System and method for providing interactive content for multiple networked users in a shared venue using short messaging service communication

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, methods, and program products are disclosed for providing interactive content in a shared venue. Multimedia content is presented on a theater display at a theater auditorium. The multimedia content is presented by a game server associated with the theater auditorium. A user logs in to a wireless communication device at the theater auditorium. One or more SMS messages are sent to the game server from the wireless communication device in response to user input. The user provides input in response to the multimedia content.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of theater auditoriums each comprising a theater display;   a theater server operably coupled to each of the theater auditoriums;   a plurality of game servers, wherein each game server of the plurality of game servers is operably coupled to the theater server and associated with one of the plurality of theater auditoriums;   a plurality of wireless communication devices associated with each of the plurality of theater auditoriums, the plurality of wireless communication devices for a theater auditorium in communication with a game server for the theater auditorium;   wherein a user sends a message to the game server using a wireless communication device in response to multimedia content being presented on a theater display of a theater auditorium, the message comprising a short messaging server (“SMS”) message.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cloud server operably coupled to the theater server, the cloud server configured to convert received SMS messages to TCP/IP messages. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the wireless communication devices are configured to present to a user local content associated with the multimedia content presented on the theater display. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multimedia content comprises a multiplayer game. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein one or more users in a first theater auditorium play the multimedia game against one or more users in a second theater auditorium. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first theater auditorium is located at a first theater site and the second theater auditorium is located at a second theater site, the first theater site being different than the second theater site. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first theater site and the second theater site are members of a same theater chain. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second theater site comprises a home theater site, a user at the home theater site communicating with users at the first theater site using a communications device in communication with a theater communications controller. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the user at the home theater receives access to the game in response to paying a fee for a subscription. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second theater site comprises a mobile theater site, a user at the mobile theater site communicating with users at the first theater site using a communications device in communication with a theater communications controller 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a user at a theater auditorium can communicate with one or more different users at one or more of a theater auditorium, a home, or a mobile site using a wireless communication device at the theater auditorium. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a user creates a profile using a wireless communications device, the profile comprising one or more of a user's personal information, game statistics, and preferences. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising,
 presenting multimedia content on a theater display at a theater auditorium, the multimedia content being presented by a game server associated with the theater auditorium;   logging a user in to a wireless communication device at the theater auditorium; and   sending one or more short message service (“SMS”) messages to the game server from the wireless communication device in response to user input, the user providing input in response to the multimedia content.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising converting received SMS messages to TCP/IP messages at a cloud server. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the wireless communication devices are configured to present to a user local content associated with the multimedia content presented on the theater display. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the multimedia content comprises a multiplayer game. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein one or more users in a first theater auditorium play the multimedia game against one or more users in a second theater auditorium. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first theater auditorium is located at a first theater site and the second theater auditorium is located at a second theater site, the first theater site being different than the second theater site. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second theater site comprises a home theater site, a user at the home theater site communicating with users at the first theater site using a communications device in communication with a theater communications controller. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therein, the program code readable/executable by a processor for:
 presenting multimedia content on a theater display at a theater auditorium, the multimedia content being presented by a game server associated with the theater auditorium;   logging a user in to a wireless communication device at the theater auditorium; and   sending one or more short message service (“SMS”) messages to the game server from the wireless communication device in response to user input, the user providing input in response to the multimedia content.