US6012984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems for providing large arena games over computer networks
Assignee: GAMESVILLECOM
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Filing: 1997-04-11
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Granted: 2000-01-11
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Expires: 2017-04-11
Abstract
Abstract The gaming systems according to the invention include hardware and software systems that allow a large arena of participants to interactively play a game of chance or skill. Generally, the invention can be understood game servers that generate page signals, such as HTML pages, that are representative of a hand being played, or dealt to a participant in a large arena game. For example, the game server can generate for each participant in a large arena game a page that is representative of a bingo card dealt to that participant. Each of the pages generated by the server includes a control mechanism, such as a check box or radio button, that allows the server to collect information from the participant to determine the moves being played by that participant. The gamer server collects from each participant the moves being played by the participant and as a function of the moves played and the hand dealt, the game server generates a new page that shows the progression of the participant through the game.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart Roseman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:45
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; A; A63; A63F; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/407; A63F2300/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for providing gaming to a large arena of participants, comprising the steps of: providing a game server for generating page signals having information representative of a hand being played by one of the participants in a game and information representative of a game event, and wherein each page includes a mechanism for collecting a reply from one of the participants to indicate the participant's move in the game; allowing each participant in the game to employ a client process operating on a client station to connect to said game server through a computer network and to download a respective one of said page signals from said game server; directing each participant in the game to employ said client process to enter a reply to said page signal in response to said game event, to indicate a play in said game; directing said game server to generate a page signal as a function of said participant's move in the game and an event in the game, whereby the game server continues to generate page signals to guide each participant through the procession of play in the game; providing a registration process for allowing users to request participation in the game; and providing a lock-out process for limiting the number of participants allowed to register to participate in the game.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for providing gaming to a large arena of participants, comprising the steps of: providing a game server for generating page signals having information representative of a hand being played by one of the participants in a game and information representative of a game event, and wherein each page includes a mechanism for collecting a reply from one of the participants to indicate the participant's move in the game; allowing each participant in the game to employ a client process operating on a client station to connect to said game server through a computer network and to download a respective one of said page signals from said game server; directing each participant in the game to employ said client process to enter a reply to said page signal in response to said game event, to indicate a play in said game; directing said game server to generate a page signal as a function of said participant's move in the game and an event in the game, whereby the game server continues to generate page signals to guide each participant through the procession of play in the game; providing a registration process for allowing users to request participation in the game; and providing a lock-out process for limiting the number of participants allowed to register to participate in the game.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of directing said game server to generate said page signals as HTML computer files.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of directing said game server to generate said page signals as XML computer files.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of directing said game server to generate said page signals as VRML computer files.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of providing a client process that comprises a browser process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1 including the further steps of, allowing said participants to generate a register -- to -- win signal to said game server indicative of a successful completion of the game, and directing said game server to verify said register -- to -- win signal as a function of said plays made by said participant during said game.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 including the further step of providing a registration process having a fee entry process for charging one or more of said participants a fee for registering in the game.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of providing a players list representative of the players registered to play the game.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 8 including the further step of storing said player list for the duration of the game for allowing a user to rejoin the game being played.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 including the further step of directing said game server to generate a broadcast winner page having information representative of the winning participant of the game, and serving said winner page to each of said participants in the game.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 1 including the steps of directing said game server to generate page signals that include fields of pregenerated data, and directing said game server to generate a load -- page signal having information for allowing said client process to download and cache store said fields of pregenerated data, whereby said client process can access said cache stored fields of pregenerated data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of directing said game server to detect an event representative of the end of the game and to provide, responsive thereto, interstitial pages representative of pregenerated data for viewing by participants waiting for the beginning of a new game.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 including the further step of providing a cash payout to one or more of the participants in the game.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 including the further step of allowing the participants to select from a plurality of games.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 including the further step of providing said game server with an extensible game engine for allowing said game server to service a plurality of different games.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
153 words
A method according to claim 15 including the further step of providing a game-player object having information representative of an abstract model of a game and information representative of an abstract model of a game board, each of said abstract models being capable of storing data for representing a participant in the game, providing a game object for representing a plurality of different types of games, said game object having a set of member functions each being representative of an abstract gaming operation to provide a set of procedures for implementing any of said plurality of different types of game, and directing said game object to operate said member functions responsive to data within said game-player object that is representative of a type of game being played, whereby said game object provides services responsive to the type of game -- player thereby allowing said game object to service a plurality of game types.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 16 including the further step of providing one of said participants with a java applet for drawing a game board and for editing said game board responsive to moves made by said respective participant.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
351 words
A method for providing gaming to a large arena of participants, comprising the steps of: providing a game server for generating page signals having information representative of a hand being played by one of the participants in a game and information representative of a game event, and wherein each page includes a mechanism for collecting a reply from one of the participants to indicate the participant's move in the game; allowing each participant in the game to employ a client process operating on a client station to connect to said game server through a computer network and to download a respective one of said page signals from said game server; directing each participant in the game to employ said client process to enter a reply to said page signal in response to said game event, to indicate a play in said game; directing said game server to generate a page signal as a function of said participant's move in the game and an event in the game, whereby the game server continues to generate page signals to guide each participant through the procession of play in the game; providing said game server with an extensible game engine for allowing said game server to service a plurality of different games; providing a game-player object having information representative of an abstract model of a game and information representative of an abstract model of a game board, each of said abstract models being capable of storing data for representing a participant in the game; providing a game object for representing a plurality of different types of games, said game object having a set of member functions each being representative of an abstract gaming operation to provide a set of procedures for implementing any of said plurality of different types of game; and directing said game object to operate said member functions responsive to data within said game-player object that is representative of a type of game being played, whereby said game object provides services responsive to the type of game -- player thereby allowing said game object to service a plurality of game types.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
351 words
A method for providing gaming to a large arena of participants, comprising the steps of: providing a game server for generating page signals having information representative of a hand being played by one of the participants in a game and information representative of a game event, and wherein each page includes a mechanism for collecting a reply from one of the participants to indicate the participant's move in the game; allowing each participant in the game to employ a client process operating on a client station to connect to said game server through a computer network and to download a respective one of said page signals from said game server; directing each participant in the game to employ said client process to enter a reply to said page signal in response to said game event, to indicate a play in said game; directing said game server to generate a page signal as a function of said participant's move in the game and an event in the game, whereby the game server continues to generate page signals to guide each participant through the procession of play in the game; providing said game server with an extensible game engine for allowing said game server to service a plurality of different games; providing a game-player object having information representative of an abstract model of a game and information representative of an abstract model of a game board, each of said abstract models being capable of storing data for representing a participant in the game; providing a game object for representing a plurality of different types of games, said game object having a set of member functions each being representative of an abstract gaming operation to provide a set of procedures for implementing any of said plurality of different types of game; and directing said game object to operate said member functions responsive to data within said game-player object that is representative of a type of game being played, whereby said game object provides services responsive to the type of game -- player thereby allowing said game object to service a plurality of game types.
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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) | 2003-01-10 | 2003-07-12 | 2004-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | 2008-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-10 | 2011-07-12 | 2012-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |