Patent Publication Number: US-2011078001-A1

Title: Feedback system for television advertisements

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     As media outlets proliferate and viewing audiences become more fragmented, advertisers, such as television advertisers, are having greater difficulty capturing and holding viewer attention. Consequently, advertisements may need to more be inventive and reach beyond a traditional linear format (e.g., presented in a broadcast sequence without any sequencing control from a viewer). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary environment for obtaining viewer feedback for television advertising; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary network in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of exemplary components of a video client that may be used in the network of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of exemplary components of a device that may correspond to a content server and/or a ranking manager of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a diagram of exemplary interactions among components of an exemplary portion of the network illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a diagram of exemplary functional components of the ranking manager of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process for obtaining viewer feedback of television advertising; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating an another exemplary process for obtaining viewer feedback of television advertising; and 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are exemplary diagrams illustrating a user interface for obtaining viewer feedback of television advertising according to implementations described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. 
     Implementations described herein may provide systems and/or methods that may enable viewers to be rewarded for viewing, rating, and/or providing other feedback regarding advertisements within a television viewing environment. As described further herein, a video client (e.g., a set-top box) may present a rating interface in conjunction with an advertisement. User input (e.g., via a remote control signal) to the rating interface may be received and provided to a ratings aggregation and processing module. The ratings aggregation and processing module may provide rating information to advertisers and may manage an incentive program to encourage continued viewer participation. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary environment  100  for soliciting viewer feedback of television advertising. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a video client  110  may present, via a video display device  120 , an advertisement  130  and a ratings interface  140 . In one implementation, advertisement  130  may include a television advertisement presented within a linear format (e.g., presented in a broadcast sequence without any sequencing control from the viewer). In other implementations, advertisement  130  may be retrieved (e.g., from a menu of stored advertisements) and presented to a user on demand. Advertisements may include a variety of formats, including, for example, linear and/or interactive video, images, banners/overlays, interactive (e.g., clickable) advertisements, etc. 
     Rating interface  140  may include an interactive menu or another visible indicator that may be used to solicit and receive input from a user. In one implementation, as shown in  FIG. 1 , rating interface  140  may be overlaid on a portion of advertisement  130  and present a viewer with the opportunity to subjectively rate advertisement  130 . In another implementation, rating interface  140  may be presented as a separate window adjacent to advertisement  130 . Rating interface  140  may include an interactive menu that can be implemented, for example, via an Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) application to allow a user to provide input via a remote control, such as remote control  150 . In an exemplary implementation, rating interface  140  may be opened via an on-screen “widget” that can be selectively activated by the viewer. 
     Video client  110  may receive user input to rating interface  140  and may provide the rating information to one or more components within a subscription multimedia service network  160 . As described further herein, components within subscription multimedia service network  160  may coordinate with advertising sources to update advertising profiles of viewers and/or video clients  110  and to manage viewer incentive programs for advertising campaigns. 
     In one exemplary operation, rating interface  140  may be displayed during presentation of a liner advertisement and/or for a brief period of time (e.g., less than 5 seconds) after the completion of the advertisement to allow a user time to provide input. In another exemplary operation, when a viewer activates rating interface  140  using remote control  150 , advertisement  130  may be paused and subsequent linear programming may be automatically recorded while rating interface  140  remains activated so as to gracefully return a viewer to the linear programming sequence once the viewer has finished providing rating input. In still other implementations, an expanded version of rating interface  140  (e.g., allowing more detailed view input) may be presented to the viewer upon activation by a signal from remote control  150 . 
     Video client  110  may send, for example, viewer ratings/feedback, associated advertisement identifiers, and time/channel information to a ratings aggregation and processing module within subscription multimedia service network  160 . The ratings aggregation and processing module may, for example, coordinate with advertising sources/providers to update viewer/demographic profiles and manage viewer incentive programs for advertising campaigns. In an exemplary implementation, a viewer may receive coupons/discounts for sitting through a threshold number of advertisements and/or for rating the advertisements (e.g., a viewer may receive a reduction on a service provider bill for watching a few advertisements and completing a short survey). Rating interface  140  may provide messages to keep the viewer interested and motivated to continue viewing advertisements (e.g., on-screen messages such as “thank you for your vote, three more votes and you&#39;re eligible for . . . ”). 
     As used herein, the term “video client” may refer to any media processing device that may receive multimedia content over a network, and may provide such multimedia content to an attached video display device (such as a television or computer monitor). A “subscription multimedia service,” as used herein, may refer to television, telephone, networking and/or other multimedia services provided to customers over a closed distribution network, such as cable, optical fiber, satellite, or virtual private networks. Also, as used herein, the terms “user,” “viewer,” “subscriber,” and “customer” may refer interchangeably to a person who interacts with, orders, uploads, listens to, or plays multimedia content over a subscription multimedia service network. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an exemplary network  200  in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. As illustrated, network  200  may include video client  110 , video display device  120 , remote control  150 , a content server  205 , a content delivery system  210 , a user profile database  215 , a ratings aggregation and processing (R.A.P.) module  220  that includes a rating manager  222  and a data logger  224 , a linear advertising (ad) content database  230 , an interactive advertising (ad) content database  235 , advertising (ad) sources  240 , a linear program content database  250 , an interactive program content database  255 , content sources  260 , a local gateway  270 , and an access network  280 . Video client  110 , video display device  120 , remote control  150 , and local gateway  270  may be located on a customer&#39;s premises and may be connected via access network  280  to content delivery system  210  and/or content server  205  located at, for example, a subscription multimedia service provider&#39;s premises. Components of network  200  may interconnect via wired and/or wireless connections. 
     For simplicity, a single video client  110 , video display device  120 , remote control  150 , content server  205 , content delivery system  210 , user profile database  215 , ratings aggregation and processing module  220 , rating manager  222 , data logger  224 , linear advertising content database  230 , interactive advertising content database  235 , set of advertising sources  240 , linear program content database  250 , interactive program content database  255 , set of content sources  260 , local gateway  270 , and access network  280  have been illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In practice, there may be more video clients  110 , video display devices  120 , remote controls  150 , content servers  205 , content delivery systems  210 , user profile databases  215 , ratings aggregation and processing modules  220 , rating managers  222 , data loggers  224 , linear advertising content databases  230 , interactive advertising content databases  235 , sets of advertising sources  240 , linear program content databases  250 , interactive program content databases  255 , sets of content sources  260 , local gateways  270 , and/or access networks  280 . Also, in some instances, one or more of the components of network  200  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more of the components of network  200 . 
     Video client  110  may include any device capable of receiving, transmitting and/or processing information to and/or from access network  280 . In one implementation, video client  110  may be a closed device (e.g., including a hardware/software configuration that is not accessible to the general public). Video client  110  may provide video signals to video display device  120 . Examples of video client  110  may include a set-top box, a computer, a cable card, and a portable electronic device (e.g., a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.). Video client  110  may receive a television signal from gateway  270 , may convert the signal to a form usable by video display device  120 , and may transmit the signal to video display device  120  for display. Video client  110  may further allow a user to provide user input for interactive television applications (e.g., to navigate menu displays, such as rating interface  140 , and/or select menu items) and to alter the programming provided to video display device  120  based on a signal (e.g., a channel up or channel down signal) received from, for example, remote control  150 . In one implementation, video client  110  may support interfaces, such as rating interface  140 , using Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF). Video client  110  may also send data to a backend server (e.g., content server  205 , rating manager  222 , and/or a device within content delivery system  210 ) via access network  280 . In an exemplary implementation, video client  110  may also include an integrated digital video recorder (DVR) or other memory device that may enable video client  110  to store content for later retrieval/presentation to a user based on, for example, user interactions with rating interface  140 . In some implementations, video client  110  may be incorporated within video display device  120 . 
     Video display device  120  may include a digital or analog display via which a user may view multimedia content (including, for example, conventional programming, interactive displays, and/or advertising). Video display device  120  may refer to any device that can receive and display multimedia content delivered over access network  280  and/or through video client  110  for perception by users. Video display device  120  may include technologies, such as cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light-emitting diode (LED) displays, plasma displays, etc. 
     Remote control  150  may include a range of devices including function specific keys, number keys, and/or a full-text key pad. A user may interact with video client  110  using a keypad that is part of remote control  150 , and signals representing key depressions may be transmitted to video client  110  via an infrared transmission or another type of transmission. Remote control  150  may allow a user to navigate a program guide, select channels or programs for viewing, adjust display characteristics, and/or perform other interactive functions related to viewing multimedia-type content provided over a network. In one implementation, video client  110  may allow a user to provide input to a rating menu (e.g., rating interface  140 ) by using remote control  150 . For example, arrow keys and a “Select” button on remote control  150  may be used to highlight and select indicators for particular rating levels (e.g., qualitative rating levels such as “like” and “don&#39;t like,” or quantitative ranges such as a scale of 1 to 5). As another example, remote control  150  may include an “A,” a “B,” and a “C” shortcut button, where pressing each button may toggle between select a rating level or toggle between ratings. In another exemplary implementation (e.g., if video client  110  corresponds to a computer, a portable electronic device, etc.), remote control  150  may be omitted and a user may interact with video client  110  via input mechanisms (e.g., a keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, etc.) associated with video client  110 . 
     Content server  205  may include one or more devices for providing content/information to video client  110  and/or video display device  120  in accordance with requests that are issued from video client  110 . Examples of content server  205  may include a headed device that provides pay-per-view (PPV) events, a video-on-demand (VOD) device or another device that provides multimedia content upon request, an advertising server that provides advertising associated with multimedia content, and/or a program guide information server that provides information related to multimedia content available to video client  110 . Content server  205  may communicate with a variety of other components within network  200 , such as devices within content delivery system  210 , linear advertising content database  230 , interactive advertising content database  235 , linear program content database  250 , and interactive program content database  255  to provide requested multimedia services to customers. In one implementation, content server  205  may retrieve advertising content that has been specifically requested by video client  110  based on rating campaign information provided to video client  110 . While shown as a single server device in  FIG. 2 , in other implementations, content server  205  may be distributed among multiple server devices. 
     Content delivery system  210  may include one or more devices to deliver broadcast and other multimedia content to video client  110 . In general, content delivery system  210  may provide control over (e.g., via access network  280 ) television services for devices, such as video clients  110 , video display devices  120 , and/or other network connectivity devices (e.g., personal computers, not shown) provided at the customer&#39;s premises. Content delivery system  210  may include, for example, video hub offices (VHOs), databases, gateways, servers, network switches, and/or routers that may be connected by wired and/or wireless connections. Content delivery system  210  may serve as a link between a video client  110  and content server  205  to enable delivery of on-demand multimedia content, advertising, applications (e.g., applications/updates for rating interface  140 ), etc. For example, content delivery system  210  may facilitate communications between content server  205  and video client  110  via access network  280 . In one implementation, content delivery system  210  may combine broadcast programming content with advertising content (retrieved, e.g., from content server  205 ) to provide a combined linear content/advertising stream to video client  110 . In some implementations, content delivery system  210  may also collect information from video clients  110  that may be used, for example, to generate user profiles. 
     User profile database  215  may include one or more devices for storing data for video client  110  or groups of video clients that may be used to provide targeted advertising and/or manage advertising campaigns. For example, advertisements may be assigned a unique advertising identifier that may be cross-referenced to particular demographics, interests, or other indicators that may be obtained from a user profiles. Advertisers may classify particular advertising content to identify demographic groups, common interests, and/or other information that can be used in determining particular video clients  110  (or groups of video clients) to which to direct the advertising content. Content delivery system  210  may retrieve user profile information from user profile database  215  and retrieve advertising content from content server  205  that has been classified to correspond to the user profile tendencies. 
     Ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may include one or more devices that are capable of collecting data and performing statistical analysis on user activity of video client  110  and other video clients. Ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may combine related data into groups of accounts based on, for example, pattern analysis and correlation. Ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may also manage incentive programs for viewers in conjunction with video clients  110 . In implementations described herein, ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may include rating manager  222  and data logger  224 . 
     Rating manager  222  may include one or more server devices, or other types of computation or communication devices, that gather, process, search, and/or provide information in a manner described herein. Rating manager  222  may receive advertisement rating information from video client  110  and may determine appropriate responses to viewer rating inputs. In one implementation, rating manager  222  may collect user rating information from multiple video clients  110 . Rating manager  222  may aggregate user rating information to identify responses to particular advertisements and/or advertising campaigns. Rating manager  222  may also collect user response data to assemble profiles for individual video clients  110  (or accounts associated with a video client  110 ). For example, rating manager  222  may track how many ratings are received from a particular video client  110  and may identify viewer incentives (e.g., coupons for multimedia provider services, coupons for advertiser products/services, rebates, price reductions, access to additional content, etc.) when video client  110  indicates that a viewer has provided a particular number of rankings and/or provided a particular type of information (e.g., completed a more in-depth survey). 
     Data logger  224  may include one or more devices that maintain a rating history (such as user ratings of advertisements based on interactions with rating interface  140 ) of video client  110 . In one implementation, data logger  224  may include a database of exemplary fields, such as a video client identifier, a user account identifier (e.g., for a particular user of a video client), a date field (e.g., a date the advertisement was shown or a date the user rating was provided), a time field (e.g., a time the advertisement was shown or a time the user rating was provided), one or more advertisement code(s) fields, a channel field (e.g., the current channel at the time an advertisement was rated), and/or a program identification field (e.g., the current program at the time an advertisement was rated). Data logger  224  may include multiple databases stored locally at ratings aggregation and processing module  220  and/or stored at one or more different and possibly remote locations. Data logger  224  may group viewer rating histories, for example, by individual users, user groups, demographics, etc. Information from data logger  224  may be retrieved by a backend server (or another server device) within, for example, content delivery system  210  to monitor advertising data. 
     Linear advertising content database  230  may include one or more devices that receive and maintain linear advertising content from advertising sources  240 . Linear advertising content may include, for example, advertising content that may be inserted within a break in linear programming (e.g., a conventional commercial break in broadcast programming). Interactive advertising content database  235  may include one or more devices that receive and maintain interactive advertising content from advertising sources  240 . Interactive advertising content may include, for example, non-linear advertising that may be presented, for example, based directly or indirectly on user input to video client  110 . Non-liner advertising may include, for example, interactive applications, widgets, and/or other multimedia that may not be time-restricted. 
     Advertising sources  240  may include one or more server devices, or other types of computation or communication devices, that gather, process, search, and/or provide information in a manner described herein. Advertising sources  240  may provide linear and interactive advertising content to linear advertising content database  230  and/or interactive advertising content database  235 . In an exemplary implementation, advertising sources  240  may be controlled by one or more different devices than the device that controls linear advertising content database  230  and/or interactive advertising content database  235  (e.g., the subscription multimedia service provider). In an exemplary implementation, rating information from ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may be provided to advertising sources  240 . 
     Linear program content database  250  and interactive program content database  255  may each include one or more devices that receive and maintain linear program content and interactive program content, respectively, from content sources  260 . Linear program content may include, for example, pay-per-view programming. Interactive program content may include non-linear programming that may be selected and/or controlled by a user, such as interactive applications, games, etc. 
     Content sources  260  may include one or more server devices, or other types of computation or communication devices, that gather, process, search, and/or provide information in a manner described herein. Content sources  260  may provide linear and interactive program content to linear program content database  250  and/or interactive program content database  255 . In an exemplary implementation, content sources  260  may be controlled by one or more different operating entities than the entity that controls linear program content database  250  and/or interactive program content database  255  (e.g., the subscription multimedia service provider). 
     Local gateway  270  may include a network device that provides an interface from access network  280  to video clients  110  and/or other network connectivity devices (not shown). For example, when telecommunication services are provided to a customer&#39;s premises via an optical fiber, gateway  270  may include an optical network terminal (ONT) that connects to the optical fiber. The ONT may convert between signals appropriate for video display device  120  and signals appropriate for transmission over optical fiber. For example, the ONT may include a coaxial cable connection that leads to video display device  120  or video client  110 . The ONT may also include an Ethernet output port that connects to a personal computer or a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone and/or a standard telephone port for connecting to a standard telephone. Gateway  270  may include one of a number of possible gateway devices, including a satellite antenna and receiver, a coaxial cable connection, an ONT, or a broadband access for Internet Protocol TV (IPTV). The satellite antenna and receiver may provide an interface for television services broadcast from satellites. The coaxial cable connection may provide an interface for television services connected to a customer via coaxial cables. The ONT may provide an interface for an optical fiber connection. The broadband IPTV access may generally include any device that provides broadband access over which television service may be provided. 
     Access network  280  may include a video signaling and distribution network and system that permit transfer of data between backend servers and video clients  110 . Additionally, access network  280  may include, among other things, a firewall, a filtering mechanism, a proxy, and/or network address translation mechanisms. Access network  280  may include, for example, a single network, such as a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a wireless network), the Internet, a satellite network, etc., or a combination of networks. Access network  280  may provide customers with multimedia content provided, for example, by content server  205  and/or content delivery system  210 . 
     In implementations described herein, video client  110  may receive programming from content delivery system  210 . The programming may include advertisements that may be rated by users of video client  110 . Video client  110  may display the advertisements (e.g., advertisement  130 ) to a user via video display device  120 . Prior to or during an advertising break in the programming, a user may activate a rating interface (e.g., rating interface  140 ). During presentation of an advertisement, the rating interface may be simultaneously displayed with the advertisement. A user may select, via remote control  150 , a rating for the advertisement using the rating interface. Video client  110  may provide an indication of the user&#39;s rating to rating manager  222  via access network  280 . Rating manager  222  may store the user rating and identify an appropriate response to the user input based on, for example, particular incentive criteria. The appropriate response may include, for example, identification of a particular reward or change of status (e.g., within the incentive program) for the user. Rating manager  222  may aggregate user rating information for advertisements and store the information in data logger  224 . Portions of aggregated rating information may be provided to appropriate advertising sources (e.g., advertising sources  240 ). Rating manager  222  may also generate/update advertisement viewing profiles for particular video clients and/or groups of video clients. 
       FIG. 3  is diagram illustrating exemplary components of video client  110 . As shown, video client  110  may include a control unit  310 , a memory  320 , a display  330 , a network connection  340 , an input/output (I/O) component  350 , and a bus  360 . 
     Control unit  310  may include one or more processors, microprocessors, or another type of processing logic that interprets and executes instructions. Among other functions, control unit  310  may generate an advertisement rating interface (e.g., rating interface  140 ) and may collect and store viewer input associated with rating interface. Control unit  310  may execute instructions to send viewer input to another device, such as rating manager  222 . Control unit  310  may also receive information and/or instructions from other devices, such as rating manager  222  and/or content delivery system  210 . 
     Memory  320  may include one or more dynamic or static storage devices that may store information and instructions for execution by control unit  310 . For example, memory  320  may include a storage component, such as a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), a read only memory (ROM), a programmable read only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and/or a flash memory. Memory  320  may also include a component that may include a magnetic and/or optical recording medium to implement, for example, DVR functionality. In one implementation, memory  320  may store a rating activity log to send at a later point in time, such as when requested by rating manager  222 . 
     Display  330  may include any component capable of providing visual information. For example, in one implementation, display  330  may be a light emitting diode (LED) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). In another implementation, display  330  may use another display technology, such as a dot matrix display, etc. Display  330  may display, for example, text (such as a time, a date, or a channel selection), images, and/or video information. 
     Network connection  340  may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables video client  110  to communicate with other devices and/or systems, such as content delivery system  210  and/or rating manager  222 . For example, network connection  340  may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, a radio interface, or the like. Network connection  340  may allow for wired and/or wireless communication. 
     Input/output devices  350  may generally include user input devices, such as external buttons, and output devices, such as LED indicators. With input/output devices  350 , a user may generally interact with video client  110 . In some implementations, input/output devices  350  may be implemented via a remote control (e.g., remote control  150 ). Bus  360  may provide an interface through which components of video client  110  can communicate with one another. 
     As will be described in detail below, video client  110  may perform certain operations relating to displaying information and communicating viewer activities to a server, such as rating manager  222 . Video client  110  may perform these operations in response to control unit  310  executing software instructions contained in a computer-readable medium, such as memory  320 . A computer-readable medium may be defined as a physical or logical memory device. A logical memory device may refer to memory space within a single, physical memory device or spread across multiple, physical memory devices. The software instructions may be read into memory  320  from another computer-readable medium or from another device. The software instructions contained in memory  320  may cause control unit  310  to perform processes that will be described later. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
     Although  FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary components of video client  110 , in other implementations, video client  110  may include fewer, different, differently arranged, or additional components than those depicted in  FIG. 3 . In still other implementations, one or more components of video client  110  may perform one or more other tasks described as being performed by one or more other components of video client  110 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of exemplary components of a device  400  that may correspond to content server  205  and/or rating manager  222 . In some implementations, device  400  may also correspond to one or more of data logger  224 , advertising sources  240 , content sources  260 , and certain components of content delivery system  210 . As illustrated, device  400  may include a bus  410 , a processing unit  420 , a main memory  430 , a read-only memory (ROM)  440 , a storage device  450 , an input device  460 , an output device  470 , and a communication interface  480 . 
     Bus  410  may include a path that permits communication among the components of device  400 . Processing unit  420  may include one or more processors, microprocessors, or other types of processing units, such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc., that may interpret and execute instructions. 
     Main memory  430  may include a RAM or another type of dynamic storage device that stores information and instructions for execution by processing unit  420 . ROM  440  may include a ROM device or another type of static storage device that may store static information and instructions for use by processing unit  420 . Storage device  450  may include a magnetic and/or optical recording medium and its corresponding drive. Storage device  450  may store viewer transaction history for particular video clients  110  and/or all video clients  110  associated with a subscription multimedia service provider. 
     Input device  460  may include a mechanism that permits an operator to input information to device  400 , such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, voice recognition and/or biometric mechanisms, a touch-screen interface, etc. Output device  470  may include a mechanism that outputs information to the operator, including a display, a printer, a speaker, etc. Communication interface  480  may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables device  400  to communicate with other devices and/or systems, such as video client  110 . 
     As will be described in detail below, device  400  may perform certain operations associated with providing soliciting, collecting, and distributing view feedback for advertisements within a subscription multimedia service. Device  400  may perform these and other operations in response to processing unit  420  executing software instructions contained in a computer-readable medium, such as main memory  430 . The software instructions may be read into main memory  430  from another computer-readable medium, such as storage device  450 , or from another device via communication interface  480 . The software instructions contained in main memory  430  may cause processing unit  420  to perform processes that will be described later. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with, software instructions to implement processes consistent with exemplary implementations. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
     Although  FIG. 4  illustrates exemplary components of device  400 , in other implementations, device  400  may include fewer, different, differently arranged, or additional components than those depicted in  FIG. 4 . In still other implementations, one or more components of device  400  may perform one or more other tasks described as being performed by one or more other components of device  400 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts a diagram of exemplary interactions among components of an exemplary portion  500  of network  200 . As illustrated, exemplary network portion  500  may include video client  110 , content delivery system  210 , ratings aggregation and processing module  220 , and ad sources  240 . Video client  110 , content delivery system  210 , ratings aggregation and processing module  220 , and ad sources  240  may include the features described above in connection with, for example,  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 5 , content delivery system  210  may provide linear/interactive advertising content  510  to video client  110 . For example, in one implementation, content delivery system  210  may combine linear advertising content with linear broadcast content and send the combined content to video client  110  via access network  280 . In one implementation, linear/interactive advertising content  510  may be supplied to content delivery system  210  via content server  205 , linear advertising content database  230 , and/or interactive advertising content database  235  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ). In one implementation, linear/interactive advertising content  510  may be provided to video client  110  as a single video stream integrated with particular program content. In another implementation, content delivery system  210  may provide linear/interactive advertising content  510  separate from any program content, so that linear/interactive advertising content  510  may later be associated with the program content by video client  110 . 
     Video client  110  may receive linear/interactive advertising content  510  and may cause the advertising content to be displayed to a user (e.g., via video display device  120 ). When an advertisement is displayed, video client  110  may also initiate display of a rating interface (e.g., rating interface  140 ). A viewer may provide a user rating input  520  to video client  110  via the rating interface. User rating input  520  may be provided via a remote control (e.g., remote control  150 ). 
     Video client  110  may identify user rating input  520  and associate user rating input  520  with an identification code for the advertisement, time/channel information, an identification code for video client  110 , and/or other contextual information. Video client  110  may compile the identification code for the advertisement, time/channel information, identification code for video client  110 , and/or other contextual information and send the compiled user rating information to ratings aggregation and processing module  220 , as indicated by reference number  530 . In one implementation, user rating information  530  may be provided to ratings aggregation and processing module  220  in real time (or near real time). In other implementations, user rating information  530  may be provided as a batch of rating inputs (e.g., provided at particular intervals and/or when requested by ratings aggregation and processing module  220 ). Thus, in some implementations, video client  110  may receive and store criteria for a rating incentive program and monitor metrics from the user input against the stored criteria in order to provide real-time feedback to a viewer regarding the viewer&#39;s incentive/reward status. 
     Ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may receive user rating information  530 , compile user rating information  530  with other user rating information, and update viewer/video client profiles. In one implementation, ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may provide rating data  540  to advertisers (such as ad sources  240 ), content providers (such as content sources  260 ), or others systems within or outside of network  200 . Rating data  540  may be provided in a variety of formats and may be combined with other data retrieved from video clients  110 . Rating data  540  may include, for example, an indication of a particular advertisement&#39;s popularity based on the number to total viewer responses received and/or the number of positive viewer responses. 
     Ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may also determine an appropriate response to user rating information  530  based on, for example, a set of incentive rules and/or prevailing environmental/contextual metrics (e.g., time of day, program being viewed, etc.). Based on the appropriate response determined by ratings aggregation and processing module  220 , ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may provide incentive information  550  to video client  110 . Rating manager  222  of ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may, for example, instruct video client  110  to announce a particular reward (e.g., coupons, rebates, price reductions, access to additional content, etc.) available to a viewer and/or a status of progress toward a particular reward. 
     In an exemplary implementation, ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may also capture metrics regarding user rating information  530 . For example, rating manager  222  of ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may identify advertisement codes, user ratings, contextual parameters, and/or other information that may be relevant to advertisers and/or system managers. The advertisement codes, user ratings, contextual parameters, and/or other information may be compiled as updates for a user profile related to video client  110 . As indicated by reference number  560 , ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may send the updates for a user profile to another location either within ratings aggregation and processing module  220  (e.g., data logger  224 ) or to another data collection/analyzing component within network  200 . 
     Although  FIG. 5  shows exemplary components of network portion  500 , in other implementations, network portion  500  may contain fewer, different, differently arranged, or additional components than depicted in  FIG. 5 . In still other implementations, one or more components of network portion  500  may perform one or more other tasks described as being performed by one or more other components of network portion  500 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts a diagram of exemplary functional components of rating manager  222 . In one implementation, the functions described in connection with  FIG. 6  may be performed by processing unit  420  ( FIG. 4 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , rating manager  222  may include ratings aggregator  610 , profile manager  620 , and reward manager  630 . 
     Ratings aggregator  610  may include hardware or a combination of hardware and software to receive user rating information from one or more video clients  110  and to associate the user ratings information with other information for particular advertisements and/or advertisement campaigns. In one implementation, ratings aggregator  610  may receive user rating information for multiple advertisements simultaneously (e.g., as a batch) and parse the user rating information to associate each rating with other information for particular advertisements. 
     Profile manager  620  may include hardware or a combination of hardware and software to associate rating information received from video client  110  with other information for that particular video client  110 . For example, profile manager  620  may send user rating information to another component within network  200  and to combine user rating information with other tracked user viewing information (e.g., information not associated with advertisement rating) in order to develop a comprehensive profile for an individual video client  110  and/or groups of video clients. 
     Reward manager  630  may include hardware or a combination of hardware and software to manage incentive programs for obtaining viewer ratings. For example, reward manager  630  may store (e.g., in main memory  430 ) reward program criteria, rules, and updates and send the program criteria, rules, and updates to video client  110 . Reward manager  630  may also apply rules to particular rating information received from video client data to identify rewards earned by viewers. Reward manger  630  may also communicate reward information to video client  110  and/or other components of network  200  to apply an earned reward to the video client  110  (e.g., provide billing credit for an account associated with video client  110 , supply a coupon code to video client  110 , grant video client  110  access to premium content, etc.) 
     Although  FIG. 6  shows exemplary functional components of rating manager  222 , in other implementations, rating manager  222  may contain fewer, different, differently arranged, or additional functional components than depicted in  FIG. 6 . In still other implementations, one or more functional components of rating manager  222  may perform one or more other tasks described as being performed by one or more other functional components of rating manager  222 . 
       FIG. 7  provides a flow chart of an exemplary process  700  for obtaining viewer feedback of television advertising according to implementations described herein. In one implementation, some or all of process  700  may be performed by one or more devices associated with a subscription multimedia service, such as rating manager  222  and/or content delivery system  210 . In other implementations, some or all of process  700  may be performed by another device or group of devices associated with a subscription multimedia service. 
     Process  700  may include providing an advertisement to a video client (block  710 ). For example, as described above in connection with  FIG. 5 , content delivery system  210  may provide linear/interactive advertising content  510  to video client  110 . In one implementation, content delivery system  210  may combine linear advertising content with linear broadcast content and send the combined content to video client  110  via access network  280 . Linear/interactive advertising content  510  may be supplied to content delivery system  210 , for example, via content server  205 , linear advertising content database  230 , and/or interactive advertising content database  235 . Linear/interactive advertising content  510  may be provided to video client  110  as a single video stream integrated with particular program content. In another implementation, content delivery system  210  may provide linear/interactive advertising content  510  separate from any program content, so that linear/interactive advertising content  510  may later be associated with the program content by video client  110 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 7 , rating information may be received from the video client (block  720 ), rating information may be aggregated and recorded (block  730 ), and the aggregated rating information may be sent to other servers (block  740 ). For example, as described above in connection with  FIG. 5 , ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may receive user rating information  530  and compile user rating information  530  with other user rating information. In one implementation, ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may provide rating data  540  to advertisers (such as ad sources  240 ), content providers (such as content sources  260 ), or others systems within or outside of network  200 . Rating data  540  may be provided in a variety of formats and may be combined with other data retrieved from video clients  110 . 
     Again referring to  FIG. 7 , incentive information may be sent to the video client (block  750 ) and profile/incentive information for the video client may be updated (block  760 ). For example, as described above in connection with  FIG. 5 , ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may also determine an appropriate response to user rating information  530  based on, for example, a set of incentive rules and/or prevailing environmental/contextual metrics (e.g., time of day, program being viewed, etc.). Based on the appropriate response determined by ratings aggregation and processing module  220 , ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may provide incentive information  550  to video client  110 . Rating manager  222  of ratings aggregation and processing module  220  may, for example, instruct video client  110  to announce a particular reward (e.g., coupons, rebates, price reductions, access to additional content, etc.) available to a viewer and/or a status of progress toward a particular reward. As indicated by reference number  560 , rating manager  222  may send the updates for a user profile to another location either within ratings aggregation and processing module  220  (e.g., data logger  224 ) or to another data collection/analyzing component within network  200 . 
       FIG. 8  provides a flow chart of another exemplary process  800  for obtaining viewer feedback of television advertising according to implementations described herein. In one implementation, some or all of process  800  may be performed by a video client, such as video client  110 , associated with a subscription multimedia service. In other implementations, some or all of process  800  may be performed by video client  110  in conjunction with one or more servers, such as rating manager  222 . 
     Process  800  may include receiving and presenting an advertisement (block  810 ). For example, video client  110  may receive from content delivery system  210  an advertisement included within a linear broadcast stream. In another implementation, video client  110  may request (e.g., based on user input via remote control  150 ) a particular primary advertisement from content server  205 , such as a previously bookmarked advertisement selected from a list of bookmarked advertisements. The advertisement may be presented to the user on a display (e.g., video display  120 ). 
     A rating interface may be presented (block  820 ) and user input to the rating interface may be received (block  830 ). For example, as described above in connection with  FIG. 5 , video client  110  may receive linear/interactive advertising content  510  and may cause the advertising content to be displayed to a user (e.g., via video display device  120 ). When an advertisement is displayed, video client  110  may also initiate display of a rating interface (e.g., rating interface  140 ). A viewer may provide a user rating input  520  to video client  110  via the rating interface. User rating input  520  may be provided via a remote control (e.g., remote control  150 ). 
     In an exemplary implementation, video client  110  may also implement DVR capabilities to store linear programming content upon receiving user input to the rating interface. For example, advertisement  130  may be paused at the point in time at which a user activates the rating interface or provides an input signal to the activated user interface. Video client  110  may store subsequent linear content (e.g., program content and/or linear advertising) from that point in time forward. 
     The ratings aggregation and processing module may be notified of the user rating (block  840 ). For example, as described above in connection with  FIG. 5 , video client  110  may identify user rating input  520  and associate user rating input  520  with an identification code for the advertisement, time/channel information, an identification code for video client  110 , and/or other contextual information. Video client  110  may compile the identification code for the advertisement, time/channel information, identification code for video client  110 , and/or other contextual information and send the compiled user rating information to ratings aggregation and processing module  220 , as indicated by reference number  530 . In one implementation, user rating information  530  may be provided to ratings aggregation and processing module  220  in real time (or near real time). In other implementations, user rating information  530  may be provided as a batch of rating inputs (e.g., provided at particular intervals and/or when requested by ratings aggregation and processing module  220 ). 
     Incentive information may be received and presented (block  850 ). For example, video client  110  may provide, via rating interface  140 , messages to keep the viewer interested and motivated to continue viewing advertisements. In one implementation, video client  110  may retrieve information to be presented from a local memory (e.g., memory  320 ). In another implementation, video client  110  may receive information to be presented from another device or group of devices, such as ratings aggregation and processing module  220 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  provide exemplary diagrams illustrating implementations of a user interface for obtaining viewer feedback of television advertising. More specifically,  FIG. 9A  provides an exemplary diagram of an on-screen interface that may be displayed to solicit viewer input during an advertisement, and  FIG. 9B  provides an exemplary diagram of an on-screen interface that may be displayed in response to the viewer input. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9A , a viewer may view a display on video display device  120  that presents an advertisement  910 . Advertisement  910  may be, for example, a linear advertisement that is presented during a break in program content (e.g., a conventional commercial break). As shown in  FIG. 9A , a rating interface  920  may be displayed simultaneously during at least a portion of advertisement  910 . In one implementation, rating interface  920  may be automatically presented during the advertisement if a viewer, for example, has activated a rating interface feature within video client  110 . In another implementation, a viewer may cause rating interface  920  to be displayed by pressing a particular button on remote control  150  during display of advertisement  910 . 
     Rating interface  920  may include an interactive menu that can be implemented, for example, via EBIF. In one implementation, rating interface  920  may include rating indicators  922  that may be selected via remote control  150  to allow a user to provide input. Rating indicators  922  may include, for example, qualitative words/images (e.g., “like it/don&#39;t like it,” thumbs up/thumbs down, various emoticons, etc.) or quantitative ranges (e.g., a rating scale of 1 to 5, where 1 indicates a poor rating and 5 indicates a high rating). In general, rating interface  920  may be configured to allow a viewer to quickly provide rating input in an unobtrusive manner. In some implementations, rating interface  920  may include a selection option  924  to provide a more detailed rating for advertisement  910 . Selection option  924  may provide access to a more detailed rating interface menu that may allow, for example, textual comments from the viewer. 
     In one implementation, rating-input from the viewer (such as pressing a button on remote control  150  to activate rating interface  920 , provide a rating value within rating interface  920 , or choose the more detailed rating interface menu) may cause video client  110  to pause the display of advertisement  910 . In an exemplary implementation, content that continues to be broadcast to video client  110  during the pause period may be stored in a memory (e.g., memory  320 ) of video client  110  (e.g., using DVR functionality). 
     As shown in  FIG. 9B , programming  930  (e.g., additional advertising and/or program content) may continue to be presented on video display device  120  after the user input to rating interface  920  has been entered. Based on the user input to rating interface  920 , a response message  940  may be presented on video display device  120 . Response message  940  may include additional a message to indicate the rating input was successfully entered and/or a status of incentive related to the rating system. 
     As another example, a viewer may receive access to additional (e.g., premium) content for watching and rating advertisements. The additional content may be, for example, additional advertisements within an advertising campaign so that watching advertising is transformed into a form of gaming. In other words, viewers can accumulate points and/or access to successively “higher” levels of an advertising campaign. Moreover, viewers can view with one another for status based on tier level achieved (e.g., the ratings interface  940  may provide statistics for user groups and even provide for chatting and other interaction among group members). Advantageously, this interactive rating can make advertising campaigns “sticky” as viewer communities may be formed around popular advertisements. 
     The illustrations of  FIGS. 9A and 9B  provide exemplary formats for obtaining viewer feedback of television advertising. Other formats and variations may be used. 
     Implementations described herein may provide systems and/or methods that receives an advertisement for presentation on a display and presents to a user, on the display, the advertisement and a rating interface for the advertisement. The systems and/or methods may receive, via the rating interface, a user input to rate the advertisement and send, to a server, rating information based on the user input to rate the advertisement. The systems and/or methods may also receive, from the server, incentive information based on the rating information and present to the user, on the display, the incentive information. Such systems and/or methods may generate interest in advertising campaigns and thereby increase the value of advertising timeslots and raise advertising revenues for multimedia service providers. 
     The foregoing description provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of systems and/or methods disclosed herein. 
     For example, while series of blocks have been described with regard to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the order of the blocks may differ in other implementations. Further, non-dependent blocks may be performed in parallel. 
     It will be apparent that exemplary aspects, as described above, may be implemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardware in the implementations illustrated in the figures. The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement these aspects should not be construed as limiting. Thus, the operation and behavior of the aspects were described without reference to the specific software code—it being understood that software and control hardware could be designed to implement the aspects based on the description herein. 
     Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the invention. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. 
     No element, block, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on,” as used herein is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.