On-line gaming method and apparatus

• US 20040248652A1
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creativemass 54 Limited
• Original Assignee: Claire Gilmore Mcdonald, Graham Peter Massey
• Inventors: Massey, Graham Peter, McDonald, Claire Gilmore
• Granted Patent: US 7,470,197 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 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• 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 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3279 wherein the competition is one-to-one, e.g. match

Abstract

An on-line gaming environment provides a forum for competitors to play against each other. Each competitor pays a fee for a game which comprises a number of rounds. A prize fund is generated for each competitor from their entry fee and the prize for a round is the combined prize funds of the two competitors. In each round, opponents are selected at random. A player who loses any rounds is eliminated from the game. A player who wins a predetermined number of consecutive games wins the accumulated fund. Players may select between a number of available games to play and may switch which game is being played in between rounds.

Claims

1. A method of operating an on-line gaming system comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a fee from each of a plurality of players to play a game;

b) establishing a prize fund for each player;

c) matching players together to play a game for a winning prize fund provided from each player'"'"'s prize fund;

d) awarding the winning prize fund provided from each player'"'"'s prize fund to the player winning the game;

e) repeating steps c) and d) for a plurality of game rounds until a player has won a predetermined number of consecutive games; and

f) awarding the winning player the amount of his prize fund.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the matching of players is by random selection from a pool of players.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the pool of players includes players generated by and controlled by the gaming system.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising each player selecting a game type from a plurality of available game types, wherein the matching is performed on players having selected the same game type.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the prize fund is derived from a players game fee less an administrative cost.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein a jackpot fee is deducted from each entry fee.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the jackpot fee provides the prize fund for a jackpot player played by a computer.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein each player contributes a fee for each round of a game played.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the fee for each round is the same.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the fee for each subsequent round is less than the fee for the previous round.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fee is based on premium rate phone line payments.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fee is debited from or charged to a debit card or charge card.

13. A method according to claim 12, comprising conducting a credit check on each customer before permitting a game to commence.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the prize fund is a currency amount and a winning player is paid a currency value after winning a predetermined number of consecutive games.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the prize fund is an accumulation of points and a winning player may convert the points in the prize fund into prizes after winning a predetermined number of consecutive games.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the winning player is awarded the amount of his prize fund after five consecutive victories.

17. A method according to claim 4, wherein a player can change the game type at least once in a game comprising a plurality of game rounds.

18. A method according to claim 1, comprising displaying to players the identity of an opponent in a game round and that opponent'"'"'s prize fund.

19. A method according to claim 1, comprising, prior to matching of players together, displaying to a player a list of top prize funds held by players which whom the player could be matched.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein if the winning prize fund is greater than a predetermined amount, a portion of the prize fund is given to the loser and the remainder to the winner.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the portion given to the loser is 5%.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein a player comprises a team of more than one player.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of players include charity players who contribute no fee to play a game.

24. A method according to claim 1, comprising providing a free on-line simulation of the game to a player prior to payment of a fee for a game by that player.

25. A method according to claim 1, wherein the matching of players prohibits the matching of players both or each playing the first round of a game.

26. A method according to claim 1, wherein a player is matched against a computer generated player in a first round of a game.

27. A method according to claim 1, comprising providing a practice facility to allow players to play games without being matched against other players.

28. A method according to claim 1, comprising providing a non participating player with a display of a game in progress between two competing players.

29. A method of operating an on-line gaming system comprising the steps of:

receiving from each player a fee for a game comprising a plurality of rounds;

establishing for each player a prize fund based on the received fee;

offering the players a choice of games to play and receiving a game selection from players;

randomly matching players having the same game selection to play against each other for a prize fund equal to the prize finds of each player;

eliminating the loser from the game;

randomly matching the winner with a player to play a further round of the game until the player either loses a round or wins a predetermined number of consecutive rounds; and

awarding at least the majority of the total accumulated prize fund to the winner after the predetermined number of consecutive victories.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein all the accumulated prize fund is awarded to the winner of the predetermined number of consecutive victories unless the fund is greater than a predetermined amount.

31. An on-line gaming system comprising:

a system server communicating on-line with a plurality of players;

a games server coupled to the system server for executing software relating to a plurality of games to be played by the player;

a billing computer coupled to the system server for providing game playing fees to the system server on instruction from games players;

wherein the system server comprises means for randomly generating a game opponent for a player from available players;

means for assigning a prize fund owned by each player of a game to the winner of the game; and

means for communicating a total accumulated prize fund to the billing computer on completion of a predetermined number of consecutive victories by a player.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein players communicate with the system via a digital telephone.

33. A system according to claim 31, wherein players communicate with the system via a PC.

34. A system according to claim 31, wherein players communicate with the system via a games console.

35. A system according to claim 31, wherein players communicate with the system via a mobile telephone.

36. A system according to claim 31, wherein players communicate with the system via a PDA.

37. A method of providing an on-line gaming environment, comprising:

charging players a fee to play a game;

establishing a player prize fund derived from the fee;

randomly matching players against each other and awarding one-player the total available prize fund if that fund is below a predetermined amount; and

awarding a player a prize equal to the prize fund only when the player has won a plurality of consecutive rounds of a game.