method of evaluating data relating to a common subject

Patent 5013038 Issued on May 7, 1991. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 8, 2009. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

System for conducting a television audience survey
Patent #: 3947624
Issued on: 03/30/1976
Inventor: Miyake

Television audience survey system providing feedback of cumulative survey results to individual television viewers
Patent #: 4107735
Issued on: 08/15/1978
Inventor: Frohbach

Reception and transmission system for polling apparatus
Patent #: 4151370
Issued on: 04/24/1979
Inventor: Root

Game of skill playable by remote participants in conjunction with a live event
Patent #: 4592546
Issued on: 06/03/1986
Inventor: Fascenda , et al.

Preprogrammed over-the-air marketing research system
Patent #: 4630108
Issued on: 12/16/1986
Inventor: Gomersall

Game method and apparatus for use while viewing a sporting event
Patent #: 4722526
Issued on: 02/02/1988
Inventor: Tovar , et al.

System for merchandising and the evaluation of responses to broadcast transmissions Patent #: 4876592
Issued on: 10/24/1989
Inventor: Von Kohorn

Inventors

Assignee

Interactive Network, Inc.

Application

No. 448001 filed on 12/08/1989

US Classes:

463/42, Network type (e.g., computer network, etc.)379/92.01, Polling463/40, With communication link (e.g., television broadcast, etc.)725/24, INTERACTIVE OPINION POLLING725/66, Terrestrial return path725/68, Receiver725/122Return path via telephone network

Examiners

Primary: Coven, Edward M.
Assistant: Harrison, Jessica J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Flehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert

International Classes

A63F 009/22
H04H 009/00

Abstract

A method of determining the winners of, for example, a game of skill in conjunction with a football or baseball game without the input of all the scores is provided. By the use of statistical sampling a small fraction of the remote players upload their scores to a central station via a telephone line, for example. Then, when the tentative winners are determined from this small statistical sample, the mass communications link of the system downloads the statistical curve to all of the players and only those players who are equal or better than the winning score telephone. Thus, time and money are saved for the telphone up-link. Furthermore, overcrowding of the telephone system is avoided by a proper delay given the individual remote sources.