Internet-based advertising scheme employing scavenger hunt metaphor
First Claim
1. An Internet-based service configured to operate a scavenger hunt in which participants are required to answer questions using information obtained from one or more Web sites visited in response to hints suggesting where such information may be located, wherein each preceding question must be successfully answered before a next question is presented.
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Abstract
An Internet-based service configured to operate a scavenger hunt in which participants are required to answer questions using information obtained from one or more Web sites visited in response to hints suggesting where such information may be located. Each preceding question must be successfully answered before a next question is presented. Generally, a correct answer requires verification that a respondent visited the Web site at which the information required in the answer is located. This, in turn, may require that the respondent reached the Web site at which the information required in the answer is located through an authorized path including at least one predetermined Web address. Such verification may be achieved by using referring uniform resource locator (URL) information regarding the at least one Web address as a security key to allow access to a location at which the respondent may enter the answer. The security key provides access to a secure database used to store answers provided by the participants in the scavenger hunt. Unique security keys for each question used in the scavenger hunt may be required to obtain access to the secure database.
381 Citations
25 Claims
- 1. An Internet-based service configured to operate a scavenger hunt in which participants are required to answer questions using information obtained from one or more Web sites visited in response to hints suggesting where such information may be located, wherein each preceding question must be successfully answered before a next question is presented.
- 8. An Internet-based resource configured as a host for a multi-participant scavenger hunt in which participants are required to answer questions using information obtained from one or more Web sites visited in response to hints suggesting where such information may be located, wherein each preceding question must be successfully answered before a next question is presented.
- 12. A computer-assisted method, comprising verifying an answer to a question posed as part of a scavenger hunt in which participants are required to answer questions using information obtained from one or more Web sites visited in response to hints suggesting where such information may be located, such verification being required to each preceding question before a next question is presented.
- 22. A method, comprising deriving revenue from one or more sponsors of an Internet-based service configured to operate a scavenger hunt in which participants are required to answer questions using information obtained from Web sites and/or physical sites associated with the sponsors, wherein a correct answer requires verification that a responding participant actually visited the Web site and/or physical site associated with the question being answered.
Specification