Method for a game of skill tournament

• US 6,174,237 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Stephenson
• Original Assignee: John Stephenson
• Inventors: Stephenson, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/316,840
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/40, 463/43, 463/9, 463/10, 463/11, 463/12, 463/14, 463/25, 463/29, 463/30, 434/322, 434/323, 434/324, 434/332, 434/350, 700/90, 700/91, 700/92, 700/93
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• 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 2300/404 characterized by a local network connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• 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: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method for a game of skill tournament that is challenging and provides the player a reliable gauge of his skill level as compared to other players. The tournament has a qualifying round and a playoff round, and is played over an interactive computer system. In the qualifying round, a player competes against a host computer. The object of this round is to score a sufficient number of points to qualify for the highest level of performance possible. Once a player obtains a level of performance, he is recognized for his accomplishment and given a reward. This allows the player to gauge his skill level. In the playoff round, those players reaching a predetermined level of performance, play the same game simultaneously against the host computer under the same rules and conditions for a set amount of time. At the end of this time frame, the results are analyzed. Those players with the highest point totals will be recognized and given a reward.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game of skill tournament having a qualifying round and a playoff round, and played over an interactive computer system, said interactive computer system having a host computer system, a plurality of terminals computers and compatible software, said method comprising the following steps:

a. playing a game of skill in a qualifying round between a single player and the host computer;

b. evaluating the results of said qualifying round to determine if said player qualifies to be classified within a specific performance level from a plurality of performance levels ranging from a low performance level to a high performance level;

c. evaluating the results of said qualifying round to determine if said player qualifies to be classified within a qualifying performance level taken from said plurality of performance levels;

d. distributing to said player a performance level award, said performance level award being dependent upon the specific performance level obtained;

e. playing said game of skill in a playoff round between said player and the host computer simultaneously along with other players, wherein each player has been classified within a qualifying performance level;

f. evaluating the results of said playoff round to determine a tournament winner and subsequent ranking of players; and

g. distributing tournament awards to tournament participants.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said interactive computer system is selected from the group consisting of a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), campus-wide network, fixed based unit network, Intranet or Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said qualifying round is defined as a plurality of individual games and the results of said qualifying round is an aggregate of the results of each individual game.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said performance level award increases as a player qualifies for higher performance level classifications.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said qualifying performance level as recited in subparagraph (d) is further defined as being the highest performance level.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of performance levels is further defined as having four performance levels ranging from a low performance level to a medium-low performance level to a medium-high performance level to a high performance level.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said qualifying performance level is further defined as being the medium-high and highest performance levels.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step (b) and step (c) are performed simultaneously.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said game of skill is further defined as a card game requiring skill and knowledge.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said card game is selected from the group consisting of rummy, gin rummy, poker, bridge, pinochle, bezique, piquet, klaberjass, julepe, boure, cribbage, casino, euchre, napoleon, two hand five hundred, spoil five, ecarte, hearts, cans, seven-up, draw seven, auction pitch, blackjack, pontoon, fifteen, van john, seven and a half, ten and a half, pong, maco, chemin de fer, baccarat, skin game, horse race, eights, sharnery, sharney gin, doctor videtti, tableanette, and solitaire.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said game of skill is further defined as a question and answer game requiring skill and knowledge.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said trivia game is selected from the group consisting of geography, history, motion picture, science, bible, literature, fictional writings, nonfictional writings, musicians, writers, composers, actors, statesmen, military battles, military leaders, mathematical problems, mathematical formulas, fine arts, horticulture, agriculture, medicine, television shows, spelling, phrase origins, word origins, science-fiction, sporting events, athletics, anatomy and astronomy.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said game of skill is further defined as a strategy game requiring skill and knowledge.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said strategy game is selected from the group consisting of crosswords, word search, word scramble, word match, chess, maze games, computer generated sporting games, player participation sports including virtual sporting events, video sporting events and computer based sporting events, player participation virtual reality games, player participation action games, dominos, checkers, pinball and foosball.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said game of skill is based on the memory reaction of the player.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said game of skill is based on the manual dexterity and reaction time of the player.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said playoff round is played at a predetermined time and date.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said playoff round is played for a predetermined amount of time.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said player can participate in said qualifying round during a predetermined time frame.