Online digital photography game system

• US 6,814,663 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Edwards, Eric, Fisher, Clay Harvey, Jonach, Kurt, Manowitz, Neal Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/877,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/29, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/9
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• 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 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player

Abstract

An online digital photography game system allows multiple participants in the game by submitting digital photography game entries, where the digital photography game system determines a game winner based on equivalency with a game solution. The digital photography game system allows a user to choose a particular game and to save incomplete game entries. Digital photography games may require an entry fee for participation. Additionally, one or more participants can be rewarded for their participation in the game.

Claims

1. A method for receiving compensation for a server receiving a digital photography game entry from a user comprising:

determining an amount of compensation based on type of digital photography game chosen by the user;

requesting the amount of compensation from the user; and

receiving the amount of compensation, wherein the digital photography game comprises a set of game instructions and the digital photography game entry comprises a number of digital images associated with each game instruction.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

disallowing access to a digital photography game system server by the user until the amount of compensation is received.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

validating the amount of compensation received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the amount of compensation comprises:

determining if the user subscribes to a plan offered by the online digital photography game system server; and

calculating the amount of compensation in accordance with terms of the plan.

5. A machine-readable medium having executable instructions to a cause a device to perform a method for receiving compensation for a server receiving a digital photography game entry from a user, the method comprising:

determining an amount of compensation based on type of digital photography game chosen by the user;

requesting the amount of compensation from the user; and

receiving the amount of compensation, wherein the digital photography game comprises a set of game instructions and the digital photography game entry comprises a number of digital images associated with each game instruction.

6. The machine-readable medium of claim 5, the method further comprising:

disallowing access to a digital photography game system server by the user until the amount of compensation is received.

7. The machine-readable medium of claim 5, the method further comprising:

validating the amount of compensation received.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 5, wherein determining the amount of compensation comprises:

determining if the user subscribes to a plan offered by the online digital photography game system server; and

calculating the amount of compensation in accordance with terms of the plan.

9. An apparatus for receiving compensation for a server receiving a digital photography game entry from a user comprising:

means for determining an amount of compensation based on type of digital photography game chosen by the user;

means for requesting the amount of compensation from the user; and

means for receiving the amount of compensation, wherein the digital photography game comprises a set of game instructions and the digital photography game entry comprises a number of digital images associated with each game instruction.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

means for disallowing access to a digital photography game system server by the user until the amount of compensation is received.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

means for validating the amount of compensation received.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for determining the amount of compensation comprises:

means for determining if the user subscribes to a plan offered by the online digital photography game system server; and

means for calculating the amount of compensation in accordance with terms of the plan.

13. A system comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory through a bus; and

a system process for receiving compensation for a server receiving a digital photography game entry from a user, the system process executed by the processor from the memory to cause the processor to determine an amount of compensation based on type of digital photography game chosen by the user, request the amount of compensation from the user, and receive the amount of compensation, wherein the digital photography game comprises a set of game instructions and the digital photography game entry comprises a number of digital images associated with each game instruction.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system process executed by the processor from the memory further causes the processor to disallow access to a digital photography game system server by the user until the amount of compensation is received.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the system process executed by the processor from the memory further causes the processor to validate the amount of compensation received.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein to determine the amount of compensation comprises:

to determine if the user subscribes to a plan offered by the online digital photography game system server; and

to calculate the amount of compensation in accordance with terms of the plan.