A system for providing an interactive user experience

Abstract

A system for providing an interactive user experience comprises a plurality of networked booths comprising a display means, and a user interface, wherein the user interface is configured to provide user experience information to users of the system via the display means within a booth and accept input received from users via a portable computing device. The user experience is preferably a quiz game.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN INTERACTIVE USER EXPERIENCE

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for providing an interactive user experience , such as a qui z game .

[0002] Online games are known in which participants compete against each other, either remotely or in person, through for example a web browser or app on a portable computing device , such as a smartphone . For example , "Kahoot ! ®" is an online game-based learning platform in which users gather around a common display screen and use a portable computing device to answer questions which are displayed on the screen and / or their device .

[0003] Such online games are typically played in a private setting, for example a domestic dwelling or an of fice . However, there is an increasing desire by visitors to and owners / managers of commercial businesses , such as bars , restaurants and tourist attractions , to enhance the visitor experience by providing interactive visitor entertainment . The present invention seeks to provide a system for providing an interactive user experience , such as an interactive game , in a commercial business location such as a tourist attraction .

[0004] Thus , according to the present invention there is provided a system for providing an interactive user experience which comprises a plurality of networked booths comprising a display means , and a user interface ; wherein the user interface is configured to provide user experience information to users of the system via the display means within a booth and accept input received from users via a portable computing device .

[0005] Thus , the system of the present invention is configuredto provide an in-person interactive user experience in which a plurality of users can gather together in a booth for a user experience , for example to play a communal game . The users interact with the experience through the user interface , preferably via a portable computing device , such as a smartphone . The user interface is preferably configured so that users can also request delivery of products and / or services , such as orders for food and / or drinks , to a booth during the duration of the experience , for example whilst playing the game . The system is thus preferably located in a commercial business venue where other products and / or services are available on-site at that location which can be ordered through the system, for example a tourist attraction, or a bar or restaurant . Thus , the plurality of networked booths is preferably located at the same physical site , and the users gather at that site to participate in the experience in-person .

[0006] Herein, a "booth" means a space around a display means , such as a display screen, within which in use users gather in-person to interact with the user experience . The booth may comprise fixed furnishings , including seating and one or more tables , for example banquette seating, or may comprise an open-plan space within which " loose" furniture may be placed and moved around, as desired by the users .

[0007] The system of the present invention is preferably configured so that users can interact with the experience either as individuals or in teams . For example , where the user experience is a game , the users within a booth may compete against each other as individuals , may form teams within the booth which compete against each other, or participants in one booth may compete as a team against a team from another booth .

[0008] The system of the present invention thus comprises a plurality of networked booths, preferably located at the same physical site. The booths are preferably each configured so that a plurality of users can gather around a display screen. For example, each booth may be configured to accommodate up to 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 or more users. Each booth may comprise seating around one or more tables, and may be configured to afford the users a degree of privacy from other booths. For example, one or more of the plurality of booths may be partitioned or screened from other booths, or one or more of the booths may be self-contained, e.g. enclosed within separate rooms. As described above, the booth may comprise a space around display means, such as a display screen, within which chairs and tables may be loosely placed as desired by the users, or may comprise fixed furnishings, such as seating and one or more tables, for example banquette seating.

[0009] The booths are networked for example to a remote computing device, such as a remote computer or server. For the avoidance of doubt, "remote" means that the computing device is preferably external to the booths but is not necessarily remote from the venue in which the system is located, i.e. the remote computing device may be on-site at the premises. The network may be local or may be connected to the internet. The remote computing device is preferably programmed with appropriate software for providing the user experience. For example, in the case of a quiz game the remote computing device will preferably have stored therein and in use deliver rounds of quiz questions to the users via the display means. The remote computing device preferably comprises an administration interface for administration of the user experience by one or more authorized administrators. For example, if the system is located within a commercial business venue then the administration interface willpreferably be accessible only to persons employed by the business . The remote computing device is preferably configured to enable the authori zed administrator ( s ) to reboot the system within individual booths , for example on initial start up or to reset the system within a booth for a new set of users , and / or to set parameters of the user experience within a booth, for example the duration of a qui z game , and / or to be alerted to requests for products and / or services to be delivered to a booth . For example , the authori zed administrator ( s ) may be alerted when a request for food and / or drink has been made by a user in a booth . The authori zed administrator interface may be accessible via a portable computing device , such as a smartphone which can be carried by the authori zed administrator ( s ) .

[0010] The system is preferably configured so that a booth may be booked by a user for a set period of time . For example , a booth may be booked for one or more 30 , 45 or 60 minute periods .

[0011] Each booth comprises a display means , for example a screen, on which user experience information is displayed in use . For example , for a qui z game the display means may display questions to be answered by the users , instructions for game play, user scores , and so forth .

[0012] The system also comprises a user interface which is configured to provide user experience information to users and to accept user input received from a portable computing device , preferably including user requests for delivery of products and / or services to a booth . Users participating in the experience are able to interact with the experience through the user interface and preferably also request products and / or services to be delivered to their booth atany time during the duration of the user experience, using a portable computing device, such as a smartphone, which is wirelessly connected to the system, for example through the internet, running software, for example controller application software, which allows them to use the device as their controller for the experience.

[0013] A variety of different user experiences may be delivered by the system of the present invention. However, a preferred user experience is a quiz game, an embodiment of which will now be described.

[0014] Thus, in a preferred embodiment the user experience is a quiz game which is controlled using a device such as a smartphone or tablet which is wirelessly connected to the system and is powered by software, for example a controller application, which allows players to join the game. In embodiments, players may also join the game from a desktop web browser, for example on a laptop computer.

[0015] Players having a suitable device may join the game from a lobby screen which is displayed on the display means in the booth, which takes them to a website. For example, the players may scan a QR code, or input a numerical code, which appears on the display means. The lobby screen may communicate instructions for how players can join the game, and show progressive feedback as players are added to the game. The lobby is also preferably used to capture key data from players. Preferably, players are not required to be on the same Wi-Fi network and can join the game using mobile data. Players may join the game by merely providing a nickname and optionally their age. Thus, as players join the game the display means may show the names of the players who have joined, for example by filling a slot on the screen showing a player is in the process of joining. Once the player haschosen a name , this may be shown on the display screen so that is it clear to all players who is "ready" and who is still setting up . Once a player' s age has been entered ( or optionally not entered) , an avatar for that player may be displayed on the screen and the player indicated to be "ready" to play the game . In preferred embodiments , once two or more players are "ready" , instructions for how to start the game are displayed .

[0016] The game is preferably configured so that the questions presented to the players are appropriate for the ages of the players which have been entered . Players participate in the game by selecting buttons and typing in answers on their device . User inputs are made through the device touchscreen, for example by pressing buttons and inputting text via a virtual keyboard .

[0017] In preferred embodiments , at the start of a game a QR code is displayed on the display means with an instruction for players to scan the code while waiting for players to j oin the game . Once a player has scanned the QR code they are j oined into the game . The QR code preferably represents a unique room code where only players at that particular booth can j oin the game . The room code is preferably regenerated every time a new game is played, to prevent players from being able to j oin someone else ' s game after leaving their own game . I f a player cannot scan the QR code , then a room code is preferably displayed underneath the QR code , which can be appended to a fixed URL to open the lobby screen .

[0018] Once a player j oins the game , they may be assigned an avatar which will remain with them throughout the game . In preferred embodiments , the players do not get to choose an avatar, which are instead assigned randomly from a pool of avatars stored by the system . Preferably, no avatars arerepeated in a single game so everyone has their own unique avatar .

[0019] Once a player joins the game, the system is preferably configured to record and track the identity of the device they are using to play the game. In this way, the name and (optionally) age of a player who drops out of a game can be remembered by the system, and do not need to be re-entered if that player rejoins the game.

[0020] In preferred embodiments, after the first player has joined the game they must wait until at least one more player joins before the game can begin, which may be communicated to the player over their device. Once at least one other player has joined the game, then the option to start the game is preferably presented to the players on their devices. For example, a "start" button may be presented which may need to be held down for a few seconds to start the game, instead of merely being tapped, with progressive feedback being provided over or around the button to show when it has been held for the required time.

[0021] In preferred embodiments, buttons are used to select answers to quiz questions and categories of quiz questions. Buttons preferably show feedback when they are pressed. Preferably a button is visible after being pressed as being in a "selected" state, and if a button is not available for selection it appears in a disabled state.

[0022] If players are required to type in text then they may conveniently use their device's system keyboard. For example, players may enter text for their name, age, and questions requiring a numerical answer. A limit may be placed on the type and number of characters a player may input for a particular field, for example their name. For age andnumerical questions preferably only the numerical keyboard is available for use . The available numerical inputs may be restricted . For example , the age field may be restricted to numbers within the range of 0- 99 , and answers to numerical questions may only allow positive numbers within the range 0- 999 , 999 .

[0023] In preferred embodiments , the controller application may be in one of a plurality of states during the game . Thus , the controller application may be awaiting player input , may have received an answer selection from a player , or may require no input from a player :

[0024] Awaiting player input : during gameplay, when players need to make a decision a layout is preferably displayed on their device with which each player must interact , for example by pressing a button or performing an action such as swiping the screen . The layout preferably remains on the screen until either the player performs the required interaction and / or a predetermined period of time has elapsed .

[0025] Answer selection from a player received : for interactions that require a player to select a button, the display means and / or controller application may briefly show the player the choice that was made . Once a button is selected, it preferably changes state to show that it has been selected and the player can no longer interact with it . I f multiple buttons are displayed, then the button ( s ) not chosen are preferably shown to be inactive ( for example , greyed out ) .

[0026] No player input required : at times when no input is required from the player, the player' s device may display a graphic advising them to look at the display means . I f oneor more players are being waited on for input , then this may also be communicated on the device and / or display means .

[0027] In preferred embodiments , there is a menu available on the device screen which can be accessed throughout the game once a player has j oined . The menu may for example allow the player to pause or exit a game .

[0028] Pausing the game : the option to pause a game may only be available during a round of questions . While a game is paused, the only option available to the players may be to resume the game . When the game is paused, a message may be displayed to the other players informing them that a player has paused the game . The game may remain paused until the player who paused the game chooses to resume . I f the player who paused the game subsequently drops out of the game without resuming the game then the game may automatically resume after a predetermined period of time .

[0029] Exiting the game : in preferred embodiments , a player can choose to exit the game by selecting this option from the menu . The player may be required to confirm that they wish to exit the game before proceeding . I f the player chooses to exit then they are removed from the game , which may continue for the other players provided there are still two or more players participating . I f a player chooses to exit the game then their name and avatar are preferably removed from the display means , and may also no longer appear in any score updates . Preferably, only authorised administrators are able to force a game to stop or restart for all users .

[0030] In preferred embodiments , throughout the user experience each user is able to request that a product and / or service is delivered to their booth, via a button on their device screen ( the "order" button) . For example , tapping theorder button may alert a member of staf f to come to the booth to take an order for drinks or food . The order button is preferably constantly available at any point on the player' s device screen . I f a player selects the order button, they may be required to confirm that they wish to make an order . Once confirmed, an appropriate noti fication is sent , for example to the staf f at the system venue , to alert them to attend to the booth . Once the order button has been selected, it preferably displays as deactivated and is no longer available until reset by an authorised administrator .

[0031] The system may be configured so that error messages appear on the screen of the players ' devices as appropriate, such as : lobby full (maximum number of possible players has been reached) , invalid room code , unable to connect to game, unexpected loss of connection to the game , game unexpectedly ended, invalid age entered, invalid numerical question answer entered, game ended due to all other players dropping out .

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of a qui z game for use with the system of the invention, after j oining the game , for example by scanning a QR code on their devices , the players play one or more rounds answering trivia questions to score points . As described herein, the questions are preferably selected to be appropriate to the ages which the players have entered . The system may also be configured so that players may select their own categories of questions . In these initial rounds , points may be awarded to players for correct answers independently of the length of time it takes each player to input their answer . After one or more of these initial rounds , the game may culminate in a final round in which speed of submission of correct answers is rewarded, with scores from the initial round ( s ) being carried over to the final round . At the end of the game one player i s declared the winner . The game preferably adapts to the players ' needswith a playlist of questions which extends or shortens based on the time the players take to proceed through the game . The game may include time gaps between rounds and at the end of the game to allow players opportunities to take breaks .

[0033] In preferred embodiments , once the game has been started, a countdown begins on the display means to inform the players that the game is about to begin . Information about who and how many players have j oined the game preferably remains visible . The countdown may be set to a predetermined period of time , for example 30 seconds , to allow a player to cancel the start of the game , for example i f the game was started in error . Once the countdown reaches zero , the game starts .

[0034] In preferred embodiments , the game comprises two di f ferent types of rounds : one or more rounds of timeindependent trivia questions , and a final round of timedependent trivia questions . In the one or more timeindependent rounds players may answer questions in their own time , scoring points when they submit a correct answer . In the time-dependent round players progress faster through the game and / or score points according to the speed with which they submit their answers . At the end of each round, the player' s current scores are preferably displayed by the display means , showing how many points each player has scored and what their current position is in the game . The QR code to j oin the game may be redisplayed between rounds of gameplay to enable late arriving players to j oin the game , or players who have exited the game to rej oin .

[0035] In preferred embodiments , i f a player exits the game unintentionally for example through loss of connection to the system, then the remaining players are preferably given the option on their devices to continue the game without thedropped-out player, for example by holding down a "restart" button on their devices . A countdown may commence after which the game will automatically advance without the dropped-out player . The player who exited may rej oin the game as described herein, for example by rescanning the QR code . I f a player' s connection to the game is lost , then that player is preferably shown an error message on their device informing them that they have lost connection with a prompt to try to rej oin the game . I f the device ID detected by the system matches that of the dropped-out player, then the system is preferably configured so that the dropped-out player can re-j oin without the need to enter any further details . I f the player rej oins , then the display means preferably informs the other players . I f players have dropped out to only leave one player in the game then the remaining player is preferably asked i f they want to wait for a player to ( re ) j oin or to end the game .

[0036] I f the number of players of the game is not already at a predetermined maximum, then further players are preferably able to j oin the game late , for example by scanning a QR code for j oining the game which is preferably re-displayed between each round of questions .

[0037] Preferably, after each round of questions has finished, players have the option to continue to the next round or take a break . The game preferably does not force the players to start the next round, and the display means may display messages prompting the players to take a break, for example to order refreshments . The players are preferably free to start the next round when they wish . When the players are ready to start the next round, any player can preferably select a 'Continue ' button from their device . This button must preferably be held down for a few seconds , instead of j ust being tapped, with progressive feedback that appearsover or around the button to show when it has been held for the required time . There is preferably also another ( e . g . 30 second) countdown into the next round where players can cancel continuation of the game i f desired, and return to the break between rounds . At the end of the countdown, the game preferably transitions into the next round .

[0038] The system is preferably configured to comprise a dynamic playlist of rounds of questions , which may be varied according to how much time has elapsed since the lobby was opened, and thus how close the players are to the end of their booking slot . Thus , the next round in the game may be determined by how much time has elapsed since the lobby was opened . A booth will typically be booked for a set period, for example 45 minutes , and the system is preferably configured so that a game ends a few minutes before the end of the booked slot . For example , a playlist of rounds of questions may comprise a plurality of initial rounds of timeindependent questions followed by a final round of timedependent questions , with the number of initial rounds determined according to the speed with which the players play the game . The system may be configured so that a maximum number ( for example , 3 , 4 , 5 or more rounds ) of initial rounds may be played before the game automatically progresses to the final round, regardless of how quickly the players are playing the game . The system may be configured so that after a pre-determined time interval ( for example 15 minutes ) prior to the end of a booth booking slot , the next round will always be the final round . However, the system may be configured so that at least one round of time-independent questions is played prior to the final round .

[0039] In the event that players run out of time before completing the game within a booking slot , then the game maybe configured so as to display warning messages on the display means, and / or to no longer display messages prompting the players to take a break, for example to order refreshments. Preferably, the game does not automatically stop at the end of a booking slot, and whether and when to stop the game is left to the discretion of an authorised administrator (e.g. a staff member at the system venue) .

[0040] It will be appreciated that the embodiment illustrated above describes the invention for the purposes of illustration only. In practice the invention may be applied to many different configurations, the detailed embodiments being straightforward for those skilled in the art to implement.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A system for providing an interactive user experience which comprises a plurality of networked booths comprising a display means , and a user interface ; wherein the user interface is configured to provide user experience information to users of the system via the display means within a booth and accept input received from users via a portable computing device .2 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the user experience is a qui z game .3 . A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each booth comprises a space around a display means within which in use the users gather in-person to interact with the user experience .4 . A system according to any preceding claim wherein each booth either comprises fixed furnishings or an open- plan space within which furniture may be placed and moved around, as desired by the users .5 . A system according to any preceding claim wherein the user interface is configured to receive requests for delivery of products and / or services from a user in a booth .6 . A system according to any preceding claim wherein each of the booths is configured to accommodate up to 20 users .7 . A system according to any preceding claim wherein the booths are networked to a remote computing device whichis programmed with software to provide the user experience .8 . A system according to claim 7 wherein the user experience is a qui z game and the remote computing device has stored therein and is configured to deliver rounds of qui z questions to the users via the display means .9 . A system according claim 7 or 8 wherein the remote computing device comprises an administration interface for administration o f the user experience by one or more authori zed administrators .10 . A system according to any preceding claim which is configured so that a booth may be booked by a user for a set period of time .11 . A system according to any preceding claim wherein the user experience is a qui z game which users interact with using a portable computing device running a controller application .12 . A system according to any preceding claim which is configured so that users having a suitable device may j oin the user experience from a lobby screen which is displayed on the display means in a booth .13 . A system according to claim 12 which is configured so that the lobby screen displays a QR code which users scan to participate in the user experience .14 . A system according to any preceding claim which is configured so that users may participate in the experience via a Wi-Fi network or using mobile data .15 . A system according to any preceding claim wherein the user experience is a qui z game which is configured so that the questions which are presented to the players are selected according to ages of the players which have been entered .16 . A system according to any preceding claim which is configured to record and track the identity of the device a user is using to participate in the experience .