Wireless communications system for a quiz game

• US 6,688,982 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agency.com (Omnicom Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Agency.com (Omnicom Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Moodie, Justin Charles, Travers, Matthew Peter, Terry, Michael Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US09/725,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20020104007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 463/41, 463/40, 463/25, 463/9, 463/1, 273/460, 273/430, 434/322, 434/332, 434/350, 434/351
• US Class Current: 463/41
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• 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: H04M 2203/1066 Game playing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

In a quiz game, a first question and a telephone number are displayed at a location. A user enters an answer to the question on an SMS-enabled handset and sends it to the designated telephone number. If the answer is correct, the user receives a further question via SMS, and replies with a further answer. Further questions may be received and answers sent. If all of the answers are correct, the user is prompted to send a message with a name and optionally a choice of prize. The user then receives a voucher number. The voucher number and the name entered by the user, and optionally an identification of the choice of prize, are transmitted to another terminal, which may be another SMS-enabled handset belonging for example to a bartender. The bartender calls out the name and the user presents the voucher number to the bartender. If the presented voucher number matches that received by the bartender, the user receives the prize, such as their choice of free drink.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a question session at a communications server in a first location comprising:

a. receiving, at the first location, an answer message from a wireless communications device;

b. comparing the answer message to a stored answer, and, if the answer message matches the stored answer, transmitting a verification code to a predetermined communications device different from said wireless communications device, the predetermined communications device and the wireless communications device being at a second location to facilitate awarding of a prize associated with the transmitted verification code;

said verification code transmitted to said predetermined communications device being verifiable against a verification code stored at the wireless communications device.

2. A method according to claim 1, including, prior to step a, transmitting a stored question message to said wireless communications device.

3. A method according to claim 2, including, prior to said step of transmitting said stored question message, receiving a previous answer message from the wireless communications device, and comparing said previous answer message to a stored previous answer;

wherein said stored question message is transmitted if said previous answer message matches said stored previous answer.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said verification code is transmitted to said wireless communications device.

5. A method according to claim 4, further including receiving a user identifying code from the wireless communication device, wherein said user identifying code is transmitted to the predetermined communication device if the answer message matches the stored answer.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said verification code is received from said wireless communications device.

7. A method according to claim 1, including verifying said verification code stored at the wireless communications device against said verification code transmitted to said predetermined communications device.

8. A method according to claim 7, including issuing the prize at the second location if said verifying step is successful.

24. An apparatus comprising means to perform the method according to claim 1.

25. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for performing a method according to claims 1 or claim 17.

9. A method of verifying at a communications terminal an outcome of a question session at a wireless terminal, including:

a. receiving, from a server in a first location, a win indication message including a verification code at said communications terminal; and

b. verifying, in a second location, said verification code against a verification code stored at said wireless terminal, the wireless terminal and the communications terminal being in the second location to facilitate awarding of a prize associated with the verification codes.

10. A method according to claim 9, including issuing the prize at the second location if said verification step is successful.

11. A method according to claim 9, including displaying a network address accessible to said wireless terminal and proximate said communications terminal, said network address enabling said wireless terminal to initiate said question session.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein said win indication message includes a user identifying code, and further including the step of broadcasting said user identifying code.

26. An apparatus to perform the method of claim 9.

13. A method of participating in a question session, including:

a. entering an answer message at a wireless communications terminal;

b. transmitting said answer message to a predetermined address;

c. receiving a win indication at the wireless communications terminal from a server;

d. storing a verification code at the wireless terminal; and

e. verifying said verification code against a verification code received by a further communications terminal separate from said wireless terminal, the server being at a first location and the communications terminal and the wireless terminal being at a second location to facilitate awarding of a prize associated with the verification codes.

14. A method according to claim 13, including receiving the prize at the second location if said verifying step is successful.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined address is displayed proximate said further communications terminal.

16. A method according to claim 13, including transmitting a user identifying code from the wireless terminal to said predetermined address.

27. An apparatus to perform the method of claim 13.

17. In a communications system comprising a first, wireless, terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being able to transmit messages to and receive messages from a communications server, and the second terminal being able to receive messages from said communications server, a method comprising the steps of:

a. storing an answer record and an address of the second terminal at the server;

b. entering an answer message at the first terminal;

c. transmitting said answer message from the first terminal to the server;

d. comparing, at the server, said answer message with said answer record, and, if said answer message matches said answer record;

i. transmitting a first notification message to the first terminal, the first terminal, the first notification message including a verification code;

ii. transmitting a second notification message to the second terminal, the second notification message including said verification code;

the verification code received by the first terminal being verifiable against the verification code received by the second terminal, the server being at a first location and the first and second terminals being at a second location to facilitate awarding of a prize associated with the verification codes.

18. A method according to claim 17, further including the step of transmitting a user identifying code from the first terminal to the server, wherein the second notification message includes said user identifying code.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the communications server stores at least one question record, the method including, prior to step b, transmitting a question message, derived from the question record, from the communications server to the first terminal.

20. A method according to claim 19, further including the step of receiving a previous answer message at the communications server from the first terminal, wherein the communications server stores a further answer record, compares the previous answer message with the further answer record, and transmits said question message only if the previous answer message matches the further answer record.

21. A method according to claim 17, further including the step of verifying the verification code received by the first terminal against the verification code received by the second terminal.

22. A method according to claim 21, further including the step of issuing the prize at the second location if said step of verifying is successful.

23. A method according to claim 21, further including the step of displaying an address of the communications server proximate the second terminal.

28. An apparatus to perform the method of claim 17.