/content type identifier (which is a cell in the column) identifies a different channel or content type available; and (2) a row of time identifiers106, where each time identifier (which is a cell in the row) identifies a time block of programming. Grid102also includes cells of program listings, such as program listing108, where each listing provides the title of the program provided on the listing's associated channel and time. Grid102may optionally include icon128for each program that features products in the form of product placement or other suitable advertisements. With a user input device, a user can select program listings by moving highlight region110. Information relating to the program listing selected by highlight region110may be provided in program information region112. Region112may include, for example, the program title, the program description, the time the program is provided (if applicable), the channel the program is on (if applicable), the program's rating, and other desired information.

Grid102may provide media guidance data for non-linear programming including on-demand listing114, recorded content listing116, and Internet content listing118. A display combining media guidance data for content from different types of content sources is sometimes referred to as a “mixed-media” display. Various permutations of the types of media guidance data that may be displayed that are different than display100may be based on user selection or guidance application definition (e.g., a display of only recorded and broadcast listings, only on-demand and broadcast listings, etc.). As illustrated, listings114,116, and118are shown as spanning the entire time block displayed in grid102to indicate that selection of these listings may provide access to a display dedicated to on-demand listings, recorded listings, or Internet listings, respectively. In some embodiments, listings for these content types may be included directly in grid102. Additional media guidance data may be displayed in response to the user selecting one of the navigational icons120. (Pressing an arrow key on a user input device may affect the display in a similar manner as selecting navigational icons120.)

Advertisement124may provide an advertisement for content that, depending on a viewer's access rights (e.g., for subscription programming), is currently available for viewing, will be available for viewing in the future, or may never become available for viewing, and may correspond to or be unrelated to one or more of the content listings in grid102. Advertisement124may also be for products or services related or unrelated to the content displayed in grid102. Advertisement124may be selectable and provide further information about content, provide information about a product or a service, enable purchasing of content, a product, or a service, provide content relating to the advertisement, etc. Advertisement124may be targeted based on a user's profile/preferences, monitored user activity, the type of display provided, or on other suitable targeted advertisement bases.

Another display arrangement for providing media guidance is shown inFIG. 2. Video mosaic display200includes selectable options202for content information organized based on content type, genre, and/or other organization criteria. In display200, television listings option204is selected, thus providing listings206,208,210, and212as broadcast program listings. In display200the listings may provide graphical images including cover art, still images from the content, video clip previews, live video from the content, or other types of content that indicate to a user the content being described by the media guidance data in the listing. Each of the graphical listings may also be accompanied by text to provide further information about the content associated with the listing. For example, listing208may include more than one portion, including media portion214and text portion216. Media portion214and/or text portion216may be selectable to view content in full-screen or to view information related to the content displayed in media portion214(e.g., to view listings for the channel that the video is displayed on).

The listings in display200are of different sizes (i.e., listing206is larger than listings208,210, and212), but if desired, all the listings may be the same size. Listings may be of different sizes or graphically accentuated to indicate degrees of interest to the user or to emphasize certain content, as desired by the content provider or based on user preferences. Various systems and methods for graphically accentuating content listings are discussed in, for example, Yates, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0153885, filed Dec. 29, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Users may access content and the media guidance application (and its display screens described above and below) from one or more of their user equipment devices.FIG. 3shows a generalized embodiment of illustrative user equipment device300. More specific implementations of user equipment devices are discussed below in connection withFIG. 4. User equipment device300may receive content and data via input/output (hereinafter “I/O”) path302. I/O path302may provide content (e.g., broadcast programming, on-demand programming, Internet content, content available over a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), and/or other content) and data to control circuitry304, which includes processing circuitry306and storage308. Control circuitry304may be used to send and receive commands, requests, and other suitable data using I/O path302. I/O path302may connect control circuitry304(and specifically processing circuitry306) to one or more communications paths (described below). I/O functions may be provided by one or more of these communications paths, but are shown as a single path inFIG. 3to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

A user may send instructions to control circuitry304using user input interface310. User input interface310may be any suitable user interface, such as a remote control, mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touchpad, stylus input, joystick, voice recognition interface, or other user input interfaces. Display312may be provided as a stand-alone device or integrated with other elements of user equipment device300. For example, display312may be a touchscreen or touch-sensitive display. In such circumstances, user input interface312may be integrated with or combined with display312. Display312may be one or more of a monitor, a television, a liquid crystal display (LCD) for a mobile device, amorphous silicon display, low temperature poly silicon display, electronic ink display, electrophoretic display, active matrix display, electro-wetting display, electrofluidic display, cathode ray tube display, light-emitting diode display, electroluminescent display, plasma display panel, high-performance addressing display, thin-film transistor display, organic light-emitting diode display, surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), laser television, carbon nanotubes, quantum dot display, interferometric modulator display, or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images. In some embodiments, display312may be HDTV-capable. In some embodiments, display312may be a 3D display, and the interactive media guidance application and any suitable content may be displayed in 3D. A video card or graphics card may generate the output to the display312. The video card may offer various functions such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors. The video card may be any processing circuitry described above in relation to control circuitry304. The video card may be integrated with the control circuitry304. Speakers314may be provided as integrated with other elements of user equipment device300or may be stand-alone units. The audio component of videos and other content displayed on display312may be played through speakers314. In some embodiments, the audio may be distributed to a receiver (not shown), which processes and outputs the audio via speakers314.

The guidance application may be implemented using any suitable architecture. For example, it may be a stand-alone application wholly implemented on user equipment device300. In such an approach, instructions of the application are stored locally (e.g., in storage308), and data for use by the application is downloaded on a periodic basis (e.g., from an out-of-band feed, from an Internet resource, or using another suitable approach). Control circuitry304may retrieve instructions of the application from storage308and process the instructions to generate any of the displays discussed herein. Based on the processed instructions, control circuitry304may determine what action to perform when input is received from input interface310. For example, movement of a cursor on a display up/down may be indicated by the processed instructions when input interface310indicates that an up/down button was selected.

User equipment device300ofFIG. 3can be implemented in system400ofFIG. 4as user television equipment402, user computer equipment404, wireless user communications device406, or any other type of user equipment suitable for accessing content, such as a non-portable gaming machine. For simplicity, these devices may be referred to herein collectively as user equipment or user equipment devices, and may be substantially similar to user equipment devices described above. User equipment devices, on which a media guidance application may be implemented, may function as a standalone device or may be part of a network of devices. Various network configurations of devices may be implemented and are discussed in more detail below.

A user equipment device utilizing at least some of the system features described above in connection withFIG. 3may not be classified solely as user television equipment402, user computer equipment404, or a wireless user communications device406. For example, user television equipment402may, like some user computer equipment404, be Internet-enabled allowing for access to Internet content, while user computer equipment404may, like some television equipment402, include a tuner allowing for access to television programming. The media guidance application may have the same layout on various different types of user equipment or may be tailored to the display capabilities of the user equipment. For example, on user computer equipment404, the guidance application may be provided as a web site accessed by a web browser. In another example, the guidance application may be scaled down for wireless user communications devices406.

In system400, there is typically more than one of each type of user equipment device but only one of each is shown inFIG. 4to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, each user may utilize more than one type of user equipment device and also more than one of each type of user equipment device.

System400includes content source416, media guidance data source418, and product data source424coupled to communications network414via communication paths420,422, and426, respectively. Paths420,422, and426may include any of the communication paths described above in connection with paths408,410, and412. Communications with the content source416, media guidance data source418, and product data source424may be exchanged over one or more communications paths, but are shown as a single path inFIG. 4to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, there may be more than one of each of content source416, media guidance data source418, and product data source424, but only one of each is shown inFIG. 4to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. (The different types of each of these sources are discussed below.) If desired, content source416, media guidance data source418, and product data source424may be integrated as one source device. Although communications between sources416,418, and424with user equipment devices402,404, and406are shown as through communications network414, in some embodiments, sources416,418, and424may communicate directly with user equipment devices402,404, and406via communication paths (not shown) such as those described above in connection with paths408,410, and412.

Product data source424may provide data about products featured in a media asset and timestamps for when the products are featured in the media asset. The data about the featured products may include product information, a category, a price, a vendor, a coupon, or any other suitable information for aiding an interested user in receiving more information or in purchasing one or more of the featured products. The product data may be provided to the user equipment devices using any suitable approach as described with respect source416and418above.

In a third approach, users of user equipment devices inside and outside a home can use their media guidance application to communicate directly with content source416to access content. Specifically, within a home, users of user television equipment402and user computer equipment404may access the media guidance application to navigate among and locate desirable content. Users may also access the media guidance application outside of the home using wireless user communications devices406to navigate among and locate desirable content.

FIG. 5is an illustrative display screen for receiving product data in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Display screen500, including sections502and504, may be generated when a user selects a media asset to view from display100or responsive to the user pressing a dedicated or programmed button on a remote control for user equipment device300. For example, when a user selects a television program to view from display100, control circuitry304may generate display screen500at the beginning of the television program. Section502informs the user that the selected program is t-commerce (television-commerce) enabled, i.e., certain products featured in the television program may be purchased via the television itself. Section504queries the user regarding whether he would like purchase information for products featured in the program. Section504includes options506and508. If the user selects option506, he opts in for receiving information regarding products featured in the television program. If the user selects option508, he opts out of receiving information regarding products featured in the television program.

FIG. 6is another illustrative display screen for receiving product data in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Continuing from the example described with reference toFIG. 5, display screen600, including sections602and604, may be generated subsequent to selection of option506in display500. Section602informs the user that the selected program is t-commerce (television-commerce) enabled, i.e., certain products featured in the television program may be purchased via the television itself. Section604presents options606-614for categories of products featured in the television program. For example, section604may include “automotive” category option606, “electronic” category option608, “clothing” category option610, and other suitable category options612for products featured in the television program. The user may select one or more categories of products he is interested in having highlighted during the television program. In this example, the user may select “all” categories option614indicating that he is interested in receiving product information for all categories of products featured in the television program.

FIG. 7is yet another illustrative display screen for receiving product data in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Display700may be generated before the playback of a media asset, during the playback of the media asset, or after the playback of the media asset is complete. Like display screens500and600, display screen700includes section702to inform the user that the selected program is t-commerce (television-commerce) enabled, i.e., certain products featured in the television program may be purchased via the television itself. Control circuitry304may receive from a server data for products featured in the media asset and timestamps for the media asset. Control circuitry304may select one or more of the products featured in the media asset and timestamps associated with the products. Display screen700includes a list of the products selected by control circuitry304. Each of products704(“APPLE IPHONE”),712(“HYUNDAI SONATA”), and720include corresponding options706,714, and722to view a video clip or an image where the product is featured in the media asset, options708,716, and724to purchase the product featured in the media asset, and options710,718, and726to add the product featured in the media asset to a wishlist for the user. Control circuitry304may receive a user selection of option706,714, or722and generate for display a portion of the media asset featuring the selected product. Control circuitry304may retrieve the portion of the media asset featuring the selected product based on the timestamp associated with the product.

Control circuitry304may receive a user selection of option708,716, or724and generate for display product information, a price, a vendor, a coupon, or any other suitable information for the product. Control circuitry304may select the vendor based on user preferences entered by the user or determined based on the user's past activity. For example, control circuitry304may select the AMAZON PRIME website as the vendor because the user has made his past purchases from that website. Optionally, control circuitry304may substitute the product information for the product with an alternate or similar product based on user preferences. For example, control circuitry304may substitute TIFFANY products featured in the media asset with similar but less expensive products from WALMART because the user has made his past purchases from that vendor.

Control circuitry304may receive a user selection of option710,718, or726and generate for display an option for a user to add the product to a wishlist for the user. In response to receiving a user selection of the option, control circuitry304may transmit to the server an instruction to add the product to the wishlist of the user. In some embodiments, the user may use a gesture to trigger control circuitry304to transmit an instruction to the server to add the selected product to a wishlist for the user. For example, the user may slide his finger in a particular pattern on a touch screen to trigger the action. In another example, the user may press a button on a remote control to trigger the action. The gesture may be independent of the type of media asset, e.g., audio, video, or other suitable type of media asset, in which the trigger is generated.

These options are illustrative and display screen700may present one or all of these options and/or any other suitable options related to products featured in the media asset. For example, display screen700may include a video clip or an image for each product in the list that includes a scene from the media asset featuring the product. In response to receiving a selection of the video clip or the image, control circuitry304may generate for display the video clip or the image featuring the selected product. The video clip or the image may be associated with the timestamp for the product. In another example, control circuitry304may receive a user selection of product704,712, or720and generate for display a portion of the media asset featuring the selected product. Control circuitry304may retrieve the portion of the media asset featuring the selected product based on the timestamp associated with the product.

In some embodiments, control circuitry304generates for display a coupon for a product, such as a product featured in a media asset. Control circuitry304may receive the coupon from a vendor that offers the product for purchase. Alternatively, control circuitry304may receive the coupon from an account associated with the user. For example, control circuitry304may receive the coupon from a t-commerce account for the user. The user may send the coupon from their e-mail account to the t-commerce account. Alternatively, the user may direct a vendor to send the coupon directly to the user's t-commerce account. In some embodiments, control circuitry304automatically retrieves a coupon for a particular vendor from the user's t-commerce account and applies the coupon to the purchase price of a product offered by the vendor. This may allow the user to avoid the hassle of searching for the coupon and applying it when purchasing the product from the vendor.

In some embodiments, control circuitry304determines whether a product in the list is associated with a coupon and/or a preferred vendor. Control circuitry304visually distinguishes the product from other products in the list in response to determining that the product is associated with a coupon and/or a preferred vendor. In some embodiments, control circuitry304retrieves from a memory a profile for the user. Control circuitry304determines that the profile includes the coupon and/or the preferred vendor. Control circuitry304further determines that the coupon and/or the preferred vendor included in the profile are associated with the product.

In some embodiments, the coupon is received from a vendor offering the product for purchase. In some embodiments, the coupon is received from one of an e-mail account, a t-commerce account, and a social media account for a user. In some embodiments, the coupon is received at an e-mail account for the user from a vendor offering the product for purchase and transferred to a t-commerce account for the user.

In some embodiments, control circuitry304generates for display an icon for the product in the list associated with a coupon and/or a preferred vendor. In some embodiments, control circuitry304generates for display a highlight for the product in the list associated with a coupon and/or a preferred vendor. In some embodiments, control circuitry304generates for display the list including the product associated with a coupon and/or a preferred vendor in a color different from one or more colors for the other products in the list. In some embodiments, control circuitry304generates for display the list including the product associated with at least one of a coupon and a preferred vendor above the other products in the list.

FIG. 8is an illustrative embodiment of product data associated with a media asset in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Product data800may be retrieved from product data source424or any other suitable device or location accessible via communication network414(FIG. 4). Product data800may be included in a database, kept as a separate file, or stored and/or retrieved in any other suitable manner. Product data800may include a plurality of fields.

In the illustrated embodiment, product data800includes fields802-832. Field802indicates the beginning of product data associated with a media asset. Field804indicates the title of the media asset as THE BOURNE IDENTITY and field806indicates the media asset runtime as 119 MINUTES. Field808indicates the beginning of product data associated with the media asset. Fields808-818and820-830indicate information for two products featured in the media asset. Particularly, field810indicates the product category as ELECTRONIC and field812indicates the product as APPLE IPHONE. Field814indicates a timestamp, 45 MINUTES, 15 SECONDS, for when the media asset features the product. Field816indicates a link to purchase the product. These fields are illustrative and the product data may include one or all of these fields and/or any other suitable fields related to products featured in the media asset. Similarly, field822indicates the product category as AUTOMOTIVE and field824indicates the product as HYUNDAI SONATA. Field826indicates a timestamp, 54 MINUTES, 04 SECONDS, for when the media asset features the product. Field828indicates a link to purchase the product. These fields are illustrative and the product data may include one or all of these fields and/or any other suitable fields related to products featured in the media asset.

Fields802-832include package indicators, e.g., <PRODUCT DATA> and </PRODUCT DATA>, to indicate the beginning and end of information associated with product data800. In some embodiments, control circuitry304(FIG. 3) may use the package indicators to determine one or more products featured with the media asset. It should be noted that the information packages described herein are illustrative only and are not limiting. Additional information packages (or fewer information packages) may be used in accordance with this disclosure.

In some embodiments, product data800is received by control circuitry304as described with reference to step902inFIG. 9. Product data800may be stored on, or retrieved from, product data source424or any other suitable device or location accessible via communication network414.

FIG. 9is a flowchart900of illustrative steps for receiving product data in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. At step902, control circuitry304receives data for products featured in a media asset. The product data may be received in accordance with the embodiments described inFIGS. 5-6. In some embodiments, the media asset includes a plot segment and an advertisement segment, where products are featured in the plot segment of the media asset. At step904, control circuitry304receives timestamps associated with the products featured in the media asset. Each timestamp is associated with one of the products featured in the media asset. For example, circuitry304may receive product data800(FIG. 8) from product data source424(FIG. 4) to receive data for products featured in the media asset and timestamps associated with the products featured in the media asset.

At step906, control circuitry304selects one or more products and timestamps associated with the products. In some embodiments, control circuitry304may select all products featured in the plot segment of the media asset. In some embodiments, control circuitry304may select products from a portion of the media asset not yet viewed by the user. Control circuitry304may retrieve from a memory a viewing history for the user. Control circuitry304may identify a portion of the media asset that is not viewed by the user based on the viewing history. In some embodiments, the portion of the media asset includes a portion of the plot segment of the media asset and does not include any portion of the advertisement segment of the media asset. Control circuitry304may determine a timestamp related to the portion of the media asset not viewed by the user and identify a product associated with the timestamp. This embodiment is further described with reference to flowchart1000(FIG. 10).

In some embodiments, control circuitry304may select products from a portion of the media asset that has been previously viewed by the user. Control circuitry304may retrieve from a memory a viewing history for the user. Control circuitry304may identify a portion of the media asset that has been viewed by the user based on the viewing history. In some embodiments, the portion of the media asset includes a portion of the plot segment of the media asset and does not include any portion of the advertisement segment of the media asset. Control circuitry304may determine a timestamp related to the portion of the media asset viewed by the user and identify a product associated with the timestamp. In some embodiments, the user may select a product from the list to express interest and receive subsequent advertisements and/or information for products featured in the media asset related to the product of interest to the user.

At step908, control circuitry304generates for display a list including the selected products. For example, the media asset may feature products including APPLE IPHONE electronics and HYUNDAI SONATA automobiles. At step910, control circuitry304receives a user selection of a product from the list via, e.g., user input interface310. At step912, control circuitry304transmits a request to a server or database, e.g., media content source416, for a portion of the media asset featuring the product based on the timestamp associated with the product. At step914, control circuitry314receives the portion of the media asset featuring the product. At step916, control circuitry304generates for display the portion of the media asset featuring the selected product.

It is contemplated that the steps or descriptions ofFIG. 9may be used with any other embodiment of this disclosure. In addition, the steps and descriptions described in relation toFIG. 9may be done in alternative orders or in parallel to further the purposes of this disclosure.

FIG. 10is a flowchart1000of illustrative steps for executing step906ofFIG. 9in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. At step1002, control circuitry304retrieves from a memory, e.g., storage308, a viewing history for the user. At step1004, control circuitry304analyzes the viewing history for the media asset to identify one or more portions of the media asset not viewed by the user. At step1006, control circuitry304selects a timestamp from timestamps associated with products featured in the media asset. At step1008, control circuitry304determines if the selected timestamp is related to the portion of the media asset not viewed by the user. If the selected timestamp is related to the portion of the media asset not viewed by the user, at step1010, control circuitry304identifies the product associated with the timestamp and proceeds to step1014, described further below. If the selected timestamp is not related to the portion of the media asset not viewed by the user, at step1014, control circuitry304determines if there are any remaining timestamps that are associated with products featured in the media asset. If there are timestamps remaining to be analyzed, at step1006, control circuitry304selects another timestamp from timestamps associated with products featured in the media asset. If no timestamps remain to be analyzed, at step1012, control circuitry304returns to step908inFIG. 9with any identified products and associated timestamps.

It is contemplated that the steps or descriptions ofFIG. 10may be used with any other embodiment of this disclosure. In addition, the steps and descriptions described in relation toFIG. 10may be done in alternative orders or in parallel to further the purposes of this disclosure.