DE9401123U1 - Device for the participation of television viewers in a video game broadcast on television - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a device for involving television viewers in a video game broadcast on television.

The number of television programs that has increased dramatically in recent years thanks to broadband cable networks and television satellites is forcing television program providers to create increasingly attractive programs, including so-called niche programs. One suggestion is to use the previously little-used night hours between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. to broadcast programs, especially since no additional personnel costs are incurred for such night-time operations with automatic broadcasting.

The object of the invention is to ensure cost-effective, automatic transmission processing when television viewers participate in a video game as part of a television broadcast - in particular one broadcast as a night program.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the following features:

(a) A game computer with a sound generator, a CD player, a sound mixer for the output signals of the sound generator and the CD player, a sound output fed by the sound mixer, an image memory and a video output fed by the image memory, whereby the image signal of the video output representing the game status and the audio signal of the sound output serving as background music are intended for broadcasting by a television signal;

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(b) a communications computer which transmits game commands from the television viewers participating in the game from a telephone exchange to the game computer via a data interface and

bl) a speech output module,

b2) several telephone connections linked to the voice output module and to the telecommunications lines of the telephone exchange, as well as

b3) several sound decoders fed by the sound connections
and

(c) a control station for configuring the electronic game in the game computer and for preparing the reading of images from the image memory and the playing of background music from the sound generator or CD player,

whereby the interaction on the part of the television viewers participating in the game takes place via the telephone network by entering numbers via a telephone or an additional device (e.g. remote query module) in the form of tone dialing frequencies and is transmitted to the game computer via the sound connections and the sound decoder of the communication computer, and whereby feedback or instructions to the television viewers participating in the game are transmitted via the voice output module and the sound connections of the communication computer as well as the telecommunications lines to the telephones of the television viewers participating in the game.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The only figure shows a block diagram of a studio-side device for involving television viewers in an interactive video game.

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In the figure, 10 designates a conventional telephone exchange that is located in a radio station or television studio and connects calling television viewers to a communications computer 20 via several telecommunications lines 11 to 14. The communications computer 20 is coupled to a games computer 30 via an RS 232 data interface 40.

The games computer 30 is prepared via a connected operating station 50, i.e., programmed for automatic operation, whereby game programs can be called up from a games memory 60 at the operating station 50 and loaded into the games computer 30.

The game computer 30 includes an image memory BS for the loaded game program, which feeds the video signal output VIDEO of the game computer 30 with an image signal, e.g. RGB signal, which represents the current game status. The image memory BS is controlled by a non-illustrated arithmetic unit in accordance with game commands that arrive at the data interface.

To provide musical accompaniment to the image signal, the game computer has a CD player CD and a sound generator SG, which alternately or together feed an audio signal to an AUDIO sound output of the game computer 30 via a sound mixer MIX. This audio signal is combined with the image signal at the VIDEO output to form a standard television signal, which is broadcast via a television broadcaster and can be received by any television viewer.

The communication computer 20 has a telephone connection TA for each telecommunication line 11 to 14, which is basically a data modem that has two inputs/outputs and one output. The respective telecommunication line 11 to 14 occupies one of the two inputs/outputs of the telephone connection TA. Its second input/output is connected to an output of a voice output module SA, while the

The output of each telephone connection TA leads to an associated sound decoder TD. The sound decoders TD are connected to the data interface 40.

The game computer 30 is started as part of an automatic transmission process by a transmission computer (not shown) via a control input/output CONTROL.

In accordance with the up to eight telecommunications lines 11 to 14, in the example shown, four telephone terminals are available under a collective number for television viewers who want to participate in a video game. If the collective number is successfully dialed, the player learns "his" personal player number from the voice output module SA of the communication computer 20. To participate in the game, the player generates user or game commands in the form of tone dialing frequencies, which are generated on newer telephones when pressing a key or with the help of an additional device (e.g. remote query module). The evaluation of the user or game commands is carried out by the tone decoder TD, which decode the game commands of the television viewers participating in the game for each channel and forward them to the game computer 30.

In general, all types of games can be implemented that allow the current game status to be displayed on a screen and that allow intervention in the ongoing game by simply entering a key (e.g. numbers 0...9). To increase interest, the games should be animated using attractive graphics. The following restrictions should be observed as sensible restrictions.

1. A maximum of eight players can play against or with each other at the same time.

2. The assignment of a new player to one of the four edges of the screen is done in turn or randomly. The new player learns about the

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Voice output module SA its starting point or its playing color.

3. Playing time should be limited to a few minutes.

4. Only the player with the highest score goes to the next round; the others are eliminated.

5. Players who terminate the connection prematurely must not block the entire game. If necessary, the game must be continued by a simulation program.

6. The player's name can only be entered if the current maximum win is exceeded. Entering letters and special characters using a 10-key keyboard is unattractive and time-consuming, and should therefore be eliminated as far as possible.

7. The maximum winnings per day, week and total are constantly displayed.

8. The winner selects the next song from a music box which feeds the CD player.

9. Explanation of the rules of the game on teletext boards.

For example, the following three games can be played:

Cards that belong together in pairs must be revealed
the way through a labyrinth must be sought
Gambling, e.g. roulette.

The rules of the game should be as simple as possible. An explanation of these rules is shown for a few seconds between games. Furthermore, the rules of all currently available games should be available on videotext boards. To motivate the players, the

Winners of the last game have the opportunity to influence the current program.

For example, the respective winner is given the opportunity to select a song of their own choosing from a selection of artists. The desired song is then selected in the second menu, which then serves as background music for the next game. If the participant does not select one, the music is again chosen at random.

Claims (1)

NORTHERN GERMAN RADIO 20149 Hamburg REG. 859-GM DEVICE FOR INVOLVING TELEVISION VIEWERS IN A VIDEO GAME BROADCASTED ON TELEVISION CLAIM Device for involving television viewers in a video game broadcast on television, characterized by the following features: (a) A game computer (30) with a sound generator (SG), a CD player (CD), a sound mixer (MIX) for the output signals of the sound generator (SG) and the CD player (CD), a sound output (AUDIO) fed by the sound mixer (MIX), an image memory (BS) and a video output (VIDEO) fed by the image memory (BS), whereby the image signal of the video output (VIDEO) representing the game status and the audio signal of the sound output (AUDIO) serving as background music are intended for broadcasting by a television signal; (b) a communications computer (20) which couples game commands from the television viewers participating in the game from a telephone exchange (10) to the game computer (30) via a data interface (40) and bl) a speech output module (SA), -2- b2) several telephone connections (TA) coupled to the voice output module (SA) and to the telecommunications lines (11 to 14) of the telephone exchange (10), as well as b3) several sound decoders fed by the sound connections (TA) (TD) and (c) a control station (50) for configuring the electronic game in the game computer (30) and for preparing the reading of images from the image memory (BS) and the playing of background music from the sound generator (SG) or CD player (CD), whereby the interaction on the part of the television viewers participating in the game takes place via the telephone network by entering numbers via a telephone or an additional device (e.g. remote query module) in the form of tone dialing frequencies and is transmitted via the sound connections (TA) and the sound decoders (TD) of the communication computer (20) to the game computer (30), and whereby feedback or instructions to the television viewers participating in the game are transmitted via the voice output module (SA) and the sound connections (TA) of the communication computer (30) and the telecommunications lines (11 to 14) to the telephones of the television viewers participating in the game.