US6975878B2 — Method and apparatus for interactive audience par…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

A method for interactive audience participation at a live event attended by a plurality of spectators comprising the steps of: providing each of the spectators at the live event with an interactive device, wherein the interactive device presents a promotional message and wherein the interactive device includes a user interface; querying the spectators, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by spectators via the user interface of the interactive device; transmitting the answers to a central processor; storing the answers as spectator data; processing the spectator data into results; storing the results of the processing of the spectator data; and broadcasting the results of the processing of the spectator data to said plurality of spectators attended the live event.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 120 words

A method for interactive audience participation at a live event attended by a plurality of spectators comprising the steps of: providing each of the spectators at the live event with an interactive device, wherein the interactive device presents a promotional message and wherein the interactive device includes a user interface; querying the spectators, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by spectators via the user interface of the interactive device; transmitting the answers to a central processor; storing the answers as spectator data; processing the spectator data into results; storing the results of the processing of the spectator data; and broadcasting the results of the processing of the spectator data to said plurality of spectators attended the live event.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1 further including the step of awarding prizes to at least one selected spectator who has answered the querying.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of querying and transmitting are achieved using wireless communications.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 3 wherein the wireless communications are selected from the group consisting of radio transmissions, microwave transmissions, broadband wireless data transmissions, and satellite transmissions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of querying is achieved using a large screen display.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of querying is achieved using the interactive device.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of broadcasting the results is achieved using at least one of a large screen display, a stadium monitor system, or a display incorporated in the interactive device.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 7 wherein the step of broadcasting the results is achieved using the large screen display.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of broadcasting the results is achieved using the interactive device.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of broadcasting the results includes the wireless transmission of data from the central processor to the interactive device for visual display thereon.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 136 words

A hand held device for interactive audience participation at a live spectator event comprising: a housing including an electronic display opening; a local microprocessor being mounted within the housing; a user interface configured to be employed by a spectator at the live spectator event and comprising a plurality of keys in electrical communication with the microprocessor for manually entering data to the local microprocessor; transceiver means in electrical communication with the local microprocessor for transmitting and receiving data to and from a central processor, and an electronic display in electrical communication with the local microprocessor, the electronic display being mounted within the housing and being visible through the electronic display opening in the housing, and the electronic display being adapted to display data from the microprocessor and a promotional message wirelessly received from the central processor.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 136 words

A hand held device for interactive audience participation at a live spectator event comprising: a housing including an electronic display opening; a local microprocessor being mounted within the housing; a user interface configured to be employed by a spectator at the live spectator event and comprising a plurality of keys in electrical communication with the microprocessor for manually entering data to the local microprocessor; transceiver means in electrical communication with the local microprocessor for transmitting and receiving data to and from a central processor, and an electronic display in electrical communication with the local microprocessor, the electronic display being mounted within the housing and being visible through the electronic display opening in the housing, and the electronic display being adapted to display data from the microprocessor and a promotional message wirelessly received from the central processor.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The hand held device of claim 11 wherein the device utilizes wireless communications for transmitting and receiving data from the central processor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

The hand held device of claim 12 wherein the wireless communications are selected from the group consisting of radio transmissions, microwave transmissions, broadband wireless data transmissions, and satellite transmissions.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 109 words

A method for interactive audience participation at a live event attended by a plurality of spectators using interactive devices having a user interface, the method comprising the steps of: presenting promotional messages to the spectators using the interactive devices; querying the spectators, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by spectators via the user interface of the interactive device; transmitting the answers to a central processor; storing the answers as spectator data; processing the spectator data into results; storing the results of the processing of the spectator data; and broadcasting the results of the processing of the spectator data to said plurality of spectators attended the live event.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 109 words

A method for interactive audience participation at a live event attended by a plurality of spectators using interactive devices having a user interface, the method comprising the steps of: presenting promotional messages to the spectators using the interactive devices; querying the spectators, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by spectators via the user interface of the interactive device; transmitting the answers to a central processor; storing the answers as spectator data; processing the spectator data into results; storing the results of the processing of the spectator data; and broadcasting the results of the processing of the spectator data to said plurality of spectators attended the live event.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the step of querying is achieved using a large screen display.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of querying is achieved using the interactive device.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the step of broadcasting the results is achieved using at least one of a large screen display, a stadium monitor system, or the display of the interactive device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the step of broadcasting the results is achieved using the large screen display.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the step of broadcasting the results is achieved using the display of the interactive device.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the interactive device further comprises an audio receiving circuit for receiving an audio signal at a predetermined frequency and the method further comprises the step of providing audio transmission, whereby the spectators are furnished with audible programming.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 20 , wherein the audible programming comprises at least one of play-by-play, expert commentary, traffic reports, and weather reports.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the promotional messages are transmitted wirelessly to the interactive devices.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 135 words

A hand held device for interactive audience participation at a live spectator event comprising: a housing including an electronic display opening; a local microprocessor being mounted within the housing; a user interface configured to be employed by a spectator at the live spectator event for manually entering data to the local microprocessor, the user interface being in electrical communication with the local microprocessor; transceiver means in electrical communication with the local microprocessor for transmitting .and receiving data to and from a central processor, and an electronic display in electrical communication with the local microprocessor, the electronic display being mounted within the housing and being visible through the electronic display opening in the housing, and the electronic display being adapted to display data from the microprocessor and a promotional message wirelessly received from the central processor.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 135 words

A hand held device for interactive audience participation at a live spectator event comprising: a housing including an electronic display opening; a local microprocessor being mounted within the housing; a user interface configured to be employed by a spectator at the live spectator event for manually entering data to the local microprocessor, the user interface being in electrical communication with the local microprocessor; transceiver means in electrical communication with the local microprocessor for transmitting .and receiving data to and from a central processor, and an electronic display in electrical communication with the local microprocessor, the electronic display being mounted within the housing and being visible through the electronic display opening in the housing, and the electronic display being adapted to display data from the microprocessor and a promotional message wirelessly received from the central processor.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 23 words

The hand held device of claim 23 wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of keys in electrical communication with the local microprocessor.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 37 words

The hand held device of claim 23 wherein the user interface comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a keypad, selection buttons, a touch screen, a rotatable dial and a voice recognition system.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 40 words

The hand held device of claim 23 further comprising: an audio receiving circuit for receiving an audio signal at a predetermined frequency; and an audio output means, the audio output means being in electrical communication with the audio receiving circuit.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 101 words

A method for interactive audience participation at a live event attended by a plurality of spectators using wireless interactive devices having a user interface, the method comprising the steps of: querying the spectators, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by spectators via the user interface of the wireless interactive device; transmitting the answers to a central processor; storing the answers as spectator data; processing the spectator data into results; storing the results of the processing of the spectator data; and broadcasting the results of the processing of the spectator data to said plurality of spectators attended the live event.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 101 words

A method for interactive audience participation at a live event attended by a plurality of spectators using wireless interactive devices having a user interface, the method comprising the steps of: querying the spectators, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by spectators via the user interface of the wireless interactive device; transmitting the answers to a central processor; storing the answers as spectator data; processing the spectator data into results; storing the results of the processing of the spectator data; and broadcasting the results of the processing of the spectator data to said plurality of spectators attended the live event.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2008-12-12	2009-06-13	2009-12-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2012-12-12	2013-06-13	2013-12-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2016-12-12	2017-06-13	2017-12-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for interactive audience participation at a live spectator event

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag