System and method for simultaneous participation in an online forum

• US 20020086733A1
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Netamin Communication Corp.
• Original Assignee: Netamin Communication Corp.
• Inventors: Wang, Andy
• Application Number:
  US10/002,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20020086733A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/828 Managing virtual sport teams
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• 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 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8052 Ball team management

Abstract

A system and method for simultaneous participation of remote users in an organized online forum. The forum can take many forms and shapes, such as a baseball game, where each player character on the baseball field is controlled by an individual participant, regardless of physical location. A user can choose a character having various characteristics, personalize the chosen character, and train the character to increase the character'"'"'s ability. The user can organize or join a team for league play or can participate with others in a less formal setting. Both the characters and the playing forums are portrayed by enhanced three-dimensional graphics to add a life-like feel to the game.

Claims

1. A method for simultaneous participation of remote users on-line, wherein said users are provided software for installation on a computer that communicates with a network domain having a plurality of servers and a Web site, comprising the acts of:

providing a forum, wherein the forum is based on a theme;

enabling said users to each create at least one unique character for participation in the forum; and

enabling real-time interaction between said users participating in the forum with their respective characters, wherein the interaction comprises selective communication between said users.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the theme is a sports game and the forum is a venue particular to the sports game.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the sports game is a baseball game and wherein the forum is selected from the group consisting of a baseball stadium, a training facility, a batting cage and a track.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the character is a baseball player and wherein the character is created with optional and assigned characteristics.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the optional characteristics comprise the character'"'"'s appearance, playing position and uniform.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the user creates the character'"'"'s appearance, in part, by transmitting digital pictures to the Web site.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the assigned characteristics comprise an initial DNA value that is randomly assigned to each created character, wherein the initial DNA value is a total value for a plurality of characteristics, each said characteristic being assigned a characteristic value comprising a portion of the initial DNA value, and wherein the initial DNA value is substantially equal for each said created character.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the characteristic value is alterable following the creation of the character.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the characteristic value is positively altered upon participation of the character in the forum.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the characteristic value is negatively altered upon non-participation of the character in the forum.

11. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the act of enabling a plurality of users to register a team comprising the user'"'"'s created characters, wherein the team competes with other teams in the forum.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein each team is assigned to a level based on a point system, wherein points are awarded to the team for positive outcomes resulting from participating in league games, and wherein upon amassing a predetermined number of points, the team will be assigned to a higher level.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein each team is initially assigned to an amateur level.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the act of enabling a plurality of teams to compete in a league, having a schedule of league games, wherein each league is formed of teams assigned to a similar level.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the act of conducting a league tournament in the forum upon completion of said league games, wherein a league champion is determined upon completion of the league tournament.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the act of conducting a world tournament in the forum between league champions, wherein a world champion is determined upon completion of the world tournament.

17. The method according to claim 3, wherein the selective communication further comprises speaking to a particular user in the forum using voice over IP.

18. The method according to claim 3, wherein the selective communication further comprises speaking to a particular user in the forum using text messaging.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the forum is created by assimilating a plurality of digital pictures taken of a venue particular to the theme.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the user to create a unique character comprises assimilating a plurality of digital pictures taken of the user.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selective communication further comprises speaking to a particular user in the forum using voice over IP.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selective communication further comprises speaking to a particular user in the forum using text messaging.

23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of providing each character with a unique viewpoint, wherein the viewpoint is consistent with the position of the character in the forum.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the theme is education and wherein the forum is a classroom.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the theme is shopping and wherein the forum is a store or showroom.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein the theme is professional services and wherein the forum is an office.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the optional characteristics comprise the character'"'"'s appearance, playing position and uniform.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the user creates the character'"'"'s appearance, in part, by transmitting digital pictures to the Web site.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the assigned characteristics comprise an initial DNA value that is randomly assigned to each created character, wherein the initial DNA value is a total value for a plurality of characteristics, each said characteristic being assigned a characteristic value comprising a portion of the initial DNA value, and wherein the initial DNA value is substantially equal for each said created character.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the characteristic value is alterable following the creation of the character.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the characteristic value is positively altered upon participation of the character in the forum.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the characteristic value is negatively altered upon non-participation of the character in the forum.

34. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the act of enabling a plurality of users to register a team comprising the user'"'"'s created characters, wherein the team competes with other teams in the forum.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein each team is assigned to a level based on a point system, wherein points are awarded to the team for positive outcomes resulting from participating in league games, and wherein upon amassing a predetermined number of points, the team will be assigned to a higher level.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein each team is initially assigned to an amateur level.

37. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the act of enabling a plurality of teams to compete in a league, having a schedule of league games, wherein each league is formed of teams assigned to a similar level.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising the act of conducting a league tournament in the forum upon completion of said league games, wherein a league champion is determined upon completion of the league tournament.

39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising the act of conducting a world tournament in the forum between league champions, wherein a world champion is determined upon completion of the world tournament.

40. The method according to claim 27, wherein the selective communication further comprises speaking to a particular user in the forum using voice over IP.

41. The method according to claim 27, wherein the selective communication further comprises speaking to a particular user in the forum using text messaging.

27. A method for simultaneous participation of remote users in an online baseball game, wherein said users are provided software for installation on a computer that communicates with a network domain having a plurality of servers and a Web site, comprising the acts of:

enabling said users to each create at least one unique character for participation in the baseball game, wherein the character is created with optional and assigned characteristics;

providing a baseball related forum, wherein said users participate in the forum with their respective characters; and

enabling real-time interaction between said users, wherein the interaction comprises selective communication between said users.

42. A method for simultaneous participation of remote users in an organized forum, comprising the acts of:

providing a forum, wherein the forum is based on a theme;

enabling said users to each create at least one unique character for participation in the forum; and

enabling real-time interaction between said users participating in the forum with their respective characters.