Method for conducting a contest using a network
First Claim
1. A method for conducting a contest using a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying, on a screen of a user computer operably connected to the network at a user site, a plurality of pick spaces, a virtual display fixture, and a plurality of virtual articles of commerce arrayed on the virtual display fixture;
moving at least one of the plurality of virtual articles across the screen from an initial position on the virtual display fixture, each of the moving virtual articles having a virtual target region defined thereon, each of the virtual target regions being at least periodically visible on the associated virtual article;
assigning, each time that a screen cursor is positioned on the visible virtual target region of a moving virtual article and a pointing device operably connected to the computer is simultaneously triggered, a particular character chosen from a plurality of available characters to a successive one of the plurality of pick spaces, and thereafter displaying the assigned character in the corresponding pick space;
assembling, when each pick space displays an assigned character, an entry data packet including data indicative of the assigned character in each of the plurality of pick spaces; and
transmitting the entry data packet from the user computer across the network to a remote site;
wherein the transmitted entry data packet constitutes a winning entry if the assigned characters in each of of the plurality of pick spaces match a preselected winning combination of characters.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for conducting a contest using a network is provided. A plurality of pick spaces, a virtual display fixture, and a plurality of virtual articles of commerce are displayed on the screen of a user computer. The user computer is disposed at a user site and operably connected to the network. Initially, the virtual articles of commerce are arrayed on the virtual display fixture. At least one of the plurality of virtual articles moves across the screen from an initial position on the virtual display fixture. Each of such moving virtual articles has a virtual target region defined thereon. Each of the virtual target regions is at least periodically visible on the associated virtual article. Each time that a screen cursor is positioned on the visible virtual target region of a moving virtual article and a pointing device operably connected to the computer is simultaneously triggered, a particular character chosen from a plurality of available characters is assigned to a successive one of the plurality of pick spaces. Thereafter, the assigned character is displayed in the corresponding pick space. When each pick space displays an assigned character, an entry data packet is assembled including data indicative of the assigned character in each of the plurality of pick spaces. The entry data packet is transmitted from the user computer across the network to a remote site.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for conducting a contest using a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying, on a screen of a user computer operably connected to the network at a user site, a plurality of pick spaces, a virtual display fixture, and a plurality of virtual articles of commerce arrayed on the virtual display fixture;
moving at least one of the plurality of virtual articles across the screen from an initial position on the virtual display fixture, each of the moving virtual articles having a virtual target region defined thereon, each of the virtual target regions being at least periodically visible on the associated virtual article;
assigning, each time that a screen cursor is positioned on the visible virtual target region of a moving virtual article and a pointing device operably connected to the computer is simultaneously triggered, a particular character chosen from a plurality of available characters to a successive one of the plurality of pick spaces, and thereafter displaying the assigned character in the corresponding pick space;
assembling, when each pick space displays an assigned character, an entry data packet including data indicative of the assigned character in each of the plurality of pick spaces; and
transmitting the entry data packet from the user computer across the network to a remote site;
wherein the transmitted entry data packet constitutes a winning entry if the assigned characters in each of of the plurality of pick spaces match a preselected winning combination of characters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
moving the screen cursor onto a virtual submit button; and
triggering the computer pointing device.
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20. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the predetermined submission sequence includes:
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moving the screen cursor onto a virtual submit button; and
triggering the computer pointing device.
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21. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of assembling the entry data packet further comprises encrypting the data.
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22. A method is accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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receiving the entry data packet at the remote site; and
determining if the assigned characters in each of the plurality of pick spaces represented by the received entry data packet match a preselected winning combination of characters, and if so, concluding the received entry data packet to be a winning entry, otherwise, concluding the received entry data packet is not a winning entry.
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23. A method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising the step of notifying the user of the contest outcome.
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24. A method in accordance with claim 23, wherein the entry data packet further comprises data indicative of the user'"'"'s identity, and wherein the step of notifying includes using the user identity data received in the entry data packet to send a message across the network from the remote site to the user site.
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25. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the step of assembling the entry data packet further comprises encrypting the data, and wherein the step of receiving the entry data packet further comprises decrypting the received packet to extract the data.
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26. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring contest software to the user'"'"'s computer prior to the step of displaying.
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27. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein the step of transferring includes inducing the user to access a remote site on the network.
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28. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein the remote site is an Internet web page.
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29. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein the step of transferring includes transmitting the contest software from a remote site across the network to the user site.
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30. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein the step of transferring includes distributing the contest software on optical disk media.
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31. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein the step of transferring includes distributing the contest software on magnetic disk media.
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32. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network is a global communication network (GCN).
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33. A method in accordance with claim 32, wherein the GCN is the Internet.
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34. A system for conducting a contest using a network, comprising:
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a user computer including a screen and a screen pointing device and being disposed at a user site and operably connected to the network;
a second computer disposed at a remote site and operably connected to the network;
the user computer displaying on its screen a plurality of pick spaces, a virtual display fixture, and a plurality of virtual articles of commerce arrayed on the virtual display fixture;
the user computer moving at least one of the plurality of virtual articles across the screen from an initial position on the virtual display fixture, each of the moving virtual articles having a virtual target region defined thereon, each of the virtual target regions being at least periodically visible on the associated virtual article;
the user computer, each time that a screen cursor is positioned on the visible virtual target region of a moving virtual article and a pointing device operably connected to the computer is simultaneously triggered, assigning a particular character chosen from a plurality of available characters to a successive one of the plurality of pick spaces, and thereafter displaying the assigned character in the corresponding pick space; and
the user computer, when each pick space displays an assigned character, assembling an entry data packet including data indicative of the assigned character in each of the plurality of pick spaces, and transmitting the entry data packet from the user computer across the network to a remote site;
wherein the transmitted entry data packet constitutes a winning entry if the assigned characters in each of the plurality of pick spaces match a preselected winning combination of characters. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification