On-line gaming with independent player matching
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating an on-line gaming system comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving a fee from each of a plurality of players to play a game comprising a plurality of game rounds;
b) establishing a prize fund for each player;
c) allowing one or more additional players to join the game after the start of an earlier game round, the allowing comprising receiving a fee from each of the additional players and establishing a prize fund for each of the additional players;
d) matching two players of the game together to play a game round for a winning prize fund provided from each player'"'"'s prize fund, the matching being independent of a number of game rounds each player has won and independent of when each player joined the game;
e) transferring the winning prize fund provided from each player'"'"'s prize fund to the player winning the game round;
f) eliminating at least one player who loses the game round from the game;
g) repeating steps d), e), and f) for a plurality of game rounds until a player has won a predetermined number of consecutive game rounds; and
h) awarding the player who has won the predetermined number of consecutive game rounds the amount of the awarded player'"'"'s prize fund, wherein the awarded amount is at least a portion of the total of prize funds of each player that the awarded player has defeated within the predetermined number of consecutive games rounds and the awarded player'"'"'s initial prize fund.
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Abstract
An on-line gaming environment provides a forum for competitors to play against each other. Each competitor pays a fee for a game which comprises a number of rounds. A prize fund is generated for each competitor from their entry fee and the prize for a round is the combined prize funds of the two competitors. In each round, opponents are selected at random. A player who loses any rounds is eliminated from the game. A player who wins a predetermined number of consecutive games wins the accumulated fund. Players may select between a number of available games to play and may switch which game is being played in between rounds.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of operating an on-line gaming system comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a fee from each of a plurality of players to play a game comprising a plurality of game rounds; b) establishing a prize fund for each player; c) allowing one or more additional players to join the game after the start of an earlier game round, the allowing comprising receiving a fee from each of the additional players and establishing a prize fund for each of the additional players; d) matching two players of the game together to play a game round for a winning prize fund provided from each player'"'"'s prize fund, the matching being independent of a number of game rounds each player has won and independent of when each player joined the game; e) transferring the winning prize fund provided from each player'"'"'s prize fund to the player winning the game round; f) eliminating at least one player who loses the game round from the game; g) repeating steps d), e), and f) for a plurality of game rounds until a player has won a predetermined number of consecutive game rounds; and h) awarding the player who has won the predetermined number of consecutive game rounds the amount of the awarded player'"'"'s prize fund, wherein the awarded amount is at least a portion of the total of prize funds of each player that the awarded player has defeated within the predetermined number of consecutive games rounds and the awarded player'"'"'s initial prize fund. - 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)
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32. A method of operating an on-line gaming system comprising:
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receiving from each of a plurality of players a fee for a game comprising a plurality of game rounds; establishing for each player a prize fund based on the received fee; allowing one or more additional players to join the game after the start of an earlier game round, the allowing comprising receiving a fee from each of the additional players and establishing a prize fund for each of the additional players; offering the players a choice of games to play and receiving a game selection from players; randomly matching two players having the same game selection and independently of the number of game rounds each player had won and independently of when each player joined the game to play against each other for a prize fund equal to the sum of the prize funds of each player; eliminating the loser from the game; randomly matching the winner with a player, independently of the number of game rounds the player has won and independently of when the player joined the game, to play a further game round of the game until the player either loses a game round or wins a predetermined number of consecutive game rounds; and awarding at least the majority of the total accumulated prize fund to the winner after the predetermined number of consecutive victories, wherein the awarded amount is at least a majority portion of the total of prize funds of each player that the awarded player has defeated within the predetermined number of consecutive games rounds and the awarded player'"'"'s initial prize fund. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An on-line gaming system comprising:
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a system server communicating on-line with a plurality of players; a games server coupled to the system server for executing software relating to a plurality of game rounds to be played by the player; a billing computer coupled to the system server for providing game playing fees to the system server on instruction from games players; wherein the system server comprises; means for allowing one or more additional players to be placed in a new game round after the start of an earlier game round; means for randomly generating a game round opponent for a player from available players independently of a number of game rounds the player or the available players have won and independently of when each player joined the game; means for assigning a prize fund owned by each player of a game round to the winner of the game round; means for eliminating the loser of the game round from the game; means for communicating a total accumulated prize fund to the billing computer on completion of a predetermined number of consecutive victories by a player, wherein the total accumulated prize fund is at least a portion of the total of prize funds of each player defeated by the player who has the predetermined number of consecutive victories; and means for awarding the total accumulated prize fund to the player who has won the predetermined number of consecutive game rounds. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification