Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – With communication link
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-29
2001-02-27
Sager, Mark A (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
With communication link
C463S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193610
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to interactive telephone, and more particularly to interactive television technology enabling participants to engage in television programming such as sports, games and other events, on a real time basis.
BACKGROUND ART
The television has become a hallmark in the electronics industry since its inception in the early to mid 1900s. With the rising popularity of the television came the television game show. Television game shows allow “at home viewers” to watch contestants play game shows in the studio while viewing the contestants on television. Today, game shows continue to exist on television and “at home viewers” still continue to watch the game shows from home, via television as non-participants. Additionally, there are any number of sporting events which “at home viewers” watch as well as non-participants.
An advantage of the present invention is in increasing the enjoyment of an interactive game.
Another advantage of the present invention is an improved interactive system allowing participants to interact with a game as an event occurs in real time.
A further advantage is in increasing both the intellectual and emotional enjoyment to a participant viewing an event such as a sport.
Still a further advantage of the invention is in increasing the level of skill and knowledge of a participant to an event such as a sport.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, “at home viewers” can become “at home viewers/players” and will be able to participate as a contestant on the game show or in a contest or game created around an individual sporting event or series of sporting events while it is aired on television. According to one aspect of the invention, “at home viewers/players” can play along with the studio contestants live, in real time, as the show actually airs. These same “at home viewers/players” would also be able to participate in a game or contest created around a specific live sporting event or series of events. These “at home viewer/players” could, depending on the game show and the way in which the game show has been constructed, play along as partners with studio contestants, or they could play in competition with the studio contestants. Alternatively, a separate pool of players from among the “at home viewer/players” group could be created to include or not include the studio contestants. Similarly, these groups could play in competition against one another.
The “at home viewer/player” for a game constructed around a live or taped but previously untelevised sporting event could be organized into competitive units much like the leagues set up for many fantasy sports games and contests and could play within their league as well as against all other players in other leagues.
According to another aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary that the event be live since it could be something that was previously taped but not aired and so for the viewer it is live for all intensive purposes. “At home viewers/players” could play along on a real time basis as a previously taped segment of the television show is aired. Since the taped show is being rebroadcast, the game being played by the “at home viewers/players,” in this case, would be independent from the game being played by studio contestants. In this case, the game could be separate from, and not rely on a live broadcast show for the content of the game the “at home viewers/players” are playing. This might be accomplished through use of a game within a game (for example, guess which studio contestant will win) or an overlay of additional questions (possibly of the same type and format or game elements) on a screen overlay broadcast live as the taped show airs.
In another aspect of the invention, interactive play could be accomplished by access to an on-line version of the game played in real time on the Internet and/or an audio text delivery system as the taped show airs on television.
In another aspect of the invention, interactive play could be accomplished through access to a digital satellite system. A specific channel could be “purchased” and designated to the “at home viewers/players” as a “game show” channel. When the “game show” channel is in use, the “at home viewers/players” can participate in interactive play. Alternatively, interactive game shows could be aired on any selected channel at random times, much like regularly scheduled television shows.
To participate the “at home viewer/player” would purchase a “game show” package from the satellite television company that provides him with a set number of “game plays.” The game is broadcast on screen at the same time as the event on which the game is based via the interval blanking unit on the bottom of the screen or the “at home viewer/player” has to switch between the actual broadcast of the event on which the game is based and the “game show channel” on which are the interactive elements that allow him to participate in the game or contest.
In another aspect of the invention, the “interactive tv show” application can be utilized as a vehicle for direct marketing. Typically, telephone systems are not capable of handling mass amounts of callers to the same 800 number at the same time which is why direct response spots never air during prime time television. Using this application would enable a direct marketer to create a “new” phone system, one capable of handling a larger amount of callers than currently implemented phone systems, the consumer will be able to utilize direct market advertising. This will enable the “at home viewer” to participate in direct marketing through use of an audio text delivery and in response to touch tone telephone input. Alternatively, the consumer can implement this application in conjunction with the internet in order to utilize direct marketing advertising.
In accord with one aspect of the invention, an interactive game system comprises a controller for generating real time score values indicative of performance of players involved in an event; an interactive device for displaying video information to a participant of an interactive game based on the event; and a communication network coupling the controller and the interactive device such that the real time score values are conveyed to the participant.
Methodology for implementing the invention includes the steps of generating real time score values indicative of performances of players involved in an event, conveying to each participant the real time score values of the players and, on the basis of the real time score values, receiving information or commands from the participant.
Additional objects, advantages and other features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
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McDermott & Will & Emery
Sager Mark A
William Junkin Trust
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