| System and method to promote the consumption of products within an establishment -> Monitor Keywords |
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System and method to promote the consumption of products within an establishmentRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance Application, Lot Match Or Lot Combination (e.g., Roulette, Lottery, Etc.)System and method to promote the consumption of products within an establishment description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060189372, System and method to promote the consumption of products within an establishment. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Application No. 60/713,077 filed Sep. 1, 2005 and incorporates by reference the '077 application as if it were fully printed herein. This application also claims priority from U.S. Application No. 60/648,217 filed Jan. 28, 2005 and incorporates by reference the '217 application as if it were fully printed herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a system and method to promote the consumption of one or more sponsored products or brands of products within an establishment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method to promote the consumption of one or more sponsored products by rewarding the consumption with prizes, gifts, and opportunities to participate in games of chance. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is well known to promote the sale and consumption of products via printed or broadcast advertisements; for example, printed advertisements in newspapers, magazines and the like, and broadcast advertisement on television and radio. Such printed advertisements may include coupons for the consumer to cut out and use to obtain a discount when next purchasing the advertised product. [0004] An inherent weakness of each of these methods of promotions is that, over a short period of time, the consumer may either forget to cut out the coupon from the newspaper or magazine, may misplace the coupon, or may simply forget to bring the coupon along to the next purchase opportunity. [0005] It is also known that promotional games of many types are utilized in bars, taverns, restaurants, casinos, and other public and private establishments. In bars, taverns, and like places, interactive games are typically provided on bar tops, side tables, and other areas. These games typically include a video screen and buttons or other controls for the player to influence objects and events portrayed on the video screen. Common bar-top games include card games (e.g., poker, blackjack, solitaire, etc.), quiz games, sports games, and the like. Bar-top games typically provide a score based on the player's performance during the game, and may also provide a high score list which provides incentives for players to perform well. [0006] In game arcades, convenience stores, and the like, games that require more involvement by the user are often offered, such as stand-up arcade video games, pinball games, and mechanical or carnival games. Some of these types of games are offered as redemption games which dispense redemption tickets to players based on player performance during the game and/or a game score achieved by the player. In these games, a player may exchange the dispensed redemption tickets for prizes available at a prize display area, such as a prize booth or prize vending machine, where such prizes as stuffed animals, models, other toys, small music devices, T-shirts, food, etc. are available. Each prize has an associated cost or "price" in terms of redemption tickets which the player can pay to redeem the prize. A player may collect tickets over time to save up for larger prizes that may have higher ticket prices. [0007] This type of promotional game, while possibly increasing traffic in a particular establishment, does nothing to promote a particular product or brand of products because participation is not connected to the consumption of a product. [0008] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method which promotes the consumption of one or more sponsored products by rewarding that consumption with prizes, gifts, opportunities to participate in games of chance, and opportunities to control the environment (e.g., temperature, music, video) of the establishment. A customer is induced into the consumption of sponsored products through promotions, entertainment on demand, and through games of chance in which discounts and promotions are awarded and applied to future purchases of the sponsored products. [0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method which promotes extended visits to an establishment. Extended visits are promoted by allowing a customer who has purchased a sponsored product to participate in raffles, lotteries, or other games of chance which are scheduled to occur at a point in time beyond the purchase of the sponsored product. [0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method which promotes the consumption of one or more sponsored products by rewarding that consumption with prizes, gifts, and opportunities to participate in games of chance wherein the award for consumption may be redeemed at a related establishment at a later date or time. [0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method which regulates the display and announcement of advertising messages in an establishment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] In accordance with the invention, a system to promote the consumption of one or more sponsored products or brands of products within an establishment is provided which comprises at least one announcement device for communicating general information to customers within the establishment; a plurality of entertainment devices, for example, any electronic, electric, mechanical, or electromechanical device offered by an establishment to provide entertainment or environmental comfort to customers; at least one terminal for interacting with customers, the terminal comprising means for accepting input from a customer and means for presenting information to the customer; a billing module for controlling fees charged to the sponsor of the one or more products or brands of products; an advertisement module, in communicative contact with the billing module, for controlling the sequence, timing, and duration of advertisements displayed or announced on said announcement device; an accounting system, in communicative contact with the billing module, for documenting and tracking the purchase, sale, and consumption of sponsored products; an entertainment module, in communicative contact with the plurality of entertainment devices, for controlling the availability, access, sequence, scheduling, and duration of use of said entertainment devices; a game module for controlling the scheduling of and participation in lotteries or raffles and the selection of zero or more winners of said lotteries or raffles; a ticket module for controlling the creation opportunity tickets and game tickets; and a manager server, which functions as the central coordinator of the system of the present invention, in communicative contact with the at least one announcement device, the plurality of entertainment devices, the at least one terminal, the accounting system, the advertisement module, the ticket module, and the game module, said manager server managing communication between and among the at least once announcement device, the plurality of entertainment devices, the at least one terminal, the accounting system, the advertisement module, the ticket module, and the game module. [0013] The system is further comprised of a number of repositories of stored information to track and schedule usage of the system. Among the repositories comprising the system is a promotion profile repository; a ticket repository; an advertisement repository; a game repository; entertainment device profile repository; a digital entertainment profile; a billing account repository; and a ticket repository. [0014] The promotion profile repository is accessible by the accounting module. In the preferred embodiment, the promotion profile repository is a database within or accessible by the manager server. The promotion profile repository stores data corresponding to a plurality of data element fields and is organized by sponsor. The promotion profile repository stores data element fields including one or more identity fields for the sponsors involved in a promotional or commercial campaign; one or more fields for the products or brands sponsored by a sponsor; and one or more fields defining the rules for rewarding the consumption of the sponsored product. [0015] The ticket repository accessible by the ticket module and maintains a record of each opportunity ticket created, whether printed or not, by the system after the consumption of a sponsored product. In some embodiments, an opportunity ticket may be purchased directly from the establishment in addition to or even in the alternative to being offered as an incentive to purchase a sponsored product. The ticket repository includes, minimally, ticket data corresponding to a plurality of data element fields and organized by ticket identifier and an identify field identifying the sponsor of the product purchased. [0016] The game ticket repository is accessible by the game module and the ticket module. In the preferred embodiment, the game ticket repository is a database within or accessible by the manager server. The game ticket repository stores ticket data corresponding to a plurality of data element fields and organized by a ticket number. The ticket repository stores data element fields including, minimally, the sponsor of the opportunity ticket with which the game ticket is associated, a code associated with the game ticket, the expiration date and time of the game ticket, and an identifier field for the lottery or raffle game with which the ticket is associated. [0017] The advertisement repository is accessible by the advertisement module. In the preferred embodiment, the advertisement repository is a database within or accessible by the manager server. The advertisement repository stores advertisement data corresponding to a plurality of data element fields and organized by sponsor. The advertisement repository stores data element fields including, minimally, one or more sponsors associated with the advertisement, one or more scheduling fields, one or more advertisement content fields, and one or more status fields. [0018] The game repository is accessible by the game module. The game repository is a database storing data relating to the games of chance in which a customer may participate. The game repository stores data element fields including, minimally, one or more data fields to uniquely identify a lottery, raffle, or chance game, one or more scheduling fields, and the sponsor associated with the lottery, raffle, or chance game. [0019] The entertainment device profile repository is accessible by the entertainment module. The entertainment device profile repository stores data about the available entertainment devices available to the system. The data element fields stored include, minimally, one or more identity fields to uniquely identify an entertainment device, an availability state field indicating the current availability state of the device, and one or more sponsors associated with the device. [0020] The digital entertainment profile repository is accessible by the entertainment module. The digital entertainment profile is a repository of digital entertainment media available to be played on entertainment devices or, where appropriate, available for download to a user as a prize or reward. The data element fields include, minimally, one or more contents fields for the digital files indicating the contents of the digital file to be executed in an entertainment device, one or more identity fields for the sponsors associated with said digital files, and one or more identity fields for indicating the entertainment devices on which the digital entertainment may be played. [0021] The billing account repository is accessible by the billing module. The billing account repository includes, minimally, billing data corresponding to a plurality of data element fields and organized by sponsor, the data element fields including one or more sponsors and one or more billing account fields. Continue reading about System and method to promote the consumption of products within an establishment... Full patent description for System and method to promote the consumption of products within an establishment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System and method to promote the consumption of products within an establishment patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like System and method to promote the consumption of products within an establishment or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method and apparatus for gaming based upon a paper ticket Next Patent Application: Method for playing keno with player option for additional drawn numbers Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the System and method to promote the consumption of products within an establishment patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11355 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry 174 |
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