Codeword matching game using a mass media network

• US 20060183549A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chenteh Kenneth Fan, George Skaff Elias, Richard Channing Garfield, Timothy Yi-Chung Chow
• Original Assignee: Chenteh Kenneth Fan, George Skaff Elias, Richard Channing Garfield, Timothy Yi-Chung Chow
• Inventors: Chow, Timothy Yi-Chung, Fan, Chenteh Kenneth, Elias, George Skaff, Garfield, Richard Channing
• Application Number:
  US11/059,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20060183549A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

The home viewing audience of a program that is broadcast over a television or other mass media network plays a game by matching events on the program or its commercials with a personal telephone number or similar personal codeword. In one version, the organizers distribute a code table listing events that might occur on the program, and associate a code with each such event. A player watches for events listed on the code table, hoping to match the associated codes to parts of his codeword. A player becomes eligible to win if his entire codeword is successfully matched to codes of events that actually occur on the program, and may telephone a predetermined telephone number to declare his eligibility to win prizes. A second version of the game is like the first except there is no code table; the players watch for direct appearances of the codes themselves.

Claims

1. A game comprising a distinct codeword for each player, wherein said player matches a part of said codeword with one or more codes, and wherein said code is associated with a specific event that occurs during either one of, or both of, a program or a commercial advertisement broadcast over a mass media network, wherein:

(a) said game comprises a code table which associates said code to an event that could potentially occur during said program;

or

(b) said code is broadcast on said program or on a commercial advertisement.

2. The game according to claim 1, wherein said codeword is a telephone number, a social security number, or a sequence of symbols that is derived from a personal identification number.

3. The game according to claim 1, wherein said mass media network is a television network.

4. The game according to claim 3, wherein said codeword is a telephone number and is identified by caller identification technology.

5. The game according to claim 4, wherein said game comprises a code table and said code table is made available to the player prior to said broadcast.

9. A method of playing the game according to claim 1, wherein said game comprises a code table which associates said code to an event that could potentially occur during said program, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a program before its scheduled broadcast time, wherein said program is broadcast over a mass media network;

(b) obtaining a codeword comprising a plurality of symbols;

(c) obtaining the code table that associates a code to an event that could potentially occur during said program;

(d) following said program to find a match between a part of said codeword and a code that is associated to an event that actually occurs, wherein said code is found in said code table; and

(e) repeating step (d) until symbols of the codeword are matched with a code from said code table such that said matches satisfy a predetermined criterion for ending the game.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said mass media network is a television network.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said codeword is a telephone number, a social security number, or a sequence of symbols that is derived from a personal identification number.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said codeword is a telephone number and is identified by caller identification technology.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said program is fiction, non-fiction, live, or prerecorded.

14. A method of playing the game according to claim 1, wherein said code is broadcast on a program or on a commercial advertisement, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a program before its scheduled broadcast time, wherein said program is broadcast over a mass media network;

(b) obtaining a codeword comprising a plurality of symbols;

(c) following said program to find a match between a part of said codeword and a code that is associated to an event that actually occurs, wherein said code is broadcast on said program or on a commercial advertisement; and

(d) repeating step (c) until all symbols of the codeword are matched with a code such that said matches satisfy a predetermined criterion for ending the game.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said program is a game show designed to generate said code.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said codeword is a telephone number, a social security number, or a sequence of symbols that is derived from a personal identification number.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said mass media network is a television network.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said codeword is a telephone number and is identified by caller identification technology.

19. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of winning merchandise, a prize, or cash.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of winning merchandise, a prize, or cash.

6. A code table, for playing a game, comprising a listing of potential events associated with a particular program broadcast over a mass media network and a discrete code associated with each potential event.

7. The code table according to claim 6, wherein said code table is printed in a publication and is optionally available by subscription wherein a player obtains said code table on a regular and predetermined basis.

8. The code table according to claim 6, wherein said code table is obtained via the internet and is optionally downloaded.