Rating method, program product and apparatus

• US 6,996,444 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2001
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Lottery Channel, Inc. (Colley Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Games
• Inventors: Ach, Roger W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/834,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 7- 9, 463/25, 463/29, 463/42, 700 91- 93, 705/14, 705/15
• US Class Current: 700/91
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• 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: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of assessing the performance of a contest participant. Scores reflecting actions taken by the participant with regard to multiple games are manipulated to compute a rating.

Claims

1. A method for assessing the performance of a contest participant, the method comprising:

generating first scores reflective of action taken by each of a first plurality of participants in relation to a first type of game having a first set of rules;

generating second scores reflective of action taken by each of a second plurality of participants in relation to a second type of game having a second set of rules; and

calculating a rating by manipulating at least the first and second scores for a participant in both the first and second pluralities of participants.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the first score according to a frequency with which the participant plays the first game.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the first score according to a level of skill with which the participant plays the first game.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the first score according to a measurement of the success achieved by the participant with respect to a configured goal of the first game.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the first score according to a count of different games that the participant plays the first game.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating the rating according to how long the participant plays a game from among the first and second games.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating the first score according to how long the participant plays the first game.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the first score according to a count of consecutive actions identified according to the first set of rules as a win posted by the participant with respect to the first game.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the first score according to a count of consecutive actions identified according to the first set of rules as a win posted by the participant with respect to a ratings contest.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating the first score to a contest host.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating a report containing the first score.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the rating based on a third score.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating registration of the participant within the contest.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording multiple ratings.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying a name and the rating of the participant based on the multiple ratings.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the rating in the form of a percentile of a maximum achievable rating or a percentile rank of the rating among those of other participants.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the rating as a real number.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising graphically displaying information pertaining to the rating.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording information pertaining to the rating of a second participant.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying information pertinent to the rating of the participant in conjunction with the information pertaining to the rating of the second participant.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising ranking respective ratings as between the participant and the second participant.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising recognizing a highest rating from among the participant and the second participant.

23. A computer-implemented method for assessing the performance of a computer contest participant, the method comprising:

storing first scores reflective of action taken by each of a first plurality of participants in relation to a first type of game having a first set of rules;

storing second scores reflective of action taken by each of a second plurality of participants in relation to a second type of game having a second set of rules; and

calculating a rating by processing at least the first and the second scores for a participant in both the first and second pluralities of participants.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising computing the first score according to a frequency with which the participant plays the first game.

25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising computing the first score according to a level of skill with which the participant plays the first game.

26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising computing the first score according to a measurement of the success achieved by the participant with respect to a configured goal of the first game.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising computing the first score according to how long the participant plays the first game.

28. The method according to claim 23, further comprising computing the first score according to a count of different games that the participant plays the first game.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising computing the first score according to a total time that the participant plays either game among the first and second games.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising hosting the first and second games on a website.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising computing the first score according to a duration that the participant remains on the website.

32. The method according to claim 23, further comprising computing the first score according to a count of consecutive actions identified according to the first set of rules as a win posted by the participant.

33. The method according to claim 23, further comprising computing the first score according to a number of consecutive actions identified according to the first set of rules as a win posted by the participant with respect to a ratings contest.

34. The method according to claim 23, further comprising communicating the first score to a central server.

35. The method according to claim 23, further comprising generating an electronic report containing the first score.

36. The method of claim 23, further comprising updating the rating based on a third score.

37. The method of claim 23, further comprising initiating registration of the participant within the contest.

38. The method of claim 23, further comprising storing multiple ratings.

39. The method of claim 23, further comprising initiating a display of information relating to the rating.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising initiating the display of the rating in the form of a percentile of a maximum achievable rating to a percentile rank of the rating among those of other participants.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising initiating the display of the rating as a real number.

42. The method of claim 23, further comprising initiating a graphical display of information pertaining to the rating.

43. The method of claim 23, further comprising storing information pertaining to the rating of a second participant.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising initiating a combined display of information pertinent to the rating of the participant in conjunction with information regarding the second participant.

45. The method according to claim 43, further comprising ranking respective ratings as between the participant and the second participant.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising recognizing a highest rating from among the participant and the second participant.

47. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory;

a database resident in the memory, the database storing first scores reflective of action taken by each of a first plurality of participants in relation to a first type of game having a first set of rules, wherein the database further stores second scores reflective of action taken by each of a second plurality of participants in relation to a second type of game having a second set of rules, and

a program configured to compute a rating by processing at least the first and the second score for a participant in both the first and second pluralities of participants.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to receive the first score.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first score relates to a frequency with which the participant plays the first game.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first score relates to a level of skill demonstrated by the participant with regard to the first game.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first score relates to a measurement of success achieved by the participant with respect to a configured goal of the first game.

52. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to measure a period corresponding to the time the participant plays the first game.

53. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first score relates to a count of different games played by the participant.

54. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to measure a total time corresponding to the time the participant plays a game among the first and second games.

55. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to host the first game on a website.

56. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to measure a duration corresponding to how long the participant remains on the website.

57. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first score relates to a count of consecutive actions identified according to the first set of rules as a win posted by the participant with respect to the first game.

58. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first score relates to how many consecutive actions identified according to the first set of rules as a win posted by the participant with respect to a ratings contest.

59. The method according to claim 47, further comprising communicating the first score to the database.

60. The method according to claim 47, further comprising generating a report containing the first score.

61. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to update the rating based on a third score.

62. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to initiate registration of the participant within the contest.

63. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to initiate a display of information relating to the rating.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the program is configured to initiate the display of the rating in the form of a percentile of a maximum achievable rating or a percentile rank of the rating among those of other participants.

65. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the program is configured to initiate the display of the rating as a real number.

66. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to initiate a graphical display of information pertaining to the rating.

67. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program is configured to store information pertaining to the rating of a second participant.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the program is configured to display information pertinent to the rating of the participant in conjunction with information regarding the second participant.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the program is configured to recognize a highest rating from among the participant and the second participant.

70. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the program is configured to rank the respective ratings as between the participant and the second participant.

71. A computer program product on a computer readable medium, comprising:

a program configured to perform a method of assessing the performance of a contest participant, the method comprising determining a rating based upon at least a first score and a second score, wherein the first score reflects a first action taken by the participant in relation to a first game having a first set of rules, wherein the second score reflects a second action taken by the participant in relation to a second game having a second set of rules, and wherein a first plurality of participants that includes the participant plays the first game and a second plurality of participants that also includes the participant plays the second game, and

calculating a rating by manipulating at least the first and second, score for a participant in both the first and second pluralities of participants.

72. A method for assessing the performance of a contest participant, the method comprising:

generating first scores reflective of action taken by each of a plurality of participants with respect to a first type of game having a first set of rules, wherein the first scores reflect at least one action selected from among the group, comprising;

a frequency with which a participant of the first plurality plays the game, a level of skill with which the participant plays the game, a measurement of the success achieved by the participant with respect to a configured goal of the game, how long the participant plays the game, a count of consecutive actions identified according to the first set of rules as a win posted by the participant with respect to the game, and a count of consecutive wins posted by the participant with respect to a ratings contest;

generating second scores reflective of action taken by each of a second plurality of participants in relation to a second type of game having a second set of rules, and

calculating a rating by manipulating at least the first and the second scores for the participant in both the first and second pluralities of participants.

73. The method according to claim 72, further comprising communicating the first score to a contest host.

74. The method according to claim 72, further comprising generating a report containing the first score.

75. The method of claim 72, further comprising updating the rating based on a third score.

76. The method of claim 72, further comprising initiating registration of the participant within the contest.

77. The method of claim 72, further comprising displaying the rating in the form of a percentile of a maximum achievable rating or a percentile rank of the rating among those of other participants.

78. The method of claim 72, further comprising displaying the rating as a real number.

79. The method of claim 72, further comprising graphically displaying information pertaining to the rating.

80. The method of claim 72, further comprising recording information pertaining to the rating of a second participant.

81. The method of claim 80, further comprising displaying information pertinent to the rating of the participant in conjunction with the information pertaining to the rating of the second participant.

82. The method according to claim 80, further comprising ranking respective ratings as between the participant and the second participant.

83. The method of claim 80, further comprising recognizing a highest rating from among the participant and the second participant.