U.S. patent application number 10/173374 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-26 for viewer interactive event system.
Invention is credited to Patchen, Jeffery Allen.
Application Number | 20020198050 10/173374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23150319 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020198050 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Patchen, Jeffery Allen |
December 26, 2002 |
Viewer interactive event system
Abstract
An Internet or phone polling system provides audiences of
competitive events the opportunity to interact with these events by
determining which contestants may compete and the activities the
contestants will perform. The audience may then judge the
performance of each contestant by rating performances. The audience
members compete against one another by predicting the overall top
rated contestants. The audience members compete against one another
while controlling and determining the outcome of the competitive
event they are viewing. The system provides viewers as well as the
contestants a chance to win awards, cash and prizes as a result of
their participation.
Inventors: |
Patchen, Jeffery Allen;
(Hermosa Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON, PC
4350 LA JOLLA VILLAGE DRIVE
SUITE 500
SAN DIEGO
CA
92122
US
|
Family ID: |
23150319 |
Appl. No.: |
10/173374 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60298396 |
Jun 14, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/40 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/407 20130101;
A63F 13/12 20130101; A63F 2300/409 20130101; G07F 17/32
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/40 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: receiving contestant selections from a
plurality of viewers, each of said contestant selections indicating
one or more contestants selected by the viewers from a plurality of
contestants; generating production information based on the
received contestant selections; and assigning a point value to one
or more of said plurality of viewers based on a contestant
selection received from said one or more of said one or more
viewers.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the production information
comprises information identifying one or more contestants selected
by a plurality of viewers.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein assigning the point value
comprises: assigning one or more game points to said viewer in
response to receiving a contestant selection from said viewer
indicating one or more contestants selected by a highest number of
said plurality of viewers.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving activity
selections from the plurality of viewers, each of said activity
selections indicating one or more activities to be performed by the
selected contestants in a production.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: displaying a first
production including one or more contestants identified in the
production information performing activities identified in the
production information.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: receiving performance
ratings from said plurality of viewers in response to said
displaying.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: casting one or more
of said contestants in a second production in response to said
performance ratings.
8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: assigning another
point value to a viewer in response to a performance rating
received from said viewer.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: awarding a prize to
the viewer based on the point values assigned to the viewer.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the point values
comprises a select point value and the other point value comprises
a cast point value.
11. A method comprising: presenting an audition production to a
plurality of viewers, said audition production comprising a
plurality of contestants; receiving votes from a plurality of
viewers; selecting one or more contestants from said plurality of
contestants based on the received votes; assigning one or more
points to viewers that voted for one or more of the contestants;
and creating a second production including said one or more
contestants in a second production.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the second production
comprises creating a television program.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the second production
comprises creating a movie.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the second production
comprises creating a video game.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the second production
comprises creating a cartoon.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the second production
comprises creating a publication.
17. The method claim 11, wherein receiving votes comprises
receiving performance ratings from the viewers.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising: awarding a prize to
one or more viewers in response to a number of points assigned to
said one or more viewers.
19. Apparatus comprising: a receiver operative to receive viewer
selections from a plurality of viewer input devices, said viewer
selections including information indicative of a plurality of
contestants in a competition; a processor operative to assign
points to viewers in response to received viewer selections and to
generate production information in response to received viewer
selections, said production information including information
indicative of one or more contestants selected by a highest number
of viewers; and a memory operative to store viewer selections and
viewer information including viewer points.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the viewer selections
further include information indicative of selected activities, and
wherein said production information includes activities selected by
a majority of viewers.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the game controller is
further operative to assign points to a viewer in response to
receiving a viewer selection from said viewer matching a selection
by a majority of said viewers.
22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the receiver is further
operative receive viewer ratings of contestants in a production
generated in response to said production information.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the receiver is further
operative to assign viewer points in response to viewer selections
and viewer ratings.
24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of viewer
input devices include a plurality of telephones.
25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of viewer
input devices include a plurality of networked computers.
26. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a server hosting
a website including a plurality of interactive pages.
27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is further
operative to determine prize awards in response to viewer
points.
28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the memory comprises one or
more databases.
29. An article comprising a machine-readable medium including
machine-executable instructions, the instructions operative to
cause a machine to perform operations including: receive contestant
selections from a plurality of viewers, each of said contestant
selections indicating one or more contestants selected by the
viewers from a plurality of contestants; generate production
information based on the received contestant selections; and assign
a point value to one or more of said plurality of viewers based on
a contestant selection received from said one or more viewers.
30. The article of claim 29, wherein the production information
comprises information identifying one or more contestants selected
by a plurality of viewers.
31. An article comprising a machine-readable medium including
machine-executable instructions, the instructions operative to
cause a machine to: present an audition production to a plurality
of viewers, said audition production comprising a plurality of
contestants; receive votes from a plurality of viewers; select one
or more contestants from said plurality of contestants based on the
received votes; assign one or more points to viewers that voted for
one or more of the contestants; and create a second production
including said one or more contestants in a second production.
32. The article of claim 31, further comprising instructions
operative to cause the machine to: award a prize to one or more
viewers in response to a number of points assigned to said one or
more viewers.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/298,396, filed on Jun. 14, 2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present application relates to an interactive event
system in which remote users participate via electronic
communications media, for example, a method and system in which
remote viewers participate in the production of events, while being
able to win cash or prizes as a result of their participation.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Over the years, many new competitive events have been
created in an attempt to achieve the level of success that has been
attained by popular events. In order to entice and maintain a large
audience base, the new events have employed a wide variety of
formats and themes. However, in spite of the extraordinary effort
that has been expended in developing new popular competitive events
and their formats, no event has been able to attain multiple levels
of a direct, real interaction between the competitive event itself
and the home viewing audience.
[0004] In particular, viewers of, for example, reality-based
television competitions, are able only to participate in that
competitive event amongst themselves or at a very minimal input,
such as voting to expel a house member in a show such as Big
Brother, without being able to share in the prize awards given to
the on-camera participants.
SUMMARY
[0005] A viewer-interactive event system receives viewer input from
a number of viewers, e.g., via an interactive web site or telephone
polling other interactive means such as digital cable television.
The viewer input may include votes for contestants in a competition
and selected activities for the contestants to perform in a
subsequent audition production. The system generates production
information identifying the contestant(s) and activity(i-es)
selected by the highest number of viewers. Viewers may receive
points for correctly guessing the contestants selected for the
audition production. After viewing the audition production, viewers
may rate the contestant's performance. One or more winners may be
selected based on viewer ratings. The winner(s) may be cast in a
subsequent production, e.g., a television program or movie. Viewers
may also receive points for voting for the winner(s). Viewers may
receive prizes based on the number of points they accrue.
[0006] Among other features, the system described here comprises a
game for viewers of competitive events to allow viewing of these
events and to receive game points for participating. The system may
ensure that the viewers remain unbiased in their decisions. This is
due to the fact that points are received in the process of
selecting the semi-finalists of an event who are selected by the
highest number of all viewers combined.
[0007] In essence, there may be two competitions running
simultaneously, the audience competing against one another on one
level and the contestants who are controlled by the audience
competing on another level. This system contains a contest within
the game. The system is a viewer-controlled competition within a
game where the viewers as well as the contestants receive cash and
prizes as a result of their participation.
[0008] The system may provide a system to manufacturers, retailers,
and others with information on groups or individuals regarding
their likes and dislikes and/or what is most appealing to them.
[0009] An advantage of the system is in increasing the audience
enjoyment of televised and video-taped competitive events.
[0010] Another advantage is an improved interactive method allowing
participants to interact with a competitive event by controlling
the activities performed during the event.
[0011] The systems and techniques described here allow a Web site
to be constructed in order to add or eliminate elements according
to the type and theme of each competitive event. Therefore, the Web
site can be used for viewers to participate in a competitive event
one month and another competitive event the following month on the
same site. The Web site may also be able to accommodate various
types or themes of events.
[0012] Still a further advantage is in increasing the level of
knowledge of a participant to an event such as a political
campaign.
[0013] Today televised competitive events have no or very little
viewer interactivities compared to the system described within this
document. Viewers may be more inclined to pay to see an event if
they not only have the opportunity to become interactive with the
event but control its content and format as well. As a bonus they
may have the chance of winning cash, prizes and awards as a result
of their participation.
[0014] Many game shows and competitive events are produced by
companies who would prefer not to let the audience have any control
over who competes, the activities they may perform during the event
and the judging aspects of the event. In contrast, the system
described here has the capability to eliminate the political
inclinations of the producers of these events and at the same time
provide audiences with a feeling of empowerment.
[0015] The system increases both the intellectual and emotional
enjoyment to a participant viewing a competitive event as someone
who is now empowered and driven to be critical of the event knowing
that they have a voice in determining not only the outcome of an
event but the overall event as well.
[0016] Still a further advantage is in increasing the satisfaction
of a viewer knowing that a decision was made not by the politically
motivated few but the many who are disheartened with being
presented with a decision in which they did not participate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a viewer-interactive event
system according to an embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates web pages in a web site according to an
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates phases in a competitive event series
according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a viewer-interactive event system 100
according to an embodiment. The system 100 includes a game center
105. The game center 105 is used to host interactive events which
enable viewers to compete against each other in selecting and
judging contestants in a competition. The contestants may be, for
example, actors or models competing to be cast members in a
production (e.g., a television series or movie), political
candidates, characters for a cartoon or video game, or products.
Viewers may receive points for, among other things, correctly
guessing the winner of the competition. Viewers with the highest
points may receive prizes. The prize structure may provide viewers
with an incentive to participate.
[0021] The viewers may use a viewer input device, such as
network-capable (client) computers 110, to connect to a receiver at
a host server 115 at the game center 105. The client computer 110
may use, e.g., a modem to connect to the Internet 120 through an
Internet Service Provider (ISP) 125. The host server may host a web
site that includes one or more HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
compatible web pages. The web pages can be accessed via the
HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and displayed by an HTML
compatible Internet 120 browser running on a client computer
110.
[0022] A viewer may enter selections using a client computer 110.
Alternatively, the viewer may enter selections using a telephone
keypad 130 in response to verbal prompts. The game center 105
stores contestant and viewer scores in a database 135. A processor
140 may use the information in the databases to determine winners
(both contestants and viewers) and generate production information
150 including elements selected by the majority of viewers.
[0023] A viewer-interactive competitive event may include
contestants (e.g., persons, animals, characters, products),
activities (actions, scenarios and/or positions that each
contestant may be required to perform), and viewers and/or a point
system. Some examples of events that may be implemented in the
system include, for example, beauty and talent competitions, body
building competitions, toy design competitions, political and/or
other types of elections.
[0024] An event may have several phases. During each phase, the Web
site may provide various interactive elements in order for the
viewers to perform the tasks during their event participation. The
web site describes each of the phases of a specific competitive
event series as well as the interactive process that offers each
viewer the opportunity to participate in the event, as shown in
FIG. 2.
[0025] Each page of the Web site during this, the first phase,
provides viewers with a specific interactive function. The Select
page 210 of the Web site begins the first step of the viewer's
decision-making process. Several weeks prior to the first TV
broadcast of the series, photographs of contestants are posted on
this page of the Web site. The contestants can be posted as
thumbnail photographs, photographs, and/or videos. Registered
viewers are required to select contestants (e.g., up to five) that
they would like to see audition on the next show of series. During
the first and every other broadcast of the series, new photographs
of contestants and/or contestant's products may be shown to the TV
viewers by displaying those photographs that have been uploaded
onto the Web site during the time of broadcast. From the time the
photographs are displayed to the audience from the Web site during
the broadcast, viewers are required to select up to five
contestants during the next 48 hours, that they would like to see
perform on TV during next TV broadcast or the subsequent
video-on-demand following the broadcast that is a result of that
broadcast. The contestants that receive the overall highest number
of selections by all viewers combined will appear on the next TV
broadcast.
[0026] Viewers are then directed to the Choose page 220 to perform
the required weekly choice process. The Choose page of the Web site
begins the second step of the viewer's decision-making process.
Several weeks prior to the first TV broadcast of the series,
activities for the selected contestants to perform will be posted
on this page of the Web site. Registered viewers will be required
to select activities (e.g., up to five) that they would like to see
their selected contestants perform on the first show of series.
During the first and every TV broadcast of the series, the original
activities that were posted prior to the first show may be
displayed to the TV viewers during the broadcast. This will be
primarily for the benefit of the viewers that registered to
participate after the series has begun and for the benefit of the
contestants. From the time activities are displayed during the TV
broadcast, viewers will have 48 hours to select up to five of the
activities that they would like to see performed on the next TV
broadcast by their selected contestants. The activities that are
chosen the overall highest number of times by all viewers combined
will be performed by the contestants that receive the overall
highest number of selection votes by all viewers combined on the
next TV broadcast.
[0027] The activities may be posted on the Web site. Photographs,
thumbnail photographs or videos of, and/or text describing persons
and/or products performing activities may be posted.
[0028] Viewers are then directed to the Observe Page 225 to perform
the required weekly observe process. The Observe page of the Web
site begins the third step of the viewer's decision-making process.
Several weeks prior to the first TV broadcast of the series,
channels, dates and times will be posted on this page of the Web
site and are consistent throughout the series.
[0029] Registered viewers are required to observe every performance
of the series. This can be accomplished in two ways, by observing
their performance on the specified TV channel at the specified
time, or by observing the performance on the Web site
video-on-demand several days after the TV broadcast.
[0030] Viewers are then directed to the Rate Page 230 to perform
the required weekly rating process. The Rate page of the Web site
is the fourth step of the viewers decision-making process.
Photographs of the contestants that have been selected to appear on
the TV broadcast each week are posted on this page of the Web site
immediately after their TV audition performance has been
completed.
[0031] When the contestants' photographs have been posted on this
page, there is a number scale, e.g., 1 to 10, posted under each
photograph. This is the rating that is entered into the database
135 to be averaged after all ratings have been submitted in the
allotted amount of time. Ratings may be entered after the TV
broadcast and/or anytime up to 48 hours after the last audition of
the series has been made available on the Web site video-on-demand.
On this page of the Web site, registered viewers have access to the
database 135 and are provided with the opportunity to change their
ratings of any previously rated contestants and/or contestant
products.
[0032] Viewers are then directed to the Enter Page 235 to perform
the required weekly entering process. The Enter page of the Web
site is the fifth step in the viewer's interactive decision-making
process. Here viewers must enter registration information such as
their email address, user name, password as well as city and
country in order to have their selections, choices and ratings
entered into the database 135 and to become eligible to win cash
and prizes as a result of their participation.
[0033] When viewers enter their city and country, the system will
have the necessary information to be able to direct them to the TV
channel and time of broadcast that is available in their specific
demographic. This will also provide information necessary to divide
global or territorial regions in order to compile information on
what appeals to specific regions versus all regions as a whole.
[0034] Each viewer's ratings during the season will be entered into
a database that is accessible to that viewer at anytime during the
series by entering their user name and password.
[0035] When the last audition of the series has been completed on
television and becomes available on the Web site video-on-demand,
viewers are given 48 hours to complete the required task during
phase two of the series. After the last TV audition of the series
becomes available on the Web site video-on-demand, viewers will
have 48 hours to list their top ten highest rated contestants in
order from 1st thru 10th place.
[0036] Viewers are then directed to the Rate page. Viewers will be
instructed to access the ratings database and review the ratings
they have given each contestant during the series. Blank entry
lines numbered 1 thru 10 are posted. Viewers will have five days
prior to the final show of the series to list their top ten highest
rated contestants of the series in the order of 1.sup.st through
10.sup.th place in the blank entry lines. The points structure may
be, e.g., 10 points for first place, 9 points for second place, 8
points for third place and so on, with the tenth place contestant
receiving 1 point. The overall 1st thru 10th place contestants are
determined by totaling the points of each contestant listed. For
example, if the series has 1000 registered viewers, a contestant
listed as 1st place, which is worth 10 points, by 999 viewers and
not listed by one viewer, may receive 9,990 points. The
contestant(s), or finalist(s), with the highest number of points
are determined the winner(s) of the competition. The final show of
the series showcases the finalists of the series. The winning
viewer may also be posted on the Web site during the final show,
along with their cash amounts and prizes received.
[0037] The viewer that has on his or her list of top ten
contestants the same as the overall top ten contestants according
ratings of all viewers combined may be announced as the winning
viewer during the final show of the series. Alternatively, viewers
may be awarded points and the viewer with the highest number of
points wins. For example, if a viewer lists contestant #1 as their
first place contestant prior to the final show, that viewer may
receive the same point value as the contestant may receive, which
is 10 points. If a viewer has on their list of contestants in the
order of 1st thru 10th place the same contestants and in order as
the overall 1st thru 10th place contestants, the maximum points
that viewer would receive is the accumulated points of 1st thru
10th place, which is:
10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1=55 points
[0038] When viewers have completed the required tasks of Phase two,
they are directed to proceed to Phase Three, as shown in FIG. 3.
Viewers are instructed to visit the Observe page of the Web site in
order to view the final show of the series, which will showcase the
finalists of the series and announce the winning viewer(s). The TV
channel time and date of the final show is posted. The time and
date that the Web site video-on-demand will be available is also
posted.
[0039] Viewers are then directed to the Rate page. Photographs of
the series overall top ten highest rated contestants in order from
1st thru 10th place are posted. The winning viewer is also posted
along with the amount of cash and the prizes that are awarded.
Viewers that introduce contestants to the series who have become
one of the overall top ten finalists will be listed.
[0040] Viewers are then directed to the Choose page. This page of
the Web site will now have new activities, actions and/or scenarios
posted. These are the activities that the finalists will be
required to perform while starring in an upcoming production (e.g.,
movie or television program or series). Each viewer is asked to
choose up to five activities. The production may be made available
on the Web site, video-on-demand, broadcast TV, cable TV, and/or
Pay-Per-View TV. Viewers will be given the channel, times and dates
that the production will be available
[0041] If two or more contestants or viewers receive the same point
total a drawing may take place. A participant in the game may
change the ratings of one or all prior rated contestants at anytime
prior to the deadline set forth as when the rating of all
contestants must be submitted in order for the viewer to be
provided a chance to win the prize award(s)
[0042] In different types of competitive events, different
constraints may be applied to how and when a viewer can change the
rating that they have already submitted. Other score calculation
formulas may be employed as well.
[0043] In an embodiment, the system 100 prevents this type of
interaction due to the nature of the scoring system 100. The
scoring system 100 allows viewers to obtain a point value for
pre-determining which contestants may finish as one or more of the
finalists. This way, if a viewer wants to have a chance of winning
the available prizes, the viewer must take into consideration who
or what the other viewers may determine as a finalists or a
winner.
[0044] The system 100 may drive viewers who registered to
participate and win prizes to observe the event that follows each
selection and choosing process. The viewer may want to view the
event more than once in order to make a more effective rating due
to the cash and prize that may be available.
[0045] In one embodiment, the system 100 may be used to host a
beauty competition for selecting a host for a television series.
The viewer is presented with a number of pages. The pages may be
presented as Web pages or physical pages, for example, as an insert
for a magazine. The viewers may input their selections using a
client computer 110 via the host server or with a telephone via a
telephone polling interface 160.
[0046] A number of contestants are presented in the Select page.
The contestants may be presented in thumbnail photos. On a Web
page, the photos may be linked to other information about the
contestants, such as bios, larger photos, and/or video clips. The
user selects and ranks a number of contestants, e.g., 1st through
4th.
[0047] Activities for the contestants to perform are presented in
the Choose page 220. The choices may include questions to answer,
scenarios to perform (e.g., perform a task or talent, or
demonstrate a product), and/or apparel items to wear. The viewers'
selections may be stored in the database 135. This information may
be used to determine the contestants and activities selected by the
majority of viewers.
[0048] The product and/or apparel displayed on the Choose page may
be sponsor products. The Choose page may provide the sponsor with
an advertising opportunity as well as customer preference
information based on viewers' selections.
[0049] A production, e.g., a video or television program, may be
produced using the winners performing the activities selected by
the majority of viewers. The Observe page may indicate when and
where this production may be broadcast (e.g., telecast, Webcast,
pay-per-view) or distributed (e.g., on DVD). There will be some lag
time between the end of voting and the broadcast, e.g., 48 hours,
to allow time for the production.
[0050] The game aspect of this portion of the event is that viewers
may receive points for correctly guessing the contestants selected
by the highest number of viewers. The points may be based on
selecting one of the winners and for selecting them in the proper
order. For example, a viewer who votes for all four of the winners
in the correct order may receive a highest possible score. Viewers
may also receive points for selecting the activities selected by
the majority of viewers in the correct order. These points may be
referred to as "Select Points."
[0051] After observing the production, the viewers may then rate
the contestants in different categories, for example, based on
their performances in an interview and another selected activity
and for sex appeal. The possible scores may be, e.g., 1-10. The
different categories may be weighted differently, e.g.,
Interview*30%, Activity*30%, and Sex Appeal*40%. A winner may be
determined based on the total of the scores. The winner may then be
cast as the host of the proposed television series.
[0052] A viewer may receive points for selecting the overall
winner. These points may be referred to as "Cast Points." Viewers
may win cash and prizes based on their overall points (i.e.,
Select+Cast points). A drawing may be conducted in the event of a
tie.
[0053] A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless,
it may be understood that various modifications may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly,
other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *