Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – With communication link
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-01-16
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3773)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
With communication link
C463S025000, C463S040000, C434S322000, C434S332000, C700S090000, C700S091000, C700S092000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174237
ABSTRACT:
REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS
This application is not related to any pending applications.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
This application is not referenced in any microfiche appendix.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a game of skill tournament. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a tournament having a qualifying round and a playoff round, and played on an interactive computer system. The qualifying round is played between a player through a computer terminal and a host computer. The playoff round is played between those players which have obtained a predetermined level of performance and the host computer. This round is played under the same rules and conditions as in the qualifying round except all the players are playing simultaneously within a specific time frame on a specific date.
Interactive video computer software, the Internet and the public's fascination with the challenge, competitiveness and gratification of computer based video games has increased the need for new games and gaming formats. There exists the need for a gaming format which allows a player to gauge the level of skill he possess as compared to other players, without traveling long distances and incurring the expenses of meeting at a central contest site.
For many years, games of skill, such as chess, bridge, poker and blackjack, have attracted tournaments. Various types of tournaments have been created and attempted to satisfy the above mentioned needs. These tournaments involve games such as poker and blackjack. Typically, various rules have been placed upon the individual game. Examples of such attempts are described:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,392 to Hansen involves a method for playing a blackjack type card game having specific rules regarding the play of the game; U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,391 to Klasse involves a method for playing blackjack where a player wagers whether a hand will be a Blackjack, 21, 20, 19 or 18; U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,946 to Parker involves a method to play blackjack where different bets are placed on the Ante and the Play with different odds being placed on same.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,621 to Marks involves a poker card tournament where a player creates a poker hand by first receiving a pair of cards, discarding one of the card and repeating the process until the hand has been completed. This tournament is played solely between the player and the house computer system or between other players.
The prior art game of skill games or tournaments have not been successful. These references do not allow a player to gauge his level of performance by allowing the player to test his skill and ability against the tournament sponsor and other players during the same tournament. There is a need for a tournament which allows for a player to compete and obtain a reliable index as to his skill as compared to other competitors competing under the same game conditions while simultaneously enjoying the game.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a game of skill tournament having a qualifying round and a playoff round, being played over an interactive computer system, is disclosed. Generally, the qualifying round is played between a single player and a host computer. The playoff round is played between those players that have obtained a predetermined level of performance during the qualifying round. Awards are distributed to those players who reach specific levels of performance during the qualifying round and to the top scorers of the playoff round.
For purposes of the present invention, a game of skill is defined as any game where a player's knowledge and experience influences the outcome of the game. Examples of games of skill include but are not limited chess, poker, bridge, hearts, blackjack and question/answer trivia games.
The game of skill tournament is divided into two distinct portions: the qualifying round and the playoff round. The qualifying round is played between a single player through a computer terminal and a host computer. The host computer has the ability to act as a game sponsor by keeping score, operating the game, monitoring the player's progress and to distribute awards when appropriate. Also, the host computer has the ability to act as another player if the game requires more than a single player. The object of the qualifying round is to obtain a level of performance that will allow a player to participate in the playoff round. Awards are given to those players reaching various levels of performance during the qualifying round and to the top scorers during the playoff round.
With respect to the levels of performance, there are a plurality of levels ranging from low-performance to high-performance. Typically, there would be a low-performance level, one or more mid-performance levels and a high-performance level.
If a player obtains a result while playing a game of skill during the qualifying round which satisfies a predetermined criteria specific to a level of performance, the player would then be classified a player of that level and would be given an award specific to that level.
If a player obtains a result that qualifies him to be classed into a level of performance that qualifies him to be able to participate in the playoff round, he would be eligible to play the game of skill against the host computer in the playoff round. During the playoff round, all players which obtained a specific level of performance would simultaneously play the game of skill against the host computer under the same rules and conditions as during the qualifying round, except for a specific time limit. Typically, the levels of performance which qualify a player for the playoff round are the highest most levels.
After the time limit for the playoff round ends, the results are evaluated, with the players being ranked according to the number of point each obtained during the playoff round. Awards are distributed to those players reaching a predetermined ranking. For example, the winner, second place and third place players will each receive different awards.
The game of skill tournament can be played over an electronic system, such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), campus-wide network, fixed based unit network, Intranet or Internet.
The primary object of the present invention is to create a game of skill tournament which improves upon the prior art tournaments.
Another object of the present invention is to create a game of skill tournament which challenges the participants and reward those participants who obtain a certain level of performance.
Other objects and a further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals.
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Head Johnson & Kachigian
Nguyen Binh-An
O'Neill Michael
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