CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to and incorporates herein by this reference in its entirety, United States provisional patent application Serial Number 61/605,183, which is entitled "Methods and Devices for Determining a Contest Winner" and filed on February 29, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates, generally, to the field of systems, including apparatuses and methods, for promotional marketing, contests and sweepstakes using puzzles similar to jigsaw puzzles.

BACKGROUND

[0003] For many years, businesses have attempted to attract potential customers to their stores and to purchase products or services through the use of promotional marketing campaigns in one form or another. Some of the promotional marketing campaigns include television, Internet, and/or print advertisements coupled with a free promotional item given to a customer who visits their stores or purchases a certain product or service. The promotional items typically comprise drinking glasses, children's toys, stuffed animals, or other similar items. Other promotional marketing campaigns encourage customers to purchase a product by collecting an item associated with each product purchased and then redeeming the collection of items for a discount or a prize. Still other promotional marketing campaigns involve the handout of a rub off or peel off game piece when a customer purchases a certain product. By rubbing or peeling off a covering, the customer may expose a coupon instantly redeemable for a discount or prize. More recently, at least one business has managed to develop a promotional marketing campaign which combines the peel off game piece enabling a customer to instantly win a discount or prize with the collection of items for subsequent redemption of a prize once certain of the possible collectable items have been collected. [0004] Unfortunately, most of the promotional marketing campaigns involving a rub off or peel off game piece suffer from being able to engage the customer only for a brief period of time while the customer is rubbing or peeling off a covering of a game piece. Once the customer has rubbed off or peeled off the covering and redeemed an exposed coupon (if the customer is fortunate enough to have received a "winning" game piece), the customer's focus shifts away from the business and/or product that are being promoted by the campaign. While those promotional marketing campaigns involving collectable items tend to improve customer focus by keeping customers engaged in collecting the items, such campaigns have historically involved the giving away of collectable items that were not directly related to the business or product being promoted. As a consequence, the customers tend to focus on the collectables rather than on the business or product for which the campaign is intended to promote. In addition, because there do not seem to be viable alternatives for promotional marketing campaigns involving such game pieces or collectable items, such campaigns are becoming increasingly stale and are slowly losing their ability to attract customers and promote businesses or products.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need in the industry, for a new type of promotional marketing campaign, system or tool that is capable of maintaining customer focus on the business and products being promoted for a short or relatively long period of time, and that solves the above- described problems, deficiencies and shortcomings of existing promotional marketing campaigns and tools.

SUMMARY

[0006] Broadly described, the present invention comprises a system, including apparatuses and methods, for configuring and operating a puzzle-based contest that may be used in connection with promotional marketing campaigns and for other purposes. According to example embodiments, the system includes a puzzle having a front side and a rear side. The front side of the puzzle includes an image that, generally, relates to a business or a product being promoted, but that may also be entirely unrelated to such business or product if desired. The puzzle is subdivided into a plurality of pieces with each puzzle piece having a front side and a rear side that form respective portions of the puzzle's front and rear sides. The front side of each puzzle piece includes a respective portion of the image of the front side of the puzzle such that when all of the puzzle pieces are correctly assembled relative to one another, the entire image is formed and is visible on the puzzle's front side. The rear side of each puzzle piece may include an identifier that may be the same for all puzzle pieces, the same for none of the puzzle pieces, or the same for some but not all of the puzzle pieces. The identifier may be in the form, for example and not limitation, of an alphanumeric code readable by humans and/or another form (such as, a one or two dimensional bar code) not readable by most humans. Generally, the puzzle pieces are distributed to potential contest participants in connection with a contest, and may be distributed individually at different times or all at the same time depending on the contest type.

[0007] According to the example embodiments, the system also includes a server computer system adapted to configure and manage contests utilizing the puzzle pieces in either physical or non-physical form, and to interact and exchange information and data related to the puzzle pieces and contests with devices of contest participants, contest partners, and contest administrators in order to implement and operate the contests. The system is configured, in connection with operating contests, to determine when contest participants have won a contest prize in accordance with different contest types and methodologies. For example and not limitation, in one contest type in which prizes are associated with a single or perhaps a few particular puzzle pieces, the system may utilize the identifiers of puzzle pieces and previously stored contest data to determine if a puzzle piece presented by a contest participant comprises an "instant" winning puzzle piece. In another example contest type in which all puzzle pieces of a puzzle must be collected and correctly assembled to win a prize, the system may utilize the identifiers of puzzle pieces and previously stored contest data to determine if an entire puzzle presented by a contest participant includes all of the puzzle pieces assembled correctly and, hence, comprises a prize winning puzzle. In still another example contest type in which an "extra" puzzle piece that does not form part of a contest puzzle is intentionally distributed with all of the other puzzle pieces of the contest puzzle and contest participants must substantially assemble the entire contest puzzle in order to determine which puzzle piece is the "extra" puzzle piece, the system utilizes previously stored contest data and the identifiers of the puzzle pieces and the "extra" puzzle piece to determine if a puzzle piece presented by a contest participant comprises the "extra" and, hence, prize winning puzzle piece. [0008] Advantageously, the system is adapted to implement a wide variety of contest and contest types involving physical and/or electronic puzzles and puzzle pieces. By utilizing puzzles and puzzle pieces having images or parts of images related to businesses and/or products/services being promoted, the system maintains a customer's, or contest participant's, focus on such businesses and/or products/services while providing entertainment. Also, by some of the system's contest types requiring a contest participant to collect substantially all of a puzzle's pieces (and, hence, substantially assembling the puzzle's entire image) before the participant can identify what he/she believes to be a winning puzzle piece, the system continually exposes the participant in such contests to an entire image related to a business and/or a product/service being promoted. Further, because the system's contest puzzles may utilize an ever-increasing number of different images and because the system implements a wide variety of contests, the images and contests should never become stale.

[0009] Other uses, advantages and benefits of the present invention may become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Fig. 1 displays a pictorial representation of a puzzle-based contest system and puzzle thereof in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.

[0011] Fig. 2 displays a pictorial representation of a rear side of a physical puzzle similar to the puzzle of Fig. 1 in accordance with certain example embodiments of the present invention.

[0012] Fig. 3 displays a pictorial representation of an alternative rear side of a physical puzzle similar to the puzzle of Fig. 1 in accordance with certain example embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] Fig. 4 displays a block diagram representation of non-puzzle components of the puzzle-based contest system and the environment therefor in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.

[0014] Fig. 5 displays a data diagram representation of participant data of the puzzle- based contest system in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. [0015] Fig. 6 displays a data diagram representation of partner data of the puzzle-based contest system in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] Fig. 7 displays a data diagram representation of contest data of the puzzle-based contest system in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] Fig. 8 displays a data diagram representation of puzzle data of the puzzle-based contest system in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.

[0018] Figs. 9A and 9B display a flowchart representation of a method for configuring and operating a contest in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals represent like elements or steps throughout the several views, Fig. 1 displays a pictorial representation of a puzzle-based contest system 100 and puzzle 102 thereof in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. The puzzle-based contest system 100 (also sometimes referred to herein as the "system 100") comprises apparatuses and methods for configuring, implementing, managing, and operating a puzzle-based contest and for determining one or more contest winner(s) from a plurality of contest participants. The puzzle-based contest may be configured, implemented and operated as part of a promotional marketing campaign or for other purposes. For example, a puzzle-based contest may be used as part of a promotional marketing campaign to increase the sales of a business. In another example, a puzzle-based contest may be used as part of a promotional marketing campaign to introduce a new product to consumers. In still another example, a puzzle-based contest may form part of the fundraising efforts of a non-profit organization. Thus, it should be understood and appreciated that the puzzle-based contest system 100 may be utilized by a wide variety of contest operators/managers and for a wide variety of purposes.

[0020] The puzzle-based contest system 100 comprises a number of different types of puzzle-based contests that may be implemented by the system 100, but all of which generally involve a contest participant (also sometimes referred to herein simply as a "participant") receiving one or more puzzle pieces 108 (and, perhaps, all of a puzzle's pieces 108 in certain situations) in connection with, for example and not limitation, patronizing a particular store or restaurant, purchasing a particular product or service, buying a certain number of products or services, purchasing a particular dollar volume of products or services, or attending a particular event. In a first puzzle-based contest type, each contest participant has the opportunity to instantly win a prize, with the system 100 determining whether a puzzle piece 108 received and possessed by the participant is an instant winning puzzle piece 108. In a second puzzle-based contest type, each contest participant collects puzzle pieces 108 over time and assembles them together as the pieces 108 are obtained. The system 100 determines whether the participant has won a prize and, if so, what prize has been won, based on affirming valid completion of the entire puzzle 102. In a third puzzle-based contest type, each contest participant collects and assembles puzzle pieces 108 together in a manner substantially similar to the second type of contest. The system 100 determines whether the participant has won a prize and, if so, what prize has been won based on confirming that the participant possesses a certain puzzle piece 108 located at a particular location relative to the remainder of the puzzle 102. In a fourth puzzle- based contest type, each contest participant collects puzzle pieces 108 over time and assembles them together. The puzzle 102 intentionally includes an extra puzzle piece 108 that is generally indistinguishable from the other puzzle pieces 108 and, thus, the participant cannot ascertain that the extra puzzle piece 108 is superfluous until having assembled all, or substantially all, of the other pieces 108 of the puzzle 102. After the participant identifies the extra puzzle piece 108, the system 100 determines whether the participant has won a prize and, if so, which prize based on verifying that the participant possesses and has properly identified the extra puzzle piece 108.

[0021] Advantageously, in contests of the second, third and fourth puzzle-based contest types, the participants must collect all, or substantially all, of the pieces 108 of a puzzle 102 in order to have an opportunity to win a prize. Because the participants must collect most, if not all, of the puzzle pieces 108, the participants wind up assembling and viewing substantially the entire images of the respective puzzles 102, thereby keeping the images before the participants for a substantial amount of time and achieving the promotional marketing or other purpose for the puzzle-based contest. It should be understood and appreciated that a "prize" for any puzzle- based contest may comprise an actual item and/or service won by a participant or may comprise the participant being entered into a subsequent drawing or other contest for the opportunity to win an item and/or service. It should also be understood and appreciated that while the system's puzzle-based contests are described herein as being of certain contest types, the system 100 may include other puzzle-based contest types not described herein and may include puzzle-based contest types that are variations and combinations of the contest types described herein.

[0022] The puzzle-based contest system 100 comprises one or more physical (also referred to or thought of as being "tangible" or capable of being held in a participant's hands) or non-physical (also referred to or thought of as being "intangible", "virtual", "digital", "electronic", or otherwise as being incapable of being held in a participant's hands) puzzle(s) 102, as seen in Fig. 1, configured according to the respective contest(s) and/or contest type(s) being implemented by the system 100. Thus, for example, for a contest type in which an extra puzzle piece 108 exists, the contest's puzzle 102 is configured to include (and is referred to as including) an extra puzzle piece 108, even though the extra puzzle piece 108 cannot be coupled to and/or does not fit in with the puzzle's other puzzle pieces 108. It should be understood and appreciated that the descriptions herein related to puzzles 102 and puzzle pieces 108 relates to both physical and non-physical puzzles 102, except where noted to the contrary or where context dictates otherwise.

[0023] Generally, each puzzle 102 has a front side 104 and an opposed rear side 106 (see

Figs. 2 and 3). The front side 104 includes an image 118 comprising graphics, artwork, pictures, text, logos, slogans, trademarks, and/or service marks thereon that may be related or unrelated to the purpose of the puzzle-based contest for which the puzzle 102 is to be used. For example and not limitation, a business attempting to boost sales of a new product may utilize the system 100 with a puzzle 102 having an image 118 of the new product on the puzzle's front side 104 including a picture of the product, trademarks for the product and business, a slogan being used in advertising campaign for the product, and the name of the business. Each puzzle 102 typically includes and is subdivided into a plurality of puzzle pieces 108 that when correctly oriented and assembled together by a contest participant, form an image 118 in a manner similar to die cut jigsaw puzzles used for entertainment purposes. The puzzle 102 may have a shape corresponding to a regular geometric shape (for example and not limitation, a square, rectangle, circle, ellipse, or polygon), have an irregular shape, or have edges that define a smooth or jagged perimeter. And, although the puzzle pieces 108 of the example puzzle 102 of Fig. 1 comprise interlocking puzzle pieces 102, the puzzle pieces 108 may be formed to interlock or not interlock with particular other puzzle pieces 108.

[0024] Fig. 2 displays a pictorial representation of the rear side 106 of a physical puzzle

102 similar to the puzzle 102 of Fig. 1. The rear side 106 includes a plurality of identifiers 110 printed on the rear side 106 and positioned such that each puzzle piece 108 includes an identifier 110 that may be used differently in connection with different puzzle-based contests or contest types. In one example embodiment, each identifier 110 may include, represent, or correspond to identifier data that uniquely identifies the puzzle 102 and puzzle piece 108 from all other puzzles 102 and puzzle pieces 108 of the system 100, thereby enabling the system 100 to handle multiple, contemporaneously on-going, puzzle-based contests. In another example embodiment, each identifier 110 may include, represent, or correspond to identifier data that is the same for each puzzle piece 108 of a puzzle 102, but yet is respectively different for different puzzles 102, thereby permitting the system 100 to identify puzzle pieces 108 as belonging to a particular puzzle 102, but not to uniquely identify each puzzle piece 108 from the others of the puzzle 102. In still another example embodiment, the identifiers 110 of a puzzle 102 may comprise a plurality of first identifiers 110 including, representing, or corresponding to identifier data that is the same for a corresponding plurality of first puzzle pieces 108 and further comprise one or more second identifiers 110 including, representing, or corresponding to identifier data that is the same for one or more corresponding second puzzle pieces 108. The one or more second puzzle pieces 108 may comprise one or more extra puzzle pieces 108 used, for example, in connection with a contest type in which a puzzle 102 has an extra puzzle piece 108 that cannot be assembled or does not belong with the other puzzle pieces 108, but yet constitutes the "winning puzzle piece 108". In yet another example embodiment, the identifiers 110 of a puzzle 102 may comprise one or more access codes that is/are used by a participant to gain access to the system 100 and participate in a puzzle-based contest via a participant interaction device 140 (see Fig. 4) as described herein. It should be understood and appreciated from the foregoing description that identifiers 110 may be utilized in a variety of different manners and contexts and have different significance to and within the system 100, depending on the particular puzzle 102 and puzzle- based contest type with which the identifiers 110 are employed. [0025] As seen in Fig. 2, the identifiers 110 may be in the form of, but not be limited to, one-dimensional bar codes 112 that are readable and understandable by an appropriate bar code scanner and image processing software, by a smartphone configured with a camera and appropriate image processing software executed by a processing unit of the smartphone, or by other appropriately configured devices. The one-dimensional bar codes 112 represent, include and/or encrypt the identifier data so that the identifier data may be rapidly input to and received by the system 100. Also, the one-dimensional bar codes 112 tend to minimize the possible misuse of identifier data since the one-dimensional bar codes 112 are not generally readable or interpretable by most humans. The identifiers 110 may additionally include, for example, alphanumeric codes 114 readable and understandable by humans and/or by appropriately configured scanners and character recognition software, and that represent and/or include identifier data for use as described herein.

[0026] Fig. 3 displays a pictorial representation of the rear side 106 of a physical puzzle

102 similar to the puzzle 102 of Fig. 1, but according to an alternative example embodiment of the present invention. The rear side 106 of the puzzle 102 includes a plurality of identifiers 110 in the forms of, but not limited to, two-dimensional bar codes 116 and alphanumeric codes 114. The alphanumeric codes 114, as described above, are readable and understandable by humans and/or by appropriately configured scanners and character recognition software, and represent and/or include identifier data for use as described herein. Similar to the one-dimensional bar codes 112 described above, the two-dimensional bar codes 116 are readable and understandable, for example and not limitation, by an appropriate bar code scanner and image processing software, by a smartphone configured with a camera and appropriate image processing software executed by a processing unit of the smartphone, or by other appropriately configured devices. Also similarly, the two-dimensional bar codes 116 represent, include and/or encrypt the identifier data so that the identifier data may be rapidly input to and received by the system 100, and tend to minimize the possible misuse of identifier data since the two-dimensional bar codes 116 are not generally readable or interpretable by most humans. However, the two-dimensional bar codes 116 permit the inclusion of substantially more identifier data and/or other information in the identifiers 110, which may be utilized in various example embodiments of the system 100. [0027] While puzzles 102 are described herein with respect to example embodiments as including identifiers 110 on the rear sides 106 of the puzzles 102, it should be understood and appreciated that puzzles 102 of other embodiments may, instead, include identifiers 110 on their front sides 104 or on both sides 104, 106. It should also be understood and appreciated that while non-physical puzzles 102 of the puzzle-based contest system 100 do not typically include identifiers 110 visible on the rear side 106 thereof, the system 100 stores and still maintains identifier data associated with each puzzle piece 108 of the non-physical puzzles 102. The identifier data is described in more detail below.

[0028] Fig. 4 displays a block diagram representation of non-puzzle components of the puzzle-based contest system 100 and the environment therefor in accordance with the example embodiments described herein. As seen in Fig. 4, the system 100 also comprises a server computer system 120 that is linked by communication networks 122 and respective bi-directional communication links 124, 126, 128 with contest participant interaction devices 140, contest partner interaction devices 142, and contest administrator interaction devices 144 for the bidirectional communication of, as appropriate, web page software, mobile device application software, and data therebetween. The communication networks 122 comprise wired and wireless data and telecommunication networks and infrastructure that are adapted to bi-directionally communicate data as required for operation of the system 100 and include, without limitation, those wired and wireless data and telecommunication networks, or portions thereof, that form the Internet. Similarly, communication links 124, 126, 128 comprise wired and wireless communication links and infrastructure that are configured to bi-directionally communicate data as required for operation of the system 100.

[0029] The contest participant interaction devices 140 are used by contest participants to access and interact with the puzzle-based contest system 100, as appropriate, for the particular contests in which the participants are participating. For example, in connection with an instant winner contest, a contest participant may use a contest participant interaction device 140 to submit a request to the system 100 for a determination of whether a particular puzzle piece 108 is an instant winner puzzle piece 108 and, if so, what prize has been won by the participant. In connection with a different contest, a contest participant may use a contest participant interaction device 140 to upload a scanned image of an assembled puzzle 102 and/or an extra puzzle piece 108 to the system 100 for confirmation as a contest winner. For another contest, a contest participant may use a contest participant interaction device 140 to input an identifier 100 on the back of a puzzle piece 108 possessed by the participant in order to access the puzzle-based contest system 100 and attempt to assemble a digital puzzle 102. Additionally, a contest participant may use a contest participant interaction device 140 to input and provide the system 100 with participant data 170 described below.

[0030] The contest partner interaction devices 142 are used by contest partners to interact with the puzzle-based contest system 100 in order to perform functions and/or tasks for which they are responsible. The contest partners typically comprise a distributed network of businesses that cooperatively work with contest administrators to distribute puzzle pieces 108, to submit requests to the system 100 for determinations of whether participants have won a puzzle-based contest, to deliver certain prizes (typically, minimal amounts of money, off-the-shelf products, or services) won by contest participants, and to perform other functions and/or tasks necessary for operation of the system 100 and implementation of a puzzle-based contest. Generally, contest partners perform roles and functions relative to puzzle-based contests of the puzzle-based contest system 100 that are similar to those of businesses who sell and redeem lottery tickets in connection with lotteries. Thus, for example, a contest partner may use its contest partner interaction device 142 to scan and communicate corresponding data to the system 100 for, a puzzle 102 completed by a contest participant or a puzzle piece 108 believed by the contest participant to constitute a winning puzzle piece 108, and to request that the system 100 determine if the contest participant has won or not won the respective puzzle-based contest.

[0031] The contest administrator interaction devices 144 are used by contest administrators to access and interact with the puzzle-based contest system 100 in order to perform various functions associated with the puzzle-based contests implemented and operated by the system 100. Typically, such functions include, but are not limited to, configuring puzzle- based contests, developing puzzles 102 and puzzle data 290 for each puzzle 102, inputting contest data 250 and loading puzzle data 290 to the system 100, monitoring and controlling the progress of puzzle-based contests, selecting or identifying winning contest participants from collected contest data 250 for contests of a type requiring a drawing or selection to determine prize awards, managing web page and/or mobile device application software used with contest participant interaction devices 140, contest partner interaction devices 142, and contest administrator interaction devices 144, and harvesting participant data 170 for use in connection with contest related and unrelated purposes.

[0032] The contest participant interaction devices 140, contest partner interaction devices

142, and contest administrator interaction devices 144 include, without limitation, laptop, desktop, and other portable and non-portable computer systems equipped with Internet browser computer software, smartphones and other similar devices having Internet browser computer software and/or custom system mobile device applications software downloaded from the system 100, and other functionally similar devices. It should be understood and appreciated that while the contest participant interaction devices 140, contest partner interaction devices 142, and contest administrator interaction devices 144 are described herein as including particular types of equipment and software in accordance with the example embodiments, such devices 140, 142, 144 include any and all other equipment and software that is functionally equivalent, in whole or in part, now or in the future.

[0033] The server computer system 120 comprises one or more server computer(s) 130 that are communicatively connected by bi-directional communication links 132 to the communication networks 122 and, hence, to contest participant interaction devices 140, contest partner interaction devices 142, and contest administrator interaction devices 144 for the bidirectional communication of web page software, mobile device application software, and data therewith. The one or more server computer(s) 130 are configured with appropriate website hosting computer software 148, mobile device application hosting computer software 150, database management computer software 152, and puzzle-based contest backend computer software 154. Each server computer 130 is configured with one or more processing units for executing computer software, memory for use in executing computer software and other operations, storage devices for storing software and data, and operating system computer software for controlling the operation and execution of other computer software.

[0034] Through execution and operation of the website hosting computer software 148 by a server computer 130, the server computer system 120 hosts one or more Internet websites associated with the system 100 including, but not limited to, a contest participant website, a contest partner website, and a contest administrator website that are, respectively, accessible by and for interaction with contest participant interaction devices 140, contest partner interaction devices 142, and contest administrator interaction devices 144. Similarly, through execution and operation of the mobile device application hosting computer software 150 by a server computer 130, the server computer system 120 hosts and interacts with the system's mobile device application software 158, 162, 166 previously downloaded from the system 100 to appropriate contest participant interaction devices 140, contest partner interaction devices 142, and contest administrator interaction devices 144. In addition, through execution and operation of the database management computer software 152 by a server computer 130, the server computer system 120 receives, stores, and retrieves participant data 170, partner data 210, contest data 250, and puzzle data 290 from one or more storage devices. Also, through execution and operation of the database management computer software 152, the server computer system 120 bi- directionally exchanges data with the website hosting computer software 148 and mobile device application hosting computer software 150 and, hence, with Internet browser and/or mobile applications software operating on contest participant interaction devices 140, contest partner interaction devices 142, and contest administrator interaction devices 144. Additionally, through execution and operation of the puzzle-based contest backend computer software 154 by a server computer 130, the server computer system 120 performs those functions and tasks required to implement various contest types, to enable playing of puzzle-based contests by contest participants, to determine whether a contest participant has won a contest, and to maintain and/or update those portions of the participant data 170, partner data 210, contest data 250, and puzzle data 290 controlled and maintained by the system 100.

[0035] The puzzle-based contest system 100 also comprises contest participant web page software 156 (for example, HTML or similar programming) and contest participant mobile device application software 158 for interaction with contest participant interaction devices 140, as appropriate for each such device 140. Portions of the contest participant web page software 156 corresponding to various web pages are downloaded by operation of the system's website hosting computer software 148 to an Internet web browser of a contest participant interaction device 140 as needed during a participant interaction session between the contest participant interaction device 140 (and, hence, the contest participant using the contest participant interaction device 140) and the puzzle-based contest system 100. Subsequent execution of the contest participant web page software 156 by the contest participant interaction device 140 and its Internet web browser and operation of the website hosting computer software 148 cause the generation of appropriate web pages on the contest participant interaction device 140 during a participant interaction session, thereby enabling interaction and the exchange of information and data between the contest participant interaction device 140 and the website hosting computer software 148, as appropriate, to enable the contest participant to perform tasks such as, but not limited to: participating in and playing contests; generating and submitting images of puzzles 102 and/or puzzle pieces 108 for possible prize award; inputting and maintaining participant data 170; and, receiving and utilizing functionality provided by the system 100 to contest participants.

[0036] The contest participant mobile device application software 158 comprises one or more native computer software applications that are programmed, respectively, for use with contest participant interaction devices 140 comprising smartphones or similar devices manufactured by different vendors. Contest participant mobile device application software 158 appropriate for a contest participant interaction device 140 is downloaded to the contest participant interaction device 140 by operation of the system's mobile device application hosting computer software 150 prior to a contest participant's interaction with respect to a contest of the puzzle-based contest system 100. Then, when a contest participant desires to access and interact with the puzzle-based contest system 100, the contest participant causes execution of the downloaded contest participant mobile device application software 158 by the contest participant interaction device 140. Operating under the control of the contest participant mobile device application software 158, the contest participant interaction device 140 establishes a participant interaction session with a server computer 130 and the system's mobile device application hosting computer software 150, and interacts and exchanges information and data with the mobile device application hosting computer software 150. During the participant interaction session, the contest participant mobile device application software 158 and the mobile device application hosting computer software 150 enable the contest participant to perform tasks such as, but not limited to: participating in and playing contests; generating and submitting images of puzzles 102 and/or puzzle pieces 108 for possible prize award; inputting and maintaining participant data 170; and, receiving and utilizing functionality provided by the system 100 to contest participants. [0037] Additionally, the puzzle-based contest system 100 comprises contest partner web page software 160 (for example, HTML or similar programming) and contest partner mobile device application software 162 for interaction with contest partner interaction devices 142, as appropriate for each such device 142. Portions of the contest partner web page software 160 corresponding to various web pages are downloaded by operation of the system's website hosting computer software 148 to an Internet web browser of a contest partner interaction device 142 as needed during a partner interaction session between the contest partner interaction device 142 (and, hence, the contest partner using the contest partner interaction device 142) and the puzzle-based contest system 100. Subsequent execution of the contest partner web page software 160 by the contest partner interaction device 142 and its Internet web browser and operation of the website hosting computer software 148 cause the generation of appropriate web pages on the contest partner interaction device 142 during a partner interaction session, thereby enabling interaction and the exchange of information and data between the contest partner interaction device 142 and the website hosting computer software 148, as appropriate, to enable the contest partner to perform tasks such as, but not limited to: printing and/or distributing puzzle pieces 108 of contest puzzles 102; generating and submitting images of puzzles 102 and/or puzzle pieces 108 received from contest participants for possible prize award; delivering certain prize awards to winning contest participants; and, receiving and utilizing functionality provided by the system 100 to contest partners.

[0038] The contest partner mobile device application software 162 comprises one or more native computer software applications that are programmed, respectively, for use with contest partner interaction devices 142 comprising smartphones or similar devices manufactured by different vendors. Contest partner mobile device application software 162 appropriate for a contest partner interaction device 142 is downloaded to the contest partner interaction device 142 by operation of the system's mobile device application hosting computer software 150 prior to a contest partner's interaction with the puzzle-based contest system 100. Then, when a contest partner desires to access and interact with the puzzle-based contest system 100, the contest partner causes execution of the downloaded contest partner mobile device application software 162 by the contest partner interaction device 142. Operating under the control of the contest partner mobile device application software 162, the contest partner interaction device 142 establishes a partner interaction session with a server computer 130 and the system's mobile device application hosting computer software 150, and interacts and exchanges information and data with the mobile device application hosting computer software 150. During the partner interaction session, the contest partner mobile device application software 162 and the mobile device application hosting computer software 150 enable the contest partner to enable the contest partner to perform tasks such as, but not limited to: printing and/or distributing puzzle pieces 108 of contest puzzles 102; generating and submitting images of puzzles 102 and/or puzzle pieces 108 received from contest participants for possible prize award; delivering certain prize awards to winning contest participants; and, receiving and utilizing functionality provided by the system 100 to contest partners.

[0039] In addition, the puzzle-based contest system 100 comprises contest administrator web page software 164 (for example, HTML or similar programming) and contest administrator mobile device application software 166 for interaction with contest administrator interaction devices 144, as appropriate for each such device 144. Portions of the contest administrator web page software 164 corresponding to various web pages are downloaded by operation of the system's website hosting computer software 148 to an Internet web browser of a contest administrator interaction device 144 as needed during an administrator interaction session between the contest administrator interaction device 144 (and, hence, the contest administrator using the contest administrator interaction device 144) and the puzzle-based contest system 100. Subsequent execution of the contest administrator web page software 164 by the contest administrator interaction device 144 and its Internet web browser and operation of the website hosting computer software 148 cause the generation of appropriate web pages on the contest administrator interaction device 144 during an administrator interaction session, thereby enabling interaction and the exchange of information and data between the contest administrator interaction device 144 and the website hosting computer software 148, as appropriate, to enable the contest administrator to perform tasks such as, but not limited to: configuring puzzle-based contests; inputting, loading and maintaining contest data 250 and puzzle data 290; monitoring and controlling the progress of puzzle-based contests; selecting or identifying winning contest participants from collected contest data 250 for contests of a type requiring a drawing to determine prize awards; monitoring the actions of contest participants and contest partners; inputting and maintaining contest participant data 170 and contest partner data 210; managing contest participant web page software 156 and/or contest participant mobile device application software 158 used with contest participant interaction devices 140; managing contest partner web page software 160 and/or contest partner mobile device application software 162 used with contest partner interaction devices 142; managing contest administrator web page software 164 and/or contest administrator mobile device application software 166 used with contest administrator interaction devices 144; and harvesting participant data 170 for use in connection with contest related and unrelated purposes.

[0040] The contest participant mobile device application software 166 comprises one or more native computer software applications that are programmed, respectively, for use with contest administrator interaction devices 144 comprising smartphones or similar devices manufactured by different vendors. Contest administrator mobile device application software 166 appropriate for a contest administrator interaction device 144 is downloaded to the contest administrator interaction device 144 by operation of the system's mobile device application hosting computer software 150 prior to a contest administrator's interaction with the puzzle- based contest system 100. Then, when a contest administrator desires to access and interact with the puzzle-based contest system 100, the contest administrator causes execution of the downloaded contest administrator mobile device application software 166 by the contest administrator interaction device 144. Operating under the control of the contest administrator mobile device application software 166, the contest administrator interaction device 144 establishes an administrator interaction session with a server computer 130 and the system's mobile device application hosting computer software 150, and interacts and exchanges information and data with the mobile device application hosting computer software 150. During the administrator interaction session, the contest administrator mobile device application software 166 and the mobile device application hosting computer software 150 enable the contest administrator to perform tasks such as, but not limited to: configuring puzzle-based contests; inputting, loading and maintaining contest data 250 and puzzle data 290; monitoring and controlling the progress of puzzle-based contests; selecting or identifying winning contest participants from collected contest data 250 for contests of a type requiring a drawing to determine prize awards; monitoring the actions of contest participants and contest partners; inputting and maintaining contest participant data 170 and contest partner data 210; managing contest participant web page software 156 and/or contest participant mobile device application software 158 used with contest participant interaction devices 140; managing contest partner web page software 160 and/or contest partner mobile device application software 162 used with contest partner interaction devices 142; managing contest administrator web page software 164 and/or contest administrator mobile device application software 166 used with contest administrator interaction devices 144; and harvesting participant data 170 for use in connection with contest related and unrelated purposes.

[0041] The puzzle-based contest system 100 further comprises participant data 170, partner data 210, contest data 250, and puzzle data 290 that is stored on a storage device of and by the server computer system 120. The participant data 170 comprises information and data uniquely associated with each contest participant who: electronically accesses the puzzle-based contest system 100 through the contest participant website or appropriate contest participant mobile device application software 156 using a contest participant interaction device 140; becomes entered in a contest drawing for a contest in which one or more prize winners are selected; or, wins a contest prize. More specifically, as seen in Fig. 5, the participant data 170 includes, without limitation: a participant identifier 172 that uniquely identifies the contest participant from all other contest participants of the system 100; the contest participant's name 174 , postal and/or delivery address 176, phone number(s) 178, and email address(es) 180; the contest participant's login information 182 (generally, a username and password); the contest participant's age 184, sex 186, marital status 188, and other demographic data 190 pertaining to the contest participant; and, for puzzle-based contests involving the tracking of puzzle pieces 108 by the system 100, the puzzle identifier 192 associated with the puzzle-based contest currently being played by the contest participant, the number 194 of puzzle pieces 108 currently in play, the puzzle piece identifiers 196 associated with the puzzle pieces 108 already obtained by the contest participant, position data 198 representative of their current respective locations and angular orientation relative to the puzzle's origin, and status data 200 representative of their current status as having been correctly placed or not.

[0042] The system 100 receives and maintains some of the participant data 170

(generally, information or data personal to the contest participant) from the respective contest participant through interaction of the contest participant with the system 100 and the input of such data via a contest participant interaction device 140 executing the contest participant web page software 156 or contest participant mobile device application software 158. Such participant data 170 is received from the contest participant interaction device 140 and stored on a storage device by the server computer system's execution and operation of the website hosting computer software 148, mobile device application hosting computer software 150, and/or database management computer software 152. The system 100, through execution and operation of the puzzle-based contest backend computer software 154 and database management computer software 152 generates and maintains all other participant data 170 such as, but not limited to, the participant identifier 172 and data for puzzle-based contests involving the tracking of puzzle pieces 108 by the system 100.

[0043] The partner data 210 comprises information and data uniquely associated with each contest partner who cooperatively assists in the implementation and operation of puzzle- based contests. In particular and as seen in Fig. 6, the partner data 210 includes, without limitation: a partner identifier 212 that uniquely identifies the contest partner from all other contest partners of the system 100; the contest partner's name 214; the contact partner's postal and/or delivery address 216; the phone number(s) 218 for a contact person of the contest partner; an email address(es) 220 for a contact person of the contest partner; the contract partner's login information 222 (generally, a username and password); and, for each puzzle 102 with respect to which the contest partner performs an action, the puzzle identifier 224 uniquely associated with the puzzle 102, the number 226 of puzzle pieces 108 distributed by the contest partner, and the number 228 of prizes awarded by the contest partner.

[0044] The system 100 receives some of the partner data 210 (generally, information or data personal to the contest partner) from the respective contest partner through interaction of the contest partner with the system 100 and the input of such data via a contest partner interaction device 142 executing the contest partner web page software 160 or contest partner mobile device application software 162. Such partner data 210 is received from the contest partner interaction device 142 and stored on a storage device by the server computer system's execution and operation of the website hosting computer software 148, mobile device application hosting computer software 150, and/or database management computer software 152. The system 100, through execution and operation of the puzzle-based contest backend computer software 154 and database management computer software 152 generates and maintains all other partner data 210 such as, but not limited to: the partner identifier 212; and, for each puzzle 102 with respect to which the contest partner performs an action, the puzzle identifier 224 associated with the puzzle 102, the number 226 of puzzle pieces 108 distributed by the contest partner, and the number 228 of prizes awarded by the contest partner.

[0045] The contest data 250 comprises information and data uniquely associated with each puzzle-based contest implemented and operated by the puzzle-based contest system 100. The contest data 250 includes information and data used by the system 100 to define and track information related to each contest run by the system 100. Generally, the contest data 250 comprises information and data for each contest in terms of the contest type, the puzzle 102 to be employed by the contest, how contest prize winners will be identified by the system 100, what prizes are to be awarded to winning contest participants, how many prizes have been awarded, which contest participants won the prizes, which contest partners delivered the prizes, and when were the prizes actually delivered by the contest partners. It should be understood and appreciated that according to the example embodiments described herein, each contest utilizes only a single puzzle 102, but in other embodiments it is possible to more than one puzzle 102 in connection with a contest. It should also be understood and appreciated that according to the example embodiments described herein, each contest may have one or more prizes that may be awarded to winning contest participants and each prize may comprise a monetary amount or a product or service.

[0046] More particularly and as seen in Fig. 7, the contest data 250 includes, without limitation: a contest identifier 252 that uniquely identifies the contest from all other contests of the system 100; a contest type code 254 identifying the contest's type (for example and not limitation: a contest in which one or more particular puzzle pieces 108 may be individually obtained and presented in order to win instantly; a contest in which all of the puzzle pieces 108 must be collected, assembled in a correct arrangement, and presented in order to win; a contest in which a certain puzzle piece 108 identified or not identified by the contest rules must be obtained and presented in order to win (for example and not limitation, such puzzle piece 108 may be geographically identified as the fourth puzzle piece from the puzzle's left edge and third puzzle piece from the puzzle's top edge, or as the puzzle piece 108 that is six (6) inches from the puzzle's right edge and two (2) inches from the puzzle's bottom edge); a contest in which an extra puzzle piece 108 and all of the other puzzle pieces 108 must be collected, assembled in a correct arrangement, and presented in order to win; and, a contest in which only an extra puzzle piece 108 must be obtained and presented in order to win); a puzzle identifier 256 corresponding to a puzzle 102 defined in the puzzle data 290 and uniquely identifying a puzzle 102 used with the contest; for each prize to be won based on the contest type code 254, a prize identifier 258 uniquely identifying the prize from all other prizes to be won for the contest, the puzzle piece identifier(s) 260 uniquely identifying one or more puzzle piece(s) 108 that must be presented in order to win the contest, a prize type code 262 identifying whether the prize comprises a monetary prize or comprises goods/services, the dollar amount 264 of the prize for monetary prizes, and the Uniform Product Code (UPC) 266 of the prize for goods/services prizes; a contest description 268 including contest rules and instructions; the number 270 of prizes awarded or won during the contest; and, for each prize won by a contest participant, an awarded prize identifier 272 uniquely identifying the prize from all other prizes awarded or won for the contest, a participant identifier 274 from the participant data 170 uniquely corresponding to the prize winning contest participant, a prize type code 276 identifying whether the prize comprised a monetary prize or comprised goods/services, a partner identifier 278 from the partner data 210 uniquely identifying the contest partner who awarded the prize won; and, a prize delivery date/time stamp 280 indicating the date/time when the prize was awarded to the winning contest participant.

[0047] The system 100 receives the information of the contest data 250 defining a contest and its type, prizes to be awarded to winning contest participants, and description from an appropriate contest administrator through interaction of the contest administrator with the system 100 and the input of the contest data 250 via a contest administrator interaction device 144 executing the contest administrator web page software 164 or contest administrator mobile device application software 166. The contest data 250 is received from the contest administrator interaction device 144 and stored on a storage device by the server computer system's execution and operation of the website hosting computer software 148, mobile device application hosting computer software 150, and/or database management computer software 152. Those portions of the contest data 250 comprising identifiers, or relating to the number of prizes actually won or awarded to contest participants and to each prize actually won or awarded, are generated and stored on a storage device by the system 100 through execution and operation of the puzzle- based contest backend computer software 154 and database management computer software 152.

[0048] The puzzle data 290 comprises information and data uniquely associated with each puzzle 102 of the puzzle-based contest system 100. In particular and as seen in Fig. 8, the puzzle data 290 includes, without limitation, for each puzzle 102: a puzzle identifier 292 uniquely identifying the puzzle 102; the number 294 of puzzle pieces 108 in the puzzle 102; and, for each puzzle piece 108, a puzzle piece identifier 296 that uniquely identifies the puzzle piece 108, and position data 298 representative of the puzzle piece's center location and angular orientation relative to the puzzle's origin when the puzzle piece 108 is correctly positioned in the assembled puzzle 102. The puzzle origin, for all of the system's puzzles, is generally in the same location relative to a puzzle 102. According to the example embodiments, the puzzle origin is located to the left of and below all of the puzzle's pieces 108. For those contest types in which an entire puzzle 102 must be assembled and presented in order to win a prize, the system 100 may determine if a participant's presented puzzle 102 is correctly assembled by comparing (i) the number of puzzle pieces 108 of the participant's presented puzzle 102 with the number 294 of puzzle pieces 108 for the puzzle 102 stored in the puzzle data 290, (ii) the puzzle piece identifiers 110 on the rear side 106 of the presented puzzle 102 with the puzzle piece identifiers 296 for the puzzle 102 stored in the puzzle data 290, and/or (iii) the center location and angular orientation of each puzzle piece 108 of the participant's presented puzzle 102 with the center location and angular orientation of each puzzle piece 108 for the puzzle 102 stored in the puzzle data 290.

[0049] The system 100 receives the puzzle data 290 from a contest administrator through interaction of the contest administrator with the system 100 and the input of the puzzle data 290 via a contest administrator interaction device 144 executing the contest administrator web page software 164 or contest administrator mobile device application software 166. After the puzzle data 290 is received from the contest administrator interaction device 144, the puzzle data 290 is stored on a storage device by the server computer system's execution and operation of the website hosting computer software 148, mobile device application hosting computer software 150, and/or database management computer software 152.

[0050] Figs. 9A and 9B display a flowchart representation of a method of configuring and operating a contest 400 in accordance with the example embodiments of the present invention. The method of configuring and operating a contest 400 (also sometimes referred to herein as "method 400") comprises at least some of the fundamental steps taken in connection with most of the contests and contest types described herein. After starting at step 402, the method 400 advances to step 404 where a contest type is selected for the contest. In a first contest type, one or more puzzle pieces 108 of the contest's puzzle 102 are pre-determined to be prize winning puzzle pieces 108 and a prize will be awarded if a contest participant obtains one of such puzzle pieces 108. In a second contest type, all of the puzzle pieces 108 of the contest's puzzle 102 must be collected and assembled by a contest participant in order to win a prize. According to a third contest type, a pre-defined puzzle piece 108 that cannot be assembled with the other puzzle pieces 108 of the contest's puzzle 102 (also sometimes referred to herein as an "extra puzzle piece 108") must be obtained and presented to the system 100 to win a prize. Generally, contest participants cannot identify the extra puzzle piece 108 until most, if not substantially all, of the other puzzle pieces 108 have been obtained and assembled. In a fourth contest type, an extra puzzle piece 108 and all of the other puzzle pieces 108 of the contest's puzzle 102 must be collected and assembled to win a prize. According to a fifth contest type, a particular puzzle piece 108 of the contest's puzzle 102 is pre-determined to be a prize winning puzzle piece 108 and must be acquired and presented to the system 100 to win a prize. However, the prize winning puzzle piece 108 is only identifiable by its position relative to one or more edges of the contest's puzzle 102 or relative to one or more other puzzle pieces 108. Thus, the prize winning puzzle piece 108 cannot be identified by a contest participant until all, or substantially all, of the other puzzle pieces 108 have been collected and assembled. It should be understood that a multitude of other contest types are possible and may, or may not, include variations of the contest types described herein.

[0051] Once a contest type has been determined for the contest, an image 118 for the front side 104 of the contest's puzzle 102 is selected at step 406. As described above, the image 118 is selected to achieve the promotional marketing or other purpose of the contest and puzzle 102. Also, at step 406, the number of puzzle pieces 292, and the assembled positions 298 (as defined, for example, by the puzzle piece's Cartesian coordinates and rotational angle) and image 300 (see Fig. 1) of each puzzle piece 108 are determined. By determining the image 300 of each puzzle piece 108, the shape of each puzzle piece 108 is defined. Also, it should be noted that the image 300 of each puzzle piece 108 is generally selected so that when all of the puzzle pieces 108 are assembled into a puzzle 102, the images 300 of the individual puzzle pieces 108 combine to form the image 118 for the entire puzzle 102 visible on the front side 104 thereof. At step 408, data related to the contest's puzzle 102 is input to, received by, and stored as puzzle data 290 in the system 100. The puzzle data 290 is received by the system 100 from a contest administrator interaction device 144 interacting with the system 100 via the contest administrator web page software 164 and/or the contest administrator mobile device application software 166.

[0052] Proceeding to step 410 of method 400, the prize types, prizes, and their relationship to the puzzle pieces 108 of the contest's puzzle 102 are identified. The relationship of the puzzle pieces 108 to prizes is based, at least in part, on the selected contest type and the puzzle piece(s) 108 with which a contest administrator has decided to associate a prize. For example, if a contest has a contest type corresponding to the first content type described above with reference to step 404 and a contest administrator decides that one $250,000 prize will be awarded to the participant who presents a certain first puzzle piece 108 and two $150,000 prizes will be awarded to the respective participants who present second and third puzzle pieces 108, the prize types are monetary prize types having respective amounts and the prizes are each associated with first, second and third puzzle pieces 108 identified, and associated with the prizes, by their respective identifiers 110. In another example, if a contest has a contest type corresponding to the third contest type in which presentation of the "extra" puzzle piece to the system 100 is required to win and a contest administrator decides that one prize for a year's worth of hotel services will be awarded to the first participant who presents the "extra" puzzle piece 108, the prize type is hotel services having a one year duration and the prize is associated with the "extra" puzzle piece 108 by its identifier 110. Prize types, prizes and particular prize winning puzzle pieces 108 are similarly defined for other contests and contest types. Next, at step 412, the prize types, prizes, and puzzle piece(s) with which a prize is associated are input to, received by, and stored in the contest data 250 for the contest through a contest administrator interaction device 144 and operation of the contest administrator web page software 164 and/or the contest administrator mobile device application software 166.

[0053] Advancing to step 414 of method 400, the contest partners for the contest are identified. Then, at step 416, the names 214, addresses 216, contact phone numbers 218, and contact email addresses 220 are input to the system 100 by the contest partners using contest partner interaction devices 142, contest partner web page software 160, and/or contest partner mobile device application software 162. Alternatively, such information may be input to the system 100 by the contest administrator via a contract administrator interaction device 144 and operation of the contract administrator web page software 164 and/or contract administrator mobile device application software 166. Once received by the system 100, the information is stored as partner data 210.

[0054] At step 418, the puzzle pieces 108 of the contest's puzzle 102 are produced and distributed to contest participants directly, through contest partners indirectly, or in another way. And, depending on the particular contest, the puzzle pieces 108 may be produced and distributed physically or electronically, and/or distributed at the same time or over a period of time. Once a contest participant believes that he/she has obtained a prize winning puzzle piece 108 for the contest, has acquired and assembled all of the puzzle pieces 108 for a contest's puzzle 102, or has otherwise met the requirements to win a prize according to the contest type, the contest participant submits a request to the system 100 for confirmation that he/she has won a prize. The request may be generated by the contest participant taking the prize winning puzzle piece 108 and/or entire assembled puzzle 102 to a contest partner, where the contest partner may scan and/or input into the system 100, the appropriate puzzle piece identifier(s) 110 from the rear side 106 of the puzzle piece 108 and/or puzzle pieces 108 for the entire puzzle 102 as appropriate for the particular contest type. To do so, the contest partner utilizes a contract partner interaction device 142 with the contest partner web page software 160 and/or contest partner mobile device application software 162 to perform such scanning and/or input to the system 100. Alternatively, a contest participant may generate the request by scanning and/or inputting the appropriate puzzle piece identifier(s) 110 from the rear side 106 of the puzzle piece 108 and/or pieces 108 for the entire puzzle 102 in accordance with the particular contest type. The contest participant does so through use of a contest participant interaction device 140 with the contest participant web page software 156 and/or the contest participant mobile device application software 162. In some example embodiments, the identifier(s) 110 on the rear side 106 of the puzzle piece(s) 108 may be used as an access code, when scanned or input, to gain access to the puzzle-based contest system 100 for generation and submission of the request. In other example embodiments, the contest participant may have previously established login information with the system 100, including, for example, a username and password. Depending on the type of device used to generate the request for confirmation, the system 100 receives the request with appropriate scanned and/or input puzzle piece identifier(s) 110 at step 420 through the operation of and interaction with the website hosting computer software 148 and/or the mobile device application hosting computer software 150.

[0055] Upon receiving a request for confirmation that a contest participant has won a contest prize, the puzzle-based contest system 100 determines if the contest participant is correct at step 422. The system 100 does so based, at least in part, upon the contest type and the contest data 250 previously stored for the contest and upon the scanned and/or input identifier(s) 110 for the puzzle piece(s) 108. For example, if the contest is of the first, third or fifth contest type described above and for which only a particular puzzle piece 108 must be identified and possessed to win a prize, the system 100 determines whether the scanned and/or input identifier 110 of the puzzle piece 108 matches the puzzle identifier 256 and puzzle piece identifier 260 for a prize previously defined for the contest in the stored contest data 250. Similarly, if the contest is of the second or fourth contest type described above and all of the puzzle pieces 108 of the contest puzzle 102 must be collected and assembled in order to win a prize, the system 100 decides whether the scanned and/or input identifiers 110 of all of the puzzle pieces 108 respectively match the puzzle identifier 256 and puzzle piece identifiers 260 previously associated with a prize for the contest as the stored in contest data 250. Additionally, for a contest of the fourth contest type, the system 100 determines whether the scanned and/or input identifier 110 of the extra puzzle piece 108 matches the puzzle identifier 256 and a puzzle piece identifier 260 for the extra puzzle piece 108 as associated previously with a prize for the contest in the stored contest data 250.

[0056] Subsequently, at step 424, if the system 100 has determined at step 422 that the contest participant has won a prize for the contest, the system 100 informs the contest participant that he/she has won a prize via a contest participant interaction device 140, contest partner interaction device 142, or other method. The system 100 also requests that the contest participant enter the participant's name, address, phone number, email address, and other demographic data into the system 100 via the contest participant interaction device 140 or contest partner interaction device 142, if such information has not already been provided to and stored by the system 100. Additionally, if the puzzle piece(s) 108 constitute a physical puzzle piece(s) 108, the system 100 instructs the contest participant to deliver the puzzle piece(s) 108 to the contest administrator or to a contest partner. After receiving the contest participant's information and/or any updates thereto, the system 100 stores the information as participant data 170 for the contest participant at step 426.

[0057] Then, at step 428, the puzzle-based contest system 100 updates the contest data

250 to reflect that a prize of the corresponding prize type has been awarded to the participant. The system 100 subsequently delivers the prize won by the contest participant directly or via a contest partner at step 430 after receipt of the physical winning puzzle piece(s) 108, if any. Operation according to method 400 ends at step 432.

[0058] Whereas the present invention has been described in detail above with respect to example embodiments thereof, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications might be effected within the spirit and scope of the present invention.