Systems and methods for interactive experiences and controllers therefor

Abstract

Systems and methods of multi-participant interactive experiences are disclosed. Participants located location can interact with one another and share gaming, educational and other experiences. The system includes a coordination node to coordinate experiences between participants and one or more of interactive nodes. At each interactive node there is a main display that shows shared information to each of the participants and to other viewers. Each of the participants also uses a personal controller such as a smart phone which has a personal display. Information that is specific to the participant can be displayed on the personal controller.

1 . A multiple location interaction system comprising:
 a coordination node;   a plurality of interactive nodes; and   a network coupling the coordination node to each of the interactive nodes.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the interactive nodes are public nodes and wherein at least one of the public nodes includes:
 a primary display screen for displaying a main display; 
 a public node local controller configured to be coupled to one or more participant devices, each participant device including a secondary display screen for displaying a personal display; 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein at least two public nodes share a public node local controller. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein a plurality of interactive nodes are provided at a location and wherein some of the interactive nodes provided at the location share a public node local controller. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the interactive nodes are private nodes and wherein at least one of the private nodes includes;
 a private node local controller configured to be coupled to one or more participant devices, each participant device including a secondary display screen for displaying a personal display; and 
 a primary display screen coupled to the private node local controller and configured to display a main display. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the private node local controller of at least one of the private nodes is a gaming system console configured to operate as a private node local controller. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the local controller for at least some of the interactive nodes is a virtual component. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the local controller is a virtual component shared between multiple interactive nodes. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the interactive nodes is an individual interactive node having display screen for displaying a main display and a personal display. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the main display and person display are displayed simultaneously on the display screen of the individual interactive node. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the main display and person display are displayed alternatively on the display screen of the individual interactive node. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein in the coordination node includes a program database for recording one or more interactive programs. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least some of the interactive programs recorded in the program database includes one or more central components and one or more participant components. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least some of the interactive programs further include local controller components. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the coordination node includes one or more program control modules. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the coordination node includes one or more system access applications. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein in the coordination node includes a participant database for recording participant records containing information about one or more participants. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1  further including a coordination framework. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the coordination framework includes central coordination components and local coordination components. 
     
     
         20 . A method of providing an interactive experience to two or more participants located at one or more interactive nodes, the method including:
 providing a program control module to manage the interactive experience;   providing an interactive program including participant components and central components;   providing at least some of the participant components to a plurality of participant devices, wherein each participant device is used by one of the participants to participate in the interactive experience;   providing at least one main display at each interactive node such that at least one main display is visible to each participant;   providing a personal display on each of the participant devices.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further including providing an interactive experience for at least one of the participants based on demographic information recorded in the participant's participant record. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  further including providing an interactive experience for each of the participants based on demographic information recorded in the participant's participant record. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein at least one of the interactive nodes is an individual interactive node having display screen for displaying a main display and a personal display. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the main display and person display are displayed simultaneously on the display screen of the individual interactive node. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the main display and person display are displayed alternatively on the display screen of the individual interactive node. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20  further including coordinating the interactive experience by transmitting program update messages between interactive nodes and the coordination node. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20  further including coordinating the interactive experience in response to inputs from some or all of the participants.