User-controlled entertainment system, apparatus and method

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for allowing a wireless communication device operator to control aspects of a multi-player game are described. In one embodiment, a server sends a signal to a plurality of wireless communication devices indicating an availability of an exclusive privilege for one of the wireless communication device operators to exclusively control one or more aspects of the multi-player game. Next, a request is received from a first wireless communication device for a first wireless communication device operator to receive the exclusive privilege. Then, the server determines whether another wireless communication device operator has already been assigned the exclusive privilege to play the multi-player game; if not, the exclusive privilege is assigned to the first wireless communication device. Finally, the server sends a confirmation to the first wireless communication device indicating that the first wireless communication device operator has been granted the exclusive privilege.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A server for allowing a wireless communication device operator to control one or more aspects of a multi-player game offered by the server, comprising:
 a communication interface for sending and receiving information from a plurality of wireless communication devices over a network;   a memory for storing processor-executable instructions; and   a processor coupled to the memory and the communication interface for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the server to:
 grant, by the processor, an exclusive privilege to a first wireless communication device via the communication interface, the exclusive privilege allowing a first player of the first wireless communication device to control one or more aspects of the multi-player game; 
 receive a command from the first wireless communication device to display a trivia question on a public display device; 
 receive a plurality of answers to the trivia question from a plurality of players using each using a respective wireless communication device; 
 providing the answers to the first wireless communication device; 
 receiving a result of the trivia question from the first wireless communication device; and 
 displaying the result on a public display viewable by the first player and the plurality of players.