There is provided a system and method for the synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications, providing interactive content synchronized with on-air television programming. There is provided a system comprising a client device with a display device and an input device and running a synchronization application. The client device receives digital data transmitted from a server, and transmits user feedback information generated from user interactions with the digital data back to the server. The digital data are interactive advertisements, such as online social games, that increase users' awareness of the advertised products or messages. The digital data are delivered to the user's client device in synchronization with the broadcasting of on-air television commercials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) The present invention relates generally to interactive content. More particularly, the present invention relates to interactive content synchronized with on-air television programming. (3) Background Art (4) Interactive television is well known in the art. Interactive television usually allows viewers to interact with the contents related to on-air television programming. For example, reality television shows and game shows are two types of television programming that allow viewers to interact via devices connected to the Internet to affect, for example, the outcome of the show by voting or other interactions. Devices providing on-air television interactivity may include mobile devices such as cell phones, general purpose computing devices such as laptop, desktop, or tablet PCs, integrated IPTVs hosting interactive applications such as Google TV, Direct TV, WebTV and other devices allowing viewers to interact with on-air television programming. (5) ETV is one well-known example of interactive television. ETV often requires viewers to have a computer connected to the World Wide Web and to be in proximity to a television. During the broadcast of on-air television programming, the user can access program specific Internet website that is synchronized to the on-air television programming, providing much deeper viewer engagement. (6) While interactive television programs can be a source of excitement for many viewers, view
1. A method for use by a server for synchronizing an interactive social game with a broadcasting of an on-air commercial programming, the method comprising: receiving, by the server from each of a plurality of client devices over the Internet, information indicative of a beginning of the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming after a broadcasting of an on-air regular noncommercial programming by a broadcaster for televisions, wherein audio or visual signals of the beginning of the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming emitted by the televisions are detected by each of the plurality of client devices to indicate the beginning of the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming; in response to receiving the information from each of the plurality of client devices indicative of the beginning of the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming by the broadcaster, the server starting the interactive social game over the Internet for playing by a plurality of users on one of the plurality of client devices independent of the televisions, wherein the interactive social game is played on the plurality of client devices, and not the televisions; during the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming by the broadcaster for the televisions, the server determining a winner of the interactive social game among the plurality of users playing the interactive social game; during the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming by the broadcaster for the televisions, the server providing a prize to the winner of the interactive social game; and terminating, by the server, the interactive social game being played on the plurality of client devices in synchronization with a return to the broadcasting of the on-air regular noncommercial programming by the broadcaster for the televisions. ||
7. A server for synchronizing an interactive social game with a broadcasting of an on-air commercial programming, the server comprising: a processor configured to: receive, from each of a plurality of client devices over the Internet, information indicative of a beginning of the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming after a broadcasting of an on-air regular noncommercial programming by a broadcaster for televisions, wherein audio or visual signals of the beginning of the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming emitted by the televisions are detected by each of the plurality of client devices to indicate the beginning of the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming; in response to receiving the information from each of the plurality of client devices indicative of the beginning of the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming by the broadcaster, start the interactive social game over the Internet for playing by a plurality of users on one of the plurality of client devices independent of the televisions, wherein the interactive social game is played on the plurality of client devices, and not the televisions; during the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming by the broadcaster for the televisions, determine a winner of the interactive social game among the plurality of users playing the interactive social game; during the broadcasting of the on-air commercial programming by the broadcaster for the televisions, provide a prize to the winner of the interactive social game; and terminate the interactive social game being played on the plurality of client devices in synchronization with a return to the broadcasting of the on-air regular noncommercial programming by the broadcaster for the televisions.