| Apparatus and method for game playing between players of different skill levels -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Apparatus and method for game playing between players of different skill levelsRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Board Games, Pieces, Or Boards ThereforApparatus and method for game playing between players of different skill levels description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060082059, Apparatus and method for game playing between players of different skill levels. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] The present patent application is related to and claims the benefit of priority from commonly-owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/579,845, filed on Jun. 14, 2004, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Game Playing between Players of Different Skill Levels", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. BACKGROUND [0002] Children learn better when they are in a relaxed environment and when the interest level is high. An educational game diverts (and distracts) participant's attention from mundane and sometimes boring aspects of learning and repetition, and focuses the participant's attention on other less overtly academically oriented goals, such as winning the game, while providing learning opportunities. In an educational game, the importance of learning the subject matter should not overshadow the aspect of fun expected from a game. The following games are known examples of games that combine recreational and educational experience in teaching mathematics. [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,740 to Visser et al describes a board game that comprises a board with imprint of letters, words, numbers, symbols or pictures arranged in plurality of rows and columns and cards imprinted with similar content. The instructor of the game picks and recites information on the selected card. The participant whose board is imprinted of the recited information, in the form of letters, words, numbers, symbols or pictures will cover that information with a marker. The object of the game is to cover a defined sequence of boxes on the board. The difficulty of the game depends on the cards, and thus the game expects players to have similar competency level to play together. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,710 to Brown describes a bingo-type game that comprises a board imprinted with a unique combination of color and number and caller cards imprinted with numbers, words or expressions. The caller of the game picks and recites information on the selected colored card. The participants whose board are imprinted of the same color and number combination as the recited information or derived from the recited equation on the colored card will cover that information with a marker. The object of the game is to cover a defined sequence of boxes on the board. The difficulty of the game depends on the cards, and thus the game expects players to have similar competency level to play together. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,126 to Merritt describes a board game that comprises a board imprinted with numbers to form a mathematical table for specific arithmetic operations (addition and subtraction, or multiplication and division), and dice. The player rolls the dice to make up an expression and places a marker on the board where it was imprinted with the answer. The object of the game is to have a sequence of markers that start from the player's edge of board toward the opposite edge. The difficulty of the game depends on the board and the dice, and thus the game expects players to have similar competency level to play together. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] What is needed are improved educational games. [0007] Some embodiments of the present invention facilitate learning a subject matter (e.g., mathematics and/or related material, or other subjects) in the form of a game. Some embodiments of the present invention address (or also address) the issue of difference in competency level of the participants. For example, distinctive difficulty levels of the players' boards presented in some embodiments of the present invention allow participants to play a game together according to their competency level by selecting an appropriate board for each player's skill level. For example, a game may utilize information or pieces or other features in common, but the meaning or interpretation or significance of those information or pieces or other features to each user may be different, depending on the particular interpretation or mapping (e.g., as indicated or utilized by a game element--e.g., a game board, physical or virtual). [0008] For example, accessibility of relevant information in each level to assist the participants in finding the solution in order to complete the goal of the game minimize the frustration the participants may encounter during the game, while providing an opportunity and information for the participant to learn the information. Thus, some embodiments of the present invention provide an environment that is fun and engaging, while the participants may learn the material pertaining to the game without being overtly academic. [0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is an educational game, suitable for playing together by players of differing skill levels. The game includes a plurality of indicia that indicate pieces of information, the pieces of information hereinafter referred to as answers, the answers to be activated for play by multiple players. The game also includes a plurality of player boards, each for use by a player, each player board bearing expressions that can be solved using human skill to be revealed as corresponding to answers, the player boards of at least two different players having different expressions that are of different difficulty levels, wherein at least two different expressions, each from a mutually different player board, can both be revealed as corresponding to a mutually same answer. [0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is a method for together teaching learners of different skill levels. The method includes giving to each learner a player board that is predetermined to be suitable for the learner's skill level, at least two different learners having different player boards that are predetermined to be of different difficulty levels. The method also includes enabling declaring of pieces of information, the pieces of information hereinafter referred to as answers, the answers to be responded to by each of multiple players, including players having player boards that are predetermined to be of different difficulty levels. Each player board bears expressions that can be solved using human skill to be revealed as corresponding to answers, wherein at least two different expressions, each from a mutually different player board, can both be revealed as corresponding to a mutually same answer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] In order to more extensively describe some embodiment(s) of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are not to be considered limitations in the scope of the invention, but are merely illustrative. [0012] FIG. 1 shows an example of a possible game board according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0013] FIG. 2 shows examples of content in a grid region for different levels. [0014] FIG. 3 shows examples of content in a help region. [0015] FIG. 4 shows an example of a master board. [0016] FIG. 5 shows an example of numbered tokens. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS [0017] The description above and below and the drawings of the present document refer to examples of embodiment(s) of the present invention and also describe some exemplary optional feature(s) and/or alternative embodiment(s). It will be understood that the embodiments referred to are for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention specifically to those embodiments. For example, although specific game boards are show, other game boards and configurations may be used, whether the other boards are physical or virtual, or fixedly imprinted or dynamically imprinted or time-varying, or the like. Rather, the invention is intended to cover all that is included within the spirit and scope of the invention, including alternatives, variations, modifications, equivalents, and the like. [0018] Some embodiments of the present invention relate to or include a board game designed to envelop practicing subject matter to be learned (e.g., mathematics) into a fun and engaging environment. For example, a game may provide ample opportunities for participants to review and practice relevant mathematics material according to each participant's knowledge. Various features illustrated in the present document are solely for the purpose of demonstration and should not be use to limit the scope of the present invention. Examples of such features include the number of rows and columns in a first region (e.g., a grid region), the content within each sub-region (e.g., each square) within the first region, any graphical elements imprinted on a game board (e.g., physical or virtual board), label ranges (e.g., number ranges) of tokens, sizes and shapes of tokens, the complexity and subject matter (e.g., pertaining to mathematics). [0019] Some preliminary remarks may be helpful. The remarks relate to mathematics, but the invention is not limited to mathematical subjects. The understanding of basic mathematics symbols and operations are the fundamental not only to more advanced mathematics operations, but also in the day to day operations of our daily lives. It is important that the children understand the underlying reasoning behind simple operations, for example, adding 5 to 3 can be achieved by counting 5 fingers from one hand and continuing counting 3 more from the other hand; or 8 times 3 is adding 8 to itself 3 times. But, at some point, deriving at the results of these operations should be automatic, that is knowing that 5 plus 3 is 8 without counting fingers or 8 times 3 is 24 without adding. Achieving automatic (or subconscious) computation skills requires repetition such that the information is learnt by heart. Continue reading about Apparatus and method for game playing between players of different skill levels... Full patent description for Apparatus and method for game playing between players of different skill levels Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and method for game playing between players of different skill levels patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus and method for game playing between players of different skill levels or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method of and apparatus for gaming Next Patent Application: Educational game Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus and method for game playing between players of different skill levels patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14342 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
