Interactive real time computer processed golf tournament system

• US 6,775,580 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gyro Golf Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gyro Golf Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Jira, Thomas J., Boyer, Clyde H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marks, Christina M.
• Application Number:
  US09/999,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 700/90-93, 473/131, 473/407, 473/409, 463/1-3, 463/40-42
• US Class Current: 700/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

A method for playing an interactive computer processed golf tournament in real time via the Internet. The method includes the steps of registering users via the Internet and storing the user name, address, age, telephone, credit card data and club number on a library file. The method includes scheduling named tournaments, registering users via the Internet as contestants in one of the named tournaments including, assigning the user a position within a flight of a first round of the named tournament, and storing the assigned position on the library file. Participating contestant logins are accepted via the Internet prior to each named tournament. Participating contestants are provided with a scorecard display for the assigned flight including a tournament name, a countdown clock, one or more contestant scores, a cursor, and a message area. User inputs are accepted in real time via the Internet from each of the participating contestants in turn for each of the holes wherein each input determines a random score for the hole. A winner of each of the flights is determined based on a total of the random scores. Each winner is assigned to a position in a successive flight in a successive round and the process is repeated until the last championship round. Playing a championship round includes determining a plurality of championship round winners based on the random scores and awarding prizes to the championship round winners.

Claims

1. A computer processed golf tournament system comprising:

(a) a control, subsystem configured to control a real time golf tournament game process wherein said game process comprises a plurality of rounds, wherein each round includes a plurality of flights;

(b) a plurality of control modules wherein each control module;

(i) controls play of one of said flights;

(ii) processes inputs of a contestant;

(iii) generates a random number;

(iv) produces a flight display; and

(v) determines winners of one of said flights;

(c) a registration subsystem configured to register said contestants;

(d) a telecommunications subsystem configured to provide two way simultaneous communications between all of said contestants of said golf tournament system;

(e) an operational subsystem configured to control said game process for each of said rounds on a per-flight basis; and

(f) a server computer system including at least one computer, wherein said computer system is connected to the Internet;

wherein said game process includes displaying a tournament scorecard screen comprising;

(g) a tournament name;

(h) a countdown clock;

(i) one or more contestant scores, each contestant score including;

(i) contestant name;

(ii) a plurality of hole scores having a respective hole number and par value;

(iii) an out score total;

(iii) an in score total; and

(iii) an overall score total;

(j) a cursor; and

(k) a message area; and

wherein said tournament scorecard screen further comprises a plurality of blinking golf balls, wherein a contestant selects one of said blinking golf balls when said cursor points to said contestant name and one of said hole numbers is highlighted, wherein said selected golf ball has an associated random number for determining said contestant'"'"'s score for said hole.

2. The computer processed golf tournament system of claim 1, wherein said contestant has a limited time for selecting one of said golf balls and, wherein said contestant is assigned a maximum score for said hole when no selection is made within said limited time.

3. The computer processed golf tournament system of claim 2, wherein said game process further includes:

(a) for each round except a last championship round;

(i) determining a winner of each of said flights corresponding to said round based on said overall score of respective contestants; and

(ii) assigning said flight winners of said flights to a new position in a new flight in a successive round; and

(b) for said championship round;

(i) determining one or more tournament winners of said championship round; and

(ii) awarding prizes to said tournament winners based on respective overall scores of said championship round, wherein said championship round comprises one flight.

4. A method for playing an interactive computer processed golf tournament comprising the steps of:

(a) registering users via the Internet including;

(i) receiving a user name, address, age, telephone and credit card data;

(ii) verifying said age is at least 21 years;

(iii) validating said user'"'"'s credit card data;

(iv) providing said validated user with a unique club number; and

(v) storing said user name, address, age, telephone, credit card data and club number on a library file;

(b) scheduling named tournaments;

(c) registering users via the Internet as contestants in one of said named tournaments including;

(i) receiving said user'"'"'s club number;

(ii) verifying said user club number;

(iii) accepting said user as a contestant in said named tournament;

(iv) assigning said user a position within a flight of a first round of said named tournament; and

(v) storing said assigned position on said library file;

(d) receiving participating contestant logins via the Internet prior to said named tournament;

(e) providing said participating contestants with a scorecard display for said assigned flight including;

(i) a tournament name;

(ii) a countdown clock;

(iii) one or more contestant scores, each contestant score including;

(a) contestant name;

(b) a plurality of hole scores having a respective hole number and par value;

(c) an out score total;

(d) an in score total; and

(e) an overall score total;

(iv) a cursor; and

(v) a message area;

(f) accepting in real time via the Internet from each of said participating contestants in turn for each of said holes an input determining a random score for said hole, including;

(i) pointing said cursor at said participating contestant'"'"'s score;

(ii) highlighting a selected hole on said scorecard;

(iii) displaying a plurality of blinking golf balls, wherein each golf ball is associated with a random number for determining said participant'"'"'s score for said highlighted hole;

(iv) providing a time limit for said participant to select one of said blinking golf balls; and

(v) at least one of assigning a score based on a selected blinking golf ball and assigning a maximum score when said time limit expires;

(g) performing one of;

(i) playing a round other than a championship round including;

(a) determining a winner of each of said flights based on a total of said random scores;

(b) assigning each of said winners to a position in a successive flight in a successive round; and

(c) repeating said step of accepting said inputs determining said random score; and

(ii) playing a championship round including;

(a) determining a plurality of championship round winners based on said random scores; and

(b) awarding prizes to said championship round winners.