GB2366054A

GB2366054A - Audience response apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2366054A
Application number: GB0008567A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grenville Houser
Original assignee: CORPORATE GAMESHOW Co Ltd; OUTRAGEOUS Ltd
Current assignee: CORPORATE GAMESHOW Co Ltd; OUTRAGEOUS Ltd
Priority date: 2000-04-07
Filing date: 2000-04-07
Publication date: 2002-02-27
Also published as: GB0008567D0

Abstract

An audience response apparatus has several hubs 1, each in radio communication with a central control unit 31 having a radio transceiver 32, and a control computer 33 which controls a projection system 41 for displaying questions to the audience, e.g. as part of a game, and appropriate answers and scores. A plurality of switch pads 7 are connected to each hub 1, preferably by cables or cords. The switch pads communicate with their respective hubs via cable, or radio or infra red transmission. The audience answer a displayed question by depressing the appropriate button on the switch pads 7. At each hub, the individual's replies are memorised, and downloaded to the central unit 31 on interrogation, for analysis of the answers. Each hub 1 preferably comprises a base and lid of moulded plastics material, the lid having a rim (4, Fig. 1) such that liquid spilt onto the hub drains clear of the inside of the hub. The lid also preferably has a series of recesses (6, Fig. 1) for holding the switch pads 7.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> AUDIENCE RESPONSE APPARATUS The present invention relates to an audience response apparatus.

It is known for television games shows to provide handsets for members of an audience to respond with at each seat in a studio laid out with tiered seating. Each handset has a plurality of buttons for the audience member concerned to register responses to questions. Switches associated with the buttons are hardwired to a processing computer. Usually the handsets will be hardwired in dozens to switch boxes. The latter are interrogated in turn by the computer for the results from their individual handsets. This arrangement is suitable for permanent installations and ill adapted to temporary installations.

It is also known to provide wireless handsets for registering votes in fora such as parliaments. Insofar as each wireless handset must be able to uniquely identify itself and the vote, and it usually incorporates other features such as a microphone for a loudspeaker system, these wireless systems are expensive. Also they are easily lost. Nevertheless they have the advantage of flexibility.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved audience response apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided an audience response apparatus comprising: a plurality of hubs; a central station including a wireless receiver for receiving communication from the hubs; and means for displaying audience, under control of the central station, response information based on the communications, each hub having: # circuitry including a wireless transmitter and # a set of switch pads physically connected to the hub for security against loss,

# each switch having one or more switch(es) functionally connected to the circuitry of its hub, # the arrangement being such that audience response information indicated by members of an audience actuating selected switch(es) on respective switch pads is transmitted by each hub's transmitter to the central receiver for display.

In use, the each hub is set out for a group of the audience to have access to the switch pads on a one-for-one basis. Typically each hub will be placed on a table around which the group are seated. The central station will normally be programmed to cause a question to be displayed on the screen. The audience will answer the question via the switch pads. The answers will be communicated to the central station, which computes scores. Typically a series of questions will be asked and then the score for each hub or each or a selected number of players will be displayed.

Whilst other means of wireless communication from the hubs to the central station can be envisaged such as infra red transmission, the preferred means is radio transmission.

It can be envisaged that the switch pads could be permanently fixed to their hubs. However, they will normally be built into handsets detachable from, but still physically connected to the hubs as by cables or cords. The switch pads could communicate with their hubs by radio or infra red transmission. However the preferred functional connection of the handset switches and the hub circuitry is by electric cable, which can also serve to provide the physical connection. Whilst other switches can be envisaged, such as touch switches, they are preferably conventional press button switches.

In the preferred embodiment, the hubs are provided with receptacles for the handsets when not in use. Each hub has a lid which is liquid tight, to shed spilt drink for instance off the hub. Further, the lid is removable for stowing the handsets internally when not in use.

To help understanding of the invention, of the invention a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one hub and its handsets from audience response apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view of the hub of Figure I with its lid removed; Figure 3 is a block diagram of the circuitry of the hub; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a full set of hubs, a central station and a display of the audience response apparatus.

Each hub 1, as shown in Figures 1, 2 & 3, has a base 2 and a lid 3 of moulded sheet plastics material. The lid has a rim 4 extending down past a top edge 5 of the base, so that liquid spilt onto the hub drains clear of the inside of the hub. The lid has a series of recesses 6, typically a dozen, for holding handsets 7. These have four buttons 8, for switches 9 connected by cables 10 to circuitry 11 of the hub contained within a central housing 12 in the base. Also contained within the housing is a battery 14, an aerial 15; whilst the circuitry includes a radio transceiver 16, memory 17 and a control unit 18.

Within the rim of the base, a separate moulding 19 is secured. It has a slots 20 for receiving the handsets 7 in a transport/storage position. The central housing has a set of sockets 21 for connection of ends of the cables 10 and the rim 4 has slits 22 for the cables to pass out to the handsets.

The entire apparatus has several hubs 1, each in radio communication with a central unit 3 1 having a radio transceiver 3 2, control computer 3 3 with a CD drive 3 4 different games to be played by the audience. The computer controls a projection system 41.

In use, a question to be answered by the audience is displayed on the screen 42 of the projection system. The audience answer the question by depressing the appropriate buttons on the handsets 7. At each hub, the individual audience members' replies are memorised in the memory 17. The central unit interrogates the hubs in turn, and the latter download the memorised answers back to the central unit. This

analyses the answers, for instance according to whether it is a question scored on the basis of the individual players or of the collective answers of those grouped at each hub. An appropriate answer and score is displayed. The game is continued in like manner, in accordance with the instructions recorded on its CD.

The actual details of the games form no part of the invention and are within the capabilities of the man skilled in the art, It will be appreciated that the described embodiment of the invention has the advantage that the hubs can be set out on tables or other convenient furniture with the restriction of having to be individually wired to the central unit. At the same time, the handsets being attached to the hubs by the cables are unlikely to be detached from the hub and lost. If they are individually damaged, they are relatively inexpensive to replace, being essentially comprised of a number of switches in a housing.

The central unit can be positioned where convenient for a comppre to have access to the computer for progressing the game to the next stage. Equally the screen can be positioned where it is readily seen by the audience and the comppre. The central unit and the projection system can be hard wired together since they are conveniently separate from the audience, for instance on a stage.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above --scribed embodiment. For instance in place a central projection system 41, a plurality of individual visual display units could be used for displaying the questions and the scores.

Claims

CLAPM-S- 1. An audience response apparatus comprising: a plurality of hubs; a central station including a wireless receiver for receiving communication from the hubs; and means for displaying, under control of the central station, audience response information based on the communications, each hub having: # circuitry including a wireless transmitter and # a set of switch pads physically connected to the hub for security against loss, # each switch having one or more switch(es) functionally connected to the circuitry of its hub, # the arrangement being such that audience response information indicated by members of an audience actuating selected switch(es) on respective switch pads is transmitted by each hub's transmitter to the central receiver for display.
2. An audience response apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hubs and the central station are adapted to communicate by infrared transmission.
3. An audience response apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hubs and the central station are adapted to communicate by radio transmission.
4. An audience response apparatus as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the switch pads are permanently fixed to their hubs.
5. An audience response apparatus as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the switch pads are built into handsets detachable from, but still physically connected to the hubs as by cables or cords.
6. An audience response apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the switch pads are adapted to communicate with their hubs by radio or infrared transmission.
7. An audience response apparatus as claimed in any one of claim I to 6, wherein the switch pads are connected to the hub for communication and physical connection by electric cable.

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8. An audience response unit -. claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the switches of the pads are press butt;. . ;witches.
9. An audience response unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each hubs is provided with receptacles for its handsets when not in use.
10. An audience response unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein each hub includes a base and a separate inner moulding, the moulding having slots for receiving the switch pads in a transport/storage position.
11. An audience response unit as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein each hub includes a central housing having a set of sockets for connection of ends of the cables for the switch pads and a rim of the base has slits for the cables to pass out to the switch pads.
12. An audience response unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each hub has a lid which is liquid tight, to shed spilt drink off the hub.
13. An audience response unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the lid is removable for stowing the handsets internally when not in use.
14. An audience response unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the display means is a central projection system or a plurality of individual visual display units.
15. An audience response unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.