Method of interfacing on a computer network by visual representations of users, method of interacting and computer network

Claim 2

A computer-implemented method of interacting on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of remote computer systems, where each remote computer system has a video display and where a plurality of video games are accessible from the remote computer systems, the method comprising: a first player creating a first visage representing a first player on a first remote computer system; the first player identifying a level of interest of the first player for at least one of the video games, the level of interest being chosen from among gradations of interest including a level representing relatively little interest, a level representing relatively intermediate interest, and a level representing relatively great interest; the first player indicating predetermined personal characteristics of the first player; the first player saving the visage, interest level, and personal characteristics of the first player; the first player accessing the central computer system from the first remote computer system; a plurality of second players accessing the central computer system from a plurality of second remote computer systems while the first player accesses the central computer system; showing a list of at least one second player on the video display of the first remote computer system; the first player inviting a selected second player shown on the list to play a selected video game by transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the first remote computer system to the selected second remote computer system; and displaying on the video display of the selected second remote computer system at least a portion of the visage, the relative interest level, and the personal characteristics of the first player saved in the step of saving.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 where the step of inviting allows the selected second player to display the visage, interest level, and personal characteristics of the first player, and further includes the step of enabling the selected second player to accept the invitation.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 where the step of creating a first visage of a first player on a first remote computer system includes the steps of selecting predetermined characteristics stored in memory accessible by the first remote computer system, and combining the selected predetermined characteristics to create the first visage.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 where the predetermined characteristics include different predetermined pixel patterns stored in memory to represent different ages, sexes, skin colors and hair colors.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 where the step of indicating predetermined personal characteristics of the first player includes the step of identifying personal interests of the first player and displaying those interests on the video display of the first computer.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 where the step of saving the visage, interest level, and personal characteristics of the first player records includes recording at least one of the visage, relative interest level, and personal characteristics in memory accessible by the first remote computer system.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 where the selected second player has created a visage of the second player on the selected second remote computer system, has identified an interest level of the selected second player for at least one of the video games, has indicated predetermined personal characteristics of the selected second player, and has saved the visage, interest level, and personal characteristics of the selected second player, and where the step of inviting a second player who has accessed the central computer system from a selected second remote computer system includes the step of accessing the saved visage, interest level, and personal characteristics of the selected second player.

Claim 9

A computer-implemented method of interacting on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of remote computer systems, where each remote computer system has a video display and where a plurality of video games are accessible from the remote computer systems, the method comprising: a first player creating a first visage representing a first player on a first remote computer system; the first player identifying an interest level and a skill level of the first player for at least one of the video games; the first player indicating predetermined personal characteristics of the first player; the first player saving the visage, interest level, skill level and personal characteristics of the first player; the first player accessing the central computer system from the first remote computer system; a plurality of second players accessing the central computer system from a plurality of second remote computer systems; showing a list of at least one second player on the video display of the first remote computer system; the first player inviting a selected second player on a selected second computer system from the list to play a selected video game by transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the first remote computer system to the selected second remote computer system; and displaying on the video display of the selected second remote computer system at least a portion of the information saved in the step of saving, where the step of identifying an interest and a skill level of the first player for at least one of the video games includes the step of displaying on the video display of the first computer system a bar graph indicating the interest level and the skill level of the first player for each video game, where the bar graph has two ends and one end represents a low interest and skill level, the other end represents a high interest and skill level and positions between the two ends represent intermediate interests and skill levels.

Claim 10

A computer-implemented method of interacting on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of remote computer systems, where each remote computer system has a video display and where a plurality of video games are accessible from the remote computer systems, the method comprising: a first player creating a first visage representing a first player on a first remote computer system; the first player identifying an interest level and a skill level of the first player for at least one of the video games; the first player indicating predetermined personal characteristics of the first player; the first player saving the visage, interest level, skill level and personal characteristics of the first player; the first player accessing the central computer system from the first remote computer system; a plurality of second players accessing the central computer system from a plurality of second remote computer systems; showing a list of at least one second player on the video display of the first remote computer system; the first player inviting a selected second player on a selected second computer system from the list to play a selected video game by transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the first remote computer system to the selected second remote computer system; and displaying on the video display of the selected second remote computer system at least a portion of the information saved in the step of saving, where the step of identifying an interest and a skill level of the first player for at least one of the video games includes the step of displaying on the video display of the first computer system a bar graph indicating the interest level and the skill level of the first player for each video game, where the bar graph has two ends and one end represents a low interest and skill level, the other end represents a high interest and skill level and positions between the two ends represent intermediate interests and skill levels.

Claim 11

A computer implemented method of creating a player profile for interacting on a computer gaming network comprising the following: enabling the first user to identify profile information with respect to each of one or more games, the profile information including level of interest, the level of interest being chosen from among gradations of interest including a level representing relatively little interest, a level representing relatively intermediate interest, and a level representing relatively great interest; and enabling the first user to make the profile information accessible to a first remote computer system, a central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system, wherein the first computer system, the central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system are elements of a computer gaming network used for multiplayer gaming.

Claim 12

A computer implemented method of creating a player profile for interacting on a computer gaming network comprising the following: enabling the first user to identify profile information with respect to each of one or more games, the profile information including level of interest, the level of interest being chosen from among gradations of interest including a level representing relatively little interest, a level representing relatively intermediate interest, and a level representing relatively great interest; and enabling the first user to make the profile information accessible to a first remote computer system, a central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system, wherein the first computer system, the central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system are elements of a computer gaming network used for multiplayer gaming.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 wherein the profile information is automatically rendered upon the first user inviting a second user to play a game.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 wherein enabling the first user to make the profile information accessible comprises displaying the rendered profile information to the second user upon the first user inviting the second user to play the game.

Claim 15

The method of claim 10 further comprising automatically rendering profile information of the second user and displaying the rendered profile information of the second userto the first user upon the first user inviting the second user to play the game, the profile information of the second user including a level of interest, the level of interest being chosen from among gradations of interest including a level respresenting relatively little interest, a level representing relatively intermediate interest, and a level representing relatively great interest.

Claim 16

The method of claim 9 wherein the profile information is automatically rendered upon the second user determining that the first user has accessed the central computer system and then the second user taking an action demonstrating an interest in the first user.

Claim 17

The method of claim 9 wherein enabling the first user to identify includes enabling the first user to identify both an interest level and a skill level with respect to each of one or more of a plurality of games.

Claim 18

The method of claim 9 wherein enabling the first user to identify includes enabling identification of an interest level with respect to each of one or more games.

Claim 19

The method of claim 9 wherein enabling the first user to identify includes enabling identification of a skill level with respect to each of one or more games.

Claim 20

The method of claim 9 further comprising enabling the first user to select a visage and enabling the first user to save the visage such that the visage is accessible to a first remote computer system, a central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system.

Claim 21

The method of claim 9 further comprising enabling the first user to identify personal characteristics and enabling the first user to save the personal characteristics such that the personal characteristics are accessible to a first remote computer system, a central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18 wherein the enabling the first user to identify personal characteristics comprises enabling the first user to identify personal characteristics not related to computer games.

Claim 23

A computer implemented method of accessing a player profile for interacting on a computer gaming network comprising the following: enabling the first user to access profile information of a second user with respect to each of one or more games, the profile information including a level of interest, the level of interest being chosen from among gradations of interest including a level representing relatively little interest, a level representing relatively intermediate interest, and a level representing relatively great interest; and enabling the first user to initiate a game with the second user based on the profile information, wherein the first user accesses the profile information using a first remote computer system that communicates with a computer gaming network for multiplayer gaming that includes a central computer system and at least one other remote computer system.

Claim 24

A computer implemented method of accessing a player profile for interacting on a computer gaming network comprising the following: enabling the first user to access profile information of a second user with respect to each of one or more games, the profile information including a level of interest, the level of interest being chosen from among gradations of interest including a level representing relatively little interest, a level representing relatively intermediate interest, and a level representing relatively great interest; and enabling the first user to initiate a game with the second user based on the profile information, wherein the first user accesses the profile information using a first remote computer system that communicates with a computer gaming network for multiplayer gaming that includes a central computer system and at least one other remote computer system.

Claim 25

The method of claim 20 wherein the profile information is automatically rendered upon the first user inviting a second user to play a game.

Claim 26

The method of claim 21 wherein enabling the first user to access profile information of a second user comprises displaying the rendered profile information to the first user upon the first user inviting the second user to play the game.

Claim 27

The method of claim 21 further comprising automatically rendering profile information of the first user and displaying the rendered profile information of the first user to the second user upon the first user inviting the second user to play the game, the profile information including a relative interest level of the first user for the first identified video game relative to the second identified video game.

Claim 28

The method of claim 20 wherein the profile information is automatically rendered upon the second user determining that the first user has accessed the central computer system and then the second user taking an action demonstrating an interest in the first user.

Claim 29

The method of claim 20 wherein enabling the first user to access includes enabling the first user to access both an interest level and a skill level of the second user with respect to each of one or more of a plurality of games.

Claim 30

The method of claim 20 wherein enabling the first user to access includes enabling access of an interest level of the second user with respect to each of one or more games.

Claim 31

The method of claim 20 wherein enabling the first user to access includes enabling access of a skill level of the second user with respect to each of one or more games.

Claim 32

The method of claim 20 further comprising enabling the first user to access a visage of the second user.

Claim 33

The method of claim 20 further comprising enabling the first user to access personal characteristics of the second user.

Claim 34

The method of claim 29 wherein enabling the first user to access personal characteristics comprises enabling the first user to access personal characteristics of the second user not related to computer games.

Claim 35

A computer-implemented method of interacting on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of remote computer systems, where each remote computer system has a video display and where a plurality of video games are accessible from the remote computer systems, the method comprising: a first player creating a first visage representing a first player on a first remote computer system; the first player identifying a relative interest level of the first player for a first identified video game relative to a second identified video game, the first and second identified video games being selected from among the plurality of video games; the first player indicating predetermined personal characteristics of the first player; the first player saving the visage, relative interest level, and personal characteristics of the first player; the first player accessing the central computer system from the first remote computer system; a plurality of second players accessing the central computer system from a plurality of second remote computer systems while the first player accesses the central computer system; showing a list of at least one second player on the video display of the first remote computer system; the first player inviting a selected second player shown on the list to play a selected video game by transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the first remote computer system to the selected second remote computer system; and displaying on the video display of the selected second remote computer system at least a portion of the visage, the relative interest level, and the personal characteristics of the first player saved in the step of saving.

Claim 36

A computer-implemented method of interacting on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of remote computer systems, where each remote computer system has a video display and where a plurality of video games are accessible from the remote computer systems, the method comprising: a first player creating a first visage representing a first player on a first remote computer system; the first player identifying a relative interest level of the first player for a first identified video game relative to a second identified video game, the first and second identified video games being selected from among the plurality of video games; the first player indicating predetermined personal characteristics of the first player; the first player saving the visage, relative interest level, and personal characteristics of the first player; the first player accessing the central computer system from the first remote computer system; a plurality of second players accessing the central computer system from a plurality of second remote computer systems while the first player accesses the central computer system; showing a list of at least one second player on the video display of the first remote computer system; the first player inviting a selected second player shown on the list to play a selected video game by transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the first remote computer system to the selected second remote computer system; and displaying on the video display of the selected second remote computer system at least a portion of the visage, the relative interest level, and the personal characteristics of the first player saved in the step of saving.

Claim 37

The method of claim 31 where the step of inviting allows the selected second player to display the visage, the relative interest level, and personal characteristics of the first player, and further includes the step of enabling the selected second player to accept the invitation.

Claim 38

The method of claim 31 where the step of creating a first visage of a first player on a first remote computer system includes the steps of selecting predetermined characteristics stored in memory accessible by the first remote computer system, and combining the selected predetermined characteristics to create the first visage.

Claim 39

The method of claim 33 where the predetermined characteristics include different predetermined pixel patterns stored in memory to represent different ages, sexes, skin colors and hair colors.

Claim 40

The method of claim 31 where the step of identifying a relative interest level of the first player for the first identified video game includes the step of displaying on the video display of the first computer system a bar graph indicating an interest level of the first player for the first identified video game and an interest level of the first player for the second identified video game, where each bar graph has two ends and one end represents a low interest level, the other end represents a high interest level and positions between the two ends represent intermediate interests levels.

Claim 41

The method of claim 31 where the step of indicating predetermined personal characteristics of the first player includes the step of identifying personal interests of the first player and displaying those interests on the video display of the first computer.

Claim 42

The method of claim 31 where the step of saving the visage, relative interest level, and personal characteristics of the first player, includes recording at least one of the visage, relative interest level, and personal characteristics in memory accessible by the first remote computer system.

Claim 43

The method of claim 31 where the selected second player has created a visage of the second player on the selected second remote computer system, has identified a relative interest level of the selected second player for the first identified video game relative to the second identified video game, has indicated predetermined personal characteristics of the selected second player, and has saved the visage, relative interest level, and personal characteristics of the selected second player, and where the step of inviting a second player who has accessed the central computer system from a selected second remote computer system includes the step of accessing the saved visage, relative interest level, and personal characteristics of the selected second player.

Claim 44

A computer implemented method of creating a player profile for interacting on a computer gaming network comprising the following: enabling the first user to identify profile information with respect to a plurality of video games, the profile information including a relative interest level of the first user for a first identified video game relative to a second identified video game, the first and second identified video games being among the plurality of video games; and enabling the first user to make the profile information accessible to a first remote computer system, a central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system, wherein the first computer system, the central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system are elements of a computer gaming network used for multiplayer gaming.

Claim 45

A computer implemented method of creating a player profile for interacting on a computer gaming network comprising the following: enabling the first user to identify profile information with respect to a plurality of video games, the profile information including a relative interest level of the first user for a first identified video game relative to a second identified video game, the first and second identified video games being among the plurality of video games; and enabling the first user to make the profile information accessible to a first remote computer system, a central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system, wherein the first computer system, the central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system are elements of a computer gaming network used for multiplayer gaming.

Claim 46

The method of claim 39 wherein the profile information is automatically rendered upon the first user inviting a second user to play a game.

Claim 47

The method of claim 40 wherein enabling the first user to make the profile information accessible comprises displaying the rendered profile information to the second user upon the first user inviting the second user to play the game.

Claim 48

The method of claim 40 further comprising automatically rendering profile information of the second user and displaying the rendered profile information of the second user to the first user upon the first user inviting the second user to play the game, the profile information of the second user including a relative interest level of the second user for the first identified video game relative to the second identified video game.

Claim 49

The method of claim 39 wherein the profile information is automatically rendered upon the second user determining that the first user has accessed the central computer system and then the second user taking an action demonstrating an interest in the first user.

Claim 50

The method of claim 39 wherein enabling the first user to identify includes enabling the first user to identify a skill level with respect to one or more of the plurality of video games.

Claim 51

The method of claim 44 wherein enabling the first user to identify includes enabling the first user to identify a skill level with respect to the first identified video game.

Claim 52

The method of claim 39 further comprising enabling the first user to select a visage and enabling the first user to save the visage such that the visage is accessible to a first remote computer system, a central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system.

Claim 53

The method of claim 39 further comprising enabling the first user to identify personal characteristics and enabling the first user to save the personal characteristics such that the personal characteristics are accessible to a first remote computer system, a central computer system, and at least one other remote computer system.

Claim 54

The method of claim 39 wherein the enabling the first user to identify personal characteristics comprises enabling the first user to identify personal characteristics not related to computer games.

Claim 55

The method of claim 39 wherein the relative interest level is chosen from among gradations of interest.

Claim 56

The method of claim 49 wherein the gradations of interest include a level representing little interest, a level representing intermediate interest, and a level representing great interest.

Claim 57

A computer implemented method of accessing a player profile for interacting on a computer gaming network comprising the following: enabling the first user to access profile information of a second user with respect to a plurality of video games, the profile information including a relative interest level of the second user for a first identified video game relative to a second identified video game, the first and second identified video games being among the plurality of video games; and enabling the first user to initiate a game with the second user based on the profile information, wherein the first user accesses the profile information using a first remote computer system that communicates with a computer gaming network for multiplayer gaming that includes a central computer system and at least one other remote computer system.

Claim 58

A computer implemented method of accessing a player profile for interacting on a computer gaming network comprising the following: enabling the first user to access profile information of a second user with respect to a plurality of video games, the profile information including a relative interest level of the second user for a first identified video game relative to a second identified video game, the first and second identified video games being among the plurality of video games; and enabling the first user to initiate a game with the second user based on the profile information, wherein the first user accesses the profile information using a first remote computer system that communicates with a computer gaming network for multiplayer gaming that includes a central computer system and at least one other remote computer system.

Claim 59

The method of claim 51 wherein the profile information is automatically rendered upon the first user inviting a second user to play a game.

Claim 60

The method of claim 52 wherein enabling the first user to access profile information of a second user comprises displaying the rendered profile information to the first user upon the first user inviting the second user to play the game.

Claim 61

The method of claim 52 further comprising automatically rendering profile information of the first user and displaying the rendered profile information of the first user to the second user upon the first user inviting the second user to play the game, the profile information including a relative interest level of the first user for the first identified video game relative to the second identified video game.

Claim 62

The method of claim 51 wherein the profile information is automatically rendered upon the second user determining that the first user has accessed the central computer system and then the second user taking an action demonstrating an interest in the first user.

Claim 63

The method of claim 51 wherein enabling the first user to access includes enabling the first user to access a skill level of the second user with respect to one or more of the plurality of video games.

Claim 64

The method of claim 56 wherein enabling the first user to access includes enabling the first user to access a skill level of the second user with respect to the first identified video game.

Claim 65

The method of claim 51 further comprising enabling the first user to access a visage of the second user.

Claim 66

The method of claim 51 further comprising enabling the first user to access personal characteristics of the second user.

Claim 67

The method of claim 51 wherein enabling the first user to access personal characteristics comprises enabling the first user to access personal characteristics of the second user not related to computer games.

Claim 68

The method of claim 51 wherein the relative interest level is chosen from among gradations of interest.

Claim 69

The method of claim 61 wherein the gradations of interest include a level representing little interest, a level representing intermediate interest, and a level representing great interest.