System and method of playing games and rewarding successful players

Patent 5916024 Issued on June 29, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 8, 2017. 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

3095653

3546791

3599221

3606688

3671668

3810627

3848082

3910322

Telephone system teaching apparatus
Patent #: 3964179
Issued on: 06/22/1976
Inventor: Bennett

Digital video modulation and demodulation system
Patent #: 3993861
Issued on: 11/23/1976
Inventor: Baer

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Inventor

Von Kohorn, Henry

Application

No. 986850 filed on 12/08/1997

US Classes:

463/40With communication link (e.g., television broadcast, etc.)

Examiners

Primary: Manuel, George

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Perman & Green, LLP

Foreign Patent References

1172847 CA. 08/13/1984
1287304 GB. 08/13/1972
2120507 GB. 11/13/1983

International Class

A63F 009/22

Abstract

A system and method for evaluating responses to broadcast programs, such as television programs, includes an instructional signal modulated onto a signal transmitted concurrently with the television program, or time-multiplexed with television signals. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations, one or more members of a remote audience has the opportunity to respond to a task or situation presented in the television program by entering a response vocally or on a keyboard. The system may include a video game machine suitable for playing commercially available games such as an NINTENDO game or a SEGA game, and wherein such game may be played back from a recording. The system includes response evaluation circuitry, 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. Electronic circuitry for evaluation and scoring purposes may be located at a remote station and/or a central location. Multiple players at a common game may be ranked in their performance, and games may be interrupted for a sponsor's message, and wherein a response to the message may serve as a basis for an enhanced score.

Other References

Rand Report No. R-88-MF, Bear, Nov. 1971
Sync (catalog), pp. 2 and 3, Advertisement entitled Now You Can Beat The Contestants On TV's Most Popular Game Show, 198