Online digital photography game system

• US 20010041616A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clay Harvey Fisher, Eric Edwards, Kurt Jonach, Neal Jacob Manowitz
• Original Assignee: Clay Harvey Fisher, Eric Edwards, Kurt Jonach, Neal Jacob Manowitz
• Inventors: Edwards, Eric, Fisher, Clay Harvey, Jonach, Kurt, Manowitz, Neal Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 6,814,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player

Abstract

An online digital photography game system allows multiple participants in the game by submitting digital photography game entries, where the digital photography game system determines a game winner based on equivalency with a game solution. The digital photography game system allows a user to choose a particular game and to save incomplete game entries. Digital photography games may require an entry fee for participation. Additionally, one or more participants can be rewarded for their participation in the game.

Claims

1. A computerized method for administering a digital photography game system comprising:

providing a digital photography game for online access by multiple participants;

receiving a digital photography game entry from the multiple participants;

determining if the digital photography game entry is equivalent to a game solution; and

declaring at least one digital photography game winner based on an equivalency of the digital photography game entry with the game solution.

2. The computerized method of

claim 1

further comprising:

sorting the digital photography game entry by a unique game identifier; and

sorting the digital photography game entry by an order in which the digital photography game was received.

3. The computerized method of

claim 1

wherein the digital photography game entry comprises a plurality of digital photograph files, each of the plurality of digital photograph files having a file format selected from the group consisting of TIFF, APS, PCD, PICT, EPS, FPX, Exif, JPEG, TIFF/EP, GIF, JFIF, BMP, and FITS.

4. The computerized method of

claim 1

further comprising:

requiring creation of the digital photography game entry using a digital camera.

5. The computerized method of

claim 2

further comprising:

converting the received digital photograph files into a standard file format selected from the group consisting of TIFF, APS, PCD, PICT, EPS, FPX, Exif, JPEG, TIFF/EP, GIF, JFIF, BMP, and FITS.

6. The computerized method of

claim 1

, wherein receiving the digital photography game entry comprises:

receiving a set of digital images as a plurality of subsets, each subset comprising a digital image associated with one of a plurality of game instructions; and

identifying the digital photography game associated with the digital photography game entry; and

associating the game solution with the digital photography game entry.

7. The computerized method of

claim 6

further comprising:

storing a partial digital photography game entry in a working game entry area.

8. The computerized method of

claim 6

further comprising:

receiving a plurality of digital photography game entries for the same digital photography game.

9. The computerized method of

claim 8

wherein receiving a plurality of digital photography game entries for the same digital photography game further comprises:

receiving each of the plurality of digital photography game entries for the same digital photography game from a cellular signal; and

verifying that the cellular signal originated from a predetermined location.

10. The computerized method of

claim 1

wherein determining if the digital photography game entry is equivalent to the game solution comprises:

comparing a resolution of the digital photograph file with a digital game solution;

comparing a color of the digital photograph file with the digital game solution; and

comparing an aggregate pixel content of the digital photograph file with the digital game solution.

11. The computerized method of

claim 1

further comprising:

notifying the multiple participants of the at least one digital photography game winner.

12. The computerized method of

claim 1

further comprising:

determining a reward for participation in the digital photography game.

13. The computerized method of

claim 1

further comprising:

publishing the game solution online for public viewing.

14. The computerized method of

claim 1

further comprising:

publishing the game solution online for private viewing.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to cause a computer to perform a method comprising:

identifying a digital photography game from a plurality of digital photography games, the digital photography game comprising a set of game instructions;

receiving a digital photography game entry from a user, the digital photography game entry comprising a number of digital images associated with each game instruction; and

determining an equivalency of the digital photography game entry with a game solution.

16. The computer-readable medium of

claim 15

, wherein determining an equivalency of the digital photography game entry with a game solution includes converting the digital images to a standard file format.

17. The computer-readable medium of

claim 15

, wherein the computer is a web site server and the digital photography game is viewable online from the server.

18. The computer-readable medium of

claim 15

having further computer-executable instructions comprising:

determining a reward for participation in the digital photography game; and

publishing the reward for public viewing.

19. The computer-readable medium of

claim 18

, wherein a reward for participation is based on the type of digital photography game.

20. The computer-readable medium of

claim 15

having further computer-executable instructions comprising:

notifying a user of the results of the equivalency determination of the digital photography game entry with the game solution; and

publishing game winners for public viewing.

21. The computer-readable medium of

claim 15

, wherein the computer is a standalone computer and the digital photography game is executable on the stand-alone computer.

22. The computer-readable medium of

claim 15

having further computer-executable instructions comprising:

receiving a user configuration of the digital photography game; and

modifying the digital photography game in accordance with the user configuration.

23. A computerized system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor through a system bus;

a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor through the system bus; and

an online digital photography game process executed from the computer-readable medium by the processor to cause the processor to receive a digital photography game entry from multiple participants, to determine an equivalency of the digital photography game entry with a game solution, and to declare a game winner.

24. The computerized system of

claim 23

, wherein the online digital photography game process further causes the processor to publish results of the game online.

25. The computerized system of

claim 23

, wherein the online digital photography game process further causes the processor to notify the multiple participants of the results of the online digital photography process.

26. The computerized system of

claim 23

, wherein the online digital photography game process further causes the processor to publish game instructions in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

27. The computerized system of

claim 23

, wherein the online digital photography game process further causes the processor to publish game instructions comprising a series of scavenger hunt clues describing predetermined digital photographs.

28. The computerized system of

claim 27

, wherein the online digital photography game process further causes the processor to publish the series of scavenger hunt clues comprising locations within a geographical area.

29. The computerized system of

claim 27

, wherein the online digital photography game process further causes the processor to publish the series of scavenger hunt clues comprising a product of an advertiser.

30. A computerized system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor through a system bus; and

an online digital photography game process executed from the memory to cause the processor to receive a digital photography game entry from multiple participants, to determine an equivalency of the digital photography game entry with a game solution, and to declare a game winner.

31. A networked server system comprising:

means for posting a digital photography game;

means for posting digital images associated with the online digital photography game in a working game entry area;

means for posting a game solution; and

means for publishing the results of the digital photography game.

32. The networked server system of

claim 31

, further comprising:

means for awarding one or more of a plurality of participants in the digital photography game based on an order in which an equivalent digital photography game entry with the game solution was received.

33. The networked server system of

claim 32

, further comprising:

means for notifying one or more of the plurality of participants of the results of the online digital photography game.

34. The network server system of

claim 33

, wherein the means for notifying creates an electronic mail message to be delivered to the plurality of game participants.

35. A method for rewarding participants in online digital photography games comprising:

displaying multiple digital photography games to a plurality of participants, each game comprising a set of game instructions;

receiving a digital photography game entry from at least one of the plurality of participants; and

determining at least one game winner from the plurality of participants for each digital photography game.

36. The network server system of

claim 35

, wherein the method for rewarding participants in online digital photography games further comprises:

requesting the plurality of participants to submit a digital photography game entry in response to the displaying of the set of game instructions.

37. The method for rewarding participants in online digital photography games of

claim 35

further comprising:

rewarding at least one game winner by one or more of recognizing the at least one winner, awarding a prize, and giving an amount of cash.

38. A method for receiving compensation for a server receiving a digital photography game entry from a user comprising:

determining an amount of compensation based on type of digital photography game chosen by the user;

requesting the amount of compensation from the user; and

receiving the amount of compensation.

39. The method of

claim 38

further comprising:

disallowing access to a digital photography game system server by the user until the amount of compensation is received.

40. The method of

claim 38

further comprising:

validating the amount of compensation received.

41. The method of

claim 38

, wherein determining the amount of compensation comprises:

determining if the user subscribes to a plan offered by the online digital photography game system server; and

calculating the amount of compensation in accordance with terms of the plan.

42. A method for receiving compensation for a server comprising:

displaying an advertisement as part of an online digital photography game;

requesting an amount of compensation from an advertiser; and

receiving the amount of compensation.

43. The method of

claim 42

further comprising:

incorporating products of the advertiser into a series of scavenger hunt clues as part of the online digital photography game.