Treasure hunt game using pager and paging system

• US 5,942,969 A
• Filed: 01/23/1997
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wicks, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US08/792,858
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.02, 340/311.1, 340/323 R, 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/825.46, 340/905, 273/454, 273/455, 273/457, 273/460
• US Class Current: 340/286.02
• 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 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• 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 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A game can be played using pagers and a paging system. Game participants receive information and clues from the paging system directing them to a particular landmark or location. Once there, the participants signal the system with a response which is dependent on their being at the correct location. The paging system then additionally determines that the participant is transmitting from roughly the correct location. When the participant is thus verified as being at the correct location, the next clue is transmitted to the participant. This continues until a participant correctly deciphers all the clues and arrives at the end of the game.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game using pagers and a paging system comprising the steps of:

providing a paging system;

transmitting with said paging system, messages about said game to a plurality of pagers which are being used by game participants; and

receiving with said paging system messages from said plurality of pagers about said game, wherein said received messages are in response to said transmitted messages;

wherein said game is a treasure hunt and said step of transmitting messages with said paging system comprises transmitting clues directing game participants to a particular location.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting messages further comprises the step of associating a question with each of said clues, an answer to which may be determined at said particular location.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of posting said answer at said particular location.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

inputting said answer to one of said pagers; and

transmitting said answer to said paging system with said pager.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said answer transmitted by said pager;

determining the correctness of said answer; and

transmitting a response with said paging system based on the correctness of said answer.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said answer transmitted by said pager;

determining with said paging system the area from which said answer was transmitted;

determining whether said area is the area from which said answer should be transmitted in accordance with said clue; and

transmitting a response to said answer based on whether said area is the area from which said answer should be transmitted in accordance with said clue.

7. A game using pagers and a paging system comprising:

a paging system; and

a plurality of pagers capable of receiving messages from said paging system, receiving input from a game participant, and transmitting said input to said paging system;

wherein said messages received from said paging system comprise information about said game and said input comprises information about said game which is in response to said messages received from said paging system;

wherein said game is a treasure hunt and said messages transmitted from said paging system comprise clues directing game participants to particular locations.

8. A game as claimed in claim 7, wherein said messages transmitted from said paging system further comprise a question associated with each of said clues, an answer to which may be determined at said particular location.

9. A game as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a posting of said answer at said particular location.

10. A game as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of pagers each comprise:

means for inputting said answer; and

means for transmitting said answer to said paging system.

11. A game as claimed in claim 10, wherein said paging system comprises:

means for receiving said transmitted answer;

means for determining the correctness of said answer; and

means for transmitting a response based on the correctness of said answer.

12. A game as claimed in claim 10, wherein said paging system comprises:

means for receiving said transmitted answer;

means for determining the area from which said answer was transmitted;

means for determining whether said area is the area from which said answer should be transmitted in accordance with said clue; and

means for transmitting a response to said answer based on whether said area is the area from which said answer should be transmitted in accordance with said clue.