In-theatre interactive entertainment system

Abstract

In-theater interactive entertainment system. A game server generates video content in digital form and is displayed on a digital display in a theater. A telephony system is connected to the game server enabling a group of individual game participants in the theater to exchange data wirelessly with the game server so that the game participants can interact with video content on the display. It is preferred that at the display is a reflective screen illuminated by a digital projector.

1 . A method for providing interactive entertainment to a wireless device of an attendee in a theater, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving, by a system controlling a digital projector, a unique identification from an attendee in a theater via input from a wireless device brought to the theater by the attendee;   (b) displaying, by the digital projector on the screen of the theater, video content of a game generated from the system;   (c) receiving, by the system, from an attendee participating in the game input to the game via the wireless device; and   (d) communicating, by the system in synchrony with activity on the screen, individualized content to the wireless device of the attendee participating in the game.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the theater comprises a movie theater. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device comprises a phone, a personal digital assistant or a game device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game comprises embedded sponsorship content. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) further exchanging data by the wireless device with the server to affect on-screen video content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) further comprises communicating, by the system, individualized audio content to the wireless device in a non-intrusive way to other attendees in the theater. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) further comprises communicating, by the system, individualized information to a display of the wireless device while overall action of the game is displayed on the screen of the theater. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) further comprising communicating, by the system a text message to the wireless device. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing interactive entertainment to a wireless device of an attendee in a theater, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving, by a system controlling a digital projector, a unique identification from an attendee in the theater via input from a wireless device brought to the theater by the attendee;   (b) displaying, by the digital projector on the screen of the theater, video content of a game generated from the system; and   (c) communicating, by the system, personalized audio experience in synchrony with on screen activity to the wireless device of the attendee participating in the game via input from the wireless device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein step (c) further comprises communicating individualized information to a display of the wireless device while overall action of the game is displayed on the screen of the theater. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein step (c) further comprises communicating personalized graphics to information to a display of the wireless device while overall action of the game is displayed on the screen of the theater. 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing interactive entertainment to a wireless device of an attendee in a theater, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving, by a system controlling a digital projector, a unique identification from an attendee in the theater via input from a wireless device brought to the theater by the attendee;   (b) displaying, by the digital projector on the screen of the theater, video content of a game generated from the system; and   (c) communicating, by the system in synchrony with on screen activity, personalized graphics to a display of the wireless device of the attendee.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein step (c) further comprises communicating individualized information to the display of the wireless device while overall action of the game is displayed on the screen of the theater. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein step (c) further comprises communicating personalized audio experience to the wireless device while overall action of the game is displayed on the screen of the theater. 
     
     
         15 . A method for providing interactive entertainment to a wireless device of an attendee in a theater, the method comprising:
 (a) displaying, by a digital projector under control of a system operating on one or more servers, on a screen in a theater, dynamic video content comprising a story;   (b) receiving, by the system, data wirelessly via a wireless device brought by an attendee to the theater, the data changing the dynamic video content; and   (c) determining, by the system, a direction of the story from data received from the attendee.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises changing an arc of the story based on a response from the attendee to a question from the system displayed on the screen of the theater. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises the story branching based on the attendees input to the game. 
     
     
         18 . A method for providing interactive entertainment to a plurality of attendees at multiple theaters, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving, by a first system controlling a first digital projector of a first screen in a first theater, input from wireless devices of a first plurality of attendees of the first screen in the multi-screen theater, the first system displaying a first game on the first screen;   (b) communicating, by the first system in synchrony with activity on the first screen, individualized content to the wireless devices of the first plurality of attendees participating in the first game;   (c) receiving, by a second system controlling a second digital projector of a second screen in a second theater, input from wireless devices of a second plurality of attendees of the second screen in the multi-screen theater, the second system displaying a second game on the second screen; and   (d) communicating, by the second system in synchrony with activity on the second screen, individualized content to the wireless devices of the second plurality of attendees participating in the second game.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein step (b) further comprises communicating, by the first system, individualized content to a display of the wireless devices while overall action of the first game is displayed on the first screen. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein step (d) further comprises communicating, by the system, individualized content to a display of the wireless devices while overall action of the second game is displayed on the second screen. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first system exchanges data with the second system. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first theater and the second theater are in a multi-screen theater. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first theater and the second theater are in different cities.