Interactive game system and method

• US 20020107073A1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark Stephen Binney
• Original Assignee: Mark Stephen Binney
• Inventors: Binney, Mark Stephen
• Application Number:
  US09/996,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107073A1
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/828 Managing virtual sport teams
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A system and method for executing an interactive game. A system according to an embodiment is executed on-line by users using browsers. A statistics engine forms a portion of a web server that receives statistics from a plurality of statistical sources, and awards points to users who have formed fantasy teams. In one embodiment, statistics relate to amateur athletic sporting events. Each fantasy team includes players that represent a team, and preferably an amateur team in one exemplary embodiment. An advertisement engine forms another part of the web server, for serving advertisements to users. A sales engine forms another part of the web server, for receiving and executing sales requests of sports-related items, or other goods.

Claims

1. A game wherein a participant selects sports teams to form a roster, wherein the participant receives points based on the performance of the sports teams in the roster, and wherein the participant redeems said points for chances to win a prize in a sweepstakes.

2. The game according to claim 1, wherein said sports teams comprise amateur sports teams.

3. The game according to claim 2, wherein said sports teams comprise youth league sports teams.

4. The game according to claim 3, wherein the participant is a member of one of the sports teams on the roster.

5. The game according to claim 4, wherein the participant also earns points for performing community service.

6. The game according to claim 5, wherein the participant also earns points for scholastic achievement.

7. The game according to claim 6, wherein the participant can change all but one of the teams on the roster.

8. The game according to claim 7, wherein the participant also earns points for visiting partner merchant web sites.

9. The game according to claim 8, wherein a number of participants take part in the game, and wherein an online chat room is provided for participants to discuss the game.

10. The game according to claim 9, wherein the participants are segregated by age in playing the game.

11. A game wherein a participant selects a first set of sports teams to form a first roster, wherein the participant selects a second set of sports teams in a different sport from the first set to form a second roster, wherein the participant receives points based on the performance of the sports teams in both rosters, and wherein the participant redeems said points for chances to win a prize in a sweepstakes.

15. The game according to claim 14, wherein the participant also earns points for performing community service.

16. The game according to claim 15, wherein the participant also earns points for scholastic achievement.

17. The game according to claim 16, wherein the participant can change all but one of the teams on the roster.

18. The game according to claim 17, wherein a number of participants take part in the game, and wherein an online chat room is provided for participants to discuss the game.

19. The game according to claim 18, wherein the participants are segregated by age in playing the game.

12. A game wherein a participant selects sports teams to form a roster, wherein the participant receives points based on the performance of the sports teams in the roster, and wherein the participant uses said points to purchase products.

13. A game wherein a participant selects stocks to form a roster, wherein the participant receives points based on the performance of the stocks in the roster, and wherein the participant redeems said points for chances to win a prize in a sweepstakes.

14. A game wherein a participant selects stocks to form a roster, wherein the participant receives points based on the performance of the stocks in the roster, and wherein the participant uses said points to purchase products.

20. An online game system, comprising:

a game interface accessible by a participant using a browser, said game interface allowing said participant to select sports teams to form a roster;

a statistics engine for computing points based on the performance of the teams in the participant'"'"'s roster; and

a sweepstakes module for allowing the participant to redeem said points for chances to win a prize in a sweepstakes.

21. The game system according to claim 20, wherein said sports teams comprise amateur sports teams.

22. The game system according to claim 21, wherein said sports teams comprise youth league sports teams.

23. The game system according to claim 22, wherein the participant is a member of one of the sports teams on the roster.

24. The game system according to claim 23, wherein the participant also earns points for performing community service.

25. The game system according to claim 24, wherein the participant also earns points for scholastic achievement.

26. The game system according to claim 25, wherein the participant can change all but one of the teams on the roster.

27. The game system according to claim 26, wherein the participant also earns points for visiting partner merchant web sites.

28. The game system according to claim 27, wherein a number of participants take part in the game, and wherein an online chat room is provided for participants to discuss the game.

29. The game system according to claim 28, wherein the participants are segregated by age in playing the game.

30. A fantasy sports game, wherein participants select sports teams to form rosters, and wherein participants receive points based on the performance of the sports teams in their respective rosters.

31. The fantasy sports game according to claim 30, wherein said sports teams comprise youth league sports teams.

32. The fantasy sports game according to claim 31, wherein at least one participant is a member of one of the sports teams.

33. The fantasy sports game according to claim 32, wherein participants also earn points for performing community service.

34. The fantasy sports game according to claim 33, wherein participants also earn points for scholastic achievement.

35. The fantasy sports game according to claim 34, wherein participants can change all but one of the teams on their respective rosters.

36. The fantasy sports game according to claim 35, wherein participants also earns points for visiting partner merchant web sites.

37. The fantasy sports game according to claim 36, wherein participants are segregated by age in playing the game.

39. The system according to claim 38, additionally comprising a trading module allowing participants to transfer teams into and out of their roster.

40. The system according to claim 39, additionally comprising a redemption module, allowing participants to redeem said points.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein participants can redeem said points in exchange for chances in a sweepstakes.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein participants can redeem said points by purchasing products.

43. The system according to claim 42, additionally comprising a research module, allowing participants to conduct research on the eligible teams.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein said eligible teams are comprised of youth league teams.

45. The system according to claim 44, wherein one of said actual sports teams cannot be traded out of said roster.

46. The system according to claim 45, wherein at least one of the participants is a member of one of the eligible teams.

47. The system according to claim 46, wherein participants also earn points for performing community service.

48. The system according to claim 47, wherein participants also earn points for scholastic achievement.

49. The system according to claim 48, wherein participants also earn points for visiting partner merchant web sites.

50. The system according to claim 49, additionally comprising an online chat module.

51. The system according to claim 50, additionally comprising an advertising engine for displaying advertisements to the participants.

38. An interactive online computerized fantasy sports game system, comprising:

a sign-in module, allowing participants to sign on to the system using a password;

a roster-building module, allowing participants to build a roster comprised of actual sports teams by selecting teams from a list of eligible teams; and

a statistics engine, said statistics engine receiving data concerning performance of said sports teams, and said statistics engine computing points for participants based on the performance of each participant'"'"'s roster.