Network-based contest creation
A system for network-based contest creation includes one or more processors and memory coupled to the processors, where the memory stores program instructions executable by the processors to implement a contest manager. The contest manager is configured to receive a request via a network to establish a contest, and to automatically establish the contest in accordance with one or more contest specifications included in the request.
1 . A system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the processors, wherein the memory stores program instructions
executable by the one or more processors to implement a contest manager configured to:
receive a request via a network to establish a contest; and
establish the contest in accordance with one or more contest specifications included in the request.
2 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the network comprises at least a portion of the Internet.
3 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a content type of contest entries of the contest.
4 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a voting system to be used to determine a result of the contest.
5 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a number of rounds of competition of the contest.
6 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a prize system to be used in awarding one or more prizes to contestants competing in the contest.
7 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more contest specifications include an entry fee for participation in the contest.
8 . A system, comprising:
one or more processors; and p 1 a memory coupled to the processors, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the one or more processors to implement a contest manager configured to:
receive a request from a requester via a network to establish a contest;
determine whether the contest violates one or more government regulations;
if the contest does not violate the one or more government regulations, establish the contest in accordance with the request; and
if the contest violates one or more government regulations, indicate to the requester that the contest is not permitted by the one or more government regulations.
9 . The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the contest manager is further configured to maintain a database of government regulations applicable to contests; and wherein, to determine whether the contest violates the one or more government regulations, the contest manager is further configured to access the database.
10 . The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the contest manager is further configured to obtain approval to establish one or more contests from a government agency prior to establishing the contest.
11 . A system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the processors, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the one or more processors to implement a contest manager configured to:
receive a request over a network specifying a selection mechanism to select a winner of a contest; and
provide an interface configured to display an indication of the selection mechanism over the network.
12 . The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the selection mechanism comprises elimination of a contest entry from the contest in response to negative votes received over the network.
13 . The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the selection mechanism comprises a receipt of a plurality of ratings corresponding to a given contest entry from each of a plurality of voters over the network, wherein each rating of the plurality of ratings is associated with a respective evaluation criterion for the contest entry.
14 . A system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the processors, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the one or more processors to implement a contest manager configured to:
receive a request over a network to limit participation in a contest conducted over the network, wherein the request specifies one or more participation criteria; and
verify that a contest entry for the contest complies with the one or more participation criteria.
15 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the one or more participation criteria comprise a requirement that a contestant be affiliated with a specified organization.
16 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the one or more participation criteria comprise a maximum number of contest entries allowed in the contest.
17 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving a request via a network to establish a contest; and
establishing the contest in accordance with one or more contest specifications included in the request.
18 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the network comprises at least a portion of the Internet.
19 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a content type of contest entries of the contest.
20 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a voting system to be used to determine a result of the contest.
21 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a number of rounds of competition of the contest;
22 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a prize system to be used in awarding one or more prizes to contestants competing in the contest.
23 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the one or more contest specifications include an entry fee for participation in the contest.
24 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the one or more contest specifications comprise a contest participation criterion.
25 . The method as recited in claim 24 , wherein the contest participation criterion includes a requirement that a contestant be affiliated with a specified organization.
26 . The method as recited in claim 24 , wherein the contest participation criterion includes a requirement that the contest be limited to a specified number of contestants.
27 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving a request from a requester via a network to establish a contest;
automatically determining whether the contest violates one or more government regulations;
if the contest does not violate the one or more government regulations, establishing the contest in accordance with the request; and
if the contest violates one or more government regulations, indicating to the requester that the contest is not permitted by the one or more government regulations.
28 . The method as recited in claim 27 , further comprising:
maintaining a database of government regulations applicable to contests;
wherein determining whether the contest violates the one or more government regulations comprises accessing the database.
29 . The method as recited in claim 27 , further comprising:
automatically obtaining approval to establish one or more contests from a government agency prior to establishing the contest.
30 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving a request over a network specifying a selection mechanism to select a winner of a contest; and
providing an interface configured to display an indication of the selection mechanism over the network.
31 . The method as recited in claim 30 , wherein the selection mechanism comprises elimination of a contest entry from the contest in response to negative votes received over the network.
32 . The method as recited in claim 30 , wherein the selection mechanism comprises a receipt of a plurality of ratings corresponding to a given contest entry from each of a plurality of voters over the network, wherein each rating of the plurality of ratings is associated with a respective evaluation criterion for the contest entry.
33 . A tangible, computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the instructions are computer executable to implement a contest manager configured to:
receive a request via a network to establish a contest; and
establish the contest in accordance with one or more contest specifications included in the request.
34 . The storage medium as recited in claim 33 , wherein the network comprises at least a portion of the Internet.
35 . The storage medium as recited in claim 33 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a content type of contest entries of the contest.
36 . The storage medium as recited in claim 33 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a voting system to be used to determine a result of the contest.
37 . The storage medium as recited in claim 33 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a number of rounds of competition of the contest.
38 . The storage medium as recited in claim 33 , wherein the one or more contest specifications indicate a prize system to be used in awarding one or more prizes to contestants competing in the contest.
39 . The storage medium as recited in claim 33 , wherein the one or more contest specifications include an entry fee for participation in the contest.
40 . The storage medium as recited in claim 33 , wherein the one or more contest specifications comprise a contest participation criterion.
41 . The storage medium as recited in claim 40 , wherein the contest participation criterion includes a requirement that a contestant be affiliated with a specified organization.
42 . The storage medium as recited in claim 40 , wherein the contest participation criterion includes a requirement that the contest be limited to a specified number of contestants.
43 . A tangible, computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the instructions are computer executable to implement a contest manager configured to:
receive a request from a requester via a network to establish a contest;
determine whether the contest violates one or more government regulations;
if the contest does not violate the one or more government regulations, establish the contest in accordance with the request; and
if the contest violates one or more government regulations, indicate to the requester that the contest is not permitted by the one or more government regulations.
44 . The storage medium as recited in claim 43 , wherein the contest manager is further configured to maintain a database of government regulations applicable to contests; and wherein, to determine whether the contest violates the one or more government regulations, the contest manager is further configured to access the database.
45 . The storage medium as recited in claim 43 , wherein the contest manager is further configured to obtain approval to establish one or more contests from a government agency prior to establishing the contest.
46 . A tangible, computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the instructions are computer executable to implement a contest manager configured to:
receive a request over a network specifying a selection mechanism to select a winner of a contest; and
provide an interface configured to display an indication of the selection mechanism over the network.
47 . The storage medium as recited in claim 46 , wherein the selection mechanism comprises elimination of a contest entry from the contest in response to negative votes received over the network.
48 . The storage medium as recited in claim 46 , wherein the selection mechanism comprises a receipt of a plurality of ratings corresponding to a given contest entry from each of a plurality of voters over the network, wherein each rating of the plurality of ratings is associated with a respective evaluation criterion for the contest entry.