U.S. patent application number 09/088148 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-07 for evaluation of responses of participatory broadcast audience with prediction of winning contestants; monitoring, checking and controlling of wagering, and automatic crediting and couponing.
Invention is credited to VON KOHORN, HENRY.
Application Number | 20010003099 09/088148 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22209635 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010003099 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VON KOHORN, HENRY |
June 7, 2001 |
EVALUATION OF RESPONSES OF PARTICIPATORY BROADCAST AUDIENCE WITH
PREDICTION OF WINNING CONTESTANTS; MONITORING, CHECKING AND
CONTROLLING OF WAGERING, AND AUTOMATIC CREDITING AND COUPONING
Abstract
A system and method for evaluating responses to broadcast
programs, such as television programs, include an instructional
signal modulated onto a signal transmitted concurrently with the
television program, simulcast, or time-multiplexed with a
television. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations,
one or more members of a remote audience has the opportunity to
respond to a situation presented in the television program by
entering a response on a keyboard. The system includes response
evaluation circuitry which may be located at a central facility or
partially at the central facility and partially at each remote
receiving station, or completely within a response unit at each
remote receiving station, in the latter case the response unit
having a memory responsive to the instructional signal for storing
acceptable responses, a comparison circuit for comparing responses
entered at the keyboard with those stored in the memory, circuitry
for scoring responses in accordance with commands from the
instructional signal, and a recording device for providing a
permanent record of the audience score at the remote station. For
conducting a sweepstakes, numbers or other responses are entered at
the remote stations and are stored at a central facility for
verification. The program may be presented live conducted by a host
at a central station, or by a prerecorded message accessible by
telephone from a remote station with regulation from a central
station, and members of the remote audience may predict or select
winning contestants.
Inventors: |
VON KOHORN, HENRY; (VERO
BEACH, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVID M. WARREN
PERMAN AND GREEN
425 POST ROAD
FAIRFIELD
CT
06430
|
Family ID: |
22209635 |
Appl. No.: |
09/088148 |
Filed: |
June 1, 1998 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09088148 |
Jun 1, 1998 |
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08226073 |
Apr 11, 1994 |
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5759101 |
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08226073 |
Apr 11, 1994 |
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08025397 |
Feb 25, 1993 |
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5508731 |
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08025397 |
Feb 25, 1993 |
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07763672 |
Sep 19, 1991 |
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5283734 |
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07763672 |
Sep 19, 1991 |
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07603882 |
Oct 25, 1990 |
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5057915 |
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07603882 |
Oct 25, 1990 |
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07424089 |
Oct 19, 1989 |
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5034807 |
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07424089 |
Oct 19, 1989 |
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07192355 |
May 10, 1988 |
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07192355 |
May 10, 1988 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/40 ;
348/E7.024; 348/E7.034; 348/E7.039; 463/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 9/18 20130101; H04H
20/38 20130101; G07F 17/3202 20130101; H04H 60/94 20130101; A63F
2300/409 20130101; H04H 60/64 20130101; H04H 60/375 20130101; G07F
17/3295 20130101; G07F 17/3262 20130101; H04N 7/0884 20130101; G07F
17/3248 20130101; A63F 13/12 20130101; A63F 2003/083 20130101; A63F
2300/638 20130101; G07F 17/3227 20130101; A63F 2011/0095 20130101;
H04H 20/61 20130101; G07F 17/32 20130101; H04H 60/45 20130101; H04N
7/0806 20130101; H04H 60/33 20130101; H04H 20/31 20130101; G09B
7/063 20130101; H04H 20/62 20130101; H04N 7/08 20130101; H04H 20/28
20130101; G09B 7/00 20130101; H04N 7/088 20130101; H04H 60/98
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/40 ;
463/16 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for conducting a game for individual participating
players at remote locations, the players being telephone
subscribers, said game being at least partially conducted by
telephone, and for rewarding players who have entered an acceptable
answer to a question, the system comprising: a recording medium
playback facility at a central facility; recording media intended
to be played back by said playback facility, the media having
recorded thereon signals conveying at least one question which is
either a single-part question or a multiple-part question and
signals defining at least one acceptable answer to a question, an
acceptable answer carrying a prize having monetary value;
telephonic communications means including a telephone facility
between said playback facility and players' locations including
means operable by a player wishing to play said game for activating
said playback facility; means for presenting a played-back
recording at players' locations; caller identification means at
said telephone facility; means at players' locations for entering
an answer to a question in players' telephones; an answer
evaluation facility connected to players' telephones and to said
playback facility having means for receiving entered answers from
players' locations and for receiving acceptable answers from said
playback facility, said evaluation facility having means for
comparing an entered answer to an acceptable answer to identify a
winning player's acceptable entered answer; means for presenting
evaluation and monetary prize results to winning players; and means
for making a prize available to winning players; wherein, if two or
more answers are acceptable, one can be a preferred answer; wherein
a preferred answer receives a higher award; wherein said evaluation
facility rewards an individual answer essentially immediately
following its input by a player; and wherein said evaluation
facility permits input of a single answer by a player on the spur
of the moment.
2. A system for conducting a game for participants at remote
locations comprising: a recording having recorded thereon at least
one question set comprising signals including question signals
conveying at least one question in open language, said question
requiring an answer given within a defined time period and
including answer signals conveying an acceptable answer to said
questions, said answer signals being conveyed once during said time
period as instructional signals in machine-readable language and
once in open language essentially following said time period, to
inform participants after they have answered said question, an
acceptable answer carrying an award; central means for making a
recorded or a live announcement of an award to participants at
remote locations; a central playback facility activatable by a
participant at participant's remote location for playing back the
signals of said recording; means operable by an individual
participant for contacting and activating said playback facility to
play back the signals of said recording; means for transmitting
said signals from said playback facility on wire and/or wireless
communication means; means at participants' locations for receiving
said question and answer signals conveyed in open language
following said time period; means at participants' locations for
entering a participant's answer to a question; a central evaluation
facility having means for receiving said machine-readable answer
signals of the recording and means programmable by said
instructional signals for recognizing and accepting a participant's
acceptable entered answer, said facility having a memory for
storing award information, there being means for automatically
identifying individual participants who have entered an acceptable
answer; central means for transmitting information relative to said
award to said memory at the evaluation facility; means for
preventing the entering or evaluation of answers following the
allowed time period; communication means connecting participants'
locations with the playback facility and the evaluation facility;
means for informing an identified participant of an award; and
means for making an award available to an identified participant
who has entered an acceptable answer; wherein, if two or more
answers are acceptable, one of said answers is a preferred answer;
wherein a preferred answer receives a higher award; wherein said
evaluation facility rewards an individual answer essentially
immediately following its input by participant; and wherein said
evaluation facility permits input of a single answer by a
participant on the spur of the moment.
3. A method for conducting a game for participants at remote
locations comprising: providing a recording having recorded thereon
signals comprising question signals conveying at least one
question, said question requiring an answer given within an allowed
time period known to participants and comprising instructional
signals conveying an acceptable answer to said question, there
being a prize for an acceptable answer; providing a central
playback facility for playing back said recording; providing means
operable by a host for activating said playback facility to play
back said recording; providing means coupled to said playback
facility for transmitting signals conveying a played-back question
and instructional signals conveying an acceptable answer;
participants receiving said question signals; providing means at
participants' locations for entering participants' answers to a
question; there being wired or wireless communication means
connecting a central evaluation facility to participants' entering
means and to the playback facility; participants entering an
answer, thereby incurring a participation charge; providing a
central evaluation facility having means for receiving said
acceptable answer signals of the recording and having means
programmable by said instructional signals for recognizing and
accepting individual participants' acceptable entered answers,
there being means for automatically identifying via said
communications link individual participants who have entered an
acceptable answer; providing means for preventing the entering or
evaluation of answers following the allowed time period; preventing
the evaluation of answers following the allowed time period; said
evaluation facility recognizing and accepting individual
participants' acceptable answers, an acceptable answer being
rewarded with a prize; identifying individual participants who have
entered an acceptable answer; providing means for informing
participants who have entered an acceptable answer and won a prize;
and informing participants who have entered an acceptable answer
and won a prize; wherein, if two or more answers are acceptable,
one can be a preferred answer; wherein a preferred answer receives
a higher award; wherein said evaluation facility rewards an
individual answer essentially immediately following its input by a
participant; and wherein said evaluation facility permits input of
a single answer by a participant on the spur-of the moment.
4. A method for conducting an automated game for participants at
remote locations, comprising: providing a first recording
comprising a message including at least one question requiring a
selection-type answer and an acceptable answer to said question,
said question indicating a time period allowed to answer said
question; providing a central playback facility activatable by a
participant for playing back the message of said first recording to
said participant, including means for timing the playing back of
the acceptable answer partially during and/or following said
allowed time period; providing communication means between said
playback facility and participants' locations; providing means
operable by individual participants for contacting and
automatically activating said playback facility to play back a
message on said recording; a participant contacting and activating
said playback facility; providing means at participants' locations
for entering a selected answer to a question; providing a central
evaluating facility communicatively connected to participants'
locations and to said playback facility having comparing means
programmable to recognize and-accept an acceptable answer and
having means for identifying individual participants who have
entered an acceptable answer within the allowed time period;
programming said comparing means; evaluating a participant's
entered answer received at said evaluation facility; identifying
participants who have entered an acceptable answer; providing a
central informing facility for playing back a second recording to
inform participants who have entered an acceptable answer, the
playing back of said second recording being automatically initiated
by the acceptance of a participant's entered answer; and informing
participants who have entered an acceptable answer; wherein said
evaluation facility evaluates an individual answer essentially
immediately following its input by a participant; and wherein said
evaluation facility permits input of a single answer by a
participant on the spur of the moment.
5. A method for conducting an automated game for participants at
remote locations comprising: providing a first recording having
recorded thereon signals conveying a message comprising at least
one question requiring a selection-type answer given within an
allowed time period and an acceptable answer to said question;
providing a central playback facility activatable by a participant
for playing back and transmitting signals conveying said question
to the participant and conveying said acceptable answer to an
evaluation facility; providing means operable by a participant for
contacting and thereby automatically activating said playback
facility to play back and transmit signals of said first recording;
providing means at participants' locations for receiving signals
conveying the question of said message; a participant activating
said playback and transmission facility; a participant receiving
said question; providing means at participants' locations for
entering a selected answer to a question; a participant entering a
selected answer; providing a central evaluation facility having
means for receiving a participant's entered answer signals, means
for receiving the answer signals of the message of said first
recording and logic means programmable by said answer signals for
recognizing and accepting participant's acceptable entered answer,
there being means for identifying individual participants who have
entered an acceptable answer; providing communication means
connecting the evaluation facility with participants' locations and
said playback facility; the evaluation facility receiving signals
from said playback facility conveying an acceptable answer to said
question; the evaluation facility receiving signals conveying a
participant's entered answer; the evaluation facility accepting or
not accepting a participant's entered answer; identifying
participants who have entered an acceptable answer; providing means
for preventing the entering or evaluation of an answer following
said allowed time period; preventing the entering or evaluation of
an answer following said allowed time period; providing a central
informing facility communicatively connected to participants'
locations having means for playing back and transmitting signals of
a second recording informing participants who have entered an
acceptable answer, the playback and transmission of said second
recording being activated automatically upon the acceptance of a
participant's entered answer by said evaluation facility; and
informing participants who have entered an acceptable answer.
6. A method for conducting an automated game for participants at
remote locations, comprising: providing a first recording
comprising a message including at least one question requiring a
selection-type answer and an acceptable answer to said question
carrying a prize, said question indicating a time period allowed to
answer said question; providing a central playback facility
activatable by a participant for playing back the message of said
first recording to said participant, including means for timing the
playing back of the acceptable answer essentially following said
allowed time period; providing communication means between said
playback facility and participants' locations; providing means
operable by individual participants for contacting and
automatically activating said playback facility to play back a
message on said recording; a participant contacting and activating
said playback facility; providing means at participants' locations
for entering a selected answer to a question; providing a central
evaluating facility having comparing means programmable for
recognizing and accepting an acceptable answer and having means for
identifying individual participants who have entered an acceptable
answer within the allowed time period and have won a prize;
programming said comparing means; evaluating a participant's
entered answer received at said evaluation facility; identifying
participants who have entered an acceptable answer and won a prize;
providing a central informing facility for playing back a second
recording to inform participants who have entered an acceptable
answer, the playing back of said second recording being
automatically initiated by the acceptance of a participant's
entered answer; and informing participants of a prize; wherein said
evaluation facility rewards an individual answer essentially
immediately following its input by a participant; and wherein said
evaluation facility permits input of a single answer by a
participant on the spur of the moment.
7. A system for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites
and for responding to said program signals at said receiving
stations, said system comprising: central means for transmitting a
program signal, said program including a task calling for a
prescribed response within a time period allowed for responding;
central means for transmitting an instructional signal
incorporating response criteria defining a prescribed response, an
allowed time period and a value assigned to an acceptable response;
means at each of said receiving stations for responding to a task
presented in said program; response evaluation means responsive to
said instructional signal for determining an acceptable entered
response and for assigning a value to an acceptable response; means
for preventing the evaluation of a response after the allowed time
period; two-way communication means between receiving stations and
response evaluation means; and means for informing a respondent of
a value assigned to said respondent's acceptable response.
8. A system for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites
and for responding to said program signals at said receiving
stations, an acceptable response carrying an award, said system
comprising: central means for transmitting a first program signal
including a task in the form of a question and a period of time
allowed for answering; means at each of said receiving stations for
presenting a program transmitted by said program signal to members
of an audience; central means for transmitting a second
instructional signal incorporating response criteria for scoring at
least one acceptable response, there being a fixed or computed
award associated with acceptable responses; means at each of said
receiving stations for responding by members of said audience to a
task presented in a program; response evaluation means
communicatively connected to said responding means responsive to
said instructional signal, and including means for timing and means
for scoring responses; wherein said scoring ranges from the simple
comparison of a task to response criteria in order to determine an
acceptable response accompanied by a fixed award to the
computerized processing of acceptable responses in accordance with
scoring instructions to determine computed awards; wherein said
scoring instructions have been determined prior to the transmission
of said program signal; wherein said program and said instructional
signals provide information of said task-setting program signals,
said information comprising at least one question which is either a
single-part question or a multiple-part question; and means for
informing members of said audience of an acceptable response and of
a fixed or computed award therefor, said informing following the
elapsing of at least a significant portion of said allowed time
period; wherein, if two or more responses are acceptable, one can
be a preferred response; wherein a preferred response receives a
higher score award; wherein said evaluation means scores an
individual response essentially immediately following its input by
a member; and wherein said evaluation means permits input of a
single response by a member on the spur of the moment.
9. A method for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to a plurality of respondents at receiving stations at
remote sites and for responding to said program signals at said
receiving stations, said method comprising: formulating a task in
the form of a question which is either a single-part question or a
multiple-part question, and an award for an acceptable response;
providing means for transmitting a program signal; transmitting a
program signal including a task; providing means for transmitting
an instructional signal; transmitting an instructional signal
incorporating response criteria defining at least one acceptable
response to said task, including said award, wherein said
acceptable response has been determined prior to the transmission
of said program signal; providing means at said receiving stations
for presenting a program transmitted by said program signal;
presenting said program at said receiving stations; providing means
at each of said receiving stations for entering a response to a
task presented in said program; respondents entering a response at
said receiving stations, individual respondents being identified
through entered personal identification or through automatic number
identification; providing response evaluation means operatively
connected to said entering means and responsive to said
instructional signal for determining an acceptable entered
response; determining an acceptable entered response; assigning to
a respondent who has entered an acceptable response an award in
accordance with response criteria; informing a respondent of said
award; and making said award available to said respondent.
10. A method for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites
of respondents and for responding to said program signals at said
receiving stations, said method comprising: providing central means
for transmitting a program signal, a program of the program signal
including a task in the form of a question which is either a
single-part question or a multiple-part question; providing central
means for transmitting a signal indicating the time period allowed
for a response; providing central means for transmitting a
machine-readable instructional signal defining at least one
acceptable response to said task, wherein an acceptable response
has been determined prior to the transmission of said program
signal and carries an award defined by said instructional signal;
transmitting a task setting program signal; transmitting a signal
indicating the time period allowed for a response to said task;
receiving task-setting and time-indicating signals at said
receiving stations; transmitting instructional signals defining at
least one acceptable response to said task; providing means at each
of said receiving stations for entering a response to a task
presented in said program; respondents entering a response to a
task; providing means for timing a respondent's response; timing a
respondent's response; providing response evaluation means
communicatively connected to said entering means and responsive to
said machine-readable instructional signal for determining an
acceptable entered response and its award; providing means for
identifying individual respondents; evaluating responses to
determine acceptable responses and their awards; identifying
respondents who have entered an acceptable response; providing
means for communicating award information to respondents; and
communicating award information to said respondents; wherein, if
two or more responses are acceptable, one can be a preferred
response; wherein a preferred response receives a higher award;
wherein said evaluation means rewards an individual response
essentially immediately following its input by a respondent; and
wherein said evaluation means permits input of a single response by
a respondent on the spur of the moment.
11. A system for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites
of audience members and for responding to said program signals at
said receiving stations, said system comprising: means for
transmitting a television program signal including a task in the
form of a question; means at said receiving stations for presenting
a program transmitted via said television program signal to members
of said audience; means for informing members of said audience of
the time allowed for answering a question; means at said receiving
stations for responding to a question presented in said program;
means for providing at a central evaluation facility answer
criteria defining and/or storing at least one acceptable answer to
an accompanying question, an acceptable answer carrying an award; a
central facility for evaluating a response in accordance with
accompanying answer criteria to identify an acceptable answer, said
evaluation facility including means for means including means for
comparing an audience member's answer in accordance with answer
criteria to identify an acceptable answer by an audience member
carrying a fixed award and/or scoring an answer in accordance with
answer criteria to identify an acceptable answer by an audience
member carrying a computed award; the system further including
buffer storing means for storing at said evaluation facility an
audience member's answer and/or the answer criteria accompanying
said answer at least until completion of the evaluation of said
entered answer; means for preventing an evaluation of an answer
after the time allowed for answering, wherein said questions have
been selected from the group comprising single-part questions,
multiple-part questions, or a selection type question calling for a
multiple-choice answer, and wherein an answer has been determined
prior to the transmission of an accompanying question.
12. A method for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites
of audience members and for responding to said program signals at
said receiving stations, said method comprising: transmitting a
television program signal including a task in the form of a
question; providing means at said receiving stations for presenting
a program transmitted by said television program signal to members
of said audience; presenting said television program to members of
said audience, said members being aware of the time allowed for
answering a question; providing means at said receiving stations
for responding to a question presented in said program; a member
responding to a question; providing a central facility for
evaluating a member's answer in accordance with answer criteria to
reward an acceptable answer, wherein said evaluating includes a
comparing of a member's answer to an acceptable answer in
accordance with answer criteria to identify a member's acceptable
answer carrying a fixed award, and/or wherein said evaluating
includes a computerized scoring of a member's answer in accordance
with answer criteria to identify a member's acceptable answer
carrying a computed award; providing buffer storing means for
storing a member's answer and/or accompanying answer criteria;
storing a member's answer and/or accompanying answer criteria until
completion of the evaluation; providing at said central evaluation
facility answer criteria for defining and/or scoring an acceptable
answer to a question; evaluating an entered answer in accordance
with response criteria; providing means for preventing a scoring of
an answer after the time allowed for answering; and preventing a
scoring of an answer after the time allowed for answering, wherein
an acceptable answer has been determined prior to the transmissions
of said program signal; wherein said evaluation facility scores an
individual answer essentially immediately following its input by a
member; and wherein said evaluation facility permits input of a
single answer by a member on the spur of the moment.
13. A method for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites
of audience members and for responding to said program signals at
said receiving stations, said method comprising the steps of:
formulating a task in the form of a question to be answered within
an allowed period of time and accompanying answer criteria defining
an acceptable answer and a reward for an acceptable answer based on
a scoring mode; providing means for transmitting a television or
radio program signal including a task; transmitting said program
signal; providing means for presenting a program including a task
transmitted by said program signal to members of said audience;
presenting said program to audience members; providing means at
said receiving stations for entering an answer to a question
presented in said program; an audience member entering an answer to
said question; providing a central facility for evaluating an
entered answer in accordance with accompanying answer criteria
including the determination of a reward to an acceptable entered
answer, said evaluation facility comprising means for comparing an
entered answer to an acceptable answer and means for the scoring of
an acceptable entered answer to determine a reward in accordance
with a scoring mode; providing response criteria at said evaluation
facility; providing buffer storing means at said evaluation
facility for storing an audience member's entered answer and/or
answer criteria accompanying said answer until completion of said
evaluation step; providing means for preventing an evaluation of an
answer after the time allowed for answering; and evaluating an
entered answer including the determining of a reward for an
acceptable entered answer; wherein an acceptable answer and a
scoring mode have been determined prior to the transmission of the
program; wherein said evaluation facility rewards an individual
answer essentially immediately following its input by a member; and
wherein said evaluation facility permits input of a single answer
by a member on the spur of the moment.
14. A system for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central location to a plurality of receiving stations and for
responding to said program signals at said receiving stations, said
system comprising: means at a central location for transmitting a
program signal, including a task, to respondents at receiving
stations, said task essentially requiring only a confirmation by
respondents of being tuned to said program; means at each of said
receiving stations for presenting a program transmitted by said
program signal; means at a central location for transmitting an
instructional signal incorporating predetermined response criteria
defining an acceptable response to a task to be entered within a
very short time period following said task signal, said response
criteria having been determined prior to the transmission of said
task; a response unit at each of said receiving stations, the
response unit having means for entering a response to a task, means
for receiving response criteria signals, buffer storing means for
storing said response criteria and/or an entered response, means
responsive to response criteria signals for comparing an entered
response to response criteria to determine an acceptable entered
response, means for timing a response, and means for informing
respondents of an acceptable entered response; wherein said
comparing means compare an individual response essentially
immediately following its input by a respondent; and wherein said
comparing means permits input of a single response answer by a
respondent on the spur of the moment.
15. A system for conducting a tamper-resisting game for players at
playing stations responding to a task communicated from a central
location and for identifying an acceptable response by a player,
the system comprising: a central tamper-resisting data storage
facility; a facility at a central location for determining a task
and response criteria defining at least one acceptable response to
said task, said response criteria including a rating scale for
acceptable responses; a plurality of remote playing stations for
players, including means at each playing station for entering
response data by individual players; first communication means for
transmitting task data from a central location to players'
stations; second communication means for transmitting instructional
signals conveying response criteria data from a central location to
said tamper-resisting data storage facility; third communication
means for transmitting a player's entered response data to said
data storage facility; means for identifying players having entered
a response; means operatively connected to said data storage
facility and responsive to instructional signals for comparing a
player's entered response data to acceptable response data to
determine a player's acceptable entered response and its rating;
means for comparing the ratings of players having entered
acceptable responses to each other to determine a relative standing
of players; means for preventing the comparing of a player's
entered response following a predetermined point in time; and means
for informing identified players of their relative standings;
wherein said task comprises at least one question which is either a
single-part question or a multiple-part question; and wherein an
acceptable response has been determined prior to communicating task
data to players' stations.
16. A system for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to a plurality of competing respondents at receiving
stations at remote sites and for responding to said program signals
at said receiving stations, said system comprising: central means
for transmitting a television program signal including a task
requiring a response; means at each of said receiving stations for
presenting a program transmitted by said television program signal
to competing respondents; central means for transmitting an
instructional signal incorporating response criteria comprising a
mode for scoring responses; means at a comparison center for
receiving said instructional signals; means at each of said
receiving stations for responding to a task presented in said
program; means for transmitting responses by respondents to a
comparison center; and a response comparison center having means
for receiving responses and means responsive to said instructional
signal for scoring responses in accordance with said scoring mode,
said comparison center being coupled to means for identifying
respondents who have responded to a task, said comparison center
having means for determining the relative standing of identified
competing respondents and having means for storing received
responses and/or instructional signals until completion of response
comparisons.
17. A system for conducting an event monitored by a host and
requiring an acceptable decision relative to the event, wherein
individuals at remote locations endeavoring to become successful
participants prior to knowing the outcome of the event are billed
for participation, and wherein successful participants having met
defined criteria receive a payment award, the system comprising:
central facilities for electronically transmitting signals
conveying information pertaining to an event, the outcome of which
is not known to participants; means for presenting said information
at remote locations; central facilities for electronically
transmitting, by a host, signals conveying outcome criteria
defining an acceptable decision about the event and defining an
award associated with an acceptable decision; means at remote
locations for receiving signals conveying said outcome criteria and
said award; means at remote locations operable by a participant for
entering data indicating a decision about the event and comprising
means for authorizing a central account maintenance facility to
debit a participant's account for participant's participation;
central means for electronically transmitting signals conveying
event outcome information to remote locations and to central
evaluation means; a central evaluation sub-system comprising: means
for receiving a participant's entered decision; means for
identifying participants having entered a decision; means for
receiving outcome criteria; and means for evaluating participants'
entered decision, including means for comparing individual
participants' entered decisions to event outcome information on the
basis of outcome criteria and including means for determining an
award for an acceptable decision based on outcome criteria; means
for crediting a successful participant's account with a central
amount maintenance facility with said award; and means for
informing a successful participant of said award.
18. A system for evaluating a prediction wherein a participant
predicts an outcome of an event and is rewarded for a successful
prediction, the system comprising: a central facility for
electronically transmitting to participants at remote locations
information regarding an event, the outcome of which is not known
to participants; means at participants' locations for presenting
said information; means at participants' locations for entering
predictive outcome data relative to the outcome of the event; a
tamper-resisting storage for a participant's predictive outcome
data; communicating means for communicating a participant's
predictive outcome data to said storage; means for the electronic
transmission of outcome data relative to an outcome of said event;
central means for receiving said outcome data; central means for
determining at least one acceptable prediction of the outcome of
said event; central means for determining an award for an
acceptable prediction; central means communicatively connected to
said storage for participants' predictive data for evaluating
predictions entered by individual participants by comparing a
participant's predictive data with an acceptable prediction to
determine a successful participant's acceptable entered prediction
and an award therefor; means for preventing the entering or
evaluation of participants' predictions after a determined point in
time; means for identifying successful participants through said
communication means; means for informing successful participants of
an outcome of said event; and making an award available to
successful participants.
19. A system for evaluating a prediction wherein a participant
predicts an outcome of an event and is rewarded for a successful
prediction, the system comprising: a central facility for
electronically transmitting to participants at remote locations
information regarding an event, the outcome of which is not known
to participants; means at participants' locations for presenting
said information; means at participants' locations for entering
predictive outcome data relative to the outcome of an event; a
central tamper-resisting storage for a participant's predictive
outcome data; first communicating means for communicating a
participant's predictive outcome data to said storage; means for
identifying individual participants through said first
communicating means; means for electronically debiting an account
maintained by said participant at a central facility for making a
prediction; means for the electronic transmission of outcome data
relative to an outcome of said event; central means for storing
said outcome data; central means for determining at least one
acceptable prediction of the outcome of said event; central means
for determining an award for an acceptable prediction of an outcome
of said event; second communicating means for communicating a
participant's stored predictive data to prediction evaluation
means; central means for evaluating predictions entered by
individual participants by comparing a participant's predictive
outcome data with an acceptable prediction to determine a
participant's acceptable entered prediction and an award therefor;
means for preventing the entering or evaluation of participant's
predictions after a determined point in time; means for identifying
successful participants who have entered an acceptable prediction
through said first communication means; means for informing
successful participants of an outcome of said event; and crediting
an account maintained by said successful participant at a central
facility with said determined award.
20. A method for conducting an event monitored by a host and
requiring an acceptable decision relative to the event, wherein
individuals at remote locations endeavoring to become successful
participants prior to knowing the outcome of the event are billed
for participation and wherein successful participants having met
defined criteria receive a payment award, the method comprising the
steps of: providing central facilities for electronically
transmitting signals conveying information pertaining to an event,
said information being suitable for presentation at a remote
location; formulating at a host's location outcome criteria
defining an acceptable decision; providing central facilities for
electronically transmitting to the remote locations signals
conveying outcome criteria defining an acceptable decision about
the event; providing means at remote locations for receiving
signals conveying said event information and signals conveying said
outcome criteria; providing means at remote locations operable by a
participant for entering data indicating a decision about the
events and comprising means for authorizing a billing by a central
facility for a participant's participation; providing central means
for determining whether a participant has met the outcome criteria
defining an acceptable decision by comparing a participant's
decision on said outcome criteria; transmitting signals from a
central facility conveying said event information for presentation
at remote locations; transmitting signals from a central facility
conveying outcome criteria to said determining means; entering by a
participant, a decision about the event; determining whether a
participant has met outcome criteria defining an acceptable
decision; identifying a successful participants acceptable
decision; and indicating to successful participants a payment award
for an acceptable decision.
21. A method for conducting a tamper-resistant game in which
players make a prediction relative to an event, the method
comprising the steps of: conducting an event at a central location;
visually and/or audibly informing players at remote locations of
said event; by visual or audible message inviting players to
predict an outcome relative to said event; providing players with
means for entering a prediction; a player entering predictive
outcome data relative to said event in an entering means; providing
a central data storage facility inaccessible to said player;
communicating a player's predictive outcome data from said entering
means to said central data storage facility; a player's predictive
data being stored in said storage facility; said event taking
place, there being at least one formulated acceptable outcome
prediction of said event; communicating data relative to said
acceptable prediction from a central location to a central
evaluation facility; providing a central evaluation facility
communicatively connected to said storage facility for comparing a
player's entered predictive outcome data to said formulated
acceptable outcome prediction, to determine whether a player's
entered prediction is an acceptable prediction; preventing the
comparing of a player's entered prediction following a determined
point in time; and determining whether a player's entered
prediction is an acceptable prediction.
22. For use in connection with an event, a method for evaluating a
prediction wherein a participant at a remote location predicts an
outcome of an event related to said event and is informed of the
accuracy of the prediction following the event, the method
comprising the steps of: providing means for the electronic signal
transmission of data presenting information regarding an event;
electronically communicating information regarding said event to
participants at remote locations; providing means at participants'
remote locations for presenting information related to said event;
presenting said information to participants; providing to
participants means for entering a prediction including predictive
data predicting the outcome of a predicted event related to said
event; a participant entering a prediction; providing means for the
electronic signal transmission of outcome data related to the
outcome of said predicted event; receiving said outcome data at
participants' locations; presenting outcome data to participants;
providing means, including electronic communication means for
identifying individual participants; providing at a central
location a central facility including means for receiving outcome
data, a tamper-resisting data storage for storing a participant's
predictive data, said facility including means for comparing a
participant's predictive data with outcome data of the predicted
event; providing means for electronic communication between
participants' locations and said central facility; electronically
communicating an identified participant's predictive data to said
central facility; comparing a participant's predictive data with
said outcome data at said central facility; preventing said
comparing after a determined point in time; electronically
communicating information of comparison results from said central
facility to an identified participant's location; providing at a
participant's location means for presenting information of
comparison results to a successful participant whose predictive
data coincide at least partially with said outcome data of the
predicted event; and informing a successful participant of
comparison results; wherein said comparing of an individual
prediction is performed essentially immediately following the
occurrence of the predicted event; and wherein a participant can
enter a prediction on the spur of the moment and is informed of
comparison results essentially immediately following the occurrence
of said predicted event.
23. In a method for conducting an event in which successful
participants who have acceptably responded to a question or made an
acceptable prediction and who are rewarded with prizes having
monetary value in the form of a token and the like dispensed to
such successful participant, the improvement comprising the steps
of: determining at a central location a monetary prize amount; upon
issuance a prize in the form of a token, or the like, exceeding the
determined amount, instituting a forgery resisting procedure
comprising the steps of: recording on said token verification data,
including an identification of the event which has resulted in said
prize being won and in the dispensing of said token to a successful
participant; communicating said verification data and event
identification to a central data storage facility inaccessible to
participants; upon presentation of one of said tokens by a
participant for redemption or payment at a paying agent's location,
contacting by said paying agent said central data storage facility
requesting, authentication of said verification data; the central
data storage facility authenticating said verification data; and
said paying agent paying the amount of an authenticated prize to
the presenting participant.
24. A method for wagering comprising steps of: transmitting from a
transmission facility, at a central location, electronic signals
having information regarding an event; providing a central account
facility having means for electronically debiting and crediting an
account of a participant; providing means for recording wagering
information, the wagering information including a wagered amount
and predictive data relative to an outcome of the event, the means
for recording including tamper-resisting means for storing wagering
information entered by the participant; providing means for
comparing the predictive data in the wagering information to an
outcome of the event; presenting the electronic signals at remote
locations; placing a wager by the participant, the step of placing
a wager including entering wagering information into the means for
recording; communicating at least some of the wagering information,
entered into the means for recording, to the central account
facility and the means for comparing; automatically comparing the
predictive data of the participant's wagering information entered
into the means for recording to the outcome of the event by the
means for comparing; determining a payoff amount upon at least some
of the predictive data entered by the participant corresponding to
the outcome of the event; and automatically crediting the account
of the participant the payoff amount upon at least some of the
predictive data corresponding to the outcome of the event.
25. A method for wagering comprising steps of: transmitting from a
transmission facility at a central location, electronic signals
having information regarding an event; providing a central account
facility having means for electronically debiting and crediting an
account of a participant; providing means for recording wagering
information, the wagering information including a wagered amount
and predictive data regarding an outcome of the event; providing
means for determining odds data regarding the outcome of the event;
placing a wager by the participant including entering wagering
information into the means for recording; debiting the account of
the participant the wagered amount; communicating the wager to the
central account facility along with identification data that
identifies the participant's account; comparing the entered
wagering information to the outcome of the event, the step of
comparing comprising receiving electronic signals having outcome
data of the event and comparing the outcome data to the wagering
information entered into the means for recording; and automatically
crediting the account of the participant a payoff amount upon an
occurrence of the predictive data corresponding, at least
partially, to the outcome of the event.
26. A method for comparing a prediction, made by a player at a
temporary site relative to the outcome of an event, to the actual
outcome of the predicted event, and for generating at the player's
permanent location a record indicating a value assigned to said
player's prediction, the method comprising the steps of: presenting
to players at their temporary sites information relative to an
event, the outcome of which is not known to players at the time of
said presentation; providing means at a player's temporary site for
entering predictive data relative to the outcome of said event, and
an information identifying signal receiving means at said player's
permanent location; a player entering predictive data; providing
means for communicating said entered predictive data and data
identifying said receiving means to a central location; providing
means at a central location for receiving said data; communicating
said data to a central location; at a central location providing
means programmable by the operator of the system for comparing a
player's prediction to the outcome of an event and for assigning a
value to said player's prediction; upon occurrence of said event,
comparing said player's prediction to the outcome of said event and
assigning a value to said player's prediction; providing means at
players' permanent locations controllable by instructional signals
for generating a record indicating the value assigned to a player's
prediction; providing means for communicating instructional signals
conveying the value assigned to a player's prediction from said
comparing means to said identified receiving means at said player's
permanent location, said receiving means being operatively
connected to said generating means; communicating said assigned
value to said record generating means through said receiving means;
and generating a record at a player's permanent location, said
record indicating the value assigned to a player's prediction.
27. A tamper-resisting system for conducting a game for individual
participating players at remote locations and for rewarding
participants who have entered an acceptable answer to a question,
said system comprising: a first facility for formulating a question
set comprising a question which is either a single-part question or
a multiple-part question, and for designating at least a time
period allowed for answering a question, and for designating a
reward for an acceptable question; a playback facility for a
recording medium at a central location; recording media intended to
be played by said playback facility to provide played-back
messages, the recording media having messages comprising at least a
question and accompanying answer recorded thereon; means for
transmitting signals of said played-back messages; means for
transmitting signals conveying an announcement of a reward for an
acceptable answer, wherein an announcement of a reward for an
acceptable answer can be altered independently of a transmission of
a question; means at a financial service provider for administering
accounts of individual ones of said players; a central facility,
and a tamper-resisting data storage for players' answers to
questions; a sub-system at each player's remote location
comprising: means operative by a participating player for
contacting the central facility to activate said playback facility
and enabling said signal transmitting means to convey said
messages, and means for transmitting a reward announcement; means
for receiving said message; means for receiving the reward
announcement; and means for entering an answer to a question by a
participating player; said system further including: communication
means for transmitting entered answers and a player's
identification from a player's location to said data storage;
wherein a central facility is communicatively connected to said
data storage for evaluating entered answers, said central facility
having means for receiving signals defining an acceptable answer
and having means for comparing an entered answer to an acceptable
answer, the results of such evaluation determining an acceptable
entered answer; wherein said facility includes signal receiving
means conveying a reward and means for generating instructional
signals directing the crediting of an individual identified
player's account with the amount of said reward; means for
preventing the evaluation of an answer following said allowed time
period; and means for communicating evaluation results from said
evaluation facility to identified players at their remote
locations.
28. A system for conducting a game for participants at remote
locations comprising: facilities for maintaining and administering
monetary accounts of participants, including electronic debiting
and crediting means; a recording having recorded thereon signals
comprising question signals conveying at least one question in open
language, said question requiring an answer given within an allowed
time period, said recording comprising answer signals conveying an
acceptable answer to said question as instructional
machine-readable signals, there being a charge for participating in
said game and an award for an acceptable answer; means connected to
a central playback facility and operable by participants for
activating said playback facility to play back said recording;
means at participants' locations for receiving said question; means
for debiting a participant's account upon activating said playback
facility; means at participants' locations for entering
participants' answers to a question; means for communicating a
participant's entered answer to a central evaluation facility; a
central evaluation facility having means for receiving a
participant's entered answer and said machine-readable acceptable
answer signals, the facility having means programmable by said
instructional signals for recognizing and accepting participants'
acceptable entered answers, there being means for automatically
identifying successful participants who have entered an acceptable
answer, there being a credit for an acceptable entered answer;
means connected to said evaluation facility for electronically
crediting a successful participant's account; means for preventing
the entering or evaluation of answers following the allowed time
period; and means for automatically informing successful
participants of a credit.
29. A system for the conducting by a system operator of a game for
participants at remote locations in which successful participants
are credited with an award, the system comprising: a first
recording having recorded thereon a message comprising at least one
question portion requiring a selection-type answer indicating a
time period allowed to answer said question and an acceptable
answer portion; a central playback facility for playing back the
message of said first recording to said participant, including
means for timing the playing back of the acceptable answer portion
of said played-back message essentially following said allowed time
period; means operable by individual participants for contacting
and thereby activating said playback facility to play back said
recording thereby also automatically authorizing a billing charge
to said participant's account with the system operator; means for
transmitting signals conveying the question portion of said message
and for transmitting signals conveying the acceptable answer
portion of said message; central means for transmitting a message
announcing an award to successful participants, said announcement
being live or recorded; means at participants' locations for
responding to a question; a central response facility having means
for receiving participants' response signals, receiving means for
acceptable answer signals, said facility having comparison means
for recognizing and accepting an acceptable answer and having means
for identifying individual successful participants who have entered
an acceptable answer within the allowed time period; communications
means connecting said central response facility with participants'
locations and said playback facility; and central means for
transmitting a message informing successful participants of an
award credited to their account.
30. A system for transmitting a task-setting program signal from a
central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites
of audience members, said audience members having an account with a
bank or other service provider, said system rewarding a member who
has responded acceptably to said task with a credit to said
member's account, the system comprising: means for transmitting a
television or radio program or internet signal including a task in
the form of a question, an acceptable answer to a question
qualifying for an award, there being a cut-off point in time for
answering; electronic means at a central location for debiting or
crediting accounts of at least some of said audience members, said
means being responsive to instructional electronic signals; means
at said receiving stations for presenting a program including a
task transmitted by said program signal to members of said
audience; means at said receiving stations for responding to a
question presented in said program; a central facility for
evaluating a member's answer in accordance with accompanying answer
criteria to identify a successful member's acceptable answer,
wherein said evaluating comprises a comparing of a member's answer
to an acceptable answer to determine a member's acceptable answer
qualifying for a fixed award or a computerized award determined in
accordance with answer criteria; means for providing at said
central evaluation facility answer criteria identifying at least
one acceptable answer to an accompanying question and determining
at least one fixed or computerized accompanying award; buffer
storing means for storing at said evaluation facility an audience
member's answer and/or the answer criteria accompanying a question
at least until completion of the evaluation of a member's answer;
means for preventing an evaluation of an answer after the cut-off
point for answering; and means for transmitting instructional
electronic signals from said evaluation facility to said account
crediting means to credit a successful member's account.
31. A system for conducting a game for individual participating
players at remote locations and for rewarding players who have
entered an acceptable answer to a question, the system comprising:
a recording medium playback facility at a central location;
recording media intended to be played back by said playback
facility, the recording media having recorded thereon messages
comprising signals conveying at least one question which is either
a single-part question or a multiple-part question and signals
defining at least one acceptable answer to a question; a
communications means between said playback facility and players'
locations, including means for activating said playback facility by
a player and for communicating played-back messages to players'
locations; means at players' locations for entering an answer to a
question; an answer evaluation facility communicatively connected
to said playback facility, having means for receiving entered
answers from players' locations and for receiving acceptable
answers from said playback facility, said evaluation facility
having means for comparing an entered answer to an acceptable
answer to identify an acceptable entered answer, an acceptable
entered answer carrying a prize in a monetary amount; a financial
facility for carrying and administering monetary accounts in the
names of players; two-way communications means for communicating a
player's entered answer to said evaluation facility and for
communicating evaluation results to players; and means for
electronically crediting a player's account at said financial
facility with the amount of said prize.
32. A system for conducting a game for individual participating
players at remote locations and for informing players who have
entered an acceptable answer to a question, the system comprising:
a recording medium playback facility at a central location;
recording media intended to be played back by said playback
facility, the recording media having recorded thereon messages
comprising signals conveying at least one question which is either
a single-part question or a multiple-part question and signals
defining at least one acceptable answer to a question; a
communications means between said playback facility and players'
locations, including means operable by a player wishing to play
said game for activating said playback facility and for
communicating played back messages to players' locations, there
being a charge for playing said game; a facility for carrying and
administering players' financial accounts; means for electronically
debiting a player's account at said facility in the amount of said
charge upon the activating of the playback facility by a player; an
answer evaluation facility connected to said playback facility,
having means for receiving entered answers from players' locations
and for receiving acceptable answers from said playback facility,
said evaluation facility having means for comparing an entered
answer to an acceptable answer to identify an acceptable entered
answer, enable entered answer carrying a prize in a monetary
amount; two-way communications means for communicating a player's
entered answer to said evaluation facility and for communicating
evaluation results to players; and means for electronically
crediting a player's account at said facility with the amount of
said prize.
33. A method for remotely evaluating and creating a record of
responses to task-setting messages electronically transmitted to
receivers of respondents at remote locations, wherein a task may
include a question, said respondents maintaining an account with a
telephone company or other service provider, which method
comprises: formulating at least one task-setting message for
transmission to respondents comprising a task, and response
criteria for each task, said response criteria including acceptable
responses, a timing of a response for determined time intervals and
a scoring basis with at least one difficulty level; transmitting
from a central station signals conveying a task to receivers at
remote locations; receiving signals conveying said task at remote
locations; transmitting from a central station signals conveying
response criteria determining an acceptable response to a task, a
scoring basis and a time interval; entering responses to said tasks
on entering devices at said remote locations; evaluating
respondents' entered responses relative to said response criteria,
including a timing of responses; determining winning responses
meeting said response criteria, including a scoring of acceptable
responses; identifying winning respondents using caller
identification means; scoring each winning response relative to the
scoring basis of said response criteria, each score indicating a
monetary amount; crediting a scored amount to a winning
respondent's account; informing winning respondents of said
crediting; modifying by at least partially reformulating said
response criteria independently of said transmitting of said
task-setting signals to fit a subsequent task; transmitting the
response criteria signals with modified response criteria
independently of a transmission of said task-setting signals;
repeating the foregoing steps, wherein a repetition of modifying a
response criteria includes a reformulating of individual ones of
said first mentioned response criteria independently of said
transmitting of said task-setting signals to be applied to tasks of
subsequent ones of said task-setting messages; crediting amounts to
winning respondents' Accounts; and informing winning
respondents.
34. A method for conducting a prize event for audience members of
broadcast stations, comprising the steps of: formulating at a
central location at least one task, such as a question, and an
accompanying acceptable response, such as an answer to be entered
within a specified time frame; formulating a prize awarded to an
audience member who has entered a winning acceptable response
within the specified time frame; a station broadcasting a program
including at least one question and associated prize information,
and including accompanying acceptable response data; receiving a
question by audience members; receiving acceptable response data at
a central data storage means; an audience member responding to said
task by entering a response in a telephone; identifying the number
of the telephone in which the response was entered by use of
telephone number identification means; providing telephonic
communication means between an audience member and a central
evaluation facility; providing a central evaluation facility
including entered response data storage means and acceptable
response data storage means, said facility being connected to
members' telephones and having means for comparing a member's
entered response with an acceptable response to identify a winning
entered response; storing in said evaluation facility entered
response data and/or acceptable response data until a winning
entered response has been identified; evaluating an entered
response at said evaluation facility by comparing a response
entered within said time frame to an acceptable response to
determine a winning entered response and associated prize;
automatically transmitting winning response and prize information
to said identified winning telephone number; and crediting said
prize to said winning telephone number.
35. A method for conducting a game for television viewers
maintaining an account with a provider of financial services
including debiting and crediting of television viewers' accounts,
the method comprising: providing a recording having recorded
thereon signals comprising question signals conveying to television
viewers at least one question, said question requiring an answer
given within an allowed time period made known to participants and
comprising answer signals conveying an acceptable answer to said
question, said answer signals being conveyed once as instructional
signals to an evaluation facility and once essentially following
said time period, to inform television viewers of an acceptable
answer, an acceptable answer being rewarded; providing a central
playback facility for playing back said recording; providing means
for transmitting signals conveying a played-back question to
television viewers; formulating a reward for an acceptable answer;
announcing a reward for an acceptable answer; providing means at
television viewers' locations for receiving a question; providing
means operable by individual participating television viewers for
responding to said question, thereby authorizing a charge to
participant's account with said service provider; a participant
responding and incurring a charge; providing a central evaluation
facility having means for receiving said instructional signals and
means programmable by said instructional signals for recognizing
and accepting participants' acceptable answers, there being means
for automatically identifying individual participants who have
entered an acceptable answer; providing means for preventing
responding or the evaluation of answers following the allowed time
period; preventing responding or the evaluation of answers
following the allowed time period; providing communication means
connecting the evaluation facility with participants' locations and
the playback facility; informing television viewers of an
acceptable answer; recognizing and accepting a successful
participant's acceptable answer; identifying an individual
successful participant who has won a reward; and crediting the
account of said successful participant with said service
provider.
36. A method for conducting a game for television viewers at remote
locations who are potential game participants, the method
comprising: providing a recording having recorded thereon signals
comprising question signals conveying to television viewers at
least one question, a question of said question signals requiring
an answer given within an allowed time period made known to
participants, and recorded signals further comprising answer
signals conveying an acceptable answer to said question, said
answer signals being conveyed once as instructional signals to an
evaluation facility and once essentially following said time
period, to inform television viewers of an acceptable answer;
providing a central playback facility for playing back said
recording; formulating a financial reward for an acceptable answer;
making a financial reward for an acceptable answer known to
potential game participants; providing means for transmitting
signals conveying a played-back question to television viewers;
providing means at television viewers' locations for receiving a
question; providing means operable by individual participating
television viewers for responding to said question, individual
participating viewers having an account at a central location for
debiting and crediting viewers' accounts; a participant responding
and thereby authorizing a charge to said account; providing a
central evaluation facility having means for receiving said
instructional signals and means programmable by said instructional
signals for recognizing and accepting participants' acceptable
answers, there being means for automatically identifying individual
participants who have entered an acceptable answer; providing means
for preventing responding or the evaluation of answers following
the allowed time period; preventing responding or the evaluation of
answers following the allowed time period; providing communication
means connecting the evaluation facility with participants'
locations and the playback facility; informing television viewers
of an acceptable answer; recognizing and accepting a successful
participant's acceptable answer; identifying an individual
participant who has entered an acceptable answer and has won a
reward; and crediting the account of a participant with the amount
of said financial reward.
37. A method for conducting a game for television viewers having a
monetary account at a financial facility or service provider, the
method comprising: providing a recording having recorded thereon
recorded signals comprising question signals conveying to
television viewers at least one question, said question requiring
an answer given within an allowed time period made known to
participants, and said recorded signals comprising answer signals
conveying an acceptable answer to said question, said answer
signals being conveyed once as instructional signals to an
evaluation facility and once essentially following said time
period, to inform television viewers of an acceptable answer, an
acceptable answer being financially rewarded; providing a central
playback facility for playing back the signals of said recording;
providing means for communicating said instructional signals to a
central evaluation facility; providing means for transmitting
signals conveying a played-back question to television viewers;
television viewers receiving a question; formulating a financial
reward for a participant's acceptable answer; announcing a reward
for an acceptable answer; providing means operable by individual
participating television viewers for responding to said question,
thereby authorizing a charge to participant's account; a
participant responding and incurring a charge; providing a central
evaluation facility having means for receiving said instructional
signals and means programmable by said instructional signals for
recognizing and accepting participants' acceptable answers, there
being means for automatically identifying individual participants
who have entered an acceptable answer; providing means for
preventing the entering or evaluation of answers following the
allowed time period; preventing the entering or evaluation of
answers following the allowed time period; providing communication
means connecting the evaluation facility with participants'
locations and the playback facility; informing participating
television viewers of an acceptable answer; recognizing and
accepting participants' acceptable answer; identifying individual
participants who have entered an acceptable answer and have won a
financial reward; and crediting said account of said participants
with the amount of said award.
38. A method for conducting a prize event for audience members of
broadcast stations, the method including the formulation of a task
such as a question and an acceptable response such as an answer,
the method comprising the steps of: formulating at a central
location at least one task and an accompanying acceptable response,
an acceptable response carrying with it a monetary prize; a station
broadcasting its program including at least one task; an audience
member receiving said program; an audience member responding to
said task by entering a response in a telephone connected to caller
identification means, said member having a monetary account with an
account-administering facility; providing a central evaluation
facility having means for storing entered responses and/or
acceptable responses, said facility having means for comparing a
member's entered response with an acceptable response to determine
a winning response; telephonically communicating an entered
response to said evaluation facility; transmitting an acceptable
response to said task from a central location to said evaluation
facility; storing an acceptable response to a task and/or a
member's entered response in said evaluation facility; comparing by
said evaluation facility an entered response to an acceptable
response to determine an acceptable entered response; identifying a
winning member having entered an acceptable response through caller
identification means; and electronically crediting the account of a
winning member with the amount of said monetary prize at the
facility administering said player's account.
39. A system for conducting a game played by players at first
remote stations and for informing said players of an acceptable
response at second remote stations, said system comprising: means
for transmitting first signals comprising an open-language task
portion and accompanying response criteria portion modulated on a
sub-carrier and defining an acceptable response; means at players'
first remote stations for receiving task portions of said first
signals and for entering a response to a task; central facilities
having means for receiving players' entered responses and means for
receiving and demodulating the response criteria portion of said
first signals transmitted on a sub-carrier, said central facilities
comprising means for comparing said entered responses to response
criteria to determine players' acceptable responses, said central
facilities further comprising means for transmitting second signals
conveying an acceptable response; means for communicating a
player's entered response signals to said central facilities; means
at players' second remote stations for informing a player of an
acceptable response, said informing means being operable by said
second signals; and means for communicating said second signals
from said central facilities to a player's second remote station to
operate said informing means.
40. A system for conducting a game played by players at a temporary
site and for rewarding a successful player with a record generated
at the successful player's permanent location, the system
comprising: means for storing and playing back a record of task
signals and accompanying response criteria signals, the response
criteria defining at least one acceptable response to said task and
assigning a value to an acceptable response; means for transmitting
task signals and response criteria signals; means at players'
temporary sites for receiving task signals; means at players'
temporary sites for entering information including a response to a
task; means for communicating information entered by a player at a
temporary site to a central location, said communicating including
an identification of said player; means at said central location
for storing said information; evaluation means operatively
connected to said storing means, including means for receiving a
player's entered response signals and for receiving response
criteria signals, said evaluation means including means for
comparing a player's entered response to an acceptable response to
determine a successful response, said evaluation means further
including means for assigning a reward value to a successful
response; means at said evaluation means for generating
informational signals transmitted to signal receiving means at an
individual identified player's permanent location and conveying a
value assigned to a successful player's response; means for
transmitting said informational signals; and record generating
means at players' permanent locations, said generating means being
responsive to said informational signals to generate a record
indicating a reward value assigned to a successful player's
response.
41. A system for conducting a game played by players at temporary
sites and for rewarding a successful player and for providing a
record generated at the player's permanent location, the system
comprising: means at a central location for transmitting task
signals and accompanying response criteria signals, the response
criteria defining at least one acceptable response to said task and
conveying reward values assigned to responses by successful
players; signal receiving means at players' temporary sites for
receiving task signals, a player having a permanent location with a
signal receiving means; means at players' temporary sites for
entering information, including a response to a task and data
identifying the signal receiving means at said player's permanent
location; a central evaluation facility, and means for
communicating information entered by a player at a temporary site
to said central evaluation facility; wherein said central
evaluation facility includes means for receiving a player's entered
response signals and for receiving response criteria signals, said
facility including means for comparing a player's entered response
to response criteria to determine a player's acceptable entered
response, said evaluation facility further including means for
assigning a reward value to a player's acceptable response in
accordance with said response criteria and means for generating
instructional signals conveying said assigned reward values; means
for communicating instructional signals conveying a reward value
assigned to an acceptable response to identified receiving means at
a successful player's permanent location; and record generating
means coupled to said receiving mean at players' permanent
locations, said generating means being responsive to said
instructional signals to generate a record indicating a reward
value assigned to said successful player's response.
42. A system for comparing a prediction made by a player at a
temporary site with respect to the outcome of an event relative to
an actual outcome of the event, and for generating at a player's
permanent location a record indicating a value assigned to said
player's prediction, the system comprising: means for presenting to
players at their temporary sites a scenario relative to an event,
the outcome of the scenario being unknown to players at the time of
said presentation; signal receiving means at said player's
permanent location; means at a player's temporary site for entering
predictive data relative to the outcome of said event and for
entering information identifying the signal receiving means at said
player's permanent location; means for communicating said
predictive data and said identifying information from a player's
temporary site to a central location; means at a central location
for receiving said predictive data and said information; means at a
central location for comparing a player's prediction to the actual
outcome of an event and for assigning a value to said player's
prediction; means at players' permanent locations responsive to
instructional signals for generating a record indicating value
assigned to a player's prediction; and means for communicating
instructional signals conveying the value assigned to a player's
prediction from said comparing means to said identified receiving
means at said player's permanent location, said receiving means at
said permanent location being operatively connected to said record
generating means.
43. A system for comparing a prediction made by a player at a
temporary site with respect to a predicted outcome of an event
relative to an actual outcome of the event, and for generating at a
player's permanent location a record indicating a value assigned to
said player's prediction, there being a person operating the
system, the system comprising: means for presenting to players at
their temporary sites information relative to an event, the outcome
of the scenario being unknown to players at the time of said
presentation; means at a player's temporary site for entering
predictive data relative to the outcome of said event, and for
entering information identifying the signal receiving means at said
player's permanent location; means for communicating to a central
location said predictive data relative to the outcome of said event
and data identifying said receiving means; means at a central
location for receiving said data; means at a central location for
comparing a player's prediction to the outcome of an event and for
assigning a value to said player's prediction, said comparing means
being programmable by an operator of the system; means at players'
permanent locations controllable by instructional signals for
generating a record indicating a value assigned to a player's
prediction; and means for communicating instructional signals
conveying the value assigned to a player's prediction from said
comparing means to said identified receiving means at said player's
permanent location, said receiving means at said permanent location
being operatively connected to said record generating means.
44. A system for comparing a prediction made by a player at a
temporary site with respect to a predicted outcome of an event
relative to an actual outcome of the event, and for generating at a
player's permanent location a record indicating a value assigned to
said player's prediction, there being a person operating the
system, the system comprising: means for presenting to players at
their temporary sites a scenario relative to an event, the outcome
of the scenario being unknown to players at the time of a
presentation; signal receiving means at said player's permanent
location; means at a player's temporary site for entering
predictive data relative to the outcome of said event and for
entering information identifying the signal receiving means at said
player's permanent location; means for communicating said
predictive data and said identity information from a player's
temporary site to a central location; means at a central location
for receiving said predictive data and said identity information;
means at a central location for comparing a player's prediction to
the actual outcome of an event and for assigning a value to said
player's prediction, said comparing means being programmable by an
operator of the system; means at players' permanent locations
responsive to instructional signals for generating a record
indicating a value assigned to a player's prediction; and means for
communicating instructional signals conveying the value assigned to
a player's prediction from said comparing means to said identified
receiving means at said player's permanent location, said receiving
means at said permanent location being operatively connected to
said record generating means.
45. A method for conducting a game in which players at first remote
stations provide a response to a task, the method providing for
informing said players of an acceptable response at second remote
stations, said method comprising: transmitting from a central
location first signals comprising a task portion and an
accompanying response criteria portion defining an acceptable
response; providing means at players' first remote stations for
receiving task portions of said first signals and for entering a
response to a task; receiving task portions of said first signals
at players' first remote stations; a player entering a response to
a task at said first remote station; providing central facilities
for receiving a player's entered response and for receiving the
response criteria portion of said first signals, said central
facilities comprising means for comparing said entered response to
the response criteria to determine players' acceptable responses,
said central facilities further comprising means for transmitting
second instructional signals conveying an acceptable response;
providing means for communicating a player's entered response
signals to said central facilities; receiving a response at said
central facilities; receiving response criteria at said central
facilities; comparing a response to the response criteria to
determine an acceptable response; transmitting said second signals
from said central facility to players' second remote stations;
providing means at players' second remote stations for informing a
player of an entry of an acceptable response, said informing means
being operable by said second signals; providing means for
communicating said second signals from said central facilities to a
player's second remote station to operate said informing means;
receiving said second signals at a player's second remote station;
and informing a player who has entered an acceptable response.
46. A method for conducting a game played by players at temporary
sites and for rewarding a winning player with a record having value
generated at the player's permanent location, the method comprising
the steps of: a host formulating a task, an acceptable response to
said task, and a reward @value assigned to an acceptable response;
providing means for transmitting from a central location task
signals, and accompanying response criteria signals providing
response criteria, the response criteria defining an acceptable
response to a task and conveying a reward value assigned to a
response; transmitting said task signals and said response criteria
signals; providing means at players' temporary sites for receiving
task signals, a player having a permanent location; receiving task
signals at players' temporary sites; providing means at players'
temporary sites for entering information, including a response to a
task, and providing means for receiving data identifying signals at
individual players' permanent locations; a player at a temporary
site entering said information; providing means for communicating
information entered by a player at a temporary site to a central
location; communicating said entered information signals to a
central location; providing a central evaluation facility including
means for receiving a player's entered response signals and for
receiving response criteria signals, said facility including means
for comparing a player's entered response to an acceptable response
to determine a player's acceptable entered response and for
assigning a reward value to a response in accordance with said
response criteria; receiving response criteria signals at said
evaluation facility; determining a player's acceptable entered
response; assigning a reward value to said player's entered
response; providing means for generating instructional signals
conveying an assigned reward value; providing means for
communicating the instructional signals conveying a reward value
assigned to an acceptable response to identified receiving means at
an individual player's permanent location; providing record
generating means coupled to said receiving means at a player's
permanent location, said generating means being responsive to said
instructional signals to generate a record indicating a reward
value assigned to said player's response; communicating
instructional signals conveying a reward value to an identified
receiving means; and generating at a player's permanent location a
record indicating a reward value.
47. A method for conducting a game for players at temporary sites,
including mobile sites, such as automobiles, remote from players'
normally permanent locations, such as their homes, each of said
temporary sites and each of said permanent locations having signal
receiving means, the method comprising the steps of: formulating at
least one task, such as a question, and accompanying response
criteria defining an acceptable response and a value assigned
thereto; recording a task for storing and playback from a central
location; recording response criteria for storing and playback from
a central location; providing a playback facility for playback of a
task and playback of response criteria; providing a central
response evaluation facility having means for comparing a player's
response to a task with response criteria to determine whether a
player's response is an acceptable response, said evaluation
facility including means for assigning a value to an acceptable
response based on the response criteria; providing means, including
communication means operable by a player for activating said
playback facility; a player activating said playback facility;
providing means at a player's temporary site for receiving a task
and for visually and/or audibly presenting said task; communicating
a task from said playback facility to a player's temporary site;
receiving and presenting said task at a player's temporary site;
providing means at a player's temporary site for entering
information, and means for communicating a player's entered
information to a central location; a player entering on said
entering means information including a response to a task and an
identification of signal receiving means at said player's permanent
location; communicating said player's entered information to said
evaluation facility; at said evaluation facility determining a
player's acceptable response and assigning a value thereto;
providing communication means for transmitting informational
signals from said evaluation facility to players' permanent
locations; transmitting from said evaluation facility informational
signals to receiving means at said player's permanent location,
said informational signals conveying a value assigned to a player's
acceptable response; providing hard copy generating means at
players' permanent locations for generating a record indicating the
value of a player's response, said generating means being coupled
to signal receiving means, said generating means being responsive
to said informational signals; and generating at a player's
permanent location a record indicating the value of said player's
response.
48. A method for eliciting a response to a test from players at
first stations, for grading a player's response and for informing a
player of grading results at a second station of said player, said
method comprising: transmitting from a central location first
signals comprising a test portion and an accompanying response
criteria portion defining an acceptable response in
machine-readable language and response grading instructions;
providing means at players' first stations for receiving test
portions of said first signals and for entering a response to a
task; receiving test portions of said first signals at players'
first stations; a player entering a response to a test at said
first station; providing central facilities for receiving a
player's entered response, having means for receiving and reading
the response criteria portion of said first signals, said central
facilities comprising means for evaluating an entered response in
accordance with the response criteria to determine a player's
acceptable response and to grade an acceptable response, said
central facilities further comprising means for generating
instructional second signals conveying an acceptable response, and
a player's grade; providing means for communicating a player's
entered response signals to said central facilities, said
communication means identifying said player; receiving an entered
response at said central facilities; receiving response criteria
signals at said central facilities; determining a player's
acceptable response and its grade at said central facilities;
providing means for transmitting informational signals conveying an
acceptable response and a player's grade in open language from said
central facilities to players' second stations; providing means at
players' second stations for announcing an acceptable response and
said player's grade, said announcing means being responsive to said
informational signals; transmitting said informational signals from
said central facilities to a player's second station to operate
said announcing means; receiving informational signals at a
player's second station; and announcing an acceptable response and
said grade at said player's second station.
49. A method for comparing a prediction made by a player at a
temporary site with respect to the outcome of an event relative to
the actual outcome of a predicted event, and for generating at the
player's permanent location a record indicating a value assigned to
said player's prediction, the method comprising the steps of:
presenting to players at their temporary sites a scenario relative
to an event, the outcome of which is not known to players at the
time of said presentation, a player having a permanent location;
providing means at a player's temporary site for entering a
predictive data relative to the outcome of said event; and means
for receiving an information identifying signal at said player's
permanent location; a player entering said predictive data and said
information; providing means for communicating said predictive data
and said information to a central location; providing means at a
central location for receiving said predictive data and said
information; communicating said predictive data and said
information to a central location; at a central location providing
means programmable by the operator of the system for comparing a
player's prediction to the actual outcome of an event and for
assigning a value to said player's prediction; upon occurrence of
said event, comparing said player's prediction to the actual
outcome of said event and assigning a value to said player's
prediction; providing means at players' permanent locations
controllable by instructional signals for generating a record
indicating the value assigned to a player's prediction; providing
means for communicating instructional signals conveying the value
assigned to a player's prediction from said comparing means to
identified receiving means at said player's permanent location,
said receiving means being operatively connected to said record
generating means; communicating said assigned value to said record
generating means through said receiving means; and generating a
record at a player's permanent location, said record indicating the
value assigned to a player's prediction.
50. A method for comparing a prediction made by a player at a
temporary site with respect to the outcome of an event relative to
the actual outcome of a predicted event, and for generating at a
permanent location of the player a record indicating a value
assigned to said player's prediction, the method comprising the
steps of: presenting to players at their temporary sites a scenario
relative to an event, the outcome of which is not known to players
at the time of said presentation, a player having a permanent
location; providing means at a player's temporary site for entering
predictive data relative to the outcome of said event and means for
receiving an information identifying signal at said player's
permanent location; a player entering said predictive data and said
information; providing means for communicating said predictive data
and said information to a central location; providing means at a
central location for receiving said predictive data and said
information; storing said predictive data and said information at
said central location; providing at a central location means for
comparing a player's prediction to the actual outcome of an event
and for assigning a value to said player's prediction; upon
occurrence of said event, comparing said player's prediction to the
actual outcome of said event and assigning a value to said player's
prediction; providing means at a player's permanent location
responsive to instructional signals for generating a record
indicating the value assigned to a player's prediction; providing
means for receiving instructional signals at a player's permanent
location; providing means for transmitting instructional signals
conveying the value assigned to a player's prediction from said
comparing means to said receiving means at said player's permanent
location, said receiving means being operatively connected to said
record generating means; transmitting instructional signals
conveying said assigned value to said record generating means
through said receiving means; and generating a record at a player's
permanent location, said record indicating the value assigned to a
player's prediction.
51. A system for conducting a task for students at temporary sites
and for dispensing to students a record generated at students'
permanent locations, said record indicating a grade assigned to a
student's response to a task, said system comprising: means for
transmitting a task from a central location, a task having an
accompanying response; means for transmitting accompanying response
grading information from a central location; means at students'
temporary sites for receiving a task; means at students' temporary
sites for entering information including a response to a task and
data identifying an individual student's permanent location; a
central evaluation facility, and means for communicating
information entered by a student at a temporary site to a central
evaluation facility, said central evaluation facility including
means for receiving a student's entered response and for receiving
response grading information, said evaluation facility including
means for comparing a student's entered response to response
grading information and means for determining a grade assigned to
said response; means for communicating a grade assigned to a
response to a student's permanent location; and a record generating
facility at students' permanent locations having means connected to
said communication means for receiving said grade and means for
generating and dispensing a hard copy record indicating a grade
assigned to a student's response.
52. A system for conducting a response-eliciting test for students
located at student stations, and for informing students of response
evaluation results, said system comprising: means for transmitting
signals conveying a task from a central location to students'
individual stations; means for transmitting from a central location
signals conveying information for evaluating a response to said
task; means at students' individual stations for receiving a task
signal; means at students' individual stations for presenting said
task; means at students' individual stations for entering
information including a response to a task and an identification of
said responding student; an evaluation facility, and means for
communicating said information entered by a student to an
evaluation facility, and an evaluation facility including means for
receiving a student's entered information and for receiving
evaluation information, said evaluation facility including means
for evaluating a student's entered response in accordance with
evaluation information and for generating instructional signals
conveying evaluation results; means for communicating said
instructional signals to an identified student's station; and
record generating means at students' stations responsive to said
instructional signals, said generating means being capable of
generating a visual and/or audio record indicating results of a
student's response evaluation.
53. A system for conducting a test for students at students' sites
and for dispensing to students a record generated at a central
site, said record indicating results of an evaluation of a
student's response to a test, said system comprising: means for
transmitting test signals and for transmitting evaluation signals
for the evaluation of a response to a test; means at a student's
site for receiving a test and for entering information including a
response to the test and personal identification; a central
evaluation facility, and means for communicating signals conveying
information entered by a student to a central evaluation facility,
said central evaluation facility including means for receiving a
student's entered response and personal identification signals and
for receiving said evaluation signals, said facility including
means for evaluating a student's entered response in accordance
with said evaluation signals and including means for generating
instructional signals conveying the results of an identified
student's response evaluation; means for communicating said
instructional signals to a central location; and record generating
means at a central location, having means for receiving said
instructional signals and means responsive to said instructional
signals for generating a record of the evaluation results of an
identified student's response.
54. A method for conducting a task for students at temporary sites
and for informing students of response evaluation results including
a grade assigned to a student's response to a task, the method
comprising the steps of: formulating a task and response evaluation
information, including grades assigned to responses; transmitting
task signals and response evaluation information signals from a
central location; providing means at students' temporary sites for
receiving task signals; receiving task signals at students'
temporary sites, there being signal receiving means at an
individual student's permanent location; providing means at
students' temporary sites for responding by entering data including
a response to a task and data identifying the signal receiving
means at an individual student's permanent location, the responding
means producing response signals, a student at a temporary site
entering said data; providing a central evaluation facility and
means for two-way signal communication between a student's
temporary site and the central evaluation facility; communicating
said information from a student's temporary site to said central
evaluation facility, said central evaluation facility including
means for receiving a student's entered response signals and for
receiving response evaluation signals, said facility including
means for assigning a grade to a response in accordance with
results of said response evaluation; evaluating a student's entered
response and assigning a grade to a student's response; providing
means for communicating signals conveying response evaluation
results including a grade assigned to a student's response to
identified receiving means at said student's permanent location and
students' temporary sites; communicating signals conveying said
response evaluation results including an assigned grade to a
student's permanent location; receiving said evaluation result
signals at a student's permanent location; providing record
generating means coupled to said receiving means at students'
permanent locations, said generating means being responsive to said
evaluation result signals to generate a record indicating
evaluation results including a grade assigned to a student's
response; generating at a student's permanent location a record
indicating an evaluation result; transmitting evaluation results to
students at their temporary sites; and informing students at their
temporary sites of evaluation results by audio and/or video
means.
55. A method for conducting a response-eliciting task for students
at temporary sites and for generating a record indicating response
results at students' permanent location, the method comprising the
steps of: formulating, by a conductor, a response-eliciting task
and accompanying response data; transmitting a task from a central
location; transmitting response data from a central location;
providing means at students' temporary sites for receiving a task;
receiving a task at students' temporary sites, there being
receiving means at an individual student's permanent location;
providing means at students' temporary sites for entering
information including a response to said task and data identifying
the receiving means at an individual student's permanent location;
a student at a temporary site entering said information; providing
a central facility, and means for communicating said information to
the central facility; communicating said information to said
central facility, said central facility including means for
receiving a student's entered information and for receiving said
response data, said facility including means for comparing a
student's entered response to accompanying response data formulated
by said conductor to determine a student's response results;
determining a student's response results; providing means for
communicating instructional signals conveying said response results
to said identified receiving means at an individual student's
permanent location; communicating said response results to
receiving means at a student's permanent location; providing record
generating means coupled to said receiving means at students'
permanent locations, said generating means being responsive to said
instructional signals and being capable of generating a record
indicating response results of a student's response; and generating
at a student's permanent location a record indicating said response
results.
56. A method for conducting a task for students at temporary sites
and for generating a record at students' permanent locations
indicating a grade assigned to a student's response to a task, the
method comprising the steps of: formulating a task by the conductor
of a test, there being at least one acceptable response to said
task and grades assigned to respective acceptable responses;
transmitting task signals from a central location; transmitting
from a central location response criteria signals accompanying a
task, said response criteria defining at least one acceptable
response to a task and including grading signals assigning a
plurality of grades to respective acceptable responses; providing
means at students' temporary sites for receiving task signals;
receiving task signals at students' temporary sites, there being
signal receiving means at an individual student's permanent
location; providing means at students' temporary sites for entering
information including a response to a task and data identifying the
signal receiving means at an individual student's permanent
location; a student at a temporary site entering said information;
providing means for communicating information signals having a
student's entered information to a central location; communicating
said information signals to a central location; providing a central
evaluation facility including means for receiving students' entered
information and means for receiving response criteria signals and
grading signals; said evaluation facility including means for
comparing students' entered responses to acceptable responses to
determine acceptable entered responses and means for assigning one
of a plurality of grades to students' respective acceptable entered
response; evaluating a student's response, including assigning a
grade to a student's acceptable response; providing means for
communicating instructional signals conveying a grade assigned to a
student's acceptable response to identified receiving means at an
individual student's permanent location; communicating
instructional signals to a student's permanent location; receiving
instructional signals at a student's permanent location; providing
record generating means coupled to said receiving means at a
student's permanent location and responsive to said instructional
signals for generating a record indicating a grade assigned to a
student's response; and generating at a student's permanent
location a record indicating said grade.
57. A method for conducting a test for students at individual
students' sites and for generating a record at a central location,
said record indicating results of evaluating students' individual
responses to a task, the method comprising the steps of:
transmitting task signals conveying a task and accompanying
response criteria signals conveying response criteria, the response
criteria conveying a response evaluation method; providing means at
students' sites for receiving task signals; receiving task signals
at students' sites; providing means at students' sites for entering
information including a response to a task and data identifying an
individual student; a student entering information at a student's
site; providing a central evaluation facility, and means for
communicating information entered by a student to the central
evaluation facility; communicating a student's entered information
signals to said evaluation facility, said central evaluation
facility including means for receiving a student's entered
information signals and for receiving signals conveying said
response evaluation method, said evaluation facility having means
for comparing an individual student's response to a reference
element and logic means for evaluating an individual student's
response in accordance with said evaluation method; receiving
signals conveying said response evaluation method at said
evaluation facility; evaluating an individual student's response;
providing means for communicating signals conveying an individual
student's response evaluation results to a central data storage;
communicating said evaluation result signals to said central data
storage; providing record generating means at a central facility,
said generating means being responsive to said evaluation result
signals to generate a record indicating response evaluation results
of individual students; communicating signals conveying response
evaluation results to said record generating means; and generating
an individual student's record indicating said response evaluation
results.
58. A method for conducting a task for students at temporary sites
and for generating a record at students' permanent locations
indicating a grade assigned to a student's response to a task, the
method comprising the steps of: the conductor of a test formulating
a task and grades assigned to responses to said task; transmitting
task signals conveying a task from a central location; transmitting
from a central location grading signals assigning grades to
responses; providing means for receiving task signals at students'
temporary sites; receiving a task signal at students' temporary
sites, there being signal receiving means at an individual
student's permanent location; providing means at students'
temporary sites for entering information including a response to a
task, for proving a response signal, and data identifying the
signal receiving means at an individual student's permanent
location; a student at a temporary site entering said information;
providing means for communicating said information to data storage
means; communicating said information to said data storage means;
providing a central evaluation facility coupled to said data
storage means including means for receiving a student's entered
response signals and means for receiving grading signals, said
facility including means for assigning a grade to a student's
response in accordance with said grading signals; assigning a grade
to a student's response; providing means for communicating
instructional signals conveying a grade assigned to a student's
response to identified receiving means at an individual student's
permanent location; communicating instructional signals to a
student's permanent location; receiving instructional signals at a
student's permanent location; providing record generating means
coupled to said receiving means at students' permanent locations,
said generating means being responsive to said instructional
signals to generate a record indicating a grade assigned to a
student's response; and generating at a student's permanent
location a record indicating said grade.
59. A method for conducting a task for students at temporary sites
and for dispensing to students a record generated at students'
permanent location indicating a grade assigned to a student's
response to a task, the method comprising the steps of: formulating
a task, an acceptable response to said task, and a grade assigned
to a response; transmitting task signals conveying a task, from a
central location; transmitting instructional response criteria
signals accompanying a task from a central location, said response
criteria defining an acceptable response to a task and assigning a
grade to a response; providing means for receiving task signals at
students' temporary sites; a student receiving a task signal at
said student's temporary site; providing means at a student's
temporary site for entering a response to a task; providing
identifiable receiving means at said student's permanent location;
a student at a temporary site entering a response and information
identifying receiving means at said student's permanent location;
providing means for communicating said response and information to
a central location; communicating said response and information to
a central location; providing a central evaluation facility having
means for receiving a student's entered response and information,
said evaluation facility having means for receiving instructional
signals defining an acceptable response and assigning a grade to a
response, said evaluation facility including means for comparing a
student's entered response to an acceptable response and for
assigning a grade to a student's response in accordance with said
instructional signals; assigning a grade to a student's response in
accordance with said instructional signals; providing means for
communicating instructional signals conveying a grade assigned to a
student's response to identified receiving means at an individual
student's permanent location; communicating instructional signals
to a student's permanent location; receiving instructional signals
at a student's permanent location; providing record generating
means coupled to said receiving means at students' permanent
locations, said generating means being responsive to said
instructional signals to generate a record indicating a grade
assigned to a student's response; and generating at a student's
permanent location a record indicating said grade.
60. A system for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising: means for transmitting electronic signals
conveying a message formulated by a system operator eliciting
responses including expressions of opinion by members of a remote
audience to be polled, said responses to be tabulated; means for
transmitting electronic signals conveying response criteria
formulated by a system operator determining the admissibility of
responses for tabulation purposes; means for receiving and storing
response criteria; communicating means for entering a response by
individual members of said audience; means for determining by a
system operator admissible responses meeting said formulated
criteria and for excluding from tabulation responses not meeting
said criteria; means for storing formulated guidelines governing
the grouping of admissible responses; means for grouping admissible
responses in accordance with said formulated guidelines; means for
storing formulated instructions governing the tabulating of grouped
responses; means for tabulating grouped responses in accordance
with said formulated instructions; means for identifying members
having entered grouped responses, such as through telephonic caller
identification means; and means for making the results of said
grouped tabulation available to a system operator.
61. A system for eliciting and encouraging polling responses,
comprising: means for transmitting electronic signals conveying a
message intended to elicit responses by members of a remote
audience to be polled; signal receiving means at the locations of
said audience members; means at said members' locations for
entering responses to said message; a central response data storage
facility; communication means for electronically transmitting
entered response data from members' locations to said data storage
facility; means for identifying responding members; means at a
central location for processing the entered responses of responding
members; means for communicating responding members'
identifications to said data storage facility; and means for
entering responding members in a prize event to determine a winning
responding member.
62. A system for inducing members of an audience to participate in
a survey or poll comprising: means for transmitting electronic
signals eliciting responses to questions, the response being made
by members of an audience at remote locations; signal receiving
means at the locations of said audience members; means for
presenting said questions to said members; means at said members'
locations for entering responses to said questions; a central
response data storage facility; means for electronically
communicating response data from members' locations to said data
storage facility for use in said survey; means at a central
location for identifying responding members through said
communicating means; means at a central location for entering
identified responding members in a prize event; means for
conducting a prize event; means for informing responding members of
the audience who are prize event winners; evaluation means for
comparing each participant's response to an accompanying acceptable
response to determine a winning response, including means for
identifying individual ones of said stations or winning
participants through said communications means; and means at a
central location for generating a record of winning responses.
63. A method for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: transmitting electronic signals
eliciting expressions of opinion, such as responses to questions by
members of a universe of respondents to be polled, said responses
to be grouped prior to tabulating; formulating response criteria
determining the admissibility of responses for tabulating purposes;
providing means for entering a response to individual members of
said audience; a member entering a response; providing programmable
means for determining admissible responses meeting said formulated
criteria; determining admissible responses, responses not meeting
said criteria being excluded from tabulation; formulating
instructions governing the tabulating of admitted responses
received from said universe of respondents, said instructions
including criteria for the grouping of said responses, such as
political, geographic, demographic or psychographic criteria;
tabulating admitted responses in accordance with said tabulating
instructions; providing means for identifying members having
entered an admitted response; and storing the results of said
tabulating.
64. A method for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: formulating polling objectives
governing a tabulation of validated responses which have been
grouped prior to tabulation in accordance with predetermined
determinatives; formulating response criteria governing the
admissibility of responses to tabulation; selecting determinatives
governing the grouping of responses; formulating instructions
governing the tabulation of admitted responses; formulating a
message to elicit responses to questions by members of an audience
to be polled in accordance with said objectives; transmitting
signals conveying said message from a central location to said
audience members; receiving said message at members' locations;
providing to individual members of said audience means for entering
and communicating a response to a central location; a member
entering a response; providing evaluation means at a central
location to determine the admissibility of responses to tabulations
in accordance with response criteria; communicating entered
responses to said evaluation means; validating the admissibility of
responses to tabulation at said evaluation means, responses not so
validated being excluded from tabulation; providing means for
grouping validated responses; communicating validated responses to
said grouping means; grouping validated responses in accordance
with grouping determinatives; providing means for tabulating
grouped responses in accordance with tabulating instructions;
communicating grouped responses to said tabulating means; and
tabulating grouped responses in accordance with tabulating
instructions.
65. A method for tabulating and storing elicited polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: formulating a message to elicit
responses to questions by members of an audience to be polled, said
responses to be tabulated; transmitting signals conveying said
message from a central location; receiving said message at said
members' locations; providing to members of said audience
telephonic means for entering a response; a member entering a
response; formulating response criteria governing the admissibility
of responses to tabulation; providing means for determining the
admissibility of responses to tabulation; determining the
admissibility of entered responses, responses not so validated
being excluded from tabulation; formulating instructions governing
the tabulation of admitted responses; providing means for
tabulating admitted responses in accordance with tabulating
instructions; communicating admitted responses to said tabulating
facility; providing telephonic identification means for identifying
members having entered an admitted response; providing means for
storing identifications and responses of individual members;
tabulating admitted responses in accordance with tabulating
instructions; and storing identified members tabulated
responses.
66. A system for eliciting, grouping and tabulating polling or
survey responses by a universe of respondents comprising: means for
formulating and storing electronic data defining polling
objectives; means for formulating and storing instructional data
governing the grouping of said universe of respondents in discrete
groups in accordance with polling objectives; means for
transmitting signals conveying a message eliciting responses
including expressions of opinion by members of a remote audience
universe to be polled; signal receiving means at the locations of
the members of said universe; means for formulating and storing
criteria determining the admissibility of responses from members of
said universe for tabulation purposes, including means for
excluding from tabulation responses not meeting said criteria;
communication means including means for entering a response by
individual members of said audience universe and for communicating
responses to at least one central location; means for formulating
and storing guidelines governing the grouping of admitted responses
from members of said universe; means for grouping admitted
responses at at least one central location in accordance with said
formulated grouping guidelines; means for formulating and storing
instructions governing the tabulating of grouped responses in
accordance with polling objectives; means for tabulating grouped
responses at at least one central location in accordance with said
tabulating instructions; means for identifying members having
entered responses included in an individual group; and means for
making tabulation results available to identified members.
67. A method for eliciting, tabulating and storing polling or
survey responses of a poll for future use, the method comprising
the steps of: determining a universe of respondents to be polled;
determining characteristics to govern discrete groupings of
respondents in said universe; formulating objectives to be achieved
by polling respondents in said discrete groupings; formulating
messages eliciting responses, including expressions of opinion by
respondents forming discrete groupings to be polled, said messages
being designed to achieve specific objectives formulated relative
to said poll; transmitting from a central location signals
conveying said messages to respondents in said universe;
formulating criteria determining the admissibility of responses for
tabulation purposes; respondents receiving said messages; providing
means to individual respondents for entering a response; a
respondent entering a response; providing programmable means for
determining admissible responses meeting said formulated criteria;
determining admissible responses, responses not meeting said
criteria being excluded from tabulation; grouping admitted
responses by respondents in said universe in accordance with said
characteristics; formulating instructions governing the tabulating
of group responses; providing programmable means for tabulating
group responses in accordance with said tabulating instructions;
tabulating group responses in accordance with said instructions;
providing means for storing tabulated responses; and storing
tabulated responses for future use.
68. A system for conducting a response-eliciting test for students
located at student stations, and for informing students of response
evaluation results, said system comprising: means for transmitting
signals conveying a task from a central location to students'
individual stations; means for transmitting from a central location
signals conveying information for evaluating a response to said
task; means at students' individual stations for receiving a task
signal; means at students' individual stations for presenting said
task; means at students' individual stations for entering
information including a response to a task and an identification of
said responding student; an evaluation facility, and means for
communicating said information entered by a student to an
evaluation facility, and an evaluation facility including means for
receiving a student's entered information and for receiving
evaluation information, said evaluation facility including means
for evaluating a student's entered response in accordance with
evaluation information and for generating instructional signals
conveying evaluation results; means for communicating said
instructional signals to an identified student's station; and
record generating means at students' stations responsive to said
instructional signals, said generating means being capable of
generating a visual and/or audio record indicating results of a
student's response evaluation.
69. A system for conducting a test for students at students' sites
and for dispensing to students a record generated at a central
site, said record indicating results of an evaluation of a
student's response to a test, said system comprising: means for
transmitting test signals and for transmitting evaluation signals
for the evaluation of a response to a test; means at a student's
site for receiving a test and for entering information including a
response to the test and personal identification; a central
evaluation facility, and means for communicating signals conveying
information entered by a student to a central evaluation facility,
said central evaluation facility including means for receiving a
student's entered response and personal identification signals and
for receiving said evaluation signals, said facility including
means for evaluating a student's entered response in accordance
with said evaluation signals and including means for generating
instructional signals conveying the results of an identified
student's response evaluation; means for communicating said
instructional signals to a central location; and record generating
means at a central location, having means for receiving said
instructional signals and means responsive to said instructional
signals for generating a record of the evaluation results of an
identified student's response.
70. A method for conducting a task for students at temporary sites
and for informing students of response evaluation results including
a grade assigned to a student's response to a task, the method
comprising the steps of: formulating a task and response evaluation
information, including grades assigned to responses; transmitting
task signals and response evaluation information signals from a
central location; providing means at students' temporary sites for
receiving task signals; receiving task signals at students'
temporary sites, there being signal receiving means at an
individual student's permanent location; providing means at
students' temporary sites for responding by entering data including
a response to a task and data identifying the signal receiving
means at an individual student's permanent location, the responding
means producing response signals, a student at a temporary site
entering said data; providing a central evaluation facility and
means for two-way signal communication between a student's
temporary site and the central evaluation facility; communicating
said information from a student's temporary site to said central
evaluation facility, said central evaluation facility including
means for receiving a student's entered response signals and for
receiving response evaluation signals, said facility including
means for assigning a grade to a response in accordance with
results of said response evaluation; evaluating a student's entered
response and assigning a grade to a student's response; providing
means for communicating signals conveying response evaluation
results including a grade assigned to a student's response to
identified receiving means at said student's permanent location and
students' temporary sites; communicating signals conveying said
response evaluation results including an assigned grade to a
student's permanent location; receiving said evaluation result
signals at a student's permanent location; providing record
generating means coupled to said receiving means at students'
permanent locations, said generating means being responsive to said
evaluation result signals to generate a record indicating
evaluation results including a grade assigned to a student's
response; generating at a student's permanent location a record
indicating an evaluation result; transmitting evaluation results to
students at their temporary sites; and informing students at their
temporary sites of evaluation results by audio and/or video
means.
71. A method for conducting a response-eliciting task for students
at temporary sites and for generating a record indicating response
results at students' permanent location, the method comprising the
steps of: formulating, by a conductor, a response-eliciting task
and accompanying response data; transmitting a task from a central
location; transmitting response data from a central location;
providing means at students' temporary sites for receiving a task;
receiving a task at students' temporary sites, there being
receiving means at an individual student's permanent location;
providing means at students' temporary sites for entering
information including a response to said task and data identifying
the receiving means at an individual student's permanent location;
a student at a temporary site entering said information; providing
a central facility, and means for communicating said information to
the central facility; communicating said information to said
central facility, said central facility including means for
receiving a student's entered information and for receiving said
response data, said facility including means for comparing a
student's entered response to accompanying response data formulated
by said conductor to determine a student's response results;
determining a student's response results; providing means for
communicating instructional signals conveying said response results
to said identified receiving means at an individual student's
permanent location; communicating said response results to
receiving means at a student's permanent location; providing record
generating means coupled to said receiving means at students'
permanent locations, said generating means being responsive to said
instructional signals and being capable of generating a record
indicating response results of a student's response; and generating
at a student's permanent location a record indicating said response
results.
72. A method for conducting a task for students at temporary sites
and for generating a record at students' permanent locations
indicating a grade assigned to a student's response to a task, the
method comprising the steps of: formulating a task by the conductor
of a test, there being at least one acceptable response to said
task and grades assigned to respective acceptable responses;
transmitting task signals from a central location; transmitting
from a central location response criteria signals accompanying a
task, said response criteria defining at least one acceptable
response to a task and including grading signals assigning a
plurality of grades to respective acceptable responses; providing
means at students' temporary sites for receiving task signals;
receiving task signals at students' temporary sites, there being
signal receiving means at an individual student's permanent
location; providing means at students' temporary sites for entering
information including a response to a task and data identifying the
signal receiving means at an individual student's permanent
location; a student at a temporary site entering said information;
providing means for communicating information signals having a
student's entered information to a central location; communicating
said information signals to a central location; providing a central
evaluation facility including means for receiving students' entered
information and means for receiving response criteria signals and
grading signals; said evaluation facility including means for
comparing students' entered responses to acceptable responses to
determine acceptable entered responses and means for assigning one
of a plurality of grades to students' respective acceptable entered
response; evaluating a student's response, including assigning a
grade to a student's acceptable response; providing means for
communicating instructional signals conveying a grade assigned to a
student's acceptable response to identified receiving means at an
individual student's permanent location; communicating
instructional signals to a student's permanent location; receiving
instructional signals at a student's permanent location; providing
record generating means coupled to said receiving means at a
student's permanent location and responsive to said instructional
signals for generating a record indicating a grade assigned to a
student's response; and generating at a student's permanent
location a record indicating said grade.
73. A method for conducting a test for students at individual
students' sites and for generating a record at a central location,
said record indicating results of evaluating students' individual
responses to a task, the method comprising the steps of:
transmitting task signals conveying a task and accompanying
response criteria signals conveying response criteria, the response
criteria conveying a response evaluation method; providing means at
students' sites for receiving task signals; receiving task signals
at students' sites; providing means at students' sites for entering
information including a response to a task and data identifying an
individual student; a student entering information at a student's
site; providing a central evaluation facility, and means for
communicating information entered by a student to the central
evaluation facility; communicating a student's entered information
signals to said evaluation facility, said central evaluation
facility including means for receiving a student's entered
information signals and for receiving signals conveying said
response evaluation method, said evaluation facility having means
for comparing an individual student's response to a reference
element and logic means for evaluating an individual student's
response in accordance with said evaluation method; receiving
signals conveying said response evaluation method at said
evaluation facility; evaluating an individual student's response;
providing means for communicating signals conveying an individual
student's response evaluation results to a central data storage;
communicating said evaluation result signals to said central data
storage; providing record generating means at a central facility,
said generating means being responsive to said evaluation result
signals to generate a record indicating response evaluation results
of individual students; communicating signals conveying response
evaluation results to said record generating means; and generating
an individual student's record indicating said response evaluation
results.
74. A method for conducting a task for students at temporary sites
and for generating a record at students' permanent locations
indicating a grade assigned to a student's response to a task, the
method comprising the steps of: the conductor of a test formulating
a task and grades assigned to responses to said task; transmitting
task signals conveying a task from a central location; transmitting
from a central location grading signals assigning grades to
responses; providing means for receiving task signals at students'
temporary sites; receiving a task signal at students' temporary
sites, there being signal receiving means at an individual
student's permanent location; providing means at students'
temporary sites for entering information including a response to a
task, for proving a response signal, and data identifying the
signal receiving means at an individual student's permanent
location; a student at a temporary site entering said information;
providing means for communicating said information to data storage
means; communicating said information to said data storage means;
providing a central evaluation facility coupled to said data
storage means including means for receiving a student's entered
response signals and means for receiving grading signals, said
facility including means for assigning a grade to a student's
response in accordance with said grading signals; assigning a grade
to a student's response; providing means for communicating
instructional signals conveying a grade assigned to a student's
response to identified receiving means at an individual student's
permanent location; communicating instructional signals to a
student's permanent location; receiving instructional signals at a
student's permanent location; providing record generating means
coupled to said receiving means at students' permanent locations,
said generating means being responsive to said instructional
signals to generate a record indicating a grade assigned to a
student's response; and generating at a student's permanent
location a record indicating said grade.
75. A method for conducting a task for students at temporary sites
and for dispensing to students a record generated at students'
permanent location indicating a grade assigned to a student's
response to a task, the method comprising the steps of: formulating
a task, an acceptable response to said task, and a grade assigned
to a response; transmitting task signals conveying a task, from a
central location; transmitting instructional response criteria
signals accompanying a task from a central location, said response
criteria defining an acceptable response to a task and assigning a
grade to a response; providing means for receiving task signals at
students' temporary sites; a student receiving a task signal at
said student's temporary site; providing means at a student's
temporary site for entering a response to a task; providing
identifiable receiving means at said student's permanent location;
a student at a temporary site entering a response and information
identifying receiving means at said student's permanent location;
providing means for communicating said response and information to
a central location; communicating said response and information to
a central location; providing a central evaluation facility having
means for receiving a student's entered response and information,
said evaluation facility having means for receiving instructional
signals defining an acceptable response and assigning a grade to a
response, said evaluation facility including means for comparing a
student's entered response to an acceptable response and for
assigning a grade to a student's response in accordance with said
instructional signals; assigning a grade to a student's response in
accordance with said instructional signals; providing means for
communicating instructional signals conveying a grade assigned to a
student's response to identified receiving means at an individual
student's permanent location; communicating instructional signals
to a student's permanent location; receiving instructional signals
at a student's permanent location; providing record generating
means coupled to said receiving means at students' permanent
locations, said generating means being responsive to said
instructional signals to generate a record indicating a grade
assigned to a student's response; and generating at a student's
permanent location a record indicating said grade.
76. A system for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising: means for transmitting electronic signals
conveying a message formulated by a system operator eliciting
responses including expressions of opinion by members of a remote
audience to be polled, said responses to be tabulated; means for
transmitting electronic signals conveying response criteria
formulated by a system operator determining the admissibility of
responses for tabulation purposes; means for receiving and storing
response criteria; communicating means for entering a response by
individual members of said audience; means for determining by a
system operator admissible responses meeting said formulated
criteria and for excluding from tabulation responses not meeting
said criteria; means for storing formulated guidelines governing
the grouping of admissible responses; means for grouping admissible
responses in accordance with said formulated guidelines; means for
storing formulated instructions governing the tabulating of grouped
responses; means for tabulating grouped responses in accordance
with said formulated instructions; means for identifying members
having entered grouped responses, such as through telephonic caller
identification means; and means for making the results of said
grouped tabulation available to a system operator.
77. A system for eliciting and encouraging polling responses,
comprising: means for transmitting electronic signals conveying a
message intended to elicit responses by members of a remote
audience to be polled; signal receiving means at the locations of
said audience members; means at said members' locations for
entering responses to said message; a central response data storage
facility; communication means for electronically transmitting
entered response data from members' locations to said data storage
facility; means for identifying responding members; means at a
central location for processing the entered responses of responding
members; means for communicating responding members'
identifications to said data storage facility; and means for
entering responding members in a prize event to determine a winning
responding member.
78. A system for inducing members of an audience to participate in
a survey or poll comprising: means for transmitting electronic
signals eliciting responses to questions, the response being made
by members of an audience at remote locations; signal receiving
means at the locations of said audience members; means for
presenting said questions to said members; means at said members'
locations for entering responses to said questions; a central
response data storage facility; means for electronically
communicating response data from members' locations to said data
storage facility for use in said survey; means at a central
location for identifying responding members through said
communicating means; means at a central location for entering
identified responding members in a prize event; means for
conducting a prize event; means for informing responding members of
the audience who are prize event winners; evaluation means for
comparing each participant's response to an accompanying acceptable
response to determine a winning response, including means for
identifying individual ones of said stations or winning
participants through said communications means; and means at a
central location for generating a record of winning responses.
79. A method for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: transmitting electronic signals
eliciting expressions of opinion, such as responses to questions by
members of a universe of respondents to be polled, said responses
to be grouped prior to tabulating; formulating response criteria
determining the admissibility of responses for tabulating purposes;
providing means for entering a response to individual members of
said audience; a member entering a response; providing programmable
means for determining admissible responses meeting said formulated
criteria; determining admissible responses, responses not meeting
said criteria being excluded from tabulation; formulating
instructions governing the tabulating of admitted responses
received from said universe of respondents, said instructions
including criteria for the grouping of said responses, such as
political, geographic, demographic or psychographic criteria;
tabulating admitted responses in accordance with said tabulating
instructions; providing means for identifying members having
entered an admitted response; and storing the results of said
tabulating.
80. A method for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: formulating polling objectives
governing a tabulation of validated responses which have been
grouped prior to tabulation in accordance with predetermined
determinatives; formulating response criteria governing the
admissibility of responses to tabulation; selecting determinatives
governing the grouping of responses; formulating instructions
governing the tabulation of admitted responses; formulating a
message to elicit responses to questions by members of an audience
to be polled in accordance with said objectives; transmitting
signals conveying said message from a central location to said
audience members; receiving said message at members' locations;
providing to individual members of said audience means for entering
and communicating a response to a central location; a member
entering a response; providing evaluation means at a central
location to determine the admissibility of responses to tabulations
in accordance with response criteria; communicating entered
responses to said evaluation means; validating the admissibility of
responses to tabulation at said evaluation means, responses not so
validated being excluded from tabulation; providing means for
grouping validated responses; communicating validated responses to
said grouping means; grouping validated responses in accordance
with grouping determinatives; providing means for tabulating
grouped responses in accordance with tabulating instructions;
communicating grouped responses to said tabulating means; and
tabulating grouped responses in accordance with tabulating
instructions.
81. A method for tabulating and storing elicited polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: formulating a message to elicit
responses to questions by members of an audience to be polled, said
responses to be tabulated; transmitting signals conveying said
message from a central location; receiving said message at said
members' locations; providing to members of said audience
telephonic means for entering a response; a member entering a
response; formulating response criteria governing the admissibility
of responses to tabulation; providing means for determining the
admissibility of responses to tabulation; determining the
admissibility of entered responses, responses not so validated
being excluded from tabulation; formulating instructions governing
the tabulation of admitted responses; providing means for
tabulating admitted responses in accordance with tabulating
instructions; communicating admitted responses to said tabulating
facility; providing telephonic identification means for identifying
members having entered an admitted response; providing means for
storing identifications and responses of individual members;
tabulating admitted responses in accordance with tabulating
instructions; and storing identified members tabulated
responses.
82. A system for eliciting, grouping and tabulating polling or
survey responses by a universe of respondents comprising: means for
formulating and storing electronic data defining polling
objectives; means for formulating and storing instructional data
governing the grouping of said universe of respondents in discrete
groups in accordance with polling objectives; means for
transmitting signals conveying a message eliciting responses
including expressions of opinion by members of a remote audience
universe to be polled; signal receiving means at the locations of
the members of said universe; means for formulating and storing
criteria determining the admissibility of responses from members of
said universe for tabulation purposes, including means for
excluding from tabulation responses not meeting said criteria;
communication means including means for entering a response by
individual members of said audience universe and for communicating
responses to at least one central location; means for formulating
and storing guidelines governing the grouping of admitted responses
from members of said universe; means for grouping admitted
responses at at least one central location in accordance with said
formulated grouping guidelines; means for formulating and storing
instructions governing the tabulating of grouped responses in
accordance with polling objectives; means for tabulating grouped
responses at at least one central location in accordance with said
tabulating instructions; means for identifying members having
entered responses included in an individual group; and means for
making tabulation results available to identified members.
83. A method for eliciting, tabulating and storing polling or
survey responses of a poll for future use, the method comprising
the steps of: determining a universe of respondents to be polled;
determining characteristics to govern discrete groupings of
respondents in said universe; formulating objectives to be achieved
by polling respondents in said discrete groupings; formulating
messages eliciting responses, including expressions of opinion by
respondents forming discrete groupings to be polled, said messages
being designed to achieve specific objectives formulated relative
to said poll; transmitting from a central location signals
conveying said messages to respondents in said universe;
formulating criteria determining the admissibility of responses for
tabulation purposes; respondents receiving said messages; providing
means to individual respondents for entering a response; a
respondent entering a response; providing programmable means for
determining admissible responses meeting said formulated criteria;
determining admissible responses, responses not meeting said
criteria being excluded from tabulation; grouping admitted
responses by respondents in said universe in accordance with said
characteristics; formulating instructions governing the tabulating
of group responses; providing programmable means for tabulating
group responses in accordance with said tabulating instructions;
tabulating group responses in accordance with said instructions;
providing means for storing tabulated responses; and storing
tabulated responses for future use.
84. A method for eliciting, tabulating and storing validated
polling or survey responses comprising the steps of: formulating a
message to elicit responses to questions by members of an audience
to be polled, said responses to be tabulated; transmitting signals
conveying said message from a central location; receiving said
message at said members' locations; providing telephonic means for
entering a response to members of said audience; a member entering
a response; formulating response criteria governing the
admissibility of responses to tabulation; providing response
evaluation means to determine the admissibility of responses to
tabulation; telephonically communicating entered responses to said
evaluation means; validating the admissibility of responses to
tabulation, responses not so validated being excluded from
tabulation; formulating instructions governing the tabulation of
admitted responses; providing means for tabulating admitted
responses in accordance with tabulating instructions; communicating
admitted responses to said tabulating means; providing telephonic
identification means for identifying members having entered an
admitted response; providing means for storing identifications and
responses of individual members; tabulating admitted responses in
accordance with tabulating instructions; and storing tabulated
responses of identified members.
85. A method for inducing participation in polls by making the
results of such polls available to participants, said method
comprising the steps of: transmitting electronic signals conveying
questions intended to elicit responses from a central facility to
members of an audience to be polled; receiving elicitations at
locations of said members; providing to individual ones of said
members means for entering a response; a member entering a
response; providing means for communicating response data from the
locations of responding members to a central data storage facility;
communicating said response data to said central data storage
facility; providing means at a central facility for identifying
responding members; storing the response data of identified
responding members at a central data storage facility; processing
said response data; and rewarding participants by informing them of
the results of said processing.
86. A method for inducing participation in polls comprising the
steps of: transmitting electronic signals conveying questions
intended to elicit responses from a central facility to members of
an audience to be polled; receiving elicitations at locations of
said members; providing to individual ones of said members means
for entering a response; a member entering a response; providing a
central data storage facility, and means for communicating response
data from the locations of responding members to said central data
storage facility; communicating said response data to said central
data storage facility; providing means at a central facility for
identifying responding members; storing the response data of
identified responding members at said central data storage
facility; processing, such as tabulating, said response data at a
central facility; entering responding members in a prize event;
conducting said prize event; and rewarding winners of said event
with a monetary or symbolic prize.
87. A method for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: transmitting electronic signals
eliciting expressions of opinion including responses by members of
a remote audience to be polled, said responses to be tabulated;
formulating criteria determining the admissibility of responses for
tabulation purposes; providing means for entering a response to
individual members of said audience; a member entering a response;
providing programmable means for determining admissible responses
meeting said formulated criteria; determining admissible responses,
responses not meeting said criteria being excluded from tabulation;
formulating guidelines governing the grouping of admissible
responses; grouping admissible responses in accordance with said
guidelines; formulating instructions governing the tabulating of
grouped responses; providing tabulating means; tabulating grouped
responses in accordance with said tabulating instructions;
providing means for identifying members having entered grouped
responses; and making the results of said grouped tabulation
available to said identified members.
88. A method for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: transmitting electronic signals
eliciting responses including expressions of opinion by members of
an audience to be polled, said responses to be tabulated;
formulating response criteria determining the admissibility of
responses for tabulation purposes; providing means for entering a
response by individual members of said audience; a member entering
a response; providing programmable means for determining an
admissible response meeting said formulated criteria; transmitting
members' responses to said means for determining admissible
responses; determining admissible responses, responses not meeting
said criteria being excluded from tabulation; formulating
guidelines governing the grouping of admissible responses;
providing programmable means for grouping admissible responses;
communicating admissible responses to said grouping means; grouping
admissible responses in accordance with said guidelines;
formulating instructions governing the tabulating of grouped
responses; providing programmable means for tabulating grouped
responses; communicating grouped responses to said tabulating
means; tabulating grouped responses in accordance with said
tabulating instructions; providing means for identifying members
having entered tabulated responses; identifying members having
entered tabulated responses; and making the results of said
tabulation available to identified members.
89. A method for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: formulating objectives of
polling a universe of respondents; formulating guidelines for
dividing said universe of respondents into discrete groups based on
political, geographic, demographic or psychographic criteria;
dividing said universe of respondents into a plurality of groups in
accordance with said criteria; formulating instructions for
tabulating grouped responses to achieve said objectives;
formulating messages eliciting expressions of opinion from said
respondents; transmitting electronic signals conveying messages to
members of the audience universe to be polled eliciting from said
members responses including expressions of opinion; formulating
standards for the admissibility of responses for tabulation
purposes; providing to individual members of said audience means
for entering a response; a member entering a response; providing
programmable means for determining admissible responses meeting
said standards; providing electronic means for communicating
entered responses to said determining means; determining admissible
responses, responses not meeting standards being excluded from
tabulation; grouping admitted responses in accordance with said
guidelines; providing means for tabulating grouped responses in
accordance with said tabulating instructions; and tabulating
grouped responses in accordance with tabulating instructions to
achieve objectives of said polling.
90. A method for encouraging participation in surveys or polls
comprising the steps of: transmitting electronic signals eliciting
responses to questions from a central facility to members of an
audience to be polled; receiving elicitations at locations of said
members; providing to individual ones of said members means for
entering a response; entering responses by individual ones of said
members; providing a central data storage facility, and means for
communicating response data from the locations of responding
members to said central data storage facility for use in a survey
or poll; communicating said response data to said central facility;
storing members' response data at said central facility; providing
means at said central facility for identifying responding members;
entering identified responding members in a prize event; conducting
said event to determine at least one winning responding member
entitled to a prize; and informing winning members about a result
of said prize event.
91. A method for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
responses comprising the steps of: formulating a message to elicit
responses to questions by members of an audience to be polled, said
responses to be tabulated; specifying a form of tabulation for
achieving polling objectives; transmitting signals conveying said
message from a central location; receiving said message at
locations of said members; providing to members of said audience
telephonic means for entering a response; a member entering a
response; formulating a response standard for validating the
admissibility of responses to tabulation; providing evaluation
means to determine the admissibility of responses to tabulation in
accordance with said standard; communicating said response standard
to said evaluation means; communicating entered responses to said
evaluation means; validating the admissibility of responses to
tabulation, responses not so validated being excluded from
tabulation; formulating instructions for constructing tabulations
having the specified form; providing means for tabulating admitted
responses in accordance with said instructions; communicating
admitted responses to said tabulating means; providing telephonic
identification means for identifying members having entered an
admitted response; tabulating admitted responses in accordance with
said instructions; and storing identified members' admitted
responses.
92. A method for eliciting and tabulating polling or survey
response comprising the steps of: formulating polling objectives;
formulating tabulating instructions to achieve said polling
objectives; formulating messages eliciting expressions of opinion
from members of an audience to be polled; transmitting electronic
signals conveying messages eliciting from members of said audience
responses including expressions of opinion; formulating criteria
determining the admissibility of responses for tabulation purposes;
providing means for entering a response by individual members of
said audience; a member entering a response; providing programmable
means for determining admissible responses meeting said formulated
criteria, responses not meeting said criteria being excluded from
tabulation; providing means for communicating an entered response
to said determining means; determining admissible responses;
formulating tabulating instructions; providing a storage facility,
and means for communicating admitted responses to a storage
facility; storing admitted responses; providing tabulating means
communicatively connected to said storage facility and responsive
to said tabulating instructions; and tabulating responses in
accordance with said tabulating instructions to achieve said
polling objectives.
93. A method for attracting shoppers to a store offering
alternative featured products for sale, by evaluating shoppers'
responses to a task and creating multi-product prize tokens as a
reward for a shopper acceptably responding to a task, said method
comprising the steps of: transmitting a task to shoppers for
presentation to shoppers' televisions and/or radios, the task being
accompanied by machine-readable response criteria signals defining
an acceptable response; providing means to a shopper for entering a
response to said task; a shopper entering a response to a task;
providing a response unit at shoppers' locations for receiving and
reading response criteria signals and for comparing said response
criteria of said signals to a shopper's entered response to
determine an acceptable entered response; determining a shopper's
acceptable entered response; providing a token generator
operatively connected to and controlled by said response unit; upon
a determination of a shopper's acceptable entered response, said
response unit automatically activating the token generator to
generate a multi-product token carrying a prize available upon
purchase of at least one of a store's alternative featured
products; wherein said multi-product token identifies a plurality
of a store's alternate featured products for later selection by a
shopper; wherein said product selection is made by a shopper by
indicating a product on said prize token at any point in time
between the time of token generation and the time of product
purchase; and wherein said prize is made available to a shopper
upon purchase of a product.
94. A method for increasing the redemption rate of discount tokens
comprising the steps of: transmitting, from a central location,
electronic signals conveying information regarding a plurality of
alternative identified products, said product information including
a product description, value or discount information, and token
redemption information; receiving and presenting said product
information at remote locations of individual shoppers; providing,
at the locations of individual shoppers, a token generating unit
activatable by said shoppers, said token generating unit having
means for generating tokens containing information regarding
identified products selected by individual shoppers; a shopper
selecting from said plurality of alternative products an identified
product intended for purchase; a shopper activating said token
generating unit and identifying a selected product; generating,
upon activation of a shopper, a token from said generating unit,
said token having identified selected product information thereon;
and giving value consideration to a shopper upon purchase of the
identified selected product and presentation of said token at a
redemption center.
95. A method for generating shopper-selected tokens carrying
discounts on alternative products offered for retail sale, said
method comprising the steps of: providing information tabulating
means for listing products offered for retail sale by a supplier,
including associated product information, such as discount data;
tabulating and periodically updating said listing; providing a
product information storage facility having a memory programmable
by instructional signals; providing means for electronically
communicating instructional signals conveying updated product
information from a central location to said product information
storage facility; providing a shopper facility at shoppers'
locations, said shopper facility including signal receiving means,
a touch-sensitive display screen, communicating means for
activating a displaying on said screen of product information
stored in said information storage facility, means associated with
said touch-sensitive screen for displaying updated product
information on said screen and means operable by a shopper for
inputting a shopper's discounted product selection by touching the
display of selected product information on said screen; a shopper
contacting said product information storage facility through said
communicating means; a shopper activating said display of product
information; providing means for communicating product information
from said storage facility to said display screen; communicating
product information to said display screen; displaying product
information on said touch-sensitive display screen; a shopper
touching said screen to input a product selection; providing means
for communicating instructional signals conveying a shopper's
selected product information from said inputting means to a token
generator; providing a token generator responsive to instructional
signals from said product selection means for generating a token
carrying a discount on a shopper-selected product; communicating
said instructional signals to said token generator; and generating
a token carrying a discount on a shopper-selected product.
96. A method for eliciting task-response selections from members of
a remote audience and for rewarding responding members with a
discount token, said method comprising the steps of: preparing at a
central location a listing of products offered for sale by at least
one supplier, said listing including associated product
information, such as discounts available as a reward for making a
product selection; periodically updating said listing; providing a
storage facility for storing alternative product information having
a product information memory electronically programmable by
instructional signals, said storage facility having means for
transmitting alternative updated product information upon being
contacted by shoppers; at least one supplier periodically
communicating updated product information to said storage facility;
providing shoppers at their locations communication means having
means for receiving product information signals, a touch-sensitive
product display screen, means for contacting said product
information storage facility, means for displaying product
information on said screen, means for inputting a shopper's product
selection on said screen, said inputting step being performed by
touching the display of the selected product information on said
screen; a shopper contacting said storage facility to request an
alternative product listing; said storage facility, upon being
contacted by a shopper, transmitting alternative product
information signals to said shopper's display screen; presenting
said shopper with a task of selecting a product from said
alternative products; said shopper responding by making a product
selection and inputting a product-selection on said screen;
providing at shoppers' locations a token generator operatively
connected to and responsive to signals from said inputting means;
and rewarding a shopper for a product-selection by generating a
token carrying a discount on the selected product.
97. A system for rewarding shoppers for a selection task by
generating tokens carrying discounts on shopper-selected products
offered for retail sale, the system comprising: tabulating means
for listing products offered for retail sale by a supplier,
including associated product data, such as discount information; a
product information storage facility, and means for periodically
updating said listing; means for electronically communicating
instructional signals conveying an updated product listing to said
product information storage facility, said product information
storage facility having a memory programmable by said instructional
signals; information means at shoppers' locations, including means
for receiving product information signals, a touch-sensitive
display screen, means for initiating a displaying on said screen-of
product information stored in said information storage facility,
means associated with said touch-sensitive screen for displaying
updated product information on said screen, and means operable by a
shopper for performing a selective task by inputting a shopper's
discounted product selection by touching the display of selected
product information on said screen; means for communicating product
information from said storage facility to said display screen; a
token generator, and means for communicating task-responsive
signals conveying a shopper's selected product information from
said inputting means to the token generator; and wherein said token
generator is responsive to instructional signals from said product
selection input means for rewarding a shopper for said product
selection by generating a token carrying a discount on the
shopper-selected product.
98. A method for promoting the sale of products to shoppers
comprising the steps of: transmitting program signals conveying a
program including a task from a central location, instructional
response criteria signals identifying an acceptable response to a
task in machine-readable form, and signals conveying a plurality of
products discounted and/or featured by a provider of goods or
services; providing means to shoppers at remote locations for
receiving and presenting said program; providing to shoppers
receiving said program a response unit comprising response entering
means, response criteria receiving and reading means, response
evaluation means and connected to said evaluation means a printer
capable of printing a token listing a plurality of products, the
response unit being programmable by said instructional signals
transmitted from a central location; said response unit receiving
instructional signals defining an acceptable response to said task,
an acceptable response being essentially an indication that the
shopper is tuned in to said program; a shopper responding to a task
by entering a response on said entering means; programming said
response unit by instructional signals transmitted from a central
location to identify an acceptable response entered by a shopper
and by means of said response unit, generating a token with a
listing of a plurality of discounted and/or featured products
serving as a shopping menu; making said token available to a
shopper who has entered an acceptable response; a shopper
indicating a product choice on the token containing the shopper
menu; a shopper presenting said token for redemption at a retail
outlet; and the shopper receiving a prize or a discount upon
purchase of an indicated product.
99. A system for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to potential shoppers at remote receiving stations and
for responding to said program signals at said receiving stations,
said system comprising: central means for transmitting a
merchandising program via a program signal, said program comprising
a task-setting situation calling for a response; means at each of
said receiving stations for presenting a program transmitted by
said merchandising program signal to members of a potential
shopping audience; means at each of said receiving stations for
entering a response by members of said audience to a task-setting
situation presented in said program; central means for transmitting
an instructional signal incorporating response criteria defining at
least one acceptable response to a task and accompanying scoring
instructions; response evaluation means communicatively connected
to said entering means and responsive to said instructional signal,
said evaluation means including means for a scored evaluation of
responses by members of said audience, a scoring ranging from a
simple comparison of an entered response to response criteria, in
order to identify an acceptable response to a task, to the
computerized evaluation of acceptable responses in accordance with
response criteria and scoring instructions; communication means
operable by individual members of said audience for conveying
purchase orders for merchandise from a merchandising facility; and
means for informing members of said audience of a score associated
with their individual acceptable responses, said score entitling a
member to a discount on purchased merchandise; wherein said program
and said instructional signals provide information of said
task-setting program signals, said information comprising at least
one question which is either a single-part question or a
multiple-part question; and wherein said information has been
determined prior to operation of said entering means for entering a
response.
100. A system for transmitting task-setting program signals from a
central site to a plurality of receiving stations at remote sites
and for responding to said program signals at said receiving
stations, said system comprising: central means for transmitting a
merchandising program signal; means at each of said receiving
stations for presenting a program transmitted by said merchandising
program signal to members of an audience, said program comprising a
task-setting situation calling for a response; means at each of
said receiving stations for entering a response by members of said
audience to a task-setting situation presented in said program;
central means for transmitting an instructional signal
incorporating response criteria defining at least one acceptable
response to a task and accompanying scoring instructions; response
evaluation means at selected locations operationally connected to
said entering means and response to said instructional signal,
including means for the scored evaluation of responses by members
of said audience, said scoring ranging from a simple comparison of
an entered response to response criteria in order to identify an
acceptable response to a task, to the computerized processing of
acceptable responses in accordance with response criteria and
scoring instructions; communication means operable by individual
members of said audience for ordering items of merchandise from a
merchandising facility; and means for informing members of said
audience of a score associated with an individual acceptable
response, said score entitling a member to a discount on purchased
merchandise; wherein said program and said instructional signals
provide information of said task-setting program signals, said
information comprising at least one question which is either a
single-part question or a multiple-part question; and wherein said
information has been determined prior to operation of said entering
means for entering a response.
101. The method according to any one of the claims 4, 5, 7 and 8
wherein there is a playing back of an acceptable answer to a
question, wherein the playing back of an acceptable answer to the
question being delayed by approximately the length of the time
period allowed for answering the question.
102. The system according to claims 1 and 2 wherein said playback
facility is located proximate to said evaluation facility.
103. The system according to claim 3 whereas the accepted answer
included in said recorded message is conveyed once in a form
intelligible to humans and once in machine-readable form.
104. The system according to claim 1 wherein an acceptable answer
is spoken by a participant, and wherein said evaluation facility
has programmable voice recognition means for accepting a
participant's acceptable spoken answer.
105. The system according to claim 22 having communication means
for informing respondents of response comparison results.
106. A method as in claim 36 wherein the step of placing a wager
includes entering identification data that identifies the
participant.
107. A method as in claim 36 wherein the step of placing a wager
includes entering account identification data that identifies the
account of the participant.
108. A method as in claim 36 further comprising automatically
debiting the account of the participant the wagered amount upon the
predictive data not corresponding to the outcome of the event.
109. A method as in claim 34 further comprising transmitting
electronic signals having outcome data of the event to the remote
location.
110. A method as in claim 34 further comprising transmitting
electronic signals having account information to the participant
regarding the participant's account only.
111. A method as in claim 34 further comprising transmitting
electronic signals applying outcome data to the means for
comparing.
112. A method as in claim 36 further comprising preventing the
placing of the wager by the participant at a predetermined time
before the event commences.
113. A method as in claim 36 wherein there is continuous updating
of odds data used to determine the payoff amount based upon
wagering information communicated to the means for comparing.
114. The method according to any one of claims 30, 31, 33 and 34
wherein the event is a roulette game and wherein the predicted
event is a number constituting a winning number.
115. The method according to any one of claims 30, 31, 33 and 34
wherein the event is a roulette game and wherein the predicted
event is a combination of numbers recognized as a winning
combination by the operator of the roulette game.
116. The method according to any one of claims 30, or 31, or 33 or
34 wherein the event is a sporting event drawn from the class of
sporting events consisting of a football game, a horse race, a
baseball game, a golf tournament, a basketball game, a hockey game,
a boxing bout, a tennis match, a dog race and a trotting race; and
wherein the predicted event is a result related of said sporting
event.
117. The method according to any one of claims 59, 60, or 64 in
which there is a step of providing response criteria assigning a
reward value wherein response criteria defining an acceptable
response and response criteria assigning a reward value are
determinable independently of each other.
118. The method according to any one of claims 56, 59, or 63 in
which a response carries a reward continuum ranging upward from
zero and in which a host formulates a reward value assigned to a
response, there being a step of transmitting said value to a
player's permanent location.
119. The system according to claims 59, 60 or 64 wherein the task
signals and the response criteria signals are transmitted by
separate transmitters.
120. The method according to claim 63 wherein a temporary site is
selected from the group including automobiles, airplanes and other
private and public conveyances, boats, ships, beaches, recreational
sites, the countryside, casinos, clubs, social halls, church
annexes, auditoriums, hotels, hostelries and sites with visitors'
accommodations.
121. A system according to claim 77 wherein said entering means
comprises a telephone, said communication means comprises a
telephone, said identifying means comprises calling identification
means, and said processing means includes tabulating means.
122. The system according to claim 97 in which said product
information storage facility is located at a retail store.
123. The system according to claim 97, in which said product
information storage facility is a central facility shared by a
plurality of stores.
124. The system according to claim 97, in which said token
generator is located in the home of an individual one of the
shoppers.
125. The system according to claim 97, in which said token
generator is located in a store.
126. The system according to claim 97, in which said token
generator is located at a central location.
127. The system according to claim 99, wherein said communication
means further comprises caller identification means.
128. The method according to claim 100, wherein a member is
informed of a score at the time of placing an order.
129. The method according to claim 100, wherein occasional
discounts are interspersed in orders placed.
130. The method according to claim 100, wherein a response is a
selection-type response.
131. The system according to claim 100 wherein a memory is provided
at a shopper's location, said memory listing a plurality of
numbered products for selection by number by a shopper, the system
further comprising means for entering by a shopper the number of a
product selected by said shopper, and means connected to said
memory for generating a token carrying a discount on the product
selected by the shopper, said token generating means being
automatically activated when the numbered product selected by the
shopper is included among products featured by a marketer.
132. The system according to claim 100 wherein said respondents
evaluation means are located at a merchandise facility, such as a
televised home shopping facility.
133. The method according to any one of claims 98, 99, or 100
wherein an acceptable response is a characterized type of answer
which has been selected from the group of answers comprising
bracketing answers, straddling answer, mathematically defined
answers, geometrically defined answers, or answers the type of
which is prescribed in the task.
134. The method according to claim 100 wherein said program signal
and said instructional signal are recorded on separate recording
media and wherein said central means includes playback means
allowing said recording media to be played back in a synchronized
manner.
135. The system according to claim 19, wherein said response unit
includes means for generating a token having value, said token
generating means being automatically activated by a determination
of an acceptable response entered in said response unit.
136. The method according to claim 4, further comprising steps of:
providing a sponsor for said game; awarding a plurality of coupons
for respective ones of a plurality of acceptable answers, each of
said coupons having a code thereon, said coupons being redeemable
by a shopper; wherein at least two winning code correlations have
been determined by a sponsor; and wherein two or more winning code
correlations entitle a shopper to an additional award upon
redemption of said coupons, said additional award being greater
than the sum of awards for said two winning code correlations.
137. The method according to claim 136 wherein at least two pairs
of coupons, each pair comprising one first coupon and one second
coupon, and each pair indicating a winning code correlation, are
identified by a shopper; and wherein, upon redemption of at least
two such pairs, there is a further step of rewarding the shopper
with an additional award for each of said pairs in excess of
one.
138. The method according to claim 137, wherein at least some of
said first and second coupons indicate discounts on the same
products.
139. The method according to claim 137, wherein said first and/or
second coupons further indicate a code not discernible to shoppers
as a winning code; wherein the sponsor has determined a correlation
between said undiscernible and intelligible codes to be a winning
code correlation; and wherein such winning code correlation is
revealed to a shopper upon redemption of said coupons and entitles
said shopper to an additional award.
140. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
and scoring criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting signals to the members of the remote audience, the
signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be
performed by members of the audience; providing response criteria
governing responses for responding to individual ones of tasks of
said task-setting messages; responding to said tasks by members of
said audience; comparing a response of a member of said remote
audience with said response criteria; scoring each response in
accordance with said scoring criteria; creating a record on a
recording medium at each said remote locations of scored response
results from said scoring step, wherein said creating includes
providing said record with at least one distinguishing indicium
selected from a group of process steps producing discrete dashes,
connected dashes, dots, regular shapes, irregular shapes, codes,
numbers, letters and symbols, so as to prevent tampering, forging,
and counterfeiting; allowing interaction between a member of the
remote audience and the central station by means of a communication
link between a remote location and the central station; altering
the response criteria in accordance with said interaction; and
permitting further response by members of the remote audience in
accordance with altered response criteria.
141. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
and scoring criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting signals to the members of the remote audience, the
signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be
performed by members of the audience; providing response criteria
governing responses for responding to individual ones of tasks of
said task-setting messages; responding to said tasks by members of
said audience; comparing a response of a member of said remote
audience with said response criteria; scoring each response in
accordance with said scoring criteria; and creating a record on a
recording medium at each said remote locations of scored response
results from said scoring step, wherein said creating includes
providing said record with at least one distinguishing indicium
selected from a group of process steps producing discrete dashes,
connected dashes, dots, regular shapes, irregular shapes, codes,
numbers, letters and symbols, so as to prevent tampering, forging,
and counterfeiting.
142. A method according to claim 140 wherein, in said transmitting
step, a task requires a yes or no answer, and wherein, in said
scoring step, a non-zero value is accorded a correct answer.
143. A method according to claim 140 wherein, in said transmitting
step, said task requires a set of answers for which each answer is
a yes or no and wherein, said scoring is accomplished by allocating
a value dependent on the number of correct answers to the task.
144. A method according to claim 140 wherein, in said transmitting
step, a task is provided with at least one question requiring a
multiple-choice answer and, wherein said scoring is accomplished by
an award of points based on the selected choice of answer.
145. A method according to claim 140 wherein, in said transmitting
step of transmitting signals, said tasks include the playing of a
game.
146. A method according to claim 140 wherein, in said step of
creating a record, said record includes a coupon, said method
further comprising a step of dispensing said coupon as a reward to
a member of said audience having responded with an acceptable
response.
147. A method according to claim 146 wherein, in said step of
creating a record, said coupon is formed as a single sheet of
material, said material including a component which is paper or
plastic or rubber or metal.
148. A method according to claim 147 wherein said coupon has data
thereon designating a plurality of awards available to a member of
the remote audience, and wherein the method includes a further step
of selecting an award by tearing or puncturing or marking the
coupon with a machine readable mark to indicate a selected
award.
149. A method according to claim 147 wherein said coupon includes
data imprinted by machine-readable magnetic or optical code
designating a plurality of awards available to a member of said
remote audience, and wherein said method includes a step of reading
said code to enable a selecting of an award.
150. A method according to claim 149 wherein, in said step of
creating a record, said coupon embodies a credit card.
151. A method according to claim 150 further comprising a step of
crediting a member of said remote audience who has responded in a
manner meeting said response criteria.
152. A method according to claim 140 further comprising a step of
crediting a member of said remote audience who has responded in a
manner meeting said altered response criteria.
153. A method according to claim 151 wherein said rediting is
accomplished electronically.
154. A method according to claim 151 wherein said crediting is
accomplished by issuing coupons carrying a reward having value.
155. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
and scoring criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting signals to the members of the remote audience, the
signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be
performed by members of the audience; providing response criteria
governing responses for responding to individual ones of tasks of
said task-setting messages; responding to said tasks by members of
said audience; comparing a response of a member of said remote
audience with said response criteria; scoring each response in
accordance with said scoring criteria; crediting a member of said
remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response
criteria; and wherein said task-setting messages provide for either
a single-part question or a multiple-part question, and said
task-setting messages and said response-criteria have been
determined prior to performance of said responding step.
156. A method according to claim 155 wherein, in said step of
transmitting signals, said tasks include the playing of a game.
157. A method according to claim 155 wherein said step of crediting
includes a step of creating a record of scored response results
from said scoring step.
158. A method according to claim 157 wherein, in said step of
creating a record, said record includes token means having the
physical shape of a coin or coupon, said method further comprising
a step of dispensing said token means as a reward to a member of
said audience having responded with an acceptable response.
159. A method according to claim 155 wherein said crediting
includes a dispensing of token means having the physical shape of a
coin or coupon at a site remote from members of said audience.
160. A method according to claim 155 wherein said crediting is
accomplished electronically.
161. A method according to claim 155 wherein said crediting is
accomplished by issuing token means exchangeable for a reward
having value.
162. A method according to claim 155 wherein a member of said
remote audience is provided with response means linked
electronically to said central station for outputting token means
representative of an acceptable response to said task, and said
step of crediting is accomplished by said response means for
issuing said token means at the location of a member of said remote
audience.
163. A method according to claim 155 wherein a member of said
remote audience is provided with response means linked
electronically to said central station for outputting token means
representative of an acceptable response to said task, and said
step of comparing is accomplished by said response means at the
location of a member of said remote audience.
164. A method according to claim 155 wherein said comparing is
performed at a site separate from members of said audience.
165. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
and scoring criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting signals to the members of the remote audience, the
signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be
performed by members of the audience; providing response criteria
governing responses to individual ones of tasks of said
task-setting messages; responding to said tasks by members of said
audience; comparing a response of a member of said remote audience
with said response criteria; scoring each response in accordance
with said scoring criteria; crediting a member of said remote
audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response
criteria, said crediting including creating a record of scored
response results from said scoring step; allowing interaction
between a member of the remote audience and the central station by
means of a communication link between a remote location and the
central station; altering the scoring criteria in accordance with
said interaction; and permitting further scoring of responses by
members of the remote audience in accordance with altered scoring
criteria.
166. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
and scoring criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting signals to the members of the remote audience, the
signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be
performed by members of the audience; providing response criteria
governing responses to individual ones of tasks of said
task-setting messages; responding to said tasks by members of said
audience; comparing a response of a member of said remote audience
with said response criteria; scoring each response in accordance
with said scoring criteria; crediting a member of said remote
audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response
criteria, said crediting including creating a record of scored
response results from said scoring step; selecting an area of
interest in said tasks; and selecting a difficulty level of said
tasks, said scoring criteria varying with said difficulty
level.
167. A method according to claim 165 wherein, in said step of
transmitting signals, said tasks include the playing of a game.
168. A method according to claim 165 wherein said crediting
includes a dispensing of token means at a site remote from members
of said audience.
169. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
and scoring criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting signals to the members of the remote audience, the
signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be
performed by members of the audience; providing response criteria
governing responses for responding to individual ones of tasks of
said task-setting messages; responding to said tasks by members of
said audience; comparing a response of a member of said remote
audience with said response criteria; scoring each response in
accordance with said scoring criteria; crediting a member of said
remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response
criteria, said crediting including creating a record of scored
response results from said scoring step; allowing interaction
between a member of the remote audience and the central station by
means of a communication link between a remote location and the
central station; altering the response criteria in accordance with
said interaction; and permitting further response by members of the
remote audience in accordance with altered response criteria.
170. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
and scoring criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting signals to the members of the remote audience, the
signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be
performed by members of the audience; providing response criteria
governing responses for responding to individual ones of tasks of
said task-setting messages; responding to said tasks by members of
said audience; comparing a response of a member of said remote
audience with said response criteria; scoring each response in
accordance with said scoring criteria; crediting a member of said
remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response
criteria, said crediting including creating a record of scored
response results from said scoring step; selecting an area of
interest in said tasks; and selecting a difficulty level of said
tasks, said scoring criteria varying with said difficulty
level.
171. A method according to claim 169 further comprising a step of
providing to members of the remote audience instructions for
responding to said tasks.
172. A method according to claim 169 wherein, in said step of
transmitting signals, said tasks include the playing of a game.
173. A method according to claim 169 wherein said crediting
includes a dispensing of token means at a site remote from members
of said audience.
174. A method according to claim 169 wherein a member of said
remote audience is provided with response means linked
electronically to said central station for outputting token means
representative of an acceptable response to said responding step,
and said step of crediting is accomplished by said response means
at the location of a member of said remote audience.
175. A method according to claim 169 wherein a member of said
remote audience is provided with a response means linked
electronically to said central station for outputting token means
representative of an acceptable response to said responding step,
and said step of comparing is accomplished by said response means
at the location of a member of said remote audience.
176. A method according to claim 169 wherein said comparing is
performed at a site remote from members of said audience.
177. A method according to claim 169 wherein said comparing is
performed at said central station.
178. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
conveying a plurality of tasks including a first task and a second
task, said task-setting messages being transmitted from a central
station to members of a remote audience who respond to said
messages in a manner meeting response and scoring criteria, the
method comprising the steps of: transmitting signals to the members
of the remote audience, the signals conveying a presentation of
messages defining a first task to be performed by members of the
audience; providing response criteria governing responses for
responding to individual ones of the tasks of said task-setting
messages; responding to said first task by members of said
audience; comparing a response of a member of said remote audience
with said response criteria; scoring each response to said first
task in accordance with said scoring criteria; transmitting the
second task to the audience members; modifying said response
criteria at said central station to provide a second response
criteria for said second task independently of said transmitting of
said signals; permitting further response by members of the remote
audience in accordance with said second task and said second
response criteria; and recrediting a member of the remote audience
who has responded in a manner meeting said first mentioned response
criteria and said second response criteria.
179. A method according to claim 178 wherein, in said step of
transmitting signals, said tasks include the playing of a game.
180. A method according to claim 178 wherein said step of crediting
includes a step of creating a record of scored response results
from said scoring step.
181. A method according to claim 180 wherein, in said step of
creating a record, said record includes a coupon, said method
further comprising a step of dispensing said coupon as a reward to
a member of said audience having responded with an acceptable
response.
182. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
and scoring criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting signals to the members of the remote audience, the
signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to be
performed by members of the audience; providing response criteria
governing responses for responding to individual ones of tasks of
said task-setting messages; responding to said tasks by members of
said audience; comparing a response of a member of said remote
audience with said response criteria; scoring each response in
accordance with said scoring criteria; crediting a member of said
remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response
criteria; modifying the scoring criteria at said central station to
provide a second scoring criteria independently of said
transmitting of said signals permitting further scoring of
responses of members of the remote audience in accordance with said
second scoring criteria.
183. A method according to claim 182 wherein, in said step of
transmitting signals, said tasks include the playing of a game.
184. A method according to claim 182 wherein said step of crediting
includes a step of creating a record of scored response results
from said scoring step.
185. A method according to claim 184 wherein, in said step of
creating a record, said record includes token means having the
configuration of a coin or a coupon, said method further comprising
a step of dispensing said token means as a reward to a member of
said audience having responded with an acceptable response.
186. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
criteria, which method comprises the steps of: transmitting signals
to the members of the remote audience, the signals conveying a
presentation of messages defining tasks to be performed by members
of the audience; providing response means to the members of the
remote audience; providing response criteria in the form of an
instructional signal for the response means to enable the members
of the remote audience at remote locations to respond to individual
tasks of said task-setting messages, said response criteria
including a scoring basis for responses entered by the members of
the remote audience, said instructional signal activating said
response means to provide for a scoring of a response by a member
of the remote audience; entering responses to said task-setting
messages at the response means by members of said audience;
comparing individual ones of said responses entered by a member of
said remote audience with said response criteria; scoring responses
in accordance with said scoring basis at the response means;
crediting a member of said remote audience who has entered a
response meeting said response criteria, said crediting including
creating a record of scored response results from said scoring
step; wherein said instructional signal can be generated to
activate an individual one of said response means independently of
said step of providing the response criteria.
187. A method according to claim 186 wherein, in said step of
transmitting signals, said tasks include the playing of a game.
188. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
and scoring criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting program signals to the members of said remote
audience, the program signals conveying a presentation of messages
defining tasks to be performed by members of the audience;
providing response criteria governing responses for responding to
individual ones of tasks of said task-setting messages; responding
to said tasks by members of said audience; comparing a response of
a member of said remote audience with said response criteria;
designating a mode of scoring responses of members of said remote
audience, said mode of scoring establishing said scoring criteria,
said step of designating being accomplished independently of said
step of transmitting the program signals; scoring each response in
accordance with said scoring criteria; crediting a member of said
remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said response
criteria; wherein said task-setting messages and said criteria
provide for either a single-part question or a multiple-part
question, and said task-setting messages and said response-criteria
have been determined prior to performance of said responding
step.
189. A method according to claim 188 wherein said crediting is
accomplished electronically.
190. A method according to claim 188 wherein said crediting is
accomplished by issuing coupons exchangeable for a reward having
value.
191. A method according to any one of claims 140, 141, 155, 165,
169, 178, 182 and 188 wherein said step of scoring comprises:
establishing a central facility distant from a plurality of the
members of said audience for evaluating a response of a member of
the audience in accordance with said criteria to identify an
acceptable answer; locating comparing means at said central
facility for performing said comparing step at said central
facility; communicating a response from a member of said audience
to said central facility prior to performing said steps of
comparing and scoring; and communicating a result of said scoring
step to said member of said audience upon completion of said
scoring step.
192. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to
task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to
locations remote from the central station, the audience members
being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:
transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote
locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data
including task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by
members of the audience; response means at the remote locations
operable by individual ones of the audience members for responding
to the task-setting messages; means for applying response-criteria
signals to said response means, said response means being activated
by the response-criteria signals, said response criteria signals
conveying a response criteria including a scoring basis for
evaluating acceptable responses entered by the audience members;
wherein said response means includes means for comparing a response
entered by an audience member with said response criteria, means
for scoring a response to output a score based on said scoring
basis, and means coupled to said scoring means for generating a
record on a recording medium, a result of said scoring means
appearing on said recording medium upon activation of said scoring
means; said system further comprises communication means allowing
interaction between an audience member and the central station;
said record generating means provides said record with at least one
distinguishing indicium selected from a group of process steps
producing discrete dashes, connected dashes, dots, regular shapes,
irregular shapes, codes, numbers, letters and symbols, so as to
prevent tampering, forging, and counterfeiting; and at least one of
said transmitter means and said applying means provides for
modification of its signals to alter the acceptability of a
response.
193. A system according to claim 192 wherein an individual one of
said tasks includes the playing of a game.
194. A system according to claim 192 wherein said record comprises
a coupon, said record generating means comprises means for
dispensing said coupon as a reward to a member of said audience
having responded with an acceptable response.
195. A system according to claim 194 wherein said coupon comprises
a sheet of material wherein at least a portion of the material is
paper, or rubber or plastic or metal, and wherein said coupon is
imprinted with data of said record.
196. A system according to claim 195 wherein said coupon is
imprinted with machine-readable magnetic or optical code.
197. A system according to claim 195 wherein said data includes a
plurality of rewards, wherein at least one reward can be selected
by a member of the audience by perforating, tearing or marking the
coupon with a machine-readable mark.
198. A system according to claim 192 wherein said record comprises
token means configured as a coin or a coupon, said reward
generating means comprises means for dispensing said token means as
a reward to a member of said audience having responded with an
acceptable response.
199. A system according to claim 192 wherein a modification of a
signal of said transmitter means or of said applying means produces
a modification of scoring criteria from a first response criteria
to a second response criteria, and said scoring means applies
credits to a member of said remote audience who has responded in a
manner meeting said first response criteria and said second
response criteria.
200. A system according to claim 199 wherein crediting is
accomplished electronically by said scoring means.
201. A system according to claim 199 wherein said credits are
outputted by said generating means by issuance of said record as a
token means carrying a reward having value.
202. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to
task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to
locations remote from the central station, the audience members
being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:
transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote
locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data
including task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by
members of the audience; means for entering responses at the remote
locations operable by individual ones of the audience members for
responding to the task-setting messages; evaluation means for
evaluating a response entered by a member; means for applying
response-criteria signals to said evaluation means, said evaluation
means being activated by the response-criteria signals, said
response criteria signals conveying a response criteria including
scoring criteria for evaluating acceptable responses to be entered
by the audience members; wherein said evaluation means includes
means for comparing a response entered by an audience member with
said response criteria, means for scoring a response to output a
score based on the scoring criteria, and means electronically
linked to said scoring means for generating a record on a recording
medium, a result of said scoring means appearing on said recording
medium upon activation of said scoring means; said scoring means
credits a member of said remote audience who has responded in a
manner meeting said response criteria; and said task-setting
messages and said response criteria provide for either a
single-part question or a multiple-part question, and said
task-setting messages and said response-criteria has been
determined prior to entry of a response at said response means by a
member of the audience.
203. A system according to claim 202 wherein individual ones of
said evaluation means are provided at the locations of individual
ones of said audience members and coupled to said response means at
the remote locations.
204. A system according to claim 202 wherein said evaluation means
is located at a facility remote from the locations of said audience
members.
205. A system according to claim 202 wherein said tasks include the
playing of a game.
206. A system according to claim 202 wherein said record includes
scored response results from said scoring means.
207. A system according to claim 206 wherein said record includes
token means, said record generating means dispensing said token
means as a reward to a member of said audience having responded
with an acceptable response.
208. A system according to claim 202 wherein said record generating
means dispenses token means having said credits at a site remote
from members of said audience.
209. A system according to claim 202 wherein said credits are
provided electronically.
210. A system according to claim 202 wherein said record includes
said credits and is issued by said record generating means as
coupons carrying a reward having value.
211. A system according to claim 202 wherein a member of said
remote audience is provided with said evaluation means, said
evaluation means being linked electronically to said central
station for enabling said record generating means to output token
means representative of an acceptable response to a task.
212. A system according to claim 202 wherein a member of said
remote audience is provided with evaluation means linked
electronically to said central station for outputting token means
representative of an acceptable response to a task, and said
comparing means is operative at the location of a member of said
remote audience.
213. A system according to claim 202 wherein said comparing means
is located at a site separate from members of said audience.
214. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to
task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to
locations remote from the central station, the audience members
being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:
transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote
locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data
including task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by
members of the audience; response entry means at the remote
locations operable by individual ones of the audience members for
responding to the task-setting messages; response evaluation means,
and means for applying response-criteria signals to said response
entry means, said response evaluation means being activated by the
response-criteria signals, said response criteria signals conveying
a response criteria including scoring criteria for evaluating
acceptable responses entered by the audience members; wherein said
response evaluation means includes means for comparing a response
entered by an audience member with said response criteria, means
for scoring a response to output a score based on said scoring
criteria, and means electronically linked to said scoring means for
generating a record on a recording medium, a result of said scoring
means appearing on said recording medium upon activation of said
scoring means; said scoring means provides credits to a member of
said remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said
response criteria, and said record includes a scored response
results from said scoring means; said system further comprises
communication means allowing interaction between an audience member
and the central station; at least one of said transmitter means and
said applying means provides for modification of its signal to
alter a task of a task-setting message and the acceptability of
responses by alteration of a criteria in accordance with said
interaction; and further responses by members of the remote
audience are scored in accordance with altered tasks and
criteria.
215. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to
task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to
locations remote from the central station, the audience members
being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:
transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote
locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data
including task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by
members of the audience; response entry means at the remote
locations operable by individual ones of the audience members for
responding to the task-setting messages; response evaluation means,
and means for applying response-criteria signals to said response
entry means, said response evaluation means being activated by the
response-criteria signals, said response criteria signals conveying
a response criteria including scoring criteria for evaluating
acceptable responses entered by the audience members; wherein said
response evaluation means includes means for comparing a response
entered by an audience member with said response criteria, means
for scoring a response to output a score based on said scoring
criteria, and means electronically linked to said scoring means for
generating a record on a recording medium, a result of said scoring
means appearing on said recording medium upon activation of said
scoring means; said scoring means provides credits to a member of
said remote audience who has responded in a manner meeting said
response criteria, and said record includes a scored response
results from said scoring means; at least one of said transmitter
means and said applying means provides for modification of its
signal to alter a task of a task-setting message and the
acceptability of responses by alteration of a criteria; and further
responses by members of the remote audience are scored in
accordance with altered tasks and criteria.
216. A system according to claim 214 wherein said tasks include the
playing of a game.
217. A system according to claim 214 wherein said record generating
means dispenses token means having said credits at a site remote
from members of said audience.
218. A system according to claim 214 wherein a member of said
remote audience is provided with said response evaluation means
linked electronically to said central station for outputting token
means representative of an acceptable response to one of said
tasks, and said credits are provided by said response evaluation
means at the location of a member of said remote audience.
219. A system according to claim 214 wherein a member of said
remote audience is provided with at least a portion of said
response evaluation means linked electronically to said central
station for outputting token means representative of an acceptable
response to said task, and said comparing means of said response
evaluation means is operative at the location of a member of said
remote audience.
220. A system according to claim 214 wherein said comparing means
is operative at a site remote from members of said audience.
221. A system according to claim 214 wherein said comparing means
is located at said central station.
222. A system according to claim 215 wherein said tasks include the
playing of a game.
223. A system according to claim 215 wherein said record includes
scored response results from said scoring means.
224. A system according to claim 223 wherein said record comprises
a coupon, said record generating means comprises means for
dispensing said coupon as a reward to a member of said audience
having responded with an acceptable response.
225. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to
task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to
locations remote from the central station, the audience members
being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:
transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote
locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data
including task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by
members of the audience relative to said presentation; response
means at the remote locations operable by individual ones of the
audience members for responding to the task-setting messages; means
for applying response-criteria signals to said response means, said
applying means including means for generating an instructional
signal including said response-criteria signals, said response
means being activated by the response-criteria signals, said
response criteria signals conveying a response criteria including
scoring criteria for evaluating acceptable responses entered by the
audience members; wherein said response means includes means for
comparing a response entered by an audience member with said
response criteria, means for scoring a response to output a score
based on said scoring criteria, and means electronically linked to
said scoring means for generating a record on a recording medium, a
result of said scoring means appearing on said recording medium
upon activation of said scoring means; said scoring means provides
credits to a member of said remote audience who has responded in a
manner meeting said response criteria, and said record includes a
scored response results from said scoring means; and wherein said
instructional signal can be generated to activate an individual one
of said response means independently of said step of providing the
response criteria.
226. A system according to claim 225 wherein said tasks include the
playing of a game.
227. A system for rewarding responses by members of an audience to
task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to
locations remote from the central station, the audience members
being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:
transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote
locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data
including task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by
members of the audience relative to said presentation; response
means at the remote locations operable by individual ones of the
audience members for responding to the task-setting messages; means
for applying response-criteria signals to said response means, said
response means being activated by the response-criteria signals,
said response criteria signals conveying a response criteria
including scoring criteria for evaluating acceptable responses
entered by the audience members; wherein said response means
includes means for comparing a response entered by an audience
member with said response criteria, means for scoring a response to
output a score based on said scoring criteria, and means
electronically linked to said scoring means for generating a record
on a recording medium, a result of said scoring means appearing on
said recording medium upon activation of said scoring means; said
scoring means provides credits to a member of said remote audience
who has responded in a manner meeting said response criteria, and
said record includes a scored response results from said scoring
means; wherein said applying means includes means for designating a
mode of scoring responses of members of said remote audience, said
mode of scoring being included in said scoring criteria for
establishing said scoring criteria, said designating means being
operative independently of a transmitting of the program signals;
and said task-setting messages and said scoring criteria provide
for either a single-part question or a multiple-part question, and
said task-setting messages and said response-criteria have been
determined prior to performance of responding step.
228. A system according to claim 227 wherein said credits are
established electronically.
229. A system according to claim 227 wherein said credits are
outputted by said record generating means by issuance of said
record as a coupon carrying a reward having value.
230. A system for evaluating responses by members of an audience to
task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to
locations remote from the central station, the audience members
being located at the remote locations, the system comprising:
transmitter means for transmitting program signals to the remote
locations, the program signals conveying a presentation of data
accompanied by task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed
by members of the audience relative to said presentation; response
means at the remote locations operable by individual ones of the
audience members for responding to the task-setting messages; a
central facility distant from the locations of a plurality of the
members of said audience; means at said central facility for
comparing with said response criteria a response entered by an
audience member, and means at said central facility for scoring a
response to output a score based on said scoring basis; means for
providing signals carrying response-criteria to said central
facility for evaluating a response of a member of the audience in
accordance with said response criteria to identify an acceptable
answer, said response criteria including a scoring basis for
evaluating acceptable responses to be entered by the audience
members; communication means allowing interaction between an
audience member and the central station, said communication means
providing for communication of a response from a member of said
audience to said central facility for operation of said comparing
means and said scoring means upon said response, and said
communication means further providing for communicating a result of
a scoring of the response to said member of said audience; means
for generating a record including said scoring result on a
recording medium, said record generating means providing said
record with at least one distinguishing indicium selected from a
group of process steps producing discrete dashes, connected dashes,
dots, regular shapes, irregular shapes, codes, numbers, letters and
symbols, so as to prevent tampering, forging, and counterfeiting;
and wherein at least one of said transmitter means and said
providing means provides for modification of their respective
signals to alter the acceptability of a response.
231. A system according to any one of claims 192, or 214 further
comprising: a central facility distant from the locations of a
plurality of the members of said audience for evaluating a response
of a member of the audience in accordance with said response
criteria to identify an acceptable answer, said comparing means and
said scoring means being located at said central facility; and
wherein said communication means provides for communication of a
response from a member of said audience to said central facility
for operation of said comparing means and said scoring means upon
said response; and said communication means provides for
communicating a result of a scoring of the response to said member
of said audience.
232. A system according to any one of claims 202, 215, 225 or 227
further comprising: a central facility distant from the locations
of a plurality of the members of said audience for evaluating a
response of a member of the audience in accordance with said
response criteria to identify an acceptable answer, said comparing
means and said scoring means being located at said central
facility; and communication means linking said remote locations of
said audience members with said central facility, wherein said
communication means provides for communication of a response from a
member of said audience to said central facility for operation of
said comparing means and said scoring means upon said response; and
said communication means provides for communicating a result of a
scoring of the response to said member of said audience.
233. A method for rewarding responses to task-setting messages
transmitted from a central station to members of a remote audience
who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting response
criteria, which method comprises the steps of: transmitting signals
from a transmission station to the members of the remote audience,
the signals conveying a presentation of messages defining tasks to
be performed by members of the audience; providing response means
to the members of the remote audience; providing a central response
processing facility; establishing a communications system linking
said transmission station with said central response processing
facility and with individual ones of said response means, said
communication system further linking said central response facility
with individual ones of said response means; providing evaluation
means for evaluating a response of a member of the remote audience,
said evaluation means comprising a plurality of data processing
means including comparing means and at least one processing means
from the class of data processing means consisting of scoring
means, memory means for storing response results including a score
received by an audience member for responding to a task, means for
crediting a response in accordance with a difficulty level of a
task, means for crediting a responding member with an award having
a value, and means for establishing a record of a result of a
response to a task by a member of the remote audience; providing
response criteria, and generating an instructional signal which
carries the response criteria to said evaluation means, said
response criteria including a scoring basis for responses to
individual tasks of said task-setting messages to be entered by the
members of the remote audience, said instructional signal
controlling said evaluation means to provide for a scoring of a
response by a member of the remote audience, wherein said
instructional signal can be generated to control said evaluation
means independently of said step of providing the response
criteria; providing responses to said task-setting messages at the
response means by members of said audience; comparing, by means of
said comparing means, individual ones of said responses by a member
of said remote audience with a reference response of said response
criteria; scoring, by means of said scoring means, responses in
accordance with said scoring basis, said scoring including a
scoring of multiple part questions having one or more acceptable
answers or a scoring of an individual question having one or more
acceptable answers; crediting a member of said remote audience who
has entered a response meeting said response criteria; locating at
least a first one of said data processing means of said evaluation
means at said central response processing facility, and at least a
second one of said data processing means of said evaluation means
at an individual one of said response means of a member of the
remote audience; and allowing communication of data between said
first one and said second one of said data processing means via
said communication system.
234. A method according to claim 233 wherein said means for
establishing a record includes a printer located at an individual
one of said response means.
235. A method according to claim 233 wherein said means for
establishing a record includes a printer located at said central
response facility.
236. A method according to claim 233 wherein said means for
establishing a record includes a plurality of printers located at
individual ones of said response means and at said central response
facility.
237. A method according to claim 233 wherein said step of locating
provides for locating said comparing means at said central response
facility.
238. A method according to claim 233 wherein said step of locating
provides for locating said scoring means at said central response
facility.
239. A method according to claim 233 wherein said step of locating
provides for locating said award crediting means at said central
response facility.
240. A method according to claim 233 wherein said step of locating
provides for locating said award crediting means at individual ones
of said response means.
241. A method according to claim 233 wherein said step of comparing
employs said comparing means to determine that a response is a
single term including a yes or a no or an alphanumeric entry.
242. A method according to claim 266 wherein, for use in said
comparing step, said response criteria includes at least one
reference element for said comparing means to be compared with the
response of a member of the remote audience to determine an
acceptable response by the member, and wherein said crediting
includes creating a record of scored response results from said
scoring step, there being a further step of storing said record in
a memory of said memory means located at an individual one of said
response means of a member of the remote audience.
243. A method according to claim 233 wherein said communications
system comprises a telephone system with telephone lines providing
telephonic communication between said transmission station and said
central response processing facility and said response means of the
members of the remote audience, and wherein said step of allowing
data communication is accomplished by transmission of telephonic
signals on said telephone lines.
244. A method according to claim 233 wherein said communications
system comprises a telephone system with telephone lines providing
telephonic communication between said transmission station and said
central response processing facility, and wherein said step of
allowing data communication includes transmission of telephonic
signals on said telephone lines.
245. A method according to claim 233 wherein said communications
system comprises a telephone system with telephone lines providing
telephonic communication between said transmission station and said
response means of the members of the remote audience, and wherein
said step of allowing data communication includes transmission of
telephonic signals on said telephone lines.
246. A method according to claim 233 wherein said communications
system comprises a telephone system with telephone lines providing
telephonic communication between said central response processing
facility and said response means of the members of the remote
audience, and wherein said step of allowing data communication
includes transmission of telephonic signals on said telephone
lines.
247. A system for rewarding buyers for selecting products intended
for purchase by dispensing tokens carrying value consideration upon
purchase of said products, the system comprising: a central display
facility for displaying identified products; a central programmable
electronic data storage facility for storing product information
displayed by said display facility, and being operable to replace
stored product information with updated product information; at
least one television camera in said display facility for use in
televising displayed product information by audio and/or visual
presentation; signal transmitting means for transmitting audio and
video signals; means for receiving said signals and presenting said
product information at buyers' remote locations; entering means at
buyers' remote locations for enabling buyers to select and to
request a token carrying value consideration upon purchase of an
identified product by selectively entering identified product
information in said entering means; central request receiving
means, and request transmitting means for transmitting a buyer's
request to said central request receiving means; addressable
converters at respective remote locations of individual ones of
said buyers; central instruction means for transmitting, in
response to buyers' requests, instruction signals to said
addressable converters, said instructional signals conveying
identified product and token information; and token generators
coupled to respective ones of said addressable converters at
buyers' location, said generators being programmable by said
instructional signals to provide a token carrying value
consideration upon purchase by an individual buyer of an identified
product.
248. The system of claim 247, wherein said central display facility
is operative to display a product inventory limited to one or a few
display items of each product kind.
249. The system of claim 247, wherein said TV cameras have zoom
lenses for product closeups.
250. The system of claim 247, wherein product positions within said
display facility are coded, and TV cameras are provided with
guidance systems for selectively focusing on said product
positions.
251. The system of claim 247, wherein said token is a rebate
check.
252. The system of claim 247, wherein said entering means is
operative to respond to a wholesale buyer's written product order
for requesting a rebate check.
253. The system of claim 247, including means for recording a
buyer's cumulative token requests so as to create a buyer's
purchasing profile.
254. The system of claim 247, further comprising a buyer's split TV
screen, and having means for showing requested product information
and a product closeup simultaneously on said buyer's split TV
screen.
255. The system of claim 247, wherein said display facility has the
compact architecture of an exhibiting facility designed for a
single supplier.
256. The system of claim 247, wherein said display facility has the
compact architecture of a facility for exhibiting the products of
suppliers having a commonality of products or locations.
257. The system of claim 255 or claim 256, further comprising a
central information disseminating facility coupled to said storage
facility.
258. The system of claim 247, in which said audio and video signals
are transmitted from a common location.
259. The system of claim 247, in which said audio and video signals
are transmitted from separate locations.
260. The system of claim 247, comprising means at one location for
transmitting product information and means at a further location
for transmitting TV signals.
261. A method for rewarding buyers for a product selection task by
generating tokens carrying value consideration, including discounts
and rebates on buyer-selected products offered for sale, the method
comprising the steps of: providing a central facility for the
electronic storage of product information which information may be
supplied from time to time, said facility including means for
receiving and storing a supplier's updated product information,
such updated product information replacing previously stored
information, said information identifying a product or product
group; providing a communications link for transmitting a
supplier's product information, including updated product
information, to said central facility; at least one supplier of a
plurality of products providing product information to said central
facility, said product information being updated by a supplier from
time to time; providing a communications link between buyers at
their remote locations and said central facility; providing to
buyers at their remote locations means for presenting product
information; electronically transmitting updated product
information from said central facility; receiving and presenting
updated product information at a buyer's remote location; providing
to buyers at their remote locations means for entering product
identification information, including alpha-numeric data, symbolic
or pictorial representations of a product or product group; a buyer
entering a request for a token carrying value consideration upon
purchase of an identified product or product group item by at least
partially entering product identification information; transmitting
a buyer's token request to said central facility; providing means
coupled to said central facility for receiving a buyer's token
request and for transmitting in response instructional signals
conveying a buyer's token request; providing at buyer's locations
token generators, said generators including means for programming
the generators by instructional signals transmitted from said
central facility in response to a buyer's token request; providing
at individual buyers' locations addressable converters coupled to a
buyer's token generator, transmitting from a central location
coupled to said central facility instructional signals in
accordance with a buyer's token request; a buyer's addressable
converter receiving said instructional signals; and an individual
buyer's token generator, in accordance with said instructional
signals, generating a token carrying value consideration relative
to a product or product group item identified by the buyer.
262. The method according to claim 294, including the step of
recording a supplier's updated product information and erasing
previously recorded information pertaining to the same
protocol.
263. A method for preventing an unacceptable wagering or forging of
winning lottery tickets, comprising the steps of: at identified
locations, selecting by players or assigning to players individual
lottery numbers; communicating players' individual wager
information including players' lottery numbers to a central
information storage facility, each number being associated with an
identified player location; accepting or rejecting a player's
individual wager at said storage facility, in accordance with
predetermined wagering criteria, prior to determining a winning
lottery number; storing a player's accepted wager information at
said storage facility; determining a winning lottery number at a
central location; comparing said winning number with a player's
individual lottery number stored in said storage facility; and
identifying a winning player at an identified location.
264. A method according to claim 263 further comprising steps of
recording a player's individual lottery number on a ticket medium
at a player's location and, subsequently, recording said winning
number on said ticket medium.
265. A method according to claim 264 further comprising a step of
honoring a ticket bearing a player's individual lottery number and
a winning number, wherein said lottery number and said winning
number have a determined correlation.
266. A method according to claim 265 wherein said determined
correlation is selected from a group of relationships consisting of
matching, partially matching, mathematical and exclusionary
type.
267. A system for a game playable by a plurality of players at
locations remote from a central location wherein, in said game, a
record bearing indicia selected by a player matching indicia
determined at a central location is deemed to be a winning record,
the system comprising means for selecting a remote player's
individual indicium; means at said players' locations for
generating a permanent record indicating said individual indicium;
means for transmitting first electronic signals from players'
locations conveying players' individual indicia to a central data
storage facility; means for storing said players' indicia at said
data storage facility; means at said central location for
determining at least one winning indicium, said determining
occurring subsequent to the transmitting of said first electronic
signals; means at a central location for transmitting second
electronic signals conveying at least one winning indicium to
players' locations; means at players' locations for receiving
second electronic signals; and means at players' locations for
indicating at least one winning indicium on said permanent record;
and wherein a record on which a player's and a winning indicia
having a determined relationship is deemed to be a winning
record.
268. A system according to claim 267 further comprising means to
formulate and to store criteria defining an acceptable wager,
comparison means to determine the acceptability of a wager in
relation to said criteria, and means for canceling or rejecting
wagers not meeting said criteria.
269. A system according to claim 267 further comprising a facility
for honoring a winning record.
270. A system according to claim 269 further comprising
communication means for communicating between said facility for the
honoring of a winning record and said data storage facility for
authenticating a winning record.
271. A system according to claim 267 wherein said second electronic
signals also convey information relative to a win in said game.
272. In a lottery system playable by a plurality of players at
locations remote from a central location in which a player holding
a ticket bearing a number selected by the player matching a winning
number is deemed to be a winning player, the system comprising:
ticketing means at said remote locations operable by individual
ones of said players for entering and recording on a ticket medium
of wager information including a lottery number selected by one of
said players; wherein said ticketing means is operable remotely by
instructional electronic signals transmitted from a central
facility for a subsequent recording on said ticket medium of at
least one winning lottery number determined at a central location;
said system further comprises means at said remote locations
connected to said ticketing means and operable by a player for
electronically transmitting a player's wager information including
a selected lottery number to a central data storage means; a
central facility having central data storage means and serving for
a storing of a player's wager information including at least one
selected lottery number; wherein said central facility includes
means for storing wager acceptance criteria determined by an
operator of the lottery; said central facility includes first
comparison means for accepting or rejecting individual wagers in
accordance with said criteria; said system further comprises
central lottery means for determining at least one winning number,
said central data storage means being at a location remote from
said central lottery means; second comparison means at a central
facility for comparing a winning number with players' accepted
wager numbers to determine a winning player; central transmitting
means for electronically transmitting a winning number to said
players' remote locations; and central transmitting means for
electronically transmitting instructional signals to said ticketing
means at said remote locations for recording a winning number on
said ticket medium.
273. In a system for a lottery game playable by a plurality of
players at locations remote from a central location, in which game
a ticket bearing a number selected by one of said players and
matching a number drawn at said central location is deemed to be a
winning ticket, the system comprising: ticketing means at said
remote locations and identified with and operable by individual
ones of said players for selecting a lottery number, said ticketing
means including means for recording a player's selected number on a
ticket; central storage means for receiving and storing
individually selected lottery numbers, each selected number being
associated with an identified player; means for communicating
individual players' selected numbers to said storage means; means
for inhibiting a storing of further numbers following a
predetermined point in time, said point in time having been
announced to said players, said inhibiting means being a part of
said communicating means or said central storage means; means at a
central location, remote from said central storage means, for
determining at least one winning lottery number, said determining
taking place subsequent to said point in time; wherein said
communicating means provides for communicating a winning lottery
number to said remote locations; said system further comprises at
remote locations means for receiving a winning lottery number, and
means for recording said winning number on players' tickets; and
wherein each ticket bearing a selected number matching a winning
number is deemed to be a winning ticket.
274. A system for playing a lottery game comprising a plurality of
home subsystems at players' locations remote from a central
location, and a central data processing subsystem having a central
data storage at said central location, each of said home subsystems
comprising: an electronics communications receiver; a response unit
operable by a player and having means for entering a selected
lottery number and wager information; wherein said response unit
includes means for recording said selected number and wager
information on a permanent record and for subsequently recording on
said record a winning lottery number in accordance with
instructional signals electronically transmitted from a central
lottery facility to said receiver; said response unit includes
means operable by a player for electronically communicating a
player's entered lottery number and wager information to said
central data storage; said central data processing subsystem
comprises means for entering said individual players' selected
lottery numbers and wager information into said central data
storage, said entering of said central data storage providing for
an entering into said storage of criteria governing acceptance of a
player's wager wherein said criteria are determined and
communicated to said processing system by an operator of said
lottery; comparing means for accepting or rejecting a player's
wager in accordance with said criteria, said comparing means
providing also for comparing a player's accepted wager with a
winning wager; wherein said system further comprises a central
lottery subsystem comprising means for determining a winning
number; and means for electronically communicating a winning wager
number to players' response units at remote locations, said
electronic communicating means directing individual ones of said
response units to record said winning number on said permanent
record; and wherein said system further comprises a facility for
honoring a permanent record presented by a player, said record
having a selected and a matching winning number recorded thereon,
said central data storage being at a location remote from said
central lottery subsystem.
275. A system according to claim 267 wherein said central data
storage facility is at a location remote from said central location
for the determining of a winning indicium.
276. A method for eliciting responses to messages transmitted from
a central station to members of an audience located at stations
remote from said central station, said messages including
descriptions of items of interest to individual members of the
audience for reasons of interest including merchandising and
education, the method comprising transmitting from said central
station to said remote stations a listing of items available to the
audience; at each of the remote stations, designating a set of said
items which is of interest to a member of the audience, said
designating being performed by a member of the audience, said set
of items having one or more items of interest to the member of the
audience; subsequent to said designating step, communicating to
said remote stations information of each item in a designated set;
at each remote station, establishing reference data for one or more
of the items in the designated set of items, said step of
establishing being accomplished by a member of the audience;
comparing the information received for each item of a designated
set with said reference data for obtaining a match; and
acknowledging items for which a match is obtained.
277. A method according to claim 276 wherein said transmitting step
is part of an educational program, each of said items is an element
in a course of study, said designating step serves to select a
course of study, said communicating step provides a task to be
performed for learning about a designated item, said establishing
step provides a response to the task, and said acknowledging step
includes an announcing by persons at said remote stations of their
successes in performing the tasks.
278. A method according to claim 277 wherein a response unit is
located at each of said remote stations, the method further
comprising a step of wagering upon an item for which a match may be
obtained, said wagering being accomplished by entry of identity of
one or more of said items in the response unit at a remote
station.
279. A method according to claim 276 wherein said transmitting step
is part of a merchandising program, each of said items is suitable
for purchase, said designating step serves to select items which
may be purchased at a reduced price, said communicating step
provides information of price reduction about a designated item,
said establishing step establishes a reference value of a reduced
price, and said acknowledging step is accomplished in response to
the obtaining of a match between a designated item and an item
available at discount, said acknowledging step including initiation
of purchase of individual ones of said items by persons at said
remote stations.
280. A method according to claim 279 wherein a response unit is
located at each of said remote stations, the method further
comprising a step of wagering upon an item for which a match may be
obtained, said wagering being accomplished by entry of identity of
one or more of said items in a response unit at a remote
station.
281. A method according to claim 279 wherein said communicating
step is performed after said designating step by an elapsed
interval of time, the time interval exceeding a plurality of
days.
282. A system for conducting forgery-resistant wagering by players
at playing stations, comprising: a data facility having means for
storing wagering data including means for formulating and for
storing predetermined wager acceptance or rejection criteria,
individual players' identifications, wagers and a reference
element; communication means linking the playing stations with the
data facility for communication of the wagering data, the reference
element serving as a basis for judging a winning wager; wherein the
communication means communicates wagering data from respective ones
of the playing stations to the data facility, each of said playing
stations comprising means for outputting a record of data including
a player's identification and wager; and the system further
comprises means for authenticating records of the respective
playing stations by comparing player's data on a record with the
player's data stored in the data facility, the means for
authenticating comparing wagering data on the record to the
reference element communicated to the data facility to ascertain if
the player's wager recorded on the record is a winning wager.
283. A system for conducting forgery resistant wagering by players
at playing stations, said wagering meeting predetermined acceptance
criteria, the system comprising: at identified locations, means for
providing to players individual lottery numbers, said
number-providing means allowing for a selection of lottery numbers
by the players or assigning the numbers to the players; means for
communicating players' individual wager information including
players' lottery numbers to a central information storage facility,
each number being associated with an identified player location;
means for filtering a player's individual wager at said storage
facility, said filtering providing for acceptance or rejection of a
player's individual wager at said storage facility, in accordance
with predetermined wagering criteria, prior to determining a
winning lottery number; means for storing a player's accepted wager
information at said storage facility; means for determining a
winning lottery number at a central location; means for comparing
said winning number with a player's individual lottery number
stored in said storage facility; and means for identifying a
winning player at an identified location.
284. A system for attracting shoppers to retail establishments, the
system comprising: a retail establishment offering a plurality of
alternate products for sale, said products being placed in or near
the retail establishment; means for storing advertiser-sponsored
tokens having monetary value, including coupons or certificates;
means for announcing alternate products for sale; means for
presenting at least one task, including at least one of a question
and/or an instruction, to shoppers, wherein each task is
accompanied by at least one acceptable response; means for
formulating and storing acceptable responses; response-entering
means for enabling a shopper to enter a response; means for
comparing a shopper's entered response with an acceptable response
to determine a winning shopper having entered an acceptable
response; means for entering a product selection by a shopper; and
means for dispensing to a winning shopper a token having value upon
the winning shopper having purchased a selected product, and upon
the shopper's presentation of said token.
285. A system according to claim 284 wherein an entering of an
acceptable response by said response-entering means is accomplished
by the shopper selecting and entering at least one of said
alternative products.
286. A system according to claim 284, wherein an entering of a
response by said response-entering means is accomplished by the
shopper entering the response vocally.
287. A system according to claim 284, wherein said task includes a
question requiring a multiple choice response.
288. A system according to claim 284 wherein said tokens are
discount coupons.
289. A system according to claim 288, wherein said coupons bear
discounts on the price of the products selected by the winning
shopper.
290. A method for broadcasting a program signal conveying a program
from a central station to a plurality of receiving stations at
sites remote from said central station, and for responding to said
program signal by respondents at said receiving stations, said
central station including a studio with presentation of said
program to a group or groups of contestants, said program including
a scenario with a task requiring a response by each contestant of
said group or groups of contestants, the method comprising steps
of: presenting said program to said contestants; presenting said
program to said respondents; predicting or selecting, by individual
ones of said respondents, a winning one of said contestants who is
to provide an acceptable response to said task, said predicting or
selecting step to be performed within a predetermined interval of
time; individual ones of said respondents predicting or selecting
at least one winning contestant of said contestants; subsequent to
said interval of time, allowing said contestants to provide
responses to said task; evaluating responses of said contestants to
determine a winning contestant; evaluating predictions or
selections of said predicting or selecting step to determine an
acceptable prediction or selection by an individual one of said
respondents; and identifying a winning one of said respondents who
has correctly predicted or selected the identity of a winning
contestant.
291. A method according to claim 290 further comprising a step of
providing a token to a winning respondent, the token having value
to serve as a prize to the winning respondent.
292. A method according to claim 290 wherein said program is an
audio-visual program, and said data transmitting step includes
presenting audio-visual data of all of said contestants.
293. A method according to claim 292 wherein said step of
presenting the program to the respondents and said step of
transmitting data are accomplished by televising images of said
scenario and of said contestants to said respondents, and said data
includes a personal profile for each of said contestants.
294. A method according to claim 290 wherein said task includes a
multi-part question about said scenario, any one of said
contestants may answer one or more parts of the multi-part
question, the method including a further step of scoring
contestants based on a number of the parts of the multipart
question which has been answered acceptably, and wherein the method
comprises a further step of a respondent predicting a score of a
contestant.
295. A method according to claim 290 further comprising steps of: a
respondent responding to the task with an answer; comparing a
respondent's answer with the response of a winning contestant to
determine the presence of a match; scoring a respondent's
prediction or selection of a winning contestant; and enhancing a
score obtained in said scoring step in the presence of the
match.
296. A method according to claim 290 further comprising steps of
transmitting an instructional signal incorporating predetermined
response criteria to said remote sites or to a central site;
entering responses by said respondents to tasks of said program
signals; and scoring responses to the tasks in addition to the step
of evaluating predictions or selections.
297. A method according to claim 296 further comprising steps of:
selectively altering a mode of scoring individual ones of said
responses by respondents in response to an instructional signal
from said central station; and wherein said instructional signal
can be altered to change criteria of said scoring mode
independently of a transmission of said program from said central
station.
298. A method according to claim 296 wherein said response criteria
is a first response criteria and wherein said central station
transmits electronic signals for conveying a plurality of messages,
the method comprising steps of: modifying at said central station
said first response criteria to provide a second response criteria
independently of said transmitting of a first set of said
electronic signals; transmitting additional ones of said first set
of electronic signals for conveying additional task-setting
messages of said plurality of messages; and transmitting to said
remote sites additional ones of a second set of electronic signals
to convey said second response criteria governing responses to said
additional task-setting messages.
299. A method according to claim 296 further comprising a step of
weighting one of a score of said scoring step and a reevaluation of
said evaluating step by the other of said score and said evaluation
to obtain a total score.
300. A method according to claim 296 further comprising a step of
summing a score of said scoring step and a reevaluation of said
evaluating step to obtain a total score.
301. A method according to claim 290 wherein, in said step of
evaluating responses of the contestants, there is a step of scoring
responses of said contestants to produce a ranking of respective
ones of said contestants.
302. A method according to claim 301 wherein said predicting or
selecting step includes a step of predicting or selecting the
ranking of a plurality of said contestants with respect to the
scores of said plurality of contestants.
303. A method according to claim 301 further comprising steps of:
transmitting a first set of electronic signals conveying a first
task-setting message of said plurality of messages_from a central
station to receivers at said remote sites; receiving said first set
of signals at said remote sites; entering responses by respective
ones of said respondents to said first task-setting message at said
remote sites; generating, at said central station, a first response
criteria independently of said transmitting of said first set of
electronic signals; transmitting from said central station a second
set of electronic signals conveying said first_response criteria
relative to said first task-setting message to said remote sites;
receiving said second set of signals at said remote sites;
comparing said responses with said first_response criteria, said
first_response criteria comprising suitable words including
alphanumerics and other indicia, and said responses comprising
words including alphanumerics and other indicia; identifying
individual ones of said responses meeting said first_response
criteria; and wherein said step of comparing provides for a
comparing of at least one key word or element in a response with
said first response criteria; said first_response criteria includes
a scoring basis, said method further comprising steps of: scoring
accepted responses of said respondents meeting said scoring basis
of said first_response criteria; modifying, at said central
station, said first_response criteria to provide a further response
criteria_independently of said transmitting of said first set of
electronic signals; transmitting additional ones of said first set
of electronic signals for conveying additional task-setting
messages of said plurality of messages; and transmitting to said
remote locations additional ones of said second set of electronic
signals to convey said further response criteria governing
responses to said additional task-setting messages.
304. A method according to claim 301, wherein each of said remote
sites of said respondents is provided with a response unit, said
method further comprising steps of: transmitting audio-visual
signals to said respondents, the audio-visual signals conveying a
presentation of data accompanied by task-setting messages defining
tasks to be performed by said respondents; transmitting signals
conveying response criteria to said respondents' response units at
said remote sites for responding to individual ones of said
task-setting messages, said response criteria including a scoring
basis with responses to be entered by said respondents, said
scoring basis including a difficulty level; entering responses to
said task-setting members by said respondents; comparing individual
ones of said responses entered by one of said respondents with said
response criteria; scoring each response relative to said response
criteria in correlation with a difficulty level; creating a record
on a recording medium at each of said remote sites of scored
response results from said scoring step, wherein said creating
includes providing said record with at least one distinguishing
indicium selected from a group of process steps producing discrete
dashes, connected dashes, dots, regular shapes, irregular shapes,
codes, numbers, letters and symbols, so as to prevent tampering,
forging, and counterfeiting; allowing interaction between one of
said respondents and the central station by means of a
communication link between a remote site and the central station;
altering the response criteria in accordance with said interaction;
and permitting further response by said respondents in accord with
altered response criteria.
305. A method according to claim 301 wherein, prior to said step of
presenting said program to said respondents, there is a step of
recording said step of presenting said program to said contestants,
and wherein said step of presenting said program to said
respondents includes a step of playing back a recording of said
recording step to said respondents.
306. A method according to claim 290 wherein, prior to said step of
presenting said program to said respondents, there is a step of
recording said step of presenting said program to said contestants,
and wherein said step of presenting said program to said
respondents includes a step of playing back a recording of said
recording step to said respondents.
307. A method according to claim 290 wherein, prior to said step of
presenting said program to said contestants, there is a step of
transmitting data of said contestants to said respondents.
308. A method according to claim 290 further comprising a step of
providing said interval of time for said respondents to predict or
select said winning one of said contestants who is to provide the
acceptable response to said task.
309. A method according to claim 290 wherein each of said receiving
stations is provided with a response unit capable of electrically
communicating with said central station, and wherein, in said
predicting or selecting step, an individual one of said respondents
enters a prediction or selection via said response unit for
communicating said prediction or selection to said central
station.
310. A method according to claim 309 further comprising a step of
providing a token to a winning respondent, wherein said token has
value to serve as a prize to the winning respondent, said token has
the form of a record on a recording medium, said response unit in
any one of said receiving stations includes a printer for printing
the record on the recording medium, and said step of providing the
token includes a step of printing the record on the recording
medium in response to a communicating from said central station to
said response unit of a determination of winning respondent.
311. A method according to claim 290 further comprising steps of: a
respondent responding to the task with an answer; comparing a
respondent's answer with the response of a winning contestant to
determine the presence of a match; scoring a respondent's
prediction or selection of a winning contestant; and enhancing a
score obtained in said scoring step upon the occurrence of the
match.
312. A method according to claim 311 wherein said evaluating and
said scoring are performed at said central station.
313. A method according to claim 311 wherein at least one of said
contestants including said one winning contestant provide
acceptable responses to said task and, wherein, in said predicting
or selecting step, a respondent predicts a plurality of winning
contestants of said at least one contestant and, wherein, said
scoring step provides for a larger score to a respondent predicting
a larger number of winning contestants than to a respondent
predicting a smaller number of winning contestants.
314. A method according to claim 290 wherein at least one of said
contestants including said one winning contestant provide
acceptable responses to said task and, in said predicting or
selecting step, a respondent predicts a plurality of winning
contestants of said at least one contestant, said method further
comprising a step of scoring a respondent's prediction or selection
of a winning contestant, wherein said scoring step provides for a
larger score to a respondent predicting or selecting a larger
number of winning contestants than to a respondent predicting or
selecting a smaller number of winning contestants.
315. A method according to claim 290 wherein said step of
presenting said program to said respondents is accomplished by
transmitting electrical signals between said central station and
said plurality of receiving stations, said electrical signals
carrying data of said program, and wherein said predicting or
selecting step includes transmitting of electronic signals carrying
predictions or selections from individual ones of said receiving
stations to said central station.
316. A method according to claim 290 wherein said predicting or
selecting step is a first predicting or selecting step, each of
said remote sites of said respondents having a response unit, the
method further comprising steps of: generating, at said central
station, a first response criteria for judging responses of said
contestants to said task, said generating of said first response
criteria occurring prior to said step of presenting said program to
said contestants, said step of evaluating responses of said
contestants employing said first response criteria to determine a
winning contestant; prior to said first predicting or selecting
step, transmitting said first response criteria to the response
unit of each of said respondents; subsequent to said step of
evaluating responses of said contestants, modifying, at said
central station, said first response criteria to provide a further
response criteria for judging responses of said contestants to said
task; transmitting said further response criteria to said
respondents; wherein the method further comprises a second step of
predicting or selecting, by individual ones of said respondents, a
winning one of said contestants who provides an acceptable response
to said task based on said further response criteria, said second
predicting or selecting step being performed within a second
predetermined interval of time; subsequent to said second interval
of time, said contestants providing responses to said task based on
said further response criteria; evaluating responses of said
contestants, based on said further response criteria, to determine
a winning contestant; and identifying a winning one of said
respondents who has correctly predicted or selected the identity of
a winning contestant in said first predicting or selecting step and
in said second predicting or selecting step.
317. A method according to claim 316 wherein said contestants are
located within said studio, the method further comprising a step of
televising an image of said contestants to said respondents from a
time preceding said step of presenting said program to said
contestants to a time subsequent to said step of said contestants
providing responses to said task based on said further
criteria.
318. A method according to claim 317 further comprising steps of:
allowing interaction between a respondent at one of said receiving
stations and said central station by means of a communication link
between said one receiving station and said central station; and
wherein there is a step of altering the first response criteria in
accordance with said interaction.
319. A method according to claim 290 wherein there are additional
ones of said respondents located in a facility, including an
auditorium, proximate to said central station, or linked to said
central station by audio and/or visual communication means.
320. A method for broadcasting a program signal conveying a program
from a central station to a facility proximate to said central
station, or linked to said central station by audio and/or visual
communication means, and for responding to said program signal by
respondents at said facility, said central station including a
studio with presentation of said program to a group or groups of
contestants, said program including a scenario with a task
requiring a response by at least one contestant of said group or
groups of contestants, the method comprising steps of: presenting
said program to said contestants; presenting said program to said
respondents; predicting or selecting, by individual ones of said
respondents, a winning one of said contestants who is to provide an
acceptable response to said task, said predicting or selecting step
to be performed within a predetermined interval of time; individual
ones of said respondents predicting or selecting at least one
winning contestant of said contestants; subsequent to said interval
of time, allowing said contestants to provide responses to said
task; evaluating responses of said contestants to determine a
winning contestant or contestants; evaluating predictions or
selections of said predicting or selecting step to determine an
acceptable prediction or selection by an individual one of said
respondents; and identifying a winning one of said respondents who
has correctly predicted or selected the identity of a winning
contestant or contestants.
321. In a system for conducting a wagering comprising players'
playing stations for entering a wager, wager communicating means
connected to a wager data storage facility, a winning wager
reference element, means for comparing a player's wager with a
winning wager reference element to determine a player's winning
wager and winning players' wager authenticating means, the system
further comprising: at least one monitoring or checking means
selected from the group comprising: means for comparing an
individual player's wager with the player's recorded credit limit,
means for tallying a player's wagers, means for monitoring the
movement of funds into or out of a player's account, means for
identifying individual players through a player's telephone number
identification and/or a player's internet website, means for
identifying individual players through a player's PIN number, means
for identifying individual players through a player's registered
wager entry means, means for identifying individual players through
a player's wagering ticket; and at least one control means selected
from the group comprising: means for fixing players' wagering
limits, means for requiring players to communicate financial or
wager-related information to a designated location, the system
further comprising means for preventing a player's wager.
322. A system according to claim 321 further comprising means for
blocking the movement of funds of a player's account.
323. A system according to claim 322 further comprising means for
canceling a player's wager.
324. A system according to claim 321 further comprising means for
canceling a player's wager.
325. In a method for conducting a wagering, including a lottery and
betting on the outcome of an event by players at individual playing
stations, said wagering, comprising the steps of: entering a wager
by a player at a playing station, communicating a players' wager
information to and storing it at a forgery resistant data storage
facility, said event taking place and its outcome becoming known,
comparing a player's wager with the outcome of said event to
determine a winning player and authenticating a player's winning
wager, the method further comprising: at least one monitoring or
checking step selected from the group of steps comprising:
comparing an individual player's wager with the player's recorded
credit limit, tallying a player's wagers, monitoring the movement
of funds into or out of a player's account, identifying individual
players through a player's telephone number identification and/or a
player's internet website, identifying individual players through a
player's PIN number, identifying the individual players through a
player's registered wager entry means, and identifying individual
players through a player's wagering ticket; and at least one
control step selected from the group of steps comprising: fixing
players' wagering limits, requiring players to communicate
financial or wager-related information to a designated location,
the system further comprising preventing a player's wager.
326. The method of claim 325, further comprising a step of blocking
the movement of funds through a player's account.
327. The method of claim 326, further comprising a step of
canceling a player's wager.
328. The method of claim 325, further comprising a step of
canceling a player's wager.
329. The method of claim 325, wherein said monitoring or checking
step is applied to a group of players to determine a group wagering
pattern.
330. The method of claim 325, wherein said data storage facility is
physically and electronically inaccessible to employees or agents
of operators of the wagering system.
331. The method of claim 325, wherein said designated location is a
data storage facility, which is physically and electronically
inaccessible to employees and agents of providers of the wagering
system, or maintainers of the wagering system.
332. A method of monitoring wagering among numerous players placing
wagers, the method comprising steps of: establishing financial
accounts for respective ones of the players; passing wager monies
of the players through respective ones of the financial accounts;
identifying each of the players with an identifying descriptor;
individual ones of the players placing wagers by using monies
stored in respective ones of the financial accounts; storing credit
evaluation data of respective ones of the players in a central data
storage facility; observing flows of monies into or out of
respective ones of the financial accounts to establish wagering
patterns among the players; employing the credit evaluation data
and the wagering patterns for respective ones of the players
identified by their respective descriptors to determine acceptable
wagering criteria for each of the players; and terminating a
player's or a group of players' wagering for any one of the players
or the group of players placing a bet failing to meet the wagering
criteria.
333. A method according to claim 332 wherein the descriptor is a
PIN number.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending
application Ser. No. 08/226,073 filed Apr. 11, 1994 which is a
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/025,397 filed Feb.
25, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,731, which is a continuation in
part of application Ser. No. 07/763,672 filed Sep. 19, 1991, now
U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,734, which is a continuation in part of
application Ser. No. 07/603,882 filed Oct. 25, 1990, now U.S. Pat.
No. 5,057,915, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.
No. 07/424,089 filed Oct. 19, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,807,
which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 192,355,
filed May 10, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,255, which is
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 837,827 filed Mar. 10,
1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,468. Related material is found in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,592 which is also a continuation-in-part of
said application Ser. No. 837,827.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to transmission by electronic media
including radio and television broadcasting programs, as well as
recordings of such programs, to listeners and viewers of the
programs and, more particularly, to the provision of signals
designating questions or tasks including a wagering situation, to
the provision of response criteria for evaluating responses of the
listeners and viewers of the broadcast or prerecorded programs, and
to the dispensing of awards to individual listeners and viewers
having provided answers meeting the response criteria and/or placed
a wager.
[0003] The invention also particularly relates to the transmission
of signals conveying scenarios of events about to take place or
taking place and to outcome criteria for evaluating predictions of
listeners and viewers of the broadcasts of such events and to the
dispensing of awards to individual listeners and viewers having
provided predictions meeting the outcome criteria. An example of a
situation involving a prediction is a wagering situation in which a
player designates a wager applied to a possible outcome of a given
scenario.
[0004] A common form of program transmitted by the broadcast media
is the quiz program. Typically, in such a program, a panel of
people provide answers to questions arising from the subject matter
of the quiz. Often, the answers are indicated by use of a keyboard
with electronic circuitry. The answers may be provided in response
to questions which are asked directly, or in response to a
situation such as a chess game, or task presented by the program
such as in the solving of a puzzle. Other situations such as in
sports, call for predictions of outcomes of events.
[0005] A characteristic of such quiz programs is the fact that the
responses to the questions are limited to participants in the
studio audience. The much larger external audience, namely the
listeners of radio and viewers of television, are generally
excluded from participation except for those few people who, on
occasion, may have the opportunity to call in a response via
telephone to a situation arising in the program. Letter writing has
also been employed as a means of response to questions and other
matters raised by the program.
[0006] Thus, it is apparent that a problem exists in that a large
percentage of the external audience is essentially excluded from
active participation in the broadcast programs. In view of the fact
that the studio audiences can provide their responses
electronically, it is clear that personal involvement, such as
conversation among participants, is not necessarily required. It
is, therefore, apparent that such programs should be open to
participation by the larger external audience in addition to the
studio audience; yet, no system providing for such participation
has been available.
[0007] It is noted that this problem is not limited to quiz
programs only, but that other forms of programs in the areas of
education and research might also be conducted in a fashion
allowing active public participation if a suitable system were
available to make such public participation possible. A desirable
feature of such a system would be the capability for evaluating and
recording the responses, a feature that would be very useful in the
case of educational programs because such a feature would permit a
teacher to grade or otherwise evaluate papers and examinations
dispensed to students by the broadcast media. Such a system would
also be useful in commercial ventures wherein a prize is to be
given to a participant providing an acceptable answer. In such a
case, the participant would bring the recorded answer, which might
be in the form of a coded credit card, to a store or other
establishment for receipt of the prize. This would be a great
convenience in the implementation of a sales and advertising
program. Responses by the listening or viewing audience can also be
used in conducting a survey of public opinion. However, in spite of
the advantages which would be provided by such a system, for
including the listening and viewing audience, no practical system
has yet been available.
[0008] It would be advantageous also if the equipment of the system
could be employed in the conduct of wagering, whether a simple
lottery or a more complex situation involving wagering based on
responses to a quiz game, educational game or a situation relating
to the advertising of a product. It would be advantageous
furthermore if such wagering could be conducted electronically so
as to inhibit forgery and to reduce the number of inconvenient
trips which a better must make to a lottery agent. Such a system
and method of wagering is not available at the present time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The foregoing problem is overcome, and other advantages are
provided by a system for the evaluation of responses to a broadcast
or a prerecorded program wherein a response may include the entry
of a wager on a possible outcome of a situation presented in the
program. In accordance with the invention, the system provides for
the transmission of signals designating conditions of the wagering
and, in the case of scenarios, games or other events upon which a
person may wish to bet, the system provides questions and response
criteria along with a transmission of the broadcast program. In the
event of questions or similar tasks, signals may be recorded prior
to transmission, and may be transmitted at a fixed predetermined
time, or upon request of a person who will respond to the program
and/or questions. The invention includes both method and system
aspects which create added interest and excitement among listeners
and viewers, and thus tend to increase the audience of stations
carrying programs of the type to be described hereinafter.
[0010] In accordance with the theory of the invention, two groups
of signals are broadcast, wherein each of the two signal groups may
be divided in two portions designated as first and second signals.
In the first signal group, the first of the two signals includes
the program signal itself which may be broadcast from a radio
station or television station to the listening or viewing audience.
The second signal of the first group is a signal transmission
setting forth a task, such as the answering of one or more
questions which may be viewed on a television screen and/or
listened to over radio or the audio portion of the television
transmission. For simplicity in describing the invention, an
audience viewing a televised program is presumed. It is understood
that the description of the invention in terms of the viewing
audience applies also to the listening audience of a radio
broadcast.
[0011] The second of the two signal groups is in the nature of an
instructional signal group identifying the amount of time available
for an answer, the proper content and form of an acceptable answer,
and a mode of scoring the answers. In one embodiment of the
invention, the first signal of the second signal group sets forth
the desired acceptable answer or answers, and the second signal
provides the mode of scoring responses, such as the parameters,
formulas and other response criteria to be employed in the scoring
of the answers. Therefore, in this one embodiment of the invention,
the two signal groups include at least four sets of signals which
are transmitted, each of which can be varied independently of the
other, and which may be transmitted concurrently or at different
times.
[0012] Included at the site of each viewer in the external or
remote audience is a television set, plus electronic response
equipment having circuitry for reception of the instructional
signal group transmitted from a central station, the response
equipment also including a keyboard for designating answers or
responses to the questions, timing circuitry, circuitry for
comparing a response to one or more designated answers to determine
acceptability of a response, scoring circuitry, and a recording
device for recording answers to the question. The recording device
includes preferably a dispenser for dispensing a record such as a
printout, or a magnetizable card containing a person's responses to
the questions and/or a person's score in answering the
questions.
[0013] A particular advantage of the invention is the capacity for
interaction between a person conducting a broadcast program and the
external audience. This may be illustrated by way of example
wherein a sportscaster is describing a sporting event such as a
football game. The questions asked by the sportscaster may pertain
to the winning team, to plays that have been accomplished, as well
as to questions which may be called in by telephone from the
listening/viewing audience. During the program, commercials may be
aired, and various products and/or services may be described and
offered to the viewing audience.
[0014] In the practice of the invention, it is noted that signals
of the instructional signal group, Group Two, may be transmitted
before, concurrently, or subsequent to the transmission of the
program signals in accordance with the nature of the questions and
responses required. For example, in the event that the program
situation deals with a college professor giving an examination, the
correct or acceptable answers to the various questions and the
procedure for scoring answers to individual ones of the questions
can be transmitted before the lecture in which the professor asks
the questions. In the event that a limited period of time is
available for response to each of the questions, then, at least a
portion of the instructional signals, Group Two, must be sent
concurrently with the program data, this portion being a timing
signal which the professor would initiate when he asks the
question. The timing signal would initiate operation of a timer in
the electronic equipment at each of the receiving stations which
are tuned to the broadcast program, the timer then clocking a
requisite amount of time in accordance with an instructional signal
which has been previously transmitted or is concurrently
transmitted with the program data. In yet a further example, in the
case of an interactive situation wherein the professor is
responding to a comment made by a student in the classroom or,
possibly in response to a telephoned inquiry, the professor may
then ask a question for which the instructional signal designating
the nature of the response would be transmitted after the question
has been asked.
[0015] At a receiving station the electronic equipment includes a
response unit having a keyboard by which a viewer of the broadcast
program enters a response. The response should be a desirable or
correct response, or at least an acceptable response in order to
receive credit. The response is stored in a buffer store for
comparison with a correct or acceptable response which is stored in
a data memory. One or more acceptable responses are provided as a
data input to the data memory by the instructional signal group.
The comparison is provided by comparison circuitry which outputs a
signal via timing circuitry to a score counter to provide a score
at the conclusion of responses to a question. The timing circuit,
under control of a program memory, is activated upon request from
the host of the transmitted program. Instructional signals
transmitted by the host are modulated onto the audio portion of the
transmitted signals and, subsequently at a receiving station, are
demodulated and decoded to provide the data signals for the data
memory, synchronization signals for operation of the timing
circuitry, and instructional signals for operation of the program
memory. Alternatively, the instructional signals may be transmitted
at television frequencies by known methods, such as the use of
vertical blanking intervals or other unused parts of a television
transmission. The resulting score from the score counter may be
recorded in a readout device which, in a preferred embodiment of
the invention, provides a printout or a card with an encrypted
value of the score in a magnetic strip that is readily read by
automatic card readers. According to one embodiment, a register may
be included for the storage of responses which are printed or typed
out in the form of a message. The message may be passed on to the
readout device under instruction of the program memory.
[0016] At each of the remote receiving stations, circuitry
responsive to the third signals is provided for implementing the
response criteria. In particular, provisions are made to evaluate
responses to the same question at different difficulty levels. For
example, different amounts of credit can be given based on the
speed at which a viewer responds to the question. Also, answers
showing a more detailed, accurate or comprehensive understanding
can be weighted to provide greater credit for responding to the
question. If desired, a set of response criteria may include only
one difficulty level.
[0017] The readout or dispensing device provides a printout having
at least two sets of information. The information may be provided
on a tape or card in printed lettering and/or in a bar code format
to show the value of any award which might be given, and a
verification of the fact that the award has been made. The printout
may also verify the identity of the person answering the question.
The verification may be provided either by a signal transmitted
from a central station as part of the instructional group of
signals to be stored at the remote location or, alternatively, by
use of a validation code taking the form of alphanumeric data
and/or other symbols, such as a machine readable code, which the
dispenser is capable of printing. The value of the award is printed
preferably in alphanumeric form so as to be readily understandable
by the participant.
[0018] In the event that a two-way cable system is available, such
system may be used to advantage in the practice of the invention by
providing for transmission of the television program to a remote
audience while also enabling members of the remote audience to
communicate responses or other commentary back to the broadcasting
station.
[0019] It is recognized that there may be situations wherein it is
impractical to have communication of receiving stations with a
studio at the central station at the time when the program is being
generated. The invention would then be practiced by use of a
further embodiment in which the program and instructional signals,
including response criteria and scoring criteria, would be recorded
for playback to the receiving stations at a later time. Such a
situation might arise in the case of an educational program to be
employed in a school, or to a program of general public interest
which might be employed in a vehicle for public transportation,
such as an aircraft. In the event that television is available at
the receiving stations, the transmission and receiving equipment
would be the same as that employed for the embodiment of the
invention as disclosed above. However, in the event that only audio
reception is possible, as by the use of earphones in an aircraft,
then a verbal description of the task-setting situation would be
provided, both the task setting and instructional verbal signals
being recorded in an audio tape recording. Each of the receiving
stations may be provided with a dispenser of hard-copy of results
to responses to the task-setting message or, alternatively, a
central dispenser may be used as in a classroom or aircraft, the
central dispenser communicating via a digital communication system
to response units at each of the receiving stations.
[0020] The transmission of a program, such as the playback of an
audio-visual tape, may be initiated by a member of the remote
audience though cable communication, including telephone. In such
instances, a member of the home audience calls a dedicated number,
such as a 900-number, and requests the playing of a tape. Such
request may be made through a central operator or by dialing
further digits of a dedicated number, associated with a specific
tape or program selected by the caller.
[0021] In accordance with an important aspect of the invention,
participants in the remote audience can designate an area of
interest. This is particularly important with respect to an award
received by individual ones of the participants, such that the
award is related directly to a participants area of interest. Thus,
in the case of a game show wherein advertiser's products are
displayed in various areas of interest, a participant of the remote
audience can select a product area of interest and, subsequently,
receive an award in the form of a coupon allowing him to purchase a
product in the area of interest. This greatly increases a
participant's interest in the game show. This feature of the
invention also greatly increases the chance that a participant will
employ his coupon, as by visiting the store of an advertiser to
redeem his coupon.
[0022] A further advantage of this feature of the invention is that
it can be implemented using the electronic communication systems
employed in various embodiments of the invention, including the use
of a central station to broadcast program material with its set of
instructional signals and directives on the imprinting of a coupon.
Furthermore, this can be employed using the electronic systems of
the embodiments of the invention wherein the program and the
instructional signals are prerecorded. This includes the
prerecorded format in which recording apparatus may be located, for
example, in an aircraft, or may be employed with participants in
the home interconnected with a central station by means of a
telephone network.
[0023] In terms of utilization of the foregoing electronic
equipment, questions, instructions, and coupon imprinting
directives are transmitted from the central station to the remote
stations in a plurality of categories of interest. These categories
of interest are presented by the host in the communication
transmitted from the central station. For example, in the case of a
televised program, the categories of interest may be presented
directly on the television screen. In cases wherein the program is
transmitted by an audio channel only, then the categories of
interest would be listed audibly by the host. The participants at
the remote station by use of his response unit, presses a key on
the keyboard indicating his selection of a desired category or area
of interest. Thereupon, the response unit is responsive only to
those questions, instructions, and coupon printing directives
pertaining to the selected category of interest, and ignores the
remaining questions, instructions, and coupon-printing directives
as being irrelevant to the operation of the response unit. This is
implemented readily by transmitting to the remote response unit, to
be stored in a memory therein, the set of acceptable responses and
the accompanying scoring criteria and advertising information for
each area of interest. Then a respondent need only signal the
response unit as to his desired area of interest, the signal
serving to address the corresponding region of the memory. The
response unit then operates with the data for the desired area of
interest.
[0024] Normally, broadcast contests presently conducted are
sponsored by manufacturers or retailers of products. Successful
respondents may receive prize coupons entitling them to a discount
on merchandise promoted by a sponsor. However, winners often
receive coupons carrying a discount on merchandise they do not
intend to purchase at the time they receive such a coupon. Discount
coupons tied in this manner to an unwanted product will not be
redeemed and are useless to both the public and the sponsor. It is
a weakness of the coupon system presently in use that the overall
coupon redemption rate is less than 4%.
[0025] The disclosed system and methodology provide for a
dispensing of coupons to members of a broadcast audience for
redemption, and enable members of the audience who have acceptably
responded to a task presented in a broadcast to win a prize coupon
carrying a discount deductible from the price of a product selected
by such a member for purchase. Local sponsors thereby may promote
the sale of products.
[0026] The foregoing coupons may be issued in conjunction with a
broadcast television and/or radio program requiring an audience
response wherein a part or all of the program is conducted in the
form of a lottery, or other wagering situation, in which case the
coupon identifies the winning entity which may be a lottery number,
or the identity of horse in a horse race, or the identity of a
player in a sports event. This is accomplished in accordance with a
further aspect of the invention in which the aforementioned
equipment can be employed for conducting a lottery game in a
fashion which is resistant to forgery.
[0027] In accordance with the invention, there is provided a
central data storage facility in which all player responses and,
when desired, the winning response(s) are stored. Player entries
can be authenticated electronically prior to storage at the central
facility, and are transmitted either electronically (as by two-way
cable, or by modem over a telephone line) from remote sites of
players to the central facility. Authentication is accomplished by
comparing numbers or names assigned to players, including serial
numbers of player entry devices, with reference data previously
stored in the central facility. Further authentication is provided
by storing at the central facility data, such as the player's
response and the winning number(s), which appears also on the
coupon presented for redemption. At a redemption center, an
electronic communication link with the central facility permits
instant comparison of the two sets of data to verify the
authenticity of the coupon and prevent fraud. The central facility
may be connected to the remote stations and to a credit agency by
means of a telephone network which permits verification of a
player's line of credit, and a charging of lottery fees against a
preestablished credit limit.
[0028] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention,
numerous central stations, such as television and/or radio
stations, may be linked together with a common base station and
numerous telephone hubs by a communications system to form a
network of broadcast stations serving a much enlarged audience
wherein members of the audience are located at their respective
remote receiving stations. The network is ideally suited for
presentation of network programs of general interest, such as a
sweepstakes and other prize events, to the enlarged audience by
interspersing relatively short programs in time slots between
segments of regularly scheduled disparate broadcast programs from
the central stations. The base station provides program material
for retransmissions via the central stations of the network. The
network program, for any one time slot, may be in any one of a
number of forms, particularly a contest having a duration in a
range of time extending from less than one minute up to possibly
several minutes for presentation on television or radio. The
network broadcast may take the form of a well-known network
communication commonly employed today for news programs
communicated across the country from the base station
simultaneously to local broadcasting stations for retransmission to
home radios and televisions.
[0029] The individual programs are transmitted one after the other
from the base station in a sequence extending for the duration of a
program, or throughout the day. Each of the network programs occupy
a predetermined time slot within a program sequence wherein the
times of occurrence of the various programs as well as, possibly,
the contents of programs, have been made known previously to the
manager of the central station. Each central station is free to
select specific ones of the network programs for rebroadcast in
accordance with the program scheduling of the individual central
station. This provides freedom for the host of the central station
to employ network program material which may be live or previously
prepared.
[0030] A great advantage of the invention is that the use of the
network program material interspersed among local programming
material allows people across the country to participate
simultaneously in a common contest, or a common learning
experience, or in a common national survey, by way of example. The
use of alternative network programs inserted in opportune time
slots allows the central stations to insert the network programs
within the regular broadcasting schedules of the respective central
station in a manner similar to that of the usual interruption of a
broadcast program for a message from an advertiser or sponsor.
Thereby, the invention allows for the simultaneous participation of
people from across the country to be accomplished without need for
any significant rescheduling of local programming.
[0031] Many people in the broadcast audience can participate by
responding to tasks or questions set forth in the network program
by use of electronic or telephone hubs which facilitate entry of
the large number of responses, as well as to evaluate and
authenticate the responses. Furthermore, valid responses meeting
response criteria may also be communicated by telephone link from
each electronic hub to a central station for conduction of a
sweepstakes. Means for conducting a sweepstakes or other prize
event can also be located at and connected to an evaluation hub.
Respondents, having provided an acceptable response, can
immediately and automatically be entered in a further prize event,
which can be a sweepstakes in which winners are randomly
determined. Responses can be evaluated at one or more central sites
by use of evaluation equipment which may be located in the
electronic hubs or, alternatively, evaluation can be accomplished
at the individual receiving stations by a response unit. The use of
the central evaluation is particularly advantageous because a
common evaluation facility allows the sweepstakes or other form of
network program to be conducted without need for specialized
equipment, other than a radio or television and a telephone, at a
participant's receiving station.
[0032] In accordance with a feature in the practice of the
invention, it is noted that equipment provided for enabling a
respondent to respond to a task, and for evaluating a response, may
be provided at the remote location of a respondent or,
alternatively, may be provided partly at the remote location and
partly at a central station. In the case wherein a fully equipped
response unit is provided at the remote location, the equipment of
the response unit includes a keyboard, a comparator, scoring
circuitry, a memory, as well as other circuitry which may include a
computer, and circuitry for applying point credits and displaying
information, the equipment including also a printer as well as a
modem for communicating via a telephone line. However, it is
acknowledged that such equipment may represent an excessive expense
to participants at remote locations, in which case the complexity
and expense of the equipment at the remote locations can be reduced
by placing some of the equipment, such as circuitry involved in
comparing and scoring participants' answers at a central facility
remote from the respondents' locations. Thus, response criteria and
scoring criteria which are transmitted via a communications link to
the remote receiving locations, in the case of a fully equipped
response unit, would be diverted, in the case of a partially
equipped remote station, to the central evaluation facility to
enable circuitry within the facility to identify acceptable
answers, to score the answers, and to credit or weight the answers
with additional points appropriate to a difficulty level. In that
case, instructional signals directing a printer at a respondent's
location are generated at the evaluation hub and transmitted to the
respondent's location. According to a preferred embodiment, these
instructional signals are transmitted via cable to an addressable
converter at respondent's location, which converter is coupled to a
printer.
[0033] There are other reasons for which equipment, employed in
responding to a task, may be located partially at the central
evaluation facility. For example, it may be desired to score
responses in the order in which responses are received, or it may
be desired to alter programming of comparison and scoring circuitry
in accordance with the amount of traffic in responses coming in to
the evaluation facility. Also, it may be desirable to insure that
there can be no tampering with equipment used in evaluating
responses, in which case the equipment, for security reasons, is
best located at the central facility. Also, it is noted that it may
be desirable to rank the scores of the participants, as by time of
response, or by magnitude of score, or by geographical region of
the respondent, or upon some other basis, in which case ranking can
be accomplished best by use of comparison and scoring circuitry at
the central evaluation facility. Also, it is noted that a printing
facility, for printing coupons, tokens, or other indicia of a
proper response may be located at the central evaluation facility.
An example is the playing of a game in a public location, such as
in an airplane, in which passengers may compete or participate at
their seats. Prize coupons are printed at a central location in the
airplane and distributed to winning passengers as they exit the
airplane. Thus, in the general sense of the invention, the various
circuits and equipment can be located as required at either the
remote locations or the central evaluation facility. Communication
between a central studio, the remote response equipment and the
central evaluation facility may be accomplished by dedicated
communication lines, by a telephone system, via wireless or cable
television and radio transmission, via satellite communication, or
a plurality of different forms of communication systems as may be
convenient.
[0034] Members of the broadcast audience can select or predict
winning contestants among members of the studio audience who have
agreed to serve as contestants on a game, quiz or other show
requiring the generation of responses to tasks and/or questions.
Rewards are given to such members of the broadcast audience who
have correctly predicted one or more winning contestants. Such a
reward may be combined with a prize given to a respondent of the
broadcast audience for correctly responding to a task.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0035] The aforementioned aspects and other features of the
invention are described in the following description, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a system
incorporating the invention and configured to show two embodiments
of receiving stations, one receiving station employing simulcast
radio and television signals of a program produced in a studio, and
the second receiving station employing a television receiver system
modified to receive an instructional signal from the studio;
[0037] FIG. 2 shows the audio spectrum and a portion thereof
designated for an instructional signal;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the system of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electronic response unit in
each remote receiving station of FIGS. 1 and 3;
[0040] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing details of a dispenser of
FIG. 4;
[0041] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention, similar to that
of FIG. 3, the system of FIG. 6 employing the transmission of two
signal groups each having plural sets of signals, wherein first and
second signals of the first signal group are transmitted by video
and audio portions of a television program, the first and the
second signals presenting respectively a studio scene and a task
for respondents, and wherein two sets of signals of the second
group, an instructional group, are combined with an audio signal of
the first group;
[0042] FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of the system of FIG. 6
wherein the signals of the second group are interleaved with the
video signal of the first group by use of the vertical retrace time
slot of a television transmission;
[0043] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a response unit for use with
either of the systems of FIGS. 6 and 7;
[0044] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a timing unit of FIG. 8;
[0045] FIG. 10 shows the audio spectrum and a portion thereof
designated for instructional signal bands of the second signal
group utilized, respectively, for answers and criteria for
evaluating answers;
[0046] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of receiving stations of the
invention installed, as a further embodiment of the invention, in
an aircraft with separate receiving stations located at each
passenger seat, this embodiment employing a recording of a game
situation with instructions for response, each receiving station
being equipped for both audio and video;
[0047] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing interconnection of
electric components of the system of the invention for the
installation of FIG. 11, the system of FIG. 12 employing response
units having components disclosed in FIG. 8;
[0048] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a modification of the
central station of FIG. 6 to provide for an audio-only recording of
the game program for use by the receiving stations of FIG. 11;
[0049] FIG. 14 is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 12 for use of
an audio recorder, the system of FIG. 14 employing a recording
provided by the system of FIG. 13, the system of FIG. 14 employing
response units having components disclosed in FIG. 8;
[0050] FIGS. 15 and 16 show a modification of the systems of FIGS.
13 and 14, respectively, wherein the central station and the
response units of the receiving stations have been modified to be
operative with response-criteria and scoring signals transmitted as
unintelligible audio signals in the same audio band employed by the
recorded audio description of a task-setting program and the audio
instructions for response to the task;
[0051] FIG. 17 is a simplified diagrammatic view of the invention
showing both the central station and a receiving station in which
an audio recorder having four separate channels is employed, the
channels communicating audio signals for task and instructions, for
synchronization, for response criteria, and for scoring
criteria;
[0052] FIG. 18 shows additional equipment which may be incorporated
in the response units of FIGS. 11, 12, 14, and 16 for communication
of scoring results by a digital communication system to a central
dispenser for a hard-copy output of game results;
[0053] FIG. 19 is a timing diagram showing burst transmissions of
response and scoring criteria between voice signals for an
audio-only recording employing a single recording track;
[0054] FIG. 20 is a timing diagram showing simultaneous
transmission of voice, synchronization, response and scoring
criteria signal in an audio-only system employing a multiple track
recording medium;
[0055] FIG. 21 shows schematically an alternative embodiment of the
invention wherein the tape recorder is provided with five channels
to allow separate and independent recordation of a verbal
description of a scene and verbal instructions for responding to
tasks presented in the scene;
[0056] FIG. 22 shows diagrammatically a further embodiment of the
invention wherein a respondent can activate a prerecorded program
by use of a telephone, the prerecorded program including a task,
questions, instructions for responding, response criteria, and
signals enabling automatic comparing of answers to predetermined
responses and a scoring of responses by a response unit;
[0057] FIG. 23 shows diagrammatically a further embodiment in the
transmission of an instructional signal from a central station to a
remote receiving station by use of an optical link in combination
with the video portion of a television transmission;
[0058] FIG. 24 is a diagram explaining operation of a telephone
system of FIG. 22 for use in debiting and crediting a
respondent;
[0059] FIG. 25 shows diagrammatically the storage of information in
two of the memories of the response unit of FIGS. 8 and 26;
[0060] FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a response unit which is a
modification of the response unit of FIG. 8;
[0061] FIG. 27 is a flow chart for operation of a computer in the
response unit of FIG. 26;
[0062] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a sequence of steps in the
practice of the method of the invention;
[0063] FIG. 29 is block diagram of a further embodiment of the
invention wherein a central station and a set of remote playing
stations are employed to conduct a wagering game including the
issuance of coupons, or other form of wagering record, in a forgery
proof system;
[0064] FIG. 30 is a block diagram of a playing station of the
system of FIG. 29;
[0065] FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing method steps employed at
various components of the system of FIG. 29 for practicing the
forgery proof wagering game;
[0066] FIG. 32 shows diagrammatically a network of central stations
and telephone hubs connected via a communications system to a base
station with facilities for conduction of a sweepstakes;
[0067] FIG. 33 shows diagrammatically a transmission via satellite
of a network program from the base station to the central stations
of FIG. 32;
[0068] FIG. 34 is a timing diagram showing the generation of tasks
of a base station network program in a sequence of time slots for
interposition between regularly scheduled programs broadcast by
central stations of FIG. 32;
[0069] FIG. 35 is a timing diagram showing the generation of
network programs at the base station of FIG. 32 in synchronized
time slots of differing lengths;
[0070] FIG. 36 is a block diagram of record playback and
transmission equipment for use in the base station of FIG. 32;
[0071] FIGS. 37-40 are flow charts showing different configurations
in a process of utilizing the equipment of the network of FIG.
32;
[0072] FIG. 41 shows diagrammatically a generalized system concept
of the invention incorporating various embodiments of the preceding
figures;
[0073] FIG. 42 shows diagrammatically a telephone incorporating
circuitry of a response unit to accomplish various functions set
forth in FIG. 41;
[0074] FIG. 43 shows diagrammatically a system for studying and
selecting merchandise combined with receipt of awards, the system
employing equipment and techniques of the preceding
embodiments;
[0075] FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing components and functions
of a polling system;
[0076] FIG. 45 is a block diagram of a system enabling respondents
who are members of an audience to select or predict winning
contestants at a studio from which a program is broadcast to the
audience; and
[0077] FIGS. 46 and 47 are timing diagrams showing various stages
in operational procedures for the system of FIG. 45.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0078] In the following description, FIGS. 1-5 disclose embodiments
of the invention useful for programs to be conducted with
participation from remote audiences. In the disclosure of FIGS.
6-10, the system is adapted for a greater selection of, and
modification of, parameters in criteria for evaluating answers to
questions. The criteria are controllable from a central station. A
level of difficulty in the questions may be selected by a
contestant. The embodiment of the system of FIGS. 1-5 is described
in terms of two signal groups, namely, a radio/television signal
group, Group One, and an instructional signal group, Group Two. The
embodiment of the system of FIGS. 6-10 is described with reference
to at least four types of signals, namely, a television signal
presenting a studio scene (TV program), a television signal
presenting a task such as a set of questions (task signal), a
signal setting forth acceptable answers to questions (response
criteria), and a signal setting forth criteria to be employed in
the evaluation of the answers (scoring mode). In FIGS. 11-22, there
is shown a set of embodiments of the invention wherein an event,
scenario, presentation, situation or other scene having a task to
be performed is recorded for subsequent playback to respondents.
The system of FIGS. 1-5 will be described first, this being
followed by a description of the system of FIGS. 6-10 and the
system of FIGS. 11-23. The systems of the various embodiments will
now be described primarily in the context of responses to tasks and
questions; it being understood that the practice of the invention
is applicable to the making, evaluation and rewarding of
predictions. Methods and systems employed in the context of
predictions of the outcome of events are more particularly
described in connection with FIGS. 22 and 24. The remaining figures
show still further embodiments of the invention.
[0079] FIG. 1 presents a simplified description of a system 10
wherein a central station 12 includes a studio 14, such as a
television studio which broadcasts programs to many external or
remote receiving stations, two such receiving stations 16 and 18
being shown by way of example. In accordance with the invention,
each of the receiving stations 16 and 18 includes means for
observing the broadcast program, such as a television screen 20,
and means by which persons in the external viewing audience can
respond to situations presented in the studio, the response means
being a response unit 22 which evaluates and records responses
entered by persons in the viewing audience.
[0080] Two signals are broadcast by the central station 12 to each
of the receiving stations 16 and 18. One of these two signals is a
program signal for presenting on the television screen 20 a program
generated in the studio 14. The second of the two signals is an
instructional or command signal for operation of the response unit
22, the instructional signal providing appropriate commands to the
response unit 22 for evaluating, rejecting or accepting, and
scoring audience responses to questions raised in the televised
program.
[0081] Two modes of transmission are provided for the two signals.
In the case of the receiving station 18, both of the signals are
carried by a single television channel carrier radiated from an
antenna 24 of the central station 22, and received by an antenna 26
at the receiving station 18. The antenna 26 connects with a
television system 28 which includes the foregoing television screen
20 and, furthermore, includes circuitry 30 for the separation of
the instructional signal from the program signal. The instructional
signal is then applied via line 32 to the response unit 22. In the
case of the receiving station 16, the two signals are processed
separately. The instructional signal is broadcast by a radio
channel employing a radio antenna 34 at the central station 12, and
received by an antenna 36 at the receiving station 16. Thus, at the
receiving station 16, a standard television set 38 including the
screen 20 receives the televised program via antenna 26 and
presents the program on the screen 20. A separate radio receiver 40
and demodulator 42 are employed for receiving the instructional
signal and for applying the instructional signal to the response
unit 22.
[0082] In the practice of the invention, the instructional signal
may be transmitted to a remote receiving station in any convenient
manner such as via a cable transmission or by a specially broadcast
transmission (not shown) or by combining the instructional signal
with the audio signal in a radio broadcast or television broadcast.
The combination of the instructional signal with the audio spectrum
is demonstrated in the graph of FIG. 2 which shows a typical
relationship of amplitude versus frequency in a transmitted audio
spectrum. In that spectrum, a relatively narrow frequency band is
set aside for transmission of the instructional signal, the narrow
frequency band being at the upper frequency edge of the audio
spectrum.
[0083] For example, the bandwidth of the instructional signal may
be approximately 1% of the audio bandwidth, this being sufficient
to enable a relatively slow transmission of instructional data to
the response units 22 in the respective receiving stations. By
maintaining the amplitude of the instructional signal well below
that of the audio signal, the instructional signal does not
introduce more than a negligible amount of interference with the
audio signal. Also, it is noted that the instructional signal is
not continuously present but, rather, appears only for a momentary
burst of time, typically less than a few seconds duration, when
necessary to instruct each response unit 22. In the case of the
receiving station 16, a simulcast of radio and television is
employed while, in the case of the receiving station 18, only the
television program is broadcast, as has been described above.
However, in both cases, the audio spectrum is the same, and the
mode of combining the instructional signal with the audio
transmission is the same. Typically, the system 10 would be
implemented with only one of the transmissions, either the
television transmission with the instructional signal combined
therewith, as demonstrated by the receiving station 18, or by the
simulcast of both the television and the radio transmissions as
demonstrated by the receiving station 16. In the case of the
simulcast, the instructional signal need not be combined with the
television signal, the instructional signal appearing only in the
radio broadcast from the antenna 34 as described above.
[0084] The receiver 40 and the demodulator 42 operate in a manner
similar to that of the separation circuitry 30, and will be
described in detail hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3.
[0085] In both of the receiving stations 16 and 18, the response
unit 22 includes a keyboard 44 whereby a person in the remote
viewing audience enters a response. The response unit 22 includes a
dispenser 46 which dispenses a record of the score and/or responses
in a permanent recording medium such as a card 48 of plastic, or
similar material, and including a well-known strip of magnetizable
material (not shown) upon which the score and/or responses have
been recorded. Alternatively, by way of example, the dispenser 46
may be constructed in a form (not shown) for outputting a tape
which has been imprinted or punched with the desired information.
Easily recognizable indicia may also be imprinted on the tape or
card.
[0086] The system described lends itself well to multi-part
questions and/or to multiple choice answers, for any of which
special forms can be provided, to be filled in or otherwise marked.
The response recording and/or data entering means can have
provisions for the insertion of special forms or blanks, which can
be made available or mailed to participants. For example, a school
may mail to students forms specially prepared for a particular
examination or assignment. The response unit 22 may therefore be
configured to hold a recording medium such as a paper blank to
which markings are applied. Alternatively, the medium, such as
paper tape, discontinuous or continuous forms, may be inserted by
the respondents.
[0087] Examination papers, whether taking the shape of forms to be
filled in, or the result of a free hand composition or narrative,
may also be graded by the comparator means, which is capable of
identifying key phrases and words that are expected to appear on
the completed examination paper. In similar fashion, comparator
means to be described hereinafter is designed so as to be able to
recognize and accept any one or more of a plurality of
predetermined key words, symbols or phrases.
[0088] Dispenser 46 can be adapted to reward children who have
provided answers meeting the predetermined response criteria by
dispensing gold stars or other tokens. In another embodiment, the
dispenser combines the coupons issued to winners with advertising
material or shopping hints.
[0089] The records created pursuant to the present invention may be
used as tokens, coupons, certificates and general proof of
participation in the broadcast transmission program. Coupons may be
redeemed by mail or in retail establishments for cash, prizes or
discounts.
[0090] The following terms are useful in describing the system of
the invention.
[0091] The term "task-setting" is intended to include the meaning
of interrogative, opinion-eliciting and statement-eliciting, as
well as the soliciting of creative endeavors and all kinds of
functions capable of being performed by an entry in a data entering
device.
[0092] The term "comparing" relates to one or more possible
established responses which may be established prior to or
subsequent to a contestant's response (the previously known color
of a golf ball, or during a game, a prediction of how close the
ball will come to the hole), and a comparing of an actual response
to an established response to determine if an actual response is
acceptable. An acceptable response may be based on one or more
words or phrase or alphanumeric symbol or selection of designated
objects, by way of example.
[0093] The terms "evaluating" and "scoring" are intended to refer
to and include the meanings of sorting, counting, screening,
evaluating, analyzing and processing information, data and
responses in accordance with predetermined criteria, ranging from
simple comparing tasks to computerized processing and analyses.
[0094] The term "interactive system" refers to a system for
communicating from a sender to a respondent and having the capacity
for allowing the sender to respond to a communication, when
desired, from the respondent whether by manual or electronic
means.
[0095] The term "response" is intended to include answers, elicited
opinions and statements, text and narrative provided by
contestants, respondents, students and other participants in
broadcasts calling for interaction, reaction and responses.
[0096] The term "response criteria" is intended to refer to
descriptive words, key words, key phrases, parameters, equations,
formulas, symbols and definiens describing or defining responses
that have been determined by the producer of a program to be
acceptable in the context of a task so as to qualify for a reward.
The term "response criteria" is intended to include one or more
acceptable answers. As an example, in response to a question having
four multiple-choice answers, the answers 1 and 2 can be stipulated
as acceptable, so that no comparison or evaluation per se is
required. Similarly, the terms "compare" and "evaluate" are
intended to include determinations of the acceptability of
responses in which an acceptable response is specifically
prescribed without requiring a comparing or evaluation step.
[0097] The terms "outcome criteria" and "success criteria" are
intended to include alphanumeric symbols and data by which the
outcome of an event can be described, measured or identified, such
as key and descriptive words, coordinates, grid, pinpointed and
other locations, pictorial, diagrammatic and graphic presentations,
results, scores, counts, records, distances, rates and other
measurements.
[0098] The term "processed response" is intended to refer to and
include the results produced by screening, sorting, scoring,
evaluating, massaging, statistically analyzing, or otherwise
machine-processing responses, data and information provided by
participants at the receiving stations.
[0099] The term "hard copy" is intended to refer to and include any
kind of permanent record capable of being visually read, scanned or
machine read. The term "matrix" may be used to refer to the source
or origin from which something originates, takes form or develops,
such as a cellulosic or plastic strip capable of being provided
with printed markings or magnetic recordings so as to create a hard
copy record. The term "simulcast" is intended to refer to the
simultaneous, but separate transmission from different propagating
sources of the video and audio portions of a program.
[0100] In the context of formulating response criteria, the terms
"formulate", "generate", "format" and "reformat" are intended to
refer to and include the selection and determination of all factors
affecting the evaluation and scoring of responses.
[0101] In the case of a task requiring a prediction of the outcome
of an event which has not yet occurred or been completed, such as
the completion of a forward pass in a football game, or winning a
hand at a card game such as bridge, the response criteria may be
referred to as outcome criteria. The outcome criteria is to be
transmitted to contestants at remote stations at a time after the
prediction has been made.
[0102] In the context of transmitting response criteria, for
example, on an audio frequency, the use of the term "encoding" is
intended to include various forms of signal coding as well as a
transmission of signals at an increased speed which would render
the signals unintelligible to the human ear. The term "encoding",
as used by way of example for transmitting response criteria, is
intended to include other modes of communication such as various
forms of color signal coding and transmission of signals to
television stations capable of being read by sensors of devices for
receiving signals outside the audible frequency range. The
transmission of encoded information, whether within the audio
spectrum or within the visual spectrum, is to be accomplished
preferably in a fashion which is essentially unnoticed by a
contestant and cannot be perceived as conveying information. In
this sense, the encoding is perceptually unintelligible.
[0103] The term "keypad" is understood to include other forms of
data entry devices, the keyboard being presented by way of
example.
[0104] The term "print-out" is intended to include printed,
embossed, punched, stamped, and other types of hard copy, paper,
cardboard and plastic in the form of coupons, certificates, tokens,
cards, forms and matrices. The printing of the print-out includes
the foregoing forms of marking including the creation of
three-dimensional configurations.
[0105] The term "central" as used, for example, in "central
station", is intended to refer to a broadcast station or network
serving a country, a time zone or a region, and also is intended to
include discrete local broadcast stations operating independently
and serving a town or other smaller geographic area, always
provided that such "central" station serves a multiplicity of
remote receiving stations. It need not be at the geographic center
of the region served.
[0106] The terms "remote" or "external" as used for example in
"external audience", are intended to include all television viewers
and radio listeners tuned into an electronic transmission station,
irrespective of the distance from such central station; as such, a
"remote" audience includes, for example, students or other
respondents positioned in close proximity to the source of a
program, as in the case of a closed circuit transmission.
[0107] The term "interval" is intended to mean time interval or
period of time.
[0108] The terms "code", "encoding", and "encryption" are intended
to include alphanumeric codes, color codes, bar codes and symbols,
including those readable, recognizable or conveyable by humans and
machines.
[0109] The terms "acceptable response" or "acceptable answer" are
intended to include all answers to a question, which answers meet
or exceed a minimum standard or degree of accuracy,
comprehensiveness or responsiveness; such `acceptable answers"
specifically including partially correct answers. Answers may be
defined as "acceptable" irrespective of a level of difficulty or a
scoring mode.
[0110] The term "commercial message" as used herein includes
sponsored, paid-for and other messages intended for commercial
purposes.
[0111] The term "user" of a recording medium as used herein
includes viewers, listeners, and buyers of a recording medium such
as video tapes, and the target audience intended to be reached by
the commercial message.
[0112] The term "intelligible" is intended to mean intelligible to
a human without machine intervention, for example, without
decoding, demodulation, change of transmission or receiving speed,
or other manipulations to make a signal intelligible to humans. The
term "intelligible" includes material which can be seen or heard
such as written material or speech. The term "unintelligible", as
applied to various signals which may be transmitted by equipment
employed in the practice of the invention, is intended to include
signals which can be made intelligible only be machine
intervention.
[0113] The terms "multipart task" or "multipart question" are
intended to include any situations, such as questions, tasks and
puzzles, in which a contestant is required to provide
chronologically spaced responses related to a common question,
task, puzzle, or subject matter requiring an action by the
contestant. Such a task may include so-called umbrella or omnibus
questions comprising sub-groups, contingent questions (e.g. "if the
answer is "true", then proceed to . . . ) and sub-questions derived
from a parent question.
[0114] The term "reward" is intended to include in its scope
discounts, prizes, free merchandise, monetary awards and other
rewards having monetary or symbolic value. A "sweepstakes award"
may be a special award of extra value beyond the value of a typical
award.
[0115] The term "host" is intended to include an on-stage and an
off-stage announcer, master of ceremonies, program director, guest
host and celebrities, announcers of commercials and any other
individual associated with the program or appointed to carry out
one or more of the activities enumerated herein. It also is
intended to include the individuals engaged in the operation of
formulating a message or program for broadcasting on behalf of an
advertiser, manufacturer, store or sponsor.
[0116] The term "difficulty level" is intended to include
difficulty levels set by the host and inherent in the task or
question, as reflected by possible answers, as well as difficulty
levels inherent in a response or answer set by a respondent based
on the speed, accuracy, comprehensiveness or responsiveness of the
response and reflecting respondent's confidence in his or her
knowledge of the subject matter. Similarly, a "difficulty level"
may apply to the outcome of an event, as reflected by possible
predictions.
[0117] In the formulation of a response to a question by a member
of the external television audience, in the ensuing description
reference will be made to a response in terms of recognition of key
words as well as responses which require several words as in a
phrase, sentence, formula and the like. It is to be understood
that, in the generation of such responses, the term "word" includes
also alphanumeric characters and other symbols such as pictorial
representations which may be required as a proper response to a
question.
[0118] With respect to various embodiments of the invention, the
response unit 22 may be configured to provide the foregoing
functions of evaluating and scoring, as well as the processed
response.
[0119] In FIG. 3 the studio 14 is shown, by way of example, to
include a television host 50, conducting a quiz program or game 52
in front of a television camera 54 which views both the game 52 and
the host 50, and, also including when required, display means on
stage (not shown) to provide an image thereof, which image is
televised or only visible to the studio audience. Words spoken by
the host 50, as well as other sounds in the studio 14, are
converted by a microphone 56 to electric signals.
[0120] Also included within the studio 14 is a keyboard 58 by which
the host 50 or another person, may enter commands and instructions
to be communicated via the instructional signal. The central
station 12 further comprises an encoder 60 a modulator 62, an
oscillator 64, a band-pass filter 66, a summer 68, a combiner 70, a
radio transmitter 72, a television transmitter 74, and a switch 76.
The switch 76 connects an input terminal of the combiner 70 to
either an output terminal of the summer 68 on line 78 or an output
terminal of the microphone 56 on line 80.
[0121] The instructional signals may be prerecorded and then
propagated from a central transmission station to remote locations.
In such a case, the host uses the keyboard (or other such device)
to initiate the transmission of the instructional signal
message.
[0122] In operation, the pressing of keys on the keyboard 58
activates the encoder 60 to output digital signals representing the
keys which have been pressed. The oscillator 64 outputs a carrier
signal which is modulated by the modulator 62 with the digital
signals outputted by the encoder 60. The modulator 62 applies the
modulated carrier signal to the filter 66 which narrows the
bandwidth of the modulated signal to equal the instructional
bandwidth shown in FIG. 2. The filtered signal is coupled from the
filter 66 to one input terminal of the summer 68, a second input
terminal of the summer 68 receiving the output electrical signal
from the microphone 56 via line 80. An output signal of the camera
54 is connected to one input terminal of the combiner 70, either
directly or via a video mixing unit (to be described with reference
to FIG. 23). To facilitate the explanation of this embodiment of
the invention, it is presumed now that the camera 54 is connected
directly to the combiner 70. A second input terminal of the
combiner 70 is connectable via the switch 76 in line 78 to an
output terminal of the summer 68. In the alternative position of
the switch 76, the second input terminal of the combiner 70 is
connected via line 80 to receive the output electric signal of the
microphone 56 rather than the output signal of the summer 68. An
output terminal of the combiner 70 is connected to the television
transmitter 74. Signals outputted by the summer 68 are connected
via line 78 also to the radio transmitter 72.
[0123] The signal outputted by the band-pass filter 66 is the
instructional signal which is to be transmitted via either the
transmitter 72 or 74 to a remote receiving station. The signal
outputted by the microphone 56 is the audio signal component of the
signals transmitted in the television channel via the transmitter
74, and is also transmitted via the radio transmitter 72 to the
remote receiving stations when a radio transmission of the audio
portion of the activity in the studio 14 is desired. The summer 68
performs the function of combining the instructional signal with
the audio signal whereby the instructional signal shares a small
fraction of the audio spectrum as shown in FIG. 2. This is
accomplished by adding the output signals of the microphone 56 and
the filter 66 to output the sum signal on line 78. The combiner 70
functions, in a well-known fashion, to combine the video portion of
the television channel signal from the camera 54 with either the
microphone signal on line 80 or the composite signal of the summer
68 depending on the position of the switch 76.
[0124] In the event that the simulcast of both the radio and the
television transmissions is to be provided by the transmitter 72
and 74, the switch 76 connects the combiner 70 to line 80 in which
case the television signal transmitted by the transmitter 74 has
the standard format of video and audio portions without the
instructional signal, the latter being transmitted via the radio
transmitter 72. In the event that the switch 76 is connected to
line 78, then the television signal transmitted by the transmitter
74 includes the instructional signal within the audio portion of
the television signal.
[0125] The circuitry of FIG. 3 demonstrates two possible
embodiments of the invention wherein the receiving stations may
have either of the two forms shown for the remote receiving
stations 16 and 18. If all of the receiving stations have the form
of the station 16, then the switch 76 may be placed in the position
for connection of the line 80 to the combiner 70, in which case the
transmitter 74 transmits a normal television signal while the
instructional signal is transmitted by the transmitter 72. In the
event that all of the receiving stations are in the form of the
station 18 then the switch 76 connects a line 78 to the combiner 70
for providing a modified form of the transmitted television signal
wherein the instructional signal is included within the television
signal. In such case, the radio transmitter 72 is not used by the
invention, but may, nevertheless, transmit a radio program to
remote radios which do not form a part of the system of the
invention.
[0126] The television system 28 comprises a receiver 82, a
demodulator 84, and a speaker 86. The separation circuitry 30
comprises a narrow-band filter 88 and a demodulator 90. The
passband of the filter 88 is equal to the bandwidth of the
instructional signal shown in FIG. 2.
[0127] In the operation of the receiving station 16, the receiver
40 functions in the manner of a well-known radio receiver for
receiving the radio transmission incident upon the antenna 36. In
addition, the receiver 40 includes a narrow-band filter 92 having a
passband equal to that of the filter 88. Thereby, the filter 92
extracts from the audio spectrum the portion of the spectrum, shown
in FIG. 2 designated for the instructional signal. The signal
outputted by the filter 92 is demodulated by the demodulator 42 to
recover the digitally formatted signal produced by the encoder 60,
which digitally formatted signal is applied to the response unit 22
for providing instruction thereto. The television set 38 in the
receiving station 16, as noted hereinabove, functions in accordance
with the well-known form of television set outputting both audio
and video signals, the latter appearing on the screen 20.
[0128] In the operation of the receiving station 18, the receiver
82 includes a well-known television tuner (not shown) and outputs
the television signal of the channel to which the receiver 82 is
tuned. The television signal outputted by the receiver 82 is
demodulated in a well-known fashion by the demodulator 84 to
provide a video signal which is presented on the television screen
20, and an audio signal which is presented by the speaker 86.
[0129] In accordance with a feature of the invention the
demodulator 84 also applies an audio signal to the filter 88 of the
separation circuitry 30. The filter 88 extracts the portion of the
audio spectrum designated for the instructional signal, as does the
filter 92, and outputs the instructional signal to the demodulator
90. The demodulator 90 operates, as does the demodulator 42 to
recover the digitally formatted signal produced by the encoder 60,
which digitally formatted signal is applied to the response unit 22
to provide instruction thereto. Thereby, the response units 22 of
the receiving stations 16 and 18 are able to function concurrently
with the presentation of the broadcast television program upon the
television screens 20. As indicated in the drawing for the
receiving station 18, a member of the normally remote audience 94
operates the keyboard 44 of the response unit 22 while listening to
the speaker 86 and watching the television screen 20.
[0130] With reference to FIG. 4, there is shown one embodiment of
the response unit 22 of FIG. 3. The circuitry shown therein
accomplishes the major functions of the response unit 22, namely,
providing a member of the audience 94 with a means for entering a
response to a situation viewed on the television screen 20 and/or
heard via the speaker 86, not accepting (rejecting) or accepting,
evaluating and scoring such response, recording such response, and
outputting a temporary or permanent record of the response. In
particular, it can be advantageous if the permanent record is in
the form of the card 48, which form is machine readable to
facilitate a reading of the score and/or response by either a third
party or the host 50. It is to be understood that the circuitry of
FIG. 4 constitutes only one possible embodiment of the invention
for performing these functions and that other embodiments employing
a digital computer suitably programmed (not shown) may also be
employed.
[0131] The response unit 22 comprises three decoders 96, 98, and
100, a register 102, a score counter 104, a memory 106 for storing
data, and a memory 108 for storing an operating program, a timer
110, a gate 112, a buffer store 114, a comparator 116 for comparing
output signals of the store 114 with the memory 106, a logic unit
118, and a clock 120, these components being in addition to the
keyboard 44 and the dispenser 46 disclosed previously with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.
[0132] In operation, the memory 106 stores data with respect to the
answers which are to be provided by the viewing audience. For
example, in the event that the viewing audience is composed of
children in a children's show wherein children are learning to
identify colors, the host may point successively to a red hat, a
blue table, and a green car and request to know the colors of the
respective objects. In such case, the memory 106 would store
response criteria, in this instance, the words red, blue, and green
in the sequence corresponding to the order in which the objects are
to be addressed by the host. The keys on the keyboard 44 may be
similarly colored to enable entry of the correct response.
Alternatively, for older children, the keyboard may be an
alphanumeric keyboard, as is found on a typewriter, in which case
the viewing audience is to type the words corresponding to the
colors addressed by the host. In this case, the comparator 116
would compare the spelling of the words entered via the keyboard 44
with the spelling of the colors stored in the memory 106. The
buffer store 114 stores the responses entered via the keyboard 44
to enable the comparator 116 to compare the response with the data
stored in the memory 106.
[0133] The method and system of the invention lend themselves
particularly well to educational shows for children. Questions
pertaining to educational toys, to books, to stories and to
subjects being taught or addressed, are interspersed in the show.
Children are rewarded with tokens or other forms of award, such as
coupons redeemable at candy stores, ice cream parlors, and the
like.
[0134] The score counter 104 operates under command from the
program memory 108 to score each correct response signal outputted
by the comparator 116. When the response entered at the keyboard 44
agrees with the data stored in the memory 106, the comparator 116
outputs a logic-1 signal via gate 112 to the counter 104. The
output signal of the comparator 116 serves as an enable signal to
initiate a count by the counter 104. The counter increments its
count by 1, 2, 3, or other amount depending on the magnitude of the
score to be awarded for the correct response. In the event that the
response is to be timed in the sense that a limited time is
available for the response, then the timer 110 is activated by the
program memory 108 to render the gate 112 in a state of conduction
of signals of the comparator 116 only during the interval of time
when the response is permitted. Both before and after this interval
of time, the timer 110 places the gate 112 in a state of
nonconduction so that a response entered at the keyboard 44 outside
of the desired response interval, or "window", cannot enable the
counter 104 to increment or modify the score.
[0135] The output count, score, or evaluation of the counter 104 is
applied to the dispenser 46 which includes a recording medium, such
as the card 48, for providing a permanent record of the score. The
dispenser 46 includes suitable magnetic recording heads (not
shown)for recording information on the card 48 in a well-known
fashion. In addition, if desired, the dispenser 46 may include
well-known encryption circuitry for recording the score on the card
48 in a fashion which cannot be read except by an automatic card
reader having circuitry for decrypting the recorded message. The
dispenser 46 is activated by the program memory 108 to accomplish
the foregoing recording of the score.
[0136] The score counter/evaluator 104 can take different forms.
While the score counting function is described herein for
illustrative purposes, it should be understood that unit 104 may be
designed to perform the processing of data entered by respondents
on keyboard 44 or other data entering device. Included in such
processing are, for instance, the computerized processing of data
provided by respondents in accordance with one of several programs
stored in memory 108 and brought into play by the instructional or
command signals transmitted by transmitters 72 or 74.
Questionnaires or forms used in market research may be stored in
dispenser 46 or may be placed into it by respondents. Following a
set of questions, or upon the completion of the broadcast,
processed or unprocessed data are issued by dispenser 46 in the
form of hard copy taking the form of one of the embodiments
described.
[0137] If desired, the actual response entered at the keyboard 44,
such as the words red, blue, and green of the foregoing example,
may be recorded by the dispenser 46. For this purpose, the
responses are coupled from the buffer store 114 to a register 102
wherein the responses are stored prior to recording at the
dispenser 46. After all of the responses have been stored in the
register 102, the program memory 108 strobes the register 102 to
pass the data of the responses into the dispenser 46 for
recordation upon the card 48 or such other form of storage media as
may be employed.
[0138] The printout mechanism or marking device may take different
forms to meet the requirements of the broadcast, whether quiz
programs, educational programs, tests surveys or other task setting
assignments. These devices may be relatively small, utilizing a
continuous tape as the substrate to which the markings are applied,
or they may utilize full page printouts. The recording medium may
be a special form or blank dispensed individually by the device as
a cut section, or may take other configurations, including
discontinuous shapes.
[0139] Although completely blank forms may be used in recording
respondents' entries in the data entering device, in many instances
the forms or blanks preferably are provided with lines, grids,
schematics and the like for easier subsequent scoring of responses
recorded on such forms or blanks.
[0140] To prevent tampering, forging and counterfeiting, the
recording medium may comprise material, such as paper or cardboard
stock, plastic and the like, of special composition or containing
admixtures of identifiable substances facilitating recognition by
electronic or other sensing and scanning devices. Verification may
also be facilitated by using recording media that are colored,
coated, embossed, textured, magnetized or otherwise given
recognizable properties.
[0141] By replacing the recording media, such as rolls of paper
tape, periodically, and by stipulating redemption of the record
thus created within a specified time period, the unauthorized
reproduction, tampering with and counterfeiting of the marked
recording media can, for all practical purposes, be prevented.
[0142] The marking may be applied by any known methods, including
printing with or without impact, using ink sprays, heat, magnetic
pulses, laser beams and other light sources. The markings may also
take the form of depressions and embossed configurations legible by
appropriate devices.
[0143] In addition, to prevent tampering, the recording mechanism,
such as a printer, can be provided with means for alternatively and
selectively applying one of a plurality of different types of
markings. As an example, the color, intensity, width, spacing,
positioning, font and resolution of the markings may be built into
the recording means and may be controlled by radio or other
electronic command signals from a central station.
[0144] The shape and configuration of the markings to be utilized
at any particular time and subject to change at any time, includes
numbers, letters, dots, dashes, regular and irregular shapes,
codes, symbols and other configurations, which may be discrete,
connected or continuous. The markings may also comprise shapes and
configurations having no discernible pattern and readable only by
appropriate scanning, reading or decoding means.
[0145] The number of combinations and permutations of the above
mentioned properties of the recording media and markings is so
large as practically to preclude tampering, forging, altering,
counterfeiting or reproduction of authentic records; the
unauthorized manufacture of special composition paper alone, would
be far too costly and particularly time consuming to be
practical.
[0146] According to a feature of the invention, with respect to
preventing the forging of prize winning coupons, a would-be forger
is denied use of the printer to accomplish forgery.
[0147] As an illustration, a TV-viewer having a response unit (as
described above) in his home, is provided with two materials or
matrices to form hard copy outputted by the dispenser. For example,
the matrices may be a paper tape comprised of 100 coupon sections,
which tape is fed into the printer of the response unit, and a
verification card having 100 spaces or boxes. The coupons and the
card have the name or other identification of the TV-viewer
imprinted thereon. Codes can be provided on both the tapes and
cards. The paper tape and the verification card are
tamper-resisting in various ways. Both can carry time limits for
redemption. Tapes and cards provided to TV-viewers, say monthly,
can for example have a 30-day limit for redemption. In view of the
special composition of the tape and the card, their duplication by
a forger would be impractical, because special paper or cardboard
would have to be manufactured. The individual coupons and the
spaces or boxes on the card carry identical consecutive
numbers.
[0148] Each time a winning coupon is presented at a redemption
center, the winner of such a prize is required to present the
verification card. The numbers on the winning coupon and on the
card are compared to verify their matching. When the coupon is
redeemed, the corresponding space or box in the verification card
are canceled or invalidated by any one of many known methods, such
as marking, punching, tearing off, stamping and the like. When 100
coupons have been presented, both the paper tape and the
verification card have been used up.
[0149] By the method described, forging of coupons alone is
rendered useless. Frequent changing of the properties of tapes and
cards by the operator of the system and the multiplication of
obstacles faced by a would-be forger are so great as to make
forging practically impossible.
[0150] A similar system can be employed when using magnetized cards
in lieu of paper coupons. The magnetized card of a winning
contestant is provided with identifying indicia and codes, the
verification card carrying matching markings and codes. The
redemption procedures are similar.
[0151] If magnetized cards are used and validated by dispenser, the
validation may be erased at the time a card is presented for
redemption, so that it may be reused.
[0152] It is noted that the data to be stored in the memory 106 is
provided by the instruction signal on line 122 or 124 from the
demodulators of the receiving stations 16 or 18 shown in FIG. 3.
The digital format of the instructional signal is decoded by the
decoder 96 to extract the portion of the signal relating to the
data which is to be stored in memory 106. The decoder 98 decodes
that portion of the signal which is to be employed for presetting
the timer 110 for the designated interval of response time. The
decoder 100 may be coupled directly to the memory 108, or via an OR
gate which will be described with reference to FIG. 23. To
facilitate the present explanation of this embodiment of the
invention, it is presumed that the decoder 100 is connected
directly to the memory 108. The decoder 100 decodes that portion of
the instruction signal which presets the memory 108 to any one of a
number of previously stored formats for responding to situations
presented in the studio 14. In this regard, it is noted that the
form of the instructional signal follows common communication
practice wherein the instructional signal is set up as a sequence
of digital words or fields which identify respective portions of
the message dealing with data, timing interval, and program
commands. Thereby, the decoders 96, 98 and 100 are able to
recognize the specific parts of the instructional signal and to
extract the requisite data and commands. The response criteria may
consist of a simple requirement to be met by a respondent or may
comprise a plurality of independently variable factors.
[0153] The control logic 118 operates in response to a succession
of clock pulses provided by the clock 120 for outputting control
function signals to the memories 106 and 108 and to the buffer
store 114. A connection between the keyboard 44 and the logic unit
118 provides for a control function, such as an entry command
whereby a person responding directs the store 114 to enter the data
inputted by the keyboard 44. The control logic of the unit 118 may
also be activated by a command from the program memory 108.
Thereby, the response unit 22 is capable of receiving, scoring, and
recording a response entered by a member of the audience at a
remote receiving station.
[0154] The construction of the foregoing system of the invention
permits its use in numerous situations involving participation
wherein members in the external audience are to participate with
members of the studio audience in situations requiring
participation. An example of the utility of the system may be
demonstrated by considering a television game/quiz show involving
both people at home as well as in the studio. The invention makes
it possible to broadcast quiz show permitting home viewers to
become participants and contestants. The invention is applicable to
a variety of present and future game shows.
[0155] As an illustration, a game show or quiz program may include
the task of listing, in reverse chronological order, the names of
all teams having won the baseball World Series, or the World Soccer
Championship. A time limit is set which makes it impossible for
contestants to enter all correct answers; this is common practice
in aptitude tests.
[0156] There are five contestants on the studio stage. Each studio
contestant is equipped with well known means to write, print, type
or otherwise enter his or her response on a board, keyboard or
other data entering device adapted so that the responses, in the
process of being entered, may be projected on a screen or screens
visible to the studio audience, but not to the contestants and not
to the home viewers until the predetermined time limit has been
reached, or until the time allowed has substantially been consumed.
The responses of studio contestants can be displayed to the studio
audience and to home viewers with some delay, thereby preventing
any of the home contestants from benefiting from the answers of the
stage contestants.
[0157] It therefore is an object of the system described to elicit
responses from contestants at remote sites and to capture their
responses in their data entering devices essentially before the
responses given by stage or studio contestants become known to home
contestants. This is accomplished by projecting the questions on a
screen hidden from studio contestants but in view of the camera 54
of FIG. 3. Concurrently with, or prior to the projection of the
questions, the host 50 employs the keyboard 58 to transmit
instructions to the response units 22 of the remote audience. The
response entered by a participant in the remote audience is timed
and is subject to a time limit, the time period to conclude before
the questions are presented to the studio contestants. Thereby, the
responses of the remote audience are not influenced by the
responses of the studio contestants. Keyboard 58 may be operated by
a person other than the quiz show host and may be situated on-stage
or off-stage.
[0158] In a simple version, the system can be employed to attract
viewers and listeners not normally disposed to participate in game
or quiz shows per se, but willing to answer a few unobtrusive
questions, especially if pertaining to a subject of interest to the
viewer. By responding to questions, a home viewer can, in effect,
act as a contestant. The questions to be answered by home viewers
and radio listeners can be interspersed in shows other than quiz
shows and can be so simple as to require essentially only a
confirmation by participants of being tuned in to a particular
program.
[0159] Thus, for instance, home participants may be asked to
identify the soap opera character who earlier appeared in the
program. Or home viewers of a sports program may be asked to name a
player who just scored. These implementations of the system and
accompanying awards to a correct answer are intended to increase
the television and radio audience. Viewers of a soap opera or
persons listening to a radio sports broadcast, constitute a highly
targeted audience and as a result of the lower per-household cost,
advertisers will be able to award more valuable coupons and prizes
to successful respondents. Participants who have given an
acceptable answer can be rewarded with a coupon of defined value to
be redeemed in cash, or to be applied to the price of a specified
product or to the price of any product in a specified retail
outlet. Other forms of rewards, whether of commercial or symbolic
value, may be devised.
[0160] Advertising material, such as shopping hints and promotional
material may be provided on hard copy records as coupons, prior to
the delivery of the matrix, for example a paper tape, to
participants at remote locations; or the advertising material may
be provided and printed on the coupons at the time at which other
data, such as prize information, is provided thereon.
[0161] The latter method has the advantage that a sponsor or
advertiser can have up-to-date promotional information printed on
coupons by directing the station which transmits instructional
signals to remote locations to include in such signals the desired
advertising material. A last-minute-telephone call by an advertiser
to the sub-carrier station with directives to incorporate certain
instructional signals in the sub-carrier transmission will result
in a large number of shoppers being alerted to "special sales"
through up-to-the-minute coupon promotions.
[0162] The quantitative results obtained by this method can also be
used in the statistical analysis and the reactions of audiences
tuned in to certain programs. It is noted that the equipment of the
invention may well be installed in numerous selected or random
households in which case, responses by household members can
readily serve as a bases for statistically sampling peoples'
responses to a product, service, political candidates, corporate
images and other subjects of surveys. The increased audience
provided by the invention is significant in survey and market
research fields because, by way of example, an increase of sample
size from 2000 to 2 million will reduce a sampling error from 3% to
0.1%.
[0163] In the field of qualitative market analysis and consumer
research, the system and methods described can be employed very
effectively, substituting home viewers and listeners for the
so-called focus groups or other population samples used to
determine buyer responses to products and services. The versatility
and flexibility of the home keyboard or other data entering device
are particularly well suited to the elicitation of unbiased
responses to questions or statements by advertising agencies and
market analysts. The market research and other surveys and polls
made possible by the system and methods described, can be part of a
regular quiz show or can be conducted separately. Respondents are
rewarded for their cooperation by issuing certificates, coupons and
the like to them. The permanent records produced by the dispensing
means in remote locations can be mailed to the research
organization. For this purpose the forms dispensed by the
dispensers in participants' homes can take the form of
self-addressed return envelopes. Special printed forms may be used
in conducting research into respondents' reactions to tasks or
questions. Coupon awards may be dispensed separately or may be a
tear-off section of a survey form.
[0164] The relative simplicity and compactness of the electronic
devices comprising the response unit, and the fact that the
response unit is not connected by wire and requires no
installation, makes it possible to design the response unit as a
portable unit. A plurality of such units may be placed in
systematically or randomly selected homes, used for the desired
research purposes and thereupon moved to new locations. The units
may be battery powered to provide mobility for use at private or
public locations.
[0165] For the implementation of game/quiz shows, the following
advantages of the invention are noted. The system of the invention
does not require any wiring or rewiring of a home nor the use of
telephone lines, and may be offered to viewers free of charge. In
the context of the disclosed embodiment, a telephone is suggested
merely as a convenient and rapid means for interaction between
respondent and host, but is not required to practice the invention.
For example, the external audience might be located in a separate
room within walking distance from the studio in which case
interaction can be accomplished personally by allowing a member of
the external audience to walk over to the studio. The system
permits home viewers to participate in quiz shows on the spur of
the moment without advance notice and without any requirement for
special forms or entry blanks. The system can be superposed upon a
variety of game and quiz shows to permit viewer participation
without interference with existing show formats, and has the
advantage of expanding the television audience, thereby attracting
sponsors of the shows. The machine readable card 48, or a one-time
coupon which may be outputted by the dispenser 46, may be presented
or redeemed for prizes by successful participants at a local store
or other business establishment cooperating with the
broadcaster.
[0166] When applying the methods and systems described to a
multi-part task, contestants normally are confronted with a
situation, such as questions or puzzles, in which a plurality of
entries on the response entering device are required, the total of
the responses determining the correctness or acceptability of a
contestant's response.
[0167] While such an event or operation of such a task is in
progress, the responses, entered piecemeal, as well as the
applicable response criteria, are stored at contestants' locations.
In a game shoe situation, one unacceptable answer may eliminate or
disqualify a contestant from winning a prize. The task may be
presented all at once, or in parts presented successively and
calling for a partial response to each partial task.
[0168] The comparison and scoring means can be programmed to
perform their functions at each stage of the task, upon completion
of the entire task, or following a group of partial tasks. The
printer/dispenser normally is programmed to operate at the end of
all responses by a contestant to a multi-part task.
[0169] The system provides simplicity in the administration of the
game by identification of the successful respondents; this is
readily accomplished at the dispenser 46 in each remote location by
imprinting each card 48 or token with the name of the respondent.
If desired, the name of the respondent can also be inputted at the
keyboard 44 as are other answers to questions. The questions may
include multiple-part questions and may require multiple choice
answers, if desired. The questions may require simple answers such
as yes or no, a single word such as a number or a color, or a
plurality of words as in a phrase or narrative. Operation of the
score counter 104 for various choices of answer permit a scoring of
partially correct responses and those meeting a predetermined
response criteria. In its simplest form, the keyboard may be
provided with only two keys to answer yes or no, while in a more
complex form, the keyboard may include the alphanumeric character
keys for entering words or phrases, as well as other symbols.
[0170] If, as an example, a respondent must select a number from
the numbers 1 through 9, and if the completely accurate answer is
5, the comparator unit may be programmed so as to accept any number
between 4 and 6, or 3 and 6, etc.
[0171] The response entering device 44 may be provided with keys,
buttons, levers, or other means for indicating a response, which
response can have an assigned meaning. It may be a shorthand entry,
standing for a word, a phrase or a sentence. A response unit may be
constructed as a dedicated unit for a specific purpose as for
playing a game, in which case a key may generate a specific type of
response or responses.
[0172] By way of alternative embodiments of the invention, it is
noted that the comparator 116 may output a multiple-bit digital
word wherein the additional bits are provided by the memory 106
dependent on the specific answer stored in the memory 106, which
answer is compared to the response within the buffer store 114. For
example, if two possible responses would be regarded as correct,
but one of the two responses is preferred, then the comparator 116
would output an additional bit for the preferred response. The
additional bit would be passed by the gate 112 to advance the count
of the counter 104, thereby to increase the score by a larger
amount when the preferred response is entered at the keyboard
44.
[0173] The formatting and reformatting can provide for various ways
of weighing the responses of home contestants, such as straight
line additions, geometric and exponential progressions, or
computations of scores based on formulas incorporating discrete
groups of responses. Thus, score counter 104 may be replaced with a
microcomputer (not shown) which is responsive to commands from the
memory 108 for combining inputs from keyboard 44, memories 106 and
108, and capable of reflecting the time element, to serve, in
effect, as an evaluator of complex answers.
[0174] According to the present invention, questions may be
transmitted from the central station, to which more than one
acceptable answer may be given, the answers varying in the degree
of difficulty from the respondent's standpoint. As an example, a
question may call for naming a minimum of two European cities, the
names beginning with the letter M, this being difficulty level 1.
Difficulty level 2 might call for four such cities and difficulty
level 3 might call for six such cities, all answers to be entered
within 30 seconds. The particular difficulty level may be specified
by the person controlling the transmission, or it may be selected
by the individual respondent prior to seeing or hearing the
question. In order to enable a contestant to choose a difficulty
level, the host may announce or hint at the general nature, or the
context of the question about to be asked. The degree of difficulty
will normally determine the value of the prize, etc. The device
evaluating the responses may dispense records, e.g. coupons,
certificates and the like of different value or in different
denominations. For instance, it may issue a 10 cent coupon at level
1, and 25 cent coupon at level 2, and a 50 cent coupon at level 3.
The coupons may be redeemed in retail establishments, the coupons
being similar to those contained in newspapers. It should be
understood, therefore, that in addition to the difficulty level set
by the host, a higher difficulty level may be superimposed by an
individual contestant, as will be disclosed subsequently with
reference to FIGS. 6-10.
[0175] By use of encryption, the card 48 provides an essentially
tamper-proof record. The invention is applicable, not only to home
viewers but also to viewers in a public establishment such as a
restaurant or school wherein people may participate as teams. The
questions may be gradated to be suitable for a variety of audiences
varying from those having limited formal education to those having
special interests. By use of the timer 110, the studio host can
designate the beginning and end of a response interval, and vary
the time limit allowed from question to question. In addition, the
invention lends itself to the development of further forms of game
and quiz shows. The difficulty level can be increased by decreasing
an allocated time for response.
[0176] It should be understood that individual questions may vary
with respect to the nature of the task, the type and particulars of
acceptable responses, the difficulty level, the period of time
allowed for responding, the kind and range of prizes, the weighing
of responses, the composition of the target audience and other
considerations.
[0177] It should be further understood that normally the
announcements to remote participants of levels of difficulty and of
time intervals allowed for responding to a task are transmitted and
received in a form directly intelligible to participants, such as
in open language. If an acceptable response criteria is
transmitted, prior to entry of a response by a participant, it is
conveyed in coded or otherwise unintelligible form; if it is
transmitted subsequent to such entry, it may be conveyed in open
language.
[0178] As an example in the use of the invention in the educational
field, the memories of the response units at the remote locations
receive and retain instructional signals from a central
transmitting station conveying the correct, preferred, or
acceptable response or responses to the task posed by the
task-setting message. Upon completion of a task by a respondent, or
upon lapsing of the allotted time, the printout mechanism is
activated by the instructional signals so as to communicate or so
as to dispense in hard copy form the correct or preferred response
to each respondent at remote locations. In this manner, a student
who receives a printout containing his or her scored response, also
receives the "textbook" solution or most desirable response to the
task presented. For comparison purposes, the dispenser may provide
printed hard copy containing a student's original response.
[0179] The foregoing features in the operation of the system of the
invention are readily applied to the educational field to encourage
both early educational experiences among children as well as for
home-study courses for high school and university students. In the
educational field, the situation portrayed in the studio and
presented on the television screen may be in the nature of a
task-setting situation rather than that of a pure question. The
appropriate response be a brief statement, an equation, or may
contain a number of cross-referenced key words or key phrases or
symbols. The system of the invention may be implemented also by
closed circuit television and cable television as well as by the
broadcast situation of FIG. 1. The keyboard 44 at each of the
response units 22 may be a standard typewriter keyboard, as noted
above, or may include a display of the typed response such as is
presently available on some electronic typewriters. Such a display
would be useful in the answering of examination questions for
home-study programs. It is also noted that the keyboard 44 is
representative of a response entry device, and may, if desired, be
replaced by other entry devices such as a joystick, switches, or a
device responsive to a spoken voice.
[0180] Response evaluation means referred to herein may include,
when appropriate, as for example in the educational field, scanning
devices capable of recognizing symbols, diagrams. charts, formulas,
equations and drawings responsive to the response criteria.
[0181] In the practice of the invention, the answers given by
studio contestants may, for instance, be displayed to the studio
audience and/or broadcast to TV-viewers following a predetermined
delay of, say 5-20 seconds. During this 5-20 second period, the
data or response entering devices of the stage contestants, or the
studio display devices, may be made inoperative, so that no answers
may be entered and/or displayed, even if the stage contestants are
aware of the questions. Other ways of staggering the "response
windows" by 5-20 seconds or more can be devised.
[0182] This time lag is intended to make the answers projected on
studio screens following the time lag useless to home contestants
from the point of view of total time allowed for response. By the
time the correct answers are televised, all or a critical amount of
the allotted time will have elapsed. This forces home contestants
to enter their responses before knowing the responses of studio
contestants.
[0183] By way of example only, a typical sequence of events as
pertaining to a quiz show with studio and home contestants is as
follows: TV home viewers and contestants see and hear the questions
without delay. However, the questions are presented to stage
contestants and the studio audience after a delay of 5-20 seconds.
The respective contestants may begin answering questions upon their
presentation, subject to time limits. Acceptable responses are
presented to everyone, only after the stage contestants have
completed their time for response.
[0184] To provide attention-attracting action on stage for the
studio audience and TV-viewers who are not contestants, the
announcer or master of ceremonies can set the stage for the
questions, or a performer may walk across the stage to a podium and
read the questions to the stage contestants and the audience,
thereby consuming 5-20 seconds. The questions are displayed on a
screen, visible to all TV-viewers, including home contestants.
Other ways of giving home contestants a head start of 5-20 seconds,
or more, can be devised. In another embodiment, the responses by
stage contestants are entered, but not displayed for a
predetermined period of time. Home contestants may be allotted more
or less time than studio participants. If there is only one
participant or contestant on stage, the quiz show still follows the
concept outlined. The studio contestants and/or home contestants
may be allowed a choice of different difficulty levels.
[0185] As an example, the use of key words and key phrases is
illustrated in the context of a game show described hereinafter,
which might be entitled "Definitions". the host presents a
situation, hints at, or announces a dictionary word and defines the
task as one of providing the correct definition or definitions of
such word. The dictionary definition, frequently a phrase, is of
course an acceptable answer. Using the task word "many" as an
example, an indispensable key work that would have to appear in any
acceptable response would be the word "number". However, two or
more definitions may exist for a task word.
[0186] It will be obvious that this type of show lends itself well
to evaluating partially correct and less-than-exhaustive responses.
Partial credit may be given to definitions that are reasonably
close to the dictionary definition. A more complex task in the
context of said show might be the definition of the word "set", for
which a large number of definitions exist. Cumulative credits may
be awarded to contestants listing a plurality of key definition
words or phrases.
[0187] According to another show format, separate quiz programs for
studio contestants and home contestants may be conducted
concurrently by the same game show host. He or she may, for
instance, conduct one quiz program for studio contestants in the
manner described and while the studio contestants ponder their
answers may present supplemental, or a separate set of, questions
to home contestants, to which the latter respond in accordance with
the method of the present invention. Such separate questions for
home contestants may be posed by a second or off-stage
announcer.
[0188] In the United States, Europe and other regions, television
programs are frequently broadcast repetitively in different time
zones. In the case of game shows, this enables television viewers
who are tuned in to such program and who are in a time zone which
first receives one such game or quiz show to inform members of an
audience in another time zone of the correct responses to tasks or
questions, thus ensuring such members in other time zones of
winning an award without having independently correctly responded
to such tasks. This potential problem resulting from a sequential
broadcasting of television game shows in the context of the present
invention will now be addressed.
[0189] When the awards offered successful contestants are of a
monetary value representing, say 10-15 percent of the price of the
merchandise, and are designed only to attract buyers to a store,
then a sponsor, such as a manufacturer, may choose to ignore the
risk of, or may even welcome, having members of an audience in a
first time zone provide members in a later time zone, who
themselves did not think of the correct answer, with an appropriate
response. Awarding such viewer a 10 percent discount is similar to
making 10 percent discount coupons available through newspapers and
magazines.
[0190] A more serious problem may arise when a sponsor or
manufacturer offers awards of a larger magnitude. In such
instances, it is desirable to employ a method, and such methods are
hereinafter described, which permit airing a quiz or educational
program presenting tasks or questions calling for different
responses in different time zones. This is achieved by a modified
version of the methods described above, which modified methods may
be practiced with the systems described in this specification and
accompanying drawings.
[0191] For example, a host or professor may stand in front of a map
of the world. He or she verbally poses the question "In which
country is the river to which I am pointing located?" For purposes
of this illustration, the audio portion of the question, posed by
an on-stage or off-stage announcer, is referred to herein as a
"module question", and normally a quiz show or educational program
comprises many such module questions. The object of formulating
module questions is to be able easily and economically to
substitute such module questions for each other in the same show,
which normally is taped prior to airing. Such a module question,
consisting of the audio portion of the question can easily and
economically be replaced by another audio portion, while the more
costly video portion (the host pointing to a map) remains the
same.
[0192] In such a modified method, a part of all of a question or
task presented in a program in one time zone, are differentiated
and are different from the corresponding question or task asked in
a similar program aired in another time zone. This is achieved by
formulating at least a part of a question or task in
interchangeable module form.
[0193] Either an entire question may be substituted in a program,
or a part of a question may be substituted. If only a part of a
question is to be substituted, such part can for instance be a part
or all of only the video portion of a question. Normally, such
interchangeable module questions will be of approximately the same
length, so as not to affect the overall length of a program.
[0194] If a program comprises an entertainment portion and a game
or quiz show portion, the part of the show consisting of questions
or tasks may be produced and taped separately and independently of
the entertainment of other portions of the show. Many forms of
implementation of this method may be devised. The example given
below is illustrative of only one of the alternative methods which
achieve the above mentioned object.
[0195] According to a preferred method, a plurality of sets of
different tasks is formulated, using one set of tasks in one time
zone and another set of tasks in another time zone. Although the
tasks may differ in their entirety, a preferred method is described
wherein the tasks differ only with respect to their audio
portion.
[0196] In the taping of the show, the video portion is the same in
all tapes, irrespective of the time zone in which such program is
to be aired or transmitted by cable. The audio and video portions
together form a question or task. The audio portions of module
questions change from one such program to the next. Thus the host
or professor is seen in all versions of the show to be pointing to
the same map. He or she will, however, tape a plurality of oral
module questions, only one of these module questions being used in
any one time zone. With reference to the above example, in which a
host points to a map of the world, another module question may be
"What is the name of the river?" Yet another such module question
by the host, or off-stage person, may be "Is the river to which I
am pointing among the five longest rivers in the world?"
[0197] The above described example involves the same host or
professor asking a set of questions, each of which questions must
be taped in its entirety. This necessitates the involvement of the
host in asking a set of successive oral questions, while the video
portion remains the same. In another version of this preferred
method, the module questions, that is the audio portions of each
question, are asked by an off-camera announcer. This method has the
advantage that in the taping of the show, the host spends only
sufficient time in front of the camera to ask one question, the
host providing such action in front of the camera as is required to
make the oral module question asked by the off-camera announcer
intelligible. Thus, the host may silently point to an object, such
as a map, for a length of time permitting an off-camera announcer
to pose one module question. Other module questions asked by the
off-camera announcer and accompanying the same video portion
showing the host, are dubbed or inserted into the appropriate part
of the tape. In the taping of a quiz show intended to be aired in
four time zones, an off-camera announcer therefore asks four sets
of module questions, one set of these oral questions being inserted
into the appropriate place in each of the four program tapes used
in transmitting the show in the four time zones.
[0198] According to a preferred embodiment of the above-described
methods for use in the presentation of quiz programs in different
languages, a host announces the oral module questions in one
language. Different oral module questions are dubbed in, both in
the language originally used by the host and in any other languages
for use in different countries. In such an event the words and
sentences chosen in formulating questions, are such as to lend
themselves to dubbing. Also, the host when announcing some
questions, can face towards a picture or a map, away from the
viewing audience, in order to facilitate dubbing.
[0199] Thus the dubbing technique is an economical method of
achieving the above-mentioned objective of utilizing the same video
portions with a variety of different audio questions in different
time zones.
[0200] Yet another example of a simplified version of the above
methods may entail a projection of a scene or the filming of an
object without a host being present. The object could be a
well-known personality, or a picture of such personality; or an
action shot of such personality may be used. An off-camera
announcer may ask a number of oral or module questions to meet the
requirements of the number of shows to be shown in different time
zones.
[0201] The examples set forth are simple ones and many different
and more complex versions and implementations of the home quiz show
are possible and will occur to game show producers.
[0202] In some instances, such as in market research, the system
described can be employed to identify consumers meeting certain
criteria. In that event, the memory and control elements of
response unit 22 are programmed in accordance with the requirements
of the particular consumer research. Response unit 22 normally is
placed in remote locations, which need not be homes and can be
other private and public places. In an alternative application of
the system, the response unit 22 is equipped with appropriate means
capable of limiting the functions of the scoring and evaluation
means. For this purpose, controls and switches (not shown) are
provided, which cause memories 106 and 108, logic control 118,
comparator 116 and gate 112 to selectively perform only those
evaluating functions required for the specific application. In such
an event, dispenser 46 receives only partially processed data and
generates a record of responses entered on keyboard 44 reflecting
responses evaluated only to the desired extent and at least
partially resembling the original information entered by
respondents. Respondents are rewarded in one of the manners
previously described, including a monetary prize simply for
participating in a test.
[0203] It is a particular advantage of the present system that the
kind of data-entering device may vary between different remote
locations. Furthermore, the kind of data entering, scoring or
evaluating device installed at different locations may vary in
accordance with the intended use. Thus, for instance, in selected
remote locations, electronic devices of known design may be
installed, which are capable of subjecting the raw data entered by
respondents to computer analysis.
[0204] The invention may be practiced by providing two or more
response units at each remote location together with one set of
program presenting means. Providing more than one response unit,
including means to modify a difficulty level and timing, and
including comparison, storing, scoring and dispensing means in, for
example, one household, enables two or more family members to
become contestants by responding individually to a situation
presented by a single television or radio receiver based on a
program transmission from a central station. In a public place, a
plurality of response units will generate increased and competitive
participation by persons present.
[0205] FIG. 5 shows the buffer store 114, the register 102 and the
program memory 108, as well as further details of the dispenser 46
of FIG. 4 to accomplish the imprinting of a response on a recording
medium, such as a paper or card, having a prescribed format for the
entry of answers. As has been noted hereinabove, such a data entry
form or questionnaire, is useful for providing responses by
respondents in situations such as contests, educational and
advertising promotional or research activities. An example of such
a questionnaire 126 is shown in FIG. 5. Therein, blocks numbered
1-6 are provided for entry of responses by members of the audience
at the remote receiving stations 16 and 18.
[0206] Also shown in FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the
keyboard 44, the view showing a keypad with keys for the entry of
identifying numerals for identifying the blocks of the
questionnaire 126 in which the respective answers are to be
entered. The respondent identifies a questionnaire block by holding
down a control key Q while typing the identifying numeral on the
keyboard 44. The response to be entered in that block is then typed
by use of the alphabet keys of the keyboard 44.
[0207] The dispenser 46 comprises a decoder 128, a printer 130 and
a programmable read-only memory (PROM) 132. In operation, the typed
answer and the questionnaire block identification is applied by the
keyboard 44 and via the store 114 to the register 102. The contents
of the register 102, as described hereinabove, are subsequently
transferred to the dispenser 46. The decoder 128 detects the
presence of a digital word produced by the control key Q, and
thereby decodes the incoming digital signals from the register 102
so as to separate the block identification from the response. The
decoder 128 activates the printer 130, upon the appearance of the
response, to print the response on the questionnaire 126, the
latter having been previously placed into the dispenser 46 by the
respondent. The decoder also addresses the PROM 132 with the block
identification, whereupon the PROM 132 outputs the block location
to the printer 130 to direct the printer 130 to print the response
at the correct location on the questionnaire 126. Information with
respect to the layout of the questionnaire 126 is loaded into the
PROM 132 by the program memory 108 as directed by the instructional
signal on line 122 or 124 of FIG. 4.
[0208] Alternatively, the block location data and the responses may
be stored on the card 48 for printing out at another location, such
as the facilities of an advertiser or a company providing the
promotional activities. The response may include a narrative text,
in which case the comparator 116 may be employed to signal the
presence of key words in the response, which have been previously
entered into the data memory 106.
[0209] By way of further embodiments of the invention, it is noted
that the dispenser 46 may include a group of trays 134 each of
which stores a separate set of forms such as the questionnaire 126
upon which a response is to be printed. The trays 134 are activated
by a control signal from the program memory 108 to present a blank
form to the printer 130 to be imprinted with the response.
Information with respect to the desired form to be employed in
response to a task-setting situation is loaded into the program
memory 108 by the instructional signal on line 122 or 124, whereby
an instructor or the host 50 in a classroom or in the studio 14
designates the requisite form for use in preparing the response.
The completed form, or questionnaire 126, exits a slot 136 of the
printer 130. The completed questionnaire 126 may be provided on any
suitable recording medium which serves as a hard copy such as
paper, plastic strip, or plastic card.
[0210] As was shown with respect to FIG. 4, the score counter 104
is under control of the program memory 108. This permits the score
counter 104 to be activated and deactivated by commands transmitted
via the instructional signal. In the outputting of the foregoing
questionnaire 126 from the printer 130 with words printed in the
appropriate blocks, a score can also be imprinted upon the
questionnaire 126 upon activation of the counter 104, which score
is omitted upon deactivation of the counter 104.
[0211] The embodiments of the system of FIGS. 6-10 provide further
capability to the system of FIGS. 1-5 for conducting a quiz or
game-type television show with both local and remote audience
participation. The embodiments of FIGS. 6-10 provide for selection
of difficulty level, evaluation of response based on key words and
phrases, interaction between members of the remote audience and the
program host as by use of telephone communication, and adaptation
of the program by the host to the interaction by modification and
reformatting of response criteria as by altering a basis or mode of
scoring and a period of time allowed for response. As with the
system of FIGS. 1-5, the present system of FIGS. 6-10 can also be
employed with radio programs. Descriptive material relating to the
program can be transmitted over the video and/or the voice channels
of the television transmission. In particular, it is noted that
much of the system description provided in FIGS. 1-5 applies also
to the system of FIGS. 6-10 but, that additionally, the system
description presented in FIGS. 6-10 shows the use of at least two
separate signals, in the instructional signal group, for providing
answers and evaluating the answers under control of both the
program host and the remote viewer.
[0212] At the discretion of the television program conductor, or
other person assigned for this purpose, and that of individual
viewers, different difficulty levels may be applied to individual
questions, it being understood that answers to more difficult
questions or answers to the same questions at higher difficulty
level may carry with them larger awards. However, even if only one
set of response criteria is established for a task, it is
understood that such response criteria carry a specified or implied
difficulty level. Each successful respondent may be issued a
printout or similar hard copy displaying the value of the award and
containing a code which is verifiable over the telephone by a
central station, or without the use of a telephone, by a
cooperating store or merchandising center, for issuing an
award.
[0213] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention having
greater versatility in the evaluation of learning situations and
the scoring of games and contests by means of a system 200. In the
system 200, a central station 202 includes a studio 204, such as a
television studio, and broadcasts programs to many remote receiving
stations, one such station 206 being shown by way of example. Each
of the receiving stations 206 includes means, such as a television
screen 208, for observing a broadcast program, and means by which
persons in a remote viewing audience can respond to situations
presented in the studio 204. The response means is shown as a
response unit 210 which, as will be described hereinafter, includes
circuitry for evaluating and recording responses entered by persons
in the viewing audience.
[0214] A television program is conducted in the studio 204 by a
host 212. While various types of programs may be employed in
conjunction with the study of specific subject matter, for example,
a course in advertising or packaging, in which there is a display
of a specimen 214 of merchandise, or other subject of interest, to
members of a remote television audience 216 located at the remote
receiving stations 206, a game program employing a television game
218 is presented by way of illustration of the invention. The use
of a game is a recognized technique in the teaching of children, as
well as older persons, in a classroom. The object of the study or
program, designated herein as specimen 214, might be an article,
such as furniture or clothing, normally offered for sale, or other
type of object such as a painting or animal in the case of study of
such subject matter. For example, in a study of architecture, the
"specimen" would be a model of a building, and in a home-study
course of geography, the "specimen" would be a map or other
teaching aid. In the case of services being offered, the specimen
may take the form of an advertisement of such services. Each
receiving station 206 is provided with a television system 220
which receives broadcast transmissions 222 of the televised game
show for presentation on the television screen 208.
[0215] In the studio 204, the host 212, or an associate who may be
off-camera, is provided with two keyboards 224 and 226,
respectively, for entering appropriate responses to situations
posed by the game 218 (response criteria) and for entering
appropriate guidelines for scoring the responses (scoring mode).
The response criteria may consist of specific delineating or
parametric information. The game 218 and the specimen 214 are
viewed by a television camera 228 which provides video signals for
the broadcast transmission 222. It is to be understood that, in
addition to the remote audience 216, a local or studio audience
(not shown) may be present within the studio 204 for participating
in the game 218. The host 212 addresses the local audience and the
remote audience by means of a microphone 230, the microphone 230
providing an audio signal for the broadcast transmission 222. In
this example of the television game, a first video signal is
transmitted to the remote audience to present a picture of the game
situation, this signal being followed, preceded or accompanied by
an audio signal in which the host describes the task to be
performed by the remote audience, which task may be the answering
of specific questions in a designated fashion. As described above,
when confronted with a time zone problem, one or more off-camera
announcers ask a number of questions in the form of the oral or
module questions, which module questions are then selectively
inserted into the tapes of television programs to be broadcast
successively in different time zones. Alternatively, the second
signal describing the task may be transmitted over the video
channel by use of a display in front of the studio audience, the
display having the questions set forth in large lettering which is
read readily.
[0216] With reference to both FIGS. 6 and 10, the central station
202 provides for a modulation of signals of the instructional
signal group outputted by the keyboards 224 and 226 for the
predetermined responses and scoring criteria within the audio
channel to occupy narrow spectral bands in the upper portion of the
audio spectral band. The system 200 is readily described in terms
of four or more signals, the first signal being the television
signal portraying activity in the studio 204. The second signal
provides the description of the task to be performed by the studio
and/or the remote audience. The studio scene and the task carried
by the first two signals are presented diagrammatically in a
typical time sequence by a graph shown alongside the camera 228, it
being understood that the time sequence may be varied since the
task announcement may precede or accompany the studio situation.
The third signal carries the designated criteria for a response or
range of responses entered by the host 212 upon the keyboard 224,
such criteria being, by way of example, key words to be entered by
the respondents. The fourth signal provides the scoring mode or
guidelines entered by the host 212 upon the keyboard 226, such
scoring being, by way of example, that an answer of the word "fish"
is worth three points while an answer of the word "salmon" is worth
five points. Additional examples of response criteria and scoring
mode are discussed herein.
[0217] As example of a further signal, a fifth signal providing a
verification code for use in verifying a printout of awards at a
remote station may be sent subsequently along the same channel
employed for transmission of the scoring criteria. The passbands of
the third and the fourth signals, namely the response criteria and
the scoring mode signals respectively, are indicated in FIG. 10,
both of these passbands being much narrower than the passband of
the audio spectrum, and carrying signal amplitude of relatively low
levels, as compared to the audio signal, so as to avoid any
interference with the transmission of the voice of the host 212.
Since four separate signal channels are provided for the first four
of the foregoing signals, these signals may be transmitted in any
desired time sequence including a concurrent transmission of a
plurality of these signals. One or more of the signals of the four
channels may be retransmitted with an updated message, such as a
reformatted scoring mode, to adapt the game program to new scoring
instructions by the program conductor, or to audience responses,
thereby to provide interaction between the host and the remote
audience.
[0218] The central station 202 further comprises two signal
processors 232 and 234, the summer 236, a combiner 238, a
transmitter 240 and two oscillators 242 and 244 coupled
respectively to the processors 232 and 234. The microphone 230 is
connected to a first input terminal of the summer 236. The
processor 232 is connected between the keyboard 224 and a second
input terminal of the summer 236 for encoding designated response
signals outputted by the keyboard 224, and for modulating the
signals onto a carrier frequency F.sub.1, which carrier frequency
lies in the response signal band of FIG. 10.
[0219] Similarly, the processor 234 is connected between the
keyboard 226 and a third input terminal of the summer 236 for
coding scoring mode signals outputted by the keyboard 226, and for
modulating these signals onto a carrier frequency F.sub.2, the
carrier frequency F.sub.2 being within the score signal band of
FIG. 10. The summer 236 combines the response and the score signals
with the audio signal of the microphone 230 to output a sum signal
to the combiner 238. The combiner 238 operates in a well-known
fashion to combine the audio signal of the microphone 230 with the
video signal of the camera 228 to output a composite television
signal to the transmitter 240 for transmission via antenna 246 as
the broadcast transmission 222.
[0220] Each of the processors 232 and 234 are constructed of the
same components, these components being an encoder 248, a register
250, a modulator 252, a band-pass filter 254, and a clock 256. The
operations of both of the processors 232 and 234 are the same and,
accordingly, only the operation of the processor 234 need be
described, it being understood that this description applies also
to the processor 232.
[0221] In operation, the encoder 248 digitally encodes signals
provided by respective keys 258 of the keyboard 226. The clock 256
outputs both a high speed clock signal and a low speed clock signal
to the register 250. The high speed signal has a relatively high
pulse repetition frequency for strobing bits of a digital signal
outputted by the encoder 248 at a relatively high speed into the
register 250. The bits of the digital signal are than outputted
from the register 250 at a relatively low rate to the modulator 252
in response to strobing of the register 250 by the low speed clock
signal. This arrangement of the high and low speed clocking allows
a command to be entered at the keyboard 226 rapidly by the host
212, and then to be transmitted relatively slowly as a component of
the audio signal. The slow transmission minimizes the requisite
width of the score signal passband (FIG. 10). The modulator 252 may
employ a suitable form of modulation as is commonly employed, such
as amplitude modulation or phase modulation, for modulating the
digital signal on the F.sub.2 carrier. The modulated signal
outputted by the modulator 252 is then coupled via the filter 254
to the summer 236, the filter 254 limiting the spectral components
of the modulated signal to the desired passband of FIG. 10. In the
same manner, the processor 232 digitally encodes signals entered by
keys 260 of the keyboard 224, and modulates the digitally encoded
signals of the designated response upon the F.sub.1 carrier.
[0222] The television system 220 comprises a receiver 262, three
demodulators 264, 266, and 268, a speaker 270, two band-pass
filters 272 and 274, and two oscillators 276 and 278. Also shown in
FIG. 6 is a telephone circuit 280 including a telephone at the
remote station 206 and a telephone at the central station 202 which
enable interaction in the form of direct communication between a
member of the remote audience 216 and a person at the central
station 202. The telephone at the central station 202 enables
members of the remote audience 216 to communicate, when desired,
with the host 212, for instance, to furnish their names for
announcing on the air. The telephone circuit 280 is presented as a
conveniently implemented form of communication system, it being
understood that such communication is an optional feature and not
essential to the practice of the invention, and that other forms of
communication systems may be employed.
[0223] In operation, the receiver 262 receives the broadcast
transmission 222 via an antenna 282, and outputs the received
signal to the demodulator 264. The demodulator 264 operates in a
well-known fashion to separate the audio and video portions of the
television signal, the audio portion being applied to the speaker
270 and the video portion being presented on the television screen
208. Members of the remote audience 216 hear the voice of the host
212 on the speaker 270, and view the progress of the game 218 and
other activities of the studio 204 on the screen 208. The filters
272 and 274 separate, respectively, the response and score signals
from the audio spectrum and apply the signals, respectively, to the
demodulator 266 and the demodulator 268. The oscillator 276
provides the F.sub.1 carrier to the demodulator 266 for
demodulation of the response signal to recover the designated
responses. Similarly, the oscillator 278 provides the F.sub.2
carrier to the demodulator 268 to enable the demodulation of the
score signal to recover the scoring mode criteria. The response
signal is applied by the demodulator 266 to the response unit 210
via line 346. The score signal is outputted by the demodulator 268
to the response unit 210 via line 348.
[0224] FIG. 7 shows a modification of the system 200 of FIG. 6
wherein the third and fourth signals, respectively, for the
designated response and scoring mode criteria are transmitted in
the video portion of the television signal rather than in the audio
portion of the television signal. In FIG. 7, the modified system
200A comprises a central station 202A and a television system 220A
which contains some of the components presented in the system 200
of FIG. 6, and has further components which provide for an
interlacing of the third and the fourth signals with the television
video portion by insertion of the third and the fourth signals
within the time intervals allocated for the television vertical
retrace. The system 200A is understood to include, when desired,
the telephone circuit 280, the game 218, and the specimen 214 which
have been deleted in FIG. 7 to simplify the presentation of the
system 200A.
[0225] In the central station 202A, the signals outputted by the
keyboards 224 and 226 are digitally coded by encoders 284 and 286,
respectively, and applied via an OR circuit 288 to a register 290.
The station 202A further comprises a modulator 292 and a summer 294
which operate with the combiner 238 and the transmitter 240. The
television camera 228 includes a well-known vidicon 296, oscillator
298 for production of a carrier frequency, and timing and
synchronization circuitry 300.
[0226] In operation, the encoded response criteria and scoring mode
signals of the keyboards 224 and 226 are stored in the register 290
from which they are applied to an input terminal of the modulator
292. The modulator 292 is activated by a pulse signal on line 302
provided by the timing circuitry 300 during each vertical retrace
interval in the generation of the television picture frame at the
camera 228. The modulator 292 receives the encoded keyboard signals
and modulates these signals onto the carrier provided by the
oscillator 298, this carrier being the same carrier employed for
carrying the television video signal. Thereby, the modulated
keyboard signals outputted by the modulator 292, and the television
video signal outputted by the camera 228 are on the same carrier,
and are summed together by the summer 294. The output signal of the
summer 294 contains both the video and the keyboard signals
interleaved with each other. The output signal of the summer 294 is
then combined with the signal of the microphone 230 by the combiner
238 and transmitted via the transmitter 240 to a remote receiving
station 206A in the same fashion as was described for the system
200 of FIG. 6.
[0227] The broadcast transmission from the central station 202A is
received by the receiver 262 and applied to the demodulator 264
which separates the audio and video portions of the broadcast
transmission, the audio portion being applied to the speaker 270,
and the video portion being applied to a television monitor 304
which includes the television screen 208. The monitor 304 includes
well-known synchronization and timing circuitry 306 which is
employed in converting the broadcast video to a picture presented
on the screen 208, the timing circuitry 306 also providing a gate
pulse signal on line 308 which is to be used for identifying the
retrace interval so as to enable extraction of the designated
response signal of the keyboard 224 and the scoring mode signal of
the keyboard 226.
[0228] The television system 220A further comprises a clock 310,
two gates 312 and 314, a demodulator 316, a register 318, a switch
320, a flag detector 322, and two registers 324 and 326.
[0229] In operation, the video signal outputted by the demodulator
264 is applied also via the gate 312 to the demodulator 316 which
operates in conjunction with a carrier reference signal provided by
an oscillator 328 to demodulate the signals of the keyboards 224
and 226. The operation of the demodulator 316 is opposite to the
operation of the modulator 292 in the sense that, by way of
example, if the modulator 292 employs phase modulation, then the
demodulator 316 demodulates phase modulation.
[0230] The signal on line 308 activates the gate 312 to pass the
modulated keyboard signals occurring during the retrace intervals,
and to block the video signal appearing at all times other than
during the retrace intervals. If desired, a similar gate (not
shown) may be included within the monitor 304 for excluding the
modulated keyboard signals from the monitor 304. Such signals
appearing during the retrace intervals should not interfere with
the operation of the monitor 304 because of the synchronization
signals normally present in televised transmissions, which signals
gate off the screen 208 during retrace intervals, as is well
known.
[0231] The signal on line 308 also activates the gate 314 to
conduct clock pulses from the clock 310 to the register 318 during
each retrace interval. The clock pulses are employed to clock the
digitally encoded keyboard signals from the demodulator 316 into
the register 318. Included within each of the digitized keyboard
signals is a digital flag which identifies whether a signal is the
designated response signal of the keyboard 224 or the scoring mode
signal of the keyboard 226. The keyboard signals are communicated
from the register 318 via a switch 320 to the registers 324 and
326. The detector 322 detects the presence of the flag on digital
signals outputted by the register 318, and operates the switch 320
to steer the designated response signals of the keyboard 224 to the
register 324, and the scoring mode signals of the keyboard 226 to
the register 326. The registers 324 and 326 provide the keyboard
signals to the response unit 210 for operation of the response unit
210 in a manner to be described.
[0232] With reference to FIG. 8, the response unit 210 receives the
designated response criteria signals and the scoring mode signals,
the signals being stored in memory for evaluating answers of the
members of the remote audience 216 (FIG. 6) in responding to tasks
set forth in the studio 204. In order to facilitate explanation of
the response unit 210, the memory which stores data of the
designated response criteria and the scoring mode, is shown as
three separate memories, namely, a program memory 330 which stores
instructions for operation of the response unit 210, a
response-criteria memory 332 which stores a set of data-defining
acceptable or designated responses to be used as a reference
against which audience response is to be judged, and a further
scoring program memory 334 which stores coefficients or values of
difficulty levels employed in the scoring of audience responses. A
timing unit 336 is employed for interjecting a scoring factor based
on the amount of time required or allowed to generate the response,
and to apply zero credit in the situation wherein a member of the
remote audience fails to respond within a predesignated time
interval. The response unit 210 includes four decoders 338, 340,
342, and 344 which extract various portions of the digitized
designated response criteria signal and scoring mode signal for
application to individual ones of the memories 330 and 332, the
timing unit 336 and the memory 334. The decoders 338 and 340
connect lines 348 and 346, carrying the scoring-mode and
response-criteria signals, respectively, to the memories 330 and
332. The decoders 342 and 344 connect from line 348, carrying the
scoring mode signal, respectively to the timing unit 336 and the
memory 334. The decoder 344 may be coupled directly to the memory
334, or via an OR gate which will be described with reference to
FIG. 23. To facilitate the present explanation of this embodiment
of the invention, it is presumed that the decoder 344 is connected
directly to the memory 334.
[0233] Also included within the response unit 210 is a control
logic unit 350, a clock 352 which provides clock pulse signals to
the control logic unit 350 and the timing unit 336 and an OR
circuit 354 which couples the decoder 342 to the timing unit 336. A
keyboard 356 and, if desired, a display 358 coupled thereto
interact with the control logic unit 350 for the entry of
responses, the display 358 showing a member of the remote audience
what symbols have been typed on the keyboard 356 during the
generation of a response.
[0234] The response unit 210 further comprises a dispenser 360 of
cards 362 and/or tape 364, or similar recording medium, which are
imprinted with markings reflecting awards, if any, for responses
entered by a member of the remote audience upon the keyboard 356.
For example, the dispenser 360 can accept a preprinted form which
may be inserted by a respondent and removed from the dispenser 360
after imprinting. Also, the response unit 210 comprises a buffer
store 366, a register 368, a scoring logic unit 370, two
comparators 372 and 374, two registers 376 and 378, two multipliers
380 and 382, a summer 384, an accumulator 386 for accumulating
scores, and an accumulator 387 for accumulating values of a
succession of awards.
[0235] In operation, the program memory 330 and the control logic
unit 350 operate together in a manner similar to that of the
program memory 108 and the control logic unit 118 of FIG. 4. The
program memory 330 stores information as to the number of possible
responses, the number of questions, and also stores instructions
for commanding the dispenser to print out messages in accordance
with scores based on responses to questions and other tasks set
forth in the studio 204. The memory 332 stores possible answers to
questions and tasks, such as colors of objects displayed in the
studio 204, sizes of such objects, sentences or phrases describing
events in history, science, music, art or literature, listings,
names and similar information which may be transmitted via the
response criteria signal to the remote stations. The timing unit
336 includes counters and memories as will be described with
reference to FIG. 9 for outputting appropriate factors or
coefficients for use in scoring responses based on time of
response. The memory 334 stores designated time intervals which are
to be inputted as preset signals to the counters of the timing unit
336, and also stores factors to be applied in the scoring or
grading of responses based on level of difficulty. Such level of
difficulty information is transmitted from the central station via
the scoring mode signal to the remote stations. After presentation
of a task in the studio 204, the host 212 indicates the beginning
of a time interval for audience response by pressing a key on the
keyboard 226, this resulting in the transmission of a start signal
to the response unit 210. The decoder 342 decodes the start signal
and applies the start signal via the OR circuit 354 to initiate
timing in the timing unit 336, the start signal proceeding through
the timing unit 336 to the control logic unit 350 to initiate
operation of the logic unit 350. Operation of the three memories
330, 332, and 334 is under control of the logic unit 350.
[0236] In one type of question-response situation, the host 212
gives a contestant a choice of questions to which the contestant is
to respond. For example, two or three groups of questions may be
presented on the television screen 208. The answers to all of the
questions are loaded into the memory 332. The contestant indicates
a selection of a group of questions by means of the keyboard 356, a
selection signal then being outputted by the keyboard 356 to the
logic unit 350 to address the memory 332 to provide the desired set
of answers for evaluating the contestant's response.
[0237] While various forms of responses may be desired for specific
situations which may be depicted in the studio 204, two situations
of particular interest are those wherein a response is to be
evaluated based on a significant element of the response such as a
series of words, as in a phrase, or by examination of key words
present in a phrase or sequence of sentences to be provided as a
response. The response unit 210 is provided with dual channel
comparison to score responses based on observation of key words or
on observation of full text. One of these channels is composed of
the comparator 372, the register 376, and the multiplier 380. The
other of these two channels is composed of the comparator 374, the
register 378, and the multiplier 382. Both of these comparator
channels operate in the same fashion.
[0238] The first comparator channel is employed for evaluating
responses based on the presence of a key word. This is accomplished
as follows. A member of the remote audience presses a key-word
button on the keyboard 356 to alert the control logic unit 350 that
a key word is to be entered. The key word is typed on the keyboard
356 which then places the key word in the buffer store 366 and,
preferably, also presents the key word on the display 358 to ensure
that the key word is spelled correctly. The buffer store 366, under
control of the logic unit 350, presents the key word to one input
terminal of the comparator 372. The memory 332 presents the
designated key word to the other input terminal of the comparator
372. The comparator 372 compares the designated key word with the
response, and outputs a logic-1 signal to the register 376 to
indicate a favorable comparison. If the key word of the response
differs from the key word of the memory 332, then the comparator
372 outputs a logic-0 signal to the register 376. The memory 334
outputs a predetermined number of points of credit to the register
376 for an at least partially correct or acceptable response. The
outputting of the logic-1 signal from the comparator 372 strobes
the register 376 to receive the credit from the memory 334. The
number of points of credit are outputted by the register 376 to the
multiplier 380 to serve as a factor or coefficient in computing the
score for a correct answer. The timing unit 336 outputs a further
factor to the multiplier 380 based on the amount of time consumed
to produce the response. The multiplier 380 multiplies together
both the acceptable-answer coefficient and the time-consumption
coefficient to output a product to the summer 384, which product is
the score for the response. The amount of credit in the credit
factor outputted by the timing unit 336 is dependent on the amount
of time; in the event that a maximum time interval is exceeded, the
timing credit is zero which results in a score of zero being
outputted by the multiplier 380.
[0239] By way of alternative embodiments, it is noted that the
multipliers 380 and 382 may be replaced with summers, in which case
the score would be based upon the sum of the acceptable-answer
coefficient and the time-consumption coefficient. The actual range
of numerical values of the score will differ, depending on whether
multiplication or addition of the acceptable-answer coefficient and
the time-consumption coefficient is to be employed in the
construction of the response unit 210. Either embodiment of the
response unit 210 produces a readily understandable score; the
embodiment to be employed is simply a matter of preference in the
desired range of score values.
[0240] In the same fashion, the comparator 374 compares a full
text, as in a series of words composing a phrase, which text is
compared by the comparator 374 against the text entered at the
keyboard 356 by way of response. The corresponding scoring factors
are applied by the memory 334 and the timing unit 336,
respectively, to the register 378 and the multiplier 382. The
comparator 374 strobes the register 378 to apply a scoring factor
to the multiplier 382 to output the score from the multiplier 382
to the summer 384. A sequence of scores outputted by the summer 384
in response to a sequence of responses to a task or game situation
presented in the studio 204 are accumulated by the accumulator 386.
The output of the accumulator 386 is the total score, which total
score is inputted both to the dispenser 360 and to the scoring
logic unit 370. The accumulator 386 is reset by the control logic
unit 350 (at terminal R) in accordance with commands of the scoring
mode signal. Thus, the total score outputted by the accumulator 386
may be the result of response to questions of a single task or of a
sequence of tasks as may be commanded by the program host.
[0241] In the scoring logic unit 370, the total score is compared
with a range of scores presented by the program memory 330. The
scoring logic unit 370 outputs a command signal to the dispenser
unit 360 when the respondent's score meets the response criteria or
is in a designated range, and the dispenser 360 prints the total
score. Also, when the total score is within an acceptable range of
score, the logic unit 370 directs the dispenser 360 to print a
monetary award, or other designation of award on either the card
362 or the tape 364, and may activate a bell to signal success.
Sounding of the bell may also be used to direct a respondent to
begin the next task. Dispenser 360 may be designed for either one
or both types of printouts. If desired, the tape or card may be
perforated to allow a portion thereof to be retained by a
contestant while the balance would be presented at a redemption
center for an award. The award and other information, such as time
limits for redemption, instructions to the merchant and a coded
validation signal, are applied by the memory 330 to the register
368 for inclusion in the printout of the dispenser 360. By way of
example, the validation signal may be encoded with the time of day
and date of the television program and be combined with a number
identifying the remote station or user. The identity of the remote
station is supplied by an encoder 388 (which may be a thumbwheel
digital encoder) to the register 368 for inclusion within the
printout of the dispenser 360. The buffer store 366 also connects
to the register 368 to permit imprinting at least a portion of the
actual response in a printout of the dispenser 360. Printers 390
and 392 within the dispenser 360 can provide for imprinting in the
form of alphanumeric and symbolic indicia, or by means of bar code
or color code. By way of example, the printers 390 and 392 may be
constructed as dot-matrix printers. If desired, the printer 390 may
be constructed to output the printed message on a magnetic strip
(not shown) of the card 362.
[0242] The keyboard 356 is provided with a "text" key as well as a
"word" key to enable a respondent to answer in the text mode or in
the key-word mode. By the inclusion of alphanumeric keys, as in a
standard typewriter keyboard, a person may respond by entering key
words or phrases. A respondent may answer a question in
significantly less time than is allocated for the question, in
which case the respondent may wish to indicate task completion
before the full allotted time has elapsed, or before the host 212
(FIG. 6) tells the audience to proceed to the next question. In
this case, the respondent pushes the "next answer" key or button on
the keyboard 356 resulting in the transmission of a strobe signal
along line 394 to an input terminal of the OR circuit 354 to
restart the timing unit 336 for the next question and answer. Also,
in the event that there is a choice of questions and responses,
each at a different level of difficulty, the respondent employs the
"difficulty level" button on the keyboard 356 to signify, via the
control logic unit 350, to the program memory 334 that an answer of
a designated difficulty is being attempted. Thereby, the memory 334
in conjunction with the timing unit 336 can provide proper scoring
factors for various conditions of response such as accuracy and a
shortening of the time interval set by the host. Generally, in
determining the value of award to a successful contestant, some or
all of the following factors are taken into consideration, namely,
the quality of response as evidenced by accuracy, responsiveness,
comprehension and comprehensiveness, as well as speed of response
and difficulty level.
[0243] Normally, the difficulty level announced by the host will be
"difficulty level one", with which a certain award is associated.
Correspondingly greater awards may be announced for correct answers
at higher difficulty levels. The choice of selecting such higher
difficulty level rests with the contestants and may, where a choice
of subject matters is offered, be made after the host has announced
the general subject matter or the nature of the next question.
[0244] After participating in a number of games or other projects,
each of which has resulted in the awarding to the respondent of a
prize or award of significant monetary value, it may be desirable
to total the value of all of the awards for a grand total award.
The accumulator 387 provides this function. The accumulator 387 is
connected to the scoring logic unit 370 to receive successive ones
of the dollar amount of the respective awards, or other measure of
value of the awards such as a credit toward free trips by an
airplane or days on a cruise. The accumulator 387 sums the values
of the successive awards and, upon demand from the scoring logic
unit 370, outputs the grand total award via the logic unit 370 to
the dispenser 360 to be imprinted on a hard copy record dispensed
by the dispenser 360.
[0245] FIG. 9 shows details of the timing unit 336 of FIG. 8, the
timing unit 336 comprising two counters 396 and 398, and two
memories 400 and 402 wherein each of the memories 400 and 402 is
preferably a read-only memory (ROM). The counters 396 and 398 are
preset, as noted above, by signals from the program memory 334 of
FIG. 8. The counters 396 and 398 count clock pulses supplied by the
clock 352. Each of the counters 396 and 398 counts down from its
preset value to zero. The counters 396 and 398 address,
respectively, the memories 400 and 402. Output counts of each of
the counters 396 and 398 also serve as address signals for
operating the program memory 330. Counting by the counters 396 and
398 is initiated upon application of the start signal from the OR
circuit 354, the start signal being outputted to the control logic
unit 350. Each of the memories 400 and 402 is loaded with
appropriate values of credit to be applied to responses,
respectively, for key words or numbers and full text. For example,
a question answered by a key word in ten seconds might receive a
time credit factor of ten points, while a 20-second response time
might receive only three points, and any response beyond a half
minute might receive a zero points resulting in a zero score. It is
noted that a count by either of the counters 396 or 398 from its
preset value down to zero automatically terminates an allocated
predetermined time interval and results in an outputting of zero
score.
[0246] The foregoing circuitry allows the response unit to operate,
if desired, by presenting a predetermined credit, based on time to
respond and on accuracy of response by way of example, to a
contestant at the time when a question is asked. Deductions in
score are made for excessive time, incomplete answers or inaccurate
answers, by way of example. This is accomplished by the counters
396 and 398 (FIG. 9) which count down with increasing time to
address the memories 400 and 402 to output a time dependent credit.
Inaccuracies effect the final score by virtue of the operation of
the comparators 372 and 374 (FIG. 8). An incomplete answer, due to
a failure to answer certain parts of a question, results in a
reduced output from the accumulator 386.
[0247] With respect to the system and methodology of the invention,
communication with the home audience by the normal television
channels of electronic transmission includes signals broadcast on
television frequencies via cable including fiber optics or
satellite. A typical example in the propagation of such electronic
signals would be that transmission to a communication satellite
which, in turn, transmits the signals to ground receiving sites
adapted to send the signals either from broadcast stations over the
air or via cable to cable subscribers. These signals include the
first two signals of Group One mentioned hereinabove, namely the
program and the task signals, received by the television receivers
at each of the remote locations at which a television viewer is
located. Encouragement of as many viewers as possible to
participate is accomplished by allowing the television viewers to
become contestants who participate in a quiz program or other
audience-participation program on the spur of the moment and in the
middle of a program wherein the participants win prizes.
[0248] A number of versions of the invention in the operation of a
sweepstakes system will now be described. According to one
embodiment, instructional signals transmitted to all remote
locations include signals which, if matching, or bearing a
correlation to, symbols on said hard copy record, qualify a
participant for a special or sweepstake prize. If, for example, a
coupon having previously provided alphanumeric or other symbols is
issued to a participant who has entered an acceptable response,
such participant qualifies for a sweepstake prize if the said
symbols on such coupon are the same or have a correlation, namely,
a defined relationship to certain sweepstakes symbols. The symbols
on the coupon may be in the form of preprinted sequential numbers,
and the sweepstakes symbols may be transmitted from a central
location as part of the instructional signals directing the printer
to print the sweepstake symbols. In that event, a successful
contestant discerns immediately whether he or she has qualified for
a sweepstakes prize. Alternatively, the sweepstakes symbols are
provided to a place where winning records are redeemed, such as
banks or supermarkets, and a person presenting a coupon for
redemption learns only at this place and point in time that he or
she has won a special prize or sweepstake.
[0249] The term "correlation" refers to a predetermined
relationship of alphanumeric or other symbols provided on hard copy
records and identifying sweepstake awards, whether or not such
relationship is expressed in mathematical terms. Thus, the indicia
identifying a winning coupon and a sweepstake award may be deemed
to be correlated if they are identical or if they meet a
predetermined mathematical formula or other definition. The
specific correlation entitling a coupon holder to a sweepstakes
prize may be known or discernible only at a redemption center. In
such an instance, a contestant having been issued a winning coupon
will ascertain whether or not a sweepstake prize has been won only
after presenting a winning coupon at a supermarket or other
redemption center.
[0250] Even if the sweepstakes symbols are transmitted to the home
of a contestant and are immediately printed on a winning coupon,
the following method may be employed to compel such contestant to
visit a redemption center, such as a supermarket in order to
ascertain whether he or she has won a sweepstakes prize. This is
achieved by selecting and providing sweepstakes symbols which are
not identical to the symbols of a winning coupon, but bear a
previously identified relationship. As an example, if a stipulated
percentage of a plurality of alphanumeric elements on a winning
coupon matches the elements of sweepstakes symbols, a sweepstakes
prize may be awarded. Such prize can be larger, if a larger number
of elements comprising the award symbols is matched by the
sweepstakes symbols.
[0251] In another modification of the method, the winning coupon
symbols and the sweepstakes symbols may have no discernible
relationship. Any desired correlation between the sets of symbols
may be devised, such as a zero relationship, wherein the two sets
of symbols have no common elements, or a previously defined formula
may be employed wherein for example the symbols are numbers and the
sweepstake number is half the winning coupon number.
[0252] Sweepstakes symbols determined at a central location may be
provided electronically or otherwise to redemption centers,
together, when required, with a formula for identifying an
acceptable correlation with symbols on a winning coupon, thus
identifying such a coupon as one qualifying for sweepstakes
prize.
[0253] According to the method of the invention, the number of
prizes awarded and their values are set by the sponsor of the
program, and normally are set so as to optimize the financial
return to the sponsor or broadcaster. Normally, in a quiz program,
a plurality of tasks will be presented. Each task is formulated in
such form that the task setting message may be electronically
transmitted from the central location as the second signals or
second set of signals of the aforementioned Group One to be
received by the viewers at the remote locations. It is noted that
all of the signals comprising Group One may be transmitted at the
same time, such as by being part of the same pictorial
presentation. A simple illustration of such presentation would
involve a celebrity appearing before a television camera, holding a
sign reading "Who am I?".
[0254] Typically, these tasks comprise questions to be answered by
viewers who wish to become contestants. The tasks may differ with
respect to fields of knowledge, memory skills and reaction speed,
literacy, comprehension, expression and experience required, and
other aspects. The time allowed viewers to respond to a task may
vary. The task may take any form of questions including
single-answer questions and multiple-part questions. The questions
may also call for one or more multiple choice answers. There may be
a requirement that, with respect to a specific task, a minimum
number of responses must be provided by participants. The questions
may also be open-ended in the sense that viewers can not completely
answer a question within an allotted time, a practice common in
aptitude tests. A task could, for instance, involve a listing of a
large number of names or other data in response to a question to
which the answers are more numerous than can be answered within the
prescribed time. Normally, the host announces the period of time
allowed for entering answers at the time a question is posed. At
substantially the same time, the host or other person aiding in the
program, may also announce or hint at the general subject area of
the next question, the purpose of such announcement being to enable
a contestant to elect a higher difficulty level to apply to a
favored subject area. Thus, the response criteria may consist of a
simple requirement to be met by a respondent, or may comprise a
plurality of independently variable elements.
[0255] Questions may also be asked by a host in conjunction with
television advertisements or "commercials". In such an event, a
host or off-camera announcer may first direct the attention of the
audience to the fact that the next question will deal with an
aspect or feature of the product or service about to be displayed
or offered. Awards may also be announced. This type of incentive
will significantly increase viewers' attention and recall.
[0256] Questions may also be visually posed to the television
viewers by displaying the questions on electronic boards or on
other display means. Alternatively, the host may silently point to
an advertised item of merchandise to insure that participants are
paying attention to the television commercial, in which event a
question may relate to such merchandise. The awarding of prizes to
viewers who correctly answer questions relating to goods or
services shown in a preceding commercial is believed to greatly
enhance consumer recall.
[0257] It is noted that a question asked with reference to an
offered item may call for no more than a simple mention of the
specimen displayed, or of specific features thereof. There is
little or no difficulty in responding to such question posed to the
viewers, so that in effect, the viewers are simply verifying that
they are tuned in to the desired program. This method can be
employed when discontinued items, or "loss leaders", are intended
to lead customers to a store, in which case more valuable prizes
are awarded for relatively easy answers.
[0258] The range of difficulty levels needs no specific limitation.
As an illustration, one may consider the task of listing within a
period of 20 seconds as many countries as possible that are members
of the United Nations.
[0259] The award or prize won by a successful contestant is
computed in accordance with the response criteria and the scoring
basis or mode which may be formulated by the host or program
conductor. As noted above, the response criteria and the scoring
mode or basis are transmitted from a central station to remote
locations through the response-criteria and scoring-mode signals of
the aforementioned Group Two. Specific and different response
criteria may be set for each question, and may include a different
time period allowed for such response. The instructional group of
signals, Group Two, conveys the data constituting an acceptable
answer or range of answers, as well as the value of the award to be
given a successful contestant based on the applicable difficulty
level, the accuracy and completeness of the answer to be provided.
The elements of the response criteria may be varied from question
to question.
[0260] The instructional group of signals, Group Two, may also
contain, as a subset, additional command signals such as the
above-noted validation signal to permit certification and
verification of an award claimed by a contestant or member of the
remote audience. Such data typically consists of alphanumeric
information appearing on the contestant's printout to facilitate
verification, but may also consist of coded data or symbols which
are machine-readable in the place of redemption.
[0261] The instructional group of signals may also contain, as
another subset, further additional command signals addressed to the
scoring circuitry, which additional signals convey data governing
the issue of the printout and its terms, including place of
redemption and time limitations. A printout from the dispenser 360
may also serve as a voucher to be exchanged for a ticket at a
theater or sporting event.
[0262] The invention may be employed for conducting a sweepstake
with results dependent on skill and knowledge of contestants. The
printout provides a record of responses to insure that those who
have successfully responded to an earlier question are properly
responding to a later question. Awards for the sweepstake can be
based on a selected difficulty level, so that those who are more
knowledgeable get higher winnings.
[0263] As an example of various forms of programming which may be
employed, questions are displayed on an electronic board seen by
the television viewers. Alternatively, a question appears on a
display board in the television studio and a plurality of numbered
answers appear on a separate display so that a television
contestant only needs to enter the number of the selected answer
believed to correspond to an acceptable answer and to the response
criteria. The latter type of visual presentation is particularly
suitable for game shows involving multiple choice answers.
Particularly successful, or otherwise selected participants, may
engage in a personal dialogue with the host.
[0264] It is noted that members of the studio audience may also
participate in the quiz program. In such event, one display may
contain questions for the home viewing audiences, while the studio
contestants may be asked a different set of questions. In such a
situation, effectively, two separate quiz programs are being
conducted substantially concurrently.
[0265] In conducting such television program, provisions may also
be made to announce and/or display to the television audience
information regarding awards that are to be won at different
difficulty levels. This information may be provided before, during,
or after the corresponding question has been asked, although it
normally is made known to viewers at approximately the time that
the question is asked. As an illustration, a split television
screen technique may be employed wherein part of the screen
displays information and/or pictures relating to the question being
asked, and another part of the screen displays a table having
tabulated information showing a relationship between difficulty
levels, and available prizes or discounts from the base price
towards the purchase of certain merchandise. If desired, a portion
of the split-screen presentation may be hidden from the studio
audience. The host announces the number of difficulty levels and
the general subject area relative to each question. The host may
also announce the base or minimum difficulty level applicable to a
specific question so that each contestant has sufficient time to
elect to respond under the conditions of the difficulty level set
by the host or under conditions of a higher difficulty level. In
accordance with the foregoing elected situations, requisite command
signals of the instructional signal group, Group Two, are
transmitted for directing the dispenser to print out such tabulated
award data. Successful participants may be informed of the fact
that they have won an award via the audio or video portion of the
television signal, or by directing the dispenser to print out a
message describing the award. The record or other signal by which a
contestant is informed of the outcome of his or her response may be
simply "award" or "no award" announcement, or a similar simple
notification.
[0266] As a further feature in the construction of the invention,
the scoring-mode signal generated at the keyboard 226 (FIG. 6) for
use in the program memory 330 and scoring logic unit 370 (FIG. 8)
may include a delay signal interposed by the host which delays
operation of the bell as well as a printing out of notification of
award by the dispenser 360 until after a determined time interval.
This encourages contestants and viewers to continue watching the
television program until the program, or a portion thereof, has
been completed.
[0267] It is also noted that the card 362 with data encrypted by
use of bar code or color code or magnetic recording can be machine
readable. This permits use of the card in an automatic dispenser of
merchandise at a store wherein such merchandise is dispensed. The
dispensing machinery would include a well known card reader and
verification circuitry which may operate with a personal
identification number known only to the contestant to insure that
the merchandise is dispensed to the correct person. It is also
noted that the pertinent information can be given over the
telephone to allow for purchases by mail.
[0268] Another interaction between members of the remote audience
and the host is accomplished by means of the optional two-way
communication afforded by use of the telephone circuit 280 (FIG. 6)
in combination with the signal channels of the television
transmission. For example, the host 212 may be a professor
conducting a home-study course. The host presents a set of
examination questions to home students via the television screen,
and transmits various possible responses and scoring criteria via
lines 346 and 348 (FIG. 8) to the response unit 280. Students may
call in via the telephone circuit 280 to inform the host that the
questions relate to material not yet fully covered in the course.
The host then operates the keyboard 224 (FIG. 6) to reformat or
modify the possible responses, transmitted via line 346, so that
the students can give an acceptable response based on the material
already covered in the course. In addition, the host operates the
keyboard 226 to reformat the mode of scoring to provide a different
distribution of score points for various key words and phrases.
Further alteration in the mode of scoring can be accomplished, by
the host, by operation of the keyboard 226 to alter the amount of
time allocated to each question. The difficulty levels stored in
the memory 334 may also be altered or reformatted by the host so as
to provide a curving of the score distribution to give extra credit
to those students who studied course materials in advance of the
present curriculum.
[0269] The foregoing example in the teaching of a home-study course
shows an aspect in the methodology of the invention in which a
succession of instructional signals relating to designating
acceptable responses and scoring criteria to be applied to
responses may be transmitted from the central station 202 to remote
receiving stations 206. In a general case, such a succession of
instructional signals would be interleaved with communications from
persons at the remote stations 206 to the central station 202 to
enable the response criteria to be modified to fit the needs of the
remote audience. This provides further interaction between the host
and the remote audience. Similar interaction is possible between a
person conducting research and members of a focus group or other
sample populations. This type of interaction is helpful in
eliciting consumer reactions in qualitative research and other
reaction eliciting programs.
[0270] As a further example in the modification of scoring
criteria, the studio audience and the remote audience may be
engaged in a program for the development of foreign language
skills. The host, in this case a language instructor, may submit a
set of questions requiring responses in the form of phrases for
describing situations depicted in a studio game. If members of the
studio audience experience difficulty in answering the questions,
then the host would use the keyboards 224 and 226 to modify the
scoring criteria, before complaints from the remote audience arrive
via the telephone circuit 280. In this example, a succession of
instructional signals may be transmitted without direct interaction
with the remote audience, and with modification of response
criteria and/or scoring mode being based on response of the studio
or external audience. In this way, the format of acceptable
responses can be updated at the response units 210 in the remote
stations 206 in anticipation of remote audience needs. The response
unit 210 stores the modified scoring criteria in the memories 330,
332 and 334, the contents of these memories being updated with each
transmission of an instructional signal. The operation of the
response unit 210 in scoring answers entered by a contestant to a
language development game, or other form of game, is based on the
most recently transmitted instructional signal.
[0271] By way of further embodiment to the invention, it is noted
that the tape 364 (FIGS. 6 and 8) outputted by the dispenser 360 of
the response unit 310 may be imprinted with a bar code, as
portrayed in FIG. 6. The bar code may be read by a scanner 404. The
reading of the scanner 404 may be transmitted to a receiver 406 at
the central station 202 via modems 408 and 410 connected to the
telephone circuit 280. Further example in the communication from a
receiving station at a remote location to a central station will be
described with reference to FIG. 22 wherein information as to a
person's response can be outputted from the response unit 210 as
digital signals and transformed by a modem to a signal format
suitable for transmission via a telephone circuit, such as the
circuit 280. The use of modems and a telephone circuit serves as an
example in the practice of the invention for communication
electronically from a remote receiving station to a central
station, it being understood that other forms (not shown) of
electronic or electro-optical communication may be employed.
[0272] The foregoing examples in the use of the invention show that
the system and methodology of the invention are adaptable to the
needs of members of the remote audience. Adaptation can take place
by interaction with members of the remote audience, as well as by
anticipation of the needs of the remote audience based on
observation of responses of the studio audience. This enhances the
quality of audience participation, ensures better success in
accomplishing the purposes of the television games, and elicits
greater satisfaction on the part of both studio and remote
audiences.
[0273] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, it is noted by way of
alternative embodiments of the invention that the use of both audio
and visual channels, and the use of both television and radio
transmissions permits various transmission arrangements to be
employed. For example, instead of employing one central television
transmitter and one central radio transmitter, as shown in FIG. 1,
a network of such transmitters can be employed for transmitting the
program from the studio 14 throughout an entire country. In the
case of the transmission of the instructional signal by radio, in a
network transmission, individual radio stations might alter the
instructional signals for different scoring criteria and rewards in
different geographic areas while all geographic areas would receive
the same television program and task-setting messages. By way of
further variation of transmission arrangements, the voice signal of
the announcer at the studio can be stopped, and replaced by voice
signals at the radio transmitters of the various geographic areas
to allow different task-setting messages to be generated audibly at
the different geographic areas along with the different
instructional signals at the various geographic areas. These
variations of transmission arrangements provide a flexibility to
the implementation of the invention so as to adapt the task-setting
and scoring to needs of local areas.
[0274] It is also noted that the invention can be employed even in
the situation wherein television may not be available to some
members of the remote audience. With reference to the receiving
station 16 of FIG. 1, in the absence of any television transmission
(possibly due to mountains) or in the absence of television sets,
the host 50 (FIG. 3) would describe audibly and fully the program
situation by use of the microphone 56, and would also present the
tasks audibly by the microphone 56. Thereby, both the audio
description and the instructional signals would be transmitted by
radio channel.
[0275] Also, the microphone 56 may be shut off in which case all
task-setting messages would be indicated visually, as by signs and
posters, on the television screens of the receiving stations. In
this case, the audio channel would be used only for the
instructional signals while the program would be conducted silently
on the television screens.
[0276] Furthermore, the program can be conducted silently, as
above, with occasional audio commentary and/or background music, a
television format commonly employed by cable television news
services. In this case the program and task-setting messages would
be transmitted by television with visual presentation of the tasks
by signs or posters with the microphone 56 being used only for the
occasional comment and playing of background music.
[0277] The foregoing situation can be modified further by the
substitution of the normal television program format by
presentation of a television screen showing only lines of
alphanumeric characters, similar to that of a printed portion of a
magazine or newspaper. Such a format is used frequently in cable
television news by broadcasts employing a channel known as an
automated channel. With reference to FIG. 6, the automated channel
can be implemented, by way of example, by use of a display system
including a character generator (not shown) for generating the
text, and a screen (not shown) for presenting the text in front of
the camera 228 to be televised. Or the television signals may be
generated by a suitably programmed computer (not shown). With
respect to the implementation of the invention for broadcast of a
quiz program by use of an automated channel, the following
observations are noted.
[0278] Normally, automated channels are used in cable television to
provide information in visual alphanumeric or graphic form,
utilizing a character generator, and transmitting news updates,
financial news, program guides, catalog-shopping and price
information, weather information and the like. If computer type
storage is provided at receiving stations, text displayed in this
manner on screens at receiving stations may be scrolled in a
desired direction. A voice or music audio portion accompanies the
visual information.
[0279] The automated channel type of television broadcast lends
itself well to the presentation of questions and falls within the
scope of the present invention. A Home Quiz program of the type
described may consist entirely of questions, or the questions may
be interspersed with the types of information listed above. As an
example, a question is displayed on the screens at remote locations
for the period of time allowed for answering the question, after
which the data entering devices do no accept contestants'
responses. The correct of a series of acceptable answers then
appear on the screens for an interval of time enabling contestants
to ascertain whether they have won an award as evidenced by a
printout emitted by the dispenser. Alternatively, correct answers
may be provided orally by a program conductor. Such broadcast
requires only very limited studio facilities and is economical to
produce. In this and other types of programs, the electronic
equipment at remote locations can be very simple, providing only
for yes-or-no answers, or can be as complex as is desired.
[0280] The type of question and answer broadcast on automated
channels lends itself particularly well to education and research.
In the field of education, after a time interval allowed for
answering a question has expired, a correct answer may be provided
orally or visually by the program host, and may be accompanied by
extensive explanations and narratives. This method still enables
students to mail or deliver examination papers dispensed to them by
the electronic printer in the above-described dispenser to an
educational institution conducting the test. Such examination forms
have printed thereon each student's scored answers.
[0281] The use of automated channels permits the implementation of
the methods described in a highly economical manner, particularly
in the area of education of children. Incentives can be provided to
children to take an interest in subjects to be taught by rewarding
successful answers to questions which dispenses tokens, such as
coupons, carrying an award of interest to children of the age group
addressed. The increasing familiarity of children with computer
keyboards makes the use of data entering devices a simple task. In
the field of use of research, free-standing questions on automated
channels may be interspersed with questions pertaining to research
conducted. Some questions on automated channels are phrased so that
the answers will provide statistically or otherwise meaningful
responses, while other questions contain a challenge inherent in
answering such a question. For example, a question may require
personal judgment, special knowledge, or characterization.
[0282] As a further example, a demographic researcher may
intersperse between questions regarding respondent's income and
expenditures the question "What is the average annual per capita
income in your county?". A successful respondent wins an award in
order to encourage wider participation in such a survey. In market
research, the ability to leave a printed text on a cable television
screen for a period of time, and to accompany a question with an
oral explanation will not only make respondent's answers to such
questions easier and therefore more reliable, but will make the
conducting of surveys or automated channels a very economical
method of reaching unprecedented numbers of respondents.
[0283] The methods and systems described above may advantageously
be employed to attract television viewers to interactive programs
in which prerecorded listings and information pertaining to
merchandise and services are displayed on the TV-screens of
viewers.
[0284] Typically, in the operation of such programs, prerecorded
listings of available products would be televised and displayed on
the TV-screens of remote viewers. The homes of such viewers would
be wired, permitting individual ones of said viewers, utilizing
well-known means for electronically transmitting signals to a
central receiving station, to indicate a category or item of
merchandise or services of particular interest, regarding which a
viewer wishes to receive additional information. Such interactive
means may transmit viewers request signals over wires or over the
air. The additional information may include pictures of merchandise
selected, prices, costs, performance characteristics, capacities,
capabilities, sizes, colors, accessories, warranties and
descriptions. Viewers might also select listings of product groups,
similar products within a specified price range, products offered
by one company or in one retail outlet, or firms offering a
specified product within a geographic area. A request for more
detailed information may, for example, produce a full page of
specifications, along with a picture or pictures of one specific
item of merchandise.
[0285] In a typical embodiment of implementing such a method, a
manufacturer of goods or a supplier of services is given the
opportunity to contract with the producer of an interactive
broadcast program for the insertion of questions among the product
data and offerings comprising the television program. Such
questions can for example be interspersed between announcements
pertaining to products offered by suppliers. The knowledge on the
part of TV-viewers that meaningful prizes will be awarded for
satisfactorily answering questions will result in attracting
additional TV-viewers. Commercials by suppliers of products may be
inserted into the listings and questions may relate directly to the
commercial shown, which commercial may be a still photograph, A
question may follow such a commercial. TV-viewers may be informed
prior to the commercial that a question will follow the next
commercial and will deal with the commercial. This technique will
ensure that the television audience will pay close attention to
such a commercial, especially if a valuable prize may be won at one
of the aforementioned difficulty levels. Thus, the method described
can be a potent advertising and promotional tool in the context of
such an interactive program. Prizes awarded TV-viewers may be
discounts on the products offered during the show.
[0286] Frequently, in television programs listing items of
merchandise and services available to viewers, sometimes referred
to as Videotext, interested viewers who are potential buyers have
the opportunity to request additional or supplemental information
over cable connections such as cable or telephone connections used
for home computers. The purpose of such additional information is
to help potential buyers to make up their minds whether the item is
of interest. Additional listings requested can be progressively
more detailed and can provide information of interest pertaining to
an item of merchandise or services, such as information where such
merchandise or services may be obtainable, alternatives and
competitive items and specifics such as prices, size, colors,
capacities, performance, and other related information. It is in
the interest of the producers of such shows which are frequently
sponsored by advertisers, to induce viewers to call up additional
information in the form of lists, specification sheets, pictures
and other pertinent data. It therefore is an object of the method
described to hold viewers interest and to induce them to request
more detailed and specific information which may lead to a purchase
decision. To achieve this, one or more questions are interspersed
in successive presentations of said items of merchandise or
services. The method follows and employs the steps enumerated in
connection with the methods hereinbefore described. The question
and the response criteria, as well as the ultimate answer to such a
question are transmitted over the cable connection used in the
television transmission.
[0287] In order to further induce participation in such television
shows, the methodology of awarding prizes can be based on the
required accumulation of credits for acceptable answers, i.e. on
the requirement that, in order to win a prize, a participant must
enter an acceptable answer to two or more questions. In such an
instance, if a viewer answers a question correctly, the credit for
such an acceptable answer is computed and stored at a viewer's
remote location. If the producer of the show has determined that
more than one acceptable answer is required to win a prize, viewers
are informed, as part of the television program, that either a
certain number of acceptable answers must be entered or that a
certain cumulative total of credits must be earned to qualify for a
prize. The scoring mode in this instance provide for coefficients
in computing a total score which becomes progressively larger with
each subsequent question. For instance, a viewer who continues to
watch the program and ultimately answers three questions in an
acceptable fashion, which can only be accomplished having called up
at least two additional presentations of the offer, may win ten
times the amount of the prize that would have been won for
answering only the first of the three questions correctly.
[0288] The system provides for storing and accumulating credits for
acceptable answers until either the end of the program or until
either the end of the program or until the total number of
questions has been reached. The producer of the show may announce
to the viewers at any stage of the program how many questions will
be asked and what scoring mode will be employed in the event more
than one question is answered, including additional credits earned
by answering questions at higher difficulty levels.
[0289] By way of further example, a television game show is
conducted by another method providing at a central location the
previous described transmitting facilities and providing at
TV-viewers' remote locations response units, including comparison
and scoring circuits with provisions for allocating credits at
different difficulty levels. A plurality of questions is asked in
the course of the show, acceptable answers being defined by
response criteria at a basic difficulty level and at least one
higher difficulty level, at which an acceptable answer earns a
larger number of credits. Negative credits are allocated to answers
not meeting the response criteria at a higher difficulty level
elected, even if doing so at a lower level.
[0290] The method is further characterized by not instantly
awarding prizes for each accepted answer, but to accumulate credits
for all of the accepted answers entered by a TV-viewer in the
response unit, based on the scoring mode which allocates a
predetermined number of credits to each acceptable answer at the
applicable difficulty level. A TV-viewer, by not specifically
electing a higher difficulty level, in effect elects to respond at
the basic difficulty level. Individual ones of the TV viewers are
informed of credits earned or lost and also are informed of the
monetary value of credits. At the end of the question and answer
period, a recording device in the response unit provides winners
with a record of total credits, which record may be a printed
token, such as a coupon, or may be a magnetized card.
[0291] The method provides for penalizing a contestant for not
answering or for unacceptably answering a question, irrespective of
the difficulty level by deducting credits determined in accordance
with the scoring mode from the accumulated credits of such viewer.
The response criteria may be transmitted as an unobtrusive portion
of the TV-signals, by optical means, over voice channels, or other
means. The total number of credits earned by a viewer and a
verification number or code provided on said record in accordance
with instructional signals transmitted as fourth signals, may be
phoned in by a contestant and the host announces a winner or
winners near the end of the show.
[0292] FIGS. 11-18 disclose an alternative system of the invention
wherein material generated at the studio of the central station is
recorded for later playback to one or more receiving stations. By
way of example, the receiving stations may be located in hotel
rooms or at desks in a classroom wherein the program deals with
educational material. As a further example, the receiving stations
may be located at seats in a vehicle of public conveyance such as
an aircraft. The receiving stations may be equipped with television
receivers in which case the recording may be a video recording in
the form of the widely-used video cassette recording. The sound
portion of the program would be heard by earphones. Alternatively,
the receiving stations may be equipped for audio playback only, as
by use of earphones in an aircraft, in which case the program at
the studio must be formatted by audio description of the task so as
to adapt the program for audio recording. In the case of the video
recording, the circuitry employed at the central station and at the
receiving station, as disclosed in the foregoing embodiments of the
invention, may also be employed in this embodiment of the
invention. In the event that an audio-only recording is to be
utilized, then the equipment of the central station and of the
receiving stations must be modified slightly so as to accommodate
this embodiment of the invention modified for audio-only. In the
case of a video recording, the video signals include
synchronization signals which ensure that a playback of the
recording is an accurate representation of the original program.
However, in the case of an audio-only recording, the system of the
invention is modified, preferably, to include a synchronization
signal to insure accuracy of a playback even if the playback
recorder speed differs somewhat from the recorder speed during the
recording of the program.
[0293] In the ensuing description, FIG. 11 shows the use of a
prerecorded edition of a program performed in a studio as disclosed
above in FIGS. 1, 3, 6 or 7. The receiving stations of FIG. 11 are
equipped for a video playback or an audio-only playback. FIG. 12
shows a system employing equipment, previously described in FIGS. 6
and 8, by way of example, to provide a video playback to the
receiving stations of FIG. 11. In FIGS. 13 and 14, there is
disclosed an alternate system for providing an audio-only playback
to the receiving stations of FIG. 11, the system of FIGS. 13 and 14
also employing the equipment previously disclosed in FIGS. 6 and 8,
but including further the addition of a fixed-frequency tone,
F.sub.3, for use as a synchronization signal and which is located
in the upper end of the audio spectrum along with the frequencies
F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 previously disclosed in FIG. 10. FIGS. 15, 16
and 19 show a further modification of the audio-only system wherein
the scoring and response criteria signals of FIGS. 6 and 8 are
transmitted as unintelligible burst code signals between
intelligible voice signals, rather than by modulation of the
scoring and response criteria signals on a set of carrier
frequencies as disclosed in FIG. 10. FIGS. 17, 20 and 21 show a
further modification of the audio-only system wherein voice
signals, a synchronization signal, and the scoring and response
criteria signals may be transmitted simultaneously on separate
tracks of a recording medium. With either the video or audio-only
recording and playback, it may be desirable to employ a central
dispenser of hard copy of respondents' answers as at a central
console disclosed in FIG. 11; a system for connecting individual
response units to the central dispenser being disclosed in FIG. 18.
The systems of FIGS. 11-20 will now be described in further
detail.
[0294] With reference to FIG. 11. there is shown an aircraft cabin
500 provided with receiving stations 502 and a central console 504.
While numerous receiving stations 502 may be present in the cabin
500, three such stations are shown by way of example. FIG. 11 also
shows a floor 506 and a vertical partition 508 of the cabin 500.
Each receiving station 502 comprises a seat 510 supported by legs
512 upon the floor 506. The partition 508 separates the console 504
from the stations 502.
[0295] The console 504 includes the television system 220 and
viewing screen 208, described above with reference to FIG. 6, and
the dispenser 360 described above with reference to FIG. 8.
Included with the dispenser 360 is electrical circuitry 514 which
includes a digital communication system 516 (FIGS. 11 and 18) which
connects the dispenser 360 to the receiving stations 502. The
screen 208 permits an aircraft attendant to monitor the program
being played back for passengers sitting in each of the receiving
stations 502. The program is recorded initially by a video cassette
recorder 518 (including a playback capacity), also shown in FIGS. 3
and 6, connected at an input to the television system 28 or the
television system 220 for providing video recordings of the program
produced at the central station 12 (FIG. 3) or the central station
202 (FIG. 6). If desired, the recorder 518 may be connected to an
output of the central station 12 or 202. Alternatively, the
recorder 518 can be formed in a more simple fashion without the
need for demodulation and modulation circuitry if the recorder is
to be connected to the output terminal of the combiner 70 (FIG. 3)
or the combiner 238 (FIG. 6). With the alternative form of
recorder, playback is accomplished by connecting output terminals
of the recorder directly to the television station 208 and to the
speaker 270 in FIG. 6. In the case of an audio-only recording, an
audio recorder 520, which includes a playback capacity, would be
connected to the output terminal of a summer 236A as will be
described with reference to FIG. 13. Either the recorder 518 or the
recorder 520 is to be employed with the console 504 in FIG. 11,
depending on whether a video or audio-only recorder is to be
employed. By way of example, the video recorder 518 is shown in
FIG. 11 connected by an input cable 502 to an input terminal of the
television system 220. Knobs 524 are provided on the console 504
for operation of the television system 220 and for selection of
operating functions of the dispenser 360.
[0296] Each receiving station 502 further comprises a television
screen 208A which is mounted upon the back of a seat 510, or on the
partition 508, for viewing by a passenger sitting in a seat 510.
The screens 208A function in the same fashion as does the screen
208. The mounting of a screen 208A to the back of a seat 510 may be
accomplished by means of a swivel mount 526 which enables the
screen 208A to be swung to a stowage position conveniently located
away from a passenger. The screen 208A is employed only for the
video playback, and is not needed for an audio-only playback. Also
included within each receiving station 502 is a dispenser 210A
which employs components previously disclosed in the description of
the response unit 210 of FIG. 6, and may be modified as will be
described hereinafter to facilitate its use in a receiving station
502. Also provided in each of the receiving stations 502 is a set
of earphones 528 by which a passenger listens to the audio portion
of the program produced at the central station 12 (FIG. 3) or 202
(FIG. 6).
[0297] The earphones 528 are connected to the TV system 220, in the
case of a video playback, in the same manner as is the speaker 270
(FIG. 6) or, connected to the TV system 28 (FIG. 3) as is the
speaker 86. This interconnection will be described in further
detail in FIG. 12. The TV screens 208A are connected electrically
via coaxial cable 530 to the TV system 220. Connection of the
console 504 to the earphones 528 is made by an electrical line 532,
the line 532 being connected via an armrest of a seat 510 to the
corresponding earphone 528. Signals for activating the response
unit 210A in each of the stations 502 is provided by an electric
line 534 which connects with the console 504, connection of the
line 534 being made by way of the armrest of a seat 510 to the
respective response unit 210A. Both the earphones 528 and the
response unit 210A are connected via flexible lines 536 and 538,
respectively, to an armrest of a seat 510. The line 538 is an
electric line, while the line 536 may be either an electric line or
an acoustically conducting tube, connected by a transducer of
electric to sonic signals in the armrest, as is frequently employed
in passenger aircraft.
[0298] The connections of the screens 208A, the earphones 528 and
the response unit 210A to the T.V. system 220 of the console 504
are disclosed further in FIG. 12. Therein, it is seen that each of
the earphones 528A is connected in parallel to the speaker 270 so
that a passenger can hear in the same fashion as was disclosed for
a respondent in the description of FIGS. 3 and 6. Similarly, the
screens 208A are connected in parallel with the screen 208 to
enable a passenger to view a televised program in the same fashion
as was described for a respondent with reference to FIGS. 3 and
6.
[0299] Each of the response units 210A is connected via the two
lines 346 and 348 to the TV system 220 in the same fashion as was
disclosed for connection of the response unit 210 to the television
system 220. In this way, in the viewing of the program, the
listening to the host of a program, and the entering of responses
is accomplished in the cabin 500 in the same fashion as was
disclosed for respondents at the remote receiving stations
disclosed hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6. The
connection of the video recorder 518, during playback, is the same
as was disclosed with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6 during a recording
mode. FIG. 12 also shows that a response unit 210 may be connected,
if desired, to the TV system 220 in the console 504 to enable the
attendant to practice responses along with passengers who are
playing TV games. Alternatively, if desired, the response unit 210
may be deleted from the central console 504. It is noted also that
the screens 208 and 208A and the interconnecting cable 530 would
not be employed in the case of an audio-only playback of the
program of the central station 202 (FIG. 6).
[0300] By way of alternative embodiment, it is noted that
recording/playback apparatus, such as the recorder 518 could be
combined with a response unit 210A in the manner of a small,
portable unitary structure to allow a person to play a game or
other subject matter privately at a location of convenience. A
similar, but larger, unitary structure is provided, as discussed
above, in the connection of the response unit 210 to the TV system
220 in the console 504 for enabling the attendant to practice
responses along with passengers who are playing TV games.
[0301] In a typical embodiment of the invention, a video tape is
employed to display a map of the general area over which a plane is
flying. An accompanying audio message provides questions to
passengers wishing to participate, the questions pertaining to the
geography, topography, demography, history, industry, resorts,
sports and any other aspect of the region. It is an advantage of
this method that the ground does not have to be visible to
passengers, who will see the ground by video-tape presentation.
Such programs can be sponsored by groups interested in promoting
one or another aspect of natural or man-made resources of the area,
such as Chambers of Commerce, historical societies, resorts,
airlines, commercial sponsors, tourist offices of states and the
like. A plurality of audio tapes pertaining to the same map, but
containing different questions, may be prepared and used
alternatively. Other variations and combinations may be
devised.
[0302] In the foregoing embodiment, the video or audio tape serves
as the recording medium upon which the program, tasks to be
performed, appropriate answers against which responses are to be
gauged, and scoring criteria are stored. However, in the practice
of the invention, it is contemplated that other forms of data
storage may become available to serve as the storage medium, such
as optical discs and electronic circuitry such as a read-only
memory.
[0303] According to another embodiment, each passenger is given a
printed topographic map, which may or may not be of the region over
which a plane flies or through which a mass transportation vehicle
is traveling. Audio questions pertaining to the names or any other
features not shown on the map have been prepared and stored on
alternative tapes. The audio questions are received through
headsets. Travelers responses can be marked on the maps, which can
be evaluated and scored as described in the context of educational
tests. Alternatively, contestants may enter their answers on a
keypad, and the individual answers are evaluated and scored as
described hereinabove. The methods described can easily be adapted
for use in a variety of public locations, such as hotel rooms,
restaurants, game arcades, auditoriums, trains, buses, and
airplanes.
[0304] With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, there is shown a
modification of the central station 202 (FIG. 6) and the
interconnection with the response unit 210 (FIGS. 6 and 8) which
enable the response unit 210 to operate with an audio-only
recording of the program provided in the studio of the central
station 202. The single host 212 of FIG. 6 is replaced in FIG. 13
with an announcer 540 and an instructor 542. The announcer 540
provides a verbal description of a scene in the studio, such as a
description of the specimen 214 (FIG. 6) by speaking into a
microphone 230A. This verbal description takes the place of the
televised picture provided by the camera 228 (FIG. 6). The
instructor 542 (FIG. 13) explains the task and instructions for
responding to the studio situation by speaking into a microphone
230B. It may be advisable, in order to facilitate response by
respondents in the aircraft cabin 500 (FIG. 11) to employ both male
and female voices at the microphones 230A-B so that a respondent
can more readily distinguish between a description of the scene and
an instructional message. For example, the instructor 542 may be a
male and the announcer 540 may be a female. Electric signals
outputted by the microphones 230A-B are combined together in a
summing amplifier 544 and applied to an input terminal of a summer
236A which functions in the same manner as the summer 236 of FIG.
6. Also included in the system of FIG. 13 are the keyboards 224 and
226 of FIG. 6, as well as the signal processors 232 and 234 of FIG.
6. In FIG. 13, an output terminal of the summer 236A connects with
an input terminal of the audio tape recorder 520 for recording the
verbal messages of the announcer 540 and the instructor 542. The
tape recorder 520, in this embodiment of the invention, may employ
a recording medium having only a single recording track.
[0305] In the central station 202 of FIG. 6, oscillators 242 and
244 were employed to provide reference signals at frequencies
F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 for operation of modulators 252 of the signal
processors 232 and 234. Additional oscillators 236 and 278 were
employed in the TV system 220 (FIG. 6) to provide the corresponding
reference signals for demodulation of the response and scoring
criteria signal. However, in the audio-only system of FIGS. 13 and
14 wherein the playback speed of the tape recorder 520 may vary
during playback from the speed employed during recording, it is
desirable to synthesize the reference signals at the frequencies
F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 from a single reference signal recorded on the
recording medium. Thereby, demodulation is accomplished accurately
independently of playback speed. The single reference signal which
serves to synchronize the playback and recording functions is
provided by a clock 546 (FIG. 13) and a filter 548. The clock 546
outputs a periodic train of rectangular clock pulses, which clock
pulse train is filtered by the filter 548 to transform the pulse
train into a sinusoidal waveform at the pulse repetition frequency
of the pulse train. This frequency is designated F.sub.3 in the
drawing.
[0306] The system of FIG. 13 further comprises frequency divider
550, a mixer 552, and two filters 554 and 556. The frequency
divider 550, which may include a pulse counter (not shown),
operates in a well-known fashion to output a pulse train at a lower
frequency, designated F.sub.d. The signals at the frequencies
F.sub.3 and F.sub.d are applied to input terminals of the mixer 552
to output signals at the sum and difference frequencies, these
signals being captured by the filters 554 and 556 to provide the
reference signals at the frequencies F.sub.1 and F.sub.2. The
frequency F.sub.d is equal to the difference of frequency between
the frequency F.sub.3 and either of the frequencies F.sub.1 and
F.sub.2. The signals at the frequencies F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are
applied to the processors 232 and 234 which operate in cooperation
with the keyboards 224 and 226 to output coded modulated signals to
the summer 236A in the same fashion as has been described earlier
with reference to FIG. 6. The synchronization signal at frequency
F.sub.3 is also applied to an input terminal of the summer 236A.
These signals are summed together along with the signals of the
microphones 230A-B to provide a composite signal which is outputted
by the summer 236A and recorded on a recording medium of the
recorder 520.
[0307] In FIG. 14, a receiving system 558 interconnects a response
unit 210 with an output terminal of the audio recorder 520. The
receiving system 558 of FIG. 14 takes the place of the TV system of
FIG. 6 in providing an interconnection between the response unit
210 and a televised signal received at either the antenna 282 or
from the video recorder 518. In FIG. 14, the receiving system 558
employs the synchronization signal at frequency F.sub.3 to
regenerate the reference signals at frequencies F.sub.1 and F.sub.2
for use by the demodulators 266 and 268. Both the receiving system
558 and the TV system 220 include the band-pass filters 272 and 274
and the demodulators 266 and 268 which function in the same manner
in both the TV system 220 and the receiving system 558. In FIG. 14,
the receiving system 558 further comprises the filters 548, 554,
and 556, the frequency divider 550 and the mixer 552, all of which
have been described previously with reference to FIG. 13. Also
included in the receiving system 558 is the speaker 270 which has
been described previously with reference to the TV system 220 of
FIG. 6.
[0308] In operation, an output signal of the recorder 520 is
applied simultaneously to the filter 548, to the filters 272 and
274 and to the speaker 270. The filter 548 extracts the
synchronization signal at the frequency F.sub.3 from the composite
signal outputted by the recorder 520. The filters 272 and 274
extract the spectral bands of the response and scoring criteria
signals, respectively for applying the signals to the demodulators
266 and 268, respectively. An output signal of the filter 548 is
applied as the synchronization signal for operation of the response
unit 210, and is also applied to the frequency divider 550 and the
mixer 552. The frequency divider 550 operates to provide the lower
frequency F.sub.d to the mixer 552 which outputs sum and difference
frequencies to the filters 554 and 556 to attain the reference
signals at frequencies F.sub.1 and F.sub.2. By way of example, in
the construction of the frequency divider 550, a division ratio of
40 may be employed such that, by way of example, if the frequency
F.sub.3 has a value of 20,000 Hz, then F.sub.d has a value of 500
Hz and the frequencies F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are separated by 1,000
Hz. The division ratio of 40 is given only by way of example, it
being understood that other ratios may be selected in accordance
with desired spectral bandwidth and separation of the response and
scoring criteria signals. The reference signals at the frequencies
F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are employed by the demodulators 266 and 268 in
the same manner as was described with reference to FIG. 6 for
outputting the response and storing criteria signals on lines 346
and 348, respectively, to the response unit 210. The response unit
210 and the speaker 270 may be located in the console 504 of the
aircraft cabin 500 (FIG. 11) if desired for convenience of an
aircraft attendant, but need not be provided in the console 504
insofar as the practice of the invention is required. For
simplicity, the response unit 210 and the speaker 270 have been
omitted from the console 504 in FIG. 11. In FIG. 14, output signals
of the receiving system 558 are provided along lines 532 and 534
respectively to the earphones 528 and response units 210A at the
receiving stations 502 of the cabin 500. The audio recorder 520 may
be provided with a speed control knob 560 so as to match the
playback speed to the recording speed for accurate reception of the
voice signals from the speaker 270.
[0309] During playback of the game program of the aircraft cabin
500, the announcer 540 provides a detailed description of the scene
in the studio. The instructor 542 asks the questions and sets an
interval of time for response. During the response interval,
neither the instructor 542 or the announcer 540 are speaking. Thus,
there would be the absence of any sound during the response
interval, which situation might possibly confuse a respondent as to
whether or not his earphones were still operative. Accordingly, it
may be desirable to play softly background music from a music
source 562, such as a tape recorder, the music being received by
the microphones 230A and 230B for transmission to the respondents.
Either the announcer 540 or the instructor 542 may operate the
keyboard 224 and 226.
[0310] In FIG. 6, a telephone circuit 280, as has been described
previously, serves as a means for interaction between a respondent
and personnel at the central station 202. Also, in the case of FIG.
11 with the recorded playback in the aircraft cabin 500, a form of
interaction is possible. Such interaction is attained by a
respondent commenting to a flight attendant that the questions are
too hard, or that the response intervals are too short, or that
further description of the specimen 214 (FIG. 6) is required. The
flight attendant then responds by replaying a portion of the
recorded program to provide the additional description, or
alternatively, advances to another portion of the recording medium
to provide for simpler questions. As a further alternative, the
flight attendant may insert another audio tape cassette into the
recorder 520 to provide a further version of a recorded program in
which longer response intervals have been provided, or wherein
other forms of questions have been provided.
[0311] FIGS. 15 and 16 show an embodiment of the system wherein
encoded response and scoring-criteria signals are transmitted as
rapid bursts of sound, which are unintelligible to a respondent.
The burst of sound is transmitted between intervals of speaking by
the announcer 540 and the instructor 542. A time sequence
demonstrating the transmission of such response and scoring
criteria between spoken messages of the announcer 540 and the
instructor 542 is presented in the timing diagram of FIG. 19. The
system of FIG. 15 includes the two microphones 230A and 230B, the
summing amplifier 544 and the keyboards 224 and 226 which have been
described with reference to FIG. 13. Output signals of the keyboard
224 and 226 are applied respectively to encoders 248A and 248B
which function in the manner described for the encoder 248 of FIG.
6. The encoders 248A and 248B also incorporate identifying signals
for digital words to distinguish between response criteria of the
keyboard 224 and the scoring criteria of the keyboard 226. The
identifying digital words are attained from digital signal sources
564 and 566, respectively. Output signals of the encoders 248A-B
are applied to memories 568 and 570, respectively.
[0312] The system of FIG. 15 also includes the clock 546 and the
filter 548 which function in the manner previously described with
reference to FIG. 13. Two read-out circuits 572 and 574 connect
between an output terminal of the clock 546 and input terminals
respectively of the memories 568 and 570. The memories 568 and 570
may be constructed as shift registers or random-access memories.
Each of the read-out circuits 572 and 574 is responsive to clock
pulses of the clock 546 for reading out data store in respective
ones of the memories 568 and 570 at a rapid rate, for example, 1200
bytes per second wherein each byte is composed of eight bits in a
well-known fashion as is commonly employed by modems in the
transmission of computer signals over telephone lines. Such digital
signals are clearly audible but unintelligible to a person
listening to a telephone line carrying the signals. Answers to
questions can be given in a relatively few seconds, the
transmission of which may be divided up among several bursts each
of which is less than one second duration. Similarly, scoring
criteria can be transmitted via a relatively few number of
short-duration bursts of the coded signals.
[0313] The bursts of data transmitted from the memories 568 and 570
are coupled via a section 576A of a switch 576 to a summer 236B
which functions in the same manner as the summer 236 in FIG. 6.
Switch section 576A is operative to select alternatively output
voice signals of the summing amplifier 544, output data of the
memory 568 or output data of the memory 570. A second section of
the switch 576, namely section 576B, is ganged to the section 576A
to be operative therewith for activating one of the readout
circuits 572 and 574. Activation of a readout circuit 572 or 574 is
accomplished by grounding a control terminal of the readout circuit
by the switch section 576B. The switch 576 is operated either by
the instructor 542 or the announcer 540 when either one of them
pauses in speaking. An earphone 528 connected to an output terminal
of the summer 236B enables the instructor 542 or the announcer 540
to hear the burst code sound so as to operate the switch 576 upon
completion of a data burst. The synchronization signal outputted by
the filter 548 is also applied to an input terminal of the summer
236B. The output signal of the summer 236B is applied to the audio
recorder 520 for a recording of the audio addition of the
program.
[0314] FIG. 16 shows interconnection of an output signal of the
audio recorder 520 with a response unit 210B which is a
modification of the unit 210 adapted for receiving the response and
scoring-criteria signal within a common spectral portion of the
audio band. Also included within the system of FIG. 16 are a
low-pass filter 578 and a high-pass filter 580. The two filters 578
and 580 separate the relatively high frequency synchronization
signal from the data-burst signal outputted by the memories 568 and
570. The data-burst signal is coupled via the low-pass filter 578
to the response unit 210B. The input circuitry of the response unit
210B is similar to that of the response unit 210 of FIG. 8 in that
four decoders are employed. However, in FIG. 8, the four decoders
connect with data on two input signal lines 346 and 348 while, in
the case of the system of FIG. 16, all of the decoders are coupled
to a single input data line 582. In the response unit 210B, the
four input decoders 338A, 340A, 342A, and 344A operate in the same
fashion as the corresponding decoders 338, 340, 342, and 344 of
FIG. 8; however, the decoders 338A, 340A, 342A, and 344A of FIG. 16
also are responsive to the identifying words obtained from the
digital source 564 and 566, (FIG. 15) to identify signals as being
response or scoring-criteria signals. Data signals outputted by the
low-pass filter 578 and the synchronization signals outputted by
the high-pass filter 580 are applied via line 534 to the response
unit 210B in the same fashion as has been described earlier with
respect to the response units 210A of FIGS. 12 and 14. Audio
signals outputted on line 532 from the recorder 520 are applied to
the earphones 528 in the same fashion as has been described above
in FIGS. 12 and 14.
[0315] Synchronization of the response units 210, 210A and 210B are
accomplished, as shown in FIG. 8, by applying synchronization
signals to an input terminal of the clock 352. In the absence of
the synchronization signal, the clock 352 is a free-running clock.
However, in the presence of the synchronization signal, an output
pulse train of clock pulses of the clock 352 is generated in
synchronism with the synchronization pulse. FIG. 17 shows the use
of an audio tape recorder 520A having a recording tape medium with
a plurality of recording tracks thereon. The stylized
representation of the recorder 520A includes four
recording/playback heads 584 connected respectively to upper
terminals of the summing amplifier 544, the clock 564, the encoder
248A, and the encoder 248B which have been described above with
reference to FIG. 15. Each of the heads 584 is located above a
corresponding recording track 586 in a tape recording medium 588.
The medium 588 is rolled upon a roll 590 driven by a transport (not
shown) for passing the medium 588 beneath the heads 584. Playback
circuitry 592 connects with the heads 584 and to the transport for
operating the recorder 520A to play back recorded signals.
[0316] The signals played back are outputted by the circuitry 592
to the earphones 528 (one of which is shown in FIG. 17), and via
lines 346 and 348 and the synchronization signal line to the
response units 210A (one of which is shown in FIG. 17). Herein, the
response-criteria signal and the scoring-criteria signal have been
recorded on separate tracks so as to be coupled via lines 346 and
348 to the response unit 210A.
[0317] Similarly, separate tracks are employed for the
synchronization signal and the voice signals. The use of the four
separate tracks 586 permits the voice signals outputted by the
amplifier 544, the synchronization signal of the clock 564, the
response criteria signal outputted by the encoder 248A, and the
scoring criteria signal outputted by the encoder 248B to be
transmitted during time intervals which are independent of each
other, including a combination of both serial and concurrent
transmissions. This is demonstrated in the timing diagram of FIG.
20 in which the synchronization signal at the second trace of the
graph is shown to be continuously present while the response and
scoring criteria signals, respectively in the third and fourth
traces of the graph, overlap the transmission of the verbal
description of the scene and the instructions.
[0318] FIG. 18 shows circuitry of the response unit 210A which
permits the response unit to communicate via the digital
communication system 516. The response unit 510A has the same
components as the response unit 210 and operates in the same
fashion as the response unit 210, except for the inclusion of the
additional circuitry of FIG. 18. The additional circuitry of FIG.
18 may also be included within the response unit 210B. Comparison
of FIGS. 8 and 18 show that the dispenser 360 receives input
signals from the register 368, the scoring logic unit 370, and the
accumulator 386. The additional circuitry comprises a memory 594, a
modem 596, a decoder 598, and read-out circuitry 600.
[0319] In operation, the memory 594 stores the signals of the
registers 598, the scoring logic unit 370, and the accumulator 386.
The stored signals are subsequently read out, upon command of the
read-out circuitry 600 to the modem 596 which converts the signals
into a form suitable for transmission via the communication system
516. The modem 596 operates in both directions, namely, to transmit
signals from the memory 594 into the communication system 516, and
to direct command signals from the communication system 516 to the
decoder 598. By command of the communication system 516, the
decoder 598 identifies the command as applying to the response unit
210A at a particular seat 510 of the cabin 500 (FIG. 11), and then
directs the read-out circuitry 600 to initiate a reading out of the
stored data from the memory 594 via the modem 596 into the
communication system 516.
[0320] Also included in the circuitry of FIG. 18 is a modem 602 and
a buffer store 604 which comprise a part of the circuitry 514 of
the console 504 (FIG. 11). Signals traveling from response units
210A of the receiving stations 502 via the communication system 516
are applied to the modem 602 which reforms the signal into a form
suitable for storage in the store 604, after which the signals are
applied to the dispenser 360 in the console 504. The buffer store
604 allows the signals received from remote response units 210A to
be stored until the dispenser 360 is available for printing hard
copy of the results of responses entered into the respective
response units 210A at the receiving stations 502. Also, the buffer
store 604 allows the signals received from the remote response
units 210A to be outputted to the dispenser 360 at a rate
commensurate with the operational characteristics of the dispenser
360, which rate may be different from a rate at which signals are
communicated via the communication system 516.
[0321] Thereby, the circuitry 514 including the digital
communication system 516 enables a common central dispenser 360 at
the console 504 to be employed for printing out a hard copy of the
responses produced at the various receiving stations 502. By use of
the central dispenser 360 at the console 504, the apparatus of the
response unit 210A at each of the receiving stations 502 may be
simplified by deletion of their respective dispensers 360. The
deletion of the dispensers 360 from the individual receiving
stations 502 simplifies the complexity and physical size of each
response unit 210A, and may also reduce the cost of the
installation, particularly in aircraft having many receiving
stations 502.
[0322] A further advantage of the embodiments of the invention
employing a prerecorded program is that various versions and
formats of the program may be recorded. Thus, a recording with
difficult-to-answer questions and a recording with easy-to-answer
questions can be prepared. Questions involving a prior knowledge of
history, economics, sports or other subject matter can be prepared
on the same or separate records. Thereby, the flight attendant has
the capacity, in essence, to reformat questions and instructions,
as well as the subject matter being described, in response to
preferences stated by respondents at the receiving stations. The
reformatting of the program, instructional signals, and/or response
and storing criteria are accomplished simply by fast-forwarding the
recording tape to a further position, or by replacing the recording
tape with another tape. The system of the invention may be
installed in schools and hotels, as well as in homes.
[0323] An aspect of the invention combines the eliciting of an
answer with the eliciting of a prediction. An example would be a
sports event which has taken place a relatively long time prior to
such a broadcast, say the U.S. Open Golf Championship held 10 years
prior to the broadcast. A film of the tournament is shown and the
prediction/response solicited pertains to the number of strokes
taken by the eventual winner of the Championship on the third, par
three hole, by way of example. This method permits a person with a
good memory to recall the outcome of the event, i.e. responding to
a question, the answer to which is known. But at the same time, the
method permits a person not having observed the Championship, but
having a knowledge of the game and the players, to make an educated
guess or prediction.
[0324] FIG. 21 shows an audio recorder 520B which is an alternative
embodiment to the recorder 520A on FIG. 17. The recorder 520B
includes a recording medium 588A having five tracks 586 as
distinguished from the four tracks 586 on the medium 588 in FIG.
17. FIG. 21 has many of the components present in FIG. 17, namely,
the two microphones 230A and 230B, the clock 564, the keyboards 224
and 226, the encoders 248A and 248B, the earphones 528 and the
response unit 210A. In FIG. 21, a set of five heads 584 are
employed for recording electric signals on the five tracks 586. A
second set of heads 584 are provided for playback of the signals
recorded on the track 586. The same or a different set of the heads
584 may be employed for recording and playback as may be convenient
in the construction of the audio recorder 520B. The two microphones
230A and 230B are connected by amplifiers 606 and 608 to the
respective heads 584 for recording signals of the microphones
230A-B. Another two amplifiers 610 and 612 are connected to the
corresponding playback 584 for coupling recorded signals of the
microphones 230A and 230B, respectively, via a switch 614 to an
earphone 528. Also provided is a summing amplifier 616 which sums
together the signals of the microphones 230A-B, as outputted from
the recorder 520B, and applies the sum signal via the switch 614 to
the earphone 528.
[0325] The switch 614 provides a respondent at the receiving
station 502 with the option of listening to either the description
of the scene as provided by the announcer 540 (FIG. 13) at the
microphone 230A, or the instructions for responding to the task as
set forth by the instructor 542 at the microphone 230B, or to a
composite of the two speeches of the announcer 540 and the
instructor 542. The embodiment of FIG. 21 allows statements by the
announcer and the instructor to be made independently of each other
such that these statements may be made serially or concurrently. In
addition, the respondent has the option of listening to either one
of these statements independently. It should be noted also, that
while FIG. 11 demonstrates the use of only a single recorder for
all of the respondents, in the case of the audio recorder, it is
possible to provide a separate audio recorder for each respondent
whereby each respondent can play back those portions of the
recording requiring further attention. In such case, connection
will be provided as shown in FIG. 21 wherein each recorder is
outputted to a single earphone and a single response unit rather
than to a set of earphones connected in parallel and a set of
response units connected in parallel.
[0326] FIG. 22 shows a further embodiment of the invention
employing recording apparatus, such as the recorder 520 of FIGS.
13-15, for prerecorded tasks and instructional signals. This
embodiment employs a call-up system 618 wherein a person, or
contestant, wishing to play a game or be involved with an
educational experience, by way of example, simply employs a
telephone 620, preferably a push-button telephone, to call a
number, such as a so-called 900 number employed by telephone
companies in the United States (public telephone service wherein
the caller is automatically billed for the call plus other charges
relating to the nature of the service being provided by the called
party for the caller). After connection is made via a private
switchboard 622, the contestant activates buttons 624 on the
telephone to start the tape recorder 520, stop, rewind and fast
forward the tape recorder 520. Also included within the system 618
is the receiving system 558 previously described with reference to
FIG. 14, and the response unit 210 of FIG. 8. Outputted signals
from the tape recorder 520 are received by the system 558 and
applied to the response unit 210.
[0327] The recording is based on the system described in FIGS. 13
and 14 wherein all control signals (instructional signals) for the
response unit 210 are transmitted in the upper spectral portion of
the audio band, this being above the spectrum of the tone signals
generated by the telephone. Therefore, both types of signals, the
tone and the instructional signals, can coexist at the same time
without interfering with each other. Each channel of the
switchboard 622 includes, in addition to the recorder 520, a
decoder 626, a low pass filter 628, a modem 630 and a receiver 632.
In each channel, the low-pass filter 628 protects the decoder 626
from the instructional signals, and allows only the tone signals to
reach the decoder 626. The decoder 626 translates the tone signals
into digital command signals to activate the recorder 520 for
responding to commands from the telephone push buttons 624 in a
manner similar to the operation of an automatic telephone message
recorder.
[0328] A private home or other location of a contestant may serve
as a remote station which includes a telephone 620, a response unit
210, and a receiving system 558 as described above. Also included
is a modem 634 for connecting the response unit 210 to a telephone
line 636 which interconnects the telephone 620, as well as the
modem 634 to the switchboard 622.
[0329] The system 618 of FIG. 22 operates in a manner analogous to
the operation of the airborne system of FIG. 11 except for the
primary difference that, instead of relying on the aid of a flight
attendant to set up and activate the equipment, the system 618 of
FIG. 22 allows a caller who wishes to be a contestant to activate a
playback of tape recorder/playback apparatus by simply placing a
telephone call. Thereupon, the caller hears the task setting
message, and may operate buttons on the telephone to replay any
portion of the message which he may have not thoroughly understood.
Once a question has been asked along with the transmission of a
timing signal to the response unit 210 indicating the start of a
response interval, any delay on the part of the caller, such as a
replaying of the question, will elicit a logging in of a longer
time for the caller's response by the response unit 210 with a
consequent diminution in a score to be awarded for the
response.
[0330] If desired, the system 618 may be operated in conjunction
with a central station, such as the central station 202 with studio
204 of FIG. 6. The studio 204 is connected electrically by a
message line 638 and a control line 640 to the switchboard 622 to
enable the host 212 to communicate by the telephone lines 636 with
the response units 210 of the contestants. The host 212 also
communicates by the television transmission 222 between antennas
246 and 282 to present a situation, occurring in the studio 204,
upon a television screen 208 at each remote receiving station 206B
of the respective callers. The central station 202 provides
additional flexibility to the operation of the system 618. For
example, the host 212 can provide additional information which
supplements a description of subject matter provided by the
prerecorded message in the tape recorders 520. The additional
information may be in the form of a video presentation on the TV
screen 208 plus a narrative description.
[0331] Further options in the operation are as follows. In the
absence of the television transmission 222, the host 212 can speak
directly on each of the telephone lines 636 to provide a
supplemental verbal description to the telephone 620 of each
caller. This is accomplished by sending a control signal from the
central station along the line 640 to direct the switchboard 622 to
connect the telephone lines 636 to the message line 638. The voice
of the host then is carried via the message line 638 to the
switchboard 622 which connects the voice to the telephone lines
636.
[0332] Also, by use of the control line 640 and the switch board
622, the host can send a synchronization tone signal to synchronize
the tape recorders 520 to simultaneously activate the response
units 210 of the various callers. For the foregoing purposes, the
central station 202 (FIG. 22) comprises an additional keyboard 642
and a tone encoder 644 connected thereto, as well as a microphone
646. The control signals are generated by pressing a specific key
or keys of the keyboard 642 to activate the desired function, the
keys generating command signals which are converted by the encoder
into tone signals which are recognized by the switchboard 622 and
the decoders 626 to provide a desired switching function and a
desired function of the recorders 520. The microphone 646 is
connected to the message line 638 so that the host 212 in the
studio 204 of the central station 202 can employ the microphone 646
to speak to the callers. Also, by means of the switchboard 622 a
host at the central station 202 can access the recorders 520 to
preset them to a specific portion of the recording tape, thereby to
regulate the presentation of tasks via the system 618 to a desired
level of difficulty. Thus, control of selected portions of the
recording tape can be provided alternatively by respondents at
receiving stations or by the host at the central station.
[0333] The modems 634 are connected to the register 368 and the
accumulator 386 (FIGS. 8 and 22) in respective ones of the response
units 210 for transmitting data of the responses and the scoring of
the respective contestants to the respective receivers 632. Each
modem 634 converts the digital signals of the register 368 and the
accumulator 386 to tone signals which can be carried by the
telephone lines 636 and the switchboard 622, the tone signals being
converted back to the digital format by respective ones of the
modems 630 to be received by the receivers 632. As noted in block
388 of FIG. 8, identification of the remote station is included
within the data outputted by the response units 210, so that the
set of receivers 632 can correlate a score with a specific remote
station. Thereby, the host 212. or other persons in charge of the
quiz show or operation of the prerecorded programs, can be provided
with response data which may be used in modifying the questions to
be presented at a future time, for announcing winners of a quiz
show, for dispensing prizes to winning contestants, and for other
such purposes.
[0334] If desired, the conducting of the quiz or game show, or
other type show, can be accomplished as has been described with
reference to FIG. 6, with the switchboard 622 of the system 618 of
FIG. 22 being employed only for the recording of test scores or
other results communicated by the modems 634 and 630.
[0335] One interesting aspect of the foregoing embodiment of the
invention becomes apparent in a game show wherein remote
contestants, namely, the contestants at the remote receiving
stations, participate with the studio contestants in a game to win
prizes, the prizes being awarded to both the studio and the remote
contestants. As a simple example, consider roulette being played in
the studio and observed via television at the remote stations. With
reference to FIG. 22, contestants from the remote stations call in
to the switchboard before the game starts, and establish a
telephonic connection. After the wheel begins spinning, each caller
employs the keyboard in his or her response unit to enter numbers,
colors or other predictions of the type made by a player at the
side of the roulette wheel. A timing signal transmitted to each
response unit terminates the interval during which responses may be
entered, the interval being terminated before the wheel stops. The
criteria for judging the outcome of the prediction, namely the
correct response, is then transmitted to each response unit by the
instructional signal to enable the response units to compute the
scores. The scores are then transmitted via the modems and the
telephone circuits to the central station so that winners can be
announced to both the studio and the remote contestants. In this
way, other games such as chess wherein the next move is to be
predicted, or black jack wherein a card is to be selected, can be
played by both the studio and the remote contestants. The remote
contestants can be located in rooms of a hotel which houses the
studio, within a nearby town, at great distance, or all of the
foregoing locations.
[0336] In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed
in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, apparatus has been presented for transmitting
the instructional signal, by way of example, within the spectrum of
a voice channel, and within the vertical blanking interval between
frames in the video portion of a television transmission. Yet
another form of transmission of the instructional signal which may
be useful in the practice of the invention may be employed, this
transmission being partially optical and being included within the
video portion of the television transmission.
[0337] FIG. 23 shows the optical transmission of the instructional
signal. This alternative mode of transmission of the instructional
signal can be used instead of, or to supplement, the modes
previously described, if desired. FIG. 3 shows installation of this
optional mode of transmission of the instructional signal. In FIG.
3, an entry unit 648, to be described in detail in FIG. 23,
provides the host 50 an additional facility for entry of an
instructional signal. The entry unit 648 outputs a signal in the
form of a television video signal which is to be combined with the
video signal outputted by the camera 54. The combining of the two
video signals is accomplished by a video mixing unit 650 which
operates in the well known manner, frequently employed in sporting
events, whereby two video images provided by two separate cameras,
such as a view of a tennis player preparing to serve and a receiver
preparing to return the ball, are presented side by side on a
television screen.
[0338] The entry unit 648 provides for the encoding of the
instructional signal in the format of a sequence of colored spots
which appear on the television screen 20 along with the picture
provided by the camera 54. The colored spots are located at the
side of the screen 20 so as to avoid interference with a viewing of
the picture provided by the camera 54. In the TV system 28, an
optical detector assembly 652 is positioned alongside of the screen
20 to read and decode the colored spots, and to output the
instructional signal in the format of an electrical signal suitable
for use by the response unit 22 or 210.
[0339] FIG. 23 shows details in the construction of the entry unit
648 and the detector assembly 652, and shows in simplified fashion
the interconnection of these two elements via a communication link
654 which represents the system connection of FIG. 3. The TV system
28 of FIG. 3 has been simplified in FIG. 23 which shows only the
television screen 20 and the components of the detector assembly
652. The entry unit 648 comprises a keyboard 656, an encoder 658
which may be fabricated of a read-only memory (ROM), a register
660, a clock 662, a matrix 664 of light-emitting diodes (LED's),
and a television camera 666. The LED matrix 664 comprises three
clusters 668 of light-emitting diodes 670. There are three diodes
670 in each cluster 668, one of the diodes being red (R), a second
of the diodes being green (G), and a third of the diodes being blue
(B).
[0340] In the TV system 28, the screen 20 shows three of the
colored spots, identified by the numeral 672, and located at a side
region 674 of the screen 20. The three spots are identified further
by the legends 672A-C to facilitate identification of specific ones
of the spots 672. Similarly, the clusters are identified further by
the legends 668A-C to facilitate identification of specific ones of
the clusters 668. The three spots 672A-C correspond to the three
clusters 668A-C, respectively, and are produced by action of the
camera 666 in photographing the three clusters 668A-C. The three
clusters 668 are provided by way of example, it being understood
that another number of clusters, such as two or four clusters by
way of example, may be employed with an equal number of spots 672
being produced on the television screen 20.
[0341] The optical detector assembly 652 which is positioned
alongside of the screen 20 to read the colored spots comprises
three detectors 676, each of which is provided with a red section
(R), a green section (G) and a blue section (B) for detecting the
corresponding colors transmitted by the red, green and blue diodes
670 of a cluster 668 to the camera 666. Each of the detectors 676
is coupled optically by a lens 678 to one of the spots 672 for
focussing emitted by the spot upon the detector. The detector
assembly 652 includes a set of three register circuits 680 coupled
to respective ones of the detectors 676. Each of the register
circuits 680 comprises a register 682 and an AND gate 684 connected
to a terminal of the register 682 for strobing the register 682 to
read signals outputted to the register 682 by the corresponding
detector 676. Each of the detectors 676 outputs signals on three
separate channels corresponding to the red, the green and the blue
colors emitted from a spot 672. The detector assembly 652 further
comprises an address register 686, a decoder 688 which may be
fabricated of a read-only memory, and an optional display 690.
[0342] In operation, and with reference to FIGS. 3 and 23, the host
50 has the capability to send an instructional signal or signals by
the alternative route of the video channel, plus the optical link
at the interface between the screen 20 and the detector assembly
652. This alternate route is implemented as follows. At the entry
unit 648, the host enters an instruction via the keyboard 656. The
keyboard 656 outputs an address to the memory of the encoder 658
which responds by outputting a code to the register 660. The code
may represent a letter of a word, a number, or any one of a
plurality of special terms applicable to a task provided by the
studio 14 (FIG. 1), such as the terms "fairway", "bunker", "rough"
and "green" of a baseball game, or "check", "castle" or "capture"
in a game of chess. The register 660 is connected to the LED matrix
664 by nine lines 692 which activate respective ones of the diodes
670. Each word of the code has nine elements which are stored in
the register 660, the nine code elements being applied respective
ones of the lines 692 to activate respective ones of the diodes
670.
[0343] In the use of the code, there are six choices of colors or
combinations of colors in a cluster 668. The choices are red,
green, blue, red and green, red and blue, and green and blue. The
combination of all three colors which produces white is reserved
for use as a strobe signal for activating the registers 682 in
respective ones of the register circuits 680. The six choices per
cluster 668 provide a total of 216 color coded words for the matrix
664. Any one of the color coded words may be accessed by use of the
keyboard 656. The color coded words are photographed by the camera
666 and then are presented by the screen 20 to the detector
assembly 652 for detection of the cluster colors by individual ones
of the detectors 676. Each of the detectors 676 output detected
colors via a set of three lines to its register 682.
[0344] As shown in a graph 694 appended to the encoder 658, the
colored words are interspersed among white words. The white words
are provided automatically by the encoder 658 after each color
word. At each of the register circuits 680, the presence of all
three colors in a white word activates the AND gate 684 to strobe
the register 682. Thereby, the respective registers 682 are strobed
to output their respective color signals to the register 686 to
provide the register 686 with a complete detected code word. The
code word in the register 686 is applied as an address for the
memory of the decoder 688 to output the alphanumeric symbol or word
which was intended by the host 50 to be transmitted as part, or
all, of the instructional signal. The alphanumeric symbol or word
is presented on the display 690 to be seen by a contestant at a
remote receiving station 18. The alphanumeric symbol or word is
presented also to the response unit 22 (FIG. 4) via line 696 or to
the response unit 210 (FIG. 8).
[0345] The white and colored code words of the graph 694, are
depicted as pulse signals having a predetermined duration. The
duration may be selected as a matter of convenience. However, it is
noted that the camera 666 includes a vidicon which scans the
clusters 668 with a sequence of scan lines (horizontal rows with
reference to the screen 20) which extend in the direction from the
cluster 668A to the cluster 668B. In accordance with normal
television practice, there is an interlacing of pairs of scans to
produce image frames at a rate of thirty frames per second. The
clusters 668 have a width equal to at least a few line scans so
that, within an interval of one sixtieth of a second, a few scans
have been made of all the clusters 668 to provide adequate
opportunity for the detectors 676 to detect the presence of a
color. The region 674 extends beyond the spots 672 to provide a
dark apron to prevent extraneous light from the screen 20 from
entering the lenses 678 to impinge upon the detectors 676. The
pulse duration for the light signals outputted by the cluster
diodes 670 may be one sixtieth of a second for maximum data rate,
and may be longer if desired. It is possible to have a still higher
data rate by allowing only one scan line for each pulse, but it may
be desirable to use a slower data rate for better signal to noise
ratio.
[0346] In the response unit 22 of FIG. 4 the instructional signals
of the decoder 100 and the detector assembly 652 are applied via an
OR gate 698 to the memory 108. The OR gate 698 allows the
instructional signals to be applied alternatively or in
supplementary fashion to operate the memory 108 in the manner
described previously with reference to signals outputted by the
decoder 100. In a similar fashion, the signals from the detector
assembly 652 an be applied (not shown) also to the memory 106 if
desired.
[0347] In the response unit 210 of FIG. 8 the instructional signals
of the decoder 344 and the detector assembly 652 are applied via an
OR gate 700 to the memory 334. The memory 334 has been selected by
way of example, it being understood that the signals of the
detector assembly 652 can be applied, if desired, to another of the
memories of the response unit 210. The OR gate 700 allows the
instructional signals to be applied alternatively or in
supplementary fashion to operate the memory 108 in the manner
described previously with reference to signals outputted by the
decoder 344.
[0348] The display 690 (FIG. 23) is useful for a contestant in that
it allows the contestant to have information, in addition to that
presented on the screen 20, which may be significant for
determining the contestant's response. For example, there may be an
increase in the amount of scoring points to be awarded for a task
of higher difficulty level which would encourage the contestant to
take a chance and select the higher difficulty level.
[0349] With reference again to FIG. 22, it is noted that
utilization of the telephone system therein for carrying out the
invention can be accomplished in an advantageous manner by
employing the telephone system to collect and dispense funds for
participants in games, contests, and other projects by the simple
expedient of crediting or debiting the accounts of telephone
subscribers who participate in the practice of the invention. This
permits virtually instantaneous payment of an entry fee to a game,
by way of example, and dispensing of an award in the form of a
token or card having a monetary value or by crediting a player's
telephone account with cash. The use of the telephone system for
this purposes will be described now with reference to FIG. 24.
[0350] FIG. 24 presents a diagram useful in explaining the use of
the system of FIG. 22 for transference of funds in the practice of
the invention. A central telephone facility 702 connects via a
communication link 704 with a telephone subscriber's station 706
(typically the subscriber's home) and to the subscriber bank 708 or
other financial institution, by way of example. Via line 710, the
subscriber can authorize the central facility 702 to charge the
subscriber's account at the bank 708. A response unit 210 (shown in
FIGS. 6 and 8) is located at the subscriber station 706. A central
broadcast and monitoring facility 712 provides a broadcast
presentation 714 with a broadcast signal transmitted to the
subscriber station 706 to be observed by the subscriber. The
subscriber responds to the broadcast transmission by entering a
response in the response unit 210. Outcome criteria signals are
transmitted via line 716 directly to the response unit 210. A coded
signal transmitted via line 636 (described in FIG. 22) from the
central telephone facility 702 can be employed to activate the
response unit 210.
[0351] The response unit 210, in terms of the presentation of FIG.
24, may be regarded as a subscriber subsystem providing functions
described hereinabove. These functions are the decision entry
provided by the subscriber-contestant upon use of the keyboard of
the response unit, comparing of the entered response with the
criteria sent by line 716 from the facility 712, the generation of
a hard copy card which serves as a token describing the amount of
the award and presenting other information needed for claiming a
prize, and the dispensing of the token by the response unit
210.
[0352] A number of methods in accordance with aspects of the
invention will now be described, the methods utilizing the
electronic circuitry described herein. It is noted that the systems
of the various aspects of the invention can be used to conduct
contests, such as quiz shows wherein the answers to questions are
known at the time the questions are asked. The systems however,
also lend themselves to conducting games, contests or tasks
involving predictions of the outcome of future events, including
games of chance. While the methods for conducting such programs on
radio or television programs vary, they all have the important
common capability of informing members of the remote audience
without delay whether the responses, predictions or gambles have
met with success. The success may be defined as an acceptable
response to a task or question, an acceptable prediction or the
outcome of an event, or the winning of an award in a game of
chance. When desired, each successful member of the audience may be
issued a token or an award or prize virtually instantly after the
success becomes known. The token may include a monetary prize. Its
is noted that all of the methods described utilize electronic
equipment at the locations of the viewer or listener to evaluate
responses, and to award successful participants. The system does
not require central computers, thereby obviating the need for
simultaneously processing large numbers of viewer responses at a
central location.
[0353] Many events, including games, can be implemented by the
methodology of the invention. Such events take place on large and
small defined areas ranging for instance from an 18-hole golf
course to a football field and baseball diamond, and to a chess
board. All of these areas have the characteristic in common of
being able to be subdivided so as to identify portions thereof or
locations thereon. Locations can be identified with the aid of
grids with coordinates or other identifying plan to implement the
methodology of aspects of the invention.
[0354] Frequently, in the course of a game, an object is moved by a
person, and a prediction may be made as to the location to which
the object moves. In some sports events the object moved is the
body of the athlete himself. A TV-viewer follows the progress of
such a game or contest and enters a prediction of an outcome on an
entering device by identifying the area or point at which the
object is anticipated to come to rest, or is to be placed by a
person addressing the object. Such an observer normally can follow
the unfolding of the event on a TV-screen. Following the event,
such as in a football game, a track and field event, or a move by a
chess player, the producers of the TV-show identify the actual
location to which the object has moved. Coordinates of the location
or other identification signals are transmitted to remote sites of
the TV viewers, so as to permit comparing the actual location with
the predicted location entered by television observers. Response
criteria for evaluating the outcome of the predictions are similar
to the previously described criteria of the instructional
signals.
[0355] The prediction entering device prevents entries at or after
the point in time when the object being addressed, moves, or when a
participant, such as an athlete, commences action. The comparison
and scoring circuits of the aforementioned entering and evaluating
devices at remote locations identify and score acceptable
predictions as defined by the instructional signals. A successful
participant is informed, when desired by a dispensing of printed
coupons or magnetized cards, as previously described, immediately
following the relevant event or move of an object.
[0356] In televising such an event, the producers may superimpose a
grid or coordinates on the television picture for the purpose of
enabling observers to identify areas or points broadly or with as
much specificity as is desired or practical under the
circumstances. Such a grid is helpful in making predictions and in
identifying outcome locations. A grid may be subdivided into
portions of different dimensions.
[0357] It is advantageous that the above-described predictive
method can be applied to a large variety of events and games in
which an object is moved once or repeatedly, such games including,
by way of example, baseball, football, golf, and chess. Depending
on the size and configuration of the playing area, the area may be
sub-divided into larger and smaller portions. A prediction of a
smaller portion of the area to which an object may move, and
therefore a more difficult prediction, is rewarded with a prize of
greater value than a prediction pertaining to a larger portion. For
example, a prediction in a golf match may pertain to the location
of a hit ball on large areas, such as a fairway or rough, or on
smaller areas, such as on the green, or even in the cup.
Predictions may relate to the ultimate outcome of two or more
intermittent events, such as the location of a golf ball after
three strokes, the position of a chess piece after two moves, or
the total number of hits of a baseball player at the end of five
innings. To provide for such cumulative outcome predictions, data
storage means as previously described, are included in an
observer's evaluating device.
[0358] Events included in a broadcast contest to which predictions
relate may be presented visually or audibly. In an aspect of the
practice of the invention, a host or commentator asks for one or
more predictions and if a plurality of predictions is available, a
TV-viewer selects a prediction. If there exist two or more
predictions, outcome criteria are provided for evaluating the
response of an observer or contestant to all relevant outcomes, the
outcome criteria being conveyed to remote locations after an
announced event, or events, has occurred. In another embodiment,
outcome criteria are conveyed relative to outcomes of events not
specifically made known or announced by a host, such as the final
order in which horses cross the finish line at the end of a race.
This enables a TV-viewer to elect to predict an outcome not
previously mentioned in the transmission from a central station, in
the hope that outcome criteria relative to the prediction will
nevertheless be conveyed and that a correct prediction of such
unannounced event will be rewarded with a prize.
[0359] In case a participating TV viewer elects to predict the
outcome of an event not specifically identified or announced by the
host, the participant runs the risk that there will be no
transmission of outcome criteria signals pertaining to that
participant's prediction, thus ruling out all chances of winning a
prize. It therefore is the twofold task of a TV-viewer in such a
situation to anticipate which unannounced event hopefully will be
provided with outcome criteria, and that the participant will
correctly or acceptably predict the outcome. Awards for such
successful predictions will be correspondingly higher.
[0360] In view of the fact that in the above described example the
outcome criteria are conveyed to remote locations following the
event to which the criteria relate, the success or outcome criteria
may be transmitted in uncoded and visually or audibly intelligible
form. When conveyed, in such open language, the response criteria
can serve to inform members of the remote audience of the event
which was selected for inclusion in the contest and to advise the
members of the outcome of the event.
[0361] A further use of the invention in conjunction with telephone
facilities, as disclosed in FIG. 22, will now be described.
Dedicated telephone lines such as the so-called 900-numbers in the
United States, or so-called PIN (person identification number) or
ANI (automatic number identification) lines, are used with
increasing frequency to request and obtain special services. These
services include a wide range of information and data which the
telephone systems are capable of providing, the systems being
adapted to automatically playback specific recordings or to provide
answers to specific inquiries.
[0362] According to an aspect of the present invention, a tape
playing facility is provided at a central telephone station as a
subscriber service. Tapes with prerecorded audio or audiovisual
recordings are played back to receivers at remote locations over
cable or over dedicated telephone lines, using modems when
required.
[0363] In a preferred embodiment, a question and answer game is
conducted, and a user of or subscriber to the telephone service who
answers a question in an acceptable manner receives an award as
heretofore described. To conduct such a game, the contents of a
tape are formulated and recorded, including one or more sets of
messages. Each prerecorded message set comprises a question and an
instructional signal conveying answer criteria defining at least
one correct or acceptable answer.
[0364] The question is received in a form intelligible to humans
and normally is accompanied by an indication of the period of time
a respondent has to enter a response on a data entering device. If
the response or answer criteria are transmitted prior to the
expiration of the allowed time interval, they are in coded or
unintelligible form. if the response criteria are transmitted
following the time interval, they can be in open language or other
intelligible form. In the latter case, response or answer criteria
may consist of the actual correct answer or answers.
[0365] The answer criteria may include scoring instructions. If
different levels of difficulty are available, the scoring
instructions convey the methodology or mode of computing the amount
of a prize awarded for acceptable answers at different levels of
difficulty.
[0366] At remote locations of members of the telephone audience, as
described above, members are provided with an electronic response
and evaluation unit, which as a minimum, includes a response
entering device, means for comparing an entered response to an
acceptable response, a timing device and means for informing a user
of the telephone service of an earned award. It is understood, of
course, that communications equipment is available to a user for
contacting the central facility providing the service, in order to
request the playback of a tape. Appropriate means for audibly
and/or visually presenting the contents of the tape and for
informing contestants of an award are provided.
[0367] In those instances where response criteria are received at
remote locations after the time interval allowed for responding to
a task has expired, the response criteria can include signals
conveying one or more correct or acceptable responses in both an
instructional form and in an informative form. The signals, when in
instructional, normally unintelligible digital form, are capable of
activating and controlling circuits, such as the scoring elements
of the response units and, when converted into informative,
intelligible form serve to notify game participants of winning
answers. When response criteria or responses are transmitted prior
to the end of the allowed time interval, transmission is rendered
unintelligible by coding or changing the speed of transmission of
the signals. Depending on the time of transmission before or after
the elapsing of the time interval, the answer criteria therefore
may be unintelligible or may comprise the actual acceptable answers
in open language.
[0368] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, a
question and answer game is prerecorded on a magnetic tape as
previously described. A question is posed and a time limit, for
example, of ten seconds is announced in open language, visually
and/or audibly. At the same time a participant's electronic unit is
directed by instructional signals to accept an entry by a
participant for the following ten seconds and then to evaluate the
entered response in accordance with response criteria. During these
ten seconds, there is either no recording or, if desired, a musical
recording provided on the tape. Following expiration of the ten
second time interval, one or more acceptable and previously
recorded answers are announced in open language. The comparison and
scoring means evaluate a participant's entry relative to the
transmitted response criteria. A successful respondent is informed
in a known manner, which can include the dispensing of a monetary
prize as described. Questions and answers may be at two or more
difficulty levels as described hereinabove.
[0369] In the operation of the system, a dedicated telephone line
may be coupled to a playback device which plays back one specific
tape or one of a specific group of tapes selected by a subscriber
to the telephone service. Thus, by calling a number, the caller
will automatically receive a playback of a particular tape. The
equipment at a subscriber's remote location comprises a sub-system,
including the equipment for two-way communication between the
remote location and the central facilities and further including
the elements of the response unit for entering and evaluating
answers. The two way communication equipment may include means not
only for directing a multiple digit call to a dedicated number, but
also for automatically activating means controlling the tape
playback mechanism. The sub-system may include means requiring only
the lifting of a receiver or the pushing of one button to activate
the playback of a tape at a central location for transmission to
the caller's location.
[0370] When desired, the equipment at a subscriber's remote
location includes previously described means for selecting one of
several difficulty levels chosen by a contestant, answers at a
higher difficulty level being rewarded with a larger prize. And, as
previously described, means are provided for generating a hard copy
record of an award earned by a participant, these means being
capable of printing on a coupon or magnetizing a plastic card so as
to indicate the value of an award, normally a monetary prize. The
response unit in cooperation with a modem (FIG. 22) may transmit
data indicating the amount of a prize won by a participant over the
two-way communicating system to a central location where the amount
of the prize is stored. The operators of the telephone service can
make payment of a prize amount to a winning subscriber in any
fashion, including the crediting of the account of a winning
participant with the amount of a prize, such credited amount being
carried on the ledger of the operator and reflected in billing the
winning subscriber.
[0371] The method and system may be modified so that every time a
subscriber dials a dedicated number, such a call automatically
authorizes the operator of the service to charge an amount to the
caller, which amount can be on a per use basis, on a time basis, or
can be determined by the caller.
[0372] When desired by a participant, a prize amount can be
electronically transferred by the subscription service to a bank
account of the participant so that the amount of the prize is
immediately available to the winner in such a game.
[0373] In another version of the present invention, members of a
remote audience wager on the outcome of an event. Members can place
bets on the accuracy of their respective predictions, but do not
necessarily play against other members of the audience.
[0374] Using a two-way communication system a participant, who has
a line of credit with an operator of a televised event, may choose
a specific event and stipulate the amount of a wager on the outcome
of the event on which the participant wishes to bet. Events, the
outcome of which can be predicted include sports, elections, polls,
and other kinds of happenings, the outcomes of which are capable of
being defined in terms of results, scores, points, decisions, and
other measurements.
[0375] With reference to FIGS. 22 and 24, the system employs
traditional telephone facilities at a central location which may be
operated by a telephone company, a subscriber service, or by other
facilities operators. The facilities are contacted by a person
wishing to place a bet on the outcome of an event, such contacting
being done by conventional communication means. The person
contacting such central facility, in order to initiate a wager, may
be referred to as an observer, subscriber, wagerer or bettor. In
contacting such a central facility, the observer of an event to
take place authorizes the central service organization to charge
the observer either a previously stipulated amount, an amount
determined by the real time use of the facility, or an amount
stipulated by the observer, such as is the case if the amount of
the wager is fixed by the wagerer. The amount charged to or
authorized by the wagerer is billed to him directly, but may also
be debited by the central subscriber service to the wagerer's bank
account.
[0376] Following authorization by the subscriber, the operator of
the central service initiates the playing of a recording or the
transmission of a broadcast and activates a sub-system of the
subscriber, normally located at the subscriber's home. In addition,
the service operator accepts a bet on a specified outcome of an
event, such acceptance being done by a human operator or through
electronic communication. Thus, for example, within a bettor's line
of credit, a bettor who dials a 900-number and additional digits,
can place a bet and, by dialing a specific number of digits, the
event and amount of a bet can be specified by the subscriber.
[0377] At a central location, which may be the same as or different
from that at which the central telephone facility is located,
events are broadcast to subscribers' remote locations and the
outcomes of events are monitored. Broadcast signals of such events
are transmitted to and received at remote locations, so that
subscribers can follow the progress of events as they unfold.
Outcome criteria signals defining the outcome of an event in
absolute terms or in relation to the predictions and wagers are
transmitted to subscribers at remote locations.
[0378] The response unit at an subscriber's location informs the
subscriber of a successful prediction by generating and dispensing
to a successful bettor a token of a winning bet, such token being a
printed coupon or magnetized card. The response unit also scores a
winning prediction in accordance with an applicable difficulty
level.
[0379] Payments computed and payable to or by a bettor can be
debited or credited to a bettor's account or monthly statements, or
can be reflected directly on the bettor's bank account.
Alternatively, when a winning token is generated and dispensed, the
token which has the amount won indicated thereon, can be submitted
for credit to the operator of the service, to a bank, or to another
redemption center.
[0380] Following authorization of applicable charges, a
subscriber's sub-system can, when appropriate, be made operative by
signals sent over telephone wires or by another form of
communication, including wireless and cable systems. According to
another aspect of the method, the subscriber's sub-system can be
activated by the subscriber, and a hard copy record of a
successfully predicted outcome is dispensed to the observer of an
event. This method is preferred when subscribers do not wish to
place bets, as may be the case in a home or in a public place in
which members of a family or friends are gathered, or when betting
is illegal. Records issued in such an instance have no commercial
value unless validated by a verification number or a code which is
only provided upon a subscriber's having authorized an appropriate
charge by the central telephone or subscriber service. Verification
data are transmitted to remote locations via a communication link
such as a telephone line or cable.
[0381] As an example of operating the system, two central
facilities are provided, one being a telephone subscriber service
and the other being a station televising a sports event, such as a
boxing bout. Viewers are informed that they can wager on the
outcome of each round or on the final outcome of the bout, the
wager being a win, lose, or draw. Viewers also are informed that
boxer A is a favorite over boxer B and that a successful wager on
boxer B will be rewarded with 200% of the amount of the wager,
whereas a successful wager on boxer will be rewarded with 125% of
the amount of the wager. Subscribers to the telephone service then
dial a dedicated number, including additional digits specifying a
chosen round and/or the final result and the amount wagered on each
outcome.
[0382] Viewers watch the event on television and at the end of each
round and/or of the bout, instructional signals are sent from the
central broadcast facility to remote locations defining each
outcome and providing scoring instructions to subscriber response
units for computing the amount won by a successful subscriber.
[0383] The invention may be applied to a game which is conducted
from a central location and enables players at remote locations to
win prizes delivered instantly at each player's location. Prizes
normally take the form of tokens redeemable for cash.
[0384] In an adaptation of the system described, players are
provided with a response unit and recording medium for the
outputting of hard copy with a recording of identifiable data. A
first set of data has been provided on the recording medium prior
to delivery thereof to the players. The data may be presented as
alphanumeric or other symbols. For example, a set data may comprise
a combination of six letters and numbers which have been
prerecorded on a tamper-resisting recording medium.
[0385] The recording medium may consist of a paper tape divisible
into sections or it may consist of a plastic card having data
magnetically recorded thereon. In any event, such token or
recording medium is capable of being placed in the response unit
for the purpose of having recorded thereon at least one additional
second set of alphanumeric data or symbols. Signals from a central
station serve the purpose of conveying data and controlling the
printer of the response unit.
[0386] In the operation of such a system, a second set of data may
comprise, for example, six letters and/or numbers selected or
picked at random at a central location. Signals conveying the data
are electronically transmitted to remote locations. Transmission
can take place over the air or by wire. The central transmitting
facility is adapted to activate and direct the printers to print
the second set of data. The printer also is directed then to print
a third set of data on the recording medium, the third set of data
consisting of a verification code or number.
[0387] The recording medium, which in this instance is a paper
tape, can be separated into sections, each section containing the
first and second sets of numbers or letters, as well as the
verification code.
[0388] A player therefore receives a recording medium with at least
three sets of data, which data may be readable by individuals
and/or may be machine readable.
[0389] If the game is played as a lottery, a winning recording
medium is one which has two sets of alphanumeric data or other
symbols, which either match completely, match partially, or have
some other previously defined correlation. Partially matching sets
of data can be rewarded with small prizes which become larger as
more of the digits match. Other forms of correlation can be
established, whether mathematical or not, including for instance
multiples and fractions.
[0390] When desired, the central transmission facility can instruct
the printer to record additional information on the recording
medium. The response unit compares the two sets of alphanumeric or
other data mentioned, computes the amount of a prize in accordance
with instructional signals transmitted from a central location, and
indicates the amount of the prize on the recording medium.
[0391] According to a preferred embodiment of the method employed
in the system described, a player is able to discern whether two
sets of alphanumeric data on the recording medium are a match, a
partial match, or have some other correlation; but the player may
not know the amount of the monetary prize presented on the
outputted recording medium. The medium, which may be a printed
coupon or a magnetized card is delivered by a winning player to a
redemption center where the player is informed of the size of the
prize. Such a redemption center may be a place of business, for
example, a store in which such a prize evidenced by a printed
coupon or magnetized card may be redeemed for cash and/or
merchandise. This method of informing players that they have won a
prize, without knowing its amount, is utilized to attract buyers to
a place of business. The above method and system permit conducting
a game similar to a lottery by retail businesses, which game is
purely a game of chance and in which players at home may
participate without charge to them.
[0392] Yet another feature of the invention is demonstrated with
respect to FIG. 14 which allows for a replaying of a previously
recorded program without further replay of previously recorded of
response criteria including an acceptable response and a scoring
mode. This is useful in the case of an advertiser who provides a
program of a situation about which questions may be asked, the
program being recorded along with response criteria on a tape for
distribution to members of the public. However, possibly for
reasons of awarding a prize to successful respondents, the
advertiser wishes to conduct a question and answer procedure only
once so that prizes can be awarded only once. But, the program
situation which typically includes descriptions of a advertised
products may be played back numerous times.
[0393] This feature may be demonstrated, by way of example, by
constructing the recorder 520 of FIG. 14 with both a playback head
718 and a record head 720 disposed alongside the path of a tape 722
upon which the foregoing program and response criteria have been
recorded. This is accomplished by providing the recording medium of
the tape 722 with a first portion which stores the program
situation including advertising information (or other data), and a
second portion which includes the response criteria. The
distinction between the two portions of the recording medium is
shown diagrammatically in FIG. 14 by use of a set of dots at 724 on
the tape 722 to identify the second portion of the recording
medium. Included in the second portion is a digital code which
commands a disabling of the recorded response criteria data after
the response criteria has been played back. The tape 722 moves, in
a direction shown by an arrow, from the playback head 718 to the
record head 720. As the second region at 724 moves past the
playback head 720, the digital code is retrieved along line 346 and
decoded by a decoder 726 also located in the recorder 520. Upon
receipt of the digital code, the decoder 726 records a disabling
signal upon, or erases, the second portion of the recording medium
so that the response criteria originally recorded thereon can no
longer be used. Alternatively, the recording of a disabling signal
may be replaced by a step of physically impairing the integrity of
the second recording position.
[0394] With reference to FIG. 25, and in accordance with a further
aspect of the invention, it is desirable to provide a respondent
with the capacity to select an area of interest in the program
transmitted from a central station to a remote receiving station.
This area of interest may pertain to answering questions relating
to specific parts of the subject matter presented in the
transmitted program, or to the nature of awards which may be
provided to successful contestants. By way of example in the nature
of the questions requiring a response, the questions may be
directed to historical aspects of the material being presented on
the program, or may be directed to the manner of construction of
items presented in the program, or to the cost of the items. For
example, in a program devoted to the merchant marine in which both
new an old forms of ships are presented, questions may be of an
historical nature directed to when and where certain forms of ships
were employed. Or the questions may be directed to the manner of
construction of ships in both ancient times and the present time.
Questions might also be directed to the cost of buying a ship and
the cost of maintaining a ship. During the presentation of the ship
program advertisers may display, by way of example, merchandise
such as clothing to be worn on cruises and on other vacations.
Coupons awarded to successful contestants may specify a discount
towards specific styles of the clothing or, alternatively may
provide a discount to certain marine products shown in the program
or, by way of further example, toward theater tickets.
[0395] A specific type of award is associated with specific types
or categories of questions which a contestant may select in order
to avail himself or herself the benefit of a preferred category of
award. Thus, a contestants choice of area of interest may be based
on the subject matter of the questions or on the nature of the
award. This capacity for selecting an area of interest greatly
increases the chance that a contestant will participate, and that
the contestant will redeem the coupon. Fortunately, as will be
shown in the ensuing description, this aspect of the invention can
be practiced with a response unit, such as the response unit 22 of
FIG. 4, the response unit 210 of FIG. 8, or a response unit 800 to
be described in FIG. 26, with no more than a minimal change
relating to the addressing of memories therein.
[0396] The addressing of the memories is demonstrated in FIG. 25
with respect to the response unit 210 of FIG. 8. As has been
explained hereinabove with reference to FIG. 8, command signals
entered at the keyboard 356 are operative via the control logic
unit 350 to activate the memories 330, 332, and 334. In the
foregoing description of the system 200 of FIG. 6, or the system
200A of FIG. 7, the central station transmits a televised program
plus answering instructions, scoring criteria and a message to
appear upon a coupon to a remote station wherein the response unit
210 operates with the answering instructions, the scoring criteria
and the coupon message upon activation by a contestant. In
particular, it is noted that the transmission of answering
instructions, the scoring criteria and the coupon message relate to
a single set of questions in only one area of interest, such as the
area A indicated in the memories 332, 334 and 330, respectively.
However, in the practice of this aspect of the invention wherein
the contestant can select areas of interest, the central station
sends also additional sets of answer instructions, scoring criteria
and coupon messages for other areas of interest such as the area B
and the area C shown in FIG. 25. While only three areas of interest
are shown, it is understood that more areas may be employed if
desired. Also, by way of example, four questions are shown in FIG.
25, it being understood that more questions may be provided if
desired.
[0397] To practice the invention, the response unit 210 is provided
with the capacity to store the requisite information for a
plurality of interest areas to enable the respondent to choose an
area of interest. In the operation of a response unit 210, the
respondent first selects the area of interest, after which the
response unit 210 functions in the same manner as has been
described with reference to FIG. 8. The selection is accomplished
by entering at the keyboard 356 a letter, or other symbol,
designating the desired area of interest. The entered letter, as
shown in FIG. 25, serves to address the appropriate regions in each
of the memories 330, 332, and 334, so that the response unit 210
can then function in accordance with the coupon message, the
response criteria and the scoring criteria of the selected area of
interest. The response unit 210 compares responses of the
respondent with the acceptable answers stored in the memory 332 to
identify an acceptable response, scores and times responses in
accordance with data stored in the memory 334, and outputs a coupon
with redemption and advertising data thereon in accordance with
information stored in the memory 330. If desired, the response unit
210 may be provided with a dedicated selector device, such as a
selector switch 802, shown in the simplified view of the keyboard
in FIG. 25, for addressing the memories.
[0398] The capacity to select an area of interest is particularly
useful for the merchandising of products with the aid of a game
show broadcast from the central station 202 of FIG. 6, or
transmitted in prerecorded fashion by use of the recording
apparatus presented in the cabin 500 of FIG. 11 or the system 618
of FIG. 22. The respondent plays the role of a contestant in the
game or quiz program, and also acts as a shopper for merchandise
presented in the program. By use of the selector switch 802, the
shopper selects the area of interest having the product of
interest. The shopper then plays the game or quiz in earnest to
receive a coupon which facilitates purchase of the product by
redemption of the coupon. If desired verification codes may be
imprinted on the coupon in a manner described hereinabove. A
product may also be selected prior to responding to a task, subject
of course, to entering an acceptable answer or prediction.
[0399] FIG. 26 shows the response unit 800. The response unit 800
provides the functions of the response unit 210 of FIG. 8 by use of
a computer 804 which replaces certain components of the response
unit 210, namely, the comparators 372 and 374, the registers 376
and 378, the multipliers 380 and 382, the summer 384, and the
accumulator 386. The computer 804 is operative with a memory 806
which provides the program for performing the functions of the
replaced components, and also connects with the control logic unit
350 for interaction with the memories 330, 332 and 334, the timing
unit 336, and the buffer store 336. The computer 804, which may be
constructed as a microprocessor, outputs signals to the dispenser
390 and to the scoring logic unit 370 as does the accumulator 386
in FIG. 8. Also, the computer 804 can provide data on the display
358 via the control logic unit 350.
[0400] An advantage in the use of the computer 804 is that the
memory 806 may store algorithms for providing more complex routines
for a more versatile scoring of the responses than is possible with
the response unit 210 of FIG. 8. For this purpose, it is desirable
to provide the memory 806 with an external replaceable storage
medium such as a tape which may be mounted on a card, a dedicated
replaceable read-only memory (ROM) chip, or a floppy disk so that
scoring can be customized to match the product selected by the
respondent shopper. The memory may be provided with advertising
data and redemption instructions as well as verification material
to be placed on the coupon awarded to the successful respondent
shopper. This enhances the merchandising capabilities of this
method of the invention wherein the respondent selects areas of
interest. Also, by virtue of the connection of the computer 804 to
the dispenser 390, the computer can direct the imprinting of
specific material on the coupon in accordance with specific
instructions of an advertiser or merchant.
[0401] In some cases, it may be desirable to provide the functions
of comparing responses with acceptable answers, identifying
acceptable responses, and scoring the acceptable responses at a
central station such as the central station 202 of FIG. 22. This is
accomplished by providing the system 618 with a response evaluation
unit 808 connected to the switchboard 622. The response evaluation
unit 808 includes the computer 804 and the memory 806 of FIG. 26 so
as to be able to perform the functions of comparing, identifying,
and scoring. By virtue of the connection of the evaluation unit 808
to the switchboard 622, the functions of the evaluation unit 808
are provided to the central station 202 in response to signals from
the remote stations. For example, these functions could be disabled
in the response units 210 of the remote stations and provided by
the central station with the response evaluation unit 808 employing
algorithms not available to the remote stations.
[0402] FIG. 27 shows a flow chart of the program for operation of
the computer 804 of FIG. 26. Operation begins at block 810 wherein
the computer receives instructions from the program memory 330 via
the control logic unit 350. Then at block 812, the computer reads
the keyboard 356 via the buffer store 366 to determine what entry
may have been made by the respondent. If no entry has been made,
operation loops back to the block 812 for a subsequent reading of
the keyboard. If an entry has been made by the respondent, such as
the entry of a response to a question, the computer reads the
memories 332 and 334 at block 814 for response and scoring criteria
or instructions.
[0403] The procedure advances to block 816 wherein a comparison is
made between the respondents answer with acceptable responses
stored in the response memory 332. This is followed by an
identification of correct and partially correct answers of the
respondent. At block 818, the computer performs the scoring
function giving full credit and partial credit in accordance with
the scoring instructions stored in the memory 334. This is
accomplished by using the scoring criteria including difficulty
level, timing of response, and key word or full text credit where
applicable in accordance with the nature of the response to the
question. Then at block 820, the computer tallies previous scores
from previous answers in a set of answers, if applicable to the
questions at hand, this function having been done by the
accumulator 386 in the response unit 210 of FIG. 8.
[0404] The computer again checks the keyboard at block 822 to see
if there is a further entry. If there is a further entry, operation
loops back to block 814. If there is no further entry after a
predetermined interval of time, operation proceeds to block 824 for
determination of the award. Then, at block 826, the computer
signals the scoring logic unit 370 to command the dispenser 360 to
issue the coupon. The coupon is imprinted with material based on
instructions and data stored in the program memory 330, and may
also contain data stored in the supplemental memory 806.
[0405] The teachings presented in the preceding embodiments for the
systems and methods of the invention are applicable generally to
the selection aspect of the invention providing the product choice
and choice of area of interest. The following discussion amplifies
the description of the practice of the selection aspect of the
invention to provide a full appreciation thereof.
[0406] In many instances, local or regional suppliers of goods and
services develop their own and highly focused marketing priorities.
As an example, a local retailer may wish to dispose rapidly of
certain excess inventory or of perishable goods. Nationally
broadcast programs may not be the most suitable forum for such
promotions.
[0407] Frequently, suppliers prefer to sponsor a coupon program
directed at local or regional audiences. Until now, however, local
newspapers have been the only forum of any consequences available
to such local sponsors for detailed product offers.
[0408] The discounts or prizes are in many instances applicable to
merchandise sold in stores and supermarkets. Specifically included
are children's stores. When desired, the products to which a
discount applies may also include such items as admission tickets,
travel tickets, total accommodations, subscriptions, vouchers,
personal and any other marketable services, including service
agreements.
[0409] The components of the several systems and methods for
practicing the invention will now be described.
[0410] A central broadcasting facility includes the normal elements
for transmitting a program. For purposes of illustration, the
invention will be described in terms of television, but is equally
applicable to radio.
[0411] The television program is received and presented on standard
TV-receivers at viewers' remote locations. The program includes one
or more tasks, such as questions. Members of the broadcast audience
who wish to become contestants on the spur of the moment are
informed of the time allowed for a response to each announced
task.
[0412] Each task is accompanied by one or more predetermined
acceptable responses. Instructional signals conveying response
criteria defining acceptable responses are electronically
transmitted from a central facility to remote locations, said
signals being referred to as response criteria signals. They
include data conveying the allowed period of time and mode for
scoring an acceptable response, i.e. for assigning a calculated
value to the prize coupon dispensed to a successful contestant. The
response criteria are received at remote locations and may be
modified or reformatted by a conductor of the program from task to
task.
[0413] The electronic transmission can be done in any known manner:
it can be on a radio frequency; via optical or light impulse codes,
via cable, vertical blanking intervals or other means.
[0414] If desired, a task, such as a question, may be answered at
one or more levels of difficulty. If there is more than one level
of difficulty, the lowest or base difficulty level normally is
selected by the broadcaster and a higher difficulty level may be
selected by a respondent. Means for such selection are provided to
the broadcaster and to each member of said audience.
[0415] Another group of predetermined signals is transmitted from a
central broadcasting facility to remote locations conveying a
listing of or information pertaining to the products of sponsors of
such a broadcast. The term "product" includes goods and services
whether specifically promoted in the course of such a broadcast,
such as a commercial, or only appearing in the product listing of a
sponsor. The information conveyed by these broadcast signals is
referred to as product signals and comprises prices,
specifications, availability and discounts applicable to specified
products. Product signals may also include "sales", "specials",
free samples and any other information pertaining to such products
and deemed useful by a sponsor. The product information is modified
or reformatted as determined by a sponsor.
[0416] Members of the broadcast audience are equipped with means
for receiving and presenting the broadcast program, which includes
tasks or may essentially consist only of tasks. Members of said
audience have means to receive the response criteria signals and
the product signals, the data for both being stored in appropriate
storage means at members' locations. The product signals can
include all the promotional data mentioned. Product information may
be presented to viewers on a standard TV-set or on a separate
screen or display. In addition, members are provided with means to
enter a response to a task, such response data also being stored at
members' locations.
[0417] The response criteria data product data, when modified,
replace or supersede any previously stored data of the same nature.
Response criteria include, when desired, a formula for placing a
value on an acceptable response, referred to as scoring mode.
[0418] The means provided at members' locations for displaying the
latest product list and other information desired by sponsors
permit sponsors or broadcasters to delete, substitute, add or
modify information. Audience members are equipped with means for
individually selecting from said product list a product they prefer
and intend to purchase. Said selecting means may be separate, or
may be associated with the means for entering a viewer's response
to a task.
[0419] The equipment provided at each remote location normally
includes signal receiving means and presentation means for the
program, task and product information; signal receiving means for
response criteria; entering means for response and product
selection; data storage means; comparing and scoring means; and
means for generating and dispensing a prize token.
[0420] The above mentioned means at contestants' locations may
conveniently be combined into a response unit. The methods
described lend themselves well to narrow-casting. The term
narrowcasting is defined as the ability to transmit product or
service information to a select group of members of a broadcast
audience. The present method described, which dispenses prizes to
individuals intending to purchase a specified product or products,
narrowcasts product information because only viewers with a
discount incentive will use the product information. Conversely,
product information can be utilized only by viewers who have earned
a prize through skill and have qualified for a discount applicable
to a selected product.
[0421] A response entered by a member and stored, if necessary, is
compared by comparison means with the applicable response criteria.
A winning contestant's prize is calculated by scoring means on the
basis of the applicable scoring mode. The product selection and a
winning respondents score are outputted to a device at each
contestant's location for generating a permanent record, such as a
coupon, which, when dispensed, has provided thereon an indication
of the prize and of the chosen product, including any sales or
redemption information the advertiser wants the shoppers to have.
In some instances, only one mode of scoring may be desired. This is
the case if only one fixed award is to be made to winners obviating
the computation of a score. An example would be a "true or false"
type of answer. Such a single fixed award is made to all successful
participants in case a sponsor intends to introduce a new product,
in which event winning contestants are given the opportunity to
select a free sample from a number of different available products.
The chosen product is then specified on a prize coupon.
[0422] The device for generating a permanent record normally
comprises a printer capable of printing or otherwise marking on a
substrate, i.e. the recording medium, the award information,
product information, redemption terms and a verification number;
the record, such as coupon, includes commercial messages, including
advertisements and announcements of special events and prizes. When
desired, prizes may be awarded to a successful contestant over and
above the award for an acceptable response; examples being "blind"
or sweepstake prizes.
[0423] The term "prize" is intended to include all forms of
rewards, such as cash, prizes, discounts, free merchandise, other
financial and non-financial benefits, certificates, recondition or
benefits. The terms "prize" and "discount" as used herein may
occasionally be interchangeable.
[0424] The term "redeem" is intended to include the collection of a
prize by delivering or presenting a coupon personally, through the
mail, or other forms of obtaining a prize upon surrendering or in
exchange for a coupon.
[0425] The term "sales outlet" is intended to include retail and
public stores, redemption centers, catalog centers and all sales
location whether accessed in person or by mail.
[0426] The word "conductor" or "host" as used for instance in the
term "conductor of a broadcast transmission" is intended to include
the individuals engaged in the operation of formulating a message
or program for broadcasting on behalf of an advertiser,
manufacturer, store or sponsor.
[0427] The term "dissimilar" is intended to include the meaning of
different and non-identical.
[0428] The term "shopper" is intended to include individuals who
are potential buyers of products and services.
[0429] The term "scoring basis" is intended to include complex
scoring based on a formula, credits earned, difficulty level, time
consumed and other criteria, as well as an automatic or fixed
scoring basis, such as a single and universally applicable score as
would be applied to a "yes or no" answer. An example of a fixed
scoring basis would be a 10% discount prize for every correct
answer entered within the allowed time limit.
[0430] A "correlation" of alphanumeric or other symbols may take
the form of a complete or partial match or any other mathematical
or predetermined correlation thereof.
[0431] The term "listing" as in "product listing" is intended to
include the names of products, their specifications, prizes,
discounts and other product information.
[0432] The term "matching" is intended to include any predetermined
correlation of alphanumerics or symbols.
[0433] The term "superior" as in "superior response" is intended to
include answers, response and predictions that are more accurate,
more comprehensive, more responsive or entered within a shorter
period of time.
[0434] The term "acceptable response" is intended to include
answers to questions and prediction of events which are wholly
correct, or sufficiently or in part correct, or which otherwise
qualify for a prize, discount, recognition or award.
[0435] The term "conjointly" as used herein refers to the
transmission and reception of electronic signals and the
presentation of a task-setting message and of product information
conveyed by said signals in combination, taking place partially or
entirely concurrently or following each other so as to form a
joined presentation.
[0436] The signals electronically transmitted and conveying task
messages are referred to as the task-setting signals. The signals,
electronically transmitted and conveying the response criteria are
referred to as the response criteria signals. The signals
electronically transmitted and conveying a product list or product
information are referred to as product information signals. The
signals electronically transmitted and conveying the outcome
criteria of a prediction are referred to as outcome or success
criteria.
[0437] The product signals may include information regarding
additional or special discounts or other prizes over and above, and
unrelated to, the coupon prize. For example, a product listing may
include under one or more products the statement "The purchase of
this product doubles your coupon prize". This form of direct
marketing gives managers a great deal of maneuverability including
sales on short notice. These types of messages presented to
shoppers for instance on a TV-terminal, or LCD-screen, or appearing
on prize coupons, can be modified upon a seller's instructions on
very short notice, such as through telephonic instructions by a
store manager to a broadcast station which transmits the response
criteria and other instructional signals.
[0438] Typically, the printer includes means for storing a
recording medium, for instance a continuous paper tape which,
following the printing of a coupon, is severed or divided into
coupon sections. According to the present invention, the device
includes known means capable of dispensing tokens, such as coupons
of larger or smaller size, depending on the amount of text printed
on such coupon and having desired configurations. When desired, for
example in the case of an educational quiz as described below, the
printer can be designed for the presentation of graphics or it can
take the form of a telefax device capable of depicting pictures,
drawings and the like.
[0439] Using the present methods and the systems described, a
broadcaster or a sponsor formulates task sets, the sets each
comprising task-setting and response criteria signals, being
broadcast successively. Tasks may be interspersed in programs or
program segments and may be broadcast individually or
intermittently. Each task is accompanied by one or more acceptable
responses. One acceptable response may apply to more than one task,
such as the answer "yes" applying to a number of questions. A
task-setting message can comprise a question requiring an answer,
or a solicitation or request for a prediction of the outcome of a
future event. Operationally, these two types of task-setting
messages and shoppers' responses thereto are treated similarly,
except that in the case of a question, the period of time allowed
for entering an answer normally is fixed, whereas in the case of a
prediction, the entering or further entering of predictive
information of the modification of predictions is not necessarily
inhibited after a fixed period of time, but is inhibited prior to
or at approximately the time of the occurrence of the event.
[0440] The response criteria signals are broadcast from a central
location, which may or may not be the location of the task
broadcast. The product information signals normally are broadcast
but may be broadcast from another central location. The product
signals may be modified at any time as directed by a sponsor.
[0441] In the operation of the system described, a retailer
prepares a listing of products selected for sales promotion in the
target market. The products selected may be designated by name, but
often are numbered and may be divided into categories. The products
listings displayed at members' locations are grouped accordingly.
If the product listing of a sponsor is lengthy, it can be displayed
to members in successive segments or groupings. This is achieved by
the use of known display and scrolling devices. Members' display
devices may also be adapted to display and re-display successive
listings of products or lists of numbered products in different
categories as and when desired and such additional lists may be
called up in sequence by a member of the broadcast audience until a
desired product category and/or a specific product is displayed
which a member intends to buy.
[0442] When preferred, the entire presentation of product
information can be performed on television. In that event, the
product listing can be shown on the television screen and the
instructional signals are transmitted on the audio sideband
frequency of the TV-program. Alternatively, the product listing can
be shown on a liquid crystal display or on a small, separate,
passive TV-screen. Both the passive terminal and the response unit
include comparison, scoring and printing circuits receiving their
radio command signals via a TV-audio or radio sub-carrier.
[0443] Using the split-screen television technique, the product
information can conveniently be displayed along with other portions
of the TV-program. This method is particularly easy and economical
to implement on an automated cable channel, which for example can
display concurrently a question and a product list.
[0444] The selected product is identified by touching numbered
buttons on a respondent's entry device, or by other means. This
selection is outputted to and is stored in a memory coupled to the
printer or to means for computing the coupon value. The coupons may
carry the same percentage value, but a different value in absolute
terms, depending on the price of the merchandise. For example, for
the same correct answer a $5.00 item selected by a contestant may
be subject to a $0.50 discount, whereas a $2.50 item is subject to
a $0.25 discount, the computation being performed by scoring means.
In order to accommodate a variety of differently priced products,
the coupon value can be expressed in terms of a percentage discount
applicable to any product selected by a member.
[0445] If a higher difficulty level is chosen, the absolute
monetary award or the percentage of the discount is raised. As an
example, at the basic or first level of difficulty, the discount is
10%, at level two it is 15% and at level three it is 20%.
[0446] The response unit may include a self-contained memory which
lists products for long term use. Memories of this kind, such as
boards or cards for use in the response units, may be in
interchangeable form for substitution in the response unit as
required. For example, when a member receives a new coupon tape,
whether in the mail or through personal pickup at a store, a
sponsor may utilize the opportunity to provide such a member with a
revised memory board which is supplied to such member along with
the new tape and inserted in or connected to the response unit.
Such revised memory is valid until replaced. Normally, the product
listings assign numbers to individual products for use by shoppers.
The response units at members' remote locations may be equipped
with a memory capable of retaining all of the product items of a
retailer for a predetermined period of time. Products may be
numbered permanently or on an ad hoc basis. Periodically, say every
day, the retailer conveys a listing of the names or numbers of
products selected for promotion on that day. A sponsor's product
listing may be stored in a memory for extended periods of time. The
memory may be part of the display means permanently storing product
information. The shopper is provided with control means to activate
the screen displaying such listing at any time and further is
provided with means to enter and indicate one or more items of
interest to such shopper in the near future.
[0447] The selection of said item is stored in a memory coupled to
the means informing shoppers of items chosen by the sponsor for
promotion. The display and selection means are further provided
with comparing means and alarm means, visual or audible, to inform
or alert a shopper when the item of interest to the shopper is one
chosen by the sponsor to which a prize is applicable. This method
enables shoppers to wait until an item on a shopper's marketing
list is announced as one eligible for a special prize and then
attempt to qualify for such a prize by responding to a question. In
such an event a shopper's product selection is entered prior to the
entering of an answer or prediction.
[0448] Prize coupons can be redeemed at a sales outlet specified on
said coupon; other provisions may appear on coupons, such as dates
and terms of redemption. A discount or other prize specified on a
coupon may be made applicable to a group or mixture of products
which includes the product specifically selected by the contestant,
as well as other products to be promoted. Coupons may be redeemed
in person, by mail, or by telephone using the validation code on
the coupons to verify its authenticity.
[0449] In an alternative embodiment, contestants' display means are
directed by the product signals to display only the names or
numbers of product items selected by a sponsor from the
comprehensive listing of products permanently stored in the memory
of the response units. The product numbers thus displayed and
applying for example to a "special" on sale the same day may be
changed easily and quickly. A sponsor may provide printed lists of
all products to viewers, each product being permanently numbered so
that a viewer can relate a broadcast product number to a specific
product.
[0450] When preferred, the entire presentation of product
information can be performed on television. In that event, the
product listing can be shown on the television screen, using for
example the split screen or window technique, and the instructional
signals can be transmitted on the audio sideband frequency of the
TV-program. Alternatively, the product listing can be shown on a
small, separate, passive terminal screen, which can be part of the
response unit.
[0451] The methods provide, when desired, for an announcement of
product information by the host of a TV-broadcast. This embodiment
is preferred when the information is to be particularly emphasized
or relayed to the public as quickly as possible. In that event, the
host indicates to members of the broadcast audience the products or
the reference numbers applying to specific products, so that a
contestant, by touching appropriate buttons on a keypad of the
response unit, can designate the product which is to be identified
on the coupon dispensed to a successful contestant. An on-stage or
off-stage announcer can orally describe the product and related
information, while the corresponding visual information can be
retained on the screen for as long as is desired.
[0452] The present invention has applications in areas other than
the promotion of commercial merchandise. An example is an inventory
of perishable produce which will have to be discarded, unless sold
within 48 hours. A "special" on such produce can be announced on
very short notice, the produce carrying a 40% discount if purchased
within 48 hours. The following day, the discount provided on prize
coupons can be raised to 75%, if the produce is purchased that same
day. It is evident that a store manager will prefer to salvage 25%
of the retail value of a product to a total loss. As an additional
promotion device, the basic level of difficulty in answering a
question can be dropped, so as to generate an even larger number of
prize winning shoppers. As an illustration, in the example, a
product selection may be left unchanged for all tasks presented, or
may be changed when the desired number or quantity of products has
been reached to which the prizes won by such a member are
applicable. The system can be adapted to permit contestants to
select more than one product to be specified on a prize coupon,
provided all of such products are included in the listing of
products eligible for discounted purchase.
[0453] A prize can be made available to a shopper in the form of a
coupon carrying a discount on a product or in another form, such as
a cash prize, a credit or other benefit collected personally, by
telephone, or through the mail.
[0454] In an alternative embodiment of the present method, the
broadcaster or organizer of a program composes and provides to
viewers product listings supplied by a plurality of sponsors. In
such an event a program initiator periodically collects information
from several local suppliers with respect to the products each of
them wishes to promote. Based on such information, the program
initiator or broadcaster than prepares a composite listing of
appropriately numbered products available from a plurality of
suppliers, which listing is announced and/or displayed to the
remote audience on their display screens. The response criteria
signals instruct the printer to output a hard copy record
stipulating the sales outlet at which the products of the
respective sponsors can be purchased using a discount token.
[0455] Thus, the latest product information can be conveyed to
members of the remote audience and can be updated at any time. A
sponsor can alter the instructional signals by making a telephone
call to the local FM-station. This adds a great deal of flexibility
to the promotional efforts of regional producers and local
retailers. Obviously, the principle of the systems and methods
described can be applied also to national broadcasts. In that
event, the sponsors of an advertising campaign or program lists
only products to be promoted on a nationwide basis.
[0456] It will be clear from the description of the coupons that,
apart from carrying a prize, the coupons can serve a an effective
direct marketing tool having advantages which no other form of
promotion can match. The methods of the present invention make it
practical and economical to combine the delivery in a shopper's
home of a promotional hard copy record representing a financial
award with sales information of specific interest to the winner of
the prize at the time of receipt. The fact that the contestant has
specified a product selected for intended purchase signifies that
such a shopper is likely to visit the sponsor's store and examine
the coupon and its other promotional messages closely. Being in the
sore and exposed to another product promoted on the coupon, the
contestant will at least seriously think about the other products
promoted.
[0457] As an example, a dispensed coupon can carry a discount on a
first product selected by a TV-viewer and, in addition, can carry a
"buy one, get one free" message regarding a second product, the
latter product being much more likely to be purchased once a
shopper has entered a sales outlet than if the product had been the
subject of a free-standing magazine insert.
[0458] Thus, a prize coupon carrying a discount on a first
specified product and redeemable in a specified sales outlet, can
be utilized to attract a shopper to said sales outlet in order to
induce said shopper to purchase a second product available in the
same sales outlet, said coupon carrying an additional discount or
prize on a second product.
[0459] Coupons dispensed to winners bear a verification number or
code. When desired, sweepstake or other prizes may be awarded in
addition to the prizes applicable to scored responses, such
additional prizes being awarded to a small number of winners
determined in any suitable fashion.
[0460] Such additional prize information is conveyed to members'
locations through the transmission of additional response criteria
signals. For example, if the verification code consists of six
digits, the last three digits in their specific order may
constitute the "lucky number" of the day, if matched by a 3-digit
number chosen by a sponsor on that day, entitling the holder of the
winning coupon to an additional prize upon redemption of the coupon
in a sales establishment or other specified location. The three
digits chosen by the sponsor or broadcaster can be revealed at the
place of redemption, or can be transmitted with the response
criteria signals. The number of such additional prizes, which can
range up to the value of sweepstake prizes, is controllable. In the
above instance, the number of winning coupons is one per thousand
coupons dispensed.
[0461] The fact that a prize coupon is issued only to contestants
who have won it through skill, make it legally permissible in many
locations to attach larger or even sweepstake prizes to such
coupons. The delivery of a prize-winning record at a sales location
preferably it tied to the personal delivery thereof, but may also
be performed by using the mail or telephone.
[0462] The present invention combines practical, psychological and
financial inducements to bring about an increased rate of coupon
redemption by television viewers and radio listeners. A member of
the broadcast audience who has selected a product because its
purchase is timely, who wins a discount prize through personal
skill, and who will save on the purchase of the product, is very
likely to redeem such a prize coupon by buying the product at the
specified sales outlet.
[0463] A number of additional methods intended to induce TV-viewers
to redeem coupons will not be described. The instructional signals
directing the response units at viewers' locations to generate a
token, such a coupon, direct the coupon generator or printer to
generate and dispense to one successful contestant more than one
coupon at a time. Multiple coupons may be awarded for superior
responses. For example, a total prize may be awarded in the form of
three coupons redeemable upon purchase of two or more items or
kinds of merchandise, or a total prize may be awarded consisting of
two identical coupons for the same merchandise. Additional coupons
may be dispensed for one acceptable response at a high difficulty
level or for an exceptionally comprehensive answer. If more than
one coupon is awarded for one response, the two or more coupons may
have different values, redemption dates or places of redemption, in
order to increase the number of shoppers attracted to sales
establishments on any given day or to induce a shopper to visit a
place of redemption more than once.
[0464] In another embodiment of the methods described, coupons
dispensed to winners of an award are provided with first code
symbols, said symbols varying from coupon to coupon, an example
being consecutive six-digit numbers. The first code symbols may
have previously been provided on said coupons, for instance on the
coupon tape prior to the insertion of said tape into the coupon
generating means. The first code symbols can also be provided on
the coupons at approximately at the time of or subsequent to the
printing of the prize indication. The first and second codes
together constitute a winning combination if they match or bear a
predetermined correlation, said correlation having been determined
by an organizer of the broadcast, such as a sponsor, or advertiser.
As an example, in the case of a six-digit number code, a
correlation may be determined to exist if the last three digits on
such a coupon match. Other code forms may be devised. Winning codes
or code combinations normally are not intelligible, i.e. not
identifiable as a winning code, by a contestant at his location and
are revealed to a shopper only at the place of redemption of the
prize coupon.
[0465] A code may be alphanumerical and/or comprise other symbols,
which code is only machine-readable at the place of redemption, so
that the bearer of such a coupon will not know whether a prize
coupon caries an additional prize until and until and unless said
coupon is redeemed. The opportunity of winning an additional
"blind" prize, the value of which is not discernible by a
contestant who already has won a prize through skill, i.e. by
correctly answering a question, will in many instances be the
decisive factor that will make the holder of such a coupon decide
to visit a store or other place of redemption. A coupon may carry a
discount applicable to the price of a first selected product as
described, and in addition, the generating means, such as a
printer, may be directed by the instructional signals to provide on
the coupon indications of an additional prize or other benefit tied
to the purchase of a second product. The second product may be
specified by the contestant, or it may be specified by a sponsor,
or it may be an unspecified product. In the latter case the holder
of such a coupon will be able to purchase the selected product at a
discount and apply the additional prize to a second product
selected once the shopper is in the place of redemption.
[0466] In another use of the invention, a combined method is
employed to raise the redemption rate of coupons preprinted in
magazines, newspapers, free-standing inserts and the like,
hereinafter referred to as preprinted coupons. The following
examples illustrate a number of uses of the response unit of the
invention in combination with the above mentioned preprinted
coupons.
[0467] A hard copy record generated at a shopper's location bears a
stipulation to the effect that, upon presentation of a specified or
otherwise identified preprinted coupon together with the generated
record, the shopper is entitled to an additional prize. The prize
may be specified on the generated record, or it may be a "blind
prize" which is revealed to the shopper only at the place of
redemption of the preprinted coupon. It may also be printed on the
coupon contained in the free-standing insert. In another version of
the method, the preprinted coupons are provided with an
identification, such as an alphanumeric or other code. Coupons
dispensed to a prize-winning shopper by his or her response unit
also are provided with an alphanumeric or other code. A shopper
presenting a preprinted coupon and a prize-winning coupon having
matching or correlated codes is entitled to an additional prize,
which may be a sweepstake prize. The value of the additional prize
if disclosed to such a shopper only at the sales outlet. All of the
methods described will raise the redemption rates of coupons.
[0468] If desired the steps of comparing entered responses to the
applicable response criteria and of identifying and scoring
prize-winning responses can be performed at a central location, in
which event shoppers' entered responses are electronically
transmitted to a central location, such as by telephone and modem.
In such a situation, means for comparing, identifying and scoring
are provided at a central location, these means operating in the
manner described previously with respect to the response unit at a
remote station. Instructional signals governing the generating of a
hard copy record are then electronically transmitted to shoppers'
locations, at which location said records are generated and
dispensed. The instructional signals can be transmitted to
shoppers' remote locations in any known manner, such as on an
FM-radio frequency, or, in television transmissions through the
vertical blanking intervals, through TV-audio or video sub-carrier
signals generated by subliminal light impulses.
[0469] In all instances, however, hard copy records are generated
and dispensed at shoppers' remote locations.
[0470] According to the present invention, scrambling devices may
be provided as part of the response units at shoppers' locations;
such scrambling devices of known design are activated and
controlled by instructional signals transmitted from a central
location. It is the function of said scrambling devices to scramble
in random fashion alphanumeric data transmitted, so that when
desired, the codes printed or otherwise provided on the hard copy
records of a multitude of shoppers randomly differ from each other.
In that manner, shoppers in a geographically limited area will
receive tokens such as coupons bearing dissimilar or non-identical
alphanumeric or other codes. The method of randomly rearranging or
disturbing the order of numbers and other symbols transmitted,
permits the organizer or sponsor of a broadcast to limit the
distribution of prizes to a restricted and somewhat controlled
number of television viewers, thus limiting the financial exposure
of such sponsor. When broadcasting to a larger audience, the
financial exposure of a sponsor can be statistically determined
within a narrow range by following the scrambling procedure
described.
[0471] The product list may be presented to shoppers at their
remote locations by transmitting instructional signals from a
central location directing the printers of the response units to
print the names or numbers of a plurality of products on the prize
coupon generated and dispensed as described. The shopper having
received such a coupon displaying a listing of several products
then indicates his or her choice of product on the coupon in any
convenient manner, such as by checking off, circling, filling in a
box, drawing a line, etc. The prize carried by such a coupon is
applicable to the earmarked product. Thus the coupon itself serves
as a product list limited to products from which a shopper can make
a final selection after having entered a sales outlet. Thus a
winning TV-viewer can take to a store a discount coupon applicable
to a product selected by the shopper at the checkout counter from a
list of products. In this fashion, the sponsor has the ability to
limit the list of discount products and the shopper can make the
final selection.
[0472] According to a preferred method and configuration of the
passive terminal, a participant can program a memory in the
terminal by entering the names or numbers of one or more products
targeted by the participant for early purchase. The potential
shopper can then leave the terminal unattended. When the sponsor of
a program includes a product so specified by a shopper among those
earmarked by the sponsor for discounts or other awards, an alarm in
the terminal is activated so as to alert the shopper to this fact.
The shopper then has the opportunity to participate in the game and
to win a prize token, such as a coupon, carrying a discount on the
selected product targeted by the shopper for immediate purchase. It
is virtually certain that such a shopper will redeem the coupon
thus obtained.
[0473] FIG. 28 shows steps of the method for the selection aspect
of the invention. Preparation of materials, including formatting of
response and scoring criteria, may be performed by the host at the
central station, or prerecorded by the host for transmission to
remote stations from the central station, indicated at block 828.
Program material including questions and product listings are
televised at block 830 to be received for viewing, at block 832, by
a shopper, indicated at block 834. A separate communication channel
at block 836, such as a sideband of an audio or video portion of
the television transmission, provides instructions such as response
and scoring criteria, as well as product advertising information in
the form of electronic signals to be employed in the operation of a
response unit, indicated at block 838. The response unit includes a
keypad for entering an answer, memory for storing the various
criteria and instructions plus advertising or merchandising
matters, computation equipment for evaluating answers, and a
printer for producing a hard copy record of the respondents
performance.
[0474] The shopper selects an area of interest at block 840 at the
response unit, and then enters a response at block 842. Upon a
successful responding, the respondent shopper receives at block 844
a coupon from the response unit. The coupon provides a discount for
selected products, and may carry advertising. At block 846, the
shopper transmits the coupon to a redemption center by any one of a
variety of ways, such as, by mail or by telephone or even in
person. Then, at block 848, the shopper redeems the coupon and
receives an award such as a discount on the purchase of a selected
product.
[0475] The foregoing description shows the full versatility of the
system and methodology of the invention for allowing contestants at
remote stations to participate in a game, quiz or other form of
show, contest, game of chance, or making predictions of the
outcomes of unknown or future events, whether the show be live,
prerecorded, or partially prerecorded and partially live.
[0476] FIGS. 29 and 30 are block diagrams showing a further
embodiment of the invention employing a central station and a set
of remote stations, similar to those described above, in a system
900 for the conduction of a wagering game in a forgery-proof
fashion. The system 900 includes components which are essentially
the same as components described above, and includes modifications
for adapting the components to the practice of wagering, as in a
wagering game. The system 900 includes the central station 202,
described above in reference to FIG. 6, and playing stations 206C
similar to the remote stations 206B of FIG. 22. Each of the playing
stations 206C includes a response unit 800 and a receive system 558
described above with reference to FIG. 26, and a TV system 220
described above with reference to FIG. 6 and employing a screen 208
(FIG. 6) or screen 20 (FIG. 1) for presenting data or a scenario to
a person at the remote station. If desired, a scenario or wagering
situation may be presented to players via the telephone. Also
included in the system 900 are a telephone switchboard 622 and a
response evaluation unit 808 described above with reference to FIG.
22, and a central telephone facility 702 and a subscriber's bank
708 described above with reference to FIG. 24. The system 900
further comprises a scoring computer 902, a data facility 904, a
redemption facility 906 and an authorization unit 908. In a playing
station 206C (FIG. 30) the response unit 800 is connected via lines
346 and 348 to the TV system 220, as shown also in FIG. 6, and
optionally via line 696 to a detector 652 at the screen 20, as
shown also in FIG. 3. Message and control signals (FIG. 29) are
coupled between the central station 202 and the switchboard 622 via
lines 638 and 640 as shown also in FIG. 22. Connection of a playing
stations 206C (FIGS. 29 and 30) via modems 634 and via lines 636 to
the switchboard 622 is shown also in FIG. 22. In FIG. 29 a
communication system 910 provides for a broadcast transmission, via
a communication channel 912, between central and remote stations,
such as the broadcast transmission 222 of FIGS. 6 and 22, or the
separate broadcast transmissions by radio and television links of
FIGS. 1 and 3. The communication system 910 also provides for
communication via the telephone switchboard 622 and telephone lines
636, such as the telephonic communication of FIG. 22.
[0477] In the practice of wagering by the invention, a player at a
playing station 206C is informed about the nature of the wagering
situation as a first step in the usual practice of the invention.
The information provided to the player may be only rudimentary,
such as a time when wagering may be performed, and a situation
wherein a game such as lotto is to be played by choosing one or
more numbers. Alternatively, the information provided to a player
may be complex such as a situation involving a game show, as has
been described above with reference to FIG. 6, wherein at some
point in the show, the players at the remote playing stations 206C
may be asked to bet on an outcome of the show or some other event.
The communication channel 912 is intended to represent various ways
in which data can be disseminated to the players at the stations
206C such as by television and/or radio, a radio being indicated at
914 in FIG. 30. It is understood that the communication system 910
includes transmission of the requisite data by various means, in
addition to the foregoing broadcast transmission of television and
radio, such as by means of a previously recorded audio message
employing a recorder 916, in accordance with the practice described
above with reference to FIG. 11. Data may be provided even by means
of a printed medium 918 such as a newsletter. And, as will be
explained below, the communication system 910 includes transmission
of the requisite data also by means of a telephone 620.
[0478] Additionally, a video cassette recorder (VCR) 920 may be
selectively coupled via a first branch of a switch 922 to the TV
system 220, in lieu of connection of the TV system 220 to the
antenna 282 for receipt of the broadcast transmission 222.
Connection of the TV system 220 to the VCR 920 provides data in the
manner described above with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. A second
branch of the switch 922 selectively provides for connection of the
response unit 800 to the antenna 36 (shown also in FIG. 1) via the
receiver 40 and the demodulator 42, or to a receiving system 558
for reception of data via the telephone line 636 as described above
in reference to FIG. 22. Data may also be inputted to a player via
a telephone 620 connected to the telephone line 636 as described in
FIG. 22. The various ways in which data can be inputted to a player
at a playing station 206C are represented collectively in FIG. 30
as a data input unit. In the practice of the invention, a record
outputted by the dispenser 360 of the response unit 800 may be in
the form of a card 362 which is conveniently carried by a player to
the redemption facility 906 for receipt of a prize for a winning
wager. The carrying of the card 362 to the redemption facility 906
is represented by a dashed line 924. A communication link 926
connects the redemption facility 906 with the data facility 904. A
communication link 928 connects the central station 202 with the
data facility 904.
[0479] With reference to FIGS. 29-31, the operation of the system
900 begins with the preparation of data, at block 930 (FIG. 31), to
be presented to a player at a playing station 206C, via block 932,
and to be inputted to the response unit 800 at the playing station
206C via block 934. In FIG. 31, the method steps are presented in
solid blocks while the locations in the system 900 (FIG. 29) for
the performance of the steps are shown by dashed lines enclosing
the solid blocks. Typically, the input data is prepared at the
central station 202, but may also be prepared at some other
location. By way of example, a wagering situation may be based on
the outcome of a horse race, as in off-track betting, wherein the
identity of the horses varies from race to race. In this case, a
host at the central station 202 presents the players with the
various combinations of winning situations (to win, to place, to
show) and possibly handicaps prior to each race. A televised
presentation of a sequence of races may be broadcast directly from
the central station to the remote playing stations in the form of a
live broadcast or in the form of a prerecorded broadcast, or may be
broadcast from some other site distant from the central station but
concurrently with the presentation of the host at the central
station. Announcers may also present a situation via radio or
telephone.
[0480] Thus, for example, the program signal transmitted via the
communication channel 912 may include a listing of the horses'
names and identification numbers while an instructional signal
transmitted via the channel 912 would include the odds for each
horse and the horse identification numbers plus scoring criteria
for categories of win, show and place. If, instead of a horse race,
the wagering is based on a televised game show, such as has been
described hereinabove, the program and the instructional signals
would include the data and instructions as described above, and
would include also data and instructions relating to the wagering.
For example, studio contestants may be playing a game of geography,
and players at the remote stations may be attempting to guess the
answers before the studio contestants. Wagers can be placed on the
answers. For example, a question may be posed as to which countries
border on the Black Sea, and players would enter the names of
countries via the keyboard 356 along with wagers that the countries
entered are the correct answers to the questions. Prizes can be
gradated commensurate with knowledge presented. In a similar
fashion, the studio program might involve mathematical calculations
which would be performed by the players at the remote stations,
multiple choice answers would be provided on the television screen
208 at each playing station, and the players would bet on the right
answer. In this case, the outcome of the wagering would depend on
the players' skills as well as on luck. In the simplest situation,
it is possible to practice the invention without a transmission of
data and instructions from the central station 202, as in the case
of a game of lotto wherein each player chooses six numbers out of a
set of one hundred numbers. In this case, data of the event
including the time and rules could be published in a newsletter,
and instructions for operation of the computer 804 could be
provided in a magnetic medium of the memory 806 (FIG. 26).
[0481] As has been described above with reference to FIGS. 4, 8 and
26, the response unit, in its various embodiments, outputs a record
such as the card 362 providing data as to a player's response. The
outputting of the record is indicated at block 936. The record may
include a player's score and identification (I.D.), as well as the
serial number of a response unit and other data. In similar
fashion, the response unit 800 employed in the conduct of wagering
in FIGS. 29-31 also outputs a record such as the card 362 by means
of the dispenser 360 to provide information as to a player's
wagering. In particular, the number or set of numbers selected by a
player, as in a lotto game, the identity of a winning racer, as in
the case of a horse race or ski race or boat race, by way of
example, or selected elements of a game show which may include an
article of clothing or a geographical place or the author of a
book, by way of example, is imprinted on the card 362. For ease of
describing the invention, the outputted record may be described as
the card 362, it being understood that the outputted record may
have the form of a tape, coupon, entry ticket or other of various
forms as have been described above. The card 362 is conveniently
carried by a player to the redemption facility 906 to obtain a
prize.
[0482] In accordance with a feature of the invention, protection
against a forgery of the card 362 is provided. This is accomplished
as follows. In addition to the recording of a player's response and
identification on the card 362, the response data is recorded
automatically also in a storage unit 940 of the data facility 904
via block 938. The storage unit 940 is inaccessible to players and
all other persons except for authorized personnel conducting the
lottery or other form of wagering. Communication of the wagering
data from the playing stations 206C is accomplished via the
communication system 910, particularly via the telephone lines 636
and the switchboard 622 to the data facility 904. Later upon
redemption of the card 362 at the redemption facility 906, the
invention provides for the process steps of authenticating the
record, at block 942, and only after a successful authentication,
redeeming the card or coupon at block 944. In the process of
authentication, the redemption facility 906 communicates via the
communication link 926 to the data facility 904 to interrogate the
storage unit 940 to attain the copy of the record, this being
followed by a comparing or the data on the record copy of the data
facility 904 with the record on the card 362. Any alteration of
data on the card 362 will cause a disparity between the two records
of data resulting in a rejection of the card 362. Thereby, the
system and methodology of the invention are rendered forgery
proof.
[0483] In a typical wagering situation, the entering of data by a
player (block 932) into the response unit 800 is accomplished
within a preset amount of time allocated for the response, after
which the response unit 800 refuses further entries in accordance
with commands of the instructional signal as described hereinabove
with reference to FIGS. 4, 8 and 26. Alternatively, or
additionally, following an announced point in time, command signals
may be transmitted from the central station 202 directing the
switchboard 622 to terminate transmission of further entries to the
storage unit 940. Thereafter, in accordance with the process of the
invention, a host at the central station 202 announces the winning
entity such as the winning number or set of numbers of a lotto game
or the answers to a game of geography or other form of game, at
block 946, and broadcasts the winning entity to players at the
remote playing stations 206C via the communication system 910.
Additionally, the winning entity is communicated to the response
units 800 at the playing stations 206C via the communication system
910, and to the data facility 904 via the communication link 928
for storage in the storage unit 940. Communication of the winning
entity to the response unit 800 is indicated at block 934 (FIG.
31), and communication of the winning entity to the data facility
904 is indicated at block 938.
[0484] The winning entity includes a reference element against
which a player's response can be compared to determine the
correctness of the response. The reference element is established,
typically, by the host at the central station 202 at block 948 for
transmission to the evaluation unit 808. For example, in the case
of a lotto game wherein a player is to select six numbers from a
set of one hundred numbers, the reference element would comprise
the six numbers to enable the evaluation unit 808 to compare a
player's response to the six numbers. In the case of a race, the
reference elements of participating racers can be one, two, three
and so forth. Alternatively, if the wagering game required a
player's response to fall within a range of values, such as in a
case wherein a player is to guess the average summer temperature in
Alaska, then the reference element would provide the average
temperature and the requisite range of values to enable the
evaluation unit 808 to compare a player's response with the
designated average value, and also to determine if the player's
response falls within the range. Utilization of the evaluation unit
808 is accomplished by continuing the inventive process at block
950 wherein each player's response is compared to the reference
element. Each player's response and the reference element are
coupled, respectively, from the data facility 904 and from the
central station 202 to the evaluation unit 808, and the result of
the comparison is fed from the evaluation unit 808 back to the data
facility 904 for storage in the storage unit 940.
[0485] The invention provides for still further evaluation of a
player's response in the form of a scoring of the response at block
952 by use of the scoring computer 902 in accordance with
instructions from the central station 202 provided at block 954.
Data for the scoring computer 902 is provided by the data facility
904. This additional evaluation is useful in the foregoing example
in which a player wagers on the value of the average summer
temperature in Alaska. The instructions at block 954 may provide
for a highest score to a player who selects the correct value of
the temperature, and lower nonzero scores to all players who have
selected temperatures falling within the designated range.
Additional score points may be awarded, by way of example, for
player responses closer to the correct value than an average
deviation of selected values from the correct value. Thus, the
scoring computer 902, in this example, would compute the average
deviation of selected values from the correct value, in the process
of scoring the responses. In the case of a race, such as a horse
race or a sailing race, the scoring computer 902 would evaluate the
odds based on the responses of all the players, and then employ the
odds in computing each player's score.
[0486] With respect to the magnitude of a wager entered by a
player, the magnitude may be expressed as a dollar amount or an
amount of points, or an amount of gifts to be presented by an
advertiser, by way of example. The scoring computer 902 also
multiplies the amounts wagered by the players' scores to obtain the
total prize or award due each player. In the event that the amount
of prizes to be awarded is based also on the total amount wagered,
as in the case of a purse at a horse race, then the scoring
computer 902 also calculates the total amount wagered for computing
the amount of each prize. Suitable programs for operating the
computer 902 to accomplish these calculations are well known, and
need not be described herein. The resulting scores and magnitudes
of prizes are stored in the data facility 904, and are also
transmitted to the central station 202 for subsequent transmission
to the response units 800 at the playing stations 206C. At each of
the playing stations 206C, the dispenser 360 of the response unit
800 imprints upon the card 362 data as to the amount of the prize.
The card 362 is now ready for presentation at the redemption
facility 906, and the data facility 904 has a copy of the data on
the card 362 to permit the authentication step to proceed prior to
redemption of the card 362. Thereby, the invention has accomplished
a two-fold goal of being adaptive to a large variety of wagering
situations, and of providing a forgery-proof process for redemption
of the cards 362.
[0487] The features of the invention, as provided by the system
900, are readily implemented in a fashion convenient for people at
home, as well as other locations, as may be appreciated from the
ensuing discussion of the operation and the advantages of the
invention. The invention is applicable to the conducting of a large
variety of games of chance including lotteries wherein players can
participate in their homes and obtain entry tickets, such as in the
form of the card 362, by way of example, directly in their homes.
Furthermore, the players can pay for their wagers without leaving
their homes, so that players who do not win do not have to leave
their homes, and players who do win need make only one trip to a
local lottery agent at the redemption facility 906 to collect their
winnings.
[0488] FIG. 29 shows the use of the central telephone facility 702
in conjunction with the switchboard 622 to provide a convenient
method of paying for one's wagers without leaving the home. By
means of prior arrangement with the telephone facility 702, a
player at any one of the playing stations 260 is provided with a
personal identification number (PIN) which is readily entered via
pushbuttons on a telephone to identify the player to the telephone
company. The PIN number securely identifies the player to permit a
monetary charge to be placed against his account in the same
fashion as a charge is placed for a long-distance telephone call.
The PIN number and the amount of money being wagered can be applied
via the keyboard 356 and the modem 634 to be received by the
telephone facility 702 in the same fashion as can be accomplished
the use of pushbuttons on a telephone, but at a much greater
convenience than by use of the telephone. The keyboard 356 in
conjunction with the computer 804 and the modem 634 enable a player
to attain connection with the data facility 904 in much the same
fashion as a computer terminal may be employed in the home to
interrogate a computer service, such as a service providing legal,
medical, travel, financial, or other materials as are currently
available. By means of the authorization unit 908 which checks the
PIN number, the telephone facility 702 ascertains that the player
is a bona fide approved user of the telephone system.
[0489] The amount of money wagered is billed automatically by the
telephone facility 702 to the bank 708 of the player, or telephone
subscriber. To facilitate this billing function, the computer 804
may tally the amount of all wagers being entered by a player in
response to a game show or other wagering situation presented by
the central station 202 and then, upon completion of a succession
of wagers, present via the modem 634 the total value of the wagers
to be deducted from the players account in the bank 708. If
desired, an indication of payment by the player may be transmitted
by the telephone facility 702 to the data facility 904 to ensure
that there is no consideration of a player's wager until after
payment has been made. The process of billing the player, or
telephone subscriber, is similar to that described above with
reference to FIG. 24. Alternatively, the billing may be performed
by a separate entity (not shown), such as by a service provider
connected via telephone lines to the switchboard 622.
[0490] It is an advantage of the present invention that the
identity of winning players and the amount won can be announced on
television or radio immediately following the drawing of a winning
number. The convenience of use of the inventive wagering system
contrasts greatly with wagering processes presently available to
the general public. At the present time, individuals who wish to
participate in a lottery must visit the location of a local lottery
agent or retailer to purchase a lottery ticket. Thereafter, a
second trip is necessary to collect the winnings at the agent's
location. The identities of winners often are not publicly
announced immediately following the drawing, and sometimes are
delayed for one or more days. Normally, no televised entertainment
value is attached to a lottery. These and other drawbacks are
overcome by the present invention.
[0491] The response unit 800 is registered in the name of an owner,
such as a TV viewer who may elect to become a player in a wagering
game. The hard-copy records dispensed by the response unit 800 can
bear identification data tracing the hard-copy record back to the
specific response unit. The user's name may even be printed on each
ticket. The hard-copy record, described above as the card 362, may
serve as a coupon, ticket, or proof-of-entry ticket for
participation in a lottery or other wagering situation.
Furthermore, as noted above, the card may also serve as a winning
ticket by which a player redeems his prize at the redemption
facility 906.
[0492] The card 362 may be provided with validation data and coded
markings, as has been described above, for additional security to
be used in conjunction with the forgery-proof benefit provided by
the placing of a copy of the card data in the data facility 904 in
a secure fashion which is inaccessible to all persons other than
personnel operating the data facility 904.
[0493] If desired, a player may select his or her own lottery
number, and to compare a selected number with a winning number
printed on the hard-copy record without delay, to enable the player
to determine whether a prize has been won. A ticket or card 362 may
be printed with alphanumeric characters which are readable by the
player, and/or by means of bar coding which is to be read by
machine for increased accuracy and security in the ticket
redemption process. Furthermore, by printing both the winning
number or entry along with the player's entry on the ticket prior
to the drawing, a player is able readily to compare his entry with
a winning entry. In terms of construction of the system 900, the
data facility 904 may be located distant from the central station,
or may be located on site with the central station 202. Also, the
scoring computer 902 and the evaluation unit 808 may be located at
sites distant from both the central station 202 and the data
facility 904 or, alternatively, either one or both of the computer
902 and the evaluation unit 808 may be located at the central
station 202 or the data facility 904. Furthermore, while the
playing stations 206C are located normally at considerable distance
from the central station 202, such as in a different city, it is
within the inventive concept to locate one or more of the playing
stations 206C relatively close to the central station 202 as is
done in the situation of a studio audience participating in a
contest, or in the aircraft shown in FIG. 11. Also, by virtue of
communication between the data facility 904 and the central
telephone facility 702, different credit limits can be set for
different lotteries such that the storage unit 940 is provided with
credit limit data prior to the conducting of a lottery or other
wagering situation. A wager which exceeds the credit limit is
rejected by the data facility 904, and the telephone facility 702
is directed to credit the subscriber's account in the bank 708.
[0494] If desired, the data facility 904 may store additional data
of players who have registered to play a wagering game. For
example, photographs of individual ones of the players may be
stored digitally in the storage unit 940 for subsequent
transmission to the central station 202 followed by a television
transmission, to the playing stations 206C to allow all members of
the viewing audience to see a picture of a winning person. If
desired, the televising of a person's previously stored picture may
be employed for participation from a remote station in a game show
even without the placing of a bet on an outcome of a game show. The
game show and the lottery may be, but do not have to be, televised
from the same central location.
[0495] Developments in compression techniques by communications
companies make it possible to send vast amounts of data not only
over optic fiber cable, but over stranded telephone wires and other
non-optic cable. Transmission rates of 64 kilobits-per-second have
been announced by AT&T Bell Laboratories for a so-called
Integrated Services Digital Network designed for video phones. This
technique allows transmission of two high-speed digital channels of
data or voice traffic over a single twisted-pair copper phone line.
Compression techniques permit sending pictures of video resolution
and quality over such telephone wires. This technology makes it
possible to conduct complete game shows by telephone provided the
home phones are equipped with a screen and a speaker or some other
audio means. Thus, a telephone facility which can be a central
facility, whether national regional, or local in scale, takes the
place of the broadcast stations, i.e. of the network, cable, and
radio stations. Telephone subscribers touch or tap a dedicated
number to establish contact with the telephone center, requesting a
quiz program and authorizing an appropriate debit on their phone
bills.
[0496] Using compression techniques and video-equipped phones at
such subscribers' homes, a telephone network operator conducts the
same kind of quiz described hereinabove. The amount of prizes
earned by successful participants is credited to their accounts
with the telephone company, a bank, or other institutions. When
printers are connected to subscribers' phones, coupons having value
or magnetized cards can be generated.
[0497] In another embodiment of the aforesaid TV and radio station
network, combined with the telephonic transmission compression
techniques, a scenario will be described. TV and/or radio stations
receive task sets from a central telephone facility. However the
stations do not transmit the task selected to their audiences, but
transmit both the task and response criteria back to a telephone
facility in their market area, where the information is stored in
memories at the appropriate hubs. The participating telephone
company transmits the task and allows time to its subscribers on
its picture phone and upon expiration of the time limit processes
only responses received in time from identified subscribers on its
hub evaluation equipment.
[0498] This method permits radio stations to participate in the
network and the sweepstakes program on the same terms as a TV
station, because the video portion as well as the audio portion is
sent to subscribers' video phones.
[0499] The names of identified respondent subscribers can be
transmitted from each hub to a central storage facility until the
sweepstakes drawing takes place at the end of the program.
Alternatively, the subscribers' names are temporarily retained in
the hub memories and then entered directly in the sweepstakes
drawing. Using known technology, names of viewers can be announced
and their pictures can be shown at the end of the program that
asked the question.
[0500] To ensure additional protection against forgery various
identification numbers or other indicia may be imprinted in coded
format, or in an invisible format such as by use of magnetic media,
or holographic optical recording media, with a copy of the
identifying data being stored at the data facility 904. A ticket
presented for redemption must have the requisite identifying
data.
[0501] In the playing of a lottery game, the player has the option
of selecting a winning number or, alternatively, allowing the
computer 804 of the response unit 800 to pick a number for the
player. This may be accomplished by providing a random number
generation program for the computer 804, such programs being well
known. Thereupon, the computer 804 is able to select in random
fashion one or more numbers from a set of numbers used in the
lottery.
[0502] The capacity of the system of the invention to create and to
dispense wagering tickets with security against cheating is an
important object of the invention because this allows players to
operate their response units, including the printers, in their
homes without danger of someone tampering with a printer to forge a
winning ticket. The validating data imprinted on a ticket and the
comparison of data with previously stored data in the central data
facility enable a foolproof verification of the ticket. By virtue
of the invention, the printer cannot be used as a forgery tool.
Also, the system meets the objective of providing convenience to
players by allowing persons to participate on the spur of the
moment in a lottery game or other predictive contest while being
debited automatically without leaving their home. The conduction of
wagering in conjunction with a task, contest or game of skill
rewarded with a prize adds significant entertainment value and
possibly instructional value to the wagering experience. Game of
lotto and bingo can be accomplished with particular facility by the
invention, and the capacity for immediate announcement of winners
on television enhances excitement among the participants.
[0503] The systems and the methods of the invention apply to events
or games, by chance, such as lotteries, and to events or games
covered by knowledge, skill or ability, such as quizzes,
tournaments, bouts, contests, and races by humans, machines and
animals. It should be understood that a prediction may pertain, for
example, to an event of the past, but not known or no longer
remembered by a player, so as to constitute a de facto prediction
from that player's perspective. An operator or judge of a game of
chance or skill determines the rules or conditions that are to be
met to qualify for a prize. For example, in a form of betting known
as "off track" betting on a horse race, there are odds governing
payoffs to winners. The odds are determined at a central location
and are reflected in the winning wager information transmitted from
the central location to the remote playing stations for imprinting
on the players' tickets.
[0504] In the practice of the invention for wagering, the terms
"operator" or "organizer" of a game of chance or skill are intended
to include all individuals in charge of such gaming activities or
in any kind of decision-making capacity, including judges,
referees, handicappers, umpires, racing committees and other
officials. The terms "forgery-resisting" and "tamper-proof" are
intended to include prevention and alteration, as well as the
preventing of tampering with an object of the forgery, typically a
lottery ticket, and also includes making inaccessible and
preventing electronic access to the object of forgery. The terms
"fee" or "charge" are intended to include the meaning of debit,
cost, or price charged to participants in a wagering situation. The
terms "wagering", "betting" or "gaming" are intended to include the
meaning of players' predictions of, or bets and wagers on, the
total, final, midstream, or partial outcome of a game of skill,
such as a golf tournament, and includes also the wager amount. The
term "ticket" is intended to include the meaning of vouchers,
coupons, certificates and other hard copy records.
[0505] The term "presentation" of a wagering situation or scenario
is intended to include a presentation over TV, radio, and/or the
telephone. The term "authentication" is intended to include
processes of validation, verification, confirmation and acceptance
of a winning ticket. The term "matching" as in "matching numbers"
is intended to include any predetermined relationship between a
player's entered data and the determined reference element, and
between selected and winning numbers, such as a mathematical,
partial, or zero relationship. The term "forgery-resistant data
storage facility" is intended to include any facility in which
stored data are protected against tampering, are inaccessible, or
beyond the reach or influence of would-be forgers. If a wager is
offered by an operator and such wager carries only a single type of
fixed award, for example, or if only one wager amount is offered,
then the term "wager amount determined by a player" is intended to
include the acceptance of such fixed wager.
[0506] The term "game show" is intended to include the meaning of
one or more questions, quizzes, predictions and solicitations to
perform a task. The term "response" is intended to include the
meaning of an answer and of a prediction. The term "scenario" is
intended to include the meaning of a presentation, definition, view
or description of an event or a situation. The term "entered wager"
pertains to data entered by a player prior to the determination of
the data constituting a winning wager. The term "winning wager"
pertains to an entered wager having a determined correlation to a
reference element. The term "reference element" pertains to data,
such as a number, by which an entered wager is judged in order to
determine whether the entered wager is a winning wager. The term
"reference element" is intended to include measurements and
expressions of evaluation, such as points scored, time consumed,
judged performance, achieved ratings and standings of participants
and players/contestants.
[0507] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operators of
a game of chance decide on a formula by which prizes may be won by
players whose selected indicia do not completely match a winning
indicia. Rewards may be granted to players whose selected number or
indicia come closest to the winning indicia. Players may enter
selected indicia up to a cutoff point in time determined by a game
operator; also, means may be provided for modifying a selected
wager prior to the cutoff point. By way of example, if a winning
indicia is the number 100 and the prize is $50,000 for a completely
matching number, the following formula may be determined and
applied in the event that none of the players has selected the
number 100. Players having selected number 101 or 99 divide $30,000
among them, and players having selected numbers 102 or 98 divide
$20,000 among them. Other schemes may be employed.
[0508] As has been described above, a number or indicium may be
selected by a player or may be established by random selection. The
number assigned to a player is communicated to the central data
storage facility prior to a drawing of the winning number.
[0509] By way of further example in the use of the invention, a
question may be posed in a TV show, the question asking the years
in which World War I began and ended. A time limit for answering
and a prize also are announced. A winning player would enter the
years 1914-1918 in the response unit. The response unit prints out
a ticket stating the players' entered information and
identification. The response unit also transmits the same
information via a modem and a telephone line to the central data
storage facility.
[0510] When or after the host of the TV-show has announced the
correct answer on the air, the signals conveying the correct answer
and prize information are transmitted from the location of the
TV-show to players' remote response units. The response units print
the winning information on all players' tickets for comparison
purposes. Winning tickets on which a player's entered information
matches the winning information may be presented by the ticket
holders at an appropriate location for redemption or playoff. As
described above, the agent at the location can verify the
authenticity of the ticket by communicating with the data storage
facility and obtaining confirmation. In the case of a ticket formed
as a magnetic card, the magnetic card can be validated by passing
it through a well-known scanner connected to the data storage
facility, the scanner reading the data recorded on the card for
transmission to the data facility whereupon the data facility
transmits back a signal acknowledging verification or denying
verification.
[0511] In some instances, the conditions under which a lottery is
conducted are similar in many respects to those of sweepstakes and
other games. The present invention therefore is intended to be
applicable to any game, contest or wagering based on knowledge,
skill, or chance, in which it is important to prevent tampering
with or forging of hard copy records by interested parties. While
it may not be necessary to employ all the safeguards described
herein in connection with every wager, the operator of the wager
game has the option of employing the security measures disclosed
herein. For example, in the case of wagering situations for which
prizes of high value may be awarded, there may be further storage
of a player's data indicia, number or symbols in an accessible
location to facilitate secure redemption of a ticket. In the event
that a player's betting exceeds acceptable monetary limits, the
automatic billing via the telephone system, as disclosed
hereinabove, may limit the amount of betting and disclose to the
central data facility and to the response unit a rejection or
limitation of bets exceeding a previously established limit. When
required, players are notified and are asked to communicate their
wager information to a designated location for storage and
comparison purposes. Such a notice to players makes it clear that
tampering with a player's home response unit is useless. Thus,
players are dissuaded from attempting forgery or other form of
falsification.
[0512] Security is enhanced further by providing the response unit
with a registration or serial number by which each response unit is
registered in the name of its owner. Hard-copy records dispensed by
the response unit may bear the same serial number, if desired, to
enable tracing of a hard-copy record to the specific response unit
which generated the record. This security is in addition to that
provided by the PIN number described above by which a player gains
access to the telephone system. Normally, in a wagering situation,
a time limit is established electronically for the entering of
wagers at the keyboard of each response unit such that a late
entry, made after the time limit becomes effective, are not stored
at the central data facility, and are not printed on the player's
ticket, this precluding the player from winning a prize for a late
entry of wager.
[0513] In the printing and dispensing of hard-copy records by a
response unit, it is noted that the records may have a variety of
forms which facilitate different manners of utilizing the hard-copy
record. For example, in the event that a ticket is employed wherein
the winning number and a player's entry are printed, the player has
the opportunity to check as to whether he has won, or to the extent
in which he has won in the event that various levels of winning are
present. In the event that a magnetic card is employed as the
hard-copy record, the card can be utilized in connection with
automatic electronic debiting of a player by the amount of the
wager, and with an automatic electronic crediting of winnings to a
player's account. Equipment, such as automatic banking machines
employing card readers, are already available for cooperation with
the inventive system for providing these functions of crediting and
debiting. Bar codes and bar code readers may also be employed in
which case the bar code is imprinted on a ticket along with data
imprinted with alphanumeric characters to be readable by a
player.
[0514] As has been described above in the operation of a response
unit, the invention enables participants in the remote audience to
designate areas of interest. This is particularly important with
respect to an award received by individual ones of the
participants, such that the award is related directly to a
participant's area of interest. Thus, in the case of a game show
wherein advertisers' products are displayed in various areas of
interest, a participant of the remote audience can select a product
area of interest and, subsequently, receive an award in the form of
a coupon allowing him to purchase a product in the area of
interest. This greatly increases a participant's interest in the
game show. This feature also increases greatly the chance that a
participant will employ his coupon, as by visiting the store of an
advertiser to redeem the coupon. Also, in a quiz program, a
contestant is given the opportunity to select an area of interest
from alternative areas of interest in which the contestant is
believed to have a special knowledge area. Prize coupons may be
available to winning contestants entitling the player to a discount
on merchandise promoted by a sponsor. However, in the event of a
discount coupon issued for a product that is not in demand, the
unwanted product, most likely, would not be redeemed. However,
unlike merchandising systems of the past where coupons have been
issued in areas of little interest with consequential low rates of
redemption, in the case of the present invention a high rate of
redemption is anticipated because of the capability afforded to
participants to select areas of interest, both with respect to
manufacturers' or retailers' products as well of areas of interest
in terms of a participants' knowledge.
[0515] In view of the use of the telephone system for communication
of data between a response unit and the central data facility, it
is possible also to employ the telephone system to substitute for
communication via the television and/or radio in areas wherein
television and/or radio reception are not available to a
participant. Thus, by way of example, the progress of a contest can
be reported via telephone to a participant. Also, if desired, such
progress can be reported by a telephone to supplement data received
via television and/or radio broadcast.
[0516] If desired, the central data facility or the telephone
system may store financial information regarding individuals who
are subscribers to a wagering service provided by the invention.
The financial information may be updated periodically or when
desirable, for instance each time a subscriber pays a bill or
commits a sum to a wager. This enables the telephone or other
service facility to check the financial standing or credit status
of each player in the context of the wager a player wishes to
make.
[0517] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, it is
noted that the concept of playing a game by responding to stimuli,
such as a scenario presented by television, by radio or by
telephonic communication, can be extended over a period of days,
weeks, or even months. Scenarios may be authorized such as in the
case of dramatic or prearranged scenarios. Over such an extended
interval of time, a respondent might make entries via the keyboard
of the response unit 22 (FIG. 4), 210 (FIG. 8) or 800 (FIG. 26), or
update entries during participation in a game, a contest, an
educational process, a process for shopping for merchandise, or
other extended field of endeavor. An extended playing or responding
interval can be illustrated readily with respect to a shopping for
items that may be offered on sale or at a discount at some future
time. The basic procedural steps follow those which have been
described above for the conduction of an educational game. There
follows an example by use of the system 200 of FIG. 6 with the
response unit 800 of FIG. 26.
[0518] The extended shopping interval proceeds as follows. A list
of items obtainable by purchase at a local market is set forth in a
listing contained, by way of example, in a newspaper, in a mailing
to householders, or on the television screen 208 along with
identifying numbers which are provided also to the memory of the
response unit via the instructional signal. The listing may
comprise all of the products obtainable from a manufacturer or from
a retailer, even if only some or none of the products are on sale
or discounted at the time of the listing.
[0519] The respondent employs the keyboard to enter into a memory
of the response unit the identifying numbers of those items for
which there is an interest in a future purchase at a sale or
discounted price. From time to time over the ensuing days, weeks,
or even months, the instructional signal transmits to the response
unit an updated listing of the items of merchandise including data
of items put on sale or on discount by the manufacturer or
retailer. This effectively flags those items which are on sale or
available at discount. The computer 804 (or a comparator 372 or 374
in the case of use of the response unit 210 of FIG. 8) compares the
respondent's entries with the flagged items, and then indicates a
match by a suitable indication such as by sounding the bell, and by
leaving a message on the display 358 of the response unit. The
respondent, by command entered at the keyboard, directs the printer
to list the sale or discounted items. Alternatively, respondent
enters on the keyboard items desired for purchase and, upon such
items being put on sale, the printer of the respondent's response
unit prints out coupons conveying a discount on the items without
additional commands by respondent. Such discount coupons may be
printed even during an absence of the respondent, and will be
waiting for the respondent upon his or her return.
[0520] Furthermore, with respect to the wagering aspect of the
invention, the respondent, or player, can wager on which item or
items may go on sale or be discounted. The selected items serve as
the subject of a bet in the same fashion as presented in the
foregoing description of the wagering.
[0521] The foregoing description has demonstrated that the various
configurations of central station and remote station can be
employed additionally in the conduction of a wagering situation,
either by itself as in a game of lotto, or in conjunction with an
educational program, a sporting event, or a program directed
specifically to products of interest to an advertiser, by way of
example.
[0522] FIGS. 32-40 show a further inventive feature which is
obtained by linking numerous central stations together in a common
network with a single base station which provides program material
for retransmission via the central stations of the network. Each of
the central stations may be of the form disclosed hereinabove with
reference to FIGS. 3 and 6. Alternatively, one or more of the
central stations may be simplified from those disclosed in FIGS. 3
and 6 to include only such equipment as found in broadcast
stations. The linkage, in the form of a communication network,
provides for an enlarged area of broadcast for the network
programs, the broadcast area being substantially larger than that
obtainable by use of a single central station. The network program
may be in any one of a number of forms, particularly in the form of
a contest having a duration in a range of time extending from less
than one minute up to possibly several minutes. Such network
programs may be interspersed among regularly scheduled programs
provided by respective ones of the central stations for
presentation on television or radio. They may also be repeated. The
regularly scheduled programs provided by respective ones of the
central stations may be similar or disparate. The network broadcast
may take the form of a well-known network communication commonly
employed today for news programs communicated across the country
simultaneously to local broadcasting stations for retransmission to
home radios and television. Alternatively, a separate network
employing satellite communication or a telephone network, by way of
example, may be employed to transmit the network program from the
base station to each of the central stations.
[0523] The individual network programs are transmitted one after
the other from the base station in a sequence continuing, if
desired, throughout the day. Each of the network programs occupy a
predetermined time slot within a program sequence wherein the times
of occurrence of the various network programs as well as, possibly,
the contents of the network programs, have been made known
previously to the managers or hosts of the various central stations
of the network.
[0524] The invention provides that each central station is free to
select specific ones of the network programs for rebroadcast in
accordance with the program scheduling of the central station. This
provides freedom for the host of the central station to employ
network program material which may be live or previously prepared.
In the case of live network program material, the network program
material may be prepared with the aid of a program host in a studio
at the base station, which studio may be constructed as disclosed
above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6. Previously prepared
material, such as prerecorded material, may be provided by the base
station in a manner similar to that disclosed in FIGS. 11-21 for
the utilization of prerecorded program material.
[0525] A great advantage of the invention is that the use of the
network program material interspersed among local programming
material allows people across the country to participate in a
common contest, or a common learning experience, or in a common
national survey, by way of example. The use of predesignated time
slots allows the central stations to insert the network programs
within the regular broadcasting schedules of the respective central
stations in a manner similar to that of the usual interruption of a
broadcast program for a message from an advertiser or sponsor.
Thereby, the invention allows for the participation of people from
across the country to be accomplished without need for any
significant rescheduling of local programming.
[0526] Many people in the broadcast audience can participate by
responding to tasks or questions set forth in the network program.
For example, it is anticipated that there will be many responses
occurring during a relatively short interval of time following a
broadcast of the network material nationally, such as a nationally
broadcast contest wherein individual responses by participants,
whether simultaneous or staggered, might be based on chance, skill,
or prior knowledge. The nature of the response would depend on the
nature of the task presented. To facilitate entry of the large
number of responses, as well as to evaluate and authenticate the
responses, the invention employs an electronic hub which is
operated in conjunction with each central station. As will be
described, the hub may include equipment such as the telephone
switchboard of FIG. 22 interconnected with a facility for remote
evaluation of responses (also disclosed hereinabove with reference
to FIG. 22) in conjunction with authorization (FIGS. 24 and 29).
Such authorization as well as automatic number identification (ANI)
at a telephone hub allows for authentication (disclosed also in
FIG. 29) of a participant in a network event such as a contest, and
also permits a respondent to communicate a special message to a
host of the event, such as permission to reveal the respondent's
identity, or a request to remain anonymous. This enables
participants from each local region of the national audience to
present their responses by telephone. Furthermore, valid responses
meeting the response criteria may also be communicated by telephone
link from each electronic hub to the base station or another
central facility for conduction of a sweepstakes or other prize
event. The remote evaluation unit 808 (FIG. 22) allows for
evaluation of responses from participants in each local area at a
central site remote from the individual participants' receiving
stations, such as the receiving stations 16 and 18 of FIG. 1 and
206 in FIG. 6. Optionally, evaluation can be accomplished at the
individual receiving stations by a response unit such as the
response unit 210 of FIG. 8 and 800 of FIG. 26. The use of a
central evaluation hub is particularly advantageous because remote
evaluation allows conduction of the contest or other form of
network program to be conducted without need for specialized
equipment at a participant's receiving station, there being a need
for only a television (radio) and a telephone for enabling a person
to participate.
[0527] Before continuing with a description of the benefits of the
inventive feature of the networking of plural central stations, it
is advantageous to describe the details in the construction and the
practice of this feature of the invention.
[0528] FIG. 32 shows a telecommunications network 1000 comprising a
base station (BS) 1002 and a plurality of central stations (CS)
1004 which are interconnected by a communication system 1006 for
transmission of television and/or radio type signals including the
signals of program tasks with their associated instructional and
command signals including response criteria, response evaluation
and response scoring as has been disclosed hereinabove with
reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 26. The communication system
1006 may comprise, by way of example, the equipment of standard
broadcast technology, telephone, or fiber optic communication
links, or communication via satellite, the latter being employed in
a preferred embodiment of the invention. Each of the central
stations 1004 may be constructed as the central station 12 of FIG.
3 or the central station 202 of FIG. 6. In order to receive signals
of the communication system 1006 via satellite, the central station
12 (FIG. 3) and the central station 202 (FIG. 6) may be provided
with an antenna 1008 and a receiver 1010 coupled to the antenna
1008 for receiving a down-link signal from the satellite. In FIG.
6, the receiver 1010 is connected directly to the combiner 238, and
the combiner 238 is understood to operate in a fashion which allows
for a coupling of signals from the television camera 228 to the
transmitter 40 or the coupling of signals from the receiver 1010 to
the transmitter 240 or, alternatively, if desired, a coupling of
both signals of the camera 228 and the receiver 1010 in the manner
of a split-screen television presentation. By way of example, in
the case of the split-screen presentation, the scene from the
camera 228 occupies a major portion of the television screen 208
while a smaller portion, such as a corner of the screen 208, may be
employed to present a scene, or a portion of the scene of a video
presentation from the base station 1002 (FIG. 32). In FIG. 3, the
receiver 1010 is connected via a storage unit 1012 and a selector
switch 1014 to the combiner 70. The storage unit 1012, which may
also be employed with the combiner 238 of FIG. 6 if desired,
provides for momentary (or longer) storage of program material
received via telecommunication system 1006 so as to facilitate
interspersing of the network program from the base station 1002
with material from the television camera 54.
[0529] The switch 1014 allows the host 50 (FIG. 3) to select
program material from the camera 54 or from the base station 1002
(FIG. 32) to be transmitted to the remote receiving stations 126
and 18 (FIG. 3). The function of the switch 1014 is understood to
be included within the combiner 238 of FIG. 6. By way of example in
the use of the storage unit 1012, the studio 14 (FIG. 3) may be
producing a talk show wherein persons in the studio audience are
still speaking at the moment when the network program material
arrives from the base station 1002 (FIG. 32). The storage unit 1012
would then be operated to store the material until the speakers
finish, possibly after a delay of ten seconds to one-half minute.
Thereafter, the material stored in the storage unit 1012 is read
out to the combiner 70. Thus, the storage unit 1012 is normally
operated as a delay unit to delay presentation of the network
material of the base station 1002 for proper interspersing of the
network material with the local program material of the camera 54.
The storage unit 1012 may be employed also for long term storage of
network material should it be desirable to include such network
material with local programming material at a later date.
[0530] In FIG. 32, each of the central stations 1004 broadcasts its
program material to plural remote receiving stations (RS) 1016 of
which three stations 1016 are shown by way of example. Each of the
receiving stations 1016 may include equipment disclosed in FIG. 3
for the receiving stations 16 and 18 and in FIG. 6 for the
receiving station 206, or equipment of the remote station 206B of
FIG. 22, as well as the response unit 800 of FIG. 26. Associated
with each central station 1004 is a communications or telephone hub
1018 which includes a switchboard 622, previously described with
reference to FIG. 22, for communicating with individual ones of the
remote stations 1016 of the local audience of the central station
1004 via a telephone circuit such as the telephone lines 636
disclosed in FIG. 22. Each telephone hub 1018 further comprises the
response evaluation unit 808 coupled to the switchboard 622 as
disclosed in FIG. 22, a storage unit 940 coupled to the switchboard
622 as disclosed in FIG. 29, and an authorization unit 908 coupled
to the switchboard 622 as disclosed in FIG. 29. The switchboard 622
includes a number identification facility 1020 (shown in FIG. 22),
and is coupled via a satellite transceiver 1022 to an antenna 1024
(shown in FIG. 22) for communicating with the base station 1002 via
the communication system 1006.
[0531] The base station 1002 includes transmission equipment 1026
for transmitting tasks 1028 and criteria 1030 via the communication
system 1006 to the central stations 1004. The tasks 1028 are
provided preferably as short televised programs posing questions or
presenting situations for eliciting responses by respondents at the
remote stations 1016. The criteria 1030 include instructions for
evaluating responses and, possibly, securing the responses if
desired. The tasks and the criteria may be provided as prerecorded
material by recording apparatus 1032 such as the video and audio
recorders 518 and 520 of FIGS. 11-16, and the audio recorders
520A-B of FIGS. 17 and 21. Alternatively, the tasks at 1032 and the
criteria at 1030 may be provided by a host at a live studio 1034
which may be constructed, by way of example, as the studio 14 of
FIG. 3 or the studio 204 of FIG. 6. By way of further example, the
tasks may involve a prediction, as described hereinabove, and the
prediction may be employed in the conduction of a poll. Therein, an
acceptable prediction could be one deviating not more than 5% from
the actual outcome. As a further example, in a basketball game, an
acceptable prediction could be one in which the winner is predicted
directly and the predicted point spread with deviation not more
than 10 points from the actual outcome.
[0532] In the conduction of a program, via the base station 1002,
such as a sweepstakes, the sweepstakes drawing takes place at 1036.
At each telephone hub 1018, responses communicated from the station
1016 to the switchboard 622 are evaluated at a response evaluation
unit 808 with results of the evaluation being stored in the storage
unit 940. The storage unit 940 also stores information about
prospective respondents to allow for authorization of each
respondent at the authorization unit 908 before or after a
sweepstakes drawing. Authenticated and acceptable responses are
then communicated from the hub 1018 via a telephone link 1038 to a
data storage unit 1040 in the base station 1002. The acceptable
answers stored in the storage unit 1040 are employed in the
sweepstakes drawing 1036 for selection of sweepstake winners. The
winners are then announced by transmission of their names from the
sweepstakes drawing 1036 via the transmission equipment 1026 and
the communication system 1006 to the central stations 1004 for
rebroadcast to the receiving stations 1016. It is noted that each
of the hubs 1018 is connected to both the communication system 1006
and to the telephone link 1038 so that respondents in the receiving
areas of each of the central stations 1004 can communicate their
responses to the base station 1002.
[0533] FIG. 33 shows diagrammatically operation of the
communication system 1006 via a satellite 1042 encircling the earth
1044. The base station 1002 transmits an up-link signal to the
satellite 1042 which retransmits the base-station signal via
down-link paths to the central stations 1004 and the telephone hubs
1018. It is also possible to equip the receiving station 1016 with
a satellite-reception antenna and suitable receiver to receive the
base-station signal directly from the satellite 1042 without the
need for retransmission via a central station 1004.
[0534] FIG. 34 presents an upper graph representing a sequence of
network programs transmitted by the base station 1002, and a lower
graph which presents a sequence of local programs broadcast by a
central station 1004. In the upper graph, a network program is
transmitted in each of a sequence of successive time slots 1046
wherein the programs may differ from slot to slot and, if desired,
may repeat from time to time. In the lower graph, the programs
produced by the central station 1004 extend over time intervals
having a length equal to many of the time slots 1046. The local
programs of the central-station are scheduled to begin and to end
in correspondence with an integral number of the time slots 1046,
and to leave a space between successive ones of the local programs
to allow for insertion of at least one of the network programs from
the base-station as is indicated at 1048, 1050, and 1052. If
desired, a network program can be transmitted concurrently with a
local program from a central station by means of split-screen
television technique.
[0535] FIG. 35 shows a situation wherein the programs transmitted
by the base station 1002 may be of different lengths. Thus, the
base station 1002 can broadcast over three different channels, by
way of example, in which a first channel transmits short programs
lasting only one-half minute. In a second transmission channel, the
base station transmits a sequence of programs of moderate duration
such as 2.5 minutes. The third channel has more lengthy programs,
namely programs with a duration of five minutes, by way of example.
The programs of the three channels are synchronized to a common
time base, and allow a central station to select a short, medium,
or longer network program commensurate with available time at the
central station.
[0536] FIG. 36 shows an implementation of the recording apparatus
1032 of FIG. 32 for playback of the plural channels of program
slots (FIG. 35) at the base station 1002. As shown in FIG. 36, the
recording apparatus 1032 comprises three tape playback units 1054,
1056, and 1058, respectively, for each of the three channels. The
recording apparatus 1032 further comprises three modulators 1060,
1062, and 1064, three sources of subcarrier frequency such as three
oscillators 1066, 1068, and 1070, and a summer 1062. The
transmitter 1026 includes a modulator 1074, a source of carrier
frequency, such as an oscillator 1076, and a power amplifier 1078.
The base station 1002 also includes an antenna 1080 by which
signals outputted by the amplifier 1078 are directed as an up-link
transmission to the satellite (FIG. 33). If desired, the base
station 1002 may include a receiver 1082 connected to the antenna
1080 for receiving messages via satellite link, possibly from the
telephone hubs 1018 upon a down-link frequency different from the
up-link frequency. If desired, a separate antenna (not shown) may
be used for the receiver 1082. Also, the receiver 1082 may be
employed during short intervals of silence between successive ones
of the program transmissions, (by way of example) for reporting the
quality of transmission.
[0537] In operation, each playback unit 1054, 1056, and 1058
provides for the playback of previously recorded program material
recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape. A signal
outputted by the oscillator 1066 at a frequency Fa is modulated at
the modulator 1060 with the signal outputted by the playback unit
1054 to output a signal to the summer 1072. By way of example, the
signal outputted by the playback unit 1054 may be a television
program. In similar fashion, the modulators 1062 and 1064 output
signals to the summer 1072 in which the outputted signals of the
playback units 1056 and 1058 are modulated on the subcarrier Fb and
Fc, respectively. The signals of the modulators 1060, 1062, and
1064 are summed by the summer 1052 and are modulated by the
modulator 1074 upon the up-link carrier signal Fu of the oscillator
1076. The signal outputted by the modulator 1074 is then amplified
in power by the amplifier 1078 for transmission via the antenna
1080 to the satellite 1042.
[0538] FIGS. 37-40 are flow charts representative of differing
methods for employing the telecommunications network 1000 of FIG.
32. In FIG. 37, the down-link communication from the satellite
provides both the task and the response criteria. The various
aspects of the response criteria, including scoring instructions,
if required, may be provided as a part of the audio spectrum as
disclosed above with reference to FIG. 10, and are identified by
codes to be decoded by decoders of the response units 22, 210 and
800 of FIGS. 4, 8, and 26, respectively. Thus, the telephone hub
1018 (FIG. 32) readily receives and processes the response by means
of the evaluation unit 808. The task transmitted from the satellite
is rebroadcast by the central station to the respondent at a
receiving station 1016. The respondent then enters his response via
a suitable entering means such as the response unit 210 or 800 for
communication via a modem 634 (FIG. 22) to the switchboard 622 or,
alternatively, the respondent may enter his response simply by use
of a telephone, such as the telephone 620 with buttons 624. After
reaching a central number at the hub, which may be an 800 number
which is free of charge or a 900 number having a charge, the
respondent simply enters a selected entry by use of the buttons 624
of the keypad of the telephone 620. It is also possible, by way of
entry, to report the selected choice of answer to a telephone
operator at the hub 1018. At the hub, the response is processed by
verifying the authenticity of the respondent, and by evaluation of
the response by use of the response criteria. In the case of a
rejected respondent or rejected answer, the process ends at the
hub. However, an acceptable answer is transmitted via the telephone
link 1038 (FIG. 2) for storage of the response at the data storage
unit 1040 of the base station 1002. Subsequently, upon conclusion
of the time allocated for reception of responses of the
respondents, there is a drawing of one or more sweepstake winners
with the winners being announced via satellite transmission to the
central stations 1004. Another prize event may take the place of
the sweepstakes.
[0539] By way of alternative embodiments, it is noted that a hub
1018 may serve as a further central facility wherein the storage
unit 940 may include magnetic recording tape as a medium for
storing response criteria along with a playback device for playing
back the response criteria in synchronism with the transmissions of
network programs, thereby to provide the response evaluation unit
808 with the criteria for evaluating responses communicated
electronically via telephone circuitry to the unit 808 from
receiving stations 1016. It is noted also that response criteria
may be bilingual or multilingual to permit respondents conversant
in foreign languages to participate in a quiz or contest, portions
of the quiz being made understandable independently of language by
use of cartoons, by way of example.
[0540] FIG. 38 shows an alternative arrangement which differs from
that of FIG. 37 in that the central station 1004 is deleted. In
FIG. 38, the task transmitted from the satellite is received
directly by the respondent at a receiving station without the
interposition of the central station and its rebroadcast function.
The direct reception at the receiving station of the satellite
signal may be accomplished, as shown in FIG. 1, by use of a
satellite receiver 1084 and an antenna 1086. Down-link signals of
the satellite impinge upon the antenna 1086 for reception by the
receiver 1084. The receiver 1084 applies the received signals to
the TV system 28 for processing in the same manner as signals
received by the antenna 26. The antenna 1086 and its receiver 1084
can be employed with other remote receiving stations such as the
station 206 of FIG. 6. In FIG. 38, the respondent enters his
response in the same fashion as in FIG. 37, and the response is
processed in the same fashion as disclosed for FIG. 37.
[0541] FIG. 39 represents a further modification to the steps of
FIG. 38. In FIG. 39, both the task and the response criteria are
transmitted from the satellite directly to a respondent at a
receiving station 1016. The respondent enters this response by a
response unit such as response unit 210 (FIGS. 6 and 8) for the
response unit 800 (FIG. 26). The response unit evaluates the
response, and transmits the response to the hub via the modem 634
as taught in FIG. 22. Acceptable answers are transmitted by the hub
to the base station for the sweepstakes drawing, as disclosed with
reference to FIGS. 37 and 38.
[0542] FIG. 40 shows an arrangement substantially the same as that
of FIG. 39, except for the interposition of a central station 1004
for retransmission of the task and response criteria to the
respondent at a remote receiving station 1016. Thereupon, the
process continues in the same fashion as disclosed for FIG. 39.
[0543] The use of the telecommunications network 1000 (FIG. 32)
constitutes an extension of the concept of the central station. As
noted in a definition of the term "central" provided hereinabove
with reference to the description of FIGS. 1-5, the concept of a
central station is intended to refer not only to a single broadcast
station, but also a network capable of serving a large area such as
a county or a time zone. In such a case, the broadcast of a program
from the central station is implemented by use of a plurality of
broadcast stations connected to the studio of the central station.
FIG. 32 shows an implementation of a network wherein plural central
stations 1004 may be operated independently of each other or in
conjunction with each other, the joint operation being provided by
means of the telecommunications network 1000. In accordance with
the invention, individual ones of the central stations 1004 can
join the network or leave the network in accordance with directives
of the program host at each of the central stations 1004 by simply
operating the combiner 238 (FIG. 6) or the selector switch 1014
(FIG. 3) for broadcasting material from the studio of the central
station 1004 or material from the base station 1002. Also, as has
been noted hereinabove, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 33,
transmission of a network program from the base station 1002 via
the satellite 1042 may bypass the central stations 1004 to go
directly to a remote receiving station 1016 equipped with a
satellite receiver 1084. It is emphasized also that, as noted
hereinabove, a participant can participate at a remote station
without use of specialized equipment such as the response unit 800
(FIG. 26) by virtue of the remote evaluation provided at a
telephone hub 1018 by the response evaluation unit 808.
[0544] The telecommunications network 1000 is versatile in that it
permits members of the enlarged broadcast audience having
specialized equipment, such as the response unit 800, to
participate by use of such response unit. In the case of a
sweepstakes, by way of example, while winners are announced via the
communications system 1006, those having a response unit such as
the response unit 22 (FIG. 4), 210 (FIG. 8) or 800 (FIG. 26) can
have a ticket printed for them directly at the receiving station.
Such specialized equipment at a remote station 1016 may include
with the response unit 800, as shown in FIG. 30, a touch panel 1088
in which keys of the keyboard 356 are provided directly on the
screen of a display, such as the display 358 (FIG. 26), to allow a
participant to select an answer by simply placing a finger upon the
touch panel 1088. The equipment may include also enhanced telephone
sets having a display and various buttons for entering responses.
For example, a button may be provided to communicate a respondent's
desire to be entered into a sweepstakes.
[0545] The telecommunications network 1000 may be viewed as having
three signal delivery systems of which a first system provides for
broadcasting of television and radio programs from a central
station 1004 so as to provide the programming to remote stations
1016. A second of the signal delivery systems comprises the
communication system 1006 whereby a common quiz program,
sweepstakes, or other program of general interest can be provided
by the base station 1002 for all of the central stations 1004. A
third of the signal delivery systems comprises the telephone hubs
1018 and the telephone link 1038 which enable communication of
accepted answers back to the base station 1002 to facilitate a
sweepstakes drawing at 1036.
[0546] The equipment of the base station 1002 may be located in a
building distant from all of the central stations 1004 and from the
telephone hubs 1018. However, the concept of the invention applies
also to the situation in which the equipment of the base station
1002 is located within a building which houses one of the central
stations 1004, or within a building which houses one of the
telephone hubs 1018. In a rudimentary form of the network 1000,
there would be only one central station 1004 and one telephone hub
1018, and the equipment of the base station 1002 would be housed in
the single telephone hub, by way of example. The various stations
of the network 1000 may be fixed in position, in the geographical
sense, or one or more of the stations may be located at a temporary
site, or may even be in a state of movement. As an example of a
moving station, a member of the enlarged audience may be located at
a ship in a harbor, or on a moving aircraft since both of these
vehicles may be equipped with television and with telephones. In
this sense, a receiving station 1016 may be either fixed in
position or a moving station. Alternatively, one may view a
receiving station 1016 as being located at a temporary site, and
understood to include very light portable telephones and portable
radio/television receivers. For example, such a portable telephone
and radio receiver may be combined at a single unit to be taken
anywhere and, thus, to any temporary site wherein a subscriber may
be found. Even a central station 1004 can be constructed as a
moving station by placing the equipment of the central station upon
a moving vehicle such as a ship.
[0547] In the use of the communication system 1006 (FIG. 32) it is
noted that the transmission of the tasks, as represented by a
television program from the base station 1002, and the transmission
of the response criteria of the base station 1002 may be
accomplished via the same or different forms of transmission.
Transmission via the same transmission medium of both the tasks and
the response criteria have already been described with reference to
a communication via satellite, by way of example. However, if
desired, the tasks in the form of a television program may be
transmitted via an optical transmission system, an electromagnetic
microwave transmission system wherein microwave signals are beamed
between antennas at repeating stations, or via a cable system in
which electromagnetic signals are carried via a cable.
[0548] During the transmission of the tasks via the satellite or
the optical link or the microwave link, or the cable, the response
criteria may be transmitted via a telephone line in view of the
much lower bandwidth of the signal carrying the response criteria.
In the case of a radio transmission from the station 1002, the
communication system 1006 may employ telephone links for
transmission of both the tasks and the response criteria between
the base station 1002 and all of the central stations 1004. Thus,
the communication system 1006 is adaptive for use of varying forms
of communication technology to facilitate the practice of the
invention. An advantage in the use of telephone links in the
communication system 1006 is that a central station 1004 can
initiate telephonic contact only when it is desired to receive a
network transmission, and the telephone company may monitor the
times of transmission of the network programs from the base station
1002 to each of the central stations 1004. For example, the
telephone company may provide a written record of usage of the
network programs for auditing purposes.
[0549] If it is desired to send the task television program as a
sequence of frames at a relatively slow rate, possibly as cartoons
in which there is little change in the amount of data from frame to
frame, data compression techniques may be employed to send
digitized versions of the subject matter from the base station via
telephone lines of the communication system 1006 so as to provide
the convenience of implementation of video presentations utilizing
existing telephone lines. In this fashion, it is possible to
conduct complete game shows by telephone provided that the home
phones are equipped with a screen and a speaker or other audio
means. By placing the equipment of the base station 1002 within a
telephone hub 1018, a telephone subscriber can enter a dedicated
number, as via a telephone keypad to establish contact with the
telephone center, requesting a quiz program and authorizing an
appropriate debit on a phone bill.
[0550] By use of data compression techniques a television screen of
the receiving stations of FIGS. 1, 3, and 6 may be replaced with a
low-resolution display, such as may be employed with a computer, so
as to enable the quiz show to be transmitted from a central
location to numerous remote receiving stations via telephone lines.
The amount of prizes earned by successful participants is credited
to their accounts with the telephone company, or other account
facilities such as a bank, in the manner described with reference
to FIGS. 22 and 24. Printers, such as the printers employed with
the response units 210 and 800 may be employed in conjunction with
the subscribers' telephones to provide coupons having a value, or
alternatively, magnetized cards may be provided. The quiz program
can be conducted by presentation of tasks and the entry of answers
which are evaluated in accordance with response criteria, in the
manner described hereinabove with reference to televised quiz
programs. In the case of the transmission of program data via
telephone lines to each participant, the central stations 1004 of
FIG. 32 can be deleted, and the invention may be practiced by use
of telephone circuits which constitute the communication system
1006. Thus, the program material is received at a remote station by
telephone lines from telephone hubs 1018, and the participant
responds via telephone lines of a telephone of 1018.
[0551] All necessary data for connection of the quiz program or
sweepstakes is stored within the storage unit 940 of the telephone
hub 1018. In this way, the invention can be practiced with either
an audio or a visual presentation of a task at a person's home, the
task being provided by a telephone lines, and a participant's
response being transmitted via the telephone lines to a telephone
hub 1018. Accordingly, it is possible to configure a simplified
embodiment of the network 1000 (FIG. 32) in which equipment of the
base station 1002 is located within a telephone hub 1018, and
wherein all necessary data is transmitted to members of the
audience via telephone lines so as to obviate the need for central
stations 1004. The scoring of responses, the announcement of
winners, and the provision of awards can be conducted in the same
manner as described hereinabove, with the announcement of winners
being provided either by radio, television, or via the telephone
lines.
[0552] The system and method of the invention lend themselves well
to conducting polls, surveys, and other studies in which large
population samples are preferred in order to obtain more reliable
results than those obtained from small samples. this produces
polling results that reduce the statistical margin of error to a
negligible quantity because the audiences polled approximate in
size a large fraction of the population being sampled.
[0553] The telephone link 1038 (FIG. 32) may comprise the standard
telephone circuitry including wiring customarily found in homes and
offices with the wiring extending via telephone circuits to the
switchboard of a telephone central exchange. Alternatively,
particularly in the case of vehicular and portable telephones, the
telephonic connection is made via cellular telephone system to any
one of the telephone hubs 1018 (FIG. 32). Thus, the telephone link
1038, in accordance with the practice of the invention, is
understood to encompass both wireless communication and
communication via standard telephone circuitry. Wireless
communication includes radio transmission by equipment such as that
employed in CB (citizen band) radios.
[0554] The term "polling" is intended to include the meanings of
all forms of soliciting opinions, responses, estimates, and other
types of information that have useful applications in such areas as
surveys, market analyses, studies of demographics and
psychographics, comparisons, contests, sampling and public opinion
polls.
[0555] The term "selecting", such as in selecting a task, is
intended to include the meaning of selecting or clearing a task for
broadcasting, even if there is only one task available at the
time.
[0556] The term "score" is intended to include the meaning of
computing or assigning a value to or an award for an acceptable
response, including a single fixed value or award for all
acceptable responses.
[0557] The term "printer" or "printed" is intended to include all
types of hard record generating devices, such as teletype and other
printers, facsimile machines, and all methods for generating such
records such as the faxing of documents.
[0558] The term "task" is intended to include the meanings of
question(s), a request for a statement or response, elicitation of
an opinion or judgment, an educational fact, an invitation to make
a prediction, or an extending of an opportunity to go on record
with a expression in response to an inquiry.
[0559] The term "hub" is intended to include the meanings of any
location having means for providing a common storage, an
evaluation, an accepting, a rejecting, or having a scoring or
processing facility for handling a plurality of data sets.
[0560] The term "identification" is intended to include any data
and information through which the identity of a respondent can be
traced or established, including a respondent's entering means or
response unit.
[0561] The term "audience" is intended to include any individuals
receiving a task, such as TV viewers, radio listeners, telephone
subscribers, and single or pluralities of individuals at remote
locations or gathered in hotels, casinos, bars, auditoriums, and
other public and private places.
[0562] The term "central" as in a central station or location is
intended to refer to a signal transmission or processing facility
serving or being shared by a plurality of other stations.
Similarly, the term "central location" or "central facility" refers
to any location or facility performing functions for or serving a
plurality of recipients or receiving stations.
[0563] The term "program structure" is intended to refer to the
chronological sequence, scheduling and timing of program portions,
such as entertainment segments, commercials, newsbreaks, and
station identifications, by way of example.
[0564] The term "broadcasting" is intended to include the
transmission and the propagation of signals in any form over the
air by wire or cable, including telephone wires and optic fiber
cable, and by television, radio, and telephone.
[0565] The term "answer" in response to a task is intended to
include the meaning of answers, responses, selections (e.g. true or
false) and confirmations (e.g. do you agree that . . . ).
[0566] The term "800-number" refers to a dedicated telephone number
called by a subscriber without cost to the subscriber. The term
"900-number" refers to a dedicated telephone number called at the
subscriber's expense.
[0567] The term "transmitter" or "transmitting" are intended to
include means for, or the act of, transmitting through broadcasting
or narrowcasting electronic, magnetic, audible, and visual signals
by cable, telephone wire or over the air.
[0568] The term "sweepstakes" is intended to include the awarding
of prizes of any value in which the determination of one or more
winners is by a random or other predetermined process. The term
"prize event" is intended to include any kind of event in which a
participant, through skill or by chance, including random
determination, can win a prize having value.
[0569] Tasks or task sets can be communicated, transmitted,
delivered, provided or conveyed to stations in different ways
including transmissions over the air or by cable, and mechanical or
physical delivery in the form of recordings such as tapes or
writings.
[0570] The term "station" is intended to include facilities for
sending or receiving television, radio and telephone signals.
[0571] The term "prize event" is defined as an event in which one
or more winners are determined either randomly or through skill. As
an example, participation in a survey or poll can be encouraged by
allowing respondents to enter or be entered in a sweepstakes or in
a contest in which winners are determined by skill or
knowledge.
[0572] The term "response" is intended to include answers to
questions and predictions of the outcome of events.
[0573] The term "portion", as in program portion, is intended to
include the meanings of taped footage, segment, episode, scene, or
other parts of a program.
[0574] The term "network", as in network of stations, is intended
to refer to a loose grouping of stations, in which the stations do
not necessarily cooperate with each other or coordinate their
broadcast and program content, but in which stations participate in
order to benefit from the combined audience drawing power of an
event such as a sweepstakes.
[0575] The provision of a network for linking together the numerous
central stations, in accordance with the invention, makes possible
the generation of an enlarged broadcast audience and, furthermore,
enables the leveraging of advertising potential of possibly
hundreds of broadcast stations so as to fund large sweepstakes
events in which attractive prizes are offered to members of the
audience. While, in the past, networking has enabled television and
radio stations to share a common program content as by broadcasting
the same entertainment or other common program, the invention
provides for a further common denominator of the station network in
the nature of an event such as a sweepstakes.
[0576] The major thrust of the concept underlying the systems and
methods of the invention is to weld the audiences of hundreds of
television and radio stations broadcasting their regularly
scheduled programs into a single advertising market. The combining
of the audiences occurs during the span of a broadcast program such
as a thirty minute or a sixty minute program, as the numerous
television and radio station broadcast their regularly scheduled
programs. This advertising market is formed by the broadcast
stations participating in a network created for this purpose. The
ad hoc network concept is based on the rationale that very large
television and radio audiences, possibly in the tens of millions of
persons, can be attracted by combining broadcast entertainment with
quiz opportunities to win sweepstake prizes. The sweepstake prizes
would be unusually large, and the sweepstakes would offer the
participants odds that are significantly more favorable than those
of, for example, state lotteries. Furthermore, if desired, the
sweepstakes can offer all viewers and listeners opportunities to
win discount coupons, cash vouchers, and other prizes as has been
disclosed hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 22. In
similar fashion, as has been described with the systems and methods
of FIGS. 1, 6, and 22, a quiz conducted for home viewers by the
network 1000 (FIG. 32) can have trivia questions or more complex
tasks and responses by individual audience members. The equipment
allows for instant evaluation of responses. The network utilizes
existing television, radio, and telephone facilities. The
television and radio stations which broadcast the tasks, such as
questions inserted into the respective programs, may be
broadcasting different programs. The telephone facilities used for
communication of responses, in conjunction with the telephone hubs
1018 (FIG. 32) can serve as a collection center for collecting
responses and/or also serve as a center for evaluating and storing
responses from members of the audience. If desired, acceptable
responses can also be rewarded with prizes, such as coupons
dispersed in the homes of respondents.
[0577] While there are similarities in the construction and the
operation of the systems of FIGS. 1, 6, 22, and 32, the networking
disclosed in FIG. 32 in conjunction with the common source of
programs provided by the base station 1002 provides features to the
operation of the network of FIG. 32 in addition to the operating
features disclosed hereinabove with reference to the systems of
FIGS. 1, 6, and 22. The additional features provide advantages both
for persons organizing the network as well as for persons who
participate as members of the audience receiving broadcasts of the
network.
[0578] The network organizers, by way of example, may sign an ad
hoc network agreement with 500-1000 mixed television and radio
stations. Such an arrangement may be loose in nature, permitting
program by program participation by individual stations at their
own discretion. Stations can decide at any time to join the network
as part of the first signal delivery system. Normally, the
organizers of the network would sign telephone companies to the
agreement. In addition to providing a communications link, the
telephone companies would also employ the aforementioned response
evaluation equipment.
[0579] The television stations (both network and cable stations)
and radio stations each transmit their regularly scheduled
programs. Most of the programs are expected to be disparate.
Program contents need not be changed. Presently, most programs are
routinely interrupted to allow for the broadcast of material such
as commercials and station identification, such interruptions being
timed, preferably, to fit each stations schedule. This prevents all
of the stations from airing a quiz at the same time.
[0580] The programs broadcast by TV and radio stations may differ
from each other in a number of ways. The program content, the
number of program segments, the duration of program segments, the
timing of commercial and other messages and other chronological
features may vary from station to station. It is an important
characteristic of the invention that every station participating in
the ad hoc network can design and structure its program
independently of that of the other stations. A participating
station can broadcast or retransmit a task, such as a question, at
the particular point in time when a task insertion is harmonious
with the broadcast program, without conflicting with the station's
normally scheduled program structure. When practical and desired,
two or more tasks can be fitted into a station's program.
[0581] Taking advantage of the ad hoc nature of the network of the
invention, a station can join a network prize program without
giving advance notice. The station can subsequently account to
operators of the network for advertising revenue in accordance with
the terms of the network agreement. As an example, the station can
pay a share of its increased advertising revenue to a prize fund
administered by the operators of the network. Other arrangements,
such as a flat fee or a per task charge can be agreed upon.
[0582] The quiz portion of the broadcast is carried by the second
delivery system which may be operationally independent of the first
program delivery system. The second delivery system can combine
over-the-air and cable transmissions. The second delivery system
can transmit sequentially a plurality of tasks, such as questions,
as has been disclosed above with reference to FIG. 34. The
questions may take the form of taped task sets. Each task can
comprise a question and the time allowed for answering, as well as
response criteria defining acceptable answers and scoring
instructions, as has been disclosed hereinabove with reference to
FIGS. 11-17. If desired, response criteria may be coded or sent in
bursts unintelligible to humans. The central stations 1004 (FIG.
32) may retransmit the tasks in whole or in part while the response
criteria may be employed either in homes or in the telephone hubs
1018 for use in evaluations of the responses.
[0583] Audiences of participating television and radio stations are
able to respond to a quiz in their homes, hotels, bars, and other
places by use of standard preexistent telephone equipment. As noted
above, the practice of the invention is facilitated by enabling a
participant to respond by simply dialing a dedicated telephone
number followed by the use of specific keys of the telephone keypad
to enter a chosen response. As may be determined by sponsors of the
quiz program, the dedicated number to be called by a participant
may be an 800 number or a 900 number. Also, as has been disclosed
hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 22, a question may
require simply a yes/no answer or a true/false answer or may
require a more complex response. An answer to a multiple choice
question may require only one ore two additional key strokes or the
touching of one of two additional buttons on a keyboard.
[0584] Accordingly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the invention, at one or more telephone hubs, programmable
evaluation devices are provided, such as the aforementioned
response evaluation unit 808 of FIG. 22. Such evaluation devices
may provide for filtering out or blocking unacceptable responses,
and may also be employed to evaluate and score responses based on
accuracy, comprehensiveness, and time taken to respond, as well as
other qualities suitable for a scoring basis. The evaluation means
may be programmable by signals received from outside a telephone
facility, as from the base station 1002 or other suitable platform,
or from within the telephone facility. Prizes received for
acceptable answers which qualify contestants for a sweepstakes
event may be based on skill so as to prevent the sweepstakes from
being classified as a lottery.
[0585] Tasks transmitted by the second delivery system to
participating stations such as the central stations 1004, may be
arranged, for purposes of illustration, as a taped task set having
a duration of one minute. For a sixty minute program, up to sixty
different task sets are taped. A different task set would be
transmitted every minute by the second delivery system.
Alternatively, a task duration of a shorter interval of time or of
a longer interval of time, as has been disclosed with reference to
FIG. 34, may be employed.
[0586] This enables a broadcast station to pick up and retransmit
as part of its program a task set at the precise time it fits into
the schedule of the particular station, and without interfering
with the chronological structure of its scheduled program. Each
participating television or radio station determines when to insert
a task set for its own program. If, for example, a sweepstake
program of the network is aired between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, an
individual station may decide to pick up tasks following, or in the
place of, two of its commercials, which are scheduled at 8:15 and
8:45, by way of example. Following each of the sixty second
commercials, the participating station retransmits the tasks
received at 8:16 and 8:46 PM. The content and the structure of its
regularly scheduled program remains unchanged. The task sets
broadcast via the satellite 1042 (FIG. 33) from the base station
1002 can be taped very economically.
[0587] Acceptable responses qualify contestants for automatic and
cost-free entry into the sweepstakes. Using ANI (automatic number
identification), as may be provided by the facility 1020 (FIG. 22),
or other caller identification techniques, recipients of large
prizes can be identified and can be informed on the air whether
they have won a prize. Since known electronic devices can determine
acceptable answers virtually instantaneously, winners can also be
notified by taped telephone messages informing contestants of
results in the course of the same telephone call by a respondent
responding to a telephone facility via the dedicated telephone
number. Messages can include an announcement to successful
contestants that their name has been entered in a sweepstakes for
that particular program. When desired, an entered respondent can be
requested by way of touching an additional button, to indicate
permission to announce the respondent's name on the air, in case
the respondent wins the sweepstakes. The drawing of the winning
sweepstake numbers can be held and the results can be announced at
the end of the program. From all of the acceptable responses stored
in the data storage unit 1040 (FIG. 32), one or more of the
responses may be drawn at random by the sweepstakes drawing 1036.
Prizes can be mailed to sweepstake winners or can be collected at
authorized agents. Prizes can take different forms and can be
delivered in various ways. For example, some prizes can take the
form of coupons, checks, vouchers, or prize certificates delivered
by mail, and others can take the form of a credit on a bank account
or telephone bill. Sweepstakes prizes normally call for
identification of the claimant and their verification
procedures.
[0588] The telephone facilities are used effectively, and without
overloading, in spite of the large audience which may respond o
questions. First, it is noted that television and radio stations
normally broadcast questions spread over the duration of their
respective programs, possibly over a sixty minute interval.
Respondents throughout the network 1000 call their local telephone
exchange or hub; however, since there are many hubs 1018 within the
network 1000, these telephone calls are distributed throughout the
numerous hubs, rather than being directed to a single telephone
exchange. This militates against the overloading of any one
telephone exchange and insures efficient use of the telephone
facility.
[0589] A participant in a game can be informed of the acceptance of
a response by the transmission of a message to the participant
automatically from a hub 1018 to the participant's location. By way
of example, the message may be transmitted to the participant via
telephone or, in the event that the participant has a response
unit, such as a response unit 800, the message may be directed to
the response unit which then prints out a copy of the message or
otherwise displaces the message. Thus, the message may be in the
form of a voice message, a display message, or a hard copy
record.
[0590] In the operation of the central stations 1004, the managers
select one or more of the successive tasks (FIG. 34) for insertion
in their scheduled programs at a point in time that is convenient,
and does not conflict with the chronological program structure of
the respective stations. Due to the disparate nature and
chronological structure of the programs of hundreds of the
broadcast stations, the tasks of the base station 1002 are likely
to be interspersed in a widely distributed manner during the time
interval selected for the airing of the sweepstakes program. Thus,
members of the audience of any one central station 1004 are aware
of only one of the numerous tasks, specifically the question aired
by the central station 1004 to which this portion of the audience
is tuned.
[0591] It is advantageous to employ the automatic number
identification facility 1020 in a telephone hub 1018 for the
purpose of tracing back the response of a subscriber. Thus, each
entry in the sweepstakes can be associated with the respondent
having entered an acceptable answer. Notification of the respondent
that a response has been entered as well as notification of all of
the respondents of the winner(s) to the sweepstakes is readily
accomplished prior to the end of the regularly scheduled program
being broadcast by a central station 1004.
[0592] If desired, relatively complex questions may be employed,
and the response evaluation equipment scores the answers with a
score commensurate with the degree or skill of knowledge displayed
in the response as has been described hereinabove with reference to
the systems of FIGS. 1 and 6. Responses with higher scores can be
rewarded with two or more entries into the sweepstakes or other
prizes. In the case of a respondent employing a response unit, such
as the response unit 800, in the home, the response unit can be
directed to reward a high-scoring response by printing out a
discount coupon, by way of example, with discounts on commercial
products purchased by shoppers in the respondents locale. it is
anticipated that sponsors and advertisers on a program of a station
will preferably select a time slot which is convenient in the
context of a station's regularly scheduled programming, and which
is suitable for insertion of a task prior to or following a
commercial of the advertiser.
[0593] The network 1000 also lends itself to tasks which take the
form of predictions. In that event, a task transmitted via the
communication system 1006 invites the station audience to predict
the outcome of an event. Normally, that event takes place during
the quiz program. Audience members enter their predictions as
described heretofore. Following the event, outcome criteria are
determined by the operators of the network and transmitted as in
the case of response criteria. Participants' predictive responses
are processed for exception or rejection of the response, and are
evaluated and scored as described hereinabove in connection with a
question and an answer.
[0594] In the case of national advertisers, a trivia question may
relate to the advertiser, to a product, or may constitute
institutional advertising. Such a question is in effect a
commercial to which audiences respond as described hereinabove.
[0595] By way of example in the practice of the invention, on
occasions, it may be desirable for all participating central
stations 1004 to interrupt their programs at the same time and to
synchronize the time gaps in their programs so as to insert one or
more tasks from the base station 1002. In such event, television
and radio stations broadcast their scheduled programs, but create
synchronized interruptions of their programs so as to occur at the
same time. Program sources can be television network affiliates,
independent television ground stations, satellites, and radio
stations.
[0596] For example, the program of a participating broadcast
station is divided into two or more segments. The segments are
chronologically separated and a time gap, for example, of thirty to
sixty seconds, depending on the question, is created between
segments. Task sets are transmitted and answers by contestants are
entered and evaluated as heretofore described.
[0597] Alternatively, each viewer or listener is provided with a
response unit, for instance, at home. The response units may be
programmed via satellite signals which convey response criteria
including acceptable answers and scoring instructions. Acceptable
answers are instantly rewarded, commensurate with knowledge
displayed by respondents, by monetary coupons printed by the
response unit in each home.
[0598] Awards can be in the form of numbered and/or coded coupons
carrying a discount on products promoted by an advertiser. The
numbering, coding, or bar-coding of coupons makes it possible to
trace coupons to the response unit that has printed the coupon, and
through the registered response unit to the individual owner or
respondent using it. In a coast-to-coast broadcast sponsored by
several national advertisers, a number of sweepstakes prizes are
interspersed among the discount or smaller cash prizes awarded to
successful audience members. Depending on the number of
participating stations and advertisers, sweepstakes prizes can be
very large and can far exceed prizes normally offered participants
in game shows. The prospect of extraordinarily large prizes will
attract viewers and listeners to any program at any time. Any of
numerous program materials may be selected, and all of the programs
can differ in content, if desired.
[0599] Furthermore, broadcast stations may interrupt their programs
at the same time to provide time for the insertion of a network
quiz. Broadcast station programs may vary, but within the
constraint of synchronization of the time gaps between segments of
the programs of the respective broadcast stations. Also, as noted
hereinabove with respect to the storage unit 1012 (FIG. 3), it is
to be understood that in the process of receiving and
retransmitting a task set, or portion thereof, a central station
1004 may briefly store such data between the time of receiving and
the time of retransmission.
[0600] As a further illustration in the practice of the invention,
hundreds of broadcast stations broadcast different television and
radio programs, and the communication system 1006 via the satellite
1042 (FIG. 33) transmits the task signals including questions and
instructions for the rewarding of acceptable answers. The task
signals are transmitted coast-to-coast at exactly the same time and
fit between the segments of all of the various, and presumably
different, programs which are interrupted at the same time. The
prize winning aspect of operating the network 1000 is operative
without restraint on the nature of the program content of the
participating broadcast stations. Thus, the insertion of a quiz can
be programmed at any time in the manner of a commercial. The method
of the invention can therefore be used to bolster the rating of any
show at any time of the day.
[0601] If desired, various ones of the central stations 1004 can
synchronize their operations into a plurality of groups of central
stations wherein, in each group, all of the central stations are
synchronized to use a specific set of time slots of tasks from the
base station 1002, and wherein the selection of time slots varies
among the various groups of the central stations. Such a grouping
of the central stations may be viewed as, in essence, separate ad
hoc networks of the central stations. By staggering the
aforementioned time gaps occurring between the segments of the
programs aired by the station groups (or ad hoc networks), a single
satellite channel of the communication system 1006 services a
plurality of the ad hoc networks, as the central station of the ad
hoc networks air their various disparate programs. This can be used
to raise the ratings of a multiplicity of broadcast programs as
follows.
[0602] For example, a network operator organizes a conglomeration
of 500 television and 500 radio stations coast-to-coast for a
specific time slot, for example, 11:00 to 11:00 AM Eastern time.
Individual stations and TV networks can sign on until the time of
the broadcast, or can simply provide an accounting regarding its
revenues or the usage of the network. Each broadcast station airs
the show as scheduled, without coordination or consultation with
other ones of the broadcast stations. Theoretically, 1000 totally
different programs can be aired. There is a requirement that all of
the shows be interrupted, for instance, from 11:10 to 11:11 AM and
from 11:20 to 11:21 AM, this being two interruptions each of which
lasts for one minute. Each time gap in this example includes time
for a 30 second commercial, as well as for a 30 second task set,
wherein a task set includes a question and time allowed for an
answer plus one or more acceptable answers and instructions for
scoring the answers. The commercial by a national advertiser can
serve as a vehicle for a question. The questions may require a
multiple choice answer, with each answer being numbered so that a
participant need only touch a numbered button on a telephone or
other response device.
[0603] Before and during the show, the audience is informed that
all acceptable responses will be rewarded with a coupon carrying a
certain discount on the advertised other products and that, in
addition, there will be awarded a prize to each of five sweepstakes
winners. Questions can be deliberately easy to answer, or if so
determined by its sponsor, can offer respondents the opportunity to
enter more comprehensive or superior answers, for instance, in
response to open-ended questions. When respondents are
appropriately equipped with response units 22, 210, or 800, answers
can be individually evaluated and scored within a respondents home
by the response units. Discount and other prize coupons may be
instantly printed and dispensed, if desired. All prizes can be
traced back, if desired, to the owner of the response unit through
numbered or coded coupons.
[0604] To attract numbers of shoppers to stores, a percentage of
the coupons dispensed can be "blind coupons" that carry an extra
prize, ascertainable only upon redemption of stores, if the
numbered coupons match the "lucky number" of the day in the store.
Coupons can have advertising and promotional messages printed on
them in accordance with programming signals received by the
response units from a central location. Advertisers can change the
text of such coast-to-coast messages on very short notice.
[0605] The versatility and the flexibility of the system enables
participating advertisers and broadcast stations to bolster the
ratings of any show at any time of the day or night. A participant
who has entered an acceptable answer can be rewarded with a prize
having symbolic or monetary value. An example of an award having
symbolic value would be a ranking or standing of the participant in
a national contest in which responses are scored, and the scores
compared and ranked at a hub. Responses with superior scores can be
further evaluated, screened and reduced in number so as to reduce
the number of remaining participants who have entered acceptable
responses to the number determined by the game operators. The
aforementioned telephone links permit a downloading of evaluated
response data to a further central storage and evaluation facility
where accepted and scored responses are further compared and
rank-ordered. Final standings can include 5, 10, 50 or other number
of remaining players. One or more of those players can be rewarded
with prizes, ranging from sweepstake prizes to cash, discounts and
other prizes. If desired, the communication system 1006 can be
employed for communication via satellite on even an international
scale to enable the implementation of world wide contests.
[0606] According to a preferred method, acceptable responses are
scored and the scored responses, which are identified with
respondents, are entered in sweepstakes. The entered responses have
their scored results associated with them, the scores being used
for weighing the responses. The weights are then attached in order
to skew the statistical probabilities of randomly determining one
or more winners of the sweepstakes.
[0607] Thus, while all entered responses have a chance of winning a
sweepstakes prize, entered responses with superior scores are
weighted so as to increase the probability of winning. As an
example, acceptable responses are awarded point scores, ranging
from ten points for a response meeting minimum response criteria to
fifty points for perfect responses. The responses are entered in a
sweepstakes in which winners are randomly determined within
determined parameters.
[0608] Such parameters can be one or a range of percentages or of a
respondent emerging as a probabilities winner from among entered
respondents. The electronic mechanisms for selecting winners are
similar to those of electronically programmable slot machines used
in casinos. In such machines the chances of winning can be
adjusted, ranging, for instance, for a minimum prize from 5-10%.
Applying similar principles to the system of the present invention,
the probability of a response with a 10 point score winning a prize
can be adjusted to be one fifth the probability of a response with
a perfect 50 point score.
[0609] In addition to the frequency of winners within a point score
range, the size of prizes within the point score range can also be
adjusted.
[0610] In some instances, the network organizer may want to enter
successful respondents in a preliminary qualifying or elimination
event. Participants in a preliminary event, who have acceptably
answered a question posed by the station to which they are
listening or which they are viewing, are automatically, or are
entitled to be, entered in a secondary or a final event. The
preliminary event can be a contest of skill or a randomly decoded
event. A successful respondent's reward can be the automatic entry
in one or more secondary contests offering prizes to winners. In
this manner, the number of entries can be significantly reduced and
can be controlled at will by regulating the level of difficulty of
the tasks of the preliminary or qualifying contest, i.e. the tasks
disseminated by stations. Successful respondents can be entered in
the "semifinals" or "finals" of a secondary event.
[0611] When desired, tasks, including questions, can allow for
responses including answers at two or more levels of difficulty,
and responses are scored in accordance with the degree of
difficulty of the response. Acceptable responses at the lowest
level of difficulty can be rewarded with one entry into a
sweepstakes, whereas responses scored higher due to a response at a
higher level of difficulty, are rewarded with two or more entries
in the sweepstakes in the name of the successful respondent.
[0612] A plurality of regional sweepstakes of the kinds described
can be conducted and winners of each of the sweepstakes are
determined. Every winner of a regional sweepstakes can be rewarded
with a prize, as well as with one or more entries in a "final"
"ultimate" or "grand" sweepstakes.
[0613] The determination at evaluation hubs whether or not a
response is an acceptable response is normally made in a short
period of time, which permits notifying a respondent of the
evaluation result via a recorded message in the course of the
initial call made by the respondent to transmit a response to the
central evaluation facility. For instance, a "yes" or "no"
response, or the answer to a multiple-choice question, can be
evaluated in milliseconds by devices in employing well-known
electronic components. A caller of a dedicated number can therefore
be informed very quickly whether he or she has been entered into a
prize event. This capability is important in order to limit calls
to less than one minute.
[0614] According to the preferred embodiment of the methods
described, evaluation hubs are formed into regional or local hub
group, e.g. hubs connected to a local telephone company or to one
of the Regional Bell Operating Companies. A separate game show, or
a similar event, or another form of contest, is held for
individuals in the area, and winning respondents are entered in a
regionally limited sweepstakes. The intention is that regional
winners, who win prizes, are entered in a similar event comprising
a larger territory, or even a national sweepstakes in which the
winner of the grand prize is determined. By organizing
"preliminaries" or elimination events, increasing interest and
suspense are generated. As an example, daily regional contests are
conducted in different parts of the country during weekdays.
Winners of the regional contests or sweepstakes, who receive
prizes, are entered in the ultimate Saturday finale or "Sweepstakes
Hour". Regional contests may extend to and include foreign regions,
provinces, or countries, permitting regional game shows to be
conducted in different languages.
[0615] The method described has the advantage of making it possible
to announce a larger number of winners on the air than would be
practical in the case of a single contest. The term "regional" is
intended to include the meanings of local, country-wide, state-wide
or other territorially limited area served by one or more hubs of
telephone companies or of other evaluation facilities capable of
the functions described.
[0616] An example of an economical procedure for preparing a large
number of tasks for use in an internationally conducted game will
now be described. A well known person, such as a movie star, acting
as the host, asks several questions which are self-explanatory, so
as to be intelligible to radio listeners without benefit of a video
presentation. The video presentation can be added for members of
the audience having television equipment. The question can be asked
in one language in its original taping, and can be translated into
any desired number of languages for dubbing in the foreign radio or
TV version of the question. Such taping of questions for
presentation to radio listeners and TV viewers will be very
inexpensive. It is noted that the audience is tuned into the radio
or TV station broadcasting the program preferred by the listener or
viewer, irrespective of the sweepstakes event. Conversely, this
means that the quality of the quiz is not necessarily the decisive
feature attracting the audience, but simply is a vehicle for giving
audience members the sweepstakes opportunity to win large
prizes.
[0617] Unauthorized use of the methods of the invention is
prevented by coding or scrambling at least a part of the tasks
transmitted to and retransmitted by a broadcast station or
transmitted to respondents' locations. Such scrambling is well
known and is often incorporated presently in programs transmitted
via satellite. Intelligible task sets will only be received by
stations and respondents having decoding or unscrambling
equipment.
[0618] Normally, a question is accompanied by a time limit for
responding. Provisions can be made to prevent entering more than
one answer to a question within the time limit allowed for
responding as has been described hereinabove with reference to the
operation of the response unit 210 (FIG. 8) or the response unit
800 (FIG. 26). Provision can be made to prevent entering more than
one answer to a question within the time limit allowed for
responding. For instance, a telephone hub can be programmed to
accept only one response from a respondent. In order to phone in
more than one answer to a question, the corresponding number of
lines would have to be available. In the event of an abnormal
frequency of calls, traffic can be monitored at the telephone hubs
for each line.
[0619] Forging of a sweepstakes prize is prevented in the use of
the network 1000 in a manner similar to that to the previously
discussed embodiments, including the system of FIG. 29. A
respondent's answer entered in a response unit, upon activation by
the respondent, is transmitted by the response unit via modem to a
central data storage facility, as is disclosed in FIG. 22, the
central data storage facility being physically inaccessible to
respondents and being tamper-proof. When a response unit prints and
dispenses a monetary hard copy record to a contestant, the record
can be verified by comparing the data on the record with the stored
data. The storage facility can be contacted by a paying agent and
can be used as a means for authenticating claimed sweepstakes and
other awards prior to payment.
[0620] The invention may be practiced with known techniques for
number or caller identification which make it possible to identify
every respondent in a poll, thereby to generate market data not
obtainable heretofore. Using the technique in the context of market
analysis and to elicit consumer reaction to products, the resulting
single source marketing data base that can be created provides
important information and leads for the purpose of advertising,
promotions, and direct mailings.
[0621] Further, in the practice of the invention by use of
prerecorded tasks at the base station 1002, if desired, the
response criteria can be recorded on a separate tape or disc which,
instead of being played back at the base station 1002, may be
played back at each of the telephone hubs 1018. In such case, in
the operation of the system, a broadcast station selects, from the
sequence of prerecorded tasks, the task that fits that stations
schedule and broadcasts the selected task(s). At a hub wherein the
recording containing the response criteria is to be played back,
only a specific response criteria matching the selected task is
employed. This may be accomplished by playing back the tape at a
telephone hub 1018 in synchronism with the playing back of the tape
at the base station 1002. In this way, the evaluation unit 808 in a
hub 1018 responds only to the criteria for the selected task, and
disregards the criteria of other tasks. This is useful in
preventing unauthorized use of the methodology of the invention
because normally only those response criteria to be used by
participating stations in conjunction with their authorized task
transmissions is allowed to reach the evaluation unit 808.
Furthermore, the foregoing anti-forgery process can be employed
concurrently with known scrambling and descrambling devices used in
the transmission of the tasks by the communication system 1006 such
as are currently employed with satellite communication systems.
[0622] For use of the invention with multi-lingual audiences,
questions broadcast over television can be in the form of pictures,
cartoons, animations, or graphics which are understandable by
people speaking different languages simply by visual
interpretation. An accompanying audio portion is selected for its
universal comprehension by people speaking different languages as
in the use of the word "no".
[0623] It is noted also that the function of the communication
system 1006 in disseminating data from the base station 1002 to
each of the central stations 1004 and to each of the telephone hubs
1018 can be accomplished in an alternative procedure whereby
prerecorded tapes, or other recording media, are mailed or
delivered to the central stations and to the hubs for use at
specific days and times of a day. This allows the benefits of the
invention to be accomplished without use of the satellite
transmission, if so desired. Alternatively, if desired, question
sets can be electronically communicated to the central stations in
advance of the day for dissemination to the public, the question
sets to be stored at the central stations 1004 for subsequent
playback at a designated day and time of day, or at a time selected
by and convenient to each individual central station. By way of
example, storage can be accomplished in the manner shown in FIGS.
11-17. In the event that participation in a network program, such
as a sweepstakes, is to be limited to respondents having a response
unit, such as the aforementioned response units 22, 210, and 800,
the response criteria are also stored at the central stations 1004.
Then, during the practice of the invention, the various response
units of the respondents serve for determining correctness of
answers, and for transmitting the identifications of successful
respondents by telephone wires to data storage facilities, as
disclosed with reference to FIG. 22. This is followed by an
entering of successful respondents into a sweepstakes, as disclosed
with reference to FIG. 32. In such a case, the telephone exchanges
or hubs only serve as temporary storage facilities for the
conveyance or transfer of acceptable responses to the sweepstakes
center, at the base station 1002, and for the purpose of storing
the identity of respondents.
[0624] If desired, in the communication of a respondent's response
from a remote station 1016 to the hub 1018 (FIG. 32) such
communication may include an indication as to whether a respondent
authorizes the sweepstakes operator to announce his or her name on
the air. Such indication can be provided by the use of a simple
keystroke on the telephone keypad or on the keyboard of a response
unit. In the case of large winners, the sweepstakes operator can
reconfirm through live operators whether authorization is granted
or withheld, by calling the known telephone number of the
sweepstakes. Sweepstake winners can be informed of their winning
either by an announcement made on the air and/or by use of a
recorded message accessible to a person calling the telephone hub
1018 by use of a dedicated telephone number which may include use
of additional keys to indicate whether a person wishes to respond
to a more recent question, or to learn of a previous winning. As
noted hereinabove, the dedicated number may be cost free such as an
800 number, or may entail a fee such as a 900 number.
[0625] Thereby, every audience member, from viewers of an urban
television station to listeners of a small-town radio station enjoy
virtually effortless participation in a sweepstakes and an equal
chance of winning the sweepstakes prize.
[0626] A number of polling systems of the invention will now be
described. The objectives of the polls can include a tabulation of
responses or "votes" on a national or other scale, the responses
including a confirmation (e.g. "do you agree that . . . ?"), choice
between two options (e.g. "which of the following two choices do
you favor?") or a multiple choice selection (e.g. "indicate your
preferred "alternative").
[0627] It also is an objective to screen out or reject responses
that are not responsive in the sense of not addressing the issue,
being mutilated or unacceptable for other reasons. To eliminate
non-responsive votes, the organizers of the poll formulate response
criteria defining the parameters or basic rules to which a response
has to conform to be validated, i.e. to be counted. The validation
of a response or vote therefore is a first step in its processing
or evaluation. Once validated, the accepted votes are stored and
then are tabulated, analyzed or otherwise processed in accordance
with known procedures.
[0628] Responses can be tabulated on any desired scale, including
regional, national or other scale. When desirable, votes are
recorded, stored, or even processed on a limited geographic scale
and are then communicated to a larger, more central, or a national
facility for further processing and tabulation. Votes can be
partially processed or evaluated on a local or regional scale and
can be further analyzed upon collection at a national processing or
tabulating facility.
[0629] It is obvious that responses have to meet certain basic and
varying requirements to be tabulated or otherwise processed. For
instance, if an answer does not address the question, if an answer
is incomplete or entered too late, etc., such an answer is not
validated i.e. it is not accepted for processing. The said
validation of responses is governed by response criteria defining
the requirements to be met by a response.
[0630] To induce the public to respond to a poll, the incentive of
informing respondents of the outcome of the poll can be provided.
Such informing can be done through the mail or one of the mass
communications media.
[0631] It is understood that every response undergoes two
processing steps, the first being a validation step and the second
being a processing step. Unvalidated, i.e. rejected responses are
excluded from tabulation. Validated responses are processed in
accordance with instructions formulated by the poll operator.
Results of tabulation are made available to respondents, but are
normally limited to providers of a validated response.
[0632] The versatility of the system and methods of the invention
are illustrated by the following example. A regional charitable
organization, having used the survey technique described, has
tabulated identified respondents in its area of activities who in
the survey have "strongly endorsed" the goals of the charitable
organization. This tabulation enables the organization to follow up
and contact these individual families identified in the tabulation
by telephone, mail, or through personal visits.
[0633] To minimize polling costs related to telephone charges,
whether incurred by calling 800 or 900 numbers, a subject or issues
to be voted on are discussed, for example, in the course of a 30
minute TV program. During the first 25 minutes, no votes are taken,
but the audience is alerted to the questions that will be asked at
the end of e debate. During the last five minutes of the program,
during which a voter is connected to a local hub by telephone or
other cable, or to a radio hub, a number of predetermined questions
are asked. For instance, 10 votes are elicited and 30 seconds are
allocated to each question. Of those 30 seconds, 20 seconds are
devoted to a summary of an issue and 10 seconds are allowed for the
entry of a multiple-choice answer, such as touching buttons to
enter two digits on a telephone keypad.
[0634] It is another objective to identify and record the
identities of the respondents or "voters". According to a preferred
embodiment, votes are cast by telephone, although other two-way
communication can be used. A voter dials a dedicated number and
enters additional digits indicating the voter's response. The votes
of telephone subscribers are recorded and tabulated as described.
At the same time, using caller identification CI automated number
identification (ANI), or similar techniques, the identities of all
voters are captured and stored. The stored data can include not
only the respondent's identity, but the vote itself and other
comments.
[0635] Votes can be tabulated on the basis of the nature of votes
cast, so that for instance all telephone subscribers living in one
congressional district who have cast identical votes, can be
identified and grouped. Desired identified voters can then be
contacted at an appropriate time. Other records can be tabulated on
the basis of predetermined characteristics or correlations of cast
votes. A correlation could be, for example, that of votes tending
to favor one political trend over another, as would be the case of
voters "agreeing strongly" or "agreeing somewhat" with a
proposition when confronted with four or five choices of a multiple
choice question. These types of tabulation can be generated for any
chosen delimited area defined by topographical or political
boundaries, demographics, or other characteristics.
[0636] FIG. 41 shows a generalized system 1100 which summarizes
various embodiments of the invention disclosed hereinabove. In the
system 1100, a central station 1102 is provided with a studio 1104
for presenting tasks to a respondent 1106 who is a member of a
remote audience, such as the audience members 94 and 216 of FIGS. 3
and 6. The studio 1104 may be located within the central station
1102, or spaced apart from the central station 1102 and connected
thereto electronically. The presentation of the task to the
respondent 1106 is accomplished by some mode 1108 of communication
such as a broadcast of radio and/or television as shown in FIGS. 1,
3, 6 and 7, or by telephone and/or modem as shown in FIGS. 6, 22,
24, 29, 30, 32, 33 and 37-40, or by use of prerecorded material as
shown in FIGS. 11-17, 21, 30, 32 and 36. Included with the
presentation of the task are basic instructions such as the
selection of one of a number of possible responses, an entry of a
specific word or number, or other type of response as has been
described hereinabove. The respondent 1106 enters a response by use
of one or more components which may be found in a response unit
1110, such components including a keyboard 1112 for entering an
answer, a comparison unit 1114 for comparing the answer to an
acceptable response, a scoring unit 1116 for scoring the answer
with scoring being based in part on a time of response, a unit 1118
for crediting points to the answer, a display 1120 by which the
respondent 1106 can view the answer and/or the response results,
and a printer 1122 for printing a coupon or other hard copy record
presenting results of the response. The use and operation of such
components of a response unit, as well as a complete response unit,
have been described above with reference to FIGS. 1, 3-8, 11-12,
14, 16-18, 21-22, 24-28, 30 and 37-40.
[0637] Alternatively, evaluation of a response of the respondent
1106 can be accomplished by a central evaluation facility 1124, the
crediting of the response by points as well as with a monetary or
other form of award can be accomplished by a central crediting
facility 1126, and the provision of the coupon or other form of
hard copy record of results of the response can be accomplished by
a central printer 1128, all of which are included in the
generalized system 1100. Also included in the system 1100 is a
telephone network 1130 comprising the automatic number
identification (ANI) facility 1020 (described above with reference
to FIG. 22), a telephone 1132 allowing direct communication between
the respondent 1106 and the central evaluation facility 1124, and
one or more modems 1134 allowing for communication between
components of the response unit 1110 and the central evaluation
facility 1124, the central crediting facility 1126 and the central
printer 1128. A communication link 1136 provides for transmission
of instructions and data from the central station 1102 to the
central evaluation facility 1124 and to the central crediting
facility 1126. Included within the central crediting facility is a
memory 1138 for storing data of awards earned by respondents such
as the respondent 1106. The ANI facility 1020 enables the central
evaluation facility 1124 to identify each of the respondents
submitting a response by identification of the respective telephone
circuits used in communicating the respective responses. Winning
respondents' bank, telephone or other accounts can be credited by
the central crediting facility 1126, in which event neither the
printer 1122 or the printer 1128 are used.
[0638] The central evaluation facility 1124 comprises a computer
1140, a memory 1142, a register 1144, circuitry 1146 operatively
coupled to the computer 1140 for ranking responses of respondents
according to a predetermined criteria such as response score, and
programmable comparison circuitry 1148 operatively coupled to the
computer 1140 for comparing answers of respondents to acceptable
responses pursuant to instructional commands from the central
station 1102. Signals outputted from an output terminal of the
comparison circuitry 1148 indicate the correctness of the
responses. The acceptable responses are stored in the memory 1142
and serve as reference inputs to the comparison circuitry 1148.
Responses received from respondents are stored in the register 1144
for subsequent application to a further input of the comparison
circuitry 1148. Scoring circuitry 1150 connects between the output
terminal of the comparison circuitry 1148 and the ranking circuitry
1146 for scoring the responses and for providing scores to the
ranking circuitry 1146. The scoring circuitry 1150 may employ
response time data, if available, as a factor in computing scores,
and may include the scoring computer 902 of FIG. 29. Respondents
may accordingly be ranked on the basis of the quality, such as the
correctness, responsiveness, and details of the response, as well
as on the speed of response. Central evaluation functions have been
described hereinabove with reference to the response evaluation
unit 808 of FIGS. 22, 29, 31 and 32, and the scoring computer 902
of FIGS. 29 and 31.
[0639] The communication mode 1108 also provides signals for
operation of the components of the response unit 1110. More
specifically, the communication mode 1108 presents acceptable
responses to the comparison unit 1114, scoring and/or weighing
criteria to the scoring unit 1116, and a basis for the crediting of
responses to the crediting unit 1118. Communication via radio
and/or television is disclosed in FIGS. 1, 3, 6-7, via telephone
and/or modem is disclosed in FIG. 22, 30 and 32, via signals
emitted on a television screen in FIG. 23, and by use of
prerecorded media in FIGS. 11-18 and 21-22. One or more of these
functions of the communication mode 1108 are described hereinabove
with respect to the response unit 22 of FIGS. 3 and 4, the response
unit 210 of FIGS. 6-8, and the response unit 800 of FIG. 26. The
functions of comparing, timing and scoring are shown in the
response units of FIGS. 4, 8 and 26, with the circuitry of a timing
unit being shown in FIG. 9. Providing credit to a response based on
aspects of a response such as a word or text, in combination with
timing and difficulty level, is disclosed in the response units of
FIGS. 8 and 26.
[0640] With respect to the various embodiments presented by the
system 1100, one embodiment provides for entry of a response by use
of the keyboard 1112, with the signals outputted by the keyboard
being transmitted to the central evaluation facility 1124 along
line 1152 via modem 1134 and telephone network 1130. This provides
the option of evaluating a response at the central facility rather
than by a response unit at the local station. This can be
accomplished by use of the response unit 800 of FIG. 26 to simply
output the keyboard entry without evaluation of the entry, such
operation being disclosed hereinabove with respect to central
evaluation by the response evaluation unit 808 in FIGS. 22 and 29.
The results of the evaluation can then be passed on to the central
crediting facility 1126 to credit the respondent with whatever
award is to be received, and may then be transmitted along line
1154 via the telephone network 1130 and modem 1134 back to the
display 1120 of the response unit 1110 at the remote location of
the respondent. A coupon can then be outputted by either the
central printer 1128 or by the printer 1122 at the remote
location.
[0641] By way of further option, the processing of a response can
be shared between the remote response unit 1110 and the central
evaluation facility 1124, by way of example, by performing the
comparison and scoring functions at the response unit 1110. Then,
the results of the scoring are transmitted along line 1156 via
modem 1134 and telephone network 1130 to the central crediting
facility 1126 for the crediting of an award. Thereafter, coupons
may be provided by the central printer 1128 and, via transmission
of the output of the central crediting facility 1126 along line
1154, the award may be displayed on the display 1120 of response
unit 1110. Alternatively, by transmission of the crediting output
along line 1154, a coupon may be provided by the printer 1122 of
the response unit 1110.
[0642] It is noted that the mode 1108 of communication includes
also communication via cable as is frequently employed for the
transmission of television programs. In such transmission, referred
to as Cable TV, Pay TV, and closed-circuit TV, addressable
converters may be employed to limit the program presentation to a
viewer to show only certain TV channels, or to limit the amount of
time available for presentation of program material to the viewer.
The addressable converters decode encoded or encrypted television
signals to allow reception of the signals by home television
receivers, and the addressable feature allows for the selection of
specific channels to be enabled in response to control signals
transmitted along the cable from a central station.
[0643] Generally, the availability of such programs is established
by prior arrangement between the viewer, or subscriber, and a
broadcast company. Such arrangement can enhance an advertiser's
chance of communication with a prospective customer, the TV viewer,
since the program material is known ahead of time to be of interest
to the viewer.
[0644] Also included in the mode 1108 of communication is portable
or cellular telephony wherein the receiver of the program and
instructional signals, as well as the transmitter of a response to
a task, may be located on a mobile platform such as a boat or
automobile, or even an aircraft. The foregoing operation of the
system 1100 can proceed in the same fashion as described above, if
desired. However, the mobile platform introduces the further
possibility of communication between the central equipment,
including any one of the central station 1102, the central
evaluation facility 1124 and the central crediting facility 1126,
and a plurality of remote locations. For example, a respondent to a
task may respond while driving in an automobile, and the results of
the response may be transmitted for printing at a printer 1122A at
an alternative location such as the respondent's home or office.
This is particularly useful in a situation wherein the results of a
response require further study. For example, the respondent may be
answering questions in a college exam, and the result, a critique
by the professor, is transmitted to the respondent's home to
provide further understanding of the subject matter. As a further
example, the response may be the selection of certain automotive
features desirable in a car intended to be purchased, and the
results of the response, namely a listing of cars having the
requisite features, would be transmitted to the respondent's office
to be printed out in hard copy for his viewing, or to be stored in
his or her office computer, assuming the computer is active and
equipped with a modem. Furthermore, data to be transmitted to the
alternate location may be stored in the memory 1138 to permit later
transmission at a time of convenience. Conversely, a student may
respond to a test at home and the graded paper may be awaiting and
be delivered to the student in a classroom. As the tests results
are distributed to the students in the classroom, each test paper
may be individually critiqued by a professor.
[0645] The foregoing functions of the system 1100 can be
accomplished also in conjunction with a coupon redemption facility
such as the redemption and authentication facility 906, shown in
both FIGS. 29 and 41, wherein the facility 906 is provided with
data stored in the memory 1138. Also, the foregoing functions of
the system 1100 can be accomplished in conjunction with a billing
for services made automatically to a subscriber's bank 708 via a
central telephone facility 702 of the network 1130, such automatic
billing having been described previously with respect to FIG.
29.
[0646] Thereby, the generalized system 1100 of the invention
demonstrates the adaptive feature of the invention to provide for
evaluation and/or analysis of a respondent's response by use of
electronic equipment (the response unit 1110) located at the remote
location of the respondent, or by use of electronic equipment (the
central evaluation, crediting and, in some instances, printing
facilities 1124, 1126 and 1128) located at a central location
distant from the respondent. It is noted that the computer 1140 in
conjunction with the other components of the central evaluation
facility 1124 are capable of performing the various evaluation
functions of the remote response unit 1110. For example, acceptable
responses and various weighing criteria can be transmitted via the
communication link 1136 to enable the comparison and the scoring
functions to be performed. Even the length of time employed by the
respondent 1106 in generating a response can be made known to the
central evaluation facility 1124 by transmitting along the link
1136 the time of day when the respondent is presented with the
task. This is then subtracted from the time of receipt of the
response at the central evaluation facility 1124 to give the length
of time employed by the respondent in generating the response.
[0647] With reference to FIGS. 8, 14, 22 and 42, there is provided
a simplification of equipment employed by a respondent in the
generation of a response and in the transmission of the response to
a central facility. As has been described with reference to FIG.
22, generation of a response at a remote station 206B is
accomplished with the aid of a telephone 620 and a response unit
210 (shown in FIG. 8), or equivalently the response unit 800 of
FIG. 26. Communication is obtained via a switchboard 622 and a
telephone line 636. Connection of the response unit 210 to the
telephone line 636 is accomplished by means of the receiving system
558 (shown in FIG. 14) and a modem 634. Thus, there is a
significant amount of electronic equipment at the remote station
206B. FIG. 42 demonstrates a construction of equipment for the
remote station 206B which reduces the quantity of separate pieces
of electronic equipment by placing the electric circuitry of the
receiving system 558 and the modem 634 and the response unit 210
within the housing 1158 of a telephone 1160. This is accomplished
by miniaturizing the size of the circuitry by constructing the
circuitry in the form of electronic chip circuits. The dispenser
360 of the response unit 210 would be left outside of the telephone
housing 1158 because of the relatively large size of the printers
390 and 392 therein. The telephone 1160 includes a keyboard 1162
and a display 1164 which are time shared among the normal telephone
functions and the functions of the response unit in a manner, to be
described below, wherein no additional electronic components,
except for a mode selector switch 1166 and a connection jack 1168
for the dispenser 360, appear on the outside of the telephone
housing 1158.
[0648] The telephone 1160 further comprises a handset 1170 held
within a cradle 1172 of the housing 1158. The switch 1166 has a
button 1174 which may be slid by a person operating the telephone
1160 to select either the normal mode of telephone operation, or to
activate operation of the telephone as a response unit. In the
normal position of the switch 1166, keys 1176 of the keyboard 1162
are connected by the switch 1166 to the electronics 1178 of the
telephone whereby tones representing digits of a number dialed are
outputted via a jack 1180 to a telephone line such as the line 636
of FIG. 22. Also included in the telephone 1160 are the circuits of
the aforementioned modem 634 and the receiving system 558, as well
as components of the response unit 210 (or 800) such as the logic
control unit 350 and the buffer store 366, plus the other
components of the response unit indicated collectively at block
1182. In order to adapt the telephone 1160 to use as the response
unit, there are also provided an encoder 1184, a decoder 1186 of
command signals, and a buffer store 1188.
[0649] In operation, the switch button 1174 is placed in the normal
position, and the telephone 1160 is operated in normal fashion for
dialing the central evaluation facility 1124. After communication
is initiated, as may be indicated by transmission of a prerecorded
message from the central evaluation facility 1124 to the
respondent, the respondent moves the switch button 1174 to the
"response unit" position to enable the telephone 1160 to operate as
a response unit. The electrical connection of the keys 1176 is
switched by the switch 1166 from the telephone electronics 1178 to
the encoder 1184. The encoder enables the keyboard 1172 to generate
alphanumeric characters, rather than only the ten digits plus star
and pound which are available during normal telephone
operation.
[0650] The logic of the encoder 1184 may be demonstrated as
follows, by considering operation of one of the keys 1176, for
example, the key for generating the numeral 2. This key also shows
the letters A, B or C. Upon pressing the key by itself, without a
concurrent pressing of any other key, the encoder 1184 outputs the
numeral 2 in the form of an electric signal on line 1190. However,
by a concurrent pressing of the key with the star and/or the pound
key(s), the encoder outputs the letter A or B or C, as follows. In
the customary layout of a touch tone telephone, in the arrangement
of the alphanumeric characters on the foregoing key, the letter A
is located to the left of the letter B, and the letter C is located
to the right of the letter B. The star key is located in the lower
left corner of the keyboard, and the pound key is located in the
lower right corner of the keyboard. Hence, upon pressing the star
key concurrently with a pressing of the ABC key, the encoder 1184
outputs the letter A. Upon pressing the pound key concurrently with
a pressing of the ABC key, the encoder 1184 outputs the letter C.
And upon pressing both the star and the pound keys concurrently
with the ABC key, the encoder 1184 outputs the letter B. Upon a
pressing of the star and/or pound key(s) without a concurrent
pressing of one of the digit keys, a number but no alphanumeric
character is outputted by the encoder 1184.
[0651] Other ones of the keys 1176 operate in similar fashion. For
example, the JKL key activates the encoder 1184 to output a numeral
5 in the absence of a concurrent pressing of star and/or pound
keys. However, a concurrent pressing of the star and the JKL keys
provides the letter J, a concurrent pressing of the pound and the
JKL keys provides the letter L, and a concurrent pressing of the
three keys provides the letter K. In the case of the operation of
the key for generating the numeral 1, use of the star key provides
the letter Q, use of both the star and the pound keys provides the
letter Z, and use of the pound key provides a comma for
punctuation. In the case of the operation of the key for generating
the numeral 0, use of the star key provides the delete function for
deleting the last character to correct a mistake, use of both the
star and the pound keys provides the enter function for
transmitting a message to the central evaluation facility 1124, and
use of the pound key provides a period for punctuation. The line
1190 connects the output port of the encoder 1184 to the display
1164 to activate the display 1164 to show the respondent the
alphanumeric characters which have been typed.
[0652] Thereby, the keyboard 1162 and the display 1164 provide the
function of entering alphanumeric characters in a manner equivalent
to the operation of the keyboard 356 and the display 358 in the
response units 210 and 800 of FIGS. 8 and 26, respectively. The
keyboard 356 also has special function keys such as "next answer",
"different level", etc. Such special function commands may be
implemented on the keyboard 1164 of FIG. 42 as follows. Typing of
the letter Q twice "QQ" designates a command function which is
repeated by a numeral to identify the command. For example, QQ1
indicates that the telephone 1160 is to provide the operation of
the response unit 800 without communication with a central
evaluation facility such as the facility 1124. QQ2 indicates that
responses are to be processed in the manner shown in FIG. 41
wherein communication is accomplished via lines 1152 and 1154
wherein evaluation is accomplished at the central facility 1124 and
wherein the printing of a coupon is accomplished under direction of
the central crediting facility 1126 by the central printer 1128
and/or by the dispenser 360. QQ3 Indicates that responses are to be
processed in the manner shown in FIG. 41 wherein communication is
accomplished via lines 1156 and 1154 wherein evaluation is
accomplished locally at the telephone 1160 and a crediting of an
award is accomplished by the central crediting facility 1126. In
similar fashion, other commands may be provided to provide for
"next answer" or "different level", useful in the conduct of a quiz
program by way of example. Still further commands may select upper
or lower case letters to be presented in the display 1164, while
yet additional commands may be employed to provide for a foreign
language alphabet, such as Greek symbols.
[0653] In the operation of the telephone 1160, the signals
outputted on line 1190 from the encoder 1184 include signals having
the same form as those outputted by the keyboard 356 of FIGS. 8 and
26 to the buffer store 366, plus the command signals to the logic
control unit 350, plus command signals for the display 1164 and
further command signals not present in the response units 210 and
800 for FIGS. 8 and 26. The decoder 1186 recognizes the various
signals and sorts out the various signals via a set of AND gates
1192, 1194 and 1196 for applying the respective signals to the
display 1164, the logic control unit 350 and the buffer store 366.
Signals constituting a message to be transmitted from the telephone
1160 to the central evaluation facility 1124 and or the central
crediting facility 1126 are stored initially in the buffer store
1188 until such time as the respondent provides the enter command.
In response to the enter command, the decoder 1186 strobes the
store 1188 to output the message to the modem 634 to be transmitted
via the telephone jack 1180 to the central evaluation facility 1124
and/or the central crediting facility 1126. Communication may be
had also with the central station 1102 via telephone circuit and
modem, as has been described above with reference to FIG. 41.
[0654] Instructional signals for operation of the response
circuitry of the telephone 1160, arriving via the telephone jack
1180 are received by the receiving system 558 and converted to a
signal format, as described above with reference to FIG. 14,
suitable for operation of the decoders 338, 340, 342 and 344 of the
response units shown in both FIGS. 8 and 26. Alternatively, if
instructional signals are to be received by radio or television, as
shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 6 and 7, the telephone 1160 may be provided
with a further jack 1198 which bypasses the receiving system 558.
The capacity of the telephone 1160 to implement the communications
represented by the lines 1152, 1156 and 1154 of FIG. 41 is
accomplished with the aid of a switch 1200 which is activated by
the decoder 1186 to connect line 1156 from the output of the
scoring circuitry to the modem 634 for transmission to the central
crediting facility 1126, or to connect optionally line 1156A from
the input terminal of the scoring circuitry for transmission to the
central evaluation facility 1124, or to leave both lines
disconnected for operation as a stand alone response unit.
[0655] When desired, a memory (not shown) connected to credit point
storage 1118 functions as cumulative storage of credit points
earned by respondents who have successfully answered more than one
question. By utilizing the circuitry shown in FIGS. 22 and 41, a
respondent can elect to receive an award for a single acceptable
response, or "to let the winnings ride" on the successful answer or
answers to one or more additional questions or tasks. At the option
of the system operator, the game may permit accumulating credit
points for all acceptable responses, irrespective of wrong answers,
or losing all credit points earned for preceding wins by entering
one unacceptable answer, or to earn cumulative credit points after
deducting credit points for unacceptable or wrong answers. The
modes or rules governing a game are determined by the host and
announced to respondents.
[0656] By way of further embodiments, it is noted that it may be
desired to operate the telephone only in an all digital system
wherein instructional signals are to be encoded digitally, as are
facsimile signals, employing the full frequency spectrum of the
telephone line, rather than the limited spectrum disclosed in FIG.
2. In such case, the receiving system 558 can be replaced with a
modem (not shown) or share the modem 634 with the outgoing signal
transmission, and the decoders 338, 340, 342 and 344 can be
replaced with circuits recognizing the identifying flags of the
various digitally formatted signals.
[0657] In view of the capacity of the telephone 1160 to provide the
foregoing various modes of processing responses to quizzes, tasks,
contests, wagering and other situations described hereinabove, to
include both local evaluation and central evaluation, the telephone
1160 may be regarded as a form of universal response unit.
[0658] The system of FIG. 41 and the telephone of FIG. 42 are
operative with various forms of prerecorded and live transmission
of program material including direct broadcast, cable transmission,
the use of playback mechanisms which can be activated by individual
TV viewers, as well as other video-on-demand techniques, as well as
various forms of communication protocol including various forms of
signal compression and data compression. Also, the mode of
displaying of the data can be a cathode ray tube as in a television
set or a charged-coupled device (CCD) display, or similar
flat-panel displays which may be electrically activated to portray
the program material. Also, the data entry devices may include a
keyboard with a screen, as has been disclosed with respect to the
response unit 800, or an entry device constructed as a computer
terminal having both keyboard and a large screen, The keyboard and
display of the foregoing telephone 1160, or a touch-panel wherein
electrostatic interaction between a person's finger and the panel
provides for entry of an alphanumeric symbol or other symbol
located in the area of the panel touched by the person's finger, as
well as by the use of voice activated devices, infrared guns,
joysticks, a mouse or track ball or other device used for entry of
data on computer terminals. Signal transmission means can utilize
optical, audio, radio frequency, electric, mechanical, infrared or
other signals which can be modulated or varied in intensity,
frequency or phase of pulses, and other forms of modulation as may
be desired to convey the requisite information. It is noted also,
that the printer employed, either at the central station or at the
remote station for outputting a coupon or other hard copy may be
constructed in the form of a facsimile machine with data being
transmitted by facsimile protocol.
[0659] In the case of program material producing a scenario such as
a world series baseball game wherein a task requires the prediction
of the next play, it is understood that the game may be either a
live game, or may be a game of historical interest which, may have
been played more than 10 years earlier. In either case, the
consideration of an event to be predicted applies equally well to
both the live and the prerecorded presentations.
[0660] With respect to the use of the central evaluation facility
1124 accessed by use of the telephone 1132 (FIG. 41) or the
telephone 1160 (FIG. 42), notification of the results of a response
submitted by the respondent 1106 may be provided rapidly, on the
order of a matter of seconds, or at a later time such as the
following day or week. In the case of a result which is to be
transmitted almost immediately to the respondent, use of the
telephone permits a report to the respondent to be made by way of a
prerecorded message designating a score or an award or providing a
further instruction, by way of example. In the event that the
telephone is provided with a display screen which can be activated
by signals from a remote station, the results of the respondent's
submitted response can be portrayed on the telephone display. Such
immediate report back of results is useful in events for
wagering.
[0661] In another form of implementing the method for rewarding
successful contestants, a marketing facility such as a catalog
center, a showroom, a discount center, or a redemption center
carries or opens monetary accounts in the names of individual
contestants. A contestant can spend part or all of his or her
credit limit, or of the amounts accumulated in or credited to such
accounts through purchases of selected merchandise made in person,
through the mail, or electronically as by telephone or 2-way
cable.
[0662] The printer described in the context of prize coupons and
other forms of awards can also be directed by instructional signals
to print messages and text unrelated to prizes. A coupon printer
normally is limited to printing relatively short hard copy text,
such as discount coupons or recipes sponsored by manufacturers of
cooking or baking ingredients. However, modified printers are able
to print larger hard copy suitable for news flashes, stock
quotations, weather reports, sports results and the like. In such
an event, individual printers are activated and controlled by
instructional signals filtered to a user's printer through an
addressable converter. Such a system can be used by a subscription
service providing selected printed out information addressed to
individual subscribers.
[0663] FIG. 43 shows a merchandising system 1202 employing
equipment and techniques found in the preceding embodiments of
invention. The system enables a buyer or shopper at his remote
location to selectively enter a request for a dispensing of a
coupon or other hard copy bearing a discount on an identified
product need at the time. To facilitate the description, the term
"token" is understood to include various forms of hard copy such as
a rebate check, voucher or discount coupon. The system 1202
provides an area for viewing products 1204, or even "large ticket
items", such as automobiles and includes a stand or table 1206 for
displaying the products 1204 before prospective shoppers 1208.
Product data is presented on a set of displays 1210 of a data panel
1212 which includes a memory 1214 for storing data to be displayed.
The stored data is updated by update circuitry 1216 which erases
old data from the memory 1214 and inserts new data into the memory
when such new data is made available by a central information
facility. While only one display panel 1212 is shown in the figure
for one product viewing area, it is to be understood that the
invention is operative with multiple panels 1212 located in
respective ones of multiple product viewing areas, and wherein the
multiple panels 1212 are activated by a common central information
facility, namely the facility 1218.
[0664] A product selection is made by a shopper following the
display at the shopper's location of alternative products available
for purchase and upon the receipt of product information. The
product information is provided in both visible and audible form by
use of television equipment 1220 including vidicons 1222 with zoom
lenses 1224, and equipped with microphones 1226. The vidicons 1222
are positioned by guidance systems 1228 which aid observers,
including TV viewers, to view specific products including labels
thereof containing useful product information. Voice commentary
about a product 1204, as well as video material may be recorded for
subsequent playback by means of recording-playback apparatus
coupled to the television equipment 1220, or may be presented to
shoppers directly by means of a TV monitor 1232 having a split
screen display 1234, as well as by means of further displays 1236
and 1238 of video material, and by means of a speaker 1240
presenting audio material.
[0665] The split screen display 1234 provides both written material
from the labels of the products 1204 and a view of the products,
the written material and the product view being on opposite sides
of the screen. Additional data obtained from the data panel 1212
via line 1242 may also be presented on the screen of the monitor
1232. Signals for operating the display 1238 are transmitted from
the television equipment 1220 by means of a video transmitter 1244,
and signals for operating the speaker 1240 are transmitted from the
television equipment 1220 by means of an audio transmitter 1246. A
transmitter 1248 of video and audio signals applies signals from
the television equipment 1220 via a television signal receiver 1250
to the display 1236, thereby to present both video and audio
descriptive material of the products 1204 to the shoppers 1208. The
product information may be in alphanumeric form including symbols
and icons, if desired, as well as in pictorial form. The display of
merchandise can precede or follow or accompany the display of
information.
[0666] A shopper can enter a request for a token on an identified
product directly without awaiting the receipt of product
information, or the shopper can first request product information
for the purpose of acquainting himself or herself with the latest
information available at said data storage facility. The
information is made available by the interconnection of the data
panel 1212 with the central information facility 1218. The actual
product request by a shopper 1208, whether the request be for
information or for a token directed to the product, is entered on
any one of a plurality of entry devices 1252 which may take the
form of a computer terminal having a keyboard and display, or a
more simple form of man-machine interface such as a touch panel
wherein a shopper merely touches the area of the panel identifying
the product.
[0667] The various entry devices 1252 connect with transmission
circuitry 1254 which transmits the shopper's request to a central
request reception facility 1256. The facility 1256 communicates
with the central information facility 1218 to order the display of
requested product data on the panel 1212. A central instruction
transmitter 1258 connects with the request reception facility 1256
to transmit a token request via one of a plurality of addressable
converters 1260 to one of a plurality of token dispensers 1262. The
dispensers 1262 are located at points of convenience to shoppers,
so as to be accessed readily by respective ones of the shoppers to
receive their respective tokens. Typically, the transmission of the
transmitter 1258 is via a microwave communication channel 1264 and
includes the address of each dispenser 1262. Also, for security
purposes, the dispenser command signals may be coded, and the
converters 1260 decode the signals in the same fashion as is
accomplished with home cable TV. The converters 1260 read the
address of the selected dispenser 1262 to direct a token request to
a selected one of the dispensers 1262.
[0668] This arrangement permits the dispensers 1262 to be located
at remote locations 1266 if desired, for example, at business
locations of individual shoppers in the case wherein the
merchandising system 1202 is employed for wholesale. Furthermore, a
remote location 1266 may be provided also with an entry device 1252
connected via a telephone link 1268 to the central request
reception facility 1256 to request information to be displayed on a
display 1236 also located at the remote location 1266 and connected
to the addressable converter 1260. Interconnection of the central
information facility 1218 with the central request reception
facility 1256 enables the facility 1256 to verify that the request
is a valid request for a product carried by the merchandising
system 1202. Recordation of shoppers' requests is accomplished by
storing the requests in a memory 1270 connected to the central
request reception facility 1256.
[0669] A product display facility, constructed as shown above, can
be dedicated, if desired, solely to the promotion of specific
products by the displaying of the products available for sale, both
wholesale and retail, without being a sales outlet. Such a facility
can be designed and used for display purposes only, obviating large
amounts of space normally required in a retail store. Being
essentially an exhibiting facility, such a showroom can be planned
and laid out for that specific purpose. Such a display facility
permits, for example, stocking only two articles of each kind such
as two bottles of an over-the-counter medicine or drug. One bottle
displays the front and the other the back of the bottle. The
resulting showroom and display facility can, therefore, be
constructed with a relatively compact architecture.
[0670] If used for wholesale purposes, such a display facility can
serve as a tool for the marketing by manufacturers, distributors,
or wholesalers to retailers. In that event, as noted above, the
product information is transmitted through coded signals via the
addressable converters 1260 to buyers for stores or those of target
retailers. Product information, such as prices, will vary depending
on whether promotions are directed towards the public or commercial
enterprises. For remote locations 1266 located at commercial
enterprises, the tokens can take the form of rebate checks and
credit vouchers which can be used in conjunction with a wholesale
order, if desired, by deducting the amount of a rebate check
dispensed by dispenser 1262 from the amount of a written purchase
order accompanied by the rebate check. Also, the token may be of
other form of hard copy carrying value consideration and intended
to induce stores or chains to buy products wholesale.
[0671] For example, a purchasing manager may access the central
information facility 1218 via the telephone link 1268 which, by way
of example, may be a two-way cable communication link to request a
rebate check based on the purchase of a product in a specified
quantity or monetary amount to be dispensed by a printer within the
dispenser 1262. Additional security measures may be taken,
including coding and stipulations on the rebate check that such
rebate or discount is available only upon purchase of a specified
product or products from a specified group. Furthermore, products
can be identified by name, number, or bar code, as well as by store
or shelf location. Bar codes, as well as other codes which may be
employed, can be read automatically by readers mounted within
reading range of the product identification code without
obstructing images picked out by the vidicons 1222.
[0672] Product information may include also value consideration,
such as rebate, prizes, or discounts available upon purchase of the
identified products, as well as related information, such as
cut-off dates, and store or factory locations. The recordation of a
buyer's request at the memory 1270 permits the collection of data
relative to the product identified by a wholesale or retail buyer,
such cumulative data creating a buyer's individual purchase profile
for subsequent analysis and evaluation.
[0673] Upon request of a shopper, whether the shopper be physically
located within the display area, or whether the shopper call in
from the remote location 1266 via the telephone link 1268, the
vidicons 1222 are activated to zoom in on an individual product to
provide the shopper with the desired product information. The
merchandising system 1202 may also display products of different
manufacturers in the manner of a trade show wherein only one or two
items of each model are on display for viewing from different
angles by one or more TV cameras or for providing a wrap-around
view by a roving camera. An inventory of such products may be
warehoused at a remote location. Also, by means of the
merchandising system 1202, a group of suppliers can form a
cooperative venture in the form of a central showroom in
conjunction with a tape or disk library which can be accessed by
retail and wholesale buyers. The products and services of the
suppliers would be numbered or otherwise identified to facilitate
accessing of desired product data.
[0674] By way of alternative embodiments, it is noted that the
plurality of remote receiving stations 16 and 18 of FIGS. 1 and 3,
the stations 206C of FIG. 29, and the plurality or receiving
stations 1016 need not have the same physical form. For example, as
described above with reference to FIG. 41, one receiving station
may be a permanent station such as a person's home or office, while
another of the stations may be a temporary station resided in by a
person on a temporary basis such as a vehicle, for example, a ship,
an aircraft, or an automobile. Various forms of communication,
including cellular telephony and satellite communication may be
employed between any one of the remote receiving stations (whether
the receiving station be a permanent or a temporary station) and
its central station 12 (FIGS. 1 and 3) or 1004 (FIG. 32). Thus,
this feature provides versatility by enabling a person to enter a
contest while residing at a temporary location, and requesting a
central control station to direct a printout of hard copy at the
person's permanent location.
[0675] FIG. 44 shows details in the operation of the system of the
invention to provide for a polling of members of a remote audience.
The polling function has been described hereinabove for use with
various equipments disclosed above and with various ones of the
embodiments of the invention. Some aspects of the polling may be
summarized as follows. Respondents' data are processed in
accordance with several distinct sets of criteria of which the
following are noted. Normally, the first criteria set a standard
for admissibility of responses to the analytical procedures. Such
standards range from barring mutilated or objectionable responses
to minimum or limit-setting guidelines, such as screening out
respondents who have not completed high school. These criteria are
primarily negative or disqualifying criteria. A second set of
criteria serves to further select and group respondents based on a
variety of yardsticks, characteristics and specifications which, by
way of examples, includes age, gender, residence, children, income,
education, political affiliation, hobbies, voting record, health
features and others. This set of grouping indicator is used, both
to limit respondents to the desired groups, or to identify and
isolate discrete segments of the polled population for separate or
subsequent polling.
[0676] Having polled the targeted group of respondents and having
processed responses as described above, the resulting input by
desired groupings of respondents can then be analyzed in any
desired fashion. Different groupings can be cross-referenced or
otherwise processed. The results are tabulated and stored or made
available to sponsors for further analyses based on a sponsor's own
interpretive guidelines. The software designed in connection with
the above described polling or survey activities allow for the
flexibility of individually programming circuitry to achieve
selected ones or all of the state objectives.
[0677] With reference to both FIGS. 29 and 44, further explanation
of the polling function is provided. Specific apparatus for
performance of the polling function is presented in a polling
system 1272. To facilitate a description of the polling system 1272
and its interconnection with various ones of the facilities and
equipments of FIG. 29, the polling system 1272 is incorporated
within the data facility 904, however, it is to be understood that
the polling system 1272 may be provided as a separate facility
distant form the data facility 904, if desired. As shown in FIG.
29, the locating of the polling system 1272 within the data
facility 904 provides for communication between the polling system
1272 and the switchboard 622 to provided for the advantages of
automatic number identification at the number identification
facility 1020, as well as communication with the response
evaluation unit 808 and the scoring computer 902 to utilize the
features of response evaluation and scoring, and communication with
the central station 202 to obtain direct input from personnel
operating the central station, if desired. The polling system 1272
may be constructed as a programmable general purpose computer with
adequate memory to store data to be used in conducting the polling.
However, to facilitate a description of the invention, and to show
the various functions to be implemented by the polling system 1272,
the diagrammatic view of the polling system 1272 in FIG. 44 shows
separate blocks for respective ones of the functions, with
individual ones of the blocks having their own programmable
computer and memory for storing data necessary for carrying out the
various polling functions.
[0678] The polling system 1272, as shown in FIG. 44, comprises a
processing section 1274, a formulating section 1276, an award
section 1278, and a record generating section 1280 which are
interconnected via a communication network 1282, the latter
providing communication also with other components of the data
facility 904 and other facilities of the system 900 of FIG. 29. The
processing section 1274 comprises a validating unit 1284, a
grouping unit 1286, and a tabulating unit 1288. The formulating
section 1276 comprises a unit 1290 providing criteria for
admissibility respondents' responses, a unit 1292 providing
guidelines for grouping respondents' responses, and a unit 1294
providing instructions for tabulating respondents' responses. The
validating unit 1294 comprises a computer 1296 operative with a
memory 1298, and under control of an operator 1300, to activate a
gate 1302 to pass admissible responses to a computer 1304 of the
grouping unit 1286. The grouping unit 1286 further comprises a
memory 1306 operatively connected to the computer 1304. The
tabulating unit 1288 comprises a computer 1308 and a memory 1310
operative upon signals received from the grouping computer 1304.
The criteria unit 1290 comprises a computer 1312 with a memory
1314. The guidelines unit 1292 comprises a computer 1316 with
memory 1318. The instructions unit 1294 comprises a computer 1320
with memory 1322. The award section 1278 comprises a unit 1324 for
conducting a prize or sweepstakes event for persons responding to a
poll, the conducting unit 1324 including a computer 1326 with a
memory 1328. The award unit 1278 further comprises an entering
device 1330, such as a keyboard, for entering data and instructions
into the computer 1326. The record generation section 1280 may
comprise a token dispenser, such as the dispenser 360 of FIG. 8, or
other suitable device for providing a record of proceedings of the
polling situation.
[0679] In operation, the formulating section is employed to set up
the ground rules of the polling. The unit 1290 establishes criteria
to be employed by the validating unit 1284 for determining whether
a response is an admissible response. Such criteria might include
the amount of time allocated to persons from specific geographic
locations or in a specific age bracket. Or, by way of further
example, the criteria for an admissible answer in a survey about
political candidates may be the number of misspellings in a
candidates name. The unit 1292 establishes guidelines for grouping
responses according to political, geographic, demographic and/or
psychographic factors in respondents' personal profiles. These
guidelines are employed by the grouping unit 1286 for grouping
responses in predetermined groups. The unit 1294 establishes
instructions for operation of the tabulating unit 1288. In the case
of a polling situation, such as the conduct of a survey involving a
set of multiple questions, the tabulation instructions insure that
the tabulating unit is able to distinguish the answers for the
various questions for accurate tabulation of the survey results. In
the conduct of a poll, it may be desirable to award participants
with some form of a prize. This is accomplished by feeding from the
validating unit 1284 identification of either all respondents, or
only those submitting an admissible response, via the communication
network 1282 to the award section 1278, whereupon the award section
1278 instructs the record generation section 1280 to output tokens
having monetary value for the participants. The record generation
section 1280 may also provide a listing of participants in hard
copy as well as in some form of magnetic or optical media.
[0680] With reference to FIG. 45, there is shown a further
embodiment of the invention in which contestants 1700 are present
in the studio 14, also shown in FIG. 3, and are able to participate
in responding to tasks, as are the members of the remote audience
94. The camera 54 televises images of the contestants 1700 along
with images of the host 50 and the game 52 to members of the remote
audience 94. In this embodiment of the invention, the members of
the remote audience 94 are requested to select and/or predict one
or more of the contestants who will respond to the task presented
by the host 50. The selection process may be done by members of the
remote audience 94 with or without a responding of the remote
audience 94 to the tasks presented to the contestants.
[0681] The procedure is to present the task and the contestants to
the remote audience via television or radio. In the case of radio,
each of the contestants would be interviewed to enable the remote
audience to become acquainted with the various contestants prior to
the selection process. Such interviewing may be done also in the
case of a television transmission of proceedings in the studio 14.
After presentation of the task to the contestants and to the remote
audience, an interval of time is provided in which the members of
the remote audience 94 can make their selections. This interval of
time may be used also by individual ones of the contestants to
develop their respective responses. At the conclusion of this
interval, no more selections from the remote audience are received
at the studio, and a period of response opens wherein the
contestants provide their responses.
[0682] The responses of the contestants are evaluated, and may also
be scored in those situations wherein the nature of the task will
permit a scoring, such as a task requesting a listing of major
rivers in the world. The results of the contestants' responses are
posted in the studio 14 so that both the studio audience and the
remote audience can see the results. This is followed by an
announcement of members of the remote audience who have responded
correctly in their selection of winning contestants. In the event
that the number of respondents from the remote audience is too
numerous to announce, the announcement can be limited to those
members of the remote audience who were first to respond.
[0683] Alternatively, there may be a delay in the posting or
displaying of the results of the contestants' responses, the delay
being long enough to enable responses from members of the remote
audience to the task. Such responses by the members of the remote
audience can be made by way of the various equipments described
hereinabove, such as by the response unit 22 of FIG. 4, the
response unit 210 of FIG. 6 and of FIG. 8, and the response unit
800 of FIG. 26, and may also be accomplished via use of a telephone
exchange as depicted in FIG. 22. Responses of the members of the
remote audience 94 may be evaluated at the response unit 800 at
each of a respective one of the remote receiving stations, 16 and
18 (FIG. 1), or may be evaluated at a central evaluation unit 808
as shown in FIG. 29 for remote audience members located at the
stations 206. This permits a combination of the procedures of the
present embodiment of the invention with the embodiments disclosed
hereinabove. Thereby, a combined score may be provided for methods
of the remote audience 94 wherein one element of the score is based
on a response to the task, and a second element of the score is
based on the accuracy of their prediction as to the winning
contestant. By way of example. the two scores may be added together
to give a total score, or one score may be used as a weighting
factor to alter the other score.
[0684] In yet another variation of the present embodiment of the
invention, the results of the selection, or prediction, of the
winning contestant or contestants may be made available to the
contestants before the contestants respond to the task at the
studio 14. This provides heightened excitement in the studio to
determine whether individual ones of the contestants can live up to
the expectations of the members of the remote audience. Scoring of
the responses of the contestants as well as of members of the
remote audience would be accomplished in the same fashion as
described above for the situation wherein the selection of the
winning contestants is announced after the responses of the
contestants.
[0685] As shown in FIG. 45, the studio 14 may be part of the
central station 202, shown also in FIGS. 29 and 31, and includes
the studio contestants 1700, a studio audience 1702, and the host
50 and the game 52 disclosed previously in FIG. 3. The television
camera 54 of the studio 14 views the studio contestants 1700, the
studio audience 1702 as well as the host 50 and the game 52 for
transmission of television images via a communication link 1704 to
the remote audience 94. The communication link 1704 may be
understood also to include communication via the internet, wherein
individual one of the respondent can be identified by a
respondent's internet web site. Similarly, as used herein, a
televised program is understood to include the transmission of
video via the internet. The remote audience 94 includes players
located at remote stations 206C wherein each of the stations 206C
includes a response unit 800. For each of the remote stations 206C,
the response unit 800 outputs a selection, or a prediction, of a
winning contestant to be communicated via a communication link 1706
to a central evaluation unit 1708. The central evaluation unit 1708
is located within the studio 14, or may be located away from the
studio 14 if desired, and functions in a manner analogous to the
evaluation unit 808 of FIG. 29. In the event that members of the
remote audience 94 are given the opportunity to respond to the task
presented in the studio 14, the respective responses are
transmitted by the respective response units 800 to the
communication link 1706 for transmission to the central evaluation
unit 1708. Alternatively, the responses may be evaluated at the
response units 800, in a manner described hereinabove, with the
results of the evaluation communicated to the central station
202.
[0686] The central evaluation unit 1708 is shown as a part of the
central station 202 but may be located at a separate location if
desired, and is operative to tally the prediction of winning
contestants, as well as to identify the members 94 who have
responded early with their predictions. The evaluation unit 1708
which may include operating personnel in addition to a computer
(not shown) announces the winner prediction to the people present
in the studio 14, and via the television camera 54 and the
communication link 1704, transmits the winner predictions to the
remote audience 94.
[0687] In the situation wherein the respondents at the remote
stations 206C are given the opportunity to respond to a task, the
host 50 provides the response criteria to the remote audience 94 by
means of the camera 54 and the communication link 1704. The host
also provides the response criteria to the studio audience 1702 and
to the evaluation unit 1708. The camera 54 is part of a television
system 1710 which, in a manner analogous to that disclosed in the
circuitry of FIG. 3, permits the combination of instructional
signals with the video signals of the camera 54. Thereby,
instructional signals included with the response criteria are
communicated via the television system 1710 and the communication
link 1704 to respective ones of the remote stations 206C. The
instructional signals enable the response units 800 to evaluate
responses of the respondents so as to include both the response and
a score, via the communications link 1706 to the evaluation unit
1708. If desired, a scoring unit 1712 for scoring responses of the
respondents may be included within the central evaluation unit
1708. Thereby, the system disclosed in FIG. 45 is able to provide
for either remote evaluation and scoring or central evaluation and
scoring of the responses to tasks by respondents at the remote
stations 206C. The response criteria and instructional signals
included therewith are communicated to the central evaluation unit
1708 to enable the evaluation and the scoring. In addition, the
television system 1710 connects with the evaluation unit 1708 so
that personnel therein can monitor proceedings in the studio 14 so
as to log responses of the studio contestants 1700 for evaluating
their responses. Additionally, the host 50 can input instructions
and data via the television system 1710 to the evaluation unit 1708
for implementing the evaluation and scoring of responses by the
remote respondents as well as by the studio contestants.
[0688] By way of alternative embodiments of this feature of the
invention, It is noted that it may be desirable to give the
respondents at the remote stations 206C the opportunity to select
or predict one or more winning contestants after having heard their
responses, or otherwise being informed of their responses. This
selection or prediction is made before either the respondents or
the contestants are informed of the correct response to the task.
Thereby, the respondents have the opportunity to make a judgment
based on an actual response by each of the contestants as an aid to
the respondents' selections and/or predictions. By way of further
example, in the situation wherein there are several contestants,
the respondents are also given the opportunity to rank the
contestants based on predictions of which contestants give the best
answers to one or more tasks presented to the contestants.
Thereafter, both the contestants and the respondents are informed
of the correct response, or responses, to the task, or tasks. At
this point the selections or predictions of the respondents are
evaluated. In this embodiment of the invention, it is preferable
not to inform the respondents of the response criteria until until
after evaluation of the selection or prediction of the winning
contestant or contestants. In the event that the respondents are
also to provide responses to the tasks, the respondents are
informed of the response criteria after their selections and
predictions have been evaluated. The respondents are then given an
interval of time in which to respond, after which they are informed
of the correct responses and their responses are scored.
[0689] It is noted also that members of the studio audience, or
possibly observers of the studio proceedings, may be located in a
viewing facility such as an observation booth or auditorium
adjacent the studio, wherein the observers and members of the
studio audience in the viewing facility can see proceedings in the
studio either directly or via television monitors. The observers
and members of the studio audience in the viewing facility may
desire to participate in the selection or prediction of winning
contestants as well as to be given the opportunity to respond to
the tasks. It is to be understood that such observers and members
of the studio audience are included within the class of respondents
described herein. Such an arrangement may be implemented, with
respect to the system 900 of FIG. 29, by placing one of the playing
stations 206C at a location adjacent the central station 202 or the
studio 14.
[0690] FIG. 46 shows, by way of a timing diagram, a sequence of
events occurring in the operation of the system and procedure of
FIG. 45. The procedure begins with an interviewing of the
contestants so as to enable respondents at the remote stations to
evaluate the contestants. Thereafter, the host 50 explains the
studio game 52 which is to be played by the studio contestants,
including any tasks associated therewith. A specific task is then
presented to the studio contestants. This is followed by a
selection of one or more winning contestants by respective ones of
the members of the remote audience 94. The contestants then
respond, as indicated by the solid line, and their responses are
evaluated to determine who is a winner. Thereupon, the predictions
of the winner are compared with the determinations of who actually
are winners among the contestants, and the identity of the
respondents who have selected the winning contestant or contestants
is announced.
[0691] Alternatively, in the event that the remote respondents are
to provide responses to the task, then the answers of the studio
contestants 1700 are blocked out from view by the remote audience
94 and the studio audience 1702 until after the remote respondents
at the stations 206C have had a chance to respond. Thereafter,
there is an announcement of the winning studio contestant or
contestants along with an announcement of the identity of remote
respondents who have correctly predicted which studio contestant
would win. This announcement is indicated by dashed line 1714. In
the alternative form of the procedure wherein only the studio
contestants are to respond, it may be desired to announce the
prediction of the winning contestant prior to the time when the
contestants respond, this being indicated at the dashed line 1716.
If desired, members of the remote audience 94 who have correctly
predicted the winning contestant or contestants may receive a token
outputted by the respective response units 800, which token may
have value for exchange with a merchant selling products advertised
in the studio 14. Such rewarding of respondents of the remote
audience 94, as well as rewarding participating ones of the
contestants 1700, has been described hereinabove, and is applicable
to the system and procedure of FIGS. 45 and 46. Thereby, this
embodiment of the invention allows members of the remote audience
94 to predict, before or after the studio contestants have
responded, which contestants will win as well as to play against
the contestants and, possibly, obtain a higher score than any of
the contestants.
[0692] FIG. 47 shows, by way of a timing diagram, an alternative
order of the steps of the foregoing procedure. The first four steps
are the same as that disclosed in FIG. 46. There is an interviewing
of contestants and an explanation of the game. This is followed by
a presentation of the task which, in turn, is followed by selection
or prediction of a winning contestant. The step of selecting of
predicting a winning contestant is one of two opportunities for a
respondent to select or predict one or more winning contestants.
Thereupon, the contestants respond to the task. At this point in
the procedure, no indication of a correct response is given to
either the studio contestants or to the members of the remote
audience. However, the respondents are now given a second
opportunity to make their selections and/or predictions of winning
contestant(s) based on factors, by way of example, such as the
personal knowledge of a respondent, or the self assurance of a
contestant. Thereupon, there is the step of determining the winning
contestant(s) followed by determination of the successful
respondent(s). If desired, the first opportunity for selection may
be eliminated, and the respondents would be given only one
opportunity to make their selections or predictions, namely, after
the contestants respond.
[0693] The recording and playback of situations involving the task
and response to the task have been described hereinabove with
reference to FIGS. 11-14. Such recording and playback may be
employed also for the system and procedure of FIGS. 45-46. For
example, the live-transmission of the activity in the studio 14 can
be recorded for playback at a subsequent time. An audience
listening to the playback and, in the case of a video playback
observing the scenario, can predict which contestant or contestants
may successfully complete a task. Audience participation in
responding to a task has been described already with reference to
FIGS. 11-14. Therefore, the foregoing discussion of recording and
playback of scenarios having a task and requiring a response, as
set forth in FIGS. 11-14, is applicable also to the system of FIGS.
45-46. By way of example, with respect to the aircraft setting of
FIG. 11, participating passengers can enter their responses by the
response units 210A and observe the scenarios on the television
screens 208A furnished to the respective passengers.
[0694] In both the case of the direct transmission of the signals
from the studio 14 as well as the case of the playback of a
prerecorded program at the studio 14, intervals of time as set
forth in FIG. 46, are provided to the respondents to enable them to
provide their answers, selections or predictions. Thus, by way of
example, an interval 1718 of time is provided for an interview of
the contestants, an interval of time 1720 is provided for an
explanation of the game, an interval of time 1722 is provided for
presentation of the task, an interval of time 1724 is provided to
allow the respondents to formulate their answers, selections or
predictions as to which contestant will provide a correct response
to the task.
[0695] It is also understood that, in the operation of the
communication link 1704, implementation of transmissions of
instructional signals and response criteria can be accomplished, as
disclosed with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, and 22 by way of
example. This enables the functions described with reference to the
foregoing figures, namely, the functions of changing a mode of
scoring individual ones of the audience responses in response to an
instructional signal, altering the instructional signal to change
the criteria of a scoring mode independently of a transmission of
the program signal, modifying response criteria at a central
station such as the studio 14, and transmitting electronic signals
conveying additional tasks-setting messages and further response
criteria. Members of the remote or home audience may enter their
selections or predictions as to which of the studio contestants
will score the highest, the second highest, or the third highest,
etc., before or after the studio contestants have provided their
answers.
[0696] By way of yet a further feature in the practice of the
procedure of FIG. 45, it is noted that responses of the studio
contestants 1700 to tasks set forth in the game 52 may be scored by
the scoring unit 1712 with the result that one of the contestants
may have a top score, another of the contestants may have a
somewhat lower score and a third of the contestants may have a
still lower score. This provides the possibility, if desired, for
allowing the respondents at the remote stations 206C to predict
which contestant will have the highest score, a second contestant
who will have a lower score, and a third contestant who will have a
still lower score. Thus, it is possible to conduct the procedure of
FIG. 45 in a manner analogous to a horse race wherein a predictor
of the outcome of the race can bet on any one of the top three
winners, or a combination of winners. It is noted also that after
responses of the studio contestants 1700 to tasks of the game
program, response criteria and scoring criteria can be altered to
provide for a second response criteria and a second scoring
criteria. This provides for the situation wherein the members of
the remote audience 94 can again offer predictions as to the
success of various ones of the studio contestants. The evaluation
unit 1708 is employed for evaluating responses of the contestants
in the case of the revised criteria as in the case of the original
criteria.
[0697] In similar fashion, the members of the remote audience 94
may offer responses to the tasks under conditions of the revised
criteria, or even to revisions of the task, thereby providing a
contest between members of remote audience 94 and the studio
contestants 1700. In the situation wherein both the contestants and
the remote respondent are providing answers to a question posed in
the task, a procedure of FIG. 45 may provide, optionally, for a
comparing of the respondents answer with the response of the
winning contestant to determine the presence of a match, and then
enhancing the score of the remote respondent upon obtaining the
match.
[0698] With respect to a game-playing system, such as that
disclosed in FIG. 29, a game can be played in the manner of a wager
wherein a player must advance money prior of the game. Such a
wagering, whether performed at a playing station 206C located at a
player's home or at a casino may be subject to governmental
regulations pertaining to wagering and gambling. For reasons of
public policy, it may be desired to limit wagering to people who
have good credit and who have no criminal record, by way of
example. A system for implementing such controls would require a
data facility, such as the data facility 904 which can store all
manner of data of individual players or groups of players, such as
employment, organizational relationships (including organized
crime) photographs, fingerprints, and financial data. Such a system
would also require authorization to wager, monitoring and control
of cash flow, and a facility for redemption of coupons or cash
payout. These functions can be provided by the system components of
FIG. 29, respectively, the data facility 904, the authorization
units 908, and the subscriber bank 708. Also, as has been described
above, the system 900 of FIG. 29 also provides for communication
between the foregoing components and the player stations 206C as
well as with the central station 202, the communication being
provided by the communication system 210 and the telephone facility
702. Also, as has been described hereinabove, the telephone
facility 702 has a communication link also with a credit agency
(not shown in FIG. 29) for obtaining credit data about each of the
numerous players. Therefore, the system 900 comprises the necessary
components for the policing of wagering and gambling.
[0699] Use of the system 900 is intended to prevent undesirable
excesses and abuses of wagering including the paying of wagering
proceeds to unauthorized recipients, manipulating payoffs or
rigging the odds in the outcome of events, as well as compulsive
gambling, and the policing of wagering and gambling among persons
who have been otherwise disqualified such as by criminal activity,
and the conducting of wagering operations from a location not
permitted by law. In addition, the accumulating of data upon a
person's, or group of persons', wagering can develop a wagering
pattern which may be used to evaluate the legitimacy of the
wagering.
[0700] The system 900 provides the desirable features of immediate
crediting of funds generated by the wagering system to specified
beneficiaries, and the preventing of excessive gambling by blocking
further flow of cash from the subscriber bank 708 to further
wagering games of a specific individual or individuals. The data
tallied in the data facility 904 is reviewable immediately by
organizations, such as state gaming commissions, established for
the purpose of policing gambling activities. It is assumed also
that prospective players at the playing stations 206C in the case
of gaming activities, are willing to submit themselves to
monitoring scrutiny, and controls of their wager-related activities
as a precondition for opening an account with a wagering
organization including an account at the subscriber bank 708. A
violation of the gaming rules would result in a blockage of further
flow of funds from the player's account in the bank 708 to further
wagering games.
[0701] While not shown specifically in FIG. 29, it is understood
that the data facility 904 would be provided with computer
terminals and screen by which agents of state gaming authorities
would be able to monitor data and patterns of data relating to the
wagering games of various ones of the players. A further benefit of
the carrying of data regarding various ones of the players, which
data may include present and past addresses as well as present and
past names employed by an individual one of the the players permits
comparison of such data with data carried by state and federal
police agencies. This data may be used, by way of example, for
purposes of tracking delinquent spouses in alimony and
child-custody situations. The use of PIN numbers, identification by
way of photographs, and coded lottery tickets prevents one person
from impersonating another player.
[0702] In addition to the PIN number, players may receive
additional identification such as a registered pass or wagering
ticket. The data facility 904 is safe from forgery, both in a
physical sense and in an electronic sense, in that the facility is
physically strong and protected by security guards and in that
encryption techniques may be employed in the transmission of data
to and from the facility 904. This prevents forgery. In the
operation of the system 900 for the policing of wagering, there are
the procedural steps of comparing an individual player's wager the
player's recorded credit limit, a tallying of the player's wagers,
and a monitoring of the movement of funds through the player's
account at the subscriber bank 708. Security may also be provided
by noting a player's telephone number, and also a serial number of
a response unit 800 in a playing station 206C for further
identification of a player. As a condition of admission to the
wagering game, it is to be understood by the players that there
will be procedural steps of fixing a player's wagering limits and a
requirement that all player's communicate financial or
wager-related information to a designated location, and that such
information may be employed for preventing a player's wager, as
well as a blocking of the movement of funds through the player's
account. It is also understood that the monitoring steps may be
applied also to a group of the players to determine a group
wagering pattern.
[0703] An attempt by an unauthorized person to wager can be blocked
by either the central station 202 and/or by the central telephone
facility 702, in accordance with standing orders of a regulatory
body, or upon demand by a state gaming commission, and also upon
recognition of a revoked PIN or other authorization and the various
check points disclosed herein. It is understood that a system
providing security in a wagering environment is to include some
sort of filter, typically a suitably programmed computer such as
the computer of the data facility 904, to filter a player's
individual wager. Such filtering would provide for acceptance or
rejection of a player's individual wager at a data storage
facility, such as the subscriber bank 708 and/or the data facility
904, in accordance with predetermined wagering criteria, prior to
determining a winning lottery number.
[0704] The data storage facility 904 is physically and
electronically inaccessible to employees or agents of operators of
the wagering system, as well as to employees and agents of
providers of the wagering system, and also to employees and agents
of maintainers of the wagering system. Thereby, the foregoing
methodology for monitoring and policing wagering activity by use of
the components of the system 900 provides for a secure, a reliable,
and a convenient procedure for the monitoring of wagering
activity.
[0705] It is to be understood that the above described embodiments
of the invention are illustrative only, and that modifications
thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this
invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiments
disclosed herein, but is to be limited only as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *