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Structured gaming systemStructured gaming system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080026846, Structured gaming system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Fields of the Invention [0002]The invention relates to an automated system for structuring and operating multi-player, multi-game, multi-level video game competitions. [0003]2. Description of Related Art [0004]Video games are available which allow multiple players to play the same game. These may be sports games, such as simulated basketball, football, hockey and baseball, fighting games, role playing games, strategy games, racing games, war games and other games. These may also be set up for the player to join other players on different teams in which the teams compete against each other. [0005]The players typically enter and exit games with little or no outside control. These games are not designed to provide an overall structure or competition. Therefore, there can be no eliminations and playoffs, or games to qualify players for later rounds. [0006]Therefore, there is a current need for a multiple-player system which provides an organized structure for video game competition. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007]The present invention relates to an automated system for structuring and operating video game competitions comprising: [0008]a) host microprocessor (MPH) adapted to: [0009]i. operate a multi-player video game allowing more than one player to play a game, [0010]ii. identify authorized players, [0011]iii. allow play by authorized players during designated time slots; [0012]b) a master controller (MC) (101) in communication with the MPH, adapted to: [0013]i. interactively receive registrations of a plurality of players, [0014]ii. uniquely identifying each player, [0015]iii. create a structured competition matching at least one player against at least one opponent player; [0016]iv. designating time slots when a player will play an opponent player, [0017]v. authorizing players to play during designated time slots; [0018]vi. communicate this information to the MPH indicating the players authorized to play and times slots that they are authorized to play; [0019]c) plurality of player microprocessors (PMPs) each assigned to a player, each in communication with MPH and the MC (101), each adapted to: [0020]i. identify themselves to the MPH; [0021]ii. interact with their assigned player and the MPH allowing the player to play the game against their opponent player during the authorized time slots. [0022]The present invention may also be embodied as a structured on-line gaming system for matching a plurality of players against each other to play a video game over a network comprising: [0023]a) a master controller (MC) adapted to receive registration information from players who would like to play the game, the MC adapted to: [0024]i. create a round of play in which registered players are matched together to play each other in a game in a given time slot; [0025]ii. notify the players of whom they are matched against, and during which time slot they should play and contact information allowing the player to contact the opponent player; [0026]iii. receive results from the players of the games played; [0027]iv. match players for at least one subsequent round based upon the results of the games played; [0028]b) a plurality of player microprocessor (PMP) each for interacting with one of the players, at least one PMP being adapted to: [0029]i. communicate with the MC to receive information designating the player that they are matched against, the time slot they should play; [0030]ii. login to a designated host during the designated time slot; [0031]iii. interact with the designated host and the player to allow the matched players to play a game during the designated time slot; and report the results of the game play to the MC. [0032]The present invention may also be embodied as a method of organizing and running structured multi-player game competitions comprising the steps of: [0033]a) identifying a game to be played; [0034]b) identifying players desiring to compete in the identified multi-player game; [0035]c) setting up a round of play in which a plurality of players desiring to play are matched with designated opponent players and authorized to play at designated time slots; [0036]d) notifying players of their designated opponent players and designated time slots to play each of these players; [0037]e) identifying at least one host capable of allowing the players to play the identified game during designated time slots; [0038]f) connecting authorized players to the identified host and allowing the players to play the identified games during the designated time slots to arrive at results of each game; [0039]g) repeating steps "c" through "f" for at least one additional round. [0040]In one embodiment, the MC (101) performs the functions of the MPH hosting the games. In another embodiment, one of the MPs (105) performs the functions of the MPH hosting the games. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0041]The features and advantages of the apparatus of the invention are highlighted by the following description of some preferred embodiments of same, illustrated by way of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which: [0042]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a multi-game playoff system consistent with one embodiment of the present invention. [0043]FIGS. 2 through 5 are a flowchart which illustrates the functioning of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0044]The present invention relates to a gaming system which provides structured competition to multi-player and multi-game and/or multi-round competitions. [0045]As discussed above, prior art games are usually set up on an ad hoc basis in which players join and leave multi-player games randomly. Even those which require play for an entire game do not have structured eliminations or a game schedule. Typically, a winner of a single multi-player game is determined and/or the scores are displayed to the players. A listing of the past high scores may be displayed. These games lack a structured organization and lack competitions based upon multiple games, eliminations based upon performance, and multi-level (multi-game) competition. General Overall Design [0046]The present invention employs elements lacking in the prior art and are required for structured competition. For example, one embodiment of the present invention employs a 1. Registration Stage; 2. Qualification Stage; 3. Regular Season Stage; and 4. Playoff Stage. [0047]In order to structure the competitions, players register, select teams they plan to join and are provided an indication of when and where (which host) to play, and are provided a unique login allowing the host to identify the proper players and teams. [0048]Play may be set that eliminations of players/teams may occur after a set number of games or rounds are completed. Eliminations are based upon performance. Based upon the results of one (single elimination) or more games played (a double elimination or a complete regular season), players/teams are eliminated to result in a final winner for each class. [0049]After a player/team is beaten for a specified number of games, they are dropped from the competition. Eliminations may be made, for example, after one game, two games or an entire regular season of play. Players/teams that have not been eliminated continue on to playoffs which results in a single winning player/team. The present invention provides an automated system for setting up tournaments and for accomplishing these and other objectives. Continue reading about Structured gaming system... Full patent description for Structured gaming system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Structured gaming system patent application. Patent Applications in related categories: 20090291763 - Apparatus and method for fair message exchanges in distributed multi-player games - The Fair-Order Service of the present invention delivers action messages to the server as soon as it is feasible. Because action messages from different players exhibit different reaction times with respect to an update message, the Fair-Ordering Service executed at the server dynamically enforces a sufficient waiting period on each ... 20090291761 - Online game system - An online game system is a system in which plurality of players conduct a game play by accessing through a network. The online game system includes a private area control part controlling a game stage of a private area which restricts a number of players sharing a same game space; ... 20090291762 - Remote gaming environment - A gambler's gaming experience is extended outside the traditional gaming environment by providing a remote gaming environment that duplicates the sights, sounds, smells, and experience of a traditional casino floor. The remote gaming environment may be networked into a customer service center to help resolve issues and prevent fraud. ... ###  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 Structured gaming system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Interactive gaming system with attribute indicators, such as online poker rooms with attribute indicators Next Patent Application: Wake-on-event game client and monitor for persistent world game environment Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Structured gaming system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.30015 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , 174 |
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