Abstract: A technique for offering a reward to an audience member tuned to a broadcast signal which is performed by reproduction equipment, the broadcast signal having commercial content, program content, and commercial content identification codes respectively corresponding to advertisements contained in the commercial content, wherein the audience member captures the commercial content identification codes from the performed broadcast signal and actuates storing of a segment of a program content from the performed broadcast signal. The technique identifies the program based on the segment thereof that was stored in response to the command, and offers the audience member a reward related to the identified program.

Abstract: A technique for providing interactive television viewing. A programming signal is combined with a code signal to form a transmission signal, wherein different programming signals correspond to respective code signals. The technique includes broadcasting the transmission signal, receiving the broadcast transmission signal with a TV receiver at a viewer's location, and displaying the programming signal in the received transmission signal. At least one code signal is pre-stored at the viewer's location. Interactive program data is also pre-stored at the viewer's location, wherein different interactive program data correspond to respective ones of the pre-stored code signals.

Abstract: Technique for providing an indication of viewer interest in response to visual stimuli. A viewer is exposed to visual stimuli. The viewer's saccadic eye motion occurring while the viewer is being exposed to the visual stimuli are measured. The visual stimuli are displayed together with the measured saccadic eye motion that occurred while the viewer was being exposed to the visual stimuli as an indication of the viewer's interest in such visual stimuli.

Abstract: A fingerprint reading mechanism is utilized so as to determine which audience members are present during various stages of an audio, visual, or audiovisual program. The fingerprint reading mechanism is associated with a processing mechanism, an “enter” button, an “exit” button, a clock, memory, an output indicator, and a code receiver. As an audience member enters or exits the program performance area, the audience member places a hand, or portion thereof, in proximity to the fingerprint reading mechanism, and also presses the “enter” or “exit” button as appropriate. Optionally, the functionalities of the “enter” button and the fingerprint reading mechanism may be combined into a single automatically activated enter/fingerprint reading mechanism, and the functionalities of the “exit” button and the fingerprint reading mechanism may be combined into a single automatically activated exit/fingerprint reading mechanism.

Abstract: A system for correlating a consumer's purchasing behavior to his/her exposure to advertisements. The advertisements are disseminated to consumers via the Internet, radio, television and direct mail. Monitoring data of the consumer's exposure to such advertisements are obtained. A scanner is used to allow the consumer to create electronic images of purchase records, such as receipts, obtained from the purchase of goods and services. The purchase receipts contain alpha-numeric characters which is recognized by an optical character reader application associated with the scanner. The optical character reader application identifies the purchased goods and services from the receipts. Once identified, the purchased goods and services can be correlated with the monitoring data.

Abstract: A technique for providing a reward as an incentive for a monitored person to be an audience member of at least one program being performed by reproduction equipment. A programming signal is provided for broadcasting the program with a programming signal source. The programming signal is encoded with discrete code signals, such that a preset number of the code signals occur within a given period of time, to produce an output signal, and the output signal is then broadcast. The broadcast output signal is received at a site where the monitored person is located, and the code signals therein are detected. The detected code signals are recognized only if a signal manually-actuated by the monitored person is received within a predetermined time period. The number of the code signals recognized while the monitored person is an audience member of the at least one program is determined, and the number of recognized code signals is compared with predetermined reward issuance criteria.

Abstract: A technique for enabling access to supplementary materials related to a program that is broadcast to a plurality of audience members. A programming signal is obtained to be used for performing the program. A supplementary material ID signal is obtained that uniquely identifies particular program-related supplementary material from among a plurality of available program-related supplementary materials, but which does not include sufficient data for printing and/or displaying such particular program-related supplementary material. The programming signal and the supplementary material ID signal are combined into an output signal that is broadcast from a broadcast signal source.