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United States Patent
4876592
Von Kohorn
October 24, 1989
Title
System for merchandising and the evaluation of responses to broadcast transmissions
Abstract
A system and method for evaluating responses to broadcast programs, such as television programs, for the selling of merchandise includes a modifiable instructional signal modulated onto a voice signal transmitted concurrently with a television program, or time-multiplexed with a television transmission. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations, one or more members of a remote shopping audience has the opportunity to respond to a situation presented in the television program by entering a response on a keyboard. The system includes, at each remote receiving station, a memory responsive to the instructional signal for storing desired responses, and a comparison circuit for comparing responses entered at the keyboard with those stored in the memory. Also provided is electronic circuitry for scoring the responses in accordance with commands from the instructional signal, and a recording device for providing a permanent record of the audience score at each of the remote receiving stations. Scoring is performed at differing levels of difficulty, set by a host or by a contestant, with credit being given also to the length of time required for response and the mode of response such as by use of a key word or phrase. By including sales information in the programs, and by printing out award certification, the system encourages telephonic purchasing of merchandise.
Inventors:
Von Kohorn; Henry
(Vero Beach,
FL
)
Assignee:
Von Kohorn; Henry
(Vero Beach,
FL
)
Appl. No.:
192248
Filed:
May 10, 1988
Current U.S. Class:
725/23
725/60
379/92.01
434/323
725/116
725/131
725/138
725/139
Field of Search:
358/84,86 455/2,5 379/91,92 434/307,316,323,350,351,362 902/23,39
U.S. Patent Documents
3606688
September 1971
Zawels et al.
4044380
August 1977
Justice et al.
4264924
April 1981
Freeman
4268744
May 1981
McGeary
4271351
June 1981
Bloodworth
4573072
February 1986
Freeman
4592546
June 1986
Fascenda
4630108
December 1986
Gomersall
4745468
May 1988
Von Kohorn
Foreign Patent Documents
1287304
Aug., 1972
GB
Other References
Sync (catalog), pp. 2 and 3, Advertisement Titled "Now You Can Beat The Contestants on TV's Most Popular Game Show"..~
Primary Examiner:
George; Keith E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Perman & Green
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No.. 837,827 filed Mar. 10, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,468.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for evaluating responses to task-setting messages electronically transmitted to and for monetarily rewarding members of a remote shopping audience who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting predetermined response criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
displaying items of merchandise at a central station;
transmitting a first set of electronic audio-visual signals conveying a visual picture and an audio description of items of said merchandise from a central station to members of a shopping audience at remote locations;
formulating a plurality of different task-setting messages for sequential electronic transmission to members of said shopping audience;
transmitting a second set of electronic signals conveying task-setting messages from a central station to receivers at said remote locations;
formatting response criteria relative to individual ones of said task-setting messages, including a scoring basis for entered responses, said scoring basis including a difficulty level and a timing of responses for predetermined time intervals;
receiving said first set of signals at remote locations;
receiving said second set of signals at remote locations;
transmitting from a central station a third set of electronic signals to said remote locations prior to or substantially concurrently with the transmission of said second sets of signals conveying task-setting messages, said third set of signals being instructional signals conveying said response criteria;
receiving said instructional set of signals at remote locations;
storing the data containing said response criteria at said remote locations;
entering responses to said task-setting messages into data-entering means by members of said remote shopping audience;
comparing responses entered by members of said remote shopping audience with said response criteria;
scoring each response relative to said response criteria;
computing the value of an award to be given to members of said remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting said response criteria, said computing being based on said scoring and including a correlating of responses to a difficulty level;
dispensing to such members a printout having imprinted thereon information regarding an award applicable against the price of merchandise, and having imprinted thereon
imprinted information coded to permit telephone verification of said award;
providing a facility for accepting telephonic orders for said merchandise at a price reflecting said award verified through said coded information;
placing telephonic orders for items of merchandise by the members of said remote shopping audience having had said printouts dispensed to them;
accepting telephonic orders for items of merchandise from the members of said remote shopping audience at said facility for order acceptance; and
making said award available to the members of said shopping audience.
2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of announcing, prior to or substantially concurrently with a transmission of said second set of electronic signals, a difficulty level correlated with a length of time allowed for a response to a specific task.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of formulating a plurality of task-setting messages includes the formulating of a question intended to be answered by members of said remote shopping audience.
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said step of formulating task-setting messages includes the formulation of questions which are selected from a question group consisting of multi-part questions, questions requiring a single or multiple-choice answer, and questions requiring a minimum number of answers.
5. A method according to claim 3 wherein said step of formulating task-setting messages provides for a number of alternative answers to a posed question to be visually displayed to television viewers, a television viewer answering the question by selecting and entering an answer believed to be acceptable.
6. A method according to claim 3 including a step by the host of informing the television audience of specified alternative subject areas of a question prior to asking a question, and a step by a contestant of selecting a subject area prior to knowing the specific question.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said formatting step includes a step of setting individual response criteria for each task.
8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein said formatting includes a step of setting a plurality of difficulty levels as part of the response criteria of a question.
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said step of scoring provides that an answer to the same question at higher difficulty levels carries a larger award.
10. A method according to claim 8, including a step of informing a television audience, prior to posing a question, of awards associated with each difficulty level of a particular question.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of informing is accomplished by the host by making an announcement correlating a shorter time period allowed for answering a question with a higher difficulty level.
12. A method according to claim 8, wherein, in said formatting step, a difficulty level is at least in part determined by the time allowed for answering a question by an entering of a response.
13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of informing is accomplished by the host by announcing a general subject area of a question to be posed, and a step by a contestant of selecting the difficulty level applicable to such question based on said general subject area before knowing the specific question.
14. A method according to claim 11 including a step by a contestant, prior to knowing a question, of shortening a period of time allowed for answering the question, so as to answer a question at a higher difficulty level carrying a greater award.
15. A method according to claim 3 wherein, in said step of transmitting said second set of electronic signals, questions are visually posed through display means on television.
16. A method according to claim 3 further comprising a step of conducting a quiz program for studio audiences independently, but substantially concurrently with a quiz program for home viewing audiences.
17. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of dispensing includes a specifying of items of merchandise, and provides a discount certificate which is visually readable and provides regulations selected from a group consisting of the specified items of merchandise, time periods, cut-off dates for redemption and purchase, and designation of redemption centers.
18. A method according to claim wherein said step of transmitting instructional sets of signals includes a transmitting of electronic signals conveying data permitting the verification of an award and regulations governing the use of award certificates.
19. A method according to claim 1, wherein in said dispensing step, verification means is provided in the form of an alphanumeric code, thereby to describe an award in the form of a monetary award.
20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting instructional sets of electronic signals includes a step of transmitting electronic signals conveying verification data to said remote locations, said verification data being displayed on a printout dispensed to successful contestants.
21. A method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of transmitting a fourth set of electronic signals to said remote locations to serve as further instructional signals, said sets of third and said fourth sets of signals providing, respectively, desired answers and scoring parameters of said response criteria.
22. A method according to claim 1, including a step of printing additional information on a printout, which printout is dispensed to a successful contestant, said additional information being selected from a group consisting of date and time of entering a successful answer, identification of a remote location, name and address of the shopper, promotional material, and advertising material.
23. A system for evaluating responses to task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to a shopping audience at remote locations comprising:
means at a central station for displaying items of merchandise;
first transmitting means for transmitting a first set of electronic audio-visual signals conveying a visual picture and an audio description of items of said merchandise from the central station to members of a shopping audience at remote locations, said first transmitting means further transmitting a second set of electronic signals adapted to convey task-setting messages from a central station to receivers at said remote locations;
central data entry means at a central station for entering response criteria and a scoring mode relative to tasks set forth in individual ones of said task-setting messages, said scoring mode including a difficulty level and an interval of time allowed for responding to a task;
second transmitting means for transmitting from a central station an instructional set of electronic signals for conveying said response criteria and said scoring mode to remote locations prior to or substantially concurrently with the transmission of said second set of signals conveying the task-setting messages;
means for receiving said first and said second sets of signals at the remote locations;
remote data entry means for entering responses to said tasks by members of said remote shopping audience;
means at a remote location for timing responses;
means for receiving said instructional set of signals at the remote locations;
means at said remote locations for storing data containing said response criteria;
means for comparing responses entered by members of said remote shopping audience with said response criteria, said comparing means identifying acceptable ones of said responses meeting said response criteria;
means responsive to said scoring mode for scoring each response relative to said response criteria in correlation with the difficulty level;
means for informing members of said remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting the response criteria of an award applicable against the price of merchandise purchased by such member;
means for dispensing to such member a printout having imprinted thereon information regarding an award applicable against the price of merchandise, the printout including coded information permitting telephonic verification of the award; and
a facility for accepting telephonic orders for said merchandise at a price reflecting the award verified through the coded information.
24. A system according to claim 23 wherein said comparing means identifies responses meeting at least minimal response criteria and rejects responses failing to meet the minimal response criteria.
25. A system according to claim 23 wherein, in said data storing means response criteria including scoring method can be updated by replacing previous data, and may also be retained for repeated utilization pursuant to radio command signals from said second transmitting means.
26. A system according to claim 23 including selection means at remote locations and operable by a contestant to select one of several specified alternative subject areas of a question.
27. A system according to claim 23 wherein said scoring means is operable by a contestant for selecting the scoring of a response based on a shorter response interval of time.
28. A system according to claim 23 wherein said scoring means is operable by a contestant for selecting the scoring of a response based on a higher difficulty level.
29. A system according to claim 27 wherein said scoring means is responsive to a contestant for shortening an allowed period of response.
30. A system according to claim 23 further comprising television means at remote locations operative in a split screen mode to inform the remote audience of an award associated with a difficulty level.
31. A system according to claim 23 wherein said dispensing means provides a printout containing information regarding awards applicable to questions at different difficulty levels.
32. A system according to claim 30 wherein said scoring means is responsive to a contestant for shortening a period of time allowed for answering a question.
33. A system according to claim 30 wherein said scoring means is responsive to a contestant for shortening a period of time allowed for answering a question at a higher difficulty level carrying a greater award.
34. A system according to claim 23 having display means visible on television for the display of task-setting messages.
35. A system according to claim 23 further comprising means responsive to said scoring means for audibly announcing an award to a successful contestant.
36. A system according to claim 23 wherein said dispensing means output a printout having imprinted thereon a bar code, which bar code is suitable for transmission to the central station by means of telephone modems, and is suitable for reading by scanners.
37. A system according to claim 23 wherein said dispensing means provides optionally an award certificate and a self-addressed mail-order form.
38. A system according to claim 23 wherein said scoring means includes first comparison means for comparing a key word of a response to a reference word, and second comparing means for comparing a set of words to a set of reference words.
39. A system according to claim 23 including selection means at remote locations and operable by a contestant to select one of several specified alternative subject areas of a question; and wherein
said comparing means includes means for rejecting responses failing to meet the response criteria; and in said data storing means, response criteria including scoring method can be updated by replacing previous data and may also be retained for repeated utilization pursuant to radio command signals from said second transmitting means.
40. A system according to claim 23 wherein said remote data-entry means includes selection means by which a contestant in said audience can select a subject area for response from a plurality of such areas set forth in a task setting message.
41. A system according to claim 23 wherein said remote data-entry means includes selection means for selection of a level of difficulty in a response.
42. A system according to claim 23 wherein said second transmitting means includes means for providing in said instructional set of signals a third set of signals carrying said response criteria for designating desired responses to questions, and means for providing in said instructional set of signals a fourth set of signals carrying said scoring mode for designating scoring parameters including an interval timing and a difficulty level.
43. A system according to claim 42 wherein said means for providing the third set of signals modulates said third signal set on a first subcarrier of a signal transmission of said first transmitting means, and said means for providing the fourth set of signals modulates said fourth signal set on a second subcarrier of a signal transmission of said first transmitting means.
44. A system according to claim 42 wherein said means for providing the third set of signals and said means for providing the fourth set of signals multiplex said third signal set and said fourth signal set by time multiplexing with a signal transmission of said first transmitting means.
45. A system for evaluating responses to task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to members of a shopping audience at locations remote from said central station, comprising:
studio means at the central station for presenting a television program including matters requiring response from members of the shopping audience and further including a displaying of items of merchandise for purchase by members of the shopping audience;
means for transmitting from said studio means to said remote locations a set of signals including a program signal setting forth said television program, a task-setting signal setting forth said matters in said program requiring audience response by performance of a set of tasks, response-command signals setting forth acceptable responses to said tasks, and scoring-command signals setting forth scoring criteria to be employed in evaluating responses to said matters by members of the shopping audience, said transmitting means having a plurality of channels for transmitting individual ones of said signals independently of other ones of the signal.RTM.;
means at said central station for entering into said transmitting means criteria for evaluating responses by audience members to individual ones of said tasks, said criteria being carried by said scoring-command signals;
means at said remote locations for receiving the signals transmitted by said transmitting means;
means at said remote locations operable by audience members for entering responses to said tasks;
means at said remote locations responsive to said response-command and said scoring-command signals for scoring audience responses on the basis of a difficulty level, said scoring means including means for timing audience responses to provide a score which decreases with increasing response time, said scoring means including means for comparing audience responses with said acceptable responses carried by said response-command signals;
means responsive to a score of said scoring means for computing the value of an award; and
means responsive to said scoring means and to said award-computing means for dispensing a notification of an award to members of said remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting the response criteria, the award being applicable against the price of merchandise purchased by such member, the notification being in the form of a printout having imprinted thereon information regarding the award applicable against the price of merchandise, the printout including coded information permitting telephonic verification of the award.
46. A system according to claim 45 wherein said response entering means at a remote location is operable with said scoring means to enable a member of the audience to select a task and a difficulty level for responding to a selected task.
47. A system according to claim 45 wherein said criteria-entering means is operable for altering criteria applied to said scoring means independently of transmission of the progress signal.
48. A method for evaluating responses to task-setting messages electronically transmitted from a central station to and for monetarily rewarding members of a remote shopping audience who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting predetermined response criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
offering marketable items at a central station;
transmitting a first set of electronic signals conveying a description of said items from a central station to members of a shopping audience at remote locations; formulating a plurality of task-setting messages for sequential electronic transmission to members of said shopping audience;
transmitting a second set of electronic signals conveying task-setting messages from a central station to receivers at said remote locations;
formatting response criteria relative to individual tasks set forth in said task-setting messages, said response criteria including a scoring basis for entered responses, said scoring basis including a difficulty level and a timing of responses for predetermined time intervals;
receiving said first and second sets of signals at remote locations;
entering responses to said task-setting messages into data-entering means by members of said remote shopping audience;
transmitting from a central station an instructional set of electronic signals conveying said response criteria to said remote locations independently of the transmission of said second set of signals conveying task-setting messages;
receiving said instructional set of signals at remote locations;
storing said response criteria at said remote locations; comparing at least one response entered by members of said remote shopping audience with said response criteria;
scoring each responsive relative to said response criteria in correlation with a difficulty level;
allowing interaction between selected ones of the members of the remote audience and the central station by means of a communication link between members of the remote audience and the central station;
altering the response criteria in accordance with said interaction;
permitting further response by members of the remote audience in accord with altered response criteria;
computing the value of an award to be given to members of a remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting said altered response criteria, said computing being based on a score of said scoring means;
informing successful members of said remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting response criteria of an award applicable against the price of items purchased by such member;
placing orders for at least one of said items by successful members of said remote shopping audience; and
accepting orders for said items from successful members of said remote shopping audience.
49. A method according to claim 48 further comprising a step of providing television screen means at remote locations operative in split screen mode for communicating between said central station and said remote audience.
50. A method according to claim 49 wherein said task-setting messages include a question to be asked, said method further comprising a step of informing the remote audience through said split screen means of a plurality of alternative subject areas of a question to be asked.
51. A method according to claim 48 further comprising a step of sequentially televising a plurality of programs, said programs including audio portions carrying said task-setting messages, and a step of varying said tasks with each audio portion.
52. A method according to claim 48 further comprising a step of sequentially televising a plurality of programs to members of the shopping audience at remote locations geographically located in different time zones, said programs including audio portions carrying said task-setting messages; the method further comprising the steps of
transmitting individual ones of said audio portions to remote locations in different ones of said time zones; and
varying said tasks among the audio portions transmitted to the remote locations in different ones of said time zones.
53. A method according to claim 48 wherein said first and said second sets of signals are transmitted as part of a television program containing a predetermined number of tasks, said method including a step of televising said program repeatedly; and wherein
there is a number of formulated different task-setting messages which is larger than that required for one of said programs; and
there is one set of task-setting messages which is transmitted in a first such program and a set of different task-setting messages transmitted in a second such program at a time different from that of said first program.
54. A method according to claim 1 wherein
said formatting step includes a step of setting individual response criteria for each task;
said step of transmitting task-setting messages includes a transmitting of task-setting messages to locations in different time zones; there being a further step of
varying tasks of said task-setting messages for presentation of different tasks to audiences receiving said audio-visual signals in different time zones, said audio-visual signals presenting a common visual program in each of said time zones.
55. A method according to claim 1 wherein said audio-visual signals carry a television program, said step of transmitting said audio-visual signals being repeated for successive transmissions of the television program; and wherein
said task formulating step provides for a plurality of different tasks transmitted by said second set of electronic signals during a common video portion of said television program, an audio portion of said television program including said second set of electronic signals, individual signals of said second set of electronic signals being interchangeably selected for communicating respective tasks with said common video portion;
said task formulating step including a selecting of one of said second set signals to accompany said common video portion; and wherein
said step of transmitting said task setting messages provides for transmitting a selected one of said second set signal with said common video portion.
56. A method for evaluating responses to task-setting messages electronically transmitted from a central station to members of a remote shopping audience who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting predetermined response criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
displaying items of merchandise at a central station;
transmitting audio-visual signals conveying a visual picture and an audio description of items of said merchandise from the central station to members of a shopping audience at remote locations;
transmitting a signal conveying task-setting messages from the central station to receivers at said remote locations;
transmitting signals conveying response criteria to members of the shopping audience at remote locations relative to individual ones of said task-setting messages, said response criteria including a scoring basis for responses to be entered by the members of the remote audience, said scoring basis including a difficulty level;
entering responses to said task-setting messages by members of said shopping audience;
comparing at least one response entered by members of said remote shopping audience with said response criteria; scoring each response relative to said response criteria in correlation with a difficulty level;
allowing interaction between members of the remote audience and the central station by means of a communication link between members of the remote audience and the central station;
altering the response criteria in accordance with said interaction;
permitting further response by members of the remote audience in accord with altered response criteria; and
computing the value of an award for members of said remote shopping audience toward the purchase of merchandise, the award to be given to members of said remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting said altered response criteria, said computing including a correlating of responses to difficulty levels.
57. A system for evaluating responses to task-setting messages transmitted from a central station to members of a shopping audience at locations remote from said central station, comprising:
studio means at the central station for presenting a television program including matters requiring response from members of the shopping audience, said studio means displaying items of merchandise for purchase by members of the shopping audience;
means for transmitting from said studio means to said remote locations a program signal setting forth said television program, a task-setting signal setting forth said matters in said program requiring audience response by performance of a set of tasks, a response-command signal setting forth acceptable responses which may be provided by members of the shopping audience, and scoring-command signals setting forth scoring criteria to be employed in evaluating responses to said matters by members of the shopping audience, said transmitting means having a plurality of channels for transmitting indiviual ones of said signals independently of other ones of the signals, said transmitting means including means for entering revisions to said scoring criteria;
means at said remote locations operable by audience members for entering responses to said tasks;
means at said remote locations responsive to said response-command and said scoring-command signals for scoring audience responses on the basis of a difficulty level, said scoring means including means for timing audience responses to provide a score which decreases with increasing response time, said scoring means including means for comparing audience responses with said acceptable responses carried by said response-command signals;
means for computing the value of an award to be given to members of said remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting the response criteria, said computing being responsive to a difficulty level and a response time employed by said scoring means at a remote location; and
means responsive to said scoring means and to said computing means for awarding to members of said remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting the response criteria an award toward the purchase of merchandise.
58. A system according to claim 57 further comprising means for communication of messages from members of said shopping audience to said central station to allow for interactive response to a program transmitted from said central station.
59. A method for evaluating responses to task-setting messages electronically transmitted from a central station to members of a remote shopping audience who have responded to said messages in a manner meeting predetermined response criteria, which method comprises the steps of:
transmitting audio-visual signals to the members of the audience, the audio-visual signals conveying a presentation of data accompanied by task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by members of the audience;
transmitting response criteria to members of the audience at remote locations for responding to individual ones of said task-setting messages, said response criteria including a scoring basis for responses to be entered by the members of the audience within a specified period of time, said scoring basis including a difficulty level;
entering responses to said task-setting messages by members of said audience;
rejecting responses entered by members of the audience after expiration of said period of time;
comparing at least one response entered by a member of said audience within said period of time with said response criteria;
scoring each response relative to said response criteria in correlation with a difficulty level;
informing members of said audience of results of said scoring;
allowing interaction between a member of the remote audience and the central station by means of a communication link between a remote location and the central station;
computing the value of an award to be issued to a member of said audience who has entered an acceptable response to said task-setting message within said period of time, the value of the award being based on a score provided by said scoring step; and
dispensing said award to said member of said audience who has entered the acceptable response.
60. A method of claim 59 further comprising:
altering the response criteria in accordance with said interaction; and
permitting further response by members of the remote audience in accord with altered response criteria.
61. A system according to claim 23 wherein said dispensing means is activated by command signals of a progress conductor at the central station irrespective of any award having been won, so as to dispense at all remote locations a printout announcing a special award to accompany a subsequent task.
62. A system according to claim 23 wherein said informing means includes alarm means for alerting a member of the audience to a chance to win an award.
63. A system according to claim 23 wherein said printout includes a telephone number enabling a member of the audience to contact a salesperson for purchase of merchandise.
64. A system according to claim 23 wherein said printout is a voucher exchangeable for an admission ticket.
65. A system according to claim 23 further comprising means responsive to a score of said scoring means for computing the value of an award to be given to members of said remote shopping audience who have entered an acceptable response.
66. A system according to claim 45 further comprising means responsive to a score of said scoring means for computing the value of an award to be given to members of said remote shopping audience who have entered a response meeting the response criteria.
67. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said printout is formed as an admission ticket.
68. A system according to claim 23 or 45 wherein at least a portion of said printout is formed as an admission ticket.
Description
This invention relates to transmission by broadcast media including radio and television broadcasting programs for offering merchandise and services to listeners and viewers of &:he programs and relates, more particularly, to the &:transmission of signals to listening and viewing members of a remote shopping audience designating questions or tasks, to response criteria for evaluating responses of the listeners and viewers of the broadcast programs, and to the dispensing of awards to individual listeners and viewers having provided answers meeting the response criteria. More specifically, the present invention relates to television broadcasts providing home shopping services to members of the audience.
In recent years, a growing number of television stations have carried programs in which many kinds of merchandise and services are offered to television viewers. Merchandise is displayed and offered, and services are explained and offered, via television. Members of the viewing audience may place orders at the price at which the items of merchandise or services are offered. Most of these orders are placed by telephone, and are paid for by having the price charged to a credit card identified over the telephone, or by personal check.
There is a drawback to the home shopping services currently offered on television in that the viewing audience tires after watching such a program for a protracted period of time. Such is the case particularly if the program is devoid of excitement or items of interest. In such a situation, the television station is likely to lose viewers. The hosts of some home shopping services encourage viewers to telephone, and thus participate in the show.. This effort to generate shopping interest, however, has not proven to be very effective.
Another common form of program transmitted by the broadcast media is the quiz program. Typically, in such a program, a panel of people provide answers to questions arising from the subject matter of the quiz. Often, the answers are indicated by use of a keyboard with electronic circuitry. The answers may be provided in response to questions which are asked directly, or in response to a situation or task presented by the program such as in the solving of a puzzle.
A characteristic of such quiz programs is the fact that the responses to the questions are limited to participants in the studio audience. The much larger external audience, namely the listeners of radio and viewers of television, are generally excluded from participation except for those few people who, on occasion, may have the opportunity to call in a response via telephone to a situation arising in the program. Letter writing has also been employed as a means of response to questions and other matters raised by the program.
Thus, it is apparent that a problem exists in that the larger external or remote audience is essentially excluded from active participation in the broadcast programs. In view of the fact that the studio audiences can provide their responses electronically, it is clear that personal involvement, such as conversation among participants, is not necessarily required. It is, therefore, apparent that such programs should be open to participation to the larger external audience in addition to the studio audience; yet, no system providing for such participation has been available.
It is noted that this problem is not limited to quiz programs only, but that other forms of programs might also be conducted in a fashion allowing active public participation if a suitable system were available to make such public participation possible. A desirable feature of such a system would be the capability for evaluating and recording the responses, a feature that would be most useful, for example, in the case of market research because such a feature would permit surveying much larger population sample than is presently achieved. However, in spite of the advantages which would be provided by such a system, for including the listening and viewing audience, no such system has yet been available.
Of particular interest herein is the use of such audience-participation programs for merchandising goods and services to television viewers. A television program presents an excellent opportunity for describing the goods and services to the audience. Such a presentation can be an enjoyable experience and elicit favorable responses from members of the audience when the presentation of the goods and services is offered in conjunction with a program, such as a quiz program, which invites audience participation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing problem is overcome, and other advantages are provided by a system for merchandising and the evaluation of response to broadcast programs which, in accordance with the invention, provides for the transmission of signals designating questions and response criteria along with transmission of the broadcast program including a presentation of goods and services which are thereby offered for sale.
The invention includes both method and system aspects which create added interest and excitement among viewers, and thus tend to increase watching of the television stations carrying programs of the type to be described hereinafter. Also, those viewers who watch the programs incorporating the invention are likely to place more orders than heretofore, and for higher-priced items.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to increase the number of viewers tuning into television home-shopping programs by making such programs more interesting.
It is another object of the invention to induce audiences to place larger numbers of orders for a given size of audience, such as per thousand viewers.
Yet another object of the invention is to create inducements to television viewers to become buyers by presenting an award to each respondent who meets a predetermined response criteria. For example, an award may be cash, a cash discount, a credit, or allowance applicable against the price of merchandise offered for sale by the home shopping service. Also , an award may be in the form of an accessory of the merchandise or a separate item which may also be displayed with the merchandise offered for sale. Such bonus item awarded to a successful contestant is normally delivered to such shopper along with the purchased merchandise. Such premiums or bonus items constitute a secondary but important vehicle for the promotion of merchandise by their respective manufacturers or suppliers.
In accordance with the theory of the invention, two groups of signals are broadcast, wherein each of the two signal groups may be divided in two portions designated as first and second signals. In the first signal group (Group One), the first of the two signals includes the program signal itself which is broadcast from a television station to the viewing audience. The second signal of Group One is a signal transmission from a television or radio station setting forth a succession of tasks, such as the answering of one or more questions which may be viewed on a television screen and/or listened to over radio or the audio portion of the television transmission. For simplicity in describing the invention, it is presumed that an audience is viewing a televised program describing or displaying and offering merchandise. Although the use of the methods and systems described is expected to be primarily in the field of televised home shopping services, it should be understood that the description of the invention in terms of the viewing audience applies also to the listening audience of a radio broadcast, and is applicable to broadcast programs dealing with various services such as financial, health, repair, computer and other professional services.
The second of the two signal groups (Group Two) is in the nature of an instructional signal group further identifying successive questions to be answered, the amount of time available for an answer, a mode of scoring the answers, and the proper content and form of an acceptable answer. In an embodiment of the invention, particularly suited to merchandising, the first signal of Group Two sets forth the desired answer or answers, and the second signal of Group Two provides elements of the criteria to be employed in the scoring of the answers and in the computation of an award. Therefore, in this latter embodiment of the invention, the two signal groups include at least four sets of signals which are transmitted, each of which can be varied independently of the other.
Included at the site of each viewer in the external or remote audience is a television set, plus electronic response equipment having circuitry for reception of the instructional signal group transmitted from a central station, the response equipment also including a keyboard for designating answers to the questions and, optionally, a display for viewing answers entered at the keyboard, timing circuitry, scoring circuitry, and a recording device for recording answers to the questions. The recording device includes preferably a dispenser for dispensing a record such as a printout, a magnetizable card containing a person's responses to the questions and/or a person's score in answering the questions.
A particular advantage of the invention is that it permits interaction between a person conducting a broadcast program and selected members of the external audience. This may be illustrated by way of example wherein the program host is describing an automobile. Numerous members of the external audience may attempt to converse with the host, but members of the host's staff would select only a few members of the audience having questions or comments of general interest. For example, a member of the audience might inquire as to the top speed or the size of the trunk of the automobile. The host may wish to take advantage of this feedback by altering a sales presentation to conform better to the interests of the audience. During the program, various articles of merchandise and/or services may be described and offered to the viewing audience. Members of the audience are enticed to order the merchandise by receipt of a monetary award which is presented for correct answers to questions, the award being given to a person preferably at the time when he places an order for the merchandise, but which may also entail a mailing of the award. An award may be collected by a successful contestant irrespective of a purchase or in conjunction with a purchase, as may be stipulated by the operator of the program.
In the use of the merchandising system of the invention, it is anticipated that centrally located or regional facilities may be provided for displaying merchandise and for describing the merchandise and/or services offered. In addition, one or more central broadcasting facilities would be used to transmit the aforementioned four electronic signals, or more signals if desired. It is understood that a studio audience may or may not be present at the central merchandise display or transmitting facility.
In the practice of the invention, it is noted that signals of the instructional signal group, Group Two, may be transmitted before, concurrently, or subsequent to the transmission of the program signals of Group One in accordance with the nature of the questions and responses required. For example, in the event that the program situation deals with a merchandise offering with a fixed, minute-by-minute timetable, the correct answers to the diverse questions and the procedure for scoring answers to individual ones of the questions can be transmitted before the merchandise is displayed. In the event that a limited period of time is available for response to each of the questions, then, at least a portion of the instructional signals must be sent concurrently with the program data, this portion being a timing signal which the host would initiate when he asks the question. The timing signal would initiate operation of a timer in the electronic equipment at each of the receiving stations which are tuned to the broadcast program, the timer then clocking a requisite amount of time in accordance with an instructional signal which has been previously transmitted or is concurrently transmitted with the program data. In yet a further example, in the case of an interactive situation wherein the host is responding to a comment made by a member of the studio audience or, possibly in response to a telephoned inquiry, the host may then ask a question for which the instructional signal designating the nature of the response would be transmitted after the question has been asked. If a two-way cable system is available, wherein television viewers can communicate with a central station, such system can be used in combination with the systems and methods of the present invention.
At a receiving station the electronic equipment includes a keyboard by which a viewer of the broadcast program enters a response. The response is stored in a buffer store for comparison with a correct response which is stored in a data memory. The correct response is provided as a data input to the data memory by the instructional signal group, Group Two. The comparison is provided by comparison circuitry which outputs a signal via timing circuitry to a score counter to provide a test score at the conclusion of responses to a set of questions. The timing circuit, under control of a program memory, is activated upon request from the host of the transmitted program. Instructional signals transmitted by the host are modulated onto the audio portion of the transmitted signals and, subsequently at a receiving station, are demodulated and decoded to provide the data signals for the data memory, synchronization signals for operation of the timing circuitry, and instructional signals for operation of the program memory. Alternatively, the instructional signals may be transmitted at television frequencies by known methods, such as the use of vertical blanking intervals or other unused parts of a television transmission. The resulting score from the score counter is recorded in a readout device which, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, provides a printout including the value of the award and other information, or a card with an encrypted value of the score in a magnetic strip that is readily read by automatic card readers. According to one embodiment, a register may be included for the storage of responses which are printed or typed out in the form of a message, the message being passed on to the readout device under instruction of the program memory.
At each of the remote receiving stations, circuitry responsive to the Group Two signals is provided for implementing the response criteria. In particular, provisions are made to evaluate responses to the same question at different difficulty levels. For example, different amounts of credit can be given based on the speed at which a viewer can respond to the question. Also, answers showing a more accurate or detailed understanding can be weighted to provide greater credit for more fully responding to the question. Group Two signals normally vary from task to sequential task and diverse response criteria are used in the course of a program, so as individually to evaluate responses entered by members of the audience.
The readout device provides a printout having at least two sets of information. The information may be provided on a tape or card in printed lettering or other markings, or in a bar code format to show the value of the monetary award to provide validation of a claimed award, and a verification of the identity of the person answering the question. The monetary award may be provided as a specified amount, or as a percentage of the price of an item of merchandise. The verification may be provided either by a signal transmitted from a central station as part of the instructional group of signals to be stored at the remote location or, alternatively, by use of a validation code taking the form of alphanumeric data and/or other symbols which the dispenser is capable of printing. Such coded information is conveyed by a buyer of an item of merchandise by telephone, or in person to a central order-taking or acceptance station, normally together with the number of the credit card being used. The coded validation and/or identity data is preferably in alphanumeric form, so as to be readily communicated via telephone. The printout may also contain alpha-numeric information suitable for verifying that a shopper has an account with the vendor, to which account the net price of the merchandise is to be charged.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The aforementioned aspects and other features of the invention are described in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a system incorporating the invention and configured to show two embodiments of receiving stations, one receiving station employing simulcast radio and television signals of a program produced in a studio, and the second receiving station employing a television receiver system modified to receive an instructional signal from the studio;
FIG. 2 shows the audio spectrum and a portion thereof designated for an instructional signal;
FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electronic response unit in each remote receiving station of FIGS. 1 and 3;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing details of a dispenser of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment. of the invention, similar to that of FIG. 3, useful for merchandising goods and services, the system of FIG. 6 employing the transmission of two signal groups each having plural sets of signals, wherein first and second signals of the first signal group are transmitted by video and audio portions of a television program, the first and the second signals presenting respectfully a studio scene and a task for respondents, and wherein two sets of signals of the second group, an instructional group, are combined with an audio signal of the first group;
FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of the system of FIG. 6 wherein the signals of the second group are interleaved with the video signal of the first group by use of the vertical retrace time slot of a television transmission;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a response unit for use with either of the systems of FIGS. 6 and 7;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a timing unit of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 shows the audio spectrum and a portion thereof designated for instructional signal bands of the second signal: group utilized, respectively, for answers and criteria for evaluating answers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, FIGS. 1-5 disclose embodiments of the invention useful for programs to be conducted with participation from remote audiences. In the disclosure of FIGS. 6-10, the system is adapted for merchandising by use of television in conjunction with a response unit which evaluates answers to questions by use of criteria controllable from a central station to provide an award which may be applied against the price of goods and services. Purchases may be accomplished by telephone, by letter, or in person by presenting a hard copy print-out. The system of FIGS. 1-5 is described in terms of two signal groups, namely, a radio/television signal group and an instructional signal group. The embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 is described with reference to at least four types of signals, namely, a television signal presenting a studio scene, a television signal presenting a task such as a set of questions, a signal setting forth the answers to questions, and a signal setting forth criteria to be employed in the evaluation of the answers. The system of FIGS. 1-5 will be described first, this being followed by a description of the system of FIGS. 6-10.
FIG. 1 presents a simplified description of a system 10 wherein a central station 12 includes a studio 14, such as a television studio which broadcasts programs to many remote receiving stations, two such receiving stations 16 and 18 being shown by way of example. In accordance with the invention, each of the receiving stations 16 and 18 includes means for observing the broadcast program, such as a television screen 20, and means by which persons in the external viewing audience can respond to situations presented in the studio, the response means being a response unit 22 which evaluates and records responses entered by persons in the viewing audience.
Two signals are broadcast by the central station 12 to each of the receiving stations 16 and 18. One of these two signals is a program signal for presenting on the television screen 20 a program generated in the studio 14. The second of the two signals is an instructional or command signal for operation of the response unit 22, the instructional signal providing appropriate commands to the response unit 22 for evaluating, rejecting or accepting, and scoring audience responses to questions raised in the televised program.
Two modes of transmission are provided for the two signals. In the case of the receiving station 18, both of the signals are carried by a single television channel carrier radiated from an antenna 24 of the central station 22, and received by an antenna 26 at the receiving station 18. The antenna 26 connects with a television system 28 which includes the foregoing television screen 20 and, furthermore, includes circuitry 30 for the separation of the instructional signal from the program signal. The instructional signal is then applied via line 32 to the response unit 22. In the case of the receiving station 16, the two signals are processed separately. The instructional signal is broadcast by a radio channel employing a radio antenna 34 at the central station 12, and received by an antenna 36 at the receiving station 16. Thus, at the receiving station 16, a standard television set 38 including the screen 20 receives the televised program via antenna 26 and presents the program on the screen 20. A separate radio receiver 40 and demodulator 42 are employed for receiving the instructional signal and for applying the instructional signal to the response unit 22.
In the practice of the invention, the instructional signal may be transmitted to a remote receiving station in any convenient manner such as via a cable transmission or by a specially broadcast transmission (not shown) or by combining the instructional signal with the audio signal in a radio broadcast or television broadcast. The combination of the instructional signal with the audio spectrum is demonstrated in the graph of FIG. 2 which shows a typical relationship of amplitude versus frequency in a transmitted audio spectrum. In that spectrum, a relatively narrow frequency band is set aside for transmission of the instructional signal, the narrow frequency band being at the upper frequency edge of the audio spectrum.
For example, the bandwidth of the instructional signal may be approximately 1% of the audio bandwidth, this being sufficient to enable a relatively slow transmission of instructional data to the response units 22 in the respective receiving stations. By maintaining the amplitude of the instructional signal well below that of the audio signal, the instructional signal does not introduce more than a negligible amount of interference with the audio signal. Also, it is noted that the instructional signal is not continuously present but, rather, appears only for a momentary burst of time, typically less than a few seconds duration when necessary to instruct each response unit 22. In the case of the receiving station 16, a simulcast of radio and television is employed while, in the case of the receiving station 18, only the television program is broadcast, as has been described above. However, in both cases, the audio spectrum is the same, and the mode of combining the instructional signal with the audio transmission is the same. Typically, the system 10 would be implemented with only one of the transmissions, either the television transmission with the instructional signal combined therewith, as demonstrated by the receiving station 18, or by the simulcast of both the television and the radio transmissions as demonstrated by the receiving station 16. In the case of the simulcast, the instructional signal need not be combined with the television signal, the instructional signal appearing only in the radio broadcast from the antenna 34 as described above.
The receiver 40 and the demodulator 42 operate in a manner similar to that of the separation circuitry 30, and will be described in detail hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3.
In both of the receiving stations 16 and 18, the response unit 22 includes a keyboard 44 whereby a person in the remote viewing audience enters a response. The response unit 22 includes a dispenser 46 which dispenses a record of the score and/or responses in a permanent recording medium such as a card 48 of plastic, or similar material, and including a well-known strip of magnetizable material (not shown) upon which the score and/or responses have been recorded. Alternatively, by way of example, the dispenser 46 may be constructed in a form (not shown) for outputting a tape which has been imprinted or punched with the desired information. Easily recognizable indicia may also be imprinted on the tape or card.
The system described lends itself well to multi-part questions and/or to multiple choice answers, for any of which special forms or other types of answer blanks can be provided, to be filled in or otherwise marked. The response recording and/or data entering means can have provisions for the insertion of special forms or blanks, which can be made available or mailed to participants. For example, a school may mail students, forms specially prepared for a particular examination or assignment. The response unit 22 may therefore be configured to hold a recording medium such as a paper blank to which markings are applied. Alternatively, the medium, such as paper tape, discontinuous or continuous forms, may be inserted by the respondents.
Other types of filled-in forms, including those containing a free hand composition or narrative, may also be graded by the comparator means, which is capable of identifying key phrases and words that are expected to appear on the completed examination paper. In similar fashion, comparator means to be described hereinafter is designed so as to be able to recognize and accept any one or more of a plurality of predetermined key words, symbols or phrases.
In the event that toys and the like are displayed, children, even though they will not be the purchaser of the merchandise, can participate in the quiz portion of the program. In this context, dispenser 46 can be adapted to award children who have provided answers meeting the predetermined response criteria by dispensing gold stars or other tokens. In another embodiment, the dispenser combines the coupons issued to winners with advertising material or shopping hints.
The records created pursuant to the present invention may be used as tokens, coupons, certificates and general proof of participation in the broadcast transmission program. Coupons may be redeemed by mail or in retail establishments for cash, prizes or discounts.
The following terms are useful in describing the system of the invention.
The term "task-setting" is intended to include the meaning of interrogative, opinion-eliciting and statement-eliciting, as well as the soliciting of creative endeavors and other functions.
The terms "evaluating" and "scoring" are intended to refer to and include the meanings of sorting, counting, screening, evaluating, analyzing and processing information, data and responses in accordance with predetermined criteria, ranging from simple comparing tasks to computerized processing and analyses.
The term "response" is intended to include answers, elicited opinions and statements, text and narrative provided by contestants, respondents, students and other participants in broadcasts calling for interaction, reaction and responses. The term "processed response" is intended to refer to and include the results produced by screening, sorting, scoring, evaluating, massaging, statistically analyzing, or otherwise machine-processing responses, data and information provided by participants at the receiving stations. The term "hard copy" is intended to refer to and include any kind of permanent record capable of being visually read, scanned or machine read. The term "simulcast" is intended to refer to the simultaneous, but separate transmission from different propagating sources of the video and audio portions of a program. In the context of formulating response criteria, the terms "formulate", "generate", "format" and "reformat" are intended to refer to and include the selection and determination of all factors affecting the evaluation and scoring of responses.
The viewers of the television program may be regarded, alternatively, as shoppers and buyers, as well as participants and contestants in the televised program.
The term "keypad" is understood to include other forms of data entry devices, the keyboard being presented by way of example.
The term "print-out" is intended to include printed, embossed, punched, stamped, and other types of hard copy, paper, cardboard and plastic in the form of coupons, certificates, tokens, cards, forms and matrices. The term "central" as used for example in "central location", is intended to refer to a broadcast station or network serving a country, a time zone or a region, and also is intended to include discrete local broadcast stations operating independently and serving a town or other smaller geographic area, always provided that such "central" station serves a multiplicity of remote viewing stations.
The terms "remote" or "external" as used for example in "external audience", are intended to include all television viewers and radio listeners tuned into an electronic transmission station, irrespective of the distance from such central station; as such, a "remote" audience includes, for example, students or other respondents positioned in close proximity to the source of a program, as in the case of a closed circuit transmission.
The term "interval" is intended to mean time interval or period of time.
The term "reward" is intended to include in its scope discounts, prizes, free merchandise, monetary awards and other rewards having value.
The term "host" is intended to include the announcer, master of ceremonies, program director, conductor of the shopping service and any other individual associated with the program or appointed to carry out one or more of the activities enumerated herein.
The term "merchandise" is intended to include all types of marketable and commercially available items, such as theater tickets and other tokens of admission, as well as services offered on television programs, such as banking, financing, insurance, health care, legal, medical, repair and home improvement services, even if such services are not purchased over the phone.
The term "difficulty level" is intended to include difficulty levels whether or not announced by the host and inherent in the task or question as reflected by possible responsive answers, as well as, difficulty levels inherent in a response or answer set by a respondent based on the speed, accuracy, comprehensiveness or responsiveness of the response and reflecting respondent's confidence in his or her knowledge of the subject matter.
In the generation of a response to a question by a member of the television audience, in the ensuing description, reference will be made to a response in terms of recognition of key words as well as responses which require several words as in a phrase or sentence. It is to be understood that, in the generation of such responses, the term "word" as used for example in "key word" includes any individual or combination of alphanumeric characters and other symbols such as pictorial representations which may be required as a proper response to a question.
With respect to various embodiments of the invention, the response unit 22 may be configured to provide the foregoing functions of evaluating and scoring, as well as the processed response.
In FIG. 3 the studio 14 is shown, by way of example, to include a television host 50, conducting a quiz program or game 52 in front of a television camera 54 which views both the game 52 and the host 50, and, when required, display means on stage to provide a televised image thereof. Words spoken by the host 50, as well as other sounds in the studio 14, are converted by a microphone 56 to electric signals. Also included within the studio 14 is a keyboard 58 by which the host 50 or another person, enters commands and instructions to be communicated via the instructional signal. The central station 12 further comprises an encoder 60 a modulator 62, an oscillator 64, a bandpass filter 66, a summer 68, a combiner 70, a radio transmitter 72, a television transmitter 74, and a switch 76. The switch 76 connects an input terminal of the combiner 70 to either an output terminal of the summer 68 on line 78 or an output terminal of the microphone 56 on line 80.
In operation, the pressing of keys on the keyboard 58 activates the encoder 60 to output digital signals representing the keys which have been pressed. The oscillator 64 outputs a carrier signal which is modulated by the modulator 62 with the digital signals outputted by the encoder 60. The modulator 62 applies the modulated carrier signal to the filter 66 which narrows the bandwidth of the modulated signal to equal the instructional bandwidth shown in FIG. 2. The filtered signal is coupled from the filter 66 to one input terminal of the summer 68, a second input terminal of the summer 68 receiving the output electrical signal from the microphone 56 via line 80. An output signal of the camera 54 is connected to one input terminal of the combiner 70, a second input terminal of the combiner 70 being connectable via the switch 76 in line 78 to an output terminal of the summer 68. In the alternative position of the switch 76, the second input terminal of the combiner 70 is connected via line 80 to receive the output electric signal of the microphone 56 rather than the output signal of the summer 68. An output terminal of the combiner 70 is connected to the television transmitter 74. Signals outputted by the summer 68 are connected via line 78 also to the radio transmitter 72.
The signal outputted by &:he bandpass filter 66 is the instructional signal which is to be transmitted via either the transmitter 72 or 74 to a remote receiving station. The signal outputted by the microphone 56 is the audio signal component of the signals transmitted in the television channel via the transmitter 74, and is also transmitted via the radio transmitter 72 to the remote receiving stations when a radio transmission of the audio portion of the activity in the studio 14 is desired. The summer 68 performs the function of combining the instructional signal with the audio signal whereby the instructional signal shares a small fraction of the audio spectrum as shown in FIG. 2. This is accomplished by adding the output signals of the microphone 56 and the filter 66 to output the sum signal on line 78. The combiner 70 functions, in a well-known fashion, to combine the video portion of the television channel signal from the camera 54 with either the microphone signal on line 80 or the composite signal of the summer 68 depending on the position of the switch 76.
In the event that the simulcast of both the radio and the television transmissions is to be provided by the transmitter 72 and 74, the switch 76 connects the combiner 70 to line 80 in which case the television signal transmitted by the transmitter 74 has the standard format of video and audio portions without the instructional signal, the latter being transmitted via the radio transmitter 72. In the event that the switch 76 is connected to line 78, then the television signal transmitted by the transmitter 74 includes the instructional signal within the audio portion of the television signal.
The circuitry of FIG. 3 demonstrates two possible embodiments of the invention wherein the receiving stations may have either of the two forms shown for the remote receiving stations 16 and 18. If all of the receiving stations have the form of the station 16, then the switch 76 may be placed in the position for connection of the line 80 to the combiner 70, in which case the transmitter 74 &:transmits a normal television signal while the instructional signal is transmitted by the transmitter
72. In the event that all of the receiving stations are in the form of the station 18 then the switch 76 connects a line 78 to the combiner 70 for providing a modified form of the transmitted television signal wherein the instructional signal is included within the television signal. In such case, the radio transmitter 72 is not used by the invention, but may, nevertheless, transmit a radio program to remote radios which do no&: form a part of the system of the invention.
The television system 28 comprises a receiver 82, a demodulator 84, and a speaker 86. The separation circuitry 30 comprises a narrow-band filter 88 and a demodulator 90. The passband of the filter 88 is equal to the bandwidth of the instructional signal shown in FIG. 2.
In the operation of the receiving station 16, the receiver 40 functions in the manner of a well-known radio receiver for receiving the radio transmission incident upon the antenna 36. In addition, the receiver 40 includes a narrow-band filter 92
having a passband equal to that of the filter 88. Thereby, the filter 92 extracts from the audio spectrum the portion of the spectrum, shown in FIG. 2 designated for the instructional signal. The signal outputted by the filter 92 is demodulated by the demodulator 42 to recover the digitally formatted signal produced by the encoder 60, which digitally formatted signal is applied to the response unit 22 for providing instruction thereto. The television set 38 in the receiving station 16, as noted hereinabove, functions in accordance with the well-known form of television set outputting both audio and video signals, the latter appearing on the screen 20.
In the operation of the receiving station 18, the receiver 82 includes a well-known television tuner (not shown) and outputs the television signal of the channel to which the receiver 82 is tuned. The television signal outputted by the receiver
82 is demodulated in a well-known fashion by the demodulator 84 to provide a video signal which is presented on the television screen 20, and an audio signal which is presented by the speaker 86.
In accordance with a feature of the invention the demodulator 84 also applies an audio signal to the filter 88 of the separation circuitry 30. The filter 88 extracts the portion of the audio spectrum designated for the instructional signal, as does the filter 92, and outputs the instructional signal to the demodulator 90. The demodulator 90 operates, as does the demodulator 42 to recover the digitally formatted signal produced by the encoder 60, which digitally formatted signal is applied to the response unit 22 to provide instruction thereto. Thereby, the response units 22 of the receiving stations 16 and 18 are able to function concurrently with the presentation of the broadcast television program upon the television screens 20. As indicated in the drawing for the receiving station 18, a member of the normally remote audience 94 operates the keyboard 44 of the response unit 22 while listening to the speaker 86 and watching the television screen 20.
With reference to FIG. 4, there is shown one embodiment of the response unit 22. The circuitry shown therein accomplishes the major functions of the response unit 22, namely, providing a member of the audience 94 with a means for entering a response to a situation viewed on the television screen 20 and/or heard via the speaker 86, not accepting (rejecting) or accepting, evaluating and scoring such response, recording such response, and outputting a temporary or permanent record of the response. In particular, it can be advantageous if the permanent record is in the form of the card 48, which form is machine readable to facilitate a reading of the score and/or response by either a third party or the host 50. It is to be understood that the circuitry of FIG. 4 constitutes only one possible embodiment of the invention for performing these functions and that other embodiments employing a digital computer suitably programmed (not shown) may also be employed.
The response unit 22 comprises three decoders 96, 98, and 100, a register 102, a score counter 104, a memory 106 for storing data, and a memory 108 for storing an operating program, a timer 110, a gate 112, a buffer store 114, a comparator 116
for comparing output signals of the store 114 with the memory 106, a logic unit 118, and a clock 120, these components being in addition to the keyboard 44 and the dispenser 46 disclosed previously with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.
In operation, the memory 106 stores data with respect to the answers which are to be provided by the viewing audience. For example, in the event that the viewing audience includes children in a show wherein toys are featured, the host may point successively to a red hat, a blue table, and a green car and request to know the colors of the respective objects. In such case, the memory 106 would store as response criteria, the words red, blue, and green in the sequence corresponding to the order in which the objects are to be addressed by the host. The keys on the keyboard 44 may be similarly colored to enable entry of the correct response. Alternatively, for older children, the keyboard may be an alphanumeric keyboard, as is found on a typewriter, in which case the viewing audience is to type the words corresponding to the colors addressed by the host. In this case, the comparator 116 would compare the spelling of the words entered via the keyboard 44 with the spelling of the colors stored in the memory 106. The buffer store 114 stores the responses entered by the keyboard 44 to enable the comparator 116 to compare the response with the data stored in the memory 106.
The methods and systems of the present invention lend themselves particularly well to educational shows for children. Questions pertaining to educational toys, to books, to stories and &:o subjects being taught or addressed, are interspersed in the show,. Children are rewarded with tokens or other forms of award, such as coupons redeemable at candy stores, ice cream parlors, and the like.
The score counter 104 operates under command from the program memory 108 to score each correct response signal outputted by the comparator 116. When the response entered at the keyboard 44 agrees with the data stored in the memory 106, the comparator 116 outputs a logic-1 signal via gate 112 to the counter 104. The output signal of the comparator 116 serves as an enable signal to initiate a count by the counter 104. The counter increments its count by 1, 2, 3, or other amount depending on the magnitude of the score to be awarded for the correct response. In the event that the response is to be timed in the sense that a limited time is available for the response, then the timer 110 is activated by the program memory 108 to render the gate 112 in a state of conduction of signals of the comparator 116 only during the interval of time when the response is permitted. Both before and after this interval of time, the timer 110 places the gate 112 in a state of nonconduction so that a response entered at the keyboard 44 outside of the desired response interval, or window, cannot enable the counter 104 to increment or modify the score.
The output count, score, or evaluation of the counter 104 is applied to the dispenser 46 which includes a recording medium, such as the card 48, for providing a permanent record of the score. The dispenser 46 includes suitable magnetic recording heads (not shown) for recording information on the card 48 in a well known fashion. In addition, if desired, the dispenser 46 may include well-known encryption circuitry for recording the score on the card 48 in a fashion which cannot be read except by an automatic card reader having circuitry for decrypting the recorded message. The dispenser 46 is activated by the program memory 108 to accomplish the foregoing recording of the score.
The score counter/evaluator 104 can take different forms. While the score counting function is described herein for illustrative purposes, it should be understood that unit 104 may be designed to perform the processing of data entered by respondents on keyboard 44 or other data entering device. Included in such processing are, for instance, the computerized processing of data provided by respondents in accordance with one of several programs stored in memory 108 and brought into play by the instructional or command signals transmitted by transmitters 72 or 74. Questionnaires or forms used in market research may be stored in dispenser 46 or may be placed into it by respondents. Following a set of questions, or upon the completion of the broadcast, processed or unprocessed data are issued by dispenser 46 in the form of hard copy taking the form of one of the embodiments described.
If desired, the actual response entered at the keyboard 44, such as the words red, blue, and green of the foregoing example, may be recorded by the dispenser 46. For this purpose, the responses are coupled from the buffer store 114 to a register
102 wherein the responses are stored prior to recording at the dispenser 46. After all of the responses have been stored in the register 102, the program memory 108 strobes the register 102 to pass the data of the responses into the dispenser 46 for recordation upon the card 48 or such other form of storage media as may be employed.
The printout mechanism or marking device may take different forms to meet the requirements of the broadcast, whether quiz segments interspersed in a televised home-shopping service, surveys, or other task setting assignments. These devices may be relatively small, utilizing a tape as the substrate to which the markings are applied, or they may utilize full page printouts. The recording medium may be a special form or blank dispensed individually by the device as a cut section, or may take other, discontinuous shapes. Although completely blank forms may be used in recording respondents' entries in the data entering devices, in many instances the forms or blanks preferably are provided with lines, grids or matrices for easier subsequent scoring of responses recorded on such forms or blanks.
To prevent tampering, forging and counterfeiting, the recording medium may comprise material, such as paper or cardboard stock, plastic and the like of special composition or containing admixtures of identifiable substances facilitating recognition by electronic or other sensing and scanning devices. Verification may also be facilitated by using recording media that are colored, coated, embossed, textured, magnetized or otherwise given recognizable properties.
By replacing the recording media, such as rolls of paper tape, periodically, and by stipulating redemption of the record thus created within a specified time period, the unauthorized reproduction, tampering with and counterfeiting of the marked recording media can, for all practical purposes, be prevented.
The marking may be applied by any known methods, including printing with or without impact, using ink sprays, heat, magnetic pulses, laser beams and other light sources. The markings may also take the form of depressions and embossed configurations legible by appropriate devices.
In addition, to prevent tampering, the recording mechanism, such as a printer, can be provided with means for alternatively and selectively applying one of a plurality of different types of markings. As an example, the color, intensity, width, spacing, positioning, font and resolution of the markings may be built into the recording means and may be controlled by radio or other electronic command signals from a central station.
The shape and configuration of the markings to be utilized at any particular time and subject to change at any time, includes numbers, letters, dots, dashes, regular and irregular shapes, codes, symbols and other configurations, which may be discrete, connected or continuous. The markings may also comprise shapes and configurations having no discernible pattern and readable only by appropriate scanning, reading or decoding means.
The number of combinations and permutations of the above mentioned properties of the recording media and markings is so large as practically to preclude tampering, forging, altering, counterfeiting or reproduction of authentic records; the unauthorized manufacture of special composition paper alone, would be far too costly and particularly time consuming to be practical.
If magnetized cards are used and validated by dispenser, the validation may be erased at the time a card is presented for redemption, so that it may be re-used.
It is noted that the data to be stored in the memory 106 is provided by the instruction signal on line 122 or 124 from the demodulators of the receiving stations 16 or 18. The digital format of the instructional signal is decoded by the decoder
96 to extract the portion of the signal relating to the data which is to be stored in memory 106. The decoder 98 decodes that portion of the signal which is to be employed for presetting the timer 110 for the designated interval of response time. The decoder 100 decodes that portion of the instruction signal which presets the memory 108 to any one of a number of previously stored formats for responding to situations presented in the studio 14. In this regard, it is noted that the form of the instructional signal follows common communication practice wherein the instructional signal is set up as a sequence of digital words or fields which identify respective portions of the message dealing with data, timing interval, and program commands. Thereby, the decoders 96, 98 and 100 are able to recognize the specific parts of the instructional signal and to extract the requisite data and commands.
The control logic 118 operates in response to a succession of clock pulses provided by the clock 120 for outputting control function signals to the memories 106 and 108 and to the buffer store 114. A connection between the keyboard 44 and the logic unit 118 provides for a control function, such as an entry command whereby a person responding directs the store 114 to enter the data inputted by the keyboard 44. The control logic of the unit 118 may also be activated by a command from the program memory 108. Thereby, the response unit 22 is capable of receiving, scoring, and recording a response entered by a member of the audience at a remote receiving station.
The construction of the foregoing system of the invention permits its use in numerous situations involving participation wherein members in the external home-shopping audience are to participate with members of the studio audience in situations requiring participation. An example of the utility of the system may be demonstrated by considering a combined television home-shopping and game/quiz show involving both people at home as well as in the studio. The invention makes it possible to broadcast such a combined show permitting home viewers to become participants and contestants. The invention is applicable to a variety of present and future game shows.
As an illustration, the quiz portion of a program may include the task of listing, in reverse chronological order, the names of all teams having won the baseball World Series, or the World Soccer Championship. A time limit is set which makes it impossible for contestants to enter all correct answers; this is common practice in aptitude tests.
There are five contestants on the studio stage. Each studio contestant is equipped with well known means to write, print, type or otherwise enter his or her response on a board, keyboard or other data entering device adapted so that the responses, in the process of being entered, may be projected on a screen or screens visible to the studio audience, but not to the contestants and not to the home viewers until the predetermined time limit has been reached, or until the time allowed has substantially been consumed.
The responses of studio contestants can be displayed to the studio audience and to all home viewers with some delay, thereby preventing any of the home contestants from benefiting from the answers of the stage contestants.
It therefore is an object of the system described to elicit responses from contestants at remote sites and to capture their responses in their data entering devices essentially before the responses given by stage or studio contestants become known to home contestants. This is accomplished by projecting the questions on a screen hidden from studio contestants but in view of the camera 54. Concurrently with, or prior to the projection of the questions, the host 50 employs the keyboard 58 to transmit instructions to the response units 22 of the remote audience. The response entered by a participant in the remote audience is timed and is subject to a time limit, the time period to conclude before the responses to the questions are presented to the studio contestants. Thereby, the responses of the remote audience are not influenced by the responses of the studio contestants. Keyboard 58 may be operated by a person other than the conductor of the show and may be situated on-stage or off-stage.
In a simple version, the system can be employed to attract viewers and listeners not normally disposed to participate in game or quiz shows per se, but willing to answer a few unobtrusive questions, especially if pertaining to a subject of interest to the viewer. The questions to be answered by home viewers and radio listeners can be interspersed in shows other than merchandising shows and can be so simple as to require essentially only a confirmation by participants of being tuned in to a particular program. It is noted that a viewer of a home shopping service can become a contestant on the spur of the moment, at any time when tuned in to such a program, and may select one or more questions to which to respond.
These implementations of the system and accompanying awards to a correct answer are intended to increase the television and radio audience. Persons may watch a televised home-shopping program primarily for the reason that they can, without cost to them, win a large prize. Participants who have given an acceptable answer can be rewarded with a coupon of defined value to be applied to the price of a specified product or to the price of any product in a specified retail outlet. Alternatively, the prize can be a cash payment unrelated to the merchandise offered on the show.
The quantitative results obtained by this method can also be used in the statistical analysis and the reactions of audiences tuned in to home-shopping programs. It is noted that the equipment of the invention may well be installed in numerous households in which case, responses by household members can readily serve as a bases for statistically sampling peoples, responses to a new product, service, political candidates, corporate images and other subjects of surveys. The increased audience provided by the invention is significant in the survey and market research fields because, by way of example, an increase of sample size from 2000 to 2 million will reduce a sampling error from 3% to 0.1%.
In the field of qualitative market analysis and consumer research, the system and methods described can be employed very effectively, substituting home viewers and listeners for the so-called focus groups or other population samples used to determine buyer responses to products and services. The versatility and flexibility of the home keyboard or other data entering device are particularly well suited to the elicitation of unbiased responses to questions or statements by advertising agencies and market analysts. The market research and other surveys and polls made possible by the system and methods described, can be part of a regular quiz show or can can be conducted separately. Respondents are rewarded for their cooperation by issuing certificates, coupons and the like to them. The permanent records produced by the dispensing means in remote locations can be mailed to the research organization. For this purpose the forms dispensed by the dispensers in participants, homes can take the form of self-addressed return envelopes. Special printed forms may be used in conducting research into respondents' reactions to tasks or questions. Coupon awards may be dispensed separately or may be a tear-off section of a survey form.
For the implementation of home-shopping shows, the following advantages of the invention are noted. The system of the invention does not require any wiring or rewiring of a home. Telephone lines are used only in the placing of merchandise orders, but not in conducting the quiz portions of the program. The service may be offered to viewers free of charge. It permits home viewers &:o participate in the quiz portions of the shows on &:he spur of the moment without any requirement for special forms or entry blanks. The machine readable card 48, or similar coupon which may be outputted by the dispenser 46, may be presented or redeemed for prizes primarily in connection with merchandise offered on the home-shopping program, but may also be redeemed by successful participants at a local store or other business establishment cooperating with the television broadcaster.
The system provides simplicity in the administration of the game by identification of the successful respondents; this is readily accomplished at the dispenser 46 in each remote location by imprinting each card 48 with the name of the respondent. In particular, if desired, the name of the respondent can be inputted at the keyboard 44 as are other answers to questions. The questions may include multiple-part questions and may require multiple choice answers, if desired. The questions may require simple answers such as yes or no, a single word such as a number or a color, or a plurality of words as in a phrase or narrative. Operation of the score counter 104 for various choices of answer permit a scoring of partially correct responses and those meeting a predetermined response criteria.
If, as an example, a respondent must select a number from the numbers 1 through 9, and if the completely accurate answer is 5, the comparator unit may be programmed so as to accept any number between 4 and 6, or 3 and 6, etc. By way of alternative embodiments to the invention, it is noted that the comparator 116 may output a multiple-bit digital word wherein the additional bits are provided by the memory 106 dependent on the specific answer stored in the memory 106, which answer is compared to the response within the buffer store 114. For example, if two possible responses would be regarded as correct, but one of the two responses is preferred, then the comparator 116 would output an additional bit for the preferred response. The additional bit would be passed by the gate 112 to advance the count of the counter 104, thereby to increase the score by a larger amount when the preferred response is entered at the keyboard 44.
The formatting and reformatting can provide for various ways of weighting the responses of home contestants, such as straight line additions, geometric and exponential progressions, or computations of scores based on formulas incorporating discrete groups of responses. Thus, score counter 104 may be replaced with a microcomputer (not shown) which is responsive to commands from the memory 108 for combining inputs from keyboard 44, memories 106 and 108, and capable of reflecting the time element, to serve, in effect, as an evaluator of complex answers.
According to the present invention, questions may be transmitted from the central station, to which more than one acceptable answer may be given, the answers varying in the degree of difficulty from the respondent's standpoint. As an example, a question may call for naming a minimum of two European cities, the names beginning with the letter M, this being difficulty level Difficulty level 2 might call for four such cities and difficulty level 3 might call for six such cities, all answers to be entered within 30 seconds. The particular difficulty level may by specified by the person controlling the transmission, or it may be selected by the individual respondent prior to seeing or hearing the question. In order to enable contestants to choose a difficulty level, the host may announce or hint at the general nature or the context of the question about to asked. The degree of difficulty will normally determine the value of the prize, etc. The device evaluating the responses may dispense records, e.g. coupons, certificates and the like of different value or in different denominations. For instance, it may issue a 10 cent coupon at level 1, and 25 cent coupon at level 2, and a 50 cent coupon at level 3. The coupons may be redeemed in retail establishments, the coupons being similar to those contained in newspapers. It should be understood, therefore, that in addition to the difficulty level set by the host, a higher difficulty level may be superimposed by an individual contestant, as will be disclosed subsequently with reference to FIGS. 6-10. If no specific difficulty level be announced or set by the host, each task carries and inherent difficulty level with it.
By use of encryption, the card 48 provides an essentially tamper-proof record. The invention is applicable, not only to home viewers but also to viewers in a public establishment such as a restaurant wherein people may participate as teams. The questions may be gradated to be suitable for a variety of audiences varying from those having limited formal education to those having special interests. By use of the timer 110, the studio host can designate the beginning and end of a response interval, and vary the time limit allowed from question to question. In addition, the invention lends itself to the development of further forms of game and quiz shows. The difficulty level can be increased by decreasing an allocated time for response.
In the educational field, in which, for instance, the use and the sale of educational toys is the subject of a show presenting such toys, the situation portrayed in the studio and presented on the television screen may be in the nature of a task-setting situation rather than that of a pure question. The appropriate response may contain a number of cross-referenced key words or key phrases. The system of the invention may be implemented also by closed circuit television and cable television as well as by the broadcast situation of FIG. 1. The keyboard 44 at each of the response units 22 may be a standard typewriter keyboard, as noted above, or may include a display of the typed response such as is presently available on some electronic typewriters. Such a display would be useful in the answering of examination questions for home-study programs. It is also noted that the keyboard 44 is representative of a response entry device, and may, if desired, be replaced by other entry devices such as a joystick, switches, or even a device responsive to a spoken voice.
In the practice of the invention, the answers given by studio contestants may, for instance, be displayed to the studio audience and/or broadcast to TV-viewers following a predetermined delay of, say 5-20 seconds. During this 5-20 second period, the data or response entering devices of the stage contestants, or the studio display devices, may be made inoperative, so that no answers may be entered and/or displayed, even if the stage contestants are aware of the questions. Other ways of staggering the "response windows" by 5-20 seconds or more can be devised. This time lag is intended to make the answers projected on studio screens following the time lag useless to home contestants from the point of view of total time allowed for response. By the time the correct answers are televised, all or a critical amount of the allotted time will have elapsed. This forces home contestants to enter their responses before knowing the responses of studio contestants.
To provide attention-attracting action on stage for the studio audience and TV-viewers who are not contestants, the announcer or master of ceremonies can set the stage for the questions, or he can read the questions to the stage contestants and the audience, thereby consuming 5-20 seconds. The questions are displayed on a screen, visible to all TV-viewers, including home contestants. Other ways of giving home contestants a head start of 5-20 seconds, or more, can be devised. In another embodiment, the responses by stage contestants are entered, but not displayed for a predetermined period of time. Home contestants may be allotted more or less time than studio participants. If there is only one participant or contestant on stage, the quiz show still follows the concept outlined.
In the instance of a question being related to merchandise which has been or is about to be advertised on a radio program, a description of the unseen product will of course be sufficiently detailed to enable potential shoppers to make a buying decision and to enable such shoppers to answer a question asked pertaining to such unseen merchandise. In a modified version of the methods described, the remote shopping audience may be asked to complete the task of characterizing in one, two or more words or phrases, the outstanding or most appealing features of an item advertised.
The examples set forth are simple ones and many different and more complex versions and implementations of the home-shopping show are possible and will occur to game show producers and sponsors.
In some instances, such as in market research, the system described can be employed to identify consumers meeting certain criteria. In that event, the memory and control elements of response unit 22 are programmed in accordance with the requirements of the particular consumer research. Response unit 22 normally is placed in remote locations, which need not be homes and can be other private and public places. In an alternative application of the system, the response unit 22 is equipped with appropriate means capable of limiting the functions of the scoring and evaluation means. For this purpose, controls nd switches (not shown) are provided, which cause memories 106 and 108, logic control 118, comparator 116 and gate 112 to selectively perform only those evaluating functions required for the specific application. In such an event, dispenser 46 receives only partially processed data and generates a record of responses entered on keyboard 44 reflecting responses evaluated only to the desired extent and resembling the original information entered by respondents. Respondents are rewarded in one of the manners previously described.
It is a particular advantage of the present system that the kind of data-entering device may vary between different remote locations. Furthermore, the kind of data entering, scoring or evaluating device installed at different locations may vary in accordance with the intended use. Thus, for instance, in selected remote locations, electronic devices of known design may be installed, which are capable of subjecting the raw data entered by respondents to computer analysis.
FIG. 5 shows the buffer store 114, the register 102 and the program memory 108, as well as further details of the dispenser 46 of FIG. 4 to accomplish the imprinting of a response on a recording medium, such as a paper or card, having a prescribed format for the entry of answers. As has been noted hereinabove, such a data entry form or questionnaire, is useful for providing responses by respondents in situations such as contests, advertising, promotional or research activities. An example of such a questionnaire 126 is shown in FIG. 5. Therein, blocks numbered 1-6 are provided for entry of responses by members of the audience at the remote receiving stations 16 and 18.
Also shown in FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the keyboard 44, the view showing a keypad with keys for the entry of identifying numerals for identifying the blocks of the questionnaire 126 in which the respective answers are to be entered. The respondent identifies a questionnaire block by holding down a control key Q while typing the identifying numeral on the keyboard 44. The response to be entered in that block is then typed by use of the alphabet keys of the keyboard 44. In its simplest and least expensive form, the keyboard may have only two keys to enter a yes/no or true/false response, it being understood that successive operations of combinations of the two keys can be employed to select a response from a larger number of possible responses. FIG. 5 shows a more extensive keyboard 44 having a set of alphanumeric characters as in a standard typewriter keyboard to be employed for entering responses in the form of actual words or phrases.
The dispenser 46 comprises a decoder 128, a printer 130 and a programmable read-only memory (PROM) 132. In operation, the typed answer and the questionnaire block identification is applied by the keyboard 44 and via the store 114 to the register
102. The contents of the register 102, as described hereinabove, are subsequently transferred to the dispenser 46. The decoder 128 detects the presence of a digital word produced by the control key Q, and thereby decodes the incoming digital signals from the register 102 so as to separate the block identification from the response. The decoder 128 activates the printer 130, upon the appearance of the response, to print the response on the questionnaire 126, the latter having been previously placed into the dispenser 46 by the respondent. The decoder also addresses the PROM 132 with the block identification, whereupon the PROM 132 outputs the block location to the printer 130 to direct the printer 130 to print the response at the correct location on the questionnaire 126. Information with respect to the layout of the questionnaire 126 is loaded into the PROM 132 by the program memory 108 as directed by the instructional signal on line 122 or 124 of FIG. 4.
Alternatively, the block location data and the responses may be stored on the card 48 for printing out at another location, such as the facilities of an advertiser or a company providing the promotional activities. The response may include a narrative text, in which case the comparator 116 may be employed to signal the presence of key words in the response, which have been previously entered into the data memory 106.
By way of further embodiments of the invention, it is noted that the dispenser 46 may include a group of trays 134 each of which stores a separate set of forms such as the questionnaire 126 upon which a response is to be printed. The trays 134
are activated by a control signal from the program memory 108 to present a blank form to the printer 130 to be imprinted with the response. Information with respect to the desired form to be employed in response to a task-setting situation is loaded into the program memory 108 by the instructional signal on line 122 or 124, whereby an instructor or the host 50 in a classroom or in the studio 14 designates the requisite form for use in preparing the response. The completed form, or questionnaire
126, exits a slot 136 of the printer 130. The completed questionnaire 126 may be provided on any suitable recording medium which serves as a hard copy such as paper, plastic strip, or plastic card.
As was shown with respect to FIG. 4, the score counter 104 is under control of the program memory 108. This permits the score counter 104 to be activated and deactivated by commands transmitted via the instructional signal. In the outputting of the foregoing questionnaire 126 from the printer 130 with words printed in the appropriate blocks, a score can also be imprinted upon the questionnaire 126 upon activation of the counter 104, which score is omitted upon deactivation of the counter 104.
The embodiments of the system of FIGS. 6-10 represent an adaptation of the system of FIGS. 1-5 for employing, in a merchandising situation, a quiz or game-type television show with both local and remote audience participation. As with the system of FIGS. 1-5, the present system of FIGS. 6-10 can also be employed with radio programs. The merchandise is displayed on the television screen and is furthermore described orally over the voice channel of the television program. In particular, it is noted that much of the system description provided in FIGS. 1-5 applies also to the system of FIGS. 6-9 but, that additionally, the system description presented in FIGS. 6-9 shows the use of at least two separate signals, in the instructional signal group, for providing answers and evaluating the answers under control of both the program host and the remote viewer to establish various possible values of awards corresponding to the difficulty levels imposed by the question asked and to various criteria employed in scoring the answers to such questions.
The system of FIGS. 6-10 provides for selection of difficulty level, evaluation of response based on key words and phrases, interaction between members of the remote audience and the program host as by use of telephone communication, and adaptation of the program by the host to the interaction by modification and reformatting of response criteria as by altering a mode of scoring and a period of time allowed for response.
The system of FIGS. 6-10 expands the fields of use of the system of FIGS. 1-5 by adding a further dimension to the areas of applicability and uses of the system of FIGS. 1-5. In the further embodiment of FIGS. 6-10, the invention improves on the type of home shopping service offered television viewers who place orders via telephone for items of merchandise displayed on television. Normally, such orders are paid for by charging the offering price of the merchandise to the buyer's credit card or check.
The system, according to the further embodiment of the invention, combines essential features of a television quiz show with those of a television home shopping service into one broadcast presentation for the purpose of inducing a larger number of persons to tune into such programs and to place more and larger orders for merchandise.
The objective of making such a program more exciting is achieved by awarding successful respondents of questions a prize or award having a monetary value which can be applied against the price of the merchandise purchased. The blend of merchandise offerings and questions asked is entirely under control of the program conductor, and may be varied so as to optimize results.
In addition, at the discretion of the television program conductor and that of individual viewers, different difficulty levels may be applied to individual questions, it being understood that answers to more difficult questions or answers to the same questions at higher difficulty level carry with them larger monetary awards. Each successful responding shopper is issued a printout or similar hard copy displaying the value of the award for the shopper's information and containing a code which is verifiable over the telephone by a central service accepting the telephone orders, or may be verified without the use of a telephone when a coded coupon or certificate is delivered to a cooperating store or merchandising center.
The participation in such a quiz program by a television viewer preferably is, but need not be, free of charge. A viewer who has successfully answered one or more questions may, despite an award, decide not to purchase any item. Viewers may therefore be tuning into the program merely for its entertainment value; or viewers may, as a consequence of having been issued a printout which is a discount certificate, decide to purchase an item of merchandise against which the discount is applicable. The psychological effect of "cashing in" on an award secured through skill may be significant, so that viewers who only intended to watch the program may become contestants and impulse buyers.
At the discretion of an organization sponsoring the shopping program, a discount certificate may be valid with respect to only a specific item of merchandise. It may also be valid only for a limited predetermined time, after which the certificate becomes invalid. Alternatively, a certificate may carry with it the stipulation that it can be applied to any item purchased on a given date, during a specified period of time, or in a specified store or purchase center.
FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention suitable for the merchandising of goods and services with the aid of games and contests by means of a system 200. In the system 200, a central station 202 includes a studio 204, such as a television studio, and broadcasts programs to many remote receiving stations, one such station 206 being shown by way of example. Each of the receiving stations 20