Method and system for playing games using wireless communication

• US 20050250580A1
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Bird
• Original Assignee: John Bird
• Inventors: Bird, John
• Application Number:
  US10/838,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20050250580A1
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• 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 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz

Abstract

A game method and system is shown, comprising at least one cell phone and a web site wherein a game sponsor sets rules of the game and provides the rules to users of the cell phones, the game sponsor then provides clues to the game, the user solves the clues and provides solutions to the sponsor and the sponsor determines a winner of the game based upon the solutions provided. The games can be of any variety, such as the games of tag, elimination and treasure hunt. The preferred embodiment shows the cell phone having text messaging capabilities. Other embodiments would show the cell phone having picture taking, image capture or video capture capabilities as well. The web site comprises the usual and customary capabilities of web sites in general, such as having the ability to allow password entrance, to accept uploaded information, to download and disseminate information to individual cell phones and enmasse to a plurality of cell phones by way of text messaging, and to accept secure forms of fee payments, such as accepting credit cards or other Internet based payment means.

Claims

1. A method for playing games using wireless communication comprising:

a wireless communications network capable of transmitting and receiving information;

at least one wireless device capable of transmitting and receiving information;

at least one user of said wireless device;

an Internet web site capable of transmitting and receiving information from said wireless device through said wireless communications network, and;

a game sponsor, whereby said game sponsor sets rules of a game and provides said rules to said user of said wireless device, said game sponsor then provides clues to said game, said user solves said clues and provides solutions to said sponsor and said sponsor determines a winner of said game based upon said solutions provided.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said wireless device is a cell phone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of wireless devices and a plurality of users.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said wireless device has text messaging capabilities.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said wireless device has picture, voice, and video transmission and reception capabilities.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said wireless device has Internet access capabilities.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said wireless communications network, said wireless device and said web site have Voice Response and Recognition systems capabilities.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said information comprises games rules, game clues, responses to game clues, solutions, winner determination, pictures, video, text messaging and voice responses.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said sponsor provides said rules, said clues and said winner determination by posting said rules, said clues and said winner determination on said web site and said user accesses said web site and views said rules, said clues and said winner determination and downloads to said web site said solutions and responses to game clues.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said sponsor provides said rules, said clues and said winner determination by text messaging and by transmitting pictures, video, and voice responses to said wireless device and wherein said user provides to said sponsor said responses and solutions to said clues by text messaging and by transmitting pictures, video, and voice responses with said wireless device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said rules comprise a requirement of a payment of a joining fee subscription by said user to said game.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein said wireless devices have text messaging and picture, voice, and video transmission and reception capabilities, wherein said wireless devices have Internet access capabilities, wherein said wireless communications network, said wireless devices and said web site have Voice Response and Recognition systems capabilities, wherein said information comprises game rules, game clues, responses and solutions to game clues, winner determination, pictures, video, text messaging and voice responses, wherein said sponsor provides said information to said users by posting said information on said web site and said users access said web site and view said information, wherein said sponsor further provides said information to said users by text messaging and transmitting pictures, video, and voice responses to said wireless devices, and wherein said users provide said responses and solutions to said sponsor by posting said solutions to said web site, by text messaging and by transmitting pictures, video, and voice responses with said wireless device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said game is the game of treasure hunt.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said game comprises a plurality of levels, each said level comprising its own set of said clues and said solutions.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said clues comprise physical location information and said solutions comprise a determination of said physical location.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said user can continue to play said game and advance to a subsequent level only upon providing said solutions to said clues at each said level.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said user can continue to play said game and advance to a subsequent level only upon going to said physical location referenced in said clues, conveying to said sponsor said identifying information about said physical location, wherein said sponsor then transmits a subsequent level clue to said user, said user solves said subsequent level clue and provides to said sponsor said solution to said subsequent level clue.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the winner is said user who determines said physical location first by going to said physical location and finding a treasure.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the winner is said user who determines said physical location and uploading to said web site said physical location solution.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said user can continue to play said game and advance to a subsequent level only upon going to said physical location referenced in said clues and obtaining at said physical location a subsequent level clue.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein said game is the game of elimination.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one said user is a targeted victim.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising said sponsor requiring additional identifier information and game parameters, wherein said additional identifier information comprises said user'"'"'s name, clothing, height, weight, hairstyle, color of hair, eye color, and other physical characteristics, said user'"'"'s geographical location and time of day at said location, said additional identifier information being required to be updated periodically as well as when said additional identifier information changes and wherein said game parameters comprise dates and times of said game, rules for completing said elimination, a geographical area of said game, and qualifications of said users.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said rules for completing said elimination comprise said user providing to said sponsor additional identifier information about said targeted victim, said user contacting said targeted victim and providing to said victim a phrase, said phrase being comprised of a code word or a series of code words provided to said user by said sponsor, and said user completing said elimination without being observed by any other user.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the rules for completing said elimination further comprise said user giving to said target victim an identifier, wherein said target victim would then contact said sponsor and provide said identifier to said sponsor.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said identifier comprises a process, a code, or a physical item.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the means for providing said additional identifier information to said sponsor comprises submission of a photograph of said target victim

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the winner is said user who has not been identified as an observed targeted victim.

29. The method of claim 12 wherein said game is the game of tag.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein each said user is given a list of all such users participating in said game.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein a scoring system would be used by said sponsor, said scoring system comprising said user conveying to said sponsor a positive number of tags said user made against other users and a negative number of times said user was tagged by another user, whereby points would be added to said user'"'"'s score when said user successfully tagged another user, and points would be deducted whenever said user was tagged by another user, said game would be ongoing for a specific period of time, and the user with the highest score at the end of said specific period of time would be declared winner.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said rules would limit said users to a geographical location, said geographical location being defined by said sponsor.

33. A system for playing games using wireless communication comprising:

a wireless communications network capable of transmitting and receiving information;

at least one wireless device capable of transmitting and receiving information;

at least one user of said wireless device;

an Internet web site capable of transmitting and receiving information from said wireless device through said wireless communications network, and;

a game sponsor, whereby said game sponsor sets rules of a game and provides said rules to said user of said wireless device, said game sponsor then provides clues to said game, said user solves said clues and provides solutions to said sponsor and said sponsor determines a winner of said game based upon said solutions provided.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein there are a plurality of wireless devices and a plurality of users.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein said wireless device is a cell phone.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein said wireless device has text messaging capabilities.

37. The system of claim 33 wherein said wireless device has picture, voice, and video transmission and reception capabilities.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein said wireless device has Internet access capabilities.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein said wireless communications network, said wireless device and said web site have Voice Response and Recognition systems capabilities.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein said information comprises game rules, game clues, responses to game clues, solutions, winner determination, pictures, video, text messaging and voice responses.

41. The system of claim 33 wherein said rules comprise a requirement of a payment of a joining fee subscription by said user to said game.

42. The system of claim 33 wherein said sponsor provides said rules, said clues and said winner determination by posting said rules, said clues and said winner determination on said web site and said user accesses said web site and views said rules, said clues and said winner determination and downloads to said web site said solutions and responses to game clues.

43. The system of claim 33 wherein said sponsor provides said rules, said clues and said winner determination by text messaging and by transmitting pictures, video, and voice responses to said wireless device and wherein said user provides to said sponsor said responses and solutions to said clues by text messaging and by transmitting pictures, video, and voice responses with said wireless device.

44. The system of claim 35 wherein said wireless devices have text messaging and picture, voice, and video transmission and reception capabilities, wherein said wireless devices haves Internet access capabilities, wherein said wireless communications network, said wireless devices and said web site have Voice Response and Recognition systems capabilities, wherein said information comprises game rules, game clues, responses and solutions to game clues, winner determination, pictures, video, text messaging and voice responses, wherein said sponsor provides said information to said users by posting said information on said web site and said users access said web site and view said information, wherein said sponsor further provides said information to said users by text messaging and transmitting pictures, video, and voice responses to said wireless devices, and wherein said users provide said responses and solutions to said sponsor by posting said solutions to said web site, by text messaging and by transmitting pictures, video, and voice responses with said wireless device.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein said game is selected from the group consisting of elimination, treasure hunt and tag.