WO2004004347A2

WO2004004347A2 - System and method for making an award available.

Info

Publication number: WO2004004347A2
Application number: PCT/GB2003/002745
Authority: WO
Inventors: Saj Muzaffar; Jonathan Peachey
Original assignee: Saj Muzaffar; Jonathan Peachey
Priority date: 2002-06-26
Filing date: 2003-06-26
Publication date: 2004-01-08
Also published as: GB2390212A; GB2390212B; GB0214724D0; AU2003242845A1; AU2003242845A8; GB0314937D0; WO2004004347A3

Abstract

Apparatus, system and method for making available an award to a user of a broadcast service, game, gambling or amusement machine or the like. The award can be a prize for a successful player. The award may take the form of an airtime or subscription credit applied automatically to the account of a mobile telephone (or SIM card) specified by the player. The method includes making said broadcast service available for said user to receive said service, receiving data supplied by said user, determining entitlement to said award in dependence upon said data supplied by said user, and causing wireless telephone means to become operable for receiving and storing award data indicative of said entitlement.

Description

System and method for making an award available.

This invention relates to a system and method for making available an award to a user of a broadcast service, game, gambling or amusement machine or the like, The invention also relates to apparatus operable for providing awards to users of the apparatus.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for enabling a broadcast service provider to make an award available to an entitled user of the broadcast service, the system comprising interactive apparatus including: - broadcast service apparatus for making said broadcast service available; and receiving apparatus for enabling said user to receive said service and for receiving data supplied by said user; said interactive apparatus further including means for determining entitlement to said award in dependence upon said data supplied said user, and said system further comprising wireless telephone means operable for receiving and storing award data indicative of said entitlement.

Preferably, said interactive apparatus comprises digital television or digital radio program broadcasting means and an interactive digital television or digital radio receiver.

Alternatively, said interactive apparatus may comprise Internet web-site server means and a local computer operable for enabling said user to interact with said web-site server means via the Internet.

Advantageously, said means for determining entitlement to said award is comprised in said broadcast service apparatus.

The broadcast service apparatus may be operable to supply said award data to said wireless telephone means.

Preferably, said wireless telephone means is a wireless telephone operator station operable for communicating with a wireless telephone handset specified by said user.

The wireless telephone means may be a wireless telephone handset or SIM card specified by said user. The said means for determining entitlement to said award could be comprised in said receiving apparatus.

The system may be operable for making coded award data available to said user via said receiving apparatus

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for enabling a broadcast service provider to make an award available to an entitled user of the broadcast service, the system comprising broadcast service apparatus operable for causing award data to be received in wireless telephone means.

Preferably, said award data is transmitted directly to said wireless telephone means.

Alternatively, the award data is made available to said user for enabling said user to forward the data to a wireless telephone operator station.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for enabling a wireless telephone operator to make an award available to a wireless telephone subscriber, the system comprising a wireless telephone operator station connected to broadcast service apparatus and operable automatically to credit the subscriber's account in response to signals received from the broadcast service apparatus.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for enabling a broadcast service provider to make an award available to an entitled user of the broadcast service, the method including:- making said broadcast service available for said user to receive said service; receiving data supplied by said user; determining entitlement to said award in dependence upon said data supplied by said user; and causing wireless telephone means to become operable for receiving and storing award data indicative of said entitlement.

Advantageously, said service is made available via digital television or digital radio program broadcasting means.

Alternatively, said service is made available via Internet web-site server means. Said entitlement may be determined within said broadcast service apparatus.

Preferably, said award data is supplied to said wireless telephone means.

Preferably, said award data is supplied to a wireless telephone operator station operable for communicating with a wireless telephone handset specified by said user.

Advantageously, said award data is supplied to a wireless telephone handset specified by said user,

The method may include causing said entitlement to said award to be determined within said receiving apparatus.

The method may include making coded award data available to said user via said receiving apparatus

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for enabling a broadcast service provider to make an award available to an entitled user of the broadcast service, the method comprising rendering broadcast service apparatus operable for causing award data to be received in wireless telephone means.

The award data may be transmitted directly to said wireless telephone means or it may be made available to said user for enabling said user to forward the data to a wireless telephone operator station.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for enabling a wireless telephone operator to make an award available to a wireless telephone subscriber, the method comprising causing a wireless telephone operator station automatically to credit the subscriber's account in response to signals received from a broadcast service apparatus.

The broadcast service may be or may include a game or competition and the award is a prize for a successful participant. The award may be an airtime or subscription credit for the account of a mobile telephone or SIM card identified by said user.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided game or competition apparatus, for example an amusement or gambling machine or an arcade game, able to make an award available to a user of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising interactive means for making said game or competition available and for determining entitlement to said award, and means causing storing award data indicative of said entitlement to be made available to wireless telephone means. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided interactive apparatus, including for example a television or radio receiver or an amusement machine gambling machine or arcade game, wherein the apparatus is operable to provide a prize in the form of an airtime or subscription credit for the account of a mobile telephone or SIM card identified by a participant in an activity carried out using the apparatus, said activity not comprising solely or merely payment using the apparatus to pay for said credit.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for making available an amusement, competition, gambling or game playing activity, the method including providing a prize to a successful player in the form of an airtime or subscription credit which is automatically applied to the account of a mobile telephone or SIM card.

Herein disclosed is a system that allows a player of an interactive game to win and be awarded airtime credit prizes to a wireless device having won an electronic game or competition.

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

The object of this invention is to allow a player of an interactive game or competition to win and be awarded airtime credit prize to a wireless device. In this specification the term airtime credit prize refers to cash equivalent credit to the user's wireless device, which may be used for phone calls, data access, interactivity, or it may be credited to a user's subscription and/or account.

The said airtime credit prize it may be delivered to the user's wireless device by means of a SMS, MMS, OTA (over the air) or other text message. It may be electronically delivered to the user's wireless service operator i.e. a mobile phone operator, in this case a text message (SMS) or the like and may notify the user of his win and the amount of the airtime credit prize.

The airtime credit prize may be in the form of a code, this code may be displayed on the apparatus (Interactive TV, amusement machine) the user played and won a game or competition, In this case the user may input and/or send this code to his wireless service operator in order to authenticate and/or credit his airtime account

The game apparatus may have the means to encrypt and decrypt all data sent and received to and from the apparatus. The interactive game or competition may be available to the user on Interactive TV (set-top box), The Internet, a kiosk, an amusement machine, a wireless device, DAB radio or the like.

A set-top box is a dedicated computer system for receiving broadcast programmes, it generally has the same core components as a personal computer e.g. microprocessor, RAM, Operating system, ROM, I/O.

In this specification the term Interactive TV refers to a television receiving apparatus that has the means to receive broadcast programmes and the means operable by a viewer to interact with the said broadcast programmes. The term is also intended to cover radio services received either through television viewing apparatus or through DAB equipment.

In this specification the term online refers to any means of communication for receiving and / or displaying information and/or services stored remotely and accessible to a user by means of a wired or wireless communication. This may be a cable, telephone (including ISDN and ADSL), satellite, or terrestrial communications network.

The wireless device may be a mobile phone, PDA, a portable computing device, a remote control, it may be a WAP phone (wireless application protocol), for Internet access, it may be packet-based i.e. GPRS, Imode, it may be a 3G (3^rd generation) wireless device.

The airtime credit prize may be transmitted or broadcast to the user by means of a satellite, terrestrial, cable, cellular, telephone, Infrared, bluetooth communications or the like.

The airtime credit prize may be stored locally on the wireless device or it may be transmitted to a server for crediting a user's wireless device account and /or authentication, it may be compressed and or encrypted for faster transmission and / or to prevent unauthorised viewing or saving. It may be downloaded and stored for later use.

The electronic dialogue between the organization wishing to issue a prize and the wireless service provider may be authenticated by means of digital certificates or other mechanism to reduce the risk of fraudulent airtime credits.

The apparatus may have the means to decompress, decrypt and / or be able to have the means to save and locally transmit the said airtime credit prize to the user's wireless device.

The apparatus may have the means to restrict access to the airtime credit prize by means of a PIN (personal identification number) or other access control system or combination thereof. The game or competition may be a game of skill, chance, a prize or other draw, betting or wagering, pools competition, lottery, bingo, cards or the like.

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

The apparatus of the example depicted comprises a set-top box 2, which receives all broadcast programmes, interactive applications, and data from the broadcaster/service provider, a display device 1 , in this case, a television, monitor or other display device, for the display of all video, graphics and information from the set-top box 2. a mobile phone 4, for the user, which receives airtime credits and confirmations, Broadcaster 5. to transmit all programmes and data to the set-top box.

A mobile phone operator 6. for sending and receiving data from the user's mobile phone and the broadcaster 5.

In one embodiment of the invention the input device 3. is a remote control unit allowing the user to interact with the set-top box by selecting the appropriate buttons.

The set-top box 2. receives broadcast programmes by means of a cable, terrestrial, satellite, or other wired or wireless network from the broadcaster 5.

When the user's wants to play an interactive game, he selects from the display device 1 the game, by means of the input device 3. This action causes a signal to be sent to the set-top box 2. The software on the set-top box 2. then receives and loads the appropriate game and displays it on display device 1.

At some point either before or after playing the game the user is presented with a screen that invites him or her to input his mobile phone number using remote control 3.

Depending on the award structure of the game, if the user wins a game the set- top box 2. sends a signal and/or data to the Broadcaster 5. notifying the broadcaster 5. that the user has won, the amount he has won and the mobile phone that the user wants the airtime credit prize to be allotted to.

The broadcaster 5. Then sends the said signal/ data to the mobile phone operator centre 6. The data/signal could be sent to broadcaster 5. Via a landline telephone to which the set top box is connected, or via cable or a suitable alternative wired or wireless link. The mobile phone operator centre 6. applies the relevant airtime credit prize to the customer's account or to the credit on their phone if the player wins the game. The Mobile phone operator may also send a SMS or text message to the user's mobile phone 4. confirming that an airtime credit prize has been won the amount and or any other relevant data.

The customer's details (name, address, etc.) may be transmitted to the broadcaster or other remote online computer or other online device to register the transaction for audit and statistical purposes.

In another embodiment of the present invention if the user wins a game, the airtime credit may be by means of a code, from the broadcaster, which is displayed, in which case the user would input the said code into his mobile phone and send it to the mobile phone operator in order to credit his mobile phone, like a conventional "top-up" voucher for pay-as-you-go type arrangement.

In another embodiment of the present invention the set-top box may be able to communicate with the user's mobile phone, in which case the said code may sent to the user's mobile phone by means of wired or wireless connection. In the case of a wireless connection, it may be by means of infrared, bluetooth or other local wireless communications, which may connect and transmit data i.e. win code, airtime credit prize from the set-top box to a user's mobile phone.

Yet in another embodiment of the present invention, the user's mobile phone may have the means to store credit on a chip installed in it, this chip may be a specifically for cash / credit storage, it may be the mobile phone's SIM card, a third party smart card, it may be removable, it may be integral to the mobile phone.

In another example of the present invention the set-top box may be a personal computer equipped to receive broadcast, Internet or other interactive services from a broadcaster, service provider.

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

Claims

1. A system for enabling a broadcast service provider to make an award available to an entitled user of the broadcast service, the system comprising interactive apparatus including:- broadcast service apparatus for making said broadcast service available; and receiving apparatus for enabling said user to receive said service and for receiving data supplied by said user; said interactive apparatus further including means for determining entitlement to said award in dependence upon said data supplied said user, and said system further comprising wireless telephone means operable for receiving and storing award data indicative of said entitlement.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said interactive apparatus comprises digital television or digital radio program broadcasting means and an interactive digital television or digital radio receiver.

3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said interactive apparatus comprises Internet web-site server means and a local computer operable for enabling said user to interact with said web-site server means via the Internet.

4. A system according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein said means for determining entitlement to said award is comprised in said broadcast service apparatus.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said broadcast service apparatus is operable to supply said award data to said wireless telephone means.

6. A system according to 5, wherein said wireless telephone means is a wireless telephone operator station operable for communicating with a wireless telephone handset specified by said user.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said wireless telephone means is a wireless telephone handset specified by said user.

8. A system according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein said means for determining entitlement to said award is comprised in said receiving apparatus.

9. A system according to claim 4 or 8, operable for making coded award data available to said user via said receiving apparatus

10. A system for enabling a broadcast service provider to make an award available to an entitled user of the broadcast service, the system comprising broadcast service apparatus operable for causing award data to be received in wireless telephone means.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said award data is transmitted directly to said wireless telephone means.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein said award data is made available to said user for enabling said user to forward the data to a wireless telephone operator station.

13. A system for enabling a wireless telephone operator to make an award available to a wireless telephone subscriber, the system comprising a wireless telephone operator station connected to broadcast service apparatus and operable automatically to credit the subscriber's account in response to signals received from the broadcast service apparatus.

14. A method for enabling a broadcast service provider to make an award available to an entitled user of the broadcast service, the method including:- making said broadcast service available for said user to receive said service; receiving data supplied by said user; determining entitlement to said award in dependence upon said data supplied by said user; and causing wireless telephone means to become operable for receiving and storing award data indicative of said entitlement.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said service is made available via digital television or digital radio program broadcasting means.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said service is made available via Internet web-site server means.

17. A method according to claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein said entitlement is determined within said broadcast service apparatus.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said award data is supplied to said wireless telephone means.

19. A method according to 18, wherein said award data is supplied to a wireless telephone operator station operable for communicating with a wireless telephone handset specified by said user.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said award data is supplied to a wireless telephone handset specified by said user,

21. A method according to claim 14, 15 or 16, including causing said entitlement to said award to be determined within said receiving apparatus.

22. A method according to claim 17 or 21 , including making coded award data available to said user via said receiving apparatus

23. A method for enabling a broadcast service provider to make an award available to an entitled user of the broadcast service, the method comprising rendering broadcast service apparatus operable for causing award data to be received in wireless telephone means.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said award data is transmitted directly to said wireless telephone means.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein said award data is made available to said user for enabling said user to forward the data to a wireless telephone operator station.

26. A method for enabling a wireless telephone operator to make an award available to a wireless telephone subscriber, the method comprising causing a wireless telephone operator station automatically to credit the subscriber's account in response to signals received from a broadcast service apparatus.

27. A system according to any of claims 1 to 13 or a method according to any of claims 14 to 26, wherein the broadcast service is or includes a game or competition and the award is a prize for a successful participant.

28. A system or method according to claim 27, wherein the award is an airtime or subscription credit for the account of a mobile telephone or SIM card identified by said user.

29. Game or competition apparatus, for example an amusement or gambling machine or an arcade game, able to make an award available to a user of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising interactive means for making said game or competition available and for determining entitlement to said award, and means causing storing award data indicative of said entitlement to be made available to wireless telephone means.

30. Interactive apparatus, including for example a television or radio receiver or an amusement machine gambling machine or arcade game, wherein the apparatus is operable to provide a prize in the form of an airtime or subscription credit for the account of a mobile telephone or SIM card identified by a participant in an activity carried out using the apparatus, said activity not comprising solely or merely payment using the apparatus to pay for said credit.

31 A method for making available an amusement, competition, gambling or game playing activity, the method including providing a prize to a successful player in the form of an airtime or subscription credit which is automatically applied to the account of a mobile telephone or SIM card.