System and method for venue-to-venue messaging

• US 20080189371A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (Major League Baseball)
• Original Assignee: MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (Major League Baseball)
• Inventors: Bowman, Robert A., Inzerillo, Joseph, Shaffer, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 8,045,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and method is provided for enabling venue-to-venue communication. A message is sent from a messaging device located in a first venue. The system receives the message via a communications network. The system transmits the message via the communications network to a local venue exchange associated with a second venue. The message is presented to an audience present at the second venue.

Claims

1. A system for enabling venue-to-venue messaging, comprising:

a messaging device, located at a first venue, configured to transmit a message;

a communications network, configured to receive the message and route the message to a second venue;

a local venue exchange operably connected to the communications network and associated with the second venue, wherein the local venue exchange is configured to receive and process the message;

a content filter configured to censor and edit the message; and

a venue display for presenting the message to an audience in attendance at the second venue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the messaging device is a cell phone of an audience member at the first venue.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the messaging device is one of a PDA, laptop, pager, telephone or computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second venue is any one of a ballpark, stadium, coliseum, field, concert hall, amphitheatre, auditorium or gymnasium.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is a text message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is one of an image, audio or video message.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a wireless cellular telephone network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a two-way network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the local venue exchange is located in the second venue.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is presented on any one of a LCD screen, scoreboard or electronic marquee that is visible to all the audience present at the second venue.

11. A method for enabling venue-to-venue messaging, comprising:

receiving a message, via a communications network, wherein the message is sent from a messaging device located in a first venue;

transmitting the message via a communications network to a local venue exchange associated with a second venue; and

presenting the message to an audience in attendance at the second venue.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying step further comprises:

passing the message through a content filter; and

editing the message according to criteria specified by the content filter.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the message is a text message.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the message is one of an image, audio or video message.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications network is a wireless cellular telephone network.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications network is a two-way network.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the messaging device is a wireless cellular telephone.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the messaging device is one of a PDA, laptop, pager, telephone or computer.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second venue is any one of a ballpark, stadium, coliseum, field, concert hall, amphitheatre, auditorium or gymnasium.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the local venue exchange is located in the second venue.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the message is presented on any one of a LCD screen, scoreboard or electronic marquee that is visible to all the audience present at the second venue.

22. A method for venue-to-venue messaging, comprising:

providing an audience member in attendance at a first venue a wireless messaging device;

receiving a message input by the audience member with the wireless messaging device at a cellular communications network, wherein the message is intended to be delivered to a second venue;

transmitting the message from the cellular communications network to a local venue exchange associated with the second venue;

filtering and editing the content of the message; and

presenting the message to audience members in attendance at the second venue.