Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments are directed to providing in a computing environment including a network, a web page accessible via said network, and a contest server including a storage medium having an object file, a method for content promotion including accessing from a user client the web page stored in association with the contest server via the network, wherein the web page includes an indicia corresponding with the object file, obtaining a contestant identification, wherein the contestant identification corresponds to the user client, selecting the indicia to provide an opportunity to purchase a content of the content promotion, engaging the object file corresponding to the indicia, and sending to the contest server the contestant identification with an acknowledgment of the selected indicia to enter the user client into a contest.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application relates to a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/551,736, filed on Apr. 18, 2000, entitled: METHOD OF CONDUCTING A CONTEST OVER A PUBLIC COMPUTER NETWORK (Attorney Docket No.  033144-002 ) by Larry Shultz, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention generally relates to contest and games, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for content promotion via a network.  
           [0004]    2. State of the Art  
           [0005]    Various types of random drawing type contests are known. Typically, a contestant enters the contest by selecting a subset of indicia from a collection of indicia. The indicia usually takes the form of numerals. Once the contest is complete, a random drawing is performed and the contestant with the matching subset wins.  
           [0006]    Advertising uses the concept of contests to promote various products but has had difficulty in targeting specific demographical sections of the population and in managing distribution of content over the Internet. An industry considerably effected by the nature of target advertising is the entertainment industry. As such, attempts have been made to promote to certain audiences however the promotions have lacked the ability to combine Internet technology with content management. Specifically, the music and television/movie industry has had difficulty in managing the distribution of content over the Internet. Various methods have been used to prevent unauthorized use of copyrighted material. By creating a standardized form of encryption to identify legally licensed content, search engines throughout the Internet narrow their search to quickly include only legally licensed content that contains such encryption identifiers. A disadvantage is that the benefits of future marketing of music and television/movie content may be lost.  
           [0007]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus to efficiently increase the buy rates of entertainment content through marketing promotions that may target specific audiences and protect copyrighted material.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Accordingly, exemplary embodiments are directed to providing in a computing environment including a network, a web page accessible via said network, and a contest server including a storage medium having an object file, a method for content promotion including accessing from a user client the web page stored in association with the contest server via the network, wherein the web page includes an indicia corresponding with the object file, obtaining a contestant identification, wherein the contestant identification corresponds to the user client, selecting the indicia to provide an opportunity to purchase a content of the content promotion, engaging the object file corresponding to the indicia, and sending to the contest server the contestant identification with an acknowledgment of the selected indicia to enter the user client into a contest.  
           [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention provides in a computing environment including a network, a web page accessible via the network, and a contest server including a storage medium having an object file, a data packet capable of being transmitted via the network. The data packet includes a contest game to provide content promotion, wherein a user client enters the contest via the web page, an award system, wherein the user client earns rewards by engaging the data packet, and a coupon dispenser to provide a coupon corresponding with content promotion and a user client location.  
           [0010]    In yet another feature, a computer readable medium is provided containing programming which when executed performs the following procedures including: accessing from a user client the web page stored in association with the contest server via the network, wherein the web page includes an indicia corresponding with respective the object file, obtaining a contestant identification, wherein the contestant identification corresponds to the user client, selecting the indicia to provide an opportunity to purchase a content of the content promotion, engaging the object file corresponding to the indicia, and sending to the contest server the contestant identification with an acknowledgment of the selected indicia to enter the user client into a contest.  
           [0011]    For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be defined in the appending claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram useful in describing a system for content promotion in a computing environment;  
         [0014]    FIGS.  2 - 5  illustrates flowcharts useful in describing embodiments of a method for content promotion;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary layout of a data packet used for content promotion; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary layout of a contest used for content promotion.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    In accordance with the presently claimed invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram useful in describing a system for content promotion in a computing environment and is generally represented by the numeral  10 . System  10  includes a user client  12 , an advertiser  14 , a network  16 , a contest server  18  and a storage medium  20 . By way of example and not by limitation, the user client  12  may be a personal computing device such as a computer, a cell phone, a hand held palm pilot type apparatus or a processing unit. The advertiser  14  includes certain content to promote. Such content may be stored as object files on the storage medium  20 . Examples of such storage medium  20  include local disk space, network storage and links to other storage devices, as is conventionally known. The advertiser  14  may have access to user client  12  information stored on the storage medium  20  as a result of entering into the content promotion. The network  16  may be a local area network or an Internet world wide web, for example.  
         [0018]    The contest server  18  manages content promotion by providing a contest to the user client  12  via indicia connected to the object files. By way of example and not limitation, the object file may be an audio or video file tied to the indicia. In an aspect of the present invention, the indicia may be numbers from a lotto style board, where each number corresponds to a specific movie/music/video clip title.  
         [0019]    The advertiser  14  is provided with the opportunity to advertise products to consumers, particularly targeted customers based upon user client  12  information. One or more user clients  12  may participate in the contest promoting specific content. As the user client  12  enters the contest, the opportunity to engage in certain promotions is provided. The promotions may appear as pop up windows which may change intermittently or as part of the contest page. Periodically, promotions may be sent to the user client  12  using the user client  12  information stored on the storage medium  20  or at another location.  
         [0020]    Now referring to FIG. 2 which illustrates a flowchart useful in describing an embodiment of a method for content promotion and generally designated by the numeral  30 . First the user client  12  accesses a data page, such as a web page, stored in association with the contest server  18  via the network  16 , as indicated at  32 . As is conventionally known, a copy of the contest page, upon the user client  12  addressing such page through a universal resource locator (“URL”) for example, is transmitted to the user client  12  via the contest server  18 .  
         [0021]    An embodiment of the present invention includes the step of transmitting to a future user client  12  the contents of the data page via information collected by the contest server  18 . Promotional items such as coupons may also be transmitted to the user client  12  in relation to specific content promotion. The data page contains information regarding the contest such as a list of indicia and a contest entry form, an example of such is illustrated with FIG. 7. Next contestant identification information relating to the user client  12  is obtained, as indicated at  34 .  
         [0022]    A feature of the present invention obtains the contestant information by the user client  12  entering information relating to the user client  12  into a data packet. Such information may include name, age, birth date, address, zip code and demographic information. The information is associated to the user client  12  and stored at a location accessible to the contest server  18 . By way of example and not limitation, a cookie or Internet type footprint may be used for association of a particular user.  
         [0023]    Another aspect obtains the contestant information by the contest server  18  retrieving contestant information via the storage medium  20 . Such information may be of the form of a cookie or Internet type footprint or indexed via other corresponding user client  12  information.  
         [0024]    Then the user client  12  selects an indicia, as indicated at  36 . The indicia may be, for example, numerals, letters or figures. In an embodiment, the user client  12  selects 6 numbers out of a total of 49 numbers in the lotto game style. Another embodiment has 7 numbers out of a total of 77. The selection of an indicia provides the user client  12  with an opportunity to purchase the content of the content promotion being associated with the object file. Once the indicia has been selected, the method then engages the object file associated with the selected indicia, as indicated at  38 . By way of example and not limitation, the engagement of the object file may be playing an audio or video file. Each indicia selected may result in the streaming of an audio/video clip that correspond to the content promotion. Next the contestant identification information and the selected indicia are sent to the contest server  18  where the data may be stored at the storage medium  20 , as indicated at  40 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart useful in describing an embodiment of a method for content promotion and generally designated by the numeral  50 . First, as described in detail above, steps  32  through  38  are taken. Next the user client  12  enters the selected indicia into an indicia subset and it is determined whether the subset is complete, as indicated at  52 . Once the indicia subset is complete, such as by way of example and not limitation all of the 6 numbers out of the 49 total have been chosen, the subset is transmitted to the contest server  18 , as indicated at  54 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart useful in describing an embodiment of a method for content promotion and generally designated by the numeral  60 . First, as described in detail above, steps  32 ,  36  and  38  are taken. Then a query corresponding to the object file is posed to the user client  12 , as indicated at  62 . For example, the query may be a trivia question relating to the content promotion associated with the object file. Next the contest server  18  receives an answer to the query from the user client  12 , as indicated at  64 . Then it is determined whether the answer is correct, as indicated at  66 . Upon answering the query correct, the user client  12  earns an award, as indicated at  68 . Such award may be points towards the contest or earnings based upon questions answered correctly.  
         [0027]    Next the selected indicia is entered into the indicia subset, as indicated at  70 . It is then determined whether the subset is complete, as indicated at  52 . If the subset is not yet complete, the user client continues by selecting another indicia, as indicated at  36 . Upon completion of the subset, the subset of indicia is transmitted to the contest server  18  and entered in as the user client  12  contest entry. Finally, the user client  12  is provided with an opportunity to purchase the content associated with the object files corresponding to the contest entry, as indicated at  72 . In an aspect of the present invention, after the user client  12  has entered the subset of indicia, the game company then reveals the subset of official winning numbers. If the user client  12  has matched the selected subset with the winning subset, the user client  12  wins a prize. Another feature includes prizes or points awarded for answering the questions correctly as well as matching the entire subsets.  
         [0028]    One embodiment includes that after the streaming of the audio/video clip, the user client  12  may buy the full-length version of the song or movie on CD or DVD or via on-line download connected to an authorized service sanctioned by the copyright owner.  
         [0029]    Another aspect of the present invention is for those who just want to enter the contest with no trivia game attached. The user client  12  selects an indicia, such as in the pick 6 of 49 or pick 7 of 77 game, and the corresponding audio/video clip streams. The user client  12  then selects the indicia to provide for one of their official number entries. It may be a simple enter-sweepstakes version that still enables the user client  12  to buy the full-length version of the song or movie on CD or DVD or via on-line download connected to an authorized service sanctioned by the copyright owner.  
         [0030]    Now referring to FIG. 5 which illustrates a flowchart useful in describing an embodiment of a method for content promotion and generally designated by the numeral  80 . First, as described in detail above, steps  32  and  36  are taken. Next a collection corresponding to the selected indicia is displayed, as indicated at  82 . By way of example and not limitation, the collection may be a compilation of content, such as Top Ten Lists of songs, movies, TV shows, games, etc. which may motivate the user client  12  to click to sample that song or movie clip—and then give them the opportunity to click to buy it.  
         [0031]    Then an indicia from the collection is selected by the user client  12 , as indicated at  84 . Such selected indicia is then entered into the indicia subset as an entry, as indicated at  86 . The object file corresponding with the selected indicia is then played, as indicated at  88 . Next the user client is provided with the opportunity to purchase the content represented by the object file, as indicated at  90 . Then a question corresponding to the object file is posed to the user client  12 , as indicated at  92 . For example, the question may be a trivia question relating to the content promotion associated with the object file. Next the contest server  18  receives an answer from the user client  12 , as indicated at  94 . Then it is determined whether the answer is correct, as indicated at  96 . Upon answering the question correct, the user client  12  earns an award, as indicated at  98 .  
         [0032]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments and processes described above are by way of example only. For example, additional features can be used with the devices illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6 and  7  and/or additional steps can be added to the processes discussed with FIGS.  2 - 5 .  
         [0033]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range and equivalence thereof are intended to be embraced therein.