LICENSING CONTROL MECHANISM AND PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION PROCESS USING A GROUP RESPONSE SYSTEM

1 . In an audience response system comprising a plurality of transmitter units where each transmitter unit includes a unique address, means for receiving a user input and processor logic configured to format data corresponding to the unique address and the user input for communication to a physically spaced receiver unit having means for receiving the formatted data, the improvement comprising:

a peripheral machine device capable of storing data; and

input/output circuitry physically connected to the transmitter unit and configured to enable operative communication between the peripheral machine device and the processor logic, where the processor logic disables selected functionality of the transmitter unit until valid data passes from the peripheral machine device and the processor logic.

2 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , where the peripheral machine device comprises a computer-readable medium configured to store transmitter unit license data.

3 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , where the peripheral machine device comprises a computer-readable medium configured to store user identifying data.

4 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a user perceptible event at the transmitter unit associated with passage of valid data from the peripheral machine device to the processor logic.

5 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a user perceptible event at the transmitter unit associated with passage of invalid data from the peripheral machine device to the processor logic.

6 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a user perceptible event at the transmitter unit associated with passage of valid data from the transmitter to the physically spaced receiver unit.

7 . An audience response system comprising:

at least one handheld transmitter configured to transmit wireless response signals in response to a user action, the handheld transmitter including:

a first computer-readable medium configured to store user particular data, the first computer-readable medium user being user attachable to the handheld transmitter;

a second computer-readable medium integral with the handheld transmitter configured to store handheld transmitter particular data; and

at least one central response processor configured to receive the wireless response signals from the transmitter and selectively permit participation of the handheld transmitter.

8 . The system as set forth in claim 7 , where the user particular data is selected from at least one of the group of name, identifier, and license data.

9 . The system as set forth in claim 7 , where the handheld transmitter further comprises an input mechanism configured to establish data communication between the first computer-readable medium and a processor integral with the handheld transmitter.

10 . The system as set forth in claim 9 , where the input mechanism is selected from the group of USB port, serial port, parallel port, WiFi—IEEE 802.11 receiver, infra-red receiver, FireWire—IEEE 1394 receiver, memory stick port, flash memory port, proximity card reader and biometric reader.

11 . A method of authorizing transmitters to participate in an audience response network comprising:

receiving signals from a transmitter;

decoding data from the received signals;

determining from the decoded data whether the transmitter possesses sufficient rights to participate in the network; and

sending acknowledging data to the transmitter indicative of authorization for transmitter participation.

12 . The method of claim 11 where the acknowledging data comprises transmitter denial data indicative of unsuccessful authorization.

13 . The method of claim 11 where the acknowledging data comprises transmitter acceptance data indicative of successful authorization.

14 . The method of claim 13 where, following sending of the acknowledging data, accepting responses from the transmitter where the responses include handheld transmitter particular data.