Interconnection of users via a communications network, for competitive gaming
First Claim
1. A method of interconnecting a plurality of users via a communications network, the method including the steps of:
- accepting key data from each user terminal, each of the key data being indicative of purchase of a physical token and being associated with player data;
validating the key data;
allowing each user access to an online game of skill running on a server and playable via the respective user terminals, and accepting gaming inputs associated with the game from the users via the respective user terminals;
providing gaming data to each of the user terminals, the gaming data being based on interaction between;
gaming software;
the gaming inputs from the user terminals; and
the player data associated with the user terminals and their respective associated key data;
on the basis of the gaming software, determining one or more winners from amongst the users playing the game of skill is a winner; and
allocating a prize to the winner.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of, and apparatus for, interconnecting players via a communications network for gaming, for example via the internet. Each user'"'"'s terminal accepts that is indicative of purchase of a physical token and is associated with player data. The key data is validated, and the player is then allowed access to a game of skill running on a server and playable via the respective user terminals. Gaming inputs associated with the game are accepted from the users via the respective user terminals. Gaming data is provided to each of the user terminals, the gaming data being based on interaction between:
gaming software;
the gaming inputs from the user terminals; and
the player data associated with the user terminals and their respective associated key data.
On the basis of the gaming software, one or more winners are determined from amongst the players and a prize allocated accordingly.
52 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method of interconnecting a plurality of users via a communications network, the method including the steps of:
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accepting key data from each user terminal, each of the key data being indicative of purchase of a physical token and being associated with player data;
validating the key data;
allowing each user access to an online game of skill running on a server and playable via the respective user terminals, and accepting gaming inputs associated with the game from the users via the respective user terminals;
providing gaming data to each of the user terminals, the gaming data being based on interaction between;
gaming software;
the gaming inputs from the user terminals; and
the player data associated with the user terminals and their respective associated key data;
on the basis of the gaming software, determining one or more winners from amongst the users playing the game of skill is a winner; and
allocating a prize to the winner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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17. Apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of users via user terminals and a communications network, the apparatus including a gaming server programmed with gaming software defining a game of skill and configured to:
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accept key data from each user terminal, each of the key data being indicative of purchase of a physical token and being associated with player data;
validate the key data;
allow each user access to the game of skill via the respective user terminals, and accepting gaming inputs associated with the game from the users via the respective user terminals;
provide gaming data to each of the user terminals, the gaming data being based on interaction between;
the gaming software;
the gaming inputs from the user terminals; and
the player data associated with the user terminals and their respective associated key data;
on the basis of the gaming software, determine one or more winners from amongst the users playing the game of skill is a winner; and
allocate a prize to the winner.
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33. A method of enabling user access to interactive gaming on a remote server via a computer terminal and an associated communications link, the method including the steps of:
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interfacing a physical token with the computer terminal, the physical token having memory within which key data is stored;
automatically extracting the key data from the memory into the computer terminal and providing the key data to the remote server via the communications link;
validating the key data in the remote server;
enabling access to an interactive game running on the server and playable via the user terminal, and accepting via the computer terminal gaming inputs associated with the game;
providing gaming data to the computer terminal, the gaming data being based on interaction between;
gaming software running on the server;
the gaming inputs from the computer terminal; and
the gaming inputs;
on the basis of the gaming software, determining a winner of the game; and
in the event the user of the computer terminal is the winner, allocating a prize. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification