Audience response system and method

United States Patent [i9]

Vogel

US005453015A [11] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

5,453,015 Sep. 26,1995

[54] AUDIENCE RESPONSE SYSTEM AND METHOD

[76] Inventor: Peter S. Vogel, 28 Adeline Street,

Faulconbridge N.S.W. 2776, Australia

[21] Appl. No.: 684,894

[22] PCT Filed: Oct. 20,1989

[86] PCT No.: PCT/AU89/00457

§ 371 Date: May 29, 1992

§ 102(e) Date: May 29,1992 [87] PCT Pub. No.: WO90/04439

PCT Pub. Date: May 3, 1990

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data

Oct. 20, 1988 [AU] Australia PJ1083

[51] Int. CI.6 G09B 3/00

[52] U.S. CI 434/350; 434/307 R; 434/323;

434/362; 364/419.2; 348/2; 455/2; 379/96

[58] Field of Search 434/118, 169,

434/185, 219, 234, 236-238, 258, 307, 308, 322, 323, 324, 350, 362, 307 R; 379/96, 105; 364/409, 419.2; 455/2; 348/61, 1-3,

13, 16

[56] References Cited

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OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 008198, Sep. 1984.

Primary Examiner—Joe H. Cheng

[57] ABSTRACT

A system is provided for recording and evaluating audience responses, for example, answers given to questions posed in television quiz shows. Responses are sensed using, for example, a membrane switch array, and timing information is generated by a timer. Data identifying responses and associated timing information is stored in a memory for later recall. When the responses are recalled, the associated timing information can be used to verify that a quiz-show participant made the response within the time period allowed according to the rules of the quiz.

43 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets

QUESTION 1 QUESTION 2 QUESTION 3 QUESTION 4 QUESTION 5 QUESTION 6 QUESTION 7

B

B

B

B

B

B

QUESTION 8 QUESTION 9 QUESTION 10 QUESTION 11 QUESTION 12 QUESTION 13 QUESTION 14

B

B

B

B

B

B

B