Method and system for initiating an interactive game

• US 8,932,136 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Lemmons, Thomas, Zenoni, Ian, Huber, Thomas, Markel, Steven O., Margaretten, Mark, Reynolds, Steven, Hassell, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): McCulloch, Jr., William H
• Application Number:
  US09/939,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20020034980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,890 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 40- 42, 725/139, 348/14.03, 348/552
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/083 played via television
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric

Abstract

The present invention is an interactive system and method whereby participants may engage in a contest that is simultaneously or subsequently broadcast. The broadcast signal may be for the purpose of a pure entertainment source or may be an enticement to play the shown or other interactive games. The games may be computer simulation games, role-playing games, strategy games, question and answer games, casino games, or other games as desired. The broadcast signals may show a specialized view of the game being played and may contain live commentary or other enhancements. The games may be played with set top boxes connected to a television, a broadcast network, and a server system.

Claims

1. A method of implementing an interactive game between two or more players in an interactive environment comprising:

causing a television advertisement for said interactive game to be included in a television channel within the interactive environment, said television advertisement being selectable by said two or more players to initiate said interactive game;

in response to selection of said television advertisement via input devices of said two or more players to initiate said interactive game, launching said interactive game on a video game server that controls play of said interactive game and is communicatively coupled to a network;

generating first markup language code for associating with a video stream, said first markup language code generated by said video game server for communication to a first reception device having or controlling a first display device at a specific address in said interactive environment, said first markup language code comprising a first user interface for a first player of said two or more players;

generating second markup language code for associating with said video stream, said second markup language code generated by said video game server for communication to a second reception device having or controlling a second display device at another specific address in said interactive environment, said second markup language code comprising a second user interface for a second player of said two or more players;

receiving at said video game server a game control signal that is generated in response to an input from said first player playing said interactive game, and message data from said first reception device;

generating video images in response to said game control signal, said video images comprising a first view of said game and a second view of said game, said first view being different from said second view; and

communicating said video images for association with said video stream;

whereby said message data is transferred from said video game server to said second reception device, said first view is communicated to the first reception device and said second view is communicated to the second reception device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying player controls in a first portion of a screen viewed by said first player and said video images in a second portion of said screen using said first markup language code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating of the first markup language code further comprises associating HyperText Markup Language (HTML) code with said video stream.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating said game control signal to said second player.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the game control signal is configured to alter an image on the second display device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating video images further comprises generating video images that are an overview of said interactive video game.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said interactive environment is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a sports game.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said interactive environment is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a casino game.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said interactive environment is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a game show game.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning the first player or second player to a team.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a role playing game.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said second reception device is an electronic device for receiving signals from the network and transferring them for display, the electronic device selected from the group consisting of a set top box, a personal computer, a hand held wireless device, and an Internet appliance.

14. An interactive game system comprising:

one or more servers configured to;

cause a television advertisement for an interactive game to be included in a television channel within an interactive environment, said television advertisement being selectable by two or more players to initiate said interactive game; and

in response to selection of said television advertisement via input devices of said two or more players to initiate said interactive game, execute said interactive game, to control the play of said interactive game by at least two players, and produce video images of said interactive game, said video images comprising a first view of said game and a second view of said game, said first view being different from said second view;

said one or more servers configured to communicate said video images for a network coupled to said one or more servers

in association with a video stream to a plurality of reception devices having or controlling a respective display device of at least one of the at least two players of said interactive game and at least one non-player of said game,

and for communicating at least first markup language code and second markup language code, if any, associated with said video stream, said first markup language code and said second markup language code addressed individually to said reception devices of the at least two players,

said first markup language code providing a first user interface for a first player; and

said second markup language code providing a second user interface for a second player;

said one or more servers further configured to receive a data message from said first reception device and transfer said data message to said second reception device and to transfer said first view to said first reception device and said second view to said second reception device.

15. The interactive game system of claim 14 wherein said first markup language code is HyperText Markup Language (HTML) code.

16. The interactive game system of claim 14 further comprising second video images that are associated with said video images and said first and second markup language code, if any, as part of said video stream.

17. The interactive game system of claim 14 further comprising an interactive television system that communicates an input received from said first player at said first reception device to said one or more servers.

18. The interactive game system of claim 17 wherein said network that communicates an input received from said first player at said first reception device comprises a back-channel in said network.

19. The interactive game system of claim 17 wherein said network that communicates an input received from said first player at said first reception device comprises a connection to one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, a satellite distribution network, and the Internet.

20. The interactive game system of claim 14 wherein said first markup language code further comprises code that displays a user interface in a first portion of a display screen and that displays said video images in a second portion of said display screen.

21. The interactive game system of claim 14 wherein said first markup language code further comprises code that produces a first graphical image of said game in said first reception device.

22. The interactive game system of claim 21 wherein said second markup language code further comprises code that produces a second graphical image of said game, that differs from said first graphical image of said game, in said second reception device.

23. The interactive game system of claim 14 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a sports game.

24. The interactive game system of claim 14 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a casino game.

25. The interactive game system of claim 14 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a game show game.

26. The method of claim 14 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a role playing game.

27. The method of claim 14 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network.

28. The method of claim 14 wherein said second reception device is an electronic device for receiving signals from the network and transferring them for display, the electronic device selected from the group consisting of a set top box, a personal computer, a hand held wireless device, and an Internet appliance.

29. An interactive game system comprising:

one or more servers configured to;

cause a television advertisement for an interactive game to be included in a television channel within an interactive environment, said television advertisement being selectable by two or more players to initiate said interactive game; and

in response to selection of said television advertisement via input devices of said two or more players to initiate said interactive game, execute said interactive game, to control play of said interactive game, and produce video images of said interactive game, said video images comprising a first view of said game, a second view of said game, and a third view of said game, each of said views being different from each of the other of said views;

said one or more servers coupled to a network for communicating a video stream containing said video images to a plurality of reception devices having or controlling a respective display device communicatively coupled to said network, including reception devices of at least two players of said interactive game and at least one non-player of said game, and for communicating associated markup language code, if any, addressed individually to

a first of said plurality of reception devices that receives said first view of said video stream and that acquires first markup language code addressed to said first of said plurality of reception devices wherein said first markup language code is associated with said video stream and provides a first user interface for a first of said at least two players, and

a second of said plurality of reception devices that receives said second view of said video stream and that acquires second markup language code addressed to said second of said plurality of reception devices wherein said second markup language code is associated with said video stream and provides a second user interface for a second of said at least two players, and

a third of said plurality of reception devices that receives said third view of said video stream and that outputs said video images to a display device of said at least one non-player of the game,

wherein said one or more servers is further configured to

receive a data message from said first of said plurality of reception devices and transfer said data message to said second of said plurality of reception devices; and

transmit different ones of the video images for the players and for the at least one non-player of the game;

wherein registration of at least one of the at least two players is solicited through an advertisement.

30. The interactive game system of claim 29 wherein the first player or second player is assigned to a team.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a role playing game.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein said second reception device is an electronic device for receiving signals from the network and transferring them for display, the electronic device selected from the group consisting of a set top box, a personal computer, a hand held wireless device, and an Internet appliance.

34. An interactive game system for producing signals for playing an interactive game between at least two players of said interactive game, said interactive game viewable by at least one additional viewer of said interactive game that is not a participant in said game, said system comprising:

a server system configured for

causing a television advertisement for said interactive game to be included in a television channel within an interactive environment, said television advertisement being selectable by said at least two players to initiate said interactive game;

in response to selection of said television advertisement via input devices of said two or more players to initiate said interactive game, running said interactive game and producing video images of said game, said video images comprising a first view of said game, a second view of said game, and a third view of the game, wherein each of said views is different from each of the other of said views; and

generating markup language code for associating with a video signal including said video images, said markup language code addressed to at least three reception devices having or controlling a respective display device, said video signal for communicating by a network, to said at least three reception devices including at least

a first of the at least three reception devices receiving said first view of said video signal from said network and acquiring first markup language code associated with said video signal and addressed to said first reception device, said first markup language code comprising a user interface for a first player of said at least two players,

a second of the at least three reception devices receiving said second view of said video signal from said network and acquiring second markup language code associated with said video signal and addressed to said second reception device, said second markup language code comprising a user interface for a second player of said at least two players, and

a third of said at least three reception devices receiving said third view of said video signal from said network and presenting said video images to said at least one additional viewer that is not a participant in said game, said markup language code including code, if any, that is necessary for said at least two players to play said game.

35. The interactive game system of claim 34 further comprising a network that transfers a signal generated in response to an input from said first player from said first of said at least three reception devices to said server system.

36. The interactive game system of claim 34 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a sports game.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said third reception device is an electronic device for receiving signals from the network and transferring them for display, the electronic device selected from the group consisting of a set top box, a personal computer, a hand held wireless device, and an Internet appliance.

38. The interactive game system of claim 34 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a casino game.

39. The interactive game system of claim 34 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a game show game.

40. The interactive game system of claim 34 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said interactive game is a role playing game.

41. The method of claim 34 wherein said network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network.

42. The method of claim 34 wherein said third reception device is an electronic device for receiving signals from the network and transferring them for display, the electronic device selected from the group consisting of a set top box, a personal computer, a hand held wireless device, and an Internet appliance.

43. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embedded therein a set of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a computer causes the computer to execute operations comprising:

causing a television advertisement for an interactive game to be included in a television channel within an interactive environment, said television advertisement being selectable by at least two players to initiate said interactive game;

using at least one server and in response to selection of said television advertisement via input devices of said two or more players to initiate said interactive game, launching said interactive game;

generating first markup language code for associating with a video stream, said first markup language code for communication to a first receiver at a specific address in a network, said first markup language code comprising a user interface for a first player of said at least two players;

generating second markup language code for associating with said video stream, said second markup language code for communication to a second receiver at another specific address in said network, said second markup language code comprising a user interface for a second player of said at least two players;

receiving a game control signal that is generated in response to an input from said first player, and message data from said first receiver;

generating video images in response to said game control signal, said video images comprising a first view of said game, a second view of said game, and a third view of the game, each of said views being different from each of the other of said views; and

communicating said video images for association with said video stream;

whereby said message data is communicated to said second receiver, and said video stream is communicated to a plurality of receivers including receivers of said at least a first player and a second player, the first player receiving said first view and said second player receiving said second view, and of at least one nonparticipating viewer, said at least one nonparticipating viewer receiving said third view.

44. A method of implementing an interactive game between at least two players in a network, the method comprising:

causing a television advertisement for interactive game to be included in a television channel within an interactive environment, said television advertisement being selectable by said at least two players to initiate said interactive game;

in response to selection of said television advertisement to initiate said interactive game, launching said interactive game on a video game server communicatively coupled to said network;

generating first markup language code for associating with a video stream, said first markup language code generated by said server for communication as a user interface for a first player of said at least two players;

generating second markup language code for associating with said video stream, said second markup language code generated by said server for communication as a user interface for a second player of said at least two players;

receiving at said video game server a game control signal that is generated in response to an input signal from said first player, and message data from a first reception device used by said first player;

generating video images in said video game server in response to said control signal, said video images comprising a first view of said game, a second view of said game, and a third view of the game, each of said views being different from each of the other of said views; and

communicating said video images for association with said video stream;

whereby said message data is communicated from said server to a second reception device used by said second player and said video stream is communicated to said reception devices.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said game is one of the group consisting of a sports game, a casino game, a game show game and a role playing game.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein said second reception device is an electronic device for receiving signals from the television broadcast system and transferring them for display, the electronic device selected from the group consisting of a set top box, a personal computer, a hand held wireless device, and an Internet appliance.

47. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embedded therein a set of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a computer causes the computer to execute operations comprising:

causing a television advertisement for an interactive game to be included in a television channel within an interactive environment, said television advertisement being selectable by at least two players to initiate said interactive game;

using a computer processor and in response to selection of said television advertisement via input devices of said two or more players to initiate said interactive game, launching said interactive game;

generating first markup language code for associating with a video stream, said first markup language code for communication to a first reception device having or controlling a display device at a specific address in a network, said first markup language code comprising a user interface for a first player of said at least two players;

generating second markup language code for associating with said video stream, for communication to a second reception device having or controlling a display device at another specific address in said network, said second markup language code comprising a user interface for a second player of said at least two players;

receiving a game control signal that is generated in response to an input from said first player, and message data from said first reception device;

generating video images in said video game server in response to said control signal, said video images comprising a first view of said game, a second view of said game, and a third view of the game, wherein each of said views is different from each of the other of said views; and

communicating said video images for association with said video stream;

whereby said message data is communicated from said video game server to said second reception device and a respective one of said views of said video stream is communicated to a respective one of each of the reception devices of said at least two players.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 47 wherein the network is one of the group consisting of a cable television network, an over the air broadcast network, the Internet, and a satellite distribution network, and said game is one of the group consisting of a sports game, a casino game, a game show game and a role playing game.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein said second reception device is an electronic device for receiving signals from the television broadcast system and transferring them for display, the electronic device selected from the group consisting of a set top box, a personal computer, a hand held wireless device, and an Internet appliance.