US 2003/0215780 A1 · Wireless audience polling and response system and method therefor

Abstract

A wireless audience response system that comprises a plurality of remote response units, each of the response units comprising a first transmitter, a first receiver and a first processor coupled to the first transmitter and the first receiver and having a selectable input, the input being operable by a user to instruct the first processor to provide a response output, comprising at least one of a plurality of outputs, to the first transmitter. There also is a central control unit comprising a second transmitter, a second receiver and a second processor operatively coupled to the second transmitter and the second receiver. The second processor is operative to control the second transmitter to selectively transmit a command signal, comprising at least one of a plurality of command signals, to said plurality of remote response units, and dynamically assign a plurality of time slots to respective ones of the remote response units. The first transmitter at each of the remote response units is in communication with the second receiver at the central control unit over an assigned channel, the assigned channel being operative to carry information input by audience members and transmitted by a plurality of the remote response units in the respective dynamically assigned time slots to the central unit.

Claims65

Dependent claims

A wireless audience response system comprising:

a plurality of remote response units, each said response units comprising a first transmitter, a first receiver and a first processor coupled to said first transmitter and said first receiver and having a selectable input, said input being operable by a user to instruct said first processor to provide a response output, comprising at least one of a plurality of outputs, to said first transmitter;
a central control unit comprising a second transmitter, a second receiver and a second processor operatively coupled to said second transmitter and said second receiver, said second processor being operative to:
control said second transmitter to selectively transmit a command signal, comprising at least one of a plurality of command signals, to said plurality of remote response units, and
dynamically assign a respective one of a plurality of time slots to a respective one of said remote response units;
wherein the first transmitter at each of said remote response units is in communication with the second receiver at the central control unit over an assigned channel, said assigned channel being operative to carry information input by audience members and transmitted by a plurality of said remote response units in the respective dynamically assigned time slots to said central unit.

2 more elements

A central control unit comprising a transmitter, a receiver and at least one processor and being operative in a wireless audience response system having a plurality of remote response units to be in communication with each of said remote response units over an assigned channel, said assigned channel being operative to carry information transmitted by each of said plurality of remote response units in a respective one of a plurality of dynamically assigned time slots, said central control unit being operative to:

(a) transmit command signals to said plurality of remote response units on the assigned channel and to receive reply signals from at least one of said remote response units on the assigned channel;
(b) register at least one of a plurality of said remote response units and dynamically assign one time slot in said assigned channel to a respective one of said remote response units;
(c) transmit to said at least one remote response unit information identifying said assigned time slot and said assigned channel;
(d) receive a response from each of said plurality of remote response units in respective time slots on said assigned channel;
and
(e) correlate and store said response from each of said plurality of remote response units with a unique identifier for each said remote response unit.

3 more elements

A method of operating a wireless audience response system having a plurality of remote response units, each of said response units comprising a first transmitter, a first receiver and a first processor coupled to said first transmitter and said first receiver and having a selectable user input, said user input being operable by a user to command said first processor to provide one of a plurality of selectable outputs to said first transmitter, and a central control unit comprising a second transmitter, a second receiver and a second processor coupled to said second transmitter and said second receiver, said second processor being operative control said second transmitter to output command signals, including voting command signals, comprising:

transmitting said command signals by said second transmitter over an assigned channel;
receiving said command signals at said plurality of said remote response units;
in response to receipt of at least one of said command signals, delaying at each of said plurality of remote response units the transmission of a respective selected output to said second receiver in a respective assigned time slot of a response frame over said assigned channel;
and
receiving and storing at said central control unit said respective selected outputs transmitted from said plurality of remote response units in respective assigned time slots.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wireless audience polling and response system and method therefor

Life of this patent

Wireless audience polling and response system and method therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims65