Database driven online distributed tournament system
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of conducting a distributed electronic tournament for a plurality of players comprising:
- exchanging information between a central controller and a player located remotely from the central controller, the information (i) being exchanged while the player plays a game in the tournament and (ii) influencing game play; and
storing in a database player information generated as the player participates in the tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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Abstract
A method and a system for a distributed electronic tournament system in which many remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament. The method includes the steps of (a) uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; (b) responding to payment of an entry fee by the player for allowing the player to participate in a tournament occurring within a fixed time window via an associated input/output device; (c) accessing a database to store in the database player information that is generated as the player participates in the tournament, such information being available for use in a subsequent tournament, which is administered by said controller and in which the player participates; and (d) awarding the player a prize for achieving a pre-established performance level in the tournament. In another preferred embodiment, the method further includes the steps of determining whether the player has been qualified to advance to a subsequent game session, in which at least one player is eliminated from the previous game session; and permitting each player qualified to a subsequent game session to participate in that game session. The system includes software and hardware to implement the method steps.
685 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method of conducting a distributed electronic tournament for a plurality of players comprising:
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exchanging information between a central controller and a player located remotely from the central controller, the information (i) being exchanged while the player plays a game in the tournament and (ii) influencing game play; and
storing in a database player information generated as the player participates in the tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
arranging for the player to provide an entry fee in exchange for participating in the tournament.
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3. The method of claim 2, wherein the entry fee comprises a subscription to a plurality of tournaments.
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4. The method of claim 2, wherein said arranging comprises receiving a payment identifier associated with the player.
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5. The method of claim 2, wherein the entry fee is based on a period of time the player spends playing the game.
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6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
awarding to the player a prize.
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7. The method of claim 6, wherein said awarding is based on a performance of the player in the tournament.
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8. The method of claim 6, wherein the player is a member of a team of players and said awarding is based on a performance of the team in the tournament.
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9. The method of claim 6, wherein the prize is based on a number of players in the tournament.
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10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
adjusting a difficulty of the game play based on the player information.
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11. An apparatus for conducting a distributed electronic tournament for a plurality of players, comprising:
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a processor; and
a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to perform the method of claim 1.
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12. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform the method of claim 1.
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13. An apparatus for conducting a distributed electronic tournament for a plurality of players, comprising:
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means for exchanging information between a central controller and a player located remotely from the central controller, the information (i) being exchanged while the player plays a game in the tournament and (ii) influencing game play; and
means for storing in a database player information generated as the player participates in the tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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14. A method of conducting a distributed electronic tournament for a plurality of players, comprising:
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receiving information at a central controller, the information (i) being received from a player through a player output device having a secure memory and (ii) influencing play of the game in the tournament played by the player; and
storing in a database player information generated as the player participates in the tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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15. A method of conducting a distributed electronic tournament for a plurality of players, comprising:
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receiving information at a central controller, the information influencing play of the game in the tournament played by a player, wherein the game relates to at least one of (i) a recently concluded event and (ii) an on-going event; and
storing in a database player information generated as the player participates in the tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of conducting a distributed electronic tournament for a plurality of players, comprising:
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arranging for a player to participate in the tournament, said arranging limiting a total number of players in the tournament to a predetermined number; and
receiving information at a central controller, the information influencing play of the game in the tournament played by the player storing player information generated as the player in the tournament and the information being available for a subsequent tournament.
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18. A method of conducting a distributed electronic tournament for a plurality of players, comprising:
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arranging for a player to participate in the tournament, said arranging being performed based on player information retrieved from a database, the player information being associated with a qualifying event; and
receiving information at a central controller, the information influencing play of the game in the tournament played by the player storing player information generated as the player in the tournament and the information being available for a subsequent tournament.
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19. A method of conducting distributed electronic tournaments, comprising:
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providing a plurality of payment options to a player;
receiving payment information from the player;
said payment information relating to at least one of the plurality of payment options. arranging for the player to provide an entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a first tournament;
storing the payment information; and
retrieving the payment information to arrange for the player to provide a second entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a second tournament.
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20. A method of conducting a distributed electronic tournament, comprising:
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storing in a database player information generated as a player participates in the tournament; and
adjusting a difficulty level of the tournament, based on the stored player information, as the tournament is played.
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21. A method of conducting a distributed electronic tournament, the tournament having a number of positions, comprising:
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reserving a predetermined number of positions for a selected group of players until the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away; and
making the reserved positions available to players not in the selected group when the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away.
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22. A distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising:
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(a) means for uniquely identifying one of the players communicating with the central controller via one of the associated input/output devices;
(b) means for allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee; and
.(c) means for storing in a database player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament, such information being available for use in a subsequent tournament, which is administered by said controller, wherein the means for allowing;
provides a plurality of payment options;
stores a payment option selected by the player in the tournament; and
automatically activates the selected payment option after the player has been identified in a subsequent tournament.
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23. A distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament having multiple game sessions through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising:
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(a) means for uniquely identifying one of the players communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device;
(b) means for allowing the player to participate in a particular game session via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee;
(c) means for determining whether the player has been qualified to advance to a subsequent game session based on player information generated during participation in the particular game session, wherein at least one player from the particular game session is eliminated; and
(d) means for permitting each player qualified to the subsequent game session to participate in the subsequent game session, wherein the means for allowing includes;
means for providing at least one payment option;
means for storing a payment option selected by the player in the particular game session; and
means for automatically activating the selected payment option after the player has been identified in a subsequent game session for payment of a subsequent game session entry fee.
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24. A system for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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a memory;
a communication port; and
a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;
receive information, the information (i) being received from a player through a player output device, and (ii) influencing play of a game; and
store player information in a database, the player information generated as the player participates in a tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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25. A computer readable medium for use in a tournament system, the computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:
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computer readable means for obtaining information, the information (i) being received from a player through a player output device, and (ii) influencing play of a game; and
computer readable means for saving player information in a database, the player information generated as the player participates in a tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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26. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having a computer readable program means embodied therein for operating an information system, the computer readable program means in said article of manufacture operable to;
receive information, the information (i) being received from a player through a player output device, and (ii) influencing play of a game; and
store player information in a database, the player information generated as the player participates in a tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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27. An apparatus for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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means for obtaining information, the information (i) being received from a player through a player output device, and (ii) influencing play of a game; and
means for saving player information in a database player, the information generated as the player participates in a tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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28. A system for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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a memory;
a communication port; and
a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;
receive information, the information influencing play of a game in a tournament played by a player, wherein the game relates to at least one of (i) a recently concluded event and (ii) an on-going event; and
storing player information in a database, the player information generated as the player participates in the tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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29. A computer readable medium for use in a tournament system, the computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:
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computer readable means for obtaining information, the information influencing play of a game in a tournament played by a player, wherein the game relates to at least one of (i) a recently concluded event and (ii) an on-going event; and
computer readable means for saving player information in a database, the player information generated as the player participates in the tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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30. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having a computer readable program means embodied therein for operating an information system, the computer readable program means in said article of manufacture operable to;
receive information, the information influencing play of a game in a tournament played by a player, wherein the game relates to at least one of (i) a recently concluded event and (ii) an on-going event; and
store player information in a database, the player information generated as the player participates in the tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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31. An apparatus for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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means for obtaining information, the information influencing play of a game in the tournament played by a player, wherein the game relates to at least one of (i) a recently concluded event and (ii) an on-going event; and
means for saving player information in a database, the player information generated as the player participates in the tournament, the stored player information being available for use in a subsequent tournament.
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32. A system for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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a memory;
a communication port; and
a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;
allow a player to participate in a tournament, wherein a total number of players in the tournament is limited to a predetermined number; and
receive information influencing play of a game in the tournament played by the player said payment information relating to at least one of the plurality of payment options.
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33. A computer readable medium for use in a tournament system, the computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:
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computer readable means for enabling a player to participate in a tournament, wherein a total number of players in the tournament is limited to a predetermined number; and
computer readable means for obtaining information influencing play of a game in the tournament played by the player computer readable means for saving player information generated as the player participates in the tournament and the information being available for a subsequent tournament.
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34. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having a computer readable program means embodied therein for operating an information system, the computer readable program means in said article of manufacture operable to;
allow a player to participate in a tournament, wherein a total number of players in the tournament is limited to a predetermined number; and
receive information influencing play of a game in the tournament played by the player store player information generated as the player participates in the tournament and the information being available for a subsequent tournament.
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35. An apparatus for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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means for enabling a player to participate in a tournament, wherein a total number of players in the tournament is limited to a predetermined number; and
means for obtaining information influencing play of a game in the tournament played by the player means for storing player information generated as the player participates in the tournament and the information being available for a subsequent tournament.
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36. A system for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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a memory;
a communication port; and
a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;
allow a player to participate in a tournament based on player information retrieved from a database, the player information being associated with a qualifying event; and
receive information, the information influencing play of a game in the tournament played by the player storing player information generated as the player participates in the tournament and the information being available for a subsequent tournament.
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37. A computer readable medium for use in a tournament system, the computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:
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computer readable means for enabling a player to participate in a tournament based on player information retrieved from a database, the player information being associated with a qualifying event; and
computer readable means for obtaining information, the information influencing play of a game in the tournament played by the player computer readable means for saving player information generated as the player participates in the tournament and the information being available for a subsequent tournament.
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38. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having a computer readable program means embodied therein for operating an information system, the computer readable program means in said article of manufacture operable to;
allow a player to participate in a tournament based on player information retrieved from a database, the player information being associated with a qualifying event; and
receive information, the information influencing play of a game in the tournament played by the player store player information generated as the player participates in the tournament and the information being available for a subsequent tournament.
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39. An apparatus for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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means for enabling a player to participate in a tournament based on player information retrieved from a database, the player information being associated with a qualifying event; and
means for obtaining information, the information influencing play of a game in the tournament played by the player means for storing player information generated as the player participates in the tournament and the information being available for a subsequent tournament.
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40. A system for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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a memory;
a communication port; and
a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;
provide a plurality of payment options to a player;
receive payment information from the player, said payment information relating to one of said plurality of payment options;
allow the player to provide an entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a first tournament;
store the payment information; and
retrieve the payment information to arrange for the player to provide a second entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a second tournament.
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41. A computer readable medium for use in a tournament system, the computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:
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computer readable means for making available a plurality of payment options to a player;
computer readable means for obtaining payment information from the player, said payment information relating to one of said plurality of payment options;
computer readable means for enabling the player to provide an entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a first tournament;
computer readable means for saving the payment information; and
computer readable means for obtaining the payment information to arrange for the player to provide a second entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a second tournament.
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42. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having a computer readable program means embodied therein for operating an information system, the computer readable program means in said article of manufacture operable to;
provide a plurality of payment options to a player;
receive payment information from the player, said payment information relating to one of said plurality of payment options;
allow the player to provide an entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a first tournament;
store the payment information; and
retrieve the payment information to arrange for the player to provide a second entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a second tournament.
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43. An apparatus for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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means for making available a plurality of payment options to a player;
means for obtaining payment information from the player, said payment information relating to one of said plurality of payment options;
means for enabling the player to provide an entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a first tournament;
means for saving the payment information; and
means for obtaining the payment information to arrange for the player to provide a second entry fee, using the payment information, in exchange for participating in a second tournament.
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44. A system for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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a memory;
a communication port; and
a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;
store in a database player information generated as a player participates in a tournament; and
adjust the difficulty level of the tournament, based on the stored player information.
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45. A computer readable medium for use in a tournament system, the computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:
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computer readable means for saving in a database player information generated as a player participates in a tournament; and
computer readable means for changing the difficulty level of the tournament, based on the stored player information.
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46. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having a computer readable program means embodied therein for operating an information system, the computer readable program means in said article of manufacture operable to;
store in a database player information generated as a player participates in a tournament; and
adjust the difficulty level of the tournament, based on the stored player information.
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47. An apparatus for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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means for saving in a database player information generated as a player participates in a tournament; and
means for changing the difficulty level of the tournament, based on the stored player information.
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48. A system for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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a memory;
a communication port; and
a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;
reserve a predetermined number of positions for a selected group of players until the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away; and
make reserved positions available to players not in the selected group when the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away.
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49. A computer readable medium for use in a tournament system, the computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:
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computer readable means for saving a predetermined number of positions for a selected group of players until the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away; and
computer readable means for providing saved positions available to players not in the selected group when the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away.
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50. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having a computer readable program means embodied therein for operating an information system, the computer readable program means in said article of manufacture operable to;
reserve a predetermined number of positions for a selected group of players until the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away; and
make reserved positions available to players not in the selected group when the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away.
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51. An apparatus for conducting a tournament, comprising:
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means for saving a predetermined number of positions for a selected group of players until the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away; and
means for providing saved positions available to players not in the selected group when the starting time of the tournament is a preset time away.
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Specification