Method and Apparatus for Conducting Real Time Dialogues With Mass Viewer Audiences During Live Programs

• US 20080282286A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: InLive Interactive, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: InLive Interactive, Ltd.
• Inventors: Or, Amit
• Application Number:
  US11/885,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20080282286A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44245 Monitoring the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. its availability, bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for conducting real time dialogues with an audience comprising a plurality of remote viewers of a broadcast program, said system comprising: (a) a Real Time Dialog Machine having input ports for enabling substantially simultaneous data input from each of a plurality of viewers in data communicating therewith over at least one data network; (b) a Dialogue Management Console coupled to the Real Time Dialog Machine via a data link, said Dialog Management Console for allowing management of said dialogues by program production personnel; (c) a database of interactive sessions accessible by the dialogue management console and in data communication with the Real Time Dialog Machine via a participation processor for processing aggregated data from the Real Time Dialog Machine, and (d) displaying means for adding derived data and/or visual cues to program for transmission to displays viewable by the viewers.

Claims

1. A system for conducting real time dialogues with an audience comprising a plurality of remote viewers of a broadcast program, said system comprising:

(a) a Real Time Dialog Machine having input ports for enabling substantially simultaneous data input from each of a plurality of viewers in data communication therewith over at least one data network;

(b) a Dialogue Management Console coupled to the Real Time Dialog Machine via a data link, said Dialog Management Console for allowing management of said dialogues (by program production personnel;

(c) a database of interactive sessions accessible by the dialogue management console and in data communication with the Real Time Dialog Machine via a participation processor for processing aggregated data from the Real Time Dialog Machine, and

(d) displaying means for adding derived data and/or visual cues to program for transmission to displays viewable by the viewers.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the Real Time Dialog Machine allows simultaneous input from a plurality of viewers on a continuous basis.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the Real Time Dialog Machine allows individualized output to each interacting viewer based on individual history.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the Dialog Management Console allows management of said dialogues by said program production personnel in an ad hoc manner throughout the program.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the Dialog Management Console allows management of said dialogues by said program production personnel continuously, in real time.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the Dialog Management Console allows the program production personnel full control of options offered to individual viewers, including ability to disconnect specific, individual viewers, based on criteria selectable via the Dialog Management Console.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said data input is inputted via a device selected from the list of:

(i) a remote control unit of a television;

(ii) a keyboard or mouse of a computer, where said display is a webpage on a computer network accessible via said at least one data network and displayable on visual display unit of said computer;

(iii) a keypad of a portable telecommunication device such as a cellular phone, a palm top computer or a laptop computer;

(iv) a keypad of a telephone;

(v) a control unit of a dedicated hardware coupled to the display.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one data network comprises at least one network selected from the list of cellular telephony networks, PSTN networks, Internet, private IP networks and digital cable networks.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said dialogue comprises a survey, said inputs comprise response to said survey, said display comprises results of said survey.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said dialogue comprises a quiz, said inputs comprise responses to questions of said quiz and said display comprises questions and answers of said quiz.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said dialogue comprises an interactive game, said inputs comprise moves in said game and said display comprises effects of said moves.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said display comprises displays selected from the list of television sets, screens of mobile telecommunication devices, computer monitors and projected displays.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said audience able to participate in real time dialogue comprises thousands of viewers.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said audience able to participate in real time dialogue comprises tens of thousands of viewers.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said audience able to participate in real time dialogue comprises hundreds of thousands of viewers.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said dialogue management console comprises appropriate software supported by a computer.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said displaying means is an overlay overlayable onto the program.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said displaying means is a digitally generated overlay overlayable onto in-studio activity component of the program.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said displaying means is a box displayable on display viewable by said viewer.

21. The Dialogue Management Console of claim 14 being a windows type software application supported by a networked computer.

20. A Dialogue Management Console for allowing program production personnel to manage interactive participation of a plurality of remote viewers with a program;

the Dialogue Management Console being couplable via a data link to a Real Time Dialog Machine having input ports for enabling substantially simultaneous data input from each of a plurality of viewers in data communication therewith over at least one data network;

the Dialogue Management Console being accessibly couplable via a data link to a database of interactive sessions and being further couplable to a displaying means for adding derived data and/or visual cues to program for transmission to displays viewable by the viewers.