Spectator event and/or televised lottery

Abstract

A method and system for enhancing the entertainment and enjoyment of a spectator or participatory event, wherein participants and / or spectators automatically receive an opportunity to enter a drawing for a prize upon using a wireless communication device to make an electronic acquisition of interest. In a preferred embodiment, a fan of an entertainer will attend a concert by the entertainer and during the show use a cell phone or similar electronic wireless communication device to purchase a song, ring tone, or game, and in association with the ordering process, will be asked if they wish to be included in a drawing to identify a person or persons that would get to sit on stage up close to watch the artist perform. In an embodiment, the invention comprises a process of conducting a lottery type contest for participants at a live event. Participants will use their wireless devices by text messaging / SMS a number to enter the lottery. Entry may start at the time of ticket purchase for a live spectator event or start at the event itself. Lottery winners are randomly chosen by a computer system and prompted through their cellular device, PDA, pocket PC, and / or two-way pager as to how to receive their prizes

Description

PRIORITY[0001]This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 858,263, filed Nov. 9, 2007, which is incorporated herein as if reproduced in full below.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to methods and devices for buying content which then gives the buyer or others the chance to receive an award or prize for participating, watching and / or attending live and / or televised events, wherein individuals may qualify for example to win an exciting prize, such as a special meeting during or at the end of the event with a star entertainer and / or to be given a seat in close proximity to the entertainer or sports team during the event. For example, a fan may get to sit or stand on stage with their favorite entertainer(s) during a performance or sit with their favorite sports team (or in the team owner's sky box) during a game. Qualifying to win such prizes is accomplished via use of a personal wireless communication device, e.g., text me...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In an embodiment, the invention comprises each patron who has a text messaging capability in their mobile phone, or other wireless device, to enter a lottery by just texting / SMS a given number, with the possibility of winning the best seat in the house of an event they are already attending. This can be done at any music concert, sporting event, theater or kids' event, fashion event, or any other spectator gathering. Imagine sitting on the side of the stage, feeling the sweat fly off of your favorite Rock Star. Imagine smelling the rubber from your favorite racecar driver's car. Imagine being given the baseball from your favorite pitcher, after he just struck out the last hitter in the last inning of the last game of the season. Imagine your child singing and dancing on stage with his or her favorite character. All of these opportunities can be attained by winning the prize in the lottery, entered just by a simple text / SMS.

[0010]An embodiment of the present invention can be summarized as a method and system for enhancing the entertainment and enjoyment of a spectator or participatory event, wherein participants and / or spectators automatically receive an opportunity to enter a drawing for a prize upon using a wireless communication device to make an electronic acquisition of interest. For example, upon submitting a request via a communication device for a ring tone performed by an artist and authorizing a fee to be charged to an account associated with the communication device, the user is offered an opportunity to be entered into a contest to receive prizes at no additional charge by entering an approval response. In jurisdictions where such promotional prize lottery contests cannot charge a fee and wherein no purchase can be required in order to participate in the prize drawing, individuals wishing to participate can fill out entry letters with requisite information, enter data in fields as indicated, and / or enter data in response to queries at automated kiosks or computer terminals.

Problems solved by technology

Fans that cannot afford a ticket often miss their favorite team's games when the games are blacked out of local TV due to insufficient ticket sales.

Prizes are sometimes given to some patrons attending these live spectator events, however, there has never been a system in which everyone at the live event has an equal chance, through a lottery and text messaging (SMS), for example through use of a wireless device, to win a seat on stage, on the field, or in the dugout, and thus to have an experience that only a select few ever experience in their lifetime.