MULTI-PLAYER AUDIO GAME PLAYABLE ON INTERNET

• US 20090305784A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael K. Wong
• Original Assignee: Michael K. Wong
• Inventors: Wong, Michael K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,997,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/35
• 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 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00126 using audio equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/145 Multiplayer musical games, e.g. karaoke-like multiplayer videogames
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor

Abstract

An audio game system and method playable with a website server having an online connection on a network such as the Internet to a plurality of computers for respective participants employs a website enabled to receive from each participant'"'"'s computer a music file entry selected in response to a game question or challenge issued by the website and determining an ordering by time of response of a first-in-time music file entry and sending it for audio playback on the participants'"'"' computers as a winning entry to the game question or challenge. Preferably, a participant'"'"'s time-of-response is measured by a client applet on each participant'"'"'s computer, and sent with the music file entry to the website server to enable the server to determine at least a first-in-time response accurately despite differences in bandwidth and connection speeds of the participants'"'"' computers.

Claims

1. An audio game system playable with a website server having an online connection on a network such as the Internet to a plurality of computers for respective participants, comprising:

a website operable on the server for playing the audio game on the network with a plurality of computers for respective participants, wherein said website is enabled to receive from each participant'"'"'s computer a music file selected by the participant as an entry for the game in response to a game question or challenge issued by the website from among a plurality of music files of a participant'"'"'s music inventory maintained on the computer;

said website having a music file queuing procedure for determining an ordering by time of response of music files received by the website from the participants in response to the game question or challenge issued by the website; and

said website having a winning response playback procedure for sending at least a first-in-time music file entry for audio playback on the participants'"'"' computers as a winning entry to the game question or challenge issued by the website.

2. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the music file queuing procedure comprises a time-of-response client applet downloadable to run on each participant'"'"'s computer for measuring the participant'"'"'s time-of-response from receipt of the game question or challenge issued by the website to the sending by the participant of a selected music file entry back to the website.

3. An audio game system according to claim 2, wherein the client applet is configured to test the relative time of travel for data between the website server and each client by sending a time-of-receipt measurement and time for sending a response to the website server when a music file is selected to be sent by the client to the server, thereby enabling the server to determine how long it takes a data message to make a round trip to each participant, and therefore make adjustment for sending to or receiving from the client of a data message based on the relative difference in time for data travel.

4. An audio game system according to claim 2, wherein the client applet provides an audio game interface in a browser operable on the client'"'"'s computer.

5. An audio game system according to claim 2, wherein the client applet handles one or more other game client functions of the group consisting of playing an audio output of music file entries transmitted by the website, voting, text entry, and keeping score.

6. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled with a voting function for receipt of votes from the game participants whether a first-in-time music file entry meets the question or challenge criteria or not, and if the voting is determined that it does not meet the criteria, then the website server is enabled to send a next-in-time music file entry as a winning entry.

7. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled with a voting function for receipt of votes from the game participants which of the music file entries sent by participants best meets the question or challenge criteria, and the website server is enabled to select the music file entry voted as a best winning entry.

8. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled to inform all participants of a winning entry and to update a game scoreboard.

9. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled to send the participant who sent the winning entry a button for acknowledging their winning entry and requesting a stop to the playback of the winning music file entry on all participants'"'"' computers.

10. An audio game system console according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled to send the streaming audio file for a winning entry to all participants'"'"' computers, and each participant'"'"'s computer is enabled to playback an audio output when sent a music file as a streaming audio file.

11. A method of playing an audio game online between a website operable on a server connected online with a network such as the Internet connected to a plurality of participants through their respective computers, comprising:

the website issuing a game question or challenge to each participant requiring selection of a song represented by a music file stored on a participant'"'"'s computer in response to the game question or challenge;

the website receiving participants'"'"' selections of their respective music files as response entries to the game question or challenge by the respective participants;

determining an ordering by time of response of the music file selections received from the participants in response to the game question or challenge; and

selecting at least a first-in-time of response music file selection as a winning entry to the game question or challenge issued by the website.

12. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein a participant'"'"'s time-of-response to the game question or challenge is measured by a client applet on each participant'"'"'s computer for measuring the participant'"'"'s time-of-response from receipt of the game question or challenge issued by the website to the sending by the participant of a selected music file entry back to the website.

13. An audio game method according to claim 12, wherein the client applet is configured to test the relative time of travel for data between the website server and each client by sending a time-of-receipt measurement and time for sending a response to the website server when a music file is selected to be sent by the client to the server, thereby enabling the server to determine music file is selected to be sent by the client to the server, thereby enabling the server to determine how long it takes a data message to make a round trip to each participant, and therefore make adjustment for sending to or receiving from the client of a data message based on the relative difference in time for data travel.

14. An audio game method according to claim 12, wherein the client applet provides an audio game interface in a browser operable on the client'"'"'s computer.

15. An audio game method according to claim 12, wherein the client applet handles one or more other game client functions of the group consisting of playing an audio output of music file entries transmitted by the website, voting, text entry, and keeping score.

16. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the website server is enabled with a voting function for receipt of votes from the game participants whether a first-in-time music file entry meets the question or challenge criteria or not, and if the voting is determined that it does not meet the criteria, then the website server is enabled to send a next-in-time music file entry as a winning entry.

17. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the website server is enabled with a voting function for receipt of votes from the game participants which of the music file entries sent by participants best meets the question or challenge criteria, and the website server is enabled to select the music file entry voted as a best winning entry.

18. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the website server is enabled to inform all participants of a winning entry and to update a game scoreboard.

19. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the website server is enabled to send the participant who sent the winning entry a button for acknowledging their winning entry and requesting a stop to the playback of the winning music file entry on all participants'"'"' computers.

20. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the game website enables other types of participants to participate as judges or audience members in voting to reject an unsuitable entry or to score a most suitable entry or to have exclusive power over voting such as in judging.