GB2370002A

GB2370002A - A multimedia prize system

Info

Publication number: GB2370002A
Application number: GB0128635A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Saj Muzaffar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-29
Filing date: 2001-11-29
Publication date: 2002-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-29
Also published as: GB0128635D0; GB2370002B; GB0029065D0

Abstract

A system for playing a game online providing prizes in the form of multimedia items such as a picture, video clip, music recording or access to a video or film online. The system may be accessed via a computer, interactive television or interactive mobile phone, or via a amusement with prizes machine.

Description

A multimedia prize system The present invention relates to a system that allows a player of an interactive game to win a multimedia prize.

Competitions and games have been available in magazines, newspapers, packaging and coupons for many years. As technology advances these games and competitions are beginning to also be available on the Internet, interactive TV, teletext, amusement machines, mobile phones, wireless devices or the like.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for making available to a user a multimedia prize having won an electronic game or competition, the apparatus comprising :-Interactive means for making available to a user an interactive game or competition, delivery means including a display device and/or sound device for displaying or hearing said multimedia prize to said user; According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided receiver means to receive said multimedia prize from a broadcast or a wired or wireless transmission.

In this specification the term multimedia refers to any electronic media, this may be video, images, pictures, music, sound, animations, information, a broadcast programme, an online service or a combination thereof.

The apparatus may be integral to a set-top box; computer, television, amusement machine, Mobile phone, WAP, PDA or other device that has the ability to deliver multimedia, images, graphics, music, sound, software or data.

This multimedia prize may be stored locally or may be retrieved by means of wired or wireless communications. This may be by satellite, terrestrial, cellular, cable, ISDN, PSTN, ADSL, fibre optic transmission or the like.

This multimedia prize may be compressed and or encrypted for faster transmission, it may be copy protected to prevent unauthorised viewing, listening or saving. This multimedia prize may be streamed, viewed while being received/retrieved, This Multimedia prize may also be downloaded and stored for later use.

The apparatus may have the means to decompress, decrypt and/or be able to have the means to save this multimedia prize.

The apparatus may also have the means to save this multimedia prize for later viewing, listening or other use; the apparatus may also have the means to; or have an interface to, store this multimedia prize on recordable media.

This media maybe a floppy disk, CDROM, minidisk, DVD, tape or other recordable and/or removable media. This saved multimedia prize may be restricted by the number of times it may be played and I or viewed later.

The apparatus may have the means to restrict access to the multimedia prize services by means of a PIN (personal identification number) or other access control system or combination thereof.

The game or competition may be a game of skill, chance, draw, and bet, pools competition, lottery, bingo, cards or the like.

The apparatus may have the means to vary the length of time this multimedia prize is available, played, viewed or listened to according to particular embodiment of the present invention and/or the award structure of the competition or game, or a combination thereof, for example the more points he wins the more of a video sequence he may watch.

This apparatus may integral to an amusement machine that is credit freed, that can accept coins and/or tokens, smart cards or other payment means or combination thereof. It may be free to enter for the purposes of sales promotion or advertising.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying illustration, which is a block diagram of the components and operable parts necessary to this particular embodiment of the present invention.

A machine of the example depicted comprises a monitor 1, in order to display all video and graphics. Microprocessor 4 which is programmed to control all other components of the machine in ways dependent upon the nature of the components, and the nature of a particular game. A receiver 2 which receives all software, sounds, video, graphics and data from a service provider or broadcaster. This receiver 2 may have the means to receive video, graphics, software, programmes, sound and data from a satellite, cable network, terrestrial transmission or telephone network. Also provided is a transmitter 5 to transmit data to the game operator, promoter, broadcaster or service provider, The transmitter 5 may transmit this data by means of a telephone network, cable network, satellite, or terrestrial transmission. Sound device 8 for hear to all sounds music or a combination thereof.

Also provided is a data storage device 3, a hardisk, CD-ROM, Memory, RAM, EPROM or other data storing medium or combination thereof which stores programme controlling the process of the game, the various components and the basis of all video, sound, music and/or graphic images to be displayed on monitor 1 or heard on sound device 8.

A recording device 7 used for saving any multimedia prize for immediate or later use or combination thereof.

The recording device 7. May be a recordable, CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, mini disk drive or the like. This recording device may have the means to change the recording media as and when the need arises.

A remote control unit 6, for making selections, alternatively a mouse, keyboard, joystick or other pointing or selecting device may be used.

In this embodiment the remote control unit 6 allows the player to interact manually with the machine.

The player selects from the monitor 1 using remote control unit 6, to play a game, competition, which is received by receiver 2 and stored on data storage device 3. The player then plays the game/competition using remote control unit 6. Transmitter 5 may transmit the player's selection (s) to a remote online computer for comparison and/or scoring, by means of a satellite, terrestrial, cable or telephone network or the like. The remote online computer may then transmit back to the player the accuracy or inaccuracy of his selection (s).

Microprocessor 4 may then display on monitor 1 the accuracy or inaccuracy of the players selection (s).

Depending on the embodiment of the present invention and according to the game/competition structure, If the player has won a multimedia prize, microprocessor 4, instructs receiver 2 to receive the appropriate multimedia prize from the broadcaster, online service provider, competition operator or promoter, by means of a satellite, terrestrial, cable or telephone network or the like.

This multimedia prize may be temporarily stored on data storage device 3 for smoother playback or viewing on display device 1 or heard on sound device 8 or combination thereof. This multimedia prize may be saved onto a recordable removable media using recording device 7, for later use.

This multimedia prize may be compressed and/or may be streamed (viewed/ listened while being received). This video may be live broadcast. It may also be encrypted and/or copy protected to prevent unauthorised viewing, copying, saving or a combination thereof.

In another embodiment of the present invention the player's selection data is transmitted and stored on the remote online computer for the entry into a tournament type competition, where a larger multimedia prize is offered. In this case the remote computer would electronically confirm e. g. email, SMS the players entry into the tournament competition along with his selection data. Depending on his success and the embodiment of the present invention, the winner may be notified of his win electronically e. g. email, SMS and may be given the opportunity to receive/retrieve his multimedia prize immediately or at a later time, Yet in another embodiment the player may win a electronic token, credit or the like for a multimedia prize, that he may save and use later, This may be used to watch and/or save a film, special event (e. g. sports), information or enter a game or competition.

Therefore it is to be understood that the present invention can be embodied in a variety of ways other than specifically stated or depicted herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for making available to a user a multimedia prize having won an electronic game or competition, the apparatus comprising interactive means for making available to a user an interactive game or competition, delivery means including a display device and/or a sound device for displaying or playing said multimedia prize to said user.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, including receiver means to receive said multimedia prize from a broadcast or a wired or wireless transmission.
3. Apparatus for enabling a user to take part in an interactive activity and to receive a prize related thereto, the apparatus including audio and/or visual means for presenting information to said user and control means for receiving interactive user supplied data, and the apparatus being operably, subject to said data, for making electronically transmitted signals available to the user.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, including computer means and data storage means programmed for presenting game or competition related information, for determining when said user supplied data corresponds to a prize winning entry to the game or competition, and for supplying said electronically transmitted signals as a prize to the user.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein said electronically transmitted signals comprise signals for providing an audio and/or visual entertainment.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein said entertainment is the playing of a video, film, music or speech or the display of still or animated graphics or pictures.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein said electronically transmitted signals comprise signals for permitting the start or continuation of an activity carried out using the apparatus.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising an interactive equipment.
9. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, comprising a mobile telephone handset.
10. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, comprising an amusement with prizes (AWP) arcade machine.
11. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A method for enabling a user having access to apparatus comprising audio and/or visual information presenting means, user supplied data entry means, and data storage means to use said apparatus to take part in an interactive activity and to receive a prize related thereto, said method, comprising transmitting to said apparatus activity related to become operable to present information to the user and receive user supplied data and, subject to said user supplied data, making electronically transmitted signal available to the user.
13. A method according to Claim 12, wherein said electronically transmitted signals are transmitted to the apparatus along with said activity related data and stored by said data storage means and subject to said user supplied data, the signals are made available to the user.
14. A method according to Claim 12, wherein said electronically transmitted signals are transmitted to said apparatus only in response to a request signal from the apparatus generated subject to said user supplied data.
15. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, wherein said electronically transmitted signals are signals for providing an audio and/or visual entertainment, for example playing of a video, film or music or speech or the display of still or animated graphics or pictures.
16. A method according to anyone of Claims 12 to 14, wherein said electronically transmitted signals comprise signals for permitting to start or continuation of an activity carried out using the apparatus.
17. Electronic media providing apparatus connected or connectible to transmission apparatus for causing the transmission apparatus to transmit electronic media to suer's receiving apparatus, said electronic media providing apparatus being operable for providing users via said receiving apparatus the capability of taking part in a game, competition or promotion with the user receiving information via the receiving apparatus and the user providing responses to the apparatus and, depending upon said responses, providing via said user's receiving apparatus the availability of a film, video, musical recording or like media entertainment.
18. Broadcasting apparatus operable for providing via user's interactive receiving apparatus the availability of a game, competition, or promotion with a prize available dependent upon the user's responses in the game, competition or promotion and said prize being made available automatically, the prize comprising a film, video, music, speech or like media entertainment played through said interactive receiving apparatus.
19. A method for operating a game, competition or promotion where participants have the possibility of receiving an award depending on or subject to their responses in the game, competition or promotion the method comprising using broadcasting apparatus to transmit signals for enabling users to take part in the game, competition or promotions via user's interactive receiving apparatus and also, as said award and subject to said responses making available all or part of a vide, film, music, speech, photographs, graphic images to the user via said user's receiving apparatus.