Multi-player audio game playable on internet

• US 7,997,582 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael K. Wong
• Original Assignee: Michael K. Wong
• Inventors: Wong, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed; Masud
• Application Number:
  US12/482,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20090305784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 463/35, 463/42, 273/430, 273/431
• US Class Current: 273/430
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00126 using audio equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/145 Multiplayer musical games, e.g. karaoke-like multiplayer videogames
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor

Abstract

An audio game system and method playable with a website server having an online connection on a network such as the Internet to a plurality of computers for respective participants employs a website enabled to receive from each participant'"'"'s computer a music file entry selected in response to a game question or challenge issued by the website and determining an ordering by time of response of a first-in-time music file entry and sending it for audio playback on the participants'"'"' computers as a winning entry to the game question or challenge. Preferably, a participant'"'"'s time-of-response is measured by a client applet on each participant'"'"'s computer, and sent with the music file entry to the website server to enable the server to determine at least a first-in-time response accurately despite differences in bandwidth and connection speeds of the participants'"'"' computers.

Claims

1. An audio game system having audio playable on a website, having a website server connected to a network via internet to a plurality of computers for a plurality of participants, comprising:

the website operable on the server for playing the audio game on the network with the plurality of computers for the plurality of participants, wherein said website is enabled to receive from each participant'"'"'s said plurality of computers a music file selected by the plurality of participant as an entry for the game in response to a game question or a challenge issued by the website;

The selected music file is from among a plurality of music files of the plurality of participant'"'"'s music inventory maintained and stored on the plurality of the computers;

and an audio signal output for transmitting to the website the music file selected by the plurality of the participant in response to the game question or the challenge of the game to be played on the website;

said website having a music file queuing procedure for determining an order by time-of-entry of the selected music file by the plurality of participants'"'"' said music inventory in response to the game question or the challenge issued by the website; and

said website having a winning response playback procedure which is enabled by determination of the queuing procedure of at least a first-in-time music file entry out of plurality of entries which were transmitted to the website by the plurality of participants from their respective said music inventory as a winning entry to the game question or the challenge issued by the website;

wherein the website server is enabled to send all of the plurality of participants the first-in-time music file entry for playback on their computers, and to send the winning participant an acknowledgment of the winning entry to enable an end to the current question and a start of a new question.

2. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the music file queuing procedure comprises a time-of-response client applet downloadable to run on each of the plurality of participant'"'"'s computer for measuring the plurality of participant'"'"'s time-of-response from receipt of the game question or the challenge issued by the website, and to send the selected said music file entry to the website.

3. An audio game system according to claim 2, wherein the client applet is configured to test the relative time of travel for data between the website server and each client by sending a time-of-receipt measurement and time for sending a response to the website server when said music file is selected to be sent by the client applet to the website server, thereby enabling the website server to determine how long it takes a data message to make a round trip to each participant, and therefore make adjustment for sending to or receiving from the client applet, a data message based on the relative difference in time for data travel.

4. An audio game system according to claim 2, wherein the client applet provides an audio game interface in a browser operable on the plurality of participants'"'"' computer.

5. An audio game system according to claim 2, wherein the client applet handles one or more other game client functions of the group consisting of playing an audio output of music file entries transmitted by the website, voting, text entry, and keeping score.

6. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled with a voting function for receipt of votes from the plurality of participants whether a first-in-time said music file entry meets the question or the challenge criteria or not, and if the voting is determined that it does not meet the criteria, then the website server is enabled to send a next-in-time music file entry as a winning entry.

7. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled with a voting function for receipt of votes from the plurality of participants, and the website server is enabled to select the music file entry voted as a best winning entry.

8. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled to inform all of the plurality of participants of a winning entry and to update a game scoreboard.

9. An audio game system according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled to send the plurality of participant who sent the winning entry a button for acknowledging their winning entry and requesting a stop to the playback of the winning music file entry on all of the plurality of participants'"'"' computers.

10. An audio game system console according to claim 1, wherein the website server is enabled to send a streaming audio file for a winning entry to all of the plurality of participants'"'"' computers, and each of the plurality of participant'"'"'s computer is enabled to playback an audio of the streaming audio file.

11. A method of playing an audio game online on a website, having a website server connected to a network via internet to a plurality of computers for a plurality of participants, the steps comprising:

the website issuing a game question or a challenge to each of the plurality of participant requiring selection of a song represented by a music file stored and maintained as an inventory on the plurality of computers for the plurality of participants in response to the game question or the challenge;

transmitting audio signal output to the website for the music file selected by the plurality of participant in response to the game question or the challenge of the game to be played on the website;

the website receiving the plurality of participants'"'"' selections made from the plurality of computer'"'"'s said inventory of the music file as a response entry to the game question or the challenge issued by the website;

the website determining an order by the time of response of the music file selections received from the participants as a first-in-time music via the queuing procedure in response to the game question or the challenge issued by the website; and

the website server sending all of the plurality of participants the first-in-time music file entry for playback on the plurality of participants computers, and sending the winning participant an acknowledgment of the winning entry to enable an end to the current said question or the challenge and a start of a new question.

12. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of participant'"'"'s time-of-response to the game question or the challenge is measured by a client applet on each of the plurality of participant'"'"'s computer for measuring the plurality of participant'"'"'s time-of-response from receipt of the game question or the challenge issued by the website to the sending by the participant of a selected music file entry back to the website.

13. An audio game method according to claim 12, wherein the client applet is configured to test the relative time of travel for data between the website server and each client by sending a time-of-receipt measurement and time for sending a response to the website server when said music file is selected to be sent by the client applet to the website server, thereby enabling the website server to determine how long it takes a data message to make a round trip to each participant, and therefore make adjustment for sending to or receiving from the client applet, a data message based on the relative difference in time for data travel.

14. An audio game method according to claim 12, wherein the client applet provides an audio game interface in a browser operable on the plurality of participants'"'"' computer.

15. An audio game method according to claim 12, wherein the client applet handles one or more other game client functions of the group consisting of playing an audio output of music file entries transmitted by the website, voting, text entry, and keeping score.

16. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the website server is enabled with a voting function for receipt of votes from the plurality of participants whether a first-in-time said music file entry meets the question or the challenge criteria or not, and if the voting is determined that it does not meet the criteria, then the website server is enabled to send a next-in-time music file entry as a winning entry.

17. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the website server is enabled with a voting function for receipt of votes from the plurality of participants, and the website server is enabled to select the music file entry voted as a best winning entry.

18. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the website server is enabled to inform all of the plurality of participants of a winning entry and to update a game scoreboard.

19. An audio game method according to claim 11 wherein the website server is enabled to send the plurality of participant who sent the winning entry a button for acknowledging their winning entry and requesting a stop to the playback of the winning music file entry on all of the plurality of participants'"'"' computers.

20. An audio game method according to claim 11, wherein the website enables other types of participants to participate as judges or audience members in voting to reject an unsuitable entry or to score a most suitable entry or to have exclusive power over voting such as in judging.