Method and system for directing interactive tv game shows

• US 20050246733A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV
• Inventors: Pijper, Carolina Adriana
• Application Number:
  US10/526,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20050246733A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2405 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the server, e.g. server load allocation of resources in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/50; performance measurement of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6106 specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6338 directed to network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method of directing an interactive broadcast with participation of a plurality of participants without the risk of peakload problems. This aim is reached by splitting up the downloading of the relevant interactive application over time, and by directing the moments off interaction between the participants and the interactive system. The part requiring most capacity is downloaded some time before or during the actual broadcast, and not by all participants at the same time. In addition each participant is allocated a time slot in which it is allowed to send in the answers.

Claims

1. A method of directing a broadcast with participation of a plurality of participants through the use of an interactive application on a participant device, comprising the steps of:

downloading said interactive application on said participant device;

using said interactive application off-line on said participant device, synchronized with the broadcast;

registering participant input on said participant device;

submitting said participant input.

2. A method according to claim 1 also comprising the steps of:

collecting and analyzing all participant input and

delivering the results of said analyzing to all participants.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which said downloading of said interactive application takes place before said broadcast.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which said submitting of said participant input takes place after said broadcast has ended.

5. A method according to claim 1 in which said interactive application comprises synchronization information.

6. A method according to claim 5 in which said interactive application and said synchronization information are downloaded on separate points in time.

7. A method according to claim 1 in which said interactive application comprises a time slot for said submitting of the participant input.

8. A method according to claim 1 in which said interactive is downloaded from the Internet site of said broadcast.

9. A method according to claim 1 in which said participant device is capable of communicating through the Internet.

10. A method according to claim 1 in which said broadcast is a TV game show.

11. A system for directing a broadcast with participation of a plurality of participants through the use of an interactive application on a participant device, comprising:

a downloading application system for providing said interactive application to said participants before the actual broadcast;

a registration system for registering participant input.

12. A system according to claim 11 also comprising a score delivery system for analyzing participant input and delivering the results of said analyzing to all participants.

13. A system according to claim 11 in which said participants are connected to said system through the Internet.