Central and remote evaluation of responses of participatory broadcast audience with automatic crediting and couponing

• US 5,759,101 A
• Filed: 04/11/1994
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quest NetTech Corporation (Quest Patent Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Response Reward Systems L.C.
• Inventors: Von Kohorn, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/226,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/16, 463/9, 364/410, 364/412, 434/307 R, 434/308, 434/309, 434/322, 434/323, 273/138 A
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/063 with hand-placed probe or plug
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• 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 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0806 the signals being two or more video signals H04N7/0803, H04N7/081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection

Abstract

A system and method for evaluating responses to broadcast programs, such as television programs, includes an instructional signal modulated onto a signal transmitted concurrently with the television program, simulcast, or time-multiplexed with a television. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations, one or more members of a remote audience has the opportunity to respond to a situation presented in the television program by entering a response on a keyboard. The system includes response evaluation circuitry which may be located at a central facility or partially at the central facility and partially at each remote receiving station, or completely within a response unit at each remote receiving station, in the latter case the response unit having a memory responsive to the instructional signal for storing acceptable responses, a comparison circuit for comparing responses entered at the keyboard with those stored in the memory, circuitry for scoring responses in accordance with commands from the instructional signal, and a recording device for providing a permanent record of the audience score at the remote station. For conducting a sweepstakes, numbers or other responses are entered at the remote stations and are stored at a central facility for verification. The program may be presented live conducted by a host at a central station, or by a prerecorded message accessible by telephone from a remote station with regulation from a central station.

Claims

1. A system for communicating task-setting program signals to respondents at a plurality of receiving stations and for responding to said program signals at said receiving stations, the program signals being suitable for the playing of a game, said system comprising:

a plurality of receiving stations;

first signal means for generating one of said program signals;

second signal means for generating an instructional signal incorporating predetermined response criteria defining an acceptable response, said response criteria serving also for scoring an acceptable response, said second signal means being operative to generate said instructional signal independently of a generating of said program signal by said first signal means;

means coupled to said first and second signal means for recording upon a recording medium said program signal of said first signal means and said instructional signal of said second signal means;

playback means operative with said recording medium for playing back said program signal and said instructional signal recorded by said recording means;

means for communicating said program signal from said playback means to each of said receiving stations;

means for presenting a program situation to said receiving stations;

means for communicating said instructional signal from said playback means to a central tamper-resisting evaluation station inaccessible to said respondents;

means at each of said receiving stations for responding to said program situation;

means for communicating an individual response of said respondents to said central evaluation station;

comparing means at a central location having means responsive to said instructional signal of said playback means for comparing the responses of individual respondents ones of said to said predetermined response criteria to determine acceptable responses;

means coupled to said comparing means for scoring a respondent'"'"'s acceptable response in accordance with said instructional signal to assign a fixed or a computed value to an acceptable response; and

informing means coupled to said scoring means for informing said respondent of a scored response;

wherein two or more responses are acceptable, of which one is a preferred response;

wherein said preferred response receives a higher score award;

wherein said evaluation station includes means for scoring said individual response essentially immediately following its input by said respondent; and

wherein said scoring means permit input of said single response by a respondent on the spur of the moment.

2. A system for conducting a game for individual participating players at remote locations and for awarding individual one of said players who have responded acceptably to a question, said system comprising:

a plurality of remote locations for said players;

a facility for playing back a recording medium at a central location, the recording medium intended to be played back by said playing facility, the recording medium containing messages, each of said messages comprising signals conveying at least one question which is either a single-part question or a multiple-part question and signals defining at least one acceptable answer to the question;

an evaluation facility serving said remote locations, and comprising a tamper-resisting storage for entered answers of said players and means for comparing a stored individual one of said entered answers to an acceptable answer to determine an acceptable entered answer, said evaluation facility further having means for generating instructional signals to communicate information evidencing an acceptable one of said entered answers to a token generating means;

communication means operatively connected to said recording medium playing facility for transmitting said messages from said playing facility to individual ones of said remote locations and to said tamper-resisting storage;

means for communicating one of said messages defining an acceptable answer from said recording medium playing facility to said evaluation facility;

a sub-system at each of said players'"'"' remote locations comprising;

means operative by an individual participating one of said players for activating said record medium playing facility;

means for receiving said message from said playing facility;

means connected to said receiving means for presenting said messages to individual participating ones of said players;

means in communication with said evaluation facility for responding to a question; and

means for generating a token evidencing an acceptable answer by a successful one of said players;

said system further including means for communicating said instructional signals from the evaluation facility to said token generating means to generate a token evidencing an acceptable entered answer by said successful player.

3. A method for transmitting task-setting program signals, suitable for the playing of a game, from a central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites and for responding to said program signals at said receiving stations, said method comprising:

transmitting a task-setting program signal from a central site, said task comprising at least one question which is either a single-part question or a multiple-part question;

presenting a program, including said task transmitted by said program signal to members of an audience at each of said receiving stations;

providing means at a central site for transmitting an instructional signal incorporating response criteria determining an acceptable response to said task and determining the scoring of an acceptable response to said task;

transmitting said instructional signal;

providing means at each of said receiving stations for responding to said task presented in said program;

responding to said task by an individual member;

providing means for communicating a member'"'"'s response to a central evaluation facility said evaluation facility serving a plurality of said receiving stations;

receiving said instructional signal and a member'"'"'s response at said evaluation facility;

providing means at said evaluation facility, responsive to said instructional signal, for comparing the response of an individual one of said members to said response criteria and for scoring the member'"'"'s response, said scoring ranging from assigning a fixed value determined by said response criteria to assigning a computed value determined by said response criteria;

comparing and scoring responses of the respective members at said evaluation facility;

wherein said means for transmitting said instructional signal includes means for generating an instructional signal which provides for scoring independently of a transmission of an instructional signal which provides for comparing;

said response criteria have been determined prior to the transmission of said program signals;

an individual one of said responses is evaluated essentially immediately following its input by a member; and

said evaluation facility permits input of a single response by said member on the spur of the moment.

4. A method for conducting a prize event for audience members of broadcast stations, comprising the steps of:

formulating at least one task, and at least one accompanying acceptable response, each acceptable response having a value;

a station broadcasting a program including said at least one task;

an audience member responding to said task by entering response data in an entering device operatively connected to two-way communications means for communicating response data to a response evaluation facility and for identifying a responding audience member;

providing said evaluation facility, said evaluating facility having means for comparing a member'"'"'s entered response with an acceptable response to determine an acceptable entered response and its value;

providing means for identifying responding ones of said audience members;

communicating said entered response to said evaluation facility;

providing data of said acceptable response to said evaluation facility;

storing said acceptable response data in said evaluation facility until completion of the evaluation step;

evaluating said entered response at said evaluation facility by entered within an allowed time, and comparing said entered response to said acceptable response to determine an acceptable entered response and its value;

identifying a member of said audience having entered an acceptable response;

comparing values of acceptable entered responses of identified ones of said members to create a listing of comparative values of members'"'"' response values;

awarding prizes to said members in accordance with the comparative values of their responses; and

informing identified members of awarded prizes;

wherein, if two or more responses by said audience members are acceptable, one can be a preferred response;

wherein a preferred response receives a higher award;

wherein said evaluation facility rewards an individual response essentially immediately following its input by a member; and

wherein said evaluation facility permits input of a single single one of said responses by a member on the spur of the moment.

5. A method for transmitting task-setting program signals, suitable for the playing of a game, from a central site to a plurality of respondents at receiving stations at remote sites and for responding to said program signals at said receiving stations, said method comprising:

formulating a task-set comprising a task, response criteria defining an acceptable response, an acceptable response essentially being the entering of information prescribed in an announcement of the task, and a value associated with an acceptable response;

providing central means for transmitting a program signal;

transmitting a first program signal including a task requiring a response by a respondent within an announced time frame;

providing means for transmitting an instructional signal, the instructional signal incorporating response criteria comprising the acceptable response;

transmitting the instructional signal, said announced time frame for responding, and a value associated with an acceptable response;

providing means at said receiving stations for presenting a program transmitted by said program signal;

presenting said program signal at said receiving stations;

providing means at each of said receiving stations for entering a response to a task presented in said program;

each of said respondents entering a response at a respective one of said receiving stations;

providing a response evaluation facility for receiving an entered response and means responsive to said instructional signal for determining an acceptable entered response and associated value;

determining said acceptable entered response and associated value;

providing means for preventing the entering or evaluating of responses outside said time frame;

preventing the entering or comparing of responses outside said time frame;

providing two-way communication means between said receiving stations and said evaluation facility;

informing a respondent who has entered an acceptable response of said value; and

making said value available to said respondent.

6. A system for transmitting task-setting program signals from central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites of respondents and for responding to said program signals at said receiving stations, the program signals being suitable for the playing of a game, said system comprising:

said plurality of receiving stations;

means at a central site for transmitting one of said program signals to said receiving stations, said program signal conveying a task-setting program;

means at each of said receiving stations for presenting said task setting program conveyed by said program signal to an audience, a task of said task-setting program comprising at least one question which is either a single-part question or a multiple-part question;

means at a central site for transmitting a set of instructional signals incorporating response criteria determining an acceptable response to said task and the scoring of an acceptable response to said task;

means at each of said receiving stations for entering a response by individual respondents to said task presented in said program;

a central evaluation facility serving a plurality of said receiving stations, and means operable by said respondents for communicating a respondent'"'"'s response to said central evaluation facility;

means at said evaluation facility for receiving said instructional signals;

means at said evaluation facility, responsive to said instructional signals for comparing a respondent'"'"'s response to said response criteria, to determine an acceptable entered response;

means coupled to said comparing means for scoring an acceptable response of said respondent, said scoring ranging from assigning a fixed value determined prior to the transmission of said program signal to assigning a computerized value determined by said evaluation facility in accordance with said response criteria;

wherein

said means for transmitting said instructional signals includes means for generating a first and a second instructional signal, said first instructional signal providing for scoring independently of a transmission of said second instructional signal which provides for comparing, and wherein

said response criteria have been determined prior to the transmission of said program signal;

wherein two or more responses are acceptable, of which one is a preferred response;

wherein said preferred response receives a higher score;

wherein said evaluation facility scores an individual one of said responses essentially immediately following its input by one of said respondents; and

wherein said evaluation facility permits input of a single response by said respondent on the spur of the moment.

18. The system according to claim 6 wherein said signal transmission means at said central site is proximate said evaluation facility.

7. A method for conducting a first prize event for audience members of broadcast stations and for entering winning ones of said members in a second prize event, the method comprising the steps of:

formulating in a first prize event at least one task, and an accompanying acceptable response;

a station broadcasting its program including at least one task;

an individual one of said audience members responding to said task by entering a response in the entering device of a telephone;

identifying said member through caller identification means or through entered personal identification;

providing a central evaluation facility having means for comparing a member'"'"'s entered response with an acceptable response to identify a winning member;

transmitting an acceptable response to said task from a central station to said evaluation facility;

storing an acceptable response to a task in said evaluation facility;

communicating entered responses to said evaluation facility;

comparing an entered response to said acceptable response to determine an acceptable response entered by an identified winning member;

entering winning members in said second prize event;

conducting said second prize event; and

determining a winner of said second prize event.

17. The method according to claim 7 wherein said acceptable response is a selection-type answer and is selected from the group comprising a "yes or no" answer, a "true or false" answer, a multiple-choice response, a preference-indicating response and a rank-ordered selection from an array of alternative answers presented to the members of said audience.

8. A system for communicating task-setting program signals to respondents at a plurality of receiving stations for responding to said program signals at said receiving stations and for ranking responses, the program signals being suitable for the playing of a game, said system comprising:

said plurality of receiving stations;

first signal means for generating one of said program signals;

second signal means for generating an instructional signal incorporating predetermined response criteria defining acceptable responses, said response criteria serving to score acceptable responses, said second signal means being operative to generate said instructional signal independently of a generating of said program signal by said first signal means;

means coupled to said first and second signal means for recording upon a recording medium said program signal of said first signal means and an instructional signal of said second signal means;

playback means operative with said recording medium for playing back said program signal and said instructional signal recorded by said recording means;

means for communicating said program signal from said playback means to each of said receiving stations;

means for presenting a program situation to said receiving stations;

a central tamper-resisting evaluation station inaccessible to said respondents, and means for communicating said instructional signals from said playback means to said evaluation station;

means at each of said receiving stations for entering a response by one of said respondents to said program situation;

means for communicating a respondent'"'"'s entered response to said central evaluation means;

wherein said central evaluation station has means responsive to an instructional signal of said playback means for comparing responses of said respondents to said predetermined response criteria to determine acceptable responses of said respondents;

means coupled to said comparing means for scoring said respondents'"'"' acceptable responses in accordance with said instructional signals to assign a value to said respondents'"'"' acceptable responses;

means coupled to said scoring means for ranking said acceptable responses of said respondents in accordance with their assigned values; and

means communicatively connected to said ranking means for indicating the ranking of responses to said respondents.

9. A method for evaluating responses to recorded task-setting messages provided at a central station and intended for respondents located at receiving stations, the messages being suitable for the playing of a game, the method of evaluation being tamper-resistant, which method comprises:

generating at a central station during a first time interval a first set of signals conveying a task-setting message, a task comprising at least one question which is either a single-part question or a multi-part question;

generating at said central station during a second time interval a second set of signals conveying response criteria for comparing entered responses to response criteria, said second time interval occurring independently of said first time interval, said response criteria including a scoring basis;

recording said first and second sets of signals for playback;

playing back said first set of signals at said central station;

receiving said first set of signals at said receiving stations;

playing back said second set of signals at said central station, said second set of signals having been determined prior to the playing back of said first set of signals;

providing at said central station means resistant to tampering and inaccessible to said respondents for comparing at least one element in one response of said entered responses with said response criteria;

receiving said second set of signals at said central station;

entering by a respondent, at an individual one of said receiving stations, a response to said task-setting message;

communicating a respondent'"'"'s response to said central station;

comparing at least one element in one response of a respondent'"'"'s response with said response criteria and with other entered responses in accordance with said scoring basis to determine the relative standing of entered responses.

10. A method for transmitting task-setting program signals from a central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites and for responding to said program signals at said receiving stations, the program signals being suitable for the playing of a game, said method comprising:

transmitting a task-setting program signal from said central site;

presenting a program transmitted by said program signals to members of an audience at each of said receiving stations;

providing means at said central site for transmitting a first instructional signal incorporating response criteria determining an acceptable response to a task and determining the scoring of an acceptable response to said task, said task comprising at least one question which is either a single-part question or a multiple-part question;

transmitting said instructional signal;

providing means at each of said receiving stations for entering a response by individual members of said audience to a task presented in said program;

entering a response to said task by an individual member;

providing means operable by an individual one of said members for communicating a member'"'"'s response to a central evaluation facility;

receiving said instructional signal and said member'"'"'s response at said evaluation facility;

providing means at said evaluation facility, responsive to said instructional signal, for comparing said member'"'"'s response to said response criteria and for scoring said member'"'"'s response, said scoring assigning to a response a value determined by said scoring;

comparing and scoring responses of said members, and rank-ordering scored responses;

wherein

said means for transmitting said instructional signal includes means for generating a second instructional signal which provides for said scoring independently of said first instructional signal, said first instructional signal providing for said comparing; and

wherein

said response criteria have been determined prior to the transmission of said program signal.

11. A method for evaluating responses to recorded task-setting messages, the messages being suitable for the playing of a game, being provided at a central station and intended for respondents located at receiving stations, which method is tamper resistant and comprises:

generating at said central station during a first time interval a first set of signals conveying one of said task-setting messages;

generating at said central station during a second time interval a second set of signals conveying response criteria defining an acceptable response relative to said task-setting message, said second time interval occurring independently of said first time interval, said response criteria including a scoring basis;

recording said first and second sets of signals for playback;

playing back said first set of signals at said central station;

receiving said first set of signals at said receiving stations;

playing back said second set of signals at said central station;

providing at a central comparing station means resistant to tampering and inaccessible to respondents for comparing at least one element in one response of said responses with said response criteria;

receiving said second set of signals at said comparing station;

entering by respondents at respective ones of said receiving stations, responses to said task-setting message;

communicating a respondent'"'"'s response to said comparing station;

comparing at least one element in one response of a respondent'"'"'s response with said response criteria to determine an acceptable response;

scoring accepted responses meeting said response criteria;

comparing the scores of scored responses; and

determining at least one winning scored response.

12. A method for evaluating responses to recorded task-setting messages, the messages being suitable for the playing of a game, the messages being provided at a central station and intended for respondents located at receiving stations, which method is tamper resistant and comprises:

generating at said central station during a first time interval a first set of signals conveying a task-setting message;

generating at said central station during a second time interval a second set of signals conveying response criteria defining an acceptable response relative to said task-setting message, said second time interval occurring independently of said first time interval, said response criteria including a scoring basis;

recording said first and second sets of signals for playback;

playing back said first set of signals at said central station;

receiving said first set of signals at said receiving stations;

playing back said second set of signals at said central station;

providing at a central comparing station means resistant to tampering and inaccessible to respondents for comparing at least one element in one response of said responses with said response criteria;

receiving said second set of signals at said comparing station;

entering by a respondent at one of said receiving stations a response to said task-setting message;

communicating a respondent'"'"'s response to said comparing station;

comparing at least one element in said respondent'"'"'s response with said response criteria to determine an acceptable response;

scoring accepted responses meeting said response criteria;

comparing the scores of scored responses; and

rank-ordering scored responses.

13. A system for conducting a game for a plurality of participants in any one of a plurality of public places or conveyances, including any one of a hotel, a casino, a riverboat and an airplane, comprising:

a recording of a program comprising at least one question or other task requiring a response and an acceptable response to said task, there being participants'"'"' identified stations in said public places or conveyances having seats or other accommodations;

a play-back facility for playing back said recording of said program to said participants;

means in communication with said play-back facility for conveying the task of said program to said stations of said participants in said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances, said conveying means including data presentation means wherein the data is audio-visual data;

means at said participants'"'"' stations for responding to said task;

evaluation means, and means for conveying the acceptable response to said task to said evaluation means;

communication means between said participants'"'"' stations and said evaluation means for conveying a participant'"'"'s response to said evaluation means and for identifying individual ones of said participants through said participants'"'"' stations;

wherein said evaluation means provides for comparing each of said participant'"'"'s responses at said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances to an accompanying acceptable response to determine a winning response, said evaluation means including means for identifying individual ones of said stations having winning ones of said participants through said communication means; and

said system further comprises means located at said central location and in communication with said evaluation means for generating a record of winning responses.

14. A system for conducting a game for a plurality of participants in any one of a plurality of public places or conveyances, including any one of a hotel, a casino, a riverboat and an airplane, comprising:

transmitting means at a first location central to said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances for transmitting a program comprising at least one question or other task requiring a response, and at least one acceptable response to said task, there being participants'"'"' identified stations in said public places or conveyances;

means for receiving the task of said program at said participants'"'"' stations, said means including audio-visual presentation means;

means at said participants'"'"' stations for responding to said task;

an evaluation facility central to the participants at said stations at said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances, and means for communicating between said participants'"'"' stations and said evaluation facility for conveying a participant'"'"'s response to said evaluation facility, said communication means including means for identifying individual ones of said participants through said participants'"'"' stations;

wherein said evaluation facility has means for receiving an acceptable response from said central location and means for comparing the response of each of said participants to an acceptable response to determine participant'"'"'s winning response;

means for informing winning ones of said participants of a winning response through said communicating means; and

means at a second location central to the participants at said stations at said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances for generating a record of winning responses.

15. A method for conducting a game for a plurality of occupants at playing stations in any one of a plurality of public places or conveyances, including any one of a hotel, a casino, a riverboat and an airplane, comprising the steps of:

formulating at least one task and accompanying response criteria defining at least one successful response to each task and assigning values to successful responses;

transmitting said task and accompanying response criteria from a first location central to the occupants at said stations in said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances;

receiving and presenting said task to an occupant at one of said playing stations, said presenting being accomplished by an audio-visual presentation;

said occupant responding to said task at said occupant'"'"'s playing station;

providing a common evaluation facility having means for receiving responses from occupants at said playing stations and response criteria from a second location central to the occupants at said stations in said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances, said evaluation facility having means for determining a successful response of one of said occupants by comparing a response of said occupant to said response criteria and having means for assigning a value to said successful response in accordance with the response criteria, said facility further having means for generating instructional signals conveying a value assigned to said successful response;

communicating said occupant'"'"'s response to said common evaluation facility via a communications link, said communications link having identifying means through which a station of one of said occupants can be identified;

determining and assigning a value to an identified successful occupant'"'"'s response;

providing at a third location central to the occupants at said stations in said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances recording means communicatively connected to said evaluation facility and said identifying means, said recording means being responsive to said instructional signals for generating a record of the value assigned to an identified occupant'"'"'s successful-response;

communicating said instructional signals to said recording means;

generating said record; and

making the value of said record available to a successful one of said occupants.

34. A method according to claim 15 wherein said first location and said second location and said third location are separate from each other.

35. A method according to claim 15 wherein said first location and said second location and said third location coincide with each other.

16. A method for conducting a game for a plurality of occupants at any one of a plurality of playing stations in public places or conveyances, including any one of a hotel, a casino, a riverboat and an airplane, comprising the steps of:

formulating a set of tasks having at least one task, and response criteria;

defining at least one successful response to each task of said set of tasks;

assigning a value to a successful response;

recording a task of said task set for playback on a playback facility at a first location central to the occupants at said stations in said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances;

recording the response criteria including value information for playback on said playback facility;

providing storage means at a second location central to the occupants at said stations in said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances for the response criteria;

playing back and communicating said task from the playback facility to the occupant'"'"'s stations;

playing back and communicating the response criteria from the playback facility to said central storage means;

providing means for receiving and for presenting said task to an occupant at one of said playing stations, the presenting being accomplished by an audio-visual presentation;

said occupant responding to said task on responding means at said occupant'"'"'s playing station;

providing an evaluation facility at a third location central to the occupants at said stations in said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances communicatively connected to said central storage means, said evaluation facility having means for receiving responses and the response criteria, said evaluation facility having means for determining said occupant'"'"'s successful response by comparing said occupant'"'"'s response to the response criteria, said evaluation facility having means for assigning a value to said successful response in accordance with the response criteria, said evaluation facility further having means for generating instructional signals conveying a value assigned to the successful response;

communicating said occupant'"'"'s response to said central evaluation facility via a two-way communications link through which said occupant'"'"'s station can be identified, said communications link including identifying means;

communicating stored response criteria to said central evaluation facility;

identifying a playing station of a successful one of said occupants through said communications means;

providing at a fourth location central to the occupants at said stations in said any one of said plurality of public places or conveyances recording means communicatively connected to said evaluation facility and said identifying means, said recording means being responsive to said instructional signals for generating a successful occupant'"'"'s record of a value assigned to said identified occupant'"'"'s successful response;

generating said record; and

making said assigned value available to said successful occupant.

19. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages transmitted from a station central to members of a remote audience who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response criteria, which method comprises the steps of:

transmitting signals to the members of the remote audience, the signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be performed by members of the audience;

responding to said tasks by individual ones of the members of said audience;

establishing a facility central to and distant from a plurality of the members of said audience for evaluating a response of a member of the audience in accordance with said response criteria to identify an acceptable answer;

providing to said central facility said response criteria, said response criteria governing responses by said individual ones of the audience members to individual ones of said tasks of said task-setting messages;

evaluating a response of a member of said remote audience based on said response criteria by said central facility;

communicating a response from a member of said audience to said central facility prior to performing said evaluating step; and

communicating a result of said evaluating step to said member of said audience upon completion of said evaluating step;

wherein said task-setting messages and said criteria provide for either a single-part question or a multiple-part question, and said task-setting messages and said response-criteria have been determined prior to performance of said responding step.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising steps of

providing to said central facility scoring criteria governing a scoring of the responses;

providing said central facility with scoring means for scoring the acceptable response in accordance with said scoring criteria; and

at said central facility, crediting a member of said remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response criteria.

21. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response criteria, which method comprises the steps of:

transmitting program signals to the members of the remote audience, the program signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be performed by members of the audience;

providing response means to the members of the remote audience;

providing response criteria for evaluating responses of the members of the remote audience at remote locations to said task-setting messages;

entering responses to said task-setting messages at the response means by individual ones of the members of said audience;

providing scoring criteria for said responses entered by the members of the remote audience;

establishing a facility distant from and common to the members of said audience for evaluating one of said responses of a member of the audience in accordance with said response criteria to identify an acceptable answer;

communicating said response from a member of said audience to said evaluating facility;

at said evaluating facility, comparing individual ones of said responses entered by a member of said remote audience with said response criteria;

at said evaluating facility, scoring responses in accordance with said scoring criteria;

communicating a result of said scoring step to said member of said audience; and

crediting a member of said remote audience who has entered said one of said responses meeting said response criteria, said crediting including creating a record of scored response results from said scoring step.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said response criteria can be provided independently of a transmission of said program signals.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein said response criteria can be provided to said evaluating facility independently of a transmission of said program signals.

24. A method according to claim 21 wherein said response criteria can be provided to an individual one of said audience members independently of a transmission of said program signals.

25. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to task-setting messages suitable for the playing of a game and being transmitted from a central station to locations remote from the central station, the audience members being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:

transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data including task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by members of the audience relative to said presentation;

response means at the remote locations operable by individual ones of the audience members for responding to the task-setting messages;

a facility common to and distant from the locations of a plurality of the members of said audience and including means for evaluating a response of a member of the audience in accordance with response criteria to identify an acceptable answer;

communication means linking said response means at said remote locations of said audience members with said common facility, wherein said communication means provides for communication of said response from said member of said audience to said common facility for operation of said evaluating means upon said response; and

wherein said task-setting messages and said response criteria provide for either a single-part question or a multiple-part question, and said task-setting messages and said response criteria have been determined prior to entry of a response at said response means by a member of the audience.

26. A system according to claim 25 wherein said communication means provides for communicating a result of an evaluation of the response of said member of said audience.

27. A system according to claim 25 wherein said evaluating means at said common facility comprises means for comparing the response entered by the audience member with said response criteria, and means activatable by individual ones of the members and coupled to said comparing means for scoring a response to output a score based on a scoring basis;

said response means includes means coupled via said communication means to said evaluating means for generating a record on a recording medium, a result of said scoring means appearing on said recording medium upon activation of said scoring means; and

said evaluating means provides credits based on said scoring basis to a member of said remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response criteria.

28. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to task-setting messages suitable for the playing of a game, and being transmitted from a central station to locations remote from the central station, the audience members being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:

transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data accompanied by task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by members of the audience relative to said presentation;

response means at the remote locations operable by individual ones of the audience members for responding to the task-setting messages;

a facility common to and distant from the locations of a plurality of the members of said audience and having means for comparing with response criteria a response entered by an audience member, and means at said facility for scoring said response to output a score based on scoring criteria;

means for providing said response and said scoring criteria to said facility for evaluating said response of the member of the audience in accordance with said response criteria to identify an acceptable answer, and for scoring an acceptable answer in accordance with said scoring criteria;

communication means linking said remote locations of said audience members with said facility, wherein said communication means provides for communication of said response from the member of said audience to said facility for operation of said comparing means and said scoring means upon said response;

means connecting with said facility for generating a record having said score on a recording medium;

wherein said communication means provides for communicating a result of a scoring of the response to said member of said audience;

said scoring means provides credits to a member of said remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response criteria; and

said task-setting messages and said response criteria provide for either a single-part question or a multiple-part question, and said task-setting messages and said response criteria have been determined prior to entry of said response at said response means by a member of the audience.

29. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to task-setting messages suitable for the playing of a game, and transmitted from a central station to locations remote from the central station, the audience members being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:

a plurality of remote locations for said players;

transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data accompanied by task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by members of the audience relative to said presentation;

response means at the remote locations operable by individual ones of the audience members for responding to the task-setting messages;

a central facility in communication with said response means, said central facility being distant from the locations of a plurality of the members of said audience and having means for comparing with said response criteria said response entered by an audience member, and means at said central facility for scoring said response to output a score based on scoring criteria;

means for providing signals carrying said response and said scoring criteria to said central facility for evaluating said response of the member of the audience in accordance with said response and said scoring criteria, thereby to identify an acceptable response entered by the audience members;

communication means between the audience member and the central station;

means in communication with said central facility for generating a record having said scoring result on a recording medium;

wherein said scoring means provides credits to a member of said remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response and said scoring criteria;

said communication means provides for communication of said response from the member of said audience to said central facility for operation of said comparing means and said scoring means upon said response, and said communication means provides for communicating a result of a scoring of the response to said member of said audience;

at least one of said transmitter means and said providing means provides for modification of their respective signals to alter the acceptability of said response by alteration of a response criteria; and

further responses by members of the remote audience are scored in accordance with altered criteria selected from a class of criteria consisting of response criteria and scoring criteria.

30. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to task-setting messages suitable for the playing of a game, and transmitted from a central station to locations remote from the central station, the audience members being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:

transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data accompanied by task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by members of the audience relative to said presentation;

response means at the remote locations operable by individual ones of the audience members for responding to the task-setting messages;

an evaluation facility distant from the locations of and serving a plurality of the members of said audience having means for comparing with response criteria a response entered by an audience member, and means at said facility for scoring said response to output a score based on scoring criteria;

means for providing said response and said scoring criteria to said evaluation facility for evaluating said response of the member of the audience in accordance with said response criteria to identify an acceptable answer;

communication means linking said remote locations of said audience members with said evaluation facility, wherein said communication means provides for communication of said response from the member of said audience to said evaluation facility for operation of said comparing means and said scoring means upon said response;

wherein said communication means provides for communicating a result of said scoring of the response to said member of said audience;

said scoring means provides credits to a member of said remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response criteria, and said record includes a scored response result from said scoring means;

at least one of said transmitter means and said providing means provides for modification of their respective signals to provide a second response criteria independently of said transmitting of said program signals; and

further responses by members of the remote audience are evaluated in accordance with said second response criteria.

31. A system according to claim 30 further comprising means in communication with said evaluation facility for generating a record having said scoring result on a recording medium.

32. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to task-setting messages suitable for the playing of a game, and transmitted from a central station to locations remote from the central station, the audience members being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:

transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data accompanied by task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by members of the audience relative to said presentation;

response means at the remote locations operable by individual ones of the audience members for responding to the task-setting messages;

a central facility distant from the locations of a plurality of the members of said audience having means for comparing with response criteria a response entered by an audience member, and means at said central facility for scoring said response to output a score based on scoring criteria;

means for providing signals carrying said response criteria and said scoring criteria to said central facility for evaluating said response of the member of the audience in accordance with said response criteria, thereby to identify an acceptable response entered by the audience members;

communication means linking said remote locations of said audience members with said central facility, wherein said communication means provides for communication of said response from the member of said audience to said central facility for operation of said comparing means and said scoring means upon said response;

means in communication with said central facility for generating a record having said scoring result on a recording medium;

wherein said communication means provides for communicating a result of said scoring of the response to said member of said audience;

said scoring means provides credits to a member of said remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response criteria, and said record includes a scored response results from said scoring means; and

said program signals can be generated to direct an individual one of said audience members independently of a providing of a response criteria signal by said signals providing means.

33. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to task-setting messages suitable for the playing of a game and being transmitted from a central station to locations remote from the central station, the audience members being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:

transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data accompanied by task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by the members of the audience relative to said presentation;

response means at the remote locations operable by individual ones of the audience members for responding to the task-setting messages;

a central facility distant from the locations of a plurality of the members of said audience having means for comparing with response criteria a response entered by an audience member, and means at said central facility for scoring said response to output a score based on scoring criteria;

means for providing said response criteria and said scoring criteria to said central facility for evaluating said response of the member of the audience in accordance with said response criteria to identify an acceptable answer;

communication means linking said remote locations of said audience members with said central facility, wherein said communication means provides for communication of said response from the member of said audience to said central facility for operation of said comparing means and said scoring means upon said response;

means connecting with said central facility for generating a record having said score on a recording medium;

wherein said communication means provides for communicating a result of said scoring of the response to said member of said audience;

said scoring means provides credits to a member of said remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response criteria, and said record includes a score from said scoring means;

said providing means includes means for designating a mode of scoring responses of members of said remote audience, said mode of scoring being included in said scoring criteria for establishing said scoring criteria, said designating means being operative independently of a transmitting of the program signals; and

said task-setting messages and said response criteria provide for either a single-part question or a multiple-part question, and said task-setting messages and said response criteria have been determined prior to the providing of said response.