Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – With communication link
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-08
2002-04-16
Harrison, Jessica J. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
With communication link
C463S001000, C463S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06371855
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fantasy sports league game in which participants act as “coaches” to form their own clubs or teams from among active league players and in which participant coaches are rewarded based upon the actual performance of the players on their teams in real life games as well as on the market value of their players.
II. Description of the Related Art
Fantasy sports league games are well known. Generally, in such games, participants select or “raft”, currently active real-life athletes to form fantasy teams. A participant's success or failure in the game corresponds to the performance of the players in real-life games. Such games are often referred to as “rotisserie leagues”. Owners of such fantasy teams compile won-lost records by competing head to head against each of the other teams in the league, the winner being determined by which team's players performed better the previous week.
Instantaneous communications technology allows people to participate in fantasy games in real time. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,736 to Pearson et al. describes an interactive contest that permits competition between remote participants. Participants register and can receive updates as to the progress of their teams by calling into a central location using the touch tone buttons on their telephones.
In the Pearson et al. patent, a team's performance is determined based upon the performance of the players on the participant's team roster in actual games. Comparison between teams is based upon team roster totals for given time periods. Team owners may make trades between the team roster and the contest roster. Throughout the duration of the contest, a voice interactive telephone menu is available to allow the participant to follow the progress of his or her team.
Some games have offered players the ability to participate in simulated gambling and stock market activities. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,427 to Wiener et al. describes a casino baseball game played on an electronic video gaming device. Player scores are determined based upon success in program-controlled “at bats”. U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,793 purports to combine elements of sports with that of the marketplace by providing a commodities options trading game in which the values of the simulated options are determined by a real-life sporting event. While using sports to define its market, this patent simply treats the sporting event as a commodity to be traded.
None of the patents discussed combine the fun of sports-based competition associated with a sports fantasy league with a test of the financial acumen necessary to maintain a team. Thus, the need exists for a game that combines the entertainment of fantasy sports with the excitement of participating in an economic venture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In consideration of the above, the present invention is directed to a fantasy sports league game in which participants, acting as coaches and owners of fantasy teams made up of active players, can test their skill in player selection as well as in managing personnel and “virtual money” against other players. Thus, in the present invention the participant acts as both the coach and owner/general manager of his own team.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing an interactive sports game to a plurality of participants each wishing to form a fantasy sports team made up of actual players, and each operating a participant terminal operable to act as a client on a network. The system comprises: a host controller, the host controller comprising a computer operable to act as a server on the network and to communicate with the participant terminals over the network; and data storage accessible to the host controller, the data storage storing information relating to performance of the players in actual games. The host controller is operable: (a) to solicit and accept from each participant an initial selection and purchase of players to form the participant's fantasy sports team, each participant purchasing the players using no more than a predetermined number of game value units initially allocated by the host controller, an initial value in game value units for each player being previously set by the host controller; and (b) responsive to a request of a participant, to access the data storage and report a status of the participant's fantasy team, the status including information as to performance and market, i.e., supply and demand, value of the players on the participant's team. The number of game value units associated with each player varies in correlation with demand of the participants for that player and a participant receives periodically a value-based reward correlated to the value of the players on his or her team. Preferably, a participant may invest any game value units unused in purchasing players in a fixed interest instrument or in a portfolio of stocks, the value of which tracks an existing stock market index.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing an interactive sports game to a plurality of participants each wishing to form a fantasy sports team made up of actual players, and each operating a participant terminal operable to act as a client on a network, on a system comprising: a host controller, the host controller comprising a computer operable to act as a server on the network and to communicate with the participant terminals over the network; and data storage accessible to the host controller, the data storage storing information relating to performance of the players in actual games. The method comprising: (a) the host controller soliciting and accepting from each participant an initial selection and purchase of players to form the participant's fantasy sports team, each participant purchasing the players using no more than a predetermined number of game value units initially allocated by the host controller, an initial value in game value units for each player being previously set by the host controller; and (b) responsive to a request of a participant, accessing the data storage and reporting a status of the participant's fantasy team, the status including information as to performance and market value of the players on the participant's team. The number of game value units associated with each player varies in correlation with demand of the participants for that player and a participant receives periodically a value-based reward correlated to the value of the players on his or her team. Preferably, a participant may invest any game value units unused in purchasing players in a fixed interest instrument or in a portfolio of stocks, the value of which tracks an existing stock market index.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium storing code for causing a processor-controlled system to perform a method for providing an interactive sports game to a plurality of participants each wishing to form a fantasy sports team made up of actual players, and each operating a participant terminal operable to act as a client on a network, the system comprising: a host controller, the host controller comprising a computer operable to act as a server on the network and to communicate with the participant terminals over the network; and data storage accessible to the host controller, the data storage storing information relating to performance of the players in actual games. The method comprises (a) the host controller soliciting and accepting from each participant an initial selection and purchase of players to form the participant's fantasy sports team, each participant purchasing the players using no more than a predetermined number of game value units initially allocated by the host controller, an initial value in game value units for each player being previously set by the host controller; and (b) responsive to a request of
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Harrison Jessica J.
Hotaling John M
Winamax.com Limited
LandOfFree
Fantasy internet sports game does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fantasy internet sports game, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fantasy internet sports game will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2873658