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System for merchandising and the evaluation of responses to broadcast transmissions

  • US 4,876,592 A
  • Filed: 05/10/1988
  • Issued: 10/24/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for evaluating responses to task-setting messages electronically transmitted to and for monetarily rewarding members of a remote shopping audience who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting predetermined response criteria, which method comprises the steps of:

  • displaying items of merchandise at a central station;

    transmitting a first set of electronic audio-visual signals conveying a visual picture and an audio description of items of said merchandise from a central station to members of a shopping audience at remote locations;

    formulating a plurality of different task-setting messages for sequential electronic transmission to members of said shopping audience;

    transmitting a second set of electronic signals conveying task-setting messages from a central station to receivers at said remote locations;

    formatting response criteria relative to individual ones of said task-setting messages, including a scoring basis for entered responses, said scoring basis including a difficulty level and a timing of responses for predetermined time intervals;

    receiving said first set of signals at remote locations;

    receiving said second set of signals at remote locations;

    transmitting from a central station a third set of electronic signals to said remote locations prior to or substantially concurrently with the transmission of said second sets of signals conveying task-setting messages, said third set of signals being instructional signals conveying said response criteria;

    receiving said instructional set of signals at remote locations;

    storing the data containing said response criteria at said remote locations;

    entering responses to said task-setting messages into data-entering means by members of said remote shopping audience;

    comparing responses entered by members of said remote shopping audience with said response criteria;

    scoring each response relative to said response criteria;

    computing the value of an award to be given to members of said remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting said response criteria, said computing being based on said scoring and including a correlating of responses to a difficulty level;

    dispensing to such members a printout having imprinted thereon information regarding an award applicable against the price of merchandise, and having imprinted thereonimprinted information coded to permit telephone verification of said award;

    providing a facility for accepting telephonic orders for said merchandise at a price reflecting said award verified through said coded information;

    placing telephonic orders for items of merchandise by the members of said remote shopping audience having had said printouts dispensed to them;

    accepting telephonic orders for items of merchandise from the members of said remote shopping audience at said facility for order acceptance; and

    making said award available to the members of said shopping audience.

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