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 for providing a plurality of interactive experiences to two or more participants located at a plurality of interactive nodes, each participant corresponding to a participant device, and the plurality of interactive nodes comprising a first interactive node located at a first venue and a second interactive node located at a second venue, the multiple location interaction system comprising:
 a coordination node comprising a plurality of software objects including at least one program control component for coordinating the plurality of interactive experiences;   the coordination node further comprising a program database for storing the plurality of interactive programs corresponding to the interactive experiences;   the coordination node being configured to provide a first interactive experience to a first subset of interactive nodes including the first interactive node, and a second interactive experience to a second subset of interactive nodes including the second interactive node, the first interactive experience being different than the second interactive experience, and the first and the second interactive experiences being provided simultaneously,   the coordination node being configured to generate and transmit one or more first display control messages to a first primary display screen located at the first interactive node to provide a first main display of the first interactive experience;   the coordination node being configured to generate and transmit one or more first participant device messages to a secondary display screen of at least one first participant device to provide a personalized display of the first interactive experience, the personalized display of the first interactive experience being individually configurable; and   the coordination node being further configured to manage the first interactive experience by receiving one or more participant inputs from one or more participant devices participating in the first interactive experience, including the at least one first participant device at the first interactive node, and causing modifications required by the one or more participant inputs to the first main display.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coordination is further configured to:
 provide the first interactive experience to a third interactive node, the third interactive node being an individual node and comprising a third participant device having a display screen, the third participant device being operable by a corresponding participant; and   generate and transmit one or more control messages to the third participant device to provide the first main display and a personalized display of the first interactive experience that is individually configurable.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the each participant device is manipulatable by the corresponding participant participating in the first interactive experience. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first main display and the personalized display are displayed simultaneously on the display screen of the third participant device at the individual node. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first main display and the personalized display are displayed alternatively on the display screen of the third participant device at the individual node. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coordination node is further configured to:
 generate and transmit one or more second display control messages to a second primary display screen located at the second interactive node to provide a second main display of the second interactive experience; and   generate and transmit one or more second participant device messages to a secondary display screen of at least one second participant device to provide a personalized display of the second interactive experience, the personalized display of the second interactive experience being individually configurable.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the coordination node is configured to:
 manage the second interactive experience by receiving one or more participant inputs from one or more participant devices participating in the second interactive experience, including the at least one second participant device at the second interactive node and causing modifications required by the one or more participant inputs to the second main display.   
     
     
         8 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first subset and the second subset of interactive nodes are selected from the group consisting of public nodes, private nodes and individual nodes. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first interactive node is a private node located at a private location and the second interactive node is a public node located at a public location. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coordination node further comprises one or more system access applications configured to enable each participant device to provide the corresponding personalized display based on the type of the corresponding participant device. 
     
     
         14 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of providing a plurality of interactive experiences to two or more participants located at a plurality of interactive nodes, each participant corresponding to a participant device, and the plurality of interactive nodes comprising a first interactive node located at a first venue and a second interactive node located at a second venue, the method comprising:
 managing, using a program control component at a coordination node, the plurality of interactive experiences by providing a first interactive experience to a first subset of interactive nodes including the first interactive node and a second interactive experience to a second subset of interactive nodes including the second interactive node, the first interactive experience being different than the second interactive experience, the first and the second interactive experiences being provided simultaneously, wherein the coordination node comprises a plurality of software objects and the coordination node is in communication with the plurality of interactive nodes over a network;   generating and transmitting, by the coordination node, one or more first display control messages to a first primary display screen located at the first interactive node to provide a first main display of the first interactive experience;   generating and transmitting, by the coordination node, one or more first participant device messages to a secondary display screen of at least one first participant device to provide a personalized display of the first interactive experience, the personalized display of the first interactive experience being individually configurable; and   managing the first interactive experience, by the coordination node, by receiving one or more participant inputs from one or more participant devices participating in the first interactive experience, including the at least one first participant device at the first interactive node and causing modifications required by the one or more participant inputs to the first main display.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing the first interactive experience to a third interactive node, the third interactive node being an individual node and comprising a third participant device having a display screen, the third participant device being operable by a corresponding participant; and   generating and transmitting, by the coordination node, one or more control messages to the third participant device to provide the first main display and a personalized display of the first interactive experience that is individually configurable.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each participant device is manipulatable by the corresponding participant participating in the first interactive experience. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first main display and the personalized display are displayed simultaneously on the display screen of the third participant device at the individual node. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first main display and the personalized display are displayed alternatively on the display screen of the third participant device at the individual node. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 generating and transmitting, by the coordination node, one or more second display control messages to a second primary display screen located at the second interactive node to provide a second main display of the second interactive experience; and   generating and transmitting, by the coordination node, one or more second participant device messages to a secondary display screen of at least one second participant device to provide a personalized display of the second interactive experience, the personalized display of the second interactive experience being individually configurable.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 managing the second interactive experience, by the coordination node, by receiving one or more participant inputs from one or more participant devices participating in the second interactive experience, including the at least one second participant device at the second interactive node and causing modifications required by the one or more participant inputs to the second main display.   
     
     
         23 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second interactive nodes are selected from the group consisting of public nodes, private nodes and individual interactive nodes. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first interactive node is a private node located at a private location and the second interactive node is a public node located at a public location. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the coordination node further comprises one or more system access applications configured to enable each participant device to provide the corresponding personalized display based on the type of the corresponding participant device. 
     
     
         29 .- 30 . (canceled)