Interactive inter-channel game

• US 7,997,985 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Atlow, Shabtai, Silver, Yonatan, Bogot, Carmi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US11/977,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20080076555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/30, 463/31, 463/35, 463/37, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An interactive multi-channel game method is described. The method includes providing a first representation of a game element associated with a first channel of a multi-channel system, replacing the first representation with a second representation of the game element associated with a second channel of the multi-channel system, providing a clue associated with the second channel, and receiving a user input representing a user'"'"'s response to the clue. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Claims

1. A system for an interactive multi-channel game played on an interactive multi-channel television system, the system comprising:

a multi-channel game invoker, the multi-channel game being associated with the multi-channel television system;

a game element generator providing a first representation of a game element associated with a first channel of a multi-channel television system;

a clue provider providing a clue associated with a second channel of the multi-channel television system;

a game element remover operative to remove the first representation of the game element; and

a score keeper operative to;

deduct points from a score associates with a player of the game each time the player tunes to an incorrect channel; and

add points to the player'"'"'s score when the player tunes to the second channel.

2. A system for an interactive multi-channel game played on an interactive multi-channel television system, the system comprising:

a processor providing a first representation of a game element associated with a first channel of a multi-channel television system and replacing the first representation with a second representation of the game element associated with a second channel of the multi-channel television system, the processor further providing a clue associated with the second channel; and

a player input interface receiving a player input representing a player'"'"'s response to the clue.

3. A method for an interactive multi-channel game played on an interactive multi-channel system, the method comprising:

invoking a multi-channel game associated with a multi-channel system;

providing a first representation of a game element associated with a first channel of the multi-channel system;

providing a clue associated with a second channel;

removing the first representation of the game element associated with the first channel of the multi-channel system; and

performing at least one of;

each time a player tunes to an incorrect channel, deducting points from a score associated with the player; and

if the player tunes to the second channel, adding points to the score,

wherein at least one player input is received, said player input representing a response of a corresponding player of a plurality of players to the clue.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein each said player input comprises a channel change signal from the player.

5. The method according to either claim 3 further comprising rendering at least one of the first representation and the clue sensible to at least one human sense.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the rendering comprises visual rendering.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the rendering comprises audio rendering.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein the rendering comprises audio-visually rendering.

9. The method according to claim 3 further comprising awarding at least one point based, at least in part, on performance of a first player of the plurality of players compared to performance of a second player of the plurality of players.

10. The method according to claim 3 wherein the at least one player input comprises a channel change signal from the player.

11. The method according to claim 10 further else comprising deducting at least one point for incorrect channel changes.

12. The method according to claim 10 further comprising deducting at least one point for lack of speed.

13. The method according to claim 3 further comprising pausing the game based at least in part on a received player input.

14. The method according to claim 3 further comprising providing another clue based at least in part on a received player input.

15. The method according to claim 3 further comprising passing a current turn based at least in part on a received player input.

16. The method according to claim 3 wherein at least one of the following depends on a player profile:

behavior of the represented game element;

the replacing the first representation of the game element with the second representation of the game element;

the clue; and

the response to the input of at least one of a plurality of players.

17. The method according to claim 3 wherein the second channel is selected from among a plurality of channels which at least one of a plurality of players is authorized to view.

18. The method according to claim 3 wherein the second channel is selected from among a plurality of channels at least one of a plurality of players is not authorized to view.

19. The method according to claim 3 wherein the providing a clue comprises:

receiving information from broadcast program guide information; and

displaying the clue based, at least in part, on the information.

20. The method according to claim 3 wherein the providing a clue comprises:

receiving information from broadcast data; and

displaying the clue based, at least in part, on the information.

21. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

receiving a payment for playing the game,

wherein the payment is received from the player.

22. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

receiving a payment in exchange for associating the game element with designated content.

23. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

receiving a payment in exchange for associating the game element with a designated channel.

24. A system for an interactive multi-channel game played on an interactive multi-channel system, the system comprising:

a multi-channel game invoker, the multi-channel game being associated with the multi-channel system;

a game element generator providing a first representation of a game element associated with a first channel of the multi-channel system;

a clue provider providing a clue associated with a second channel of the multi-channel system;

a game element remover operative to remove the first representation of the game element; and

a score keeper operative to;

deduct points from a score associated with a player of the game each time the player tunes to an incorrect channel; and

add points to the player'"'"'s score when the player tunes to the second channel,

wherein at least one player input is received, said player input representing a response of a corresponding player of a plurality of players to the clue.

25. A system for an interactive multi-channel game played on an interactive multi-channel system, the system comprising:

means for invoking a multi-channel game associated with a multi-channel system;

means for providing a first representation of a game element associated with a first channel of the multi-channel system;

means for providing a clue associated with a second channel;

means for removing the first representation of the game element associated with the first channel of the multi-channel system; and

means for performing at least one of;

each time a player tunes to an incorrect channel, deducting points from a score associated with the player; and

if the player tunes to the second channel, adding points to the score,

wherein at least one player input is received, said player input representing a response of a corresponding player of a plurality of players to the clue.