Patent US5779549A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5779549A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Database driven online distributed tournament system
Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1996-04-22
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Granted: 1998-07-14
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Expires: 2016-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and a system for a distributed electronic tournament system in which many remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament. The method includes the steps of (a) uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; (b) responding to payment of an entry fee by the player for allowing the player to participate in a tournament occurring within a fixed time window via an associated input/output device; (c) accessing a database to store in the database player information that is generated as the player participates in the tournament, such information being available for use in a subsequent tournament, which is administered by said controller and in which the player participates; and (d) awarding the player a prize for achieving a pre-established performance level in the tournament. In another preferred embodiment, the method further includes the steps of determining whether the player has been qualified to advance to a subsequent game session, in which at least one player is eliminated from the previous game session; and permitting each player qualified to a subsequent game session to participate in that game session. The system includes software and hardware to implement the method steps.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay S. Walker
- 👤 James A. Jorasch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:15
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; A63F13/12; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/30; G07F17/3244; G07F17/3248; G07F17/326; G07F17/3272; G07F17/3276; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/8064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying one of the players communicating with the central controller via one of the associated input/output devices: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: and (c) means for storing in database player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament, such information being available for use in a subsequent tournament, which is administered by said controller wherein a pre-determined number of positions for players are reserved for a selected group of players until the tournament is a preset time away, at which time the reserved positions will be made available to all players.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying one of the players communicating with the central controller via one of the associated input/output devices: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: and (c) means for storing in database player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament, such information being available for use in a subsequent tournament, which is administered by said controller wherein a pre-determined number of positions for players are reserved for a selected group of players until the tournament is a preset time away, at which time the reserved positions will be made available to all players.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
157 words
A distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying one of the players communicating with the central controller via one of the associated input/output devices: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee and (c) means for storing in database player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament, such information being available for use in a subsequent tournament, which is administered by said controller, wherein the means responsive to payment of an entry fee: provides a plurality of payment options; stores a payment option selected by the player in the tournament; and automatically activates the selected payment option after the player has been identified in a subsequent tournament.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
A distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying one of the players communicating with the central controller via one of the associated input/output devices: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee and (c) means for storing in database player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament, such information being available for use in a subsequent tournament, which is administered by said controller, wherein the means responsive to payment of an entry fee: provides a plurality of payment options; stores a payment option selected by the player in the tournament; and automatically activates the selected payment option after the player has been identified in a subsequent tournament.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
140 words
A distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying one of the players communicating with the central controller via one of the associated input/output devices: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: and (c) means for storing in database player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament, such information being available for use in a subsequent tournament, which is administered by said controller, wherein the game has associated therewith a difficulty level which is adjusted as the tournament is played based on the information generated during participation in the game.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
140 words
A distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying one of the players communicating with the central controller via one of the associated input/output devices: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: and (c) means for storing in database player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament, such information being available for use in a subsequent tournament, which is administered by said controller, wherein the game has associated therewith a difficulty level which is adjusted as the tournament is played based on the information generated during participation in the game.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
192 words
A distributed electronic elimination tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament having multiple game sessions through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in a particular game session via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: and (c) means for determining whether the player has been qualified to advance to a subsequent game session based on player information generated during participation in the particular game session, wherein at least one player from the particular game session is eliminated: and (d) means for permitting each player qualified to the subsequent game session to participate in the subsequent game session, wherein the game session has a starting time and wherein a pre-determined number of reserved positions for players are reserved for a selected group of players until the starting time of the game session is a preset time away, at which time the reserved positions will be made available to all players.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
192 words
A distributed electronic elimination tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament having multiple game sessions through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in a particular game session via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: and (c) means for determining whether the player has been qualified to advance to a subsequent game session based on player information generated during participation in the particular game session, wherein at least one player from the particular game session is eliminated: and (d) means for permitting each player qualified to the subsequent game session to participate in the subsequent game session, wherein the game session has a starting time and wherein a pre-determined number of reserved positions for players are reserved for a selected group of players until the starting time of the game session is a preset time away, at which time the reserved positions will be made available to all players.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
203 words
A distributed electronic elimination tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament having multiple game sessions through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in a particular game session via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: (c) means for determining whether the player has been qualified to advance to a subsequent game session based on player information generated during participation in the particular game session, wherein at least one player from the particular game session is eliminated: and (d) means for permitting each player qualified to the subsequent game session to participate in the subsequent game session, wherein the means for a player to pay an entry fee includes: means for providing at least one payment option; means for storing a payment option selected by a player in the particular game session; and means for automatically activating the selected payment option after the player has been identified in the subsequent game session for payment of a subsequent game session entry fee.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
203 words
A distributed electronic elimination tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament having multiple game sessions through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in a particular game session via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: (c) means for determining whether the player has been qualified to advance to a subsequent game session based on player information generated during participation in the particular game session, wherein at least one player from the particular game session is eliminated: and (d) means for permitting each player qualified to the subsequent game session to participate in the subsequent game session, wherein the means for a player to pay an entry fee includes: means for providing at least one payment option; means for storing a payment option selected by a player in the particular game session; and means for automatically activating the selected payment option after the player has been identified in the subsequent game session for payment of a subsequent game session entry fee.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
A distributed electronic elimination tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament having multiple game sessions through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in a particular game session via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: (c) means for determining whether the player has been qualified to advance to a subsequent game session based on player information generated during participation in the particular game session, wherein at least one player from the particular game session is eliminated: and (d) means for permitting each player qualified to the subsequent game session to participate in the subsequent game session, wherein the particular game session has a difficulty level and further comprising a means for adjusting the difficulty level as the particular game session is played based upon information generated during play of the particular game session.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
176 words
A distributed electronic elimination tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament having multiple game sessions through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the system comprising: (a) means for uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device: (b) means for allowing the player to participate in a particular game session via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee: (c) means for determining whether the player has been qualified to advance to a subsequent game session based on player information generated during participation in the particular game session, wherein at least one player from the particular game session is eliminated: and (d) means for permitting each player qualified to the subsequent game session to participate in the subsequent game session, wherein the particular game session has a difficulty level and further comprising a means for adjusting the difficulty level as the particular game session is played based upon information generated during play of the particular game session.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of using a distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the method comprising the steps of: uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee by the player, the tournament occurring within a time window; storing player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament: and restricting player reservation to a selected group of players until a predetermined time prior to the tournament.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of using a distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the method comprising the steps of: uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee by the player, the tournament occurring within a time window; storing player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament: and restricting player reservation to a selected group of players until a predetermined time prior to the tournament.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of using a distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the method comprising the steps of: uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee by the player, the tournament occurring within a time window; storing player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament; and adjusting the game based on the player information.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of using a distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the method comprising the steps of: uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee by the player, the tournament occurring within a time window; storing player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the tournament; and adjusting the game based on the player information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the tournament has a difficulty level and the step of adjusting the game includes adjusting the difficulty level based on the player information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
96 words
A distributed electronic tournament system for administering a first game, and a second game, the system comprising: a plurality of input/output devices, each input/output device including an input component for receiving player input: and a central controller coupled to the input/output devices including a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to store player information during occurrence of the first game based on the player input and retrieve the stored player information during occurrence of the second game, wherein the first game and the second game are part of the same tournament.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
A distributed electronic tournament system for administering a first game, and a second game, the system comprising: a plurality of input/output devices, each input/output device including an input component for receiving player input: and a central controller coupled to the input/output devices including a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to store player information during occurrence of the first game based on the player input and retrieve the stored player information during occurrence of the second game, wherein the first game and the second game are part of the same tournament.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of using a distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in tournaments through input/output devices coupled to a central controller which manages the tournament, the method comprising the steps of: uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; upon payment of a first entry fee by the player, allowing the player to participate in a first tournament via the associated input/output device, the first tournament occurring within a time window; storing player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the first tournament; retrieving the player information during a second tournament subsequent to the first tournament; receiving a first payment option for payment of the first entry fee in the first tournament; storing the first payment option; retrieving the stored first payment option; and paying a second entry fee in accordance with the stored first payment option.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of using a distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in tournaments through input/output devices coupled to a central controller which manages the tournament, the method comprising the steps of: uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; upon payment of a first entry fee by the player, allowing the player to participate in a first tournament via the associated input/output device, the first tournament occurring within a time window; storing player information that is generated as the player participates in a game of the first tournament; retrieving the player information during a second tournament subsequent to the first tournament; receiving a first payment option for payment of the first entry fee in the first tournament; storing the first payment option; retrieving the stored first payment option; and paying a second entry fee in accordance with the stored first payment option.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of using a distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament including at least one challenge through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the method comprising the steps of: uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; allowing the player to participate in a tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee; generating a first challenge for a first player based on a first contemporaneous event and generating a second challenge for a second player based on a second contemporaneous event; communicating each challenge to the associated input/output device; generating an outcome associated with the first player; generating a second outcome associated with the second player; and statistically normalizing the outcomes.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of using a distributed electronic tournament system in which a plurality of remotely located players participate in a tournament including at least one challenge through input/output devices connected to a central controller which manages the tournament, the method comprising the steps of: uniquely identifying a player communicating with the central controller via an associated input/output device; allowing the player to participate in a tournament via the associated input/output device upon payment of an entry fee; generating a first challenge for a first player based on a first contemporaneous event and generating a second challenge for a second player based on a second contemporaneous event; communicating each challenge to the associated input/output device; generating an outcome associated with the first player; generating a second outcome associated with the second player; and statistically normalizing the outcomes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-13 | 2002-01-12 | 2002-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-13 | 2006-01-12 | 2006-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-13 | 2010-01-12 | 2010-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |