System and method for venue-to-venue messaging

• US 8,045,965 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (Major League Baseball)
• Original Assignee: MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (Major League Baseball)
• Inventors: Inzerillo, Joseph, Shaffer, Justin, Bowman, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean A
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/701,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/517, 455/412.1, 455/466, 455/414.1, 455/426.2, 709/206, 386/46, 386/223, 386/230
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and method is provided for enabling venue-to-venue communication. A message is sent from a messaging device located in a first venue. The system receives the message via a communications network. The system transmits the message via the communications network to a local venue exchange associated with a second venue. The message is presented to an audience present at the second venue.

Claims

1. A system for enabling venue-to-venue messaging, comprising:

a first messaging device, located at a first venue where a first event is occurring, configured to transmit a first user generated message;

a second messaging device, located at a second venue where a second event is occurring, configured to transmit a second user generated message;

a communications network, configured to receive the first user generated message and route the first user generated message to the second venue where the second event is occurring concurrently with the first event, and configured to receive the second user generated message and route the second user generated message to the first venue where the first event is occurring concurrently with the second event;

a first local venue exchange operably connected to the communications network and associated with the first venue, wherein the first local venue exchange is configured to receive and process the second user generated message transmitted from the second messaging device at the second venue;

a second local venue exchange operably connected to the communications network and associated with the second venue, wherein the second local venue exchange is configured to receive and process the first user generated message transmitted from the first messaging device at the first venue;

a first content filter configured to censor and edit the second user generated message;

a second content filter configured to censor and edit the first user generated message; and

a first venue display located at the first venue; and

a second venue display located at the second venue, wherein the first and second venue displays are configured to simultaneously display the first and second user generated messages to audiences in attendance at the first and second event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first messaging device is a cell phone of an audience member at the first venue.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first messaging device is one of a PDA, laptop, pager, telephone or computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second venue are any one of a ballpark, stadium, coliseum, field, concert hall, amphitheatre, auditorium or gymnasium.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user generated message is a text message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user generated message is one of an image, audio or video message.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a wireless cellular telephone network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a two-way network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second local venue exchange is located in the second venue.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second venue display located at the second venue is any one of a LCD screen, scoreboard or electronic marquee that is visible to all the audience present at the second venue.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second event are any one of a sporting event or concert.

12. A method for enabling venue-to-venue messaging, comprising:

receiving a first user generated message, via a communications network, wherein the first user generated message is sent from a first messaging device located in a first venue where a first event is occurring;

receiving a second user generated message, via a communications network, wherein the second user generated message is sent from a second messaging device located in a second venue where a second event is occurring;

transmitting the first user generated message via the communications network to a second local venue exchange associated with the second venue where the second event is occurring concurrently with the first event;

transmitting the second user generated message via a communications network to a first local venue exchange associated with the first venue where the first event is occurring concurrently with the second event;

simultaneously presenting the first and second user generated messages on a first venue display located at the first venue to an audience in attendance at the first event; and

simultaneously presenting the first and second user generated messages on a second venue display located at the second venue to an audience in attendance at the second event.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of simultaneously presenting the first and second user generated messages on the first venue display further comprises:

passing the first and second user generated messages through a content filter; and

editing the first and second user generated messages according to criteria specified by the content filter.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first user generated message is a text message.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first user generated message is one of an image, audio or video message.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the communications network is a wireless cellular telephone network.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the communications network is a two-way network.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the first messaging device is a wireless cellular telephone.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the first messaging device is one of a PDA, laptop, pager, telephone or computer.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second venue are any one of a ballpark, stadium, coliseum, field, concert hall, amphitheatre, auditorium or gymnasium.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the second local venue exchange is located in the second venue.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the second venue display located at the second event is any one of a LCD screen, scoreboard or electronic marquee that is visible to all the audience present at the second venue.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second event are any one of a sporting event or concert.

24. A method for venue-to-venue messaging, comprising:

providing an audience member in attendance at a first venue where a first event is occurring with a first wireless messaging device;

providing an audience member in attendance at a second venue where a second event is occurring with a second wireless messaging device;

receiving a first user generated message input by the audience member with the first wireless messaging device at a cellular communications network, wherein the first user generated message is intended to be delivered to the second venue where the second event is occurring concurrently with the first event;

receiving a second user generated message input by the audience member with the second wireless messaging device at a cellular communications network, wherein the second user generated message is intended to be delivered to the first venue where the first event is occurring concurrently with the second event;

transmitting the first user generated message from the cellular communications network to a second local venue exchange associated with the second venue;

transmitting the second user generated message from the cellular communications network to a first local venue exchange associated with the first venue;

filtering and editing the content of the first and second user generated messages; and

simultaneously presenting the first and second user generated messages on a first venue display located at the first venue to audience members in attendance at the first event; and

simultaneously presenting the first and second user generated messages on a second venue display located at the second venue to an audience in attendance at the second event.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first and second event are any one of a sporting event or concert.