Systems and methods for mass user multi input control of a common display

Abstract

Systems and methods which provide for quick to setup and play multi-player activities or games which can be used with a group of people to provide for an interactive experience. The games require no advance software download and the systems and methods are designed to handle a large number of players going through the steps of signing in and playing in a very short window of time. As such, they are very useful to provide for interactive experiences in breaks of activity at a large venue such as a sports arena or concert hall.

1 . A control system for a multi-player user computer game comprising:
 a host server controlling a central display visible to a plurality of users, each of said plurality of users having a mobile device;   a plurality of worker servers in communication with said host server;   an usher server for connecting a subset of said mobile devices to each of said worker servers;   non-transitory computer readable media including:
 computer readable instructions for causing said central display to provide an indication of how to make a connection using said mobile device; 
 computer readable instructions for connecting said usher server to said mobile device; 
 computer readable instructions for causing said usher server to connect said mobile device to one of said worker servers; 
 computer readable instructions for receiving from said mobile device an instruction to said connected worker server to control a portion of said computer game; 
 computer readable instructions for collecting said instructions from said connected mobile devices at each said worker server and providing said instructions to said host server; and 
 computer readable instructions for altering said display based on said instructions; 
   wherein neither said host server nor said worker server sends instructions to said mobile device to alter a secondary display on said mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said central display is in a sports arena. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said central display is in a concert hall. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said mobile device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said central display provides a game being played by said users, said central display including an avatar. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said central display includes a plurality of avatars, and said plurality of avatars is less than said plurality of users. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said mobile devices are separated into two or more opposing teams. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said secondary display changes solely on user input to said mobile device while said mobile device is communicating to said worker server. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said secondary display is static while said mobile device is communicating to said worker server. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein when each said mobile device provides an instruction to said connected worker server said instruction is sent directly from said mobile device to said connected worker server and does not pass through said usher server. 
     
     
         11 . A system for providing a multi-player computer game, the system comprising:
 a venue having a central display visible to a plurality of users, each of said plurality of users having a mobile device;   means for said central display indicating of how to make a connection using said mobile device;   means for connecting said mobile device to an usher server;   said usher server connecting said mobile device to a worker server;   means for each of said mobile devices to provide an instruction to said connected worker server to control a portion of said computer game;   means for collecting said instructions from said connected mobile devices and providing said instructions to said host server; and   means for altering said display based on said instructions;   wherein neither said host server nor said worker server sends instructions to said mobile device to alter a secondary display on said mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said venue is a sports arena. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said venue is a concert hall. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said mobile device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said central display provides a game being played by said users, said central display including an avatar. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said central display includes a plurality of avatars, and said plurality of avatars is less than said plurality of users. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said mobile devices are separated into two or more opposing teams. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising, said secondary display on each of said mobile devices changing based solely on user input to said mobile device while said mobile device is communicating to said worker server. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said secondary display is static while said mobile device is communicating to said worker server. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11  wherein when each said mobile device provides an instruction to said connected worker server said instruction is sent directly from said mobile device to said connected worker server and does not pass through said usher server.