Internet-based system for enabling a time-constrained competition among a plurality of participants over the internet

• US 6,659,861 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
• Inventors: Faris, Sadeg M., Hamlin, Gregory, Flannery, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US09/579,222
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/50, 463/1, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/1
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 : using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 : Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 : specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 : Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An Internet-based system for enabling a time-constrained competition among a plurality of participants over the Internet. The Internet-based system comprises: a primary server having an embedded global positioning system (GPS) receiver; one or more web servers for providing information about the competition on the World Wide Web (WWW); a login server for enabling participants to log-in with the system prior to the competition; a competitor/participant database for storing information about each participant registered to participate in the competition; an invitation-to-respond/response database for storing invitations-to-responds (ITRs) (e.g. queries, problems, etc.) to be simultaneously displayed to participants at the competition, as well as the responses provided by each of the participants in response to the ITRs; one or more competition-promoting servers, each having an embedded GPS receiver, and conducting the competition process; and a plurality of GSU-enabled client machines. Each GSU-enabled client machine has an embedded Global Synchronization Unit (GSU). Each GSU-enabled client machine enables a registered participant to receive and display ITRs simultaneously with each and every other participant, and provide time and space (TS) stamped responses to the competition promoting servers. The competition promoting server fairly determines a winner amoung the participants independent of network latancies. All such components are interconnected with a globally-extensive network (e.g. the Internet) to enable the competition among the participants.

Claims

1. An Internet-based system for enabling a competition among a plurality of participants over the Internet, comprising:

a primary server having an embedded GPS (global positioning system) receiver;

one or more web servers for providing information about the competition;

a login server for enabling participants to log-in with the system prior to the competition;

a competitor database for storing information about each participant registered to participate in the competition;

an invitation to respond/response database for storing invitations-to-responds (ITRs) to be simultaneously displayed to participants at the competition, as well as the responses provided by each of the participants in response to the ITRs;

one or more competition-promoting servers having an embedded GPS receiver, and enabling the conducting of said competition; and

a plurality of client machines, each having an embedded Global Synchronization Unit (GSU), and enabling a registered participant to receive and display ITRs simultaneously with each and every other participant, and providing time and space (TS) stamped responses to the competition promoting servers;

wherein all such components are interconnected with a globally-extensive network to enable the competition among said plurality of participants.

2. The system of claim 1, which further comprises a virtual network connection between said primary server and an associated set of said competition-promoting servers, as well as between each said competition-promoting serverand an associated set of said client machines.

3. The system of claim 1 which further comprises a plurality of mirrored web servers, each connected to said contestant database and each serving a set of said client machines, and each said client machine being equipped with a web browser.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each said web server comprises web server software providing support for HTML, Java, HTTP, FTP, XML, Active-X, CGI script or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing softwares.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each said client machine is equipped with a GSU and connected through the Internet to a server equipped with a GPS clock unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said GSU comprises a GPS antenna, GPS receiver, central processor, host computer interface, GPS disciplined high-frequency clock, encryption and decryption module, and non-volatile memory.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each said client machine comprises a global synchronization unit (GSU) and various hardware and software layers, including client software selected from the group consisting of a contest client applications, contest plug-ins, contest hooks and drivers, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing client software.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each said client machine is equipped with a GSU and connected through the Internet to a server equipped with a GPS clock unit, where input and output devices are connected to said client machine through said GSU.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said global synchronization unit (GSU) comprises a GPS antenna, GPS receiver, central processor, host computer interface, GPS disciplined high-frequency clock, encryption and decryption module, non-volatile memory, input device monitor and passthrough module, and an output passthrough and signal generation module.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said game server comprises various hardware and software layers including a game server daemon and GPS receiver.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said primary server comprises a primary server daemon, a contest management interface, a high precision clock or timer, high performance network interface, and a GPS receiver.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said login server comprises a login server daemon and a high performance network interface.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow of data and messages between a web server and said client machine includes web site content transmitted from said web server to the client machine, encrypted registration information posted to said web server from said client machine, preliminary contestant username and password sent to said client machine, and contest software downloaded from said web server to said client machine.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow of data and messages between said primary server and said login server employed includes a list of game servers sent from said primary server to said login server.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow of data and messages between one said game server and said login server includes a request for game server status by said login server, and the request includes the login server'"'"'s public key for encryption, and wherein the data flow also includes an encrypted reply by the game server to said login server containing status and loading information about the game server, as well as the game server'"'"'s public key for encryption use by the login server and client machine, and wherein the data flow also includes an encrypted contestant login request from said login server to the game server and a corresponding encrypted reply from the game server to said login server containing a game server access code.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow of data and messages between said login server and a client machine, includes an encrypted contestant login request from the client machine to said login server, a message containing an encrypted contestant ID sent from the login server to the client machine, and an encrypted message from said login server to the client machine containing a game server address and associated game server access code.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow of data and messages between one said game server and one said client machine includes a message from the client machine to the game server containing a contestant ID, a game server access code, and a client machine public key, an additional message from the game server to the client machine containing the game server public key, an additional message from the game server to the client machine containing and encrypted query and start-time, a further message from the game server to the client machine containing an encrypted query decryption key, a further message from the client machine to the game server containing a response notification hash, a further message from the client machine to the game server containing the encrypted response data and security verification hash, a further message from the game server to the client machine containing the security log request, a further message from the client machine to the game server containing the encrypted security log, a final message from the game server to the client machine containing the contest results.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow of data and messages between the primary server and a game server, includes a message from the game server to the primary server containing the game server public key, an additional message from the primary server to the game server containing the primary server public key, a further encrypted message from the primary server to the game server containing the encrypted query, encrypted start-time, and encrypted answer, a further message from the game server to the primary server containing the encrypted preliminary results for the contest, a further message from the primary server to the game server containing an encrypted security analysis request, a further message from the game server to the primary server contains the encrypted security analysis results, a final message from the primary server to the game server containing the encrypted contest results.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow of data and messages between the primary server and a web (http) server, includes game announcements delivered via ftp from said primary server to said web server, and additional data delivered via ftp from said primary server to said web server includes contest results and contestant standings.

20. An Internet-based competition-promoting system for fairly and securely enabling one or more time-constrained competitions among a plurality of competitors simultaneously presented with the same set of data, comprising:

a first subsystem for transmitting an Invitation-to-Respond, or ITR, to each of the competitors participating in the competition promoted by said system in a regulated manner; and

a second subsystem for responding to each ITR presented to said competitors, by submitting an appropriate response or undertaking a particular action;

wherein the plurality of competitors are simultaneously presented with the same set of data, and further wherein each competitor'"'"'s response is timed to ensure fairness in the competitive activity, and thus precisely measured, securely recorded and analyzed.

21. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 20, wherein said same set of data is data selected from the group consisting a question to be answered, a problem, puzzle or riddle to be solved.

22. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 20, wherein said competitors are selected from the group consisting of human beings, programmed computers, and sophisticated androidal machines.

23. The competition-promoting system and method of claim 20, wherein said time-constrained competition is an activity selected from the group consisting of multi-player timed problem-solving games, puzzles, or contests;

on-line real-time auctions, on-line real-time trading of securities, commodities, and foreign currencies;

on-line real-time auctions;

on-line educational testing;

on-line career testing;

on-line aptitude testing;

on-line intelligence quotient (IQ) testing; and

other real-time activities wherein simultaneous presentation of information to a plurality of competitive entities or accurate presentation of IRQs to and collection of responses thereto from one or more human subjects, is critical to the competitive or otherwise time-constrained activity at hand, in order to ensure fundamental principles of fairness and fair play expected by participants, spectators, and sponsors alike.

24. An Internet-based competition-promoting system having system components comprising:

a primary server for providing a source of Invitations-to-Respond and other competition related data;

providing a master clock for the system; and

performing functions or operations involving data received from multiple client machines connected to the system;

a login server for accepting login requests from each competitor'"'"'s client machine and assigning an appropriate competition-promoting server to that client machine, providing a single address for each client machine to use to contact the assigned competition-promoting server when initializing a session in the competition, and intelligently distributing the processing and communications load among the competition-promoting servers;

a competitor database for recording information about each competitor for the proper operation of the competition;

an Invitation-To-Respond/Response (ITR/Response) database for storing or generating Invitations-To-Respond (ITRs) appropriate to the particular competition being promoted, and transmitting those ITR'"'"'s to said client machines, through the other servers in the system;

one or more competition-promoting servers; and

a plurality of client machine for use by a plurality of competitors, each including a local clock, wherein each said competitor interacts with said competition-promoting system through one said client machine, further wherein an idealized universal clock time is derived as a function of a local clock value of the local clock and a master clock time from the master clock, and

wherein said system components are interconnected through the infrastructure of the Internet.

25. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, said competitor database records items of information about each said competitor, selected from the group consisting of his or her identity, preferences, contact information, and competition related data.

26. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein said ITR/Response database contain canonical responses for comparison with the actual responses generated by the competitors.

27. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein each said client machine includes a global synchronization unit (GSU), whereas each said competition-promoting server includes a GPS receiver.

28. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein said global positioning unit (GSU) employed by the competition-enabling system comprises:

a plurality of GPS receivers operating in conjunction with an array of GPS satellites occupying a geodesic orbit.

29. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein said primary server communicates indirectly with said client machines through a number of competition-promoting servers, wherein said competition-promoting servers relay Invitations-To-Respond to the client machines, and receive responses thereto from those client machines.

30. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein said competition-promoting servers perform preliminary processing and sorting of the client machine responses and these pre-processed results are then passed back to said primary server.

31. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein each said competitor uses one said client machine to receive and view the Invitations-To-Respond (ITR), as well as to enter and transmit the responses thereto.

32. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein said client machine comprises a personal computer, augmented by the addition of several software and hardware components, including a global synchronization unit (GSU) installed in the client machine to provide precisely time-stamp client-responses, referred to as client-events, traceable to internationally standardized reference clocks.

33. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein said GSU within each client machine performs decryption operations, generates digitally-signed time and space stamps of various internal and external events at the client machine, and supports timed decryption and presentation of data to the competitor.

34. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein each computer or device in the system will establish a connection or connections to one or more of the other computers through the communications network.

35. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein said connections are virtual connections established through the Internet.

36. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein said communications network comprises a packet-switched data communications network running the popular Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

37. The Internet-based competition-promoting system of claim 24, wherein each said competition server connected to said communications network has a statically assigned IP address, whereas each said client machine connected thereto has either a statically or dynamically assigned IP address.

38. An Internet-based contest-promoting system for enabling a plurality of contestants to participate in a multi-player internetworked time-constrained contest that is regulated in a secure and fundamentally fair manner, comprising:

an information server for supporting a contest process over the Internet and producing invitations to respond (ITR) for response to said contestant in a time-constrained manner;

a plurality of client machines, each said client machine for use by one said contestant to interface with the contest process, receive an ITR displayed in a globally time-synchronized manner, receive a response to the ITR from the contestant in a time-constrained manner, time-stamping said response at the client machine, and transmitting the response and corresponding time-stamp to said information server;

said information server including means for evaluating and ranking said contestants are according to their responses and corresponding time-stamps;

means for registering contestants participating in the contest;

means for controlling and measuring certain time-based elements of the contest including the precise instant at which an ITR is presented to the contestants on all or some subset of the client machines,

wherein said time-based elements shall include the “

start-time”

which is the same for each contestant,

wherein the contest-promoting system includes means for precisely determining the length of time between the start-time and the instant each contestant submits its response which provides the finish-time of the particular contestant,

wherein the length of time, measured between said start-time and said finish-time, provides the response-time of the particular contestant or competitor.

39. The Internet-based contest-promoting system of claim 38, wherein said ITRs are simultaneously presented to each and every client machine registered to compete in the contest.

40. The Internet-based contest-promoting system of claim 38, wherein each client machine incorporates a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and a local clock contained in an embedded or peripheral device to provide a precise timing reference accurate to within 1 microsecond of international atomic clock standard time.

41. The Internet-based contest-promoting system of claim 38, wherein said GSU are programmed to decode and present the ITR in a secure manner at the precise moment desired.

42. The Internet-based contest-promoting system of claim 38, wherein each client machine includes a local clock that is characterized, or analyzed to determine the functional relationship between the local clock time and the global time as determined by a single master clock for the entire contest system, wherein the global time may be determined from the local clock reading.

43. The Internet-based contest-promoting system of claim 38, wherein the display update cycle on each client machine is skewed so that a display update completes exactly at a desired start time which is determined to be the same for each every contestant, regardless of their location on the planet.

44. The Internet-based contest-promoting system of claim 38, wherein characterization of the local clock is performed using an accurate clock connected to the client machine, or using security enhanced versions of the methods and algorithms used in the network time protocol (NTP).

45. The Internet-based contest-promoting system of claim 38, wherein said contest-promoting system further comprises security measures for detecting (and thereby discouraging) cheating by dishonest contestants.

46. The Internet-based contest-promoting system of claim 45, wherein said security measures comprise the use of encryption of the majority of messages between the various computers in the system, and by monitoring and logging the contest-related activities of participating client machines.