Abstract:
A system and method are described that allow TV viewers to play a game wherein a bidder submitting a lowest unique bid wins an auction article or its cash equivalent.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
     This is a National Phase of International Application No. PCT/US2007/001998, filed on Jan. 25, 2007, which claims priority from Great Britain Provisional Patent Application No. 0602121.6, filed on Feb. 2, 2006. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a system and method for interacting with a plurality of content receivers, and more specifically to a system and method that allow television (TV) viewers to submit bids in a competition, wherein a viewer submitting a lowest unique bid is a winner of an auction article or its cash equivalent. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a system for interacting with a plurality of content receivers, comprising a transmission system for transmitting information about an auction article to a plurality of remote locations to be received by a plurality of content receivers at the respective remote locations, and transmitting an invitation to enter a lowest unique bid for the auction article to the content receivers at the respective remote locations, a receiving system to receive a plurality of bid amounts for the auction article from a subset of the plurality of content receivers, a computer memory, a computer processor, a storing module in the computer memory, which is executable by the processor to store the bid amounts and information of the subset of the plurality of content receivers who submitted the bid amounts in the computer memory, an evaluation module in the computer memory, which is executable by the computer processor to determine a lowest unique bid among the bid amounts stored in the computer memory, and an extraction module in the computer memory, which is executable by the processor to extract information of a winning content receiver who submitted the lowest unique bid from the memory. 
     The information about the auction article may include an image signal of the auction article so that an image of the auction article is viewable on screens at the respective remote locations. 
     The system may further comprise a camera system positionable to record a live image of the auction article and convert the live image to the image signal that is transmitted by the transmission system. 
     The receiving system may be a telephone receiving system. 
     The telephone receiving system, computer processor, storing module, evaluation computer module, and extracting module may form part of an interactive voice recognition system. 
     The telephone receiving system may receive a bid amount when a content receiver enters the bid amount on a key pad of a telephone. 
     The evaluation computer module may determine whether a bid is unique, and determine whether the bid is the lowest bid after determining whether the bid is unique. 
     The system may further comprise a bid termination system for ending an auction. 
     The evaluation computer module may determine a lowest unique bid after the auction is ended. 
     The evaluation computer module may determine a lowest unique bid before the auction is ended. 
     The system may further comprise a graphics broadcasting system that provides text identifying the bidder with the lowest unique bid to the transmission system, the transmission system transmitting a signal of the text to be viewed on screens at the remote locations. 
     The system may further comprise a fallback module in the computer memory, that executes in the computer processor if the evaluation module determines that there is no unique bid, the fallback module (i) determining which bid amounts have the lowest number of bids, (ii) determining which bid amount determined in (i) is the lowest, and determining which bid determined in (ii) was first submitted, the extracting module extracting information of a winning content receiver who submitted the bid determined (iii). 
     The invention also provides a method of interacting with a plurality of content receivers, comprising transmitting information about an auction article to a plurality of remote locations to be received by the content receivers located at the respective remote locations, transmitting an invitation to enter a lowest unique bid for the auction article to the content receivers at the respective remote locations, receiving a plurality of bid amounts for the auction article from a subset of the plurality of the content receivers, storing the bid amounts and information of the subset of the plurality of content receivers who submitted the bid amounts in memory of a computer, executing an evaluation computer module in a processor of a computer that determines a lowest unique bid among the bid amounts stored in the memory, extracting the information of a winning content receiver who submitted the lowest unique bid from the memory, and notifying the winning content receiver of submitting the lowest unique bid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for interacting with a plurality of content receivers in the form of viewers, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a table illustrating fields of a registration database forming part of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating how the database of  FIG. 2  is created; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating how the system of  FIG. 1  operates; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a TV screen that has an image of an auction article and text boxes showing information relating to an auction for the auction article or its cash equivalent; 
         FIG. 6  is a table illustrating the progression of an auction according to the process illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , wherein a text box is added showing a present leader having submitted a lowest unique bid; 
         FIG. 8  shows the table of  FIG. 2  after an entry is added; 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , wherein the text box illustrating the present leader of the bid is updated; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating functioning of the system of  FIG. 1  after the auction is closed, and specifically illustrating how a winner is determined if there is no unique bid; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the screen of  FIG. 9  when a winner is announced; and 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the screen of  FIG. 11  showing an image of a new auction item and having text boxes similar to the text boxes of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  of the accompanying drawings illustrates a content distribution system  10 , according to an embodiment of the invention, for interacting with a plurality of viewers  12 A,  12 B, and  12 C. 
     The system  10  includes a registration system  14 , a show recording and broadcasting system  16 , a call management system  18 , an inventory system  20 , and auction schedule  22 , and a graphics broadcasting system  24 . 
     The show recording and broadcasting system  16  includes a studio set  26 , a TV camera  28 , a TV broadcast transmission system  30 , and a plurality of TVs  32 A,  32 B, and  32 C. 
     The studio set  26  has a podium area  34  and a microphone  36 . A presenter  37  and an auction article  38  can be positioned on the podium area  34 . The microphone  36  is sufficiently close to the presenter  37  to pick up speech from the presenter  37 . 
     The TV camera  28  is located just outside the studio set  26 . The TV camera  28  can capture a live picture, and is positionable to capture a scene that includes an image of the presenter  37  and the auction article  38  at the podium area  34 . 
     The TV camera  28  and the microphone  36  are both connected to the TV broadcast transmission system  30 . The TV broadcast transmission system  30  includes hardware and software that transmits a signal of images captured by the TV camera  28  and sound from the microphone  36  to the TVs  32 A,  32 B, and  32 C. Signals may, for example, be transmitted over a cable network or over the airwaves. Although TV broadcasting is described, it is also envisioned that the invention may find application in other forms of signal transmission, for example over the Internet, to a plurality of computer systems. The invention may also manifest itself in media other than TV (to content receivers in the form of TV viewers), for example radio (to content receivers in the form of radio listeners). 
     Each TV  32 A,  32 B, and  32 C has a screen  40  and a speaker  42 . An image captured by the TV camera  28  is displayed in real time on the screens  40 , and a sound signal picked up by the microphone  36  creates a sound in real time out of the speakers  42 . The viewers  12 A,  12 B, and  12 C in front of the TVs  32 A,  32 B, and  32 C can see the presenter  37  and the auction article  38  on the screens  40 , and hear the presenter  37  through the speakers  42  in real time. 
     The call management system  18  includes a plurality of telephones  44 A,  44 B, and  44 C, a call-receiving system  46 , a caller identification system  48 , and an interactive recognition system  50 . 
     Each one of the telephones  44 A,  44 B, and  44 C is located in the home of a respective one of the viewers  12 A,  12 B, and  12 C. The telephones  44 A,  44 B, and  44 C are connected over at least one telephone network to the call-receiving system  46 . The telephones  44 A,  44 B, and  44 C may, for example, be conventional land-line telephones or cellular telephones, and may be connected through one or more land-line networks or one or more cellular networks to the call-receiving system  46 . 
     The caller identification system  48  is connected to the call-receiving system  46 . A caller identification system  48  can recognize a telephone number in a signal from a telephone from which it is receiving a call. Caller identification systems are known in the art, and are not described in detail herein. 
     The interactive recognition system  50  is connected to the caller identification system  48 , the registration system  14 , the inventory system  20 , and the auction schedule  22 . The interactive recognition system  50  is a computer that includes a processor, memory connected to the processor, and a software program that is stored in the memory and is executable by the processor. The software program that is stored in memory includes a storing module  54 , an evaluation module  56 , a fallback module  58 , and an extraction module  60 . The storing module  54  can interact with a caller and progress a caller through a menu, wherein the caller is allowed to enter a bid amount. The caller may use a dial pad on a telephone to interact with the interactive recognition system  50 , and/or the interactive recognition system  50  may be programmed to recognize voice commands. 
     The registration system  14  includes a registration database such as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The registration database includes fields for caller identification numbers, registered names, and personal identification numbers (PINs). The viewers  12 A,  12 B, and  12 C in  FIG. 1  can add to the registration database shown in  FIG. 2 , utilizing a separate interactive recognition system (not shown) or over the Internet. 
     The inventory system  20  includes a database of all products that are available for purposes of bidding on. The database typically includes fields for product description, quantity, and color. The auction schedule is simply a listing of a subset of the products in the inventory system  20 . 
     The graphics broadcasting system  24  is connected via the inventory system  20  to the interactive recognition system  50 . Text can be provided by the interactive recognition system  50  and the inventory system  20  to the graphics broadcast system  24 . The graphics broadcast system  24  is connected to the TV broadcast transmission system  30 . The text received by the graphics broadcast system  24  is provided to the TV broadcast transmission system  30 . The TV broadcast transmission system  30  adds text on top of an image or scene that is being recorded by the camera  28 , for purposes of viewing on the screens  40 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates how a viewer can pre-register by adding information to the database of the registration system  14  in  FIG. 1 . A registration number is provided, and a viewer dials the registration number ( 100 ). The call is connected to an interactive recognition system (not shown) that is dedicated for registration purposes and is different than the interactive recognition system  50 . A caller identification system (not shown) identifies a caller identification number of a telephone from which the viewer is calling ( 102 ). The interactive recognition system then prompts the viewer to enter a registered name, and the viewer responds to the prompt by entering a name ( 104 ). The viewer enters the name on a dial pad of the telephone from which the viewer is calling. 
     The interactive recognition system subsequently prompts the viewer to enter a personal identification number, and the viewer responds by entering a personal identification number on the dial pad of the telephone from which the viewer is calling ( 106 ). The interactive recognition system then stores the identification number, registered name, and personal identification number in the database of the registration system  14  ( 108 ). A viewer may alternatively enter information into the database of the registration system  14  over the Internet, or information can be manually entered by a service person after receiving a telephone call from the viewer, or from a mail entry. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 and 4  in combination. In use, recording and live broadcasting is initiated ( 200 ). The camera  28  is positioned so as to capture a scene that includes the presenter  37  or the auction article  38  at the podium area  34 , and speech from the presenter  37  is picked up and converted to a voice signal by the microphone  36 . Image and voice signals are transmitted by the TV broadcast transmission system  30  to the TVs  32 A,  32 B, and  32 C, and the viewers  12 A,  12 B, and  12 C view the presenter  37  or the auction article  38  on the screens  40 , and can hear the presenter  37  through the speakers  42  in real time. 
     Successive auctions are then broadcast ( 202 ). The camera  28  is first positioned to capture an image that includes the presenter  37 . The presenter  37  then explains the rules of the game to the viewer  12 A. The camera  28  is then positioned to capture a scene that includes a picture of the auction article  38 , and the presenter  37  verbally announces the opening of the auction.  FIG. 5  illustrates one of the screens  40  after the auction is initiated. A scene on the screen  40  includes an image  64  of the auction article  38 . The graphics broadcasting system  24  also displays the four text boxes  66 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72  over the scene captured by the camera  28 , but not over the image  64  of the auction article  38 . The text box  66  shows the time remaining for the auction. In the present example, the auction lasts for 15 minutes, and five seconds have elapsed, so that the total remaining time is 14 minutes and 55 seconds. The text box  68  shows the call-in number that a viewer has to call to venture a bid on the auction. The text box  70  illustrates a cash alternative amount. A winning bidder can opt to receive either the auction article  38  or a facsimile thereof, or a cash amount, in the present example, £ 110 . The text box  72  provides information regarding the cost for venturing a bid. 
     One or more of the viewers  12 A,  12 B, or  12 C may then call the number provided in the text box  68  ( 204 ). The viewers  12 A,  12 B, or  12 C utilize the telephones  44 A,  44 B, or  44 C to call the call-receiving system  46 . A network operator is responsible for connecting the call between, for example, the telephone  44 A and the call-receiving system  46 , charges the viewer  12 A for connecting the call, and the charge is displayed on a monthly statement that is sent to the viewer  12 A. The number provided in the text box  68  has been selected by an operator of the system  10  to be a 0900 number, which means that a portion of the amount that the network operator charges the viewer  12 A will be transferred to the operator of the system  10 . The charging and transfer of money is automatically done by computers utilizing conventional networks, details of which are known in the art and are not described in detail herein. 
     Next, the caller identification system  48  determines, whether the viewer  12 A utilizing the telephone  44 A is recognized by either a caller identification number of the telephone  44 A or a bidder number, and the viewer is asked to enter a PIN ( 206 ). The caller identification system  48  first determines whether a caller identification number can be extracted from a signal that the call-receiving system  46  receives from the telephone  44 A. If a caller identification number is extracted, the caller identification system  48  compares the extracted caller identification number with the caller identification numbers in the database illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In the present example, the caller identification system  48  determines that the caller identification number extracted from the signal from the telephone  44 A is 510-321-6185, which is listed in the database of  FIG. 2 , against the name of “ANGELA — 2” with a personal identification number of 21516. The caller identification system  48  then prompts the viewer  12 A to enter a personal identification number on the dial pad of the telephone  44 A. In the present example, the viewer  12 A enters the personal identification number 21516, which is the same as the personal identification number identified in the database of  FIG. 2 . Because of a favorable comparison between the personal identification numbers entered by the viewer  12 A and identified in the database of  FIG. 2 , the viewer  12 A is allowed to proceed with the auction, i.e., the viewer is recognized. 
     The call of the viewer  12 A is then forwarded to the interactive recognition system  50 , and the viewer  12 A provides a bid ( 208 ). The interactive recognition system  50  prompts the viewer to enter a bid, and the viewer  12 A enters the bid utilizing the dial pad of the telephone  44 A. In the present example, the viewer  12 A enters 096#. The interactive recognition system  50  recognizes the bid as £0.96. The storing module  54  stores the amount bid by the viewer  12 A in a list or a database as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The evaluation module  56  subsequently determines whether the bid of £0.96 is unique ( 210 ). The amount of £0.96 is the only bid submitted thus far, and is therefore unique. Next, the evaluation module  56  determines whether the bid of £0.96 is the lowest unique bid ( 212 ). The amount of £0.96 the only bid submitted thus far, and is therefore the lowest unique bid. The viewer  12 A is notified that the bid submitted is the lowest unique bid ( 214 ), and the call is ended ( 216 ). 
     Next, the extraction module  60  extracts the registered name of the viewer  12 A, in the present example of “ANGELA — 2” ( 218 ). The extraction module  60  then sends the registered name to the graphics broadcasting system  24  ( 220 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the graphics broadcasting system  24  adds a text box  74  that includes the name of the viewer  12 A that submitted the lowest unique bid, namely “ANGELA — 2,” and the time that the bid was submitted, namely at 12:03. 
     Another viewer, for example the viewer  12 B, may then call the number provided in the text box  68  ( 204 ). A determination is made whether the viewer  12 B is recognized, either because of the caller identification number of the telephone  44 B, or by entering a bidder number, in either case entering a personal identification number ( 206 ). Should no caller identification number be identifiable on a signal from the telephone  44 B, or if the caller identification number cannot be found in the database of  FIG. 2 , the viewer  12 B is prompted to enter a bidder number. In the present example, it is assumed that the viewer cannot be recognized by either a caller identification number or a bidder number. A determination is then made whether a caller identification number is submitted ( 222 ). If a caller identification number is not submitted, the viewer is notified that they have to register to play from a withheld number ( 224 ). If a caller identification number is submitted and identifiable, the viewer is given a new bidder number. In the present example, the new bidder number is 2596. The viewer is also prompted to enter a personal identification number. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a new entry is added to the database of  FIG. 2  with a registered name, “guest — 2596,” a caller identification number for the telephone  44 B, and the personal identification number 83832 entered by the viewer  12 B. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , the viewer  12 B with the registered name “guest — 2596” then enters a bid, in the present example, £0.50 ( 208 ). A determination is made whether the bid of £0.50 is unique ( 210 ). Since there are no other bids for an amount of £0.50, the bid submitted by “guest — 2596” is unique. A determination is then made whether the bid of £0.50 is the lowest unique bid ( 212 ). A comparison is made between all the bids that are unique, namely the bids submitted by “guest — 2596” and the bid submitted by “ANGELA — 2,” and it is found that the bid of £0.50 submitted by “guest — 2596” is the lowest unique bid. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the graphics broadcasting system  24  of  FIG. 1  then updates the text field box  74  to indicate the registered name of the present leader of the auction as “guest — 2596,” and the time of submission of the bid. The graphics broadcasting system  24  also updates the text box  66  every second to indicate the time remaining before closing of the auction. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , a viewer with a registered name “JOHNP” submits a bid of £0.56. The bid of £0.50 submitted by “guest — 2596” is, however, a lower bid than the bid of £0.56 submitted by “JOHNP.” Referring to  FIG. 4 , the viewer corresponding to “JOHNP” is notified that the bid of £0.56 is not the lowest unique bid ( 230 ), and the call is ended ( 216 ). 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , a viewer with the registered name “PETER — 101” subsequently submits a bid of £0.50. The bid of £0.50 submitted by “PETER — 101” is, however, not unique, because it is identical to the bid of £0.50 submitted by “guest — 2596.” “PETER — 101” is notified that the bid is not unique ( 230 ), and the call is ended ( 216 ). Moreover, the bid of £0.50 submitted by “guest — 2596” is not unique, because it is identical to the bid of £0.50 submitted by “PETER — 101,” so that “guest — 2596” is not the leader in the auction anymore. A recalculation is made to determine the lowest unique bid, which is the bid of £0.56 submitted by “JOHNP.” “JOHNP” is thus the present leader of the auction. 
     “guest — 652” subsequently submits a bid of £0.52, and is now the leader of the auction. “guest — 2596” then submits a bid of £0.50, which is not unique. “guest — 727” subsequently submits a bid of £0.56, which is not unique. “JOHNP” then submits a bid of £0.52, which is the same as the bid submitted by “guest — 652.” The lowest unique bid is not “ANGELA — 2” with a bid of £0.96. “ANGELA” then submits a bid of £0.96, which is the same as the bid submitted by “ANGELA — 2.” Neither “ANGELA” nor “ANGELA — 2” now has the lowest unique bid. Moreover, there is no longer a unique bid. A lowest unique bid can thus not be resolved with the process flow illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates how the winner of the auction is resolved, also determining the winner of the auction if there is no unique bid. First, the auction is ended when the text box  66  in  FIG. 9  shows zero seconds ( 300 ). The process steps  210  and  212  of  FIG. 4  are then executed to determine the lowest unique bid. In the present example, there is no lowest unique bid. The fallback module  58  in  FIG. 1  then determines the first bidder with the lowest amount with the fewest bids ( 304 ). It is first determined how many bids are submitted for each amount. In the present example, three bids are submitted for the amount of £0.50, two bids for £0.52, two bids for £0.56, and two bids for £0.96. The amounts of £0.52, £0.56, and £0.96 thus have the fewest number of bids, namely two each. The amount of £0.50 does not qualify, because more than two bids have been submitted for that amount. Next, a determination is made as to which one of the amounts that have two bids each is the lowest, i.e., which is the lowest of £0.52, £0.56, and £0.96. The lowest amount with the fewest bids is thus £0.52. Next, a determination is made as to who submitted the first bid with the lowest amount with the fewest bids, i.e., who submitted the first bid for £0.52. In the present example, “guest — 652” submitted the first bid for £0.52, and is thus the winner of the auction. 
     In another example, there may be a lowest unique bid, and the viewer who submitted the lowest unique bid is the winner of the auction. 
     Next, the registered name of the winner of the auction is sent by the graphics broadcasting system  24  in  FIG. 1  to the TV broadcast transmission system  30  ( 306 ).  FIG. 11  illustrates one of the screens  40  after the winner has been determined. The camera  28  is directed to the presenter  37 , and an image  80  of the presenter  37  appears on the screen  40 . The text boxes  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 , and  74  in  FIG. 9  are removed by the graphics broadcasting system  24 , and a text box  82  is added. The text box  82  includes the registered name of the winner, and the amount that has been bid, namely “guest — 652” at an amount of £0.52. The presenter  37  also announces the details presented in the text box  82 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , a subsequent auction is subsequently broadcast ( 202 ), and the steps hereinbefore described are repeated with another auction article. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , an image  84  of a new auction article is displayed on the screen  40 . The screen  40  illustrated in  FIG. 12  is the same as the screen  40  illustrated in  FIG. 5  in all other respects. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 10 , winner details are sent to fulfillment ( 310 ), and a person at a call center takes the winner&#39;s details over the phone ( 312 ). The person at the call center then gives the winner an option to take either the auction article  38  in  FIG. 1  or a facsimile thereof, or to take the cash alternative ( 314 ). If the winner decides to take the auction item  38 , the item is moved into fulfillment/shipping, and the inventory system  20  in  FIG. 1  is updated ( 316 ). The auction article or a facsimile thereof is then shipped to the winner ( 318 ). By contrast, if the winner decides to take the cash amount, the auction item  38  is made available for further scheduling on the auction schedule  22  ( 320 ), and the inventory system  20  is not updated. Details of the winner are then made available for cash fulfillment ( 322 ), and a check is sent for the cash alternative amount, in the present example, £110 ( 324 ). 
     While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the current invention, and that this invention is not restricted to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described since modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.