System and method for facilitating play of a video game via a web site

• US 7,390,255 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager; M. A
• Application Number:
  US11/624,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20070117620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method and system for operating a video game or video game tournament (e.g., via a Web site) is disclosed. In accordance with the method and system a bonus is provided to a player playing the video game or participating in the video game tournament. In some embodiments a bonus is provided to the player if a rating associated with the player is worse than a threshold rating. In some embodiments a bonus is provided to the player if the occurrence of at least one predetermined condition is identified. Such a condition may be, for example, a condition that indicates the player will soon cease playing the video game or participating in the tournament.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing a first indication that a first question has been provided to a first player;

storing a second indication that a second question has been provided to a second player, wherein the second question is different from the first question and wherein the second player is different from the first player;

determining a third question based at least in part on the first and second indications;

facilitating a tournament having the first and second players as participants, at least by providing the third question to the first and second players; and

storing at least one third indication that the third question has been provided to the first and second players wherein the determining comprises;

searching a database containing indications of a plurality of available questions for a question that is not associated with an indication that the question has been provided to either of the first or second players; and

identifying the third question from the plurality of questions.

2. A method, comprising:

facilitating a distributed electronic trivia tournament in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in the trivia tournament through player devices connected to a tournament controller which manages the tournament, by;

uniquely identifying a first player communicating with the tournament controller via an associated first player device;

allowing the first player to participate in the trivia tournament via the associated first player device upon payment of an entry fee by the first player, the trivia tournament occurring within a time window;

determining one or more previous trivia tournaments in which the first player has participated;

selecting, from a database of available trivia questions, a first trivia question that was not provided to the first player in the one or more previous trivia tournaments; and

providing the first trivia question to the first player.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first player is a member of a team participating in the trivia tournament, further comprising:

selecting, from the database of available trivia questions, a second trivia question that is different than the first trivia question; and

providing the second trivia question to another member of the first player'"'"'s team.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a first difficulty associated with the first question is different than a second difficulty associated with the second question.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selecting of the first trivia question, comprises:

selecting the first trivia question based at least in part on (i) the associated first difficulty and (ii) based at least in part on a status of the first player with respect to the team.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the selecting of the second trivia question, comprises:

selecting the second trivia question based at least in part on (i) the associated second difficulty and (ii) based at least in part on a team status of the other member of the first player'"'"'s team.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

store a first indication that a first question has been provided to a first player;

store a second indication that a second question has been provided to a second player, wherein the second question is different from the first question and wherein the second player is different from the first player;

determine a third question based at least in part on the first and second indications;

facilitate a tournament having the first and second players as participants, at least by providing the third question to the first and second players; and

store at least one third indication that the third question has been provided to the first and second players wherein the determining comprises;

searching a database containing indications of a plurality of available questions for a question that is not associated with an indication that the question has been provided to either of the first or second players; and

identifying the third question from the plurality of questions.

8. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

store a first indication that a first question has been provided to a first player;

store a second indication that a second question has been provided to a second player, wherein the second question is different from the first question and wherein the second player is different from the first player;

determine a third question based at least in part on the first and second indications;

facilitate a tournament having the first and second players as participants, at least by providing the third question to the first and second players; and

store at least one third indication that the third question has been provided to the first and second players wherein the determining comprises;

searching a database containing indications of a plurality of available questions for a question that is not associated with an indication that the question has been provided to either of the first or second players; and

identifying the third question from the plurality of questions.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

facilitate a distributed electronic trivia tournament in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in the trivia tournament through player devices connected to a tournament controller which manages the tournament, by;

uniquely identifying a first player communicating with the tournament controller via an associated first player device;

allowing the first player to participate in the trivia tournament via the associated first player device upon payment of an entry fee by the first player, the trivia tournament occurring within a time window;

determining one or more previous trivia tournaments in which the first player has participated;

selecting, from a database of available trivia questions, a first trivia question that was not provided to the first player in the one or more previous trivia tournaments; and

providing the first trivia question to the first player.

10. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

facilitate a distributed electronic trivia tournament in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in the trivia tournament through player devices connected to a tournament controller which manages the tournament, by;

uniquely identifying a first player communicating with the tournament controller via an associated first player device;

allowing the first player to participate in the trivia tournament via the associated first player device upon payment of an entry fee by the first player, the trivia tournament occurring within a time window;

determining one or more previous trivia tournaments in which the first player has participated;

selecting, from a database of available trivia questions, a first trivia question that was not provided to the first player in the one or more previous trivia tournaments; and

providing the first trivia question to the first player.