Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to interactive gaining are described. A described system includes one or more site servers providing game instances to one or more devices in communication with the one or more site servers via a wired network, a wireless network, or both. The system includes a server system in communication with the one or more site servers, and one or more wireless mobile devices in communication with the server system. The server system can be configured to provide information about one or more of the gaming instances at one or more sites to the one or more mobile devices; receive, from the one or more mobile devices, an indication of a selected gaming instance of the gaming instances; relay gaming information between the one or more site servers and the one or more mobile devices; and provide gaming content and one or more gaming functions to the site servers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for splitting an electronically-generated check among several people. A group of people may order goods or services using a customer device associated with each customer. The orders are sent to a point-of-sale server which creates a combined accounting of the orders of a group of people. When the group is ready to check out, they may apportion items from the combined accounting to simulated checks displayed on each of the customer devices. Then, each person may pay their bill individually.

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.

Abstract: A gaming system, comprising a site server configured to provide game instances to local gaming devices in communication with the site server, a monitor for displaying video information related to the game instances, a central server configured to provide information about the availability of a game to players using local gaming devices in proximity of the site server, provide information about the availability of the game to one of the mobile telephones over the wide-area wireless network, receive, from the one or more mobile telephones, an indication of a selected game offered by the central server, and relay game instances between the site server and the one or more mobile telephones as the selected game is being played by players using the local gaming devices and players using the one or more mobile telephones via the wide-area wireless network.

Abstract: Described are a system, method, and apparatus for providing on-site election services. In one embodiment, a method for providing on-site election services comprises generating an identification of goods or services for election by a plurality of customers, each customer operating a respective wireless communication device, providing the identification of goods or services to the plurality of customers, receiving an election from at least one of the wireless communication devices, the election indicative of at least one of the goods or services in the identification of goods or services, tallying the elections received from the at least one wireless communication device, and sending a result of the election to the wireless communication devices, the result comprising an indication of the tally for at least one of the goods or services in the identification of goods and services.

Abstract: A system, method, and processor-readable media for providing interactive, television-based gaming service, comprising a server cluster including processor electronics configured to send and receive messages and to execute a game, a first set-top box coupled to a first headend managed by a first television service provider, the first set-top box executing a first game client for enabling a first user to play the game executed by the server cluster, a second set-top box coupled to a second headend managed by a second television service provider, the second set-top box executing a second game client for enabling a second user to play the game executed by the server cluster, wherein the server cluster is coupled to the first and second headends via a public network and further configured to enable the first user to play the game with or against the second user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing configurable menus to customers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a computer server communicates with electronic ordering devices operated by customers, and the computer server receives purchasing information from one or more customers sent by respective ones of the electronic ordering devices. The computer server generates a first digitized menu for at least one of the customers based on the purchasing information, and sends the first digitized menu to the at least one electronic ordering device for display on the at least one electronic ordering device.

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.

Abstract: A system, method, and processor-readable media for providing interactive, television-based gaming service, comprising a server cluster including processor electronics configured to send and receive messages and to execute a game, a first set-top box coupled to a first headend managed by a first television service provider, the first set-top box executing a first game client for enabling a first user to play the game executed by the server cluster, a second set-top box coupled to a second headend managed by a second television service provider, the second set-top box executing a second game client for enabling a second user to play the game executed by the server cluster, wherein the server cluster is coupled to the first and second headends via a public network and further configured to enable the first user to play the game with or against the second user.

Abstract: A gaming system, comprising a site server configured to provide game instances to local gaming devices in communication with the site server, a monitor for displaying video information related to the game instances, a central server configured to provide information about the availability of a game to players using local gaming devices in proximity of the site server, provide information about the availability of the game to one of the mobile telephones over the wide-area wireless network, receive, from the one or more mobile telephones, an indication of a selected game offered by the central server, and relay game instances between the site server and the one or more mobile telephones as the selected game is being played by players using the local gaming devices and players using the one or more mobile telephones via the wide-area wireless network.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to interactive gaming are described. A described system includes one or more site servers providing game instances to one or more devices in communication with the one or more site servers via a wired network, a wireless network, or both. The system includes a server system in communication with the one or more site servers; and one or more wireless mobile devices in communication with the server system. The server system can be configured to provide information about one or more of the gaming instances at one or more sites to the one or more mobile devices; receive, from the one or more mobile devices, an indication of a selected gaming instance of the gaming instances; relay gaming information between the one or more site servers and the one or more mobile devices; and provide gaming content and one or more gaming functions to the site servers.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for executing an interactive game in a television distribution system. In one aspect, a method includes receiving input over the television distribution system from a game client indicating an action associated with a game instance, wherein the game client is hosted on a set-top box; determining an updated status of the game instance based on the action; generating a game status message identifying the updated status of the game instance; and transmitting the game status message to the game client. Further, the game status message can be transmitted to a plurality of game clients participating in the game instance. Additionally, input can be received over the television distribution system from another game client indicating a second action associated with the game instance and an updated status of the game instance can be determined based on the second action.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to interactive gaming are described. A described system includes one or more site servers providing game instances to one or more devices in communication with the one or more site servers via a wired network, a wireless network, or both. The system includes a server system in communication with the one or more site servers; and one or more wireless mobile devices in communication with the server system. The server system can be configured to provide information about one or more of the gaming instances at one or more sites to the one or more mobile devices; receive, from the one or more mobile devices, an indication of a selected gaming instance of the gaming instances; relay gaming information between the one or more site servers and the one or more mobile devices; and provide gaming content and one or more gaming functions to the site servers.

Abstract: An interactive tournament which involves sending questions to interactive devices such as cell phones or PDAs. The question that is received must be answered in a specified period of time e.g. 10 minutes. Proper answers go on to the next round, improper or late answers cause the player to be eliminated. The game continues till either only a plurality of players are left or only one player is left. As time goes on the game becomes progressively more difficult. The difficulty may be more difficult questions and/or may be more difficult times.

Abstract: Interactive environments can include operating an interactive game in which a video feed is distributed to a plurality of locations, determining a time offset for at least one of the locations based on a delay of the video feed to the at least one location, and accepting game responses from the at least one location based on the time offset for the location.

Abstract: Using mobile devices in interactive gaming environments can include receiving inputs for a game event sent from wireless mobile devices over a plurality of disparate wireless networks. Each received input can include a game response and a timestamp indicative of when the game response was made. The timestamp and the game response of each input can be compared to formulate a game output.