Method and apparatus for interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event

• US 20090061917A1
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Audience Participation, LLC
• Original Assignee: Inselberg Interactive LLC
• Inventors: Inselberg, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/90 Wireless transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing interactive audience participation at live entertainment events. The method includes providing audience members with an interactive device that presents a promotional message and includes a user interface, broadcasting audio programming to the audience member through the interactive device, querying the audience members, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by the audience member via the user interface of the interactive device, transmitting the answers to a central processor, storing the answers as audience data, processing the audience data into results, storing the results of the processing of the audience data and broadcasting the results of the processing of the audience data.

Claims

1-87. -87. (canceled)

88. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying instructions executable by the machine to allow the machine to interface with a system for enabling interactive participation by audience members viewing a live entertainment event at a venue, the machine having capability (i) to receive and transmit messages, (ii) accept input via a user interface, and (iii) display messages on an electronic display, the system comprising:

a wireless communication system adapted to transmit and receive messages with the interactive device;

a means for querying the audience members to respond to at least one query with answers entered through the user interface and transmitted by the interactive device;

a means for receiving the answers at a central processing station or distributed processing stations;

a means for storing the received answers as audience data;

a central processor adapted to receive and process the audience data into results,

wherein one or more of the audience members are physically located at a place that is outside of a direct, in-person view of the live entertainment event at the venue.

89. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88 that is caused to tangibly embody the instructions, as a result of one or more transmissions intercepted by the machine.

90. A second program storage device in which the instructions, intended for the machine, are tangibly embodied before they are transferred to the program storage device of claim 88.

91. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a concession stand.

92. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a restroom.

93. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a parking lot that services the venue.

94. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a remote stadium.

95. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a convention hall.

96. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a restaurant.

97. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a bar.

98. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a house.

99. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a restroom within the house.

100. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a living room within the house.

101. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a kitchen within the house.

102. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the place is a bedroom within the house.

103. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, further comprising means for broadcasting the results to the audience members.

104. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, further comprising means for disseminating least one promotional message of a sponsor to the audience members through the electronic display.

105. A program storage device, as recited in claim 104, further comprising means for providing the results to the sponsor.

106. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the querying means comprises use of the interactive device.

107. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the querying means comprises at least one large screen display visible to audience members in the venue.

108. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the querying means comprises a stadium monitor system visible to audience members in the venue.

109. A program storage device, as recited in claim 103, wherein the broadcasting means comprises at least one large screen display visible to audience members in the venue.

110. A program storage device, as recited in claim 103, wherein the broadcasting means comprises a stadium monitor system visible to audience members in the venue.

111. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, further comprising at least one prize appointed to be awarded to at least one of the audience members.

112. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the wireless communications system transmits and receives using at least one transmission form selected from the group consisting of radio transmission, microwave transmission, broadband wireless data transmission, ultra-wide band transmission, and satellite transmission.

113. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, further comprising means for broadcasting messages from the interactive device of one of the participating audience members to the interactive device of another of the participating audience members.

114. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein each of the interactive devices has a unique address programmed therein.

115. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, further comprising means for providing audio transmission of audible programming to the interactive devices, the audible programming comprising at least one of play-by-play, expert commentary, traffic reports, and weather reports.

116. A program storage device, as recited in claim 88, wherein the venue is selected from the group consisting of stadiums, arenas, race tracks, golf courses, and theme parks.

117. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a set of instructions executable by the machine to perform one or more steps of a method for enabling interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event at a venue viewed by a plurality of participating audience members employing a hand-held, wireless interactive device that includes a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

querying the participating audience members;

receiving answers to the querying entered by the participating audience members via the user interface of the interactive device;

transmitting the answers to a central processor;

processing the answers into results; and

broadcasting the results to the plurality of participating audience members viewing the live entertainment event,

wherein one or more of the audience members is physically located at a place that is outside of a direct, in-person view of the live entertainment event at the venue.

118. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117 that is caused to tangibly embody the instructions, as a result of one or more transmissions intercepted by the machine.

120. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a concession stand.

121. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a restroom.

122. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a parking lot that services the venue.

123. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a remote stadium.

124. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a convention hall.

125. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a restaurant.

126. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a bar.

127. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a house.

128. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a restroom within the house.

129. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a living room within the house.

130. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a kitchen within the house.

131. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the place is a bedroom within the house.

132. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the wireless interactive device employs a form of wireless communications selected from the group consisting of radio transmissions, microwave transmissions, broadband wireless data transmissions, and satellite transmissions.

133. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, further comprising the step of presenting a promotional message to each participating audience member.

134. A program storage device, as recited in claim 133, wherein the promotional message is imprinted on the device.

135. A program storage device, as recited in claim 133, wherein the promotional message is transmitted wirelessly to the interactive device and is presented to the participating audience member either visually or aurally.

136. A program storage device, as recited in claim 133, wherein the promotional message is pre-programmed in the interactive device.

137. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, further comprising the step of awarding prizes to at least one selected audience member who has answered the querying.

138. A program storage device, as recited in claim 137, wherein the awarding of prizes is accomplished by electronic delivery.

139. A program storage device, as recited in claim 137, wherein the awarding of prizes is accomplished by direct delivery to the at least one selected audience member.

140. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the interactive device is adapted to allow the broadcasting of messages from one of the participating audience members to another of the participating audience members.

141. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein each interactive device has a unique address programmed therein.

142. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the answers are received at a central processing station and thereafter transmitted to the central processor.

143. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the answers are received at distributed processing stations and thereafter transmitted to the central processor.

144. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the live entertainment event is a sporting event.

145. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the live entertainment event is conducted at a live entertainment venue.

146. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the live entertainment venue is selected from the group consisting of stadiums, arenas, race tracks, golf courses, and theme parks.

147. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the step of querying comprises use of a large screen display.

148. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the step of querying comprises use of a stadium monitor system.

149. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the step of querying comprises use of the interactive device.

150. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises use of a large screen display.

151. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises use of a stadium monitor system.

152. A program storage device, as recited in claim 117, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises use of the interactive device.

119. A second program storage device in which the instructions, intended for the machine, are tangibly embodied before they are transferred to the program storage device of claim

153. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a set of instructions, executable by the machine, to perform a method for interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event viewed by audience members, a plurality of whom have a wireless interactive device including a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting at least one promotional message from a sponsor;

querying the audience members;

receiving answers to the querying entered via the user interface of the interactive device;

transmitting the answers to a processor;

processing the answers into results; and

providing the results to the sponsor,

wherein one or more of the audience members is physically located at a place that is outside of a direct, in-person view of the live entertainment event at the venue.

154. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153 that is caused to tangibly embody the instructions, as a result of one or more transmissions intercepted by the machine.

155. A second program storage device in which the instructions, intended for the machine, are tangibly embodied before they are transferred to the program storage device of claim 153.

156. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a concession stand.

157. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a restroom.

158. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a parking lot that services the venue.

159. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a remote stadium.

160. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a convention hall.

161. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a restaurant.

162. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a bar.

163. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a house.

164. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a restroom within the house.

165. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a living room within the house.

166. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a kitchen within the house.

167. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the place is a bedroom within the house.

168. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, further comprising the step of broadcasting the results to the audience members viewing the live entertainment event.

169. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, further comprising the step of awarding prizes to at least one selected audience member who has answered the querying.

170. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, further comprising the step of presenting a promotional message.

171. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the step of querying comprises use of a large screen display.

172. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the step of querying comprises use of the interactive device.

173. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the step of querying comprises use of a stadium monitor system.

174. A program storage device, as recited in claim 168, wherein the step of broadcasting the results comprises use of the large screen display.

175. A program storage device, as recited in claim 168, wherein the step of broadcasting the results comprises use of a stadium monitor system.

176. A program storage device, as recited in claim 168, wherein the step of broadcasting the results comprises use of the interactive device.

177. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the live entertainment event is a sporting event.

178. A program storage device, as recited in claim 153, wherein the live entertainment event is conducted at a live entertainment venue.

179. A program storage device, as recited in claim 178, wherein the live entertainment venue is selected from the group consisting of stadiums, arenas, race tracks, golf courses, and theme parks.

180. A program storage device, as recited in claim 178, wherein the live entertainment venue is a theme park.

181. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a set of instructions executable by the machine to perform one or more steps of a method for enabling interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event at a venue viewed by a plurality of participating audience members employing a hand-held, wireless interactive device that includes a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

querying the participating audience members;

receiving answers to the querying entered by the participating audience members via the user interface of the interactive device;

transmitting the answers to a central processor;

processing the answers into results; and

broadcasting the results to the plurality of participating audience members viewing the live entertainment event,

wherein one or more of the audience members is physically located at a place that is outside of a direct, in-person view of the live entertainment event at the venue.