Methods, systems and apparatus for interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event
First Claim
53. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for communicating with a wireless interactive device for enabling interactive participation by enrolled participants during activity occurring at a college campus venue attended by a plurality of persons, said enrolled participants employing the wireless interactive device having a unique signature associated therewith and capability to:
- (i) receive and transmit messages;
(ii) accept input via a user input interface;
(iii) output messages to a user output interface; and
(iv) transmit said unique signature,the method comprising the steps of;
enrolling at least some of said persons as enrolled participants, each being equipped with one of said wireless interactive devices;
providing a wireless communication system adapted to transmit and receive messages with said interactive device;
querying said enrolled participants to respond to at least one query with an answer entered through said user input interface and transmitted by said interactive device; and
receiving answers entered by said enrolled participants.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system provide interactive participation during activity occurring at a college campus venue. Enjoyment for a plurality of enrolled participants is enhanced. Participants employ wireless interactive devices that present a promotional message and include user input and output interfaces. Participants are queried, and enter answers via the user input interface. The promotional messages are preferably related to businesses and other organizations associated with the college campus venue.
58 Citations
154 Claims
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53. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for communicating with a wireless interactive device for enabling interactive participation by enrolled participants during activity occurring at a college campus venue attended by a plurality of persons, said enrolled participants employing the wireless interactive device having a unique signature associated therewith and capability to:
- (i) receive and transmit messages;
(ii) accept input via a user input interface;
(iii) output messages to a user output interface; and
(iv) transmit said unique signature,the method comprising the steps of; enrolling at least some of said persons as enrolled participants, each being equipped with one of said wireless interactive devices; providing a wireless communication system adapted to transmit and receive messages with said interactive device; querying said enrolled participants to respond to at least one query with an answer entered through said user input interface and transmitted by said interactive device; and receiving answers entered by said enrolled participants. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 132, 143)
receiving answers entered by said enrolled participants.
- (i) receive and transmit messages;
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2. A program storage device as recited by claim 1, wherein the method steps are implemented using an Application Program Interface (API).
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3. A program storage device as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of disseminating at least one promotional message to said enrolled participants.
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4. A program storage device as recited by claim 3, wherein said promotional message is displayed on said user output interface.
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5. A program storage device as recited by claim 3, wherein said promotional message is disseminated for monetary consideration from an advertiser.
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6. A program storage device as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying is directed only to enrolled participants located within said college campus venue.
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7. A program storage device as recited by claim 1, wherein said wireless interactive device further comprises localization circuitry adapted to transmit a location signal indicative of a physical location of said device, said method further comprises the step of detecting said transmitted location signal and wherein said querying is directed only to enrolled participants for whom said transmitted location signal is indicative of a physical location within said college campus venue.
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8. A program storage device as recited by claim 1, wherein:
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a. said wireless interactive device further comprises localization circuitry adapted to transmit a location signal indicative of a physical location of said device; b. said method further comprises the step of detecting said transmitted location signal; and c. said enrolling step is effected automatically for persons attending said college campus venue and possessing a said wireless interactive device, upon detection of said transmitted location signal indicative of a physical location within said college campus venue.
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9. A program storage device as recited by claim 1, wherein said enrolling comprises receipt of a request transmitted by one or more of said persons requesting enrollment as participants.
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10. A program storage as recited by claim 9, wherein said transmitting of said request is carried out using at least one of telephone, e-mail, interactive registration through an Internet site, and regular postal mail.
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11. A program storage as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of providing at least one kiosk or terminal at said college campus venue, said kiosk or terminal being adapted to accept requests for enrollment of said persons as said enrolled participants.
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12. A program storage as recited by claim 9, wherein said enrolling comprises receipt of a text message transmitted from said wireless interactive device.
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13. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said enrolling further comprises receipt of an activation code entered using said user input interface of said wireless interactive device.
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14. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said enrolling is terminated upon the departure of said participant from said college campus venue.
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15. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said enrolling expires after a predetermined time period.
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16. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said unique signature comprises indicia entered into said wireless interactive devices using the user input interface thereof.
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17. A program storage as recited by claim 1, further comprising collecting demographic characteristics of at least a portion of said enrolled participants.
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18. A program storage as recited by claim 17, wherein said query is selected based on said demographic characteristics of said enrolled participant.
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19. A program storage as recited by claim 17, further comprising the step of disseminating at least one promotional message to said enrolled participants, said promotional message being selected based on said demographic characteristics of said enrolled participant.
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20. A program storage as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of offering at least one incentive to induce said persons to become said enrolled participants during said activity occurring at said college campus.
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21. A program storage as recited by claim 20, wherein said incentive comprises conveying to said participant at least one of goods, services, or coupons redeemable for at least part of the price of goods or services.
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22. A program storage as recited by claim 20, wherein said incentive comprises electronic transfer of consideration to said enrolled participant.
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23. A program storage as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of relaying informational items, said items being transmitted by said wireless communication system to said wireless interactive device for output using said user output interface.
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24. A program storage as recited by claim 23, wherein said informational items comprise items selected from the group consisting of news reports, traffic condition reports, weather conditions, weather forecasts, sports news and scores.
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25. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying comprises a contest.
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26. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying comprises a game.
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27. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying comprises an opinion poll.
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28. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying is limited to a portion of said enrolled participants.
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29. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying step is accomplished by at least one display visible to said participants.
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30. A program storage as recited by claim 29, wherein said display comprises a large-scale video display.
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31. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying step is accomplished by a notice audible to said enrolled participants.
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32. A program storage as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of awarding a prize to at least one of said participants who has entered an answer in response to said querying.
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33. A program storage as recited by claim 32, wherein said prize is delivered to said enrolled participant.
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34. A program storage as recited by claim 32, wherein said prize is transferred electronically to said enrolled participant.
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35. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said 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, spread-spectrum transmission, and satellite transmission.
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36. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said interactive device is a member selected from the group consisting of cellular telephones, two-way pagers, wireless personal digital assistants, and wireless pocket PC'"'"'s.
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37. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said wireless interactive device is Internet-enabled and at least a portion of the communications to and from said wireless interactive device is accomplished using the Internet.
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38. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said user output interface comprises at least one of an alphanumeric text display, a graphical display, and an audio output means.
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39. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said activity occurring at said college campus comprises at least one event having programmatic content with an identifiable duration.
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40. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said promotional messages include:
- (i) a solicitation for enrolled persons to make a reservation for provision at a future time of a desired service; and
(ii) a notification thereafter of the availability of said desired service.
- (i) a solicitation for enrolled persons to make a reservation for provision at a future time of a desired service; and
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41. A program storage as recited by claim 40, wherein said solicitation prompts said enrolled person to select and order items comprised in said desired service.
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42. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said persons are students.
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43. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said persons are faculty.
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44. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said persons are visitors.
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45. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying is related to a class lecture.
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46. A program storage as recited by claim 45, wherein said class lecture is displayed on said user output interface from a remote location.
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47. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying comprises an interactive dating service.
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48. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said querying is related to student government issues.
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49. A program storage as recited by claim 1, wherein said unique signature comprises a cellular phone number for the wireless interactive device.
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50. A program storage as recited by claim 17, wherein said demographic characteristics are related to the music type preferences of said enrolled participant.
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51. A program storage as recited by claim 17 wherein said demographic characteristics are related to the food type preferences of said enrolled participant.
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52. A program storage as recited by claim 17, wherein said demographic characteristics are related to the computer system preferences of said enrolled participant as between a PC and a Mac.
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54. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for communicating as recited by claim 53, wherein the method steps are implemented using an Application Program Interface (API).
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55. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said promotional message is displayed on said user output interface.
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56. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said promotional message is disseminated for monetary consideration from an advertiser.
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57. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying is directed only to enrolled participants located within said college campus venue.
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58. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said wireless interactive device further comprises localization circuitry adapted to transmit a location signal indicative of a physical location of said device, said method further comprises the step of detecting said transmitted location signal and wherein said querying is directed only to enrolled participants for whom said transmitted location signal is indicative of a physical location within said college campus venue.
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59. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein:
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a. said wireless interactive device further comprises localization circuitry adapted to transmit a location signal indicative of a physical location of said device; b. said method further comprises the step of detecting said transmitted location signal; and c. said enrolling step is effected automatically for persons attending said college campus venue and possessing a said wireless interactive device, upon detection of said transmitted location signal indicative of a physical location within said college campus venue.
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60. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said enrolling comprises receipt of a request transmitted by one or more of said persons requesting enrollment as participants.
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61. A program storage device as recited by claim 60, wherein said transmitting of said request is carried out using at least one of telephone, e-mail, interactive registration through an Internet site, and regular postal mail.
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62. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, further comprising the step of providing at least one kiosk or terminal at said college campus venue, said kiosk or terminal being adapted to accept requests for enrollment of said persons as said enrolled participants.
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63. A program storage device as recited by claim 60, wherein said enrolling comprises receipt of a text message transmitted from said wireless interactive device.
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64. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said enrolling further comprises receipt of an activation code entered using said user input interface of said wireless interactive device.
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65. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said enrolling is terminated upon the departure of said participant from said college campus venue.
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66. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said enrolling expires after a predetermined time period.
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67. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said unique signature comprises indicia entered into said wireless interactive devices using the user input interface thereof.
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68. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, further comprising collecting demographic characteristics of at least a portion of said enrolled participants.
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69. A program storage device as recited by claim 68, wherein said query is selected based on said demographic characteristics of said enrolled participant.
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70. A program storage device as recited by claim 68, further comprising the step of disseminating at least one promotional message to said enrolled participants, said promotional message being selected based on said demographic characteristics of said enrolled participant.
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71. A program storage as device recited by claim 53, further comprising the step of offering at least one incentive to induce said persons to become said enrolled participants during said activity occurring at said college campus.
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72. A program storage device as recited by claim 71, wherein said incentive comprises conveying to said participant at least one of goods, services, or coupons redeemable for at least part of the price of goods or services.
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73. A program storage device as recited by claim 71, wherein said incentive comprises electronic transfer of consideration to said enrolled participant.
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74. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, further comprising the step of relaying informational items, said items being transmitted by said wireless communication system to said wireless interactive device for output using said user output interface.
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75. A program storage device as recited by claim 74, wherein said informational items comprise items selected from the group consisting of news reports, traffic condition reports, weather conditions, weather forecasts, sports news and scores.
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76. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying comprises a contest.
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77. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying comprises a game.
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78. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying comprises an opinion poll.
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79. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying is limited to a portion of said enrolled participants.
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80. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying step is accomplished by at least one display visible to said participants.
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81. A program storage device as recited by claim 80, wherein said display comprises a large-scale video display.
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82. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying step is accomplished by a notice audible to said enrolled participants.
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83. A program storage as device recited by claim 53, further comprising the step of awarding a prize to at least one of said participants who has entered an answer in response to said querying.
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84. A program storage device as recited by claim 83, wherein said prize is delivered to said enrolled participant.
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85. A program storage device as recited by claim 83, wherein said prize is transferred electronically to said enrolled participant.
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86. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said 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, spread-spectrum transmission, and satellite transmission.
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87. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said interactive device is a member selected from the group consisting of cellular telephones, two-way pagers, wireless personal digital assistants, and wireless pocket PC'"'"'s.
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88. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said wireless interactive device is Internet-enabled and at least a portion of the communications to and from said wireless interactive device is accomplished using the Internet.
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89. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said user output interface comprises at least one of an alphanumeric text display, a graphical display, and an audio output means.
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90. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said activity occurring at said college campus comprises at least one event having programmatic content with an identifiable duration.
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91. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said promotional messages include:
- (i) a solicitation for enrolled persons to make a reservation for provision at a future time of a desired service; and
(ii) a notification thereafter of the availability of said desired service.
- (i) a solicitation for enrolled persons to make a reservation for provision at a future time of a desired service; and
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92. A program storage device as recited by claim 91, wherein said solicitation prompts said enrolled person to select and order items comprised in said desired service.
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93. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said persons are students.
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94. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said persons are faculty.
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95. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said persons are visitors.
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96. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying is related to a class lecture.
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97. A program storage device as recited by claim 96, wherein said class lecture is displayed on said user output interface from a remote location.
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98. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying comprises an interactive dating service.
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99. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said querying is related to student government issues.
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100. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, wherein said unique signature comprises a cellular phone number for the wireless interactive device.
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101. A program storage device as recited by claim 68, wherein said demographic characteristics are related to the music type preferences of said enrolled participant.
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102. A program storage device as recited by claim 68 wherein said demographic characteristics are related to the food type preferences of said enrolled participant.
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103. A program storage device as recited by claim 68, wherein said demographic characteristics are related to the computer system preferences of said enrolled participant as between a PC and a Mac.
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132. An API as recited by claim 29, wherein said display comprises a large-scale video display.
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143. An API as recited by claim 40, wherein said solicitation prompts said enrolled person to select and order items comprised in said desired service.
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54-1. A program storage device as recited by claim 53, further comprising the step of disseminating at least one promotional message to said enrolled participants.
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104. An Application Program Interface (API) for programming a wireless interactive device, with program of instructions executable by the wireless interactive device to perform method steps for enabling interactive participation by enrolled participants during activity occurring at a college campus venue attended by a plurality of persons, said enrolled participants employing the wireless interactive device having a unique signature associated therewith and capability to:
- (i) receive and transmit messages;
(ii) accept input via a user input interface;
(iii) output messages to a user output interface; and
(iv) transmit said unique signature,the method comprising the steps of; enrolling at least some of said persons as enrolled participants, each being equipped with one of said wireless interactive devices; providing a wireless communication system adapted to transmit and receive messages with said interactive device; querying said enrolled participants to respond to at least one query with an answer entered through said user input interface and transmitted by said interactive device; and receiving answers entered by said enrolled participants. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154)
- (i) receive and transmit messages;
Specification