On-line game playing with advertising

• US 6,625,578 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Masque Publishing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Masque Publishing, Inc.
• Inventors: Wisler, James M., Spaur, Charles W., Lappin, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alvarez, Raquel
• Application Number:
  US09/797,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/10, 705/14, 463/42, 463/40, 463/41
• US Class Current: 705/14.5
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/22 with advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

The playing of games with advertising over a network, such as the Internet, is provided. The system for on-line game playing and advertising includes one or more client machines, game servers with advertisement servers, together with at least one database server. One advertisement is displayed using the client machine immediately after a validated detection of the completion of the game is made by the game server. This advertisement is displayed using the client machine for at least a predetermined time interval during which the player is not provided with control for removing the advertisement. Another advertisement is displayed using the client machine at the time the game is being played using game elements, such as card backs and banners. Advertising data is stored related to each displayed advertisement including the identity of the advertisement, when the advertisement was displayed, and the reaction to the advertisement by each player playing the on-line game utilizing a client machine.

Claims

1. A method for playing on-line card and board games while providing advertising, comprising:

providing game software with a first client machine, said game software is executed on said first client machine for playing at least one of a first on-line card game and a first on-line board game having a number of game elements including a first game element;

receiving first advertising information by said first client machine from a central subsystem, said first advertising information being correlated with said first game element;

displaying said first advertising information confined within said first game element using said game software executing on said first client machine; and

controlling location of said first advertising information using said game software during playing of said one of said first on-line card game and said first on-line board game.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said providing step includes downloading said game software to said first client machine by said central subsystem in communication with said first client machine.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said displaying step includes displaying said first advertising information with at least one of the following;

a back of a playing card, a board piece, and a money chip.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said controlling step includes controlling said first advertising information to be located with said first game element when said first game element is caused to move during playing of said at least one of said first on-line card game and said first on-line board game.