Console-based system and method for providing multi-player interactive game functionality for use with interactive games

• US 20020142842A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Arnold, Tim, Moulton, Edmund A., Schoenburg, Jim, Easley, Gregory W.
• Application Number:
  US09/819,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20020142842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• 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: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A console system for operating at a central server in communication with remote user devices that may be individually addressable such as Internet user devices and digital television set-top boxes. The console system provides a set of predetermined base-functionality modules that may be leveraged by interactive games provided through various software game modules. The console system may provide functionality related to email, registration, economy/prize system, reporting, error handling and other functions, for example. The software game module provides game specific functionality that selects the base functionality and passes the base functionality parameter values to indicate operation of the software game over the interactive game network.

Claims

1. A system for providing functionality to remote users at individually addressable systems, the system comprising:

one or more servers in communication with one or more remote user systems wherein the remote user systems are individually addressable;

one or more console systems operating on the one or more servers wherein the console systems comprise one or more base-functionality modules; and

one or more software game modules that utilize functionality provided by the console system to provide interactive game content to the remote user system;

wherein one or more parameters are received from the remote user system at the console system;

wherein the software game module passes game-specific information to the console system; and

wherein the console system communicates with the remote user system using a base-functionality module in a manner determined by the game-specific information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the console system further comprises one or more multi-player functionality modules.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the console system further comprises one or more game service modules.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the base functionality modules comprise one or more of registration module, prize module, email module, notification module, reporting module, and system/error module.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the multi-player functionality modules comprise one or more of chat module, ping module, style functionality, gateway module, lobby module, game selection module, and game server module.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the game service modules comprise one or more of trivia module, fantasy module, predictive module and chat for single play module.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the multi-player functionality module comprises a gateway module that generates a list of games and player data.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the multi-player functionality module comprises a lobby module that contains game data, player data, menu options, and chat functionality.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the interactive game content comprises a real-time event displayed on the remote user system.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the remote user system comprises one or more of television, digital television, computer monitor, and wireless device.

11. A method for providing functionality to remote users at individually addressable systems, the system comprising the steps of:

communicating with one or more remote user systems wherein the remote user systems are individually addressable;

operating a remote console system wherein the console system comprises one or more base functionality modules;

providing interactive game content to the remote user system via a software game module that utilizes one or more base functionality modules; and

communicating one or more parameters from the remote user system to the console system;

wherein the software game module passes game-specific information to the console system; and

wherein the console system communicates with the remote user system using a base-functionality module in a manner determined by the game-specific information.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the console system further comprises one or more multi-player functionality modules.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the console system further comprises one or more game service modules.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the console system is operating at a central server.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the base functionality modules comprise one or more of registration module, prize module, email module, notification module, reporting module, and system/error module.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the multi-player functionality modules comprise one or more of chat module, ping module, style functionality, gateway module, lobby module, game selection module, and game server module.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the game service modules comprise one or more of trivia module, fantasy module, predictive module and chat for single play module.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the multi-player functionality module comprises a gateway module that generates a list of games and player data.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the multi-player functionality module comprises a lobby module that contains game data, player data, menu options, and chat functionality.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the interactive game content comprises a real-time event displayed on the remote user system.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the remote user system comprises one or more of television, digital television, computer monitor, and wireless device.