U.S. patent application number 11/158349 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-25 for device, system, and method of interactive quiz game.
Invention is credited to Micha Berdichevsky, Dan Chamizer, Yariv Gershony.
Application Number | 20070021168 11/158349 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37570829 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070021168 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chamizer; Dan ; et
al. |
January 25, 2007 |
Device, system, and method of interactive quiz game
Abstract
Briefly, a device, system and method of interactive quiz game. A
method of operating an interactive quiz game may include, for
example: sequentially presenting a stream of statements to
plurality of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals;
receiving responses from participating stations to the presented
stream of statements within a pre-defined response period following
presentation of each statement; if a response received from a
participating station is correct, incrementing a value of a score
counter associated with said participating station; if a response
received from a participating station is incorrect, terminating the
participation of said station in the interactive quiz game; if the
value of a score counter associated with a participating station
reaches a pre-defined target value, determining that said station
is a winner.
Inventors: |
Chamizer; Dan; (Ein Hod
Artist Village, IL) ; Berdichevsky; Micha; (Tel Aviv,
IL) ; Gershony; Yariv; (Hod Hasharon, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEARL COHEN ZEDEK, LLP;PEARL COHEN ZEDEK LATZER, LLP
1500 BROADWAY 12TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
37570829 |
Appl. No.: |
11/158349 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G06Q 30/08 20130101; G07F 17/3295 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/007 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method of operating an interactive quiz game, the method
comprising: sequentially presenting a stream of statements to a
plurality of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals;
receiving responses from participating stations to the presented
stream of statements within a pre-defined response period following
presentation of each statement; if a response received from a
participating station is correct, incrementing a value of a score
counter associated with said participating station; if a response
received from a participating station is incorrect, terminating the
participation of said station in the interactive quiz game; if the
value of a score counter associated with a participating station
reaches a pre-defined target value, determining that said station
is a winner.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: commencing
participation of a first station in the interactive quiz game at a
first time point; and commencing participation of a second station
in the interactive quiz game at a second time point.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting comprises:
substantially simultaneously presenting a statement of said stream
to said first and second stations.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein substantially simultaneously
presenting a statement comprises: substantially simultaneously
presenting said statement as an Nth presented statement to said
first station and as an Mth presented statement to said second
station.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initializing a score
counter associated with a participating station when participation
of said station in the interactive quiz game begins.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements
comprises: selecting a statement from a repository storing
plurality of statements associated with correct responses,
respectively.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements
comprises: selecting a first statement associated with a first
group type; and selecting a second statement associated with a
second group type.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements
comprises: selecting a first statement associated with a first
difficulty level; and selecting a second statement associated with
a second difficulty level.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements
comprises: selecting a statement associated with a difficulty level
value in relation to the numbers of stations participating in said
quiz game.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of
statements comprises: selecting a statement associated with a
difficulty level value in relation to the highest value of the
score counters associated with the participating stations.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of
statements comprises: presenting said stream of statements in a
first presentation format to a first participating station, and
presenting said stream of statements in a second, different
presentation format to a second participating station.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting comprises: presenting
said stream of statements in a first language to a first
participating station, and presenting said stream of statements in
a second, different language to a second participating station.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of
statements comprises: presenting a stream of statements including
at least one textual statement.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of
statements comprises: presenting a stream of statements including
at least one graphical statement.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of
statements comprises: presenting a stream of statements including
at least one audio statement.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving responses comprises:
receiving at least one response through a multiple-choice input
interface.
17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on the
determination, providing a prize to at least one participating
station.
18. A system for operating a quiz game, the system comprising: at
least one output unit to sequentially present a stream of
statements to a plurality of participating stations at pre-defined
time intervals; and a processor able to: receive responses from
participating stations to the presented stream of statements within
a pre-defined response period following presentation of each
statement; if a response received from a participating station is
correct, increment a value of a score counter associated with said
participating station; if a response received from a participating
station is incorrect, terminate the participation of said station
in the interactive quiz game; if the value of a score counter
associated with a participating station reaches a pre-defined
target value, determine that said station is a winner.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to commence
participation of a first station in the interactive quiz game at a
first time point, and commence participation of a second station in
the interactive quiz game at a second time point.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein said processor is to
substantially simultaneously present a statement of said stream to
said first and second stations.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein said processor is to
substantially simultaneously present said statement as an Nth
presented statement to said first station and as an Mth presented
statement to said second station.
22. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to initialize
a score counter associated with a participating station when
participation of said station in the interactive quiz game
begins.
23. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a
statement from a repository storing plurality of statements
associated with correct responses, respectively.
24. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a
first statement associated with a first group type, and select a
second statement associated with a second group type.
25. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a
first statement associated with a first difficulty level, and
select a second statement associated with a second difficulty
level.
26. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a
statement associated with a difficulty level value in relation to
the numbers of stations participating in said quiz game.
27. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a
statement associated with a difficulty level value in relation to
the highest value of the score counters associated with the
participating stations.
28. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present
said stream of statements in a first presentation fornmat to a
first participating station, and to present said stream of
statements in a second, different presentation format to a second
participating station.
29. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present
said stream of statements in a first language to a first
participating station, and to present said stream of statements in
a second, different language to a second participating station.
30. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present a
stream of statements including at least one textual statement.
31. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present a
stream of statements including at least one graphical
statement.
32. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present a
stream of statements including at least one audio statement.
33. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to receive at
least one response through a multiple-choice input interface.
34. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to provide a
prize to at least one participating station based on the
determination.
35. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions
that, if executed by. a machine, cause the machine to perform a
method of operating an interactive quiz game, the method
comprising: sequentially presenting a stream of statements to a
plurality of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals;
receiving responses from participating stations to the presented
stream of statements within a pre-defined response period following
presentation of each statement; if a response received from a
participating station is correct, incrementing a value of a score
counter associated with said participating station; if a response
received from a participating station is incorrect, terminating the
participation of said station in the interactive quiz game; if the
value of a score counter associated with a participating station
reaches a pre-defined target value, determining that said station
is a winner.
36. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the
instructions result in: commencing participation of a first station
in the interactive quiz game at a first time point; and commencing
participation of a second station in the interactive quiz game at a
second time point.
37. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the
instructions result in: substantially simultaneously presenting a
statement of said stream to said first and second stations.
38. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the
instructions result in: substantially simultaneously presenting
said statement as an Nth presented statement to said first station
and as an Mth presented statement to said second station.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of quiz
games.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various quiz games exist, for example, for entertainment and
educational purposes. Some quiz games are intended mainly for a
single contestant, e.g., "Who Wants to be a Millionaire (.TM.)";
whereas other quiz games are intended mainly for multiple
contestants, e.g., "Jeopardy (.TM.)" and "Wheel of Fortune (.TM.)".
A contestant's success in a quiz game may depend on various
parameters, for example, the contestant's knowledge and skills, as
well as random elements, e.g., if questions or tasks are selected
randomly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various embodiments of the invention provide, for example,
devices, systems and methods of interactive quiz game.
[0004] In some embodiments, multiple users may participate in an
interactive quiz game, after logging in to a game server and
optionally paying a participation fee. Each user may be associated
with a score counter, which may be initially set to zero.
[0005] The game server may include a repository storing multiple
statements or questions, such that each statement or question may
be associated with a correct response or answer. For example, the
statement "Rome is the capital of Italy" may be associated with the
correct response "True", whereas the statement "Tom Cruise played
in the movie Titanic" may be associated with the correct response
"False".
[0006] In some embodiments, the statement or question to be
answered may be presented in a multiple choice format, whereby the
user may select the answer or response from a set of multiple
(e.g., two, three, four, etc.) possible answers, wherein only one
of the presented selections is identified by the system as the
correct response.
[0007] In some embodiments, a statement or question may be selected
from the repository, for example, pseudo-randomly or in accordance
with a pre-defined selection algorithm, for example, at predefined
time intervals, e.g., every ten seconds. The selected statement or
question may be presented simultaneously to multiple users, e.g.,
using multiple stations, respectively. Each user may have a
pre-defined time period, e.g., nine seconds, to submit his response
to the statement or question, e.g., "True" or "False", or one of
the multiple choices presented to the use (e.g., "A", "B", "C" or
"D").
[0008] In one embodiment, the user's response may be submitted or
registered using an input unit, for example, a user interface
having multiple press-able buttons or clickable areas, optionally
using a mouth, a keyboard, a keypad, or other input unit; and the
input unit may send or transmit to the quiz game server a signal
indicating the answer selected by the user.
[0009] If the signal received from a user does not match the
correct response, then that user may receive the message "You were
incorrect", and may not further participate in the quiz game, e.g.,
at all, or unless the user pays an additional participation
fee.
[0010] Conversely, if the signal received from a user matches the
correct response, then the score counter associated with that user
may be incremented or increased, and that user may proceed to
participate in consecutive rounds of the quiz game, e.g., may
respond to a consecutive selected statement.
[0011] In one embodiment, the first user whose score counter
reaches a pre-defined target score value, thereby indicating that
the user submitted a pre-defined number of consecutive correct
responses, may be declared as the winner, and may optionally
receive a prize.
[0012] In some embodiments, multiple users may join at various
times the quiz game and the stream of statements or questions
presented, e.g., without interfering with the participation of
other users in parallel. For example, a stream of statements or
questions may be presented substantially continuously, such that a
different statement or question is presented every pre-defined
time-interval to all the users participating at that time. For
example, a first user may join the quiz game prior to presenting,
e.g., the 9th statement or question in the stream; whereas a second
user may join the quiz game prior to presenting, e.g., the 13th
statement or question in the stream. As both the first and second
users are participating, the first statement or question presented
to both the first and second users (e.g., the 13th statement in the
stream) is the 5th statement or question presented to the first
user and the 1st statement presented to the second user; the
consecutive presented statement or question presented to both the
first and second users (e.g., the 14th statement in the stream) is
the 6th statement or question presented to the first user and the
2nd statement or question presented to the second user, etc.
[0013] In some embodiments, score counters may be associated with
users, or with stations able to present the statements or questions
or able to allow users to enter their selected responses. For
example, when a user joins the quiz game, a score counter may be
associated with the user, reset and initialized; the score counter
may be increased or incremented when the user submits a correct
response; the score counter may be decreased, may remain unchanged,
or may be reset to zero when the user submits an incorrect
response.
[0014] In the above-mentioned example, after the 14th statement or
question in the stream is presented, the first and second users may
submit their responses. If the first user submitted a correct
response, then his score counter may indicated that he responded
correctly to 6 consecutive statements or questions, whereas if the
second user submitted a correct response, then his score counter
may indicate that he responded correctly to 2 consecutive
statements or questions.
[0015] In one embodiment, the first user whose score counter
reaches a pre-defined target score value, or whose score counter
indicates a pre-defined number of consecutive correct responses,
may be determined the winner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly
pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the
specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and
method of operation, together with objects, features and advantages
thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following
detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in
which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a flow-chart of a method of operating an
interactive quiz game in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention; and
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a quiz
game system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0019] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily
been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the
elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.
Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be
repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] In the following description, various aspects of the
invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific
configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will also be
apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention may be
practiced without the specific details presented herein.
Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in
order not to obscure the invention.
[0021] Various examples are given throughout this description.
These are merely descriptions of specific embodiments of the
invention, but the scope of the invention is not limited to the
examples given. Features described with respect to one embodiment
may be included in other embodiments though not described therein.
Aspects of the various embodiments disclosed herein may be
combinable with the other embodiments disclosed herein.
[0022] Although portions of the discussion herein may relate, for
demonstrative purposes, to presentation of a "statement",
embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, and
may include, for example, presenting a predicate, a textual item or
object, a graphic item or object, an audio item, a video item or
object, a multimedia item or object, an animated item or object, a
combined (e.g., text and/or graphic and/or audio) item or object, a
sentence, a question, or the like.
[0023] Although portions of the discussion herein may relate, for
demonstrative purposes, to presenting two selectable responses,
embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, and
may include, for example, presenting multiple-choice responses,
presenting more than two (e.g., three, four, five, etc.) possible
responses, presenting a single button allowing the user to indicate
a certain response (e.g., "True"), presenting a drop-down list or
menu of possible responses, or the like.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a flow-chart of a method of operating an
interactive quiz game in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
[0025] The method may include, for example, logging in to a central
game server (box 110). For example, a first user may use a first
station to log in to the game server, and a second user may use a
second station to log in to the game server. According to
embodiments of the invention, users may log on individually at any
given time, and the logging in of multiple participants in the same
game may not be simultaneous.
[0026] The method may optionally include, for example, receiving
payment from user (box 115). For example, a user may be required to
pay a participation fee to be allowed to participate in one session
of the quiz game.
[0027] The method may include, for example, resetting a score
counter associated with each participating user (box 117). The
score counter may store data representing, for example, the number
of statements presented to a user, to which the user provided a
correct response. In one embodiment, a score counter associated
with each new participant may be initially set to zero.
[0028] The method may further include, for example, selecting a
statement from a statements repository (box 120), e.g., randomly or
in accordance with a pre-defined selection algorithm.
[0029] The method may further include presenting the selected
statement (box 125), for example, to the multiple users, e.g.,
substantially simultaneously using the multiple stations,
respectively.
[0030] The method may further include, for example, receiving
multiple responses from the multiple users, respectively (box 130),
within a pre-defined time period ("response period"), e.g., ten
seconds. For example, during the response period, a user may use
his station to input a "True" signal or a "False" signal, or other
selected signal (e.g., "Yes" or "No", or "A", "B", "C" or "D",
etc.) which may be transferred by the station to the game server.
In one embodiment, the method may optionally include an indication
of the response period, e.g., a countdown of remaining time, a
graphic element advancing in relation to the response period
elapsing, or the like.
[0031] The method may further include, for example, checking
whether the input received from the user matches a pre-defined
correct response associated with the selected statement in the
statement repository (box 135). This may include, for example,
comparing the user's response, e.g., "True" or "False" as indicated
by the user's input signal, and the pre-defined correct response,
e.g., "True" or "False" as associated with the selected statement
in the statement repository.
[0032] If a user's input does not match the correct response (arrow
140), then the method may include, for example, presenting to that
user the message "You were incorrect" (box 142), and ending or
terminating the participation of that user in the quiz game (box
144). It is noted that in one embodiment, if the user does not
enter any response within the response period, then this may be
regarded as a "null" response, which may be handled as an incorrect
response.
[0033] In one embodiment, alternatively, after presenting the
message "You were incorrect" (box 142), and instead of ending the
participation of the user in the quiz game (box 144), the method
may include resetting the user's score counter to zero (box 147),
and allowing the user to participate in consecutive rounds of the
quiz game (arrow 149), optionally after receiving an additional
participation payment from that user (box 148).
[0034] Conversely, if the user's input matches the correct response
(arrow 150), then the method may include, for example, presenting
to that user the message "You were correct" (box 152), and
proceeding with the operations of box 155 and onward.
[0035] As indicated at box 155, the method may include, for
example, updating the score counter of each user who provided an
input that matches the correct response. For example, the score
counter of such user may be incremented, or increased by one.
[0036] The method may further include, for example, checking
whether any of the score counters is equal to or greater than a
pre-defined target score value (box 160). For example, the target
score value may be equal to 15, indicating that a user is required
to respond correctly to 15 consecutive statements in order to win,
and the operations of box 160 may thus include checking whether any
of the score counters is equal to or greater than 15.
[0037] If the checking result is negative (arrow 162), then the
method may repeat the operations of boxes 120 and onward.
[0038] Conversely, if the checking result is positive (arrow 164),
then the method may include determining the winner(s) of the game
quiz, for example, by presenting the message "You won" (box 170),
and optionally providing a prize to the users whose score counters
are equal to the target score value (box 175).
[0039] In one embodiment, if the score counters of multiple users
are equal to the target score value, then each of such users may
receive a pre-defined prize. In another embodiment, if the score
counters of multiple users are equal to the target score value,
then each of such users may receive an equal portion of a
pre-defined prize. In yet another embodiment, if the score counters
of multiple users are equal to the target score value, then only
the winning user who was the first to submit the last correct
response may receive the prize. Other suitable operations may be
used to allocate one or more prizes to one or more users.
[0040] Some embodiments of the invention may accommodate various
competition rules. In one embodiment, a "loop-type" quiz game may
be operated. For example, a stream or set of statements or
questions may be sequentially presented or "served" substantially
continuously, e.g., a newly selected statement may be presented
every ten seconds, and multiple users may join the quiz game at
various time points. For example, the first user to reach a
pre-defined number of correct consecutive responses may be declared
the winner and ay receive a prize.
[0041] In another embodiment, for example, a "survival-type" quiz
game may be operated. For example, the quiz game may begin at a
pre-defined starting time, and only users who logged in prior to
that starting time may participate. Statements may be presented or
"served" substantially continuously, e.g., a newly selected
statement may be presented every ten seconds. A user who submitted
an incorrect response to a statement, is eliminated from the quiz
game. The last user left, after all other users were eliminated,
may be declared the winner and may receive a prize.
[0042] In yet another embodiment, for example, a "cumulative score"
quiz game may be operated. For example, the quiz game may begin at
a pre-defined starting time, and only users who logged in prior to
that starting time may participate. Statements may be presented or
"served" substantially continuously, e.g., a newly selected
statement may be presented every ten seconds. A user's score may be
increased upon submission of a correct response. A user's score may
remain unchanged, or may be decreased, upon submission of an
incorrect response. The user having the highest score, after a
pre-defined time period elapses, or after a pre-defined number of
statements are presented, may be declared the winner and may
receive a prize.
[0043] In one embodiment, a score counter may be modified in
accordance with pre-defined rules. For example, a score counter may
be increased upon submission of a correct response; and may be
decreased, or may remain unchanged, upon submission of an incorrect
response. In one embodiment, a score counter may be modified in
relation to the level of difficulty associated with the presented
statement.
[0044] In one embodiment, optionally, a user may be allowed a
pre-defined number of "pass" operations, in which the user may
choose to avoid responding to the presented statement without
affecting his participation or score.
[0045] In one embodiment, optionally, a user may be allowed a
pre-defined number of "free fall" operations, such that even if the
user does not respond correctly to the presented statement, his
participation or score are not affected.
[0046] In one embodiment, optionally, a score may be modified in
relation to the time it took the user to respond. For example, a
user who responded correctly within two seconds may receive a score
increase of three points, whereas a user who responded correctly
after seven seconds may receive a score increase of one point.
[0047] In one embodiment, a user may be provided with advance
knowledge that one of a set of statements is false. In each sets of
statements, the user may be required to correctly identify the
false statement. Multiple sets of statements may be presented to
multiple users, and the first user to correctly analyze a
pre-defined number of consecutive or non-consecutive sets may be
declared as the winner and may receive a prize.
[0048] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a quiz
game system 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
System 200 may include, for example, a server 250 which may be
operatively connected to one or more stations, for example,
stations 201, 202 and 203.
[0049] Server 250 may include, for example, a statement repository
251, a statement generator 252, and a score counter 253. Server 250
may optionally include other suitable components, for example, a
Financial Transactions Manager (FTM) 254 and an output unit
255.
[0050] Statement repository 251 may include data representing
multiple statements associated with correct responses,
respectively, such that each statement is associated with one
correct response. In one embodiment, for example, a first statement
may include a first textual phrase, e.g., "Paris is the capital of
France", and may be associated with a correct response, e.g.,
"True"; whereas a second statement may include a second textual
phrase, e.g., "Michael Jordan is a famous soccer player", and may
be associated with a second correct response, e.g., "False". In
another embodiment, for example, a first statement may include a
first textual question, e.g., "Is Barcelona the capital of Spain?",
and may be associated with a first correct response, e.g., "No";
whereas a second statement may include a second textual question,
e.g., "Is Tom Cruise a famous movie star?", and may be associated
with a second correct response, e.g., "Yes".
[0051] In some embodiments, a statement may include textual
components, graphical components, audio components, video
components, or the like. For example, a statement may include text,
e.g., "This is the Statute of Liberty", as well as a photo or
drawing, e.g., of the Statue of Liberty in New York, and may be
associated with a correct response "True". In another embodiment, a
statement may include text, e.g., "This is the Fifth Symphony of
Beethoven", as well as data representing an audio clip of a song by
the band "U2", and may be associated with a correct response
"False". In yet another embodiment, a statement may include text,
e.g., "This is Neil Armstrong", as well as data representing a
video clip showing astronaut Neil Armstrong walking on the moon,
and may be associated with a correct response "Correct".
[0052] In some embodiments, statement repository 251 may include
data representing a large number of statements and their respective
correct responses, e.g., 1,000 statements, 10,000 statements,
50,000 statements, 200,000 statements, or the like. In some
embodiments, statement repository 251 may include statements of one
or more of the types described above.
[0053] In some embodiments, substantially one half of the
statements in statement repository 251 may be associated with a
first correct response, e.g., "True" or "Yes", whereas the second
half of the statements in statement repository 251 may be
associated with a second correct response, e.g., "False" or "No".
Other suitable ratios of correct responses may be used.
[0054] In some embodiments, a statement may be associated with one
or more group types. For example, the statement "Paris is the
capital of France" may be associated with a group type "Geography",
whereas the statement "Michael Jordan is a famous soccer player"
may be associated with a group type "Sports". In some embodiments,
a statement may be associated with multiple group types and/or
sub-group types; for example, the statement "Michael Jordan is a
famous soccer player" may be associated with a group type "Sports"
and with a group type "Celebrities". In some embodiments, a
statement may be associated with one or more subgroup types; for
example, the statement "Michael Jordan is a famous soccer player"
may be associated with a group type "Sports", a sub-group type
"Basketball", and a sub-group type "Famous Players".
[0055] In some embodiments, a statement may be associated with a
difficulty level indicator, representing a level of difficulty
associated with the statement; in one embodiment, a higher value of
a difficulty level indicator may represent a higher level of
difficulty. For example, the statement "Bill Clinton was the
president of the United States" may be associated with a difficulty
level indicator of "2", whereas the statement "Andrew Jackson was
the sixth president of the United States" may be associated with a
difficulty level indicator of "7".
[0056] Statement generator 252 may, for example, select a statement
from the statement repository 251, e.g., randomly, pseudo-randomly,
or in accordance with a pre-defined algorithm. In one embodiment,
for example, a statement may be selected from a pre-defined group
type or sub-group type, e.g., such that a first selected statement
may be associated with a first group type or sub-group type,
whereas a second selected statement may be associated with a
second, different group type or sub-group type. For example, a
first selected statement may be associated with group "Sports",
whereas a second selected statement may be associated with group
"Movies". In another embodiment, a statement may be selected from
multiple. statements associated with a pre-defined difficulty level
indicator, e.g., such that a first selected statement may be
associated with a first difficulty level indicator, whereas a
second selected statement may be associated with a second,
different difficulty level indicator. For example, a first selected
statement may be associated with a difficulty level indicator of
"3", whereas a second selected statement may be associated with a
difficulty level indicator of "6". In still another embodiment,
statement selection may be based on, or may take into account, the
number of users participating in the quiz game, the relative scores
of one or more users, the prize offered to the winner(s) of the
quiz game, or other suitable parameters. In yet another embodiment,
statements may be selected from one or more group types or
sub-group types which were pre-selected, e.g., by one or more
users, or by a game administrator; for example, statements may be
selected only from the "Sports" group.
[0057] The selected statement may be presented to one or more
users, e.g., using text format, graphic format, audio format, video
format, or the like. In one embodiment, for example, server 250 may
include an output unit 255 able to present the selected statement
to one or more users. In another embodiment, the selected statement
may be transferred from server 250 to one or more stations, e.g.,
to stations 201, 202 and 203, and may be presented to one or more
users using output units which may be included in the stations,
e.g., using output units 211, 212 and 213, respectively. Output
units 255, 211, 212 and/or 213 may include, for example, a screen,
a monitor, a display, a speaker, an earphone, or the like.
[0058] FTM 254 may include, for example, a unit able to receive
payments, e.g., from users of one or more stations 211-213, and/or
a unit able to provide prizes, e.g., to users of one or more of
stations 211-213. FTM 254 may receive payments and/or provide
prizes, for example, using checks, banker's checks, money orders,
credit cards, debit cards, direct bank deposit, direct bank debit,
credit line, debit line, pre-paid cards, pre-paid amounts,
vouchers, coupons, tangible items, or the like. In one embodiment,
FTM 254 may be able to receive and/or provide payments online,
using an Internet connection, using a World Wide Web payment
interface, or the like. In another embodiment, payments may be
deducted from, and prizes may be added or credited to, a user's
account, a user's utility bill, a user's cables bill, a user's
satellite bill, a user's mobile phone bill, a user's phone bill, a
user's internet services bill, or the like.
[0059] Score counter 253 may be used to store scores associated
with participating users. For example, the value stored in score
counter 253 may be reset to zero upon log in of a user, may be
incremented or increased upon receiving a correct response from
that user, may be decreased or reset to zero upon receiving an
incorrect response from that user, and/or may be compared to a
target score value to determine whether that user wins the quiz
game.
[0060] Server 250 may further include, or may be implemented using,
a processor 281, a memory unit 282, and a storage unit 283. For
example, processor 281 may be used to generate statements, and/or
to compare between users responses to a selected statement and the
pre-defined correct response associated with that selected
statement. In one embodiment, memory unit 282 may be used to
temporarily store instructions or data; and storage unit 283 may be
used, for example, to store the statement repository 251.
[0061] Server 250 may optionally include a clock 259, e.g., a
real-time clock or a processing clock, to measure time periods. For
example, clock 259 may be used to indicate a beginning and/or an
ending of a timed quiz game, to measure a response period, to
indicate that a new statement may be selected and presented, or the
like.
[0062] Server 250 may optionally include a parser 257, for example,
to convert, translate or transform a statement or a response from a
first format to a second format. For example, parser 257 may
receive the selected statement from statement generator 252, and
may re-format the selected statement for presentation using station
201, 202 and/or 203, e.g., to accommodate presentation requirement
or constraints. Additionally or alternatively, parser 257 may
receive a signal (e.g., "1") indicating a user's response from
stations 201, 202 and/or 203, and may convert the received signal
to a representation of the user's response (e.g., "True") which may
be checked against the pre-defined correct response.
[0063] Station 201, station 202 and station 203 may include, for
example, input units 271, 272 and 273, respectively, through which
a user may input a signal indicating his response to a presented
statement. Input units 271, 272 and/or 273 may include, for
example, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, one or more buttons or
sliders, a stylus pen, a pointing device, a track-ball, a touchpad,
a joystick, or the like. In one embodiment, input units 271, 272
and/or 273 may include audible input devices, e.g., a microphone
able to receive voice commands or voice indications. In another
embodiment, input units 271, 272 and/or 273 may include visual
input devices, e.g., a camera able to receive or acquire a user's
visual response, e.g., a head nodding, a hand movement, a thumb
movement, or the like. In some embodiments, input unit 271, 272
and/or 273 may include a multiple-choice input interface, a binary
input interface or a dual-input interface, for example, two (or
more) buttons or two (or more) input sub-units allowing a user to
indicate "Yes"/"No" responses, "True"/False" responses, "1"/"0"
responses, allowing selection from multiple-choices (e.g., "A",
"B", "C" etc.), or the like.
[0064] Station 201 may include, or may be implemented using, a
processor 261 and a memory unit 291. For example, processor 261 may
perform processing operations, e.g., converting statement data
received from server 250 into data which may be presented using
output unit 211. Memory unit 291 may be used, for example, to
temporarily store data and/or instructions. Similarly, station 202
may include, or may be implemented using, a processor 262 and a
memory unit 292; and station 203 may include, or may be implemented
using, a processor 263 and a memory unit 293.
[0065] Stations 201, 202 and 203 may be operatively connected to
server 250, for example, using a one or more wired or wireless
communication links, e.g., links 241, 242 and 243, respectively. In
one embodiments, links 241, 242 and/or 243 may allow communication
in accordance with existing IEEE 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e,
802.11g, 802.11h, 802.11i, 802.11n, 802.16 standards and/or future
versions of the above standards, Wi-Fi, Wi-MAX, BlueTooth, ZigBee,
TCP/IP, Ethernet, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, or other standards or
protocols.
[0066] Stations 201, 202 and 203 may be implemented using a
suitable combination of software components and/or hardware
components, e.g., a wireless communication station, a wireless
communication device, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a
mobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a Personal
Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a hand-held device, a tablet
computer, a network, a radio communication devices, a cellular
radio-telephone communication device, a cellular phone, a mobile
phone, a wireless telephone, a Personal Communication Systems (PCS)
device, a PDA device incorporating a wireless communication device,
a beeper, a pager, a Short Message Service (SMS) device, a
Multimedia Message Service (MMS) device, a Blackberry device, an
Instant Messenger (IM) application or device, an electronic mail
(e-mail) application or device, a chat application, an online
forum, an interactive television, a home gaming device, a mobile or
portable gaming device, a home entertainment unit, a mobile or
portable entertainment unit, a dedicated playing device, a software
application, a Java applet or application, an Internet browser, a
plug-in, an Active-X control component, an installable component, a
downloadable component, a Flash or Shockwave application, an online
application or web-site, or the like.
[0067] In some embodiments, server 250 may optionally include a
wireless transceiver 258, and stations 201-203 may include wireless
transceivers 221-223, respectively, for example, to allow wireless
communication between server 250 and stations 201-203. In one
embodiment, for example, transceiver 258 may transmit to
transceivers 221-223 a wireless signal carrying data representing a
selected statement, and transceivers 221-223 may receive the
wireless signal. Additionally or alternatively, for example,
transceivers 221-223 may transmit to transceiver 258 a wireless
signal carrying data indicating a user's response, and transceiver
258 may receive the wireless signal. Transceivers 258, 221, 222
and/or 223 may include, for example, a transmitter, a receiver, a
transmitter-receiver, or other unit able to transmit and/or receive
wireless communication signals. Transceivers 258, 221, 222 and/or
223 may optionally include, or may operatively associated with, an
antenna, e.g., a Radio Frequency (RF) antenna.
[0068] In some embodiments, a statement may be stored in the
statement repository 251 in multiple alternate formats or
languages. For example, in one embodiments, a first statement may
be stored or represented in English, French and German, and may be
presented to various users in accordance with their preferred
language. For example, a user of station 201 may indicate that he
wishes to communicate in French, and thus server 251 may present or
send to station 201 a selected statement in its French format;
whereas a user of station 202 may indicate that he wishes to
communicate in German, and thus server 251 may present or send to
station 202 the same selected statement in its German format. In
some embodiments, system 200 may thus concurrently present the same
question to various users in accordance with their respective
pre-selected languages.
[0069] Other suitable methods, operations, devices and/or
components may be used in accordance with embodiments of the
invention. For example, in one embodiment, a method of operating a
quiz game may include: presenting a set of statements to plurality
of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals; resetting
a score counter associated with a participating station when
participation of said station in the quiz game begins; receiving
responses from participating stations to the presented statements
within pre-defined response periods between said pre-defined time
intervals; if a response received from a participating station is
correct, increasing the score counter associated with said
participating station; if a response received from a participating
station is incorrect, terminating the participation of said station
in the quiz game; and, if one or more of said score counters is
equal to or greater than a pre-defined target value, presenting a
winning message to one or more stations associated with said one or
more counters.
[0070] In another embodiment, for example, a method of operating a
quiz game may include the steps of: (a) selecting a statement from
a plurality of pre-defined statements associated with pre-defined
correct responses, respectively, and presenting the selected
statement to plurality of stations; (b) within a pre-defined time
period, receiving plurality of responses to the presented statement
from plurality of stations, respectively; (c) for each received
response, if the received response is incorrect, presenting a
losing message to the station associated with the incorrect
received response, and terminating participation of said station in
said quiz game; conversely, if the received response is correct,
increasing the value of a counter associated said station, and if
the counter value is greater than or equal to a pre-defined target
value, presenting a winning message to the station associated with
said counter, and terminating the quiz game; and (d) if a winning
message was not displayed in the operations of (c), repeating the
operations of (a) and onward.
[0071] In some embodiments, a "loop" or a virtually infinite "loop"
of statements may be presented at a pre-defined, e.g., constant,
time interval; one or more stations may begin their participation
in the quiz game substantially at any time, e.g., by logging in to
a game server; the game server may track monitor, for each
participating station, the number of correct responses or the
number of consecutive correct responses; and, a winning message may
be presented, and optionally a prize may be provided, to the
station or user that are the first to reach a pre-defined target
number of correct responses or consecutive correct responses.
[0072] In another embodiment, an interactive quiz game may be
implemented in association or in combination with a sale
transaction, an online sale transaction, an auction transaction or
process, or an online auction transaction or process. For example,
a user, a merchant or a seller may place an item for sale or for
auction, e.g., using an online auctions web-site (e.g., "eBay"
(.TM.)) or online sales web-site (e.g., "Amazon" (.TM.)),
indicating a required sale price. Instead of, or in addition to,
placing the item for sale in a regular sales or auction process,
the item may be designated as a prize in a game, e.g., an
interactive quiz game in accordance with embodiments of the
invention. Other users may participate, e.g., using stations and
after paying a participation fee, in the quiz game wherein the
prize is the item placed for sale. In one embodiment, difficulty
level of presented statements may be tailored to accommodate the
estimated value of the prize or the sale price required by the
selling entity; for example, such that when a winning user or
station is declared, a sufficient number of participating users or
stations paid a sufficient amount of accumulated participation
fees, to allow at least payment of the requested price to the
selling entity. In one embodiment, the accumulated participation
fees may be higher, or significantly higher, than the estimated
value or the requested price for the prize item. In another
embodiment, the selling entity may receive a pre-defined percentage
of the accumulated participation fees, and hence may optionally
receive at least the requested price and possibly a higher amount.
In some embodiments, the online sales web-site or online auctions
web-site may receive or keep a portion of the accumulated
participation fees. In some embodiments, a user may participate in
the quiz game for a relatively low participation fee (e.g., one
Dollar), and may have a chance to win, e.g., based on his skills
and/or talents to correctly respond to presented statements, a
prize item having a significantly higher value (e.g., fifty
Dollars).
[0073] Some embodiments of the invention may be implemented by
software, by hardware, or by any combination of software and/or
hardware as may be suitable for specific applications or in
accordance with specific design requirements. Embodiments of the
invention may include units and/or sub-units, which may be separate
of each other or combined together, in whole or in part, and may be
implemented using specific, multi-purpose or general processors or
controllers, or devices as are known in the art. Some embodiments
of the invention may include buffers, registers, stacks, storage
units and/or memory units, for temporary or long-term storage of
data or in order to facilitate the operation of a specific
embodiment.
[0074] Although portions of the discussion herein may relate, for
demonstrative purposes, to a score counter which may be incremented
or increased following submission of a correct response, and/or
decremented or decreased or reset following submission of an
incorrect response, embodiments of the invention are not limited in
this regard, and may include other suitable types of score counters
and other suitable score modification methods and score updating
methods. For example, in one embodiment, a score counter may be
initially set, e.g., when a user joins the quiz game, to a
pre-defined value (e.g., ten), may be decreased or decremented upon
submission of a correct response, may be increased or incremented
upon submission of an incorrect response, and may indicate a win if
its value is equal to or smaller than a pre-defined target score
value.
[0075] In some embodiments, for example, a method of operating an
interactive quiz game may include: sequentially presenting a stream
of statements to plurality of participating stations at pre-defined
time intervals; receiving responses from participating stations to
the presented stream of statements within a pre-defined response
period following presentation of each statement; if a response
received from a participating station is correct, incrementing a
value of a score counter associated with said participating
station, if a response received from a participating station is
incorrect, terminating the participation of said station in the
interactive quiz game; and if the value of a score counter
associated with a participating station reaches a pre-defined
target value, determining that said station is a winner.
[0076] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
commencing participation of a first station in the interactive quiz
game at a first time point; and commencing participation of a
second station in the interactive quiz game at a second time
point.
[0077] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
substantially simultaneously presenting a statement of said stream
to said first and second stations.
[0078] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
substantially simultaneously presenting said statement as an Nth
presented statement to said first station and as an Mth presented
statement to said second station.
[0079] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
initializing a score counter associated with a participating
station when participation of said station in the interactive quiz
game begins.
[0080] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
selecting a statement from a repository storing plurality of
statements associated with correct responses, respectively.
[0081] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
selecting a first statement associated with a first group type; and
selecting a second statement associated with a second group
type.
[0082] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
selecting a first statement associated with a first difficulty
level; and selecting a second statement associated with a second
difficulty level.
[0083] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
selecting a statement associated with a difficulty level value in
relation to the numbers of stations participating in said quiz
game.
[0084] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
selecting a statement associated with a difficulty level value in
relation to the highest value of the score counters associated with
the participating stations.
[0085] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
presenting said stream of statements in a first presentation format
to a first participating station, and presenting said stream of
statements in a second, different presentation format to a second
participating station.
[0086] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
presenting said stream of statements in a first language to a first
participating station, and presenting said stream of statements in
a second, different language to a second participating station.
[0087] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
presenting a stream of statements including at least one textual
statement and/or at least one graphical statement and/or at least
one audio statement.
[0088] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include
receiving at least one response through a multiple-choice input
interface.
[0089] In some embodiments, for example, the method may include,
based on the determination, providing a prize to at least one
participating station.
[0090] Some embodiments of the invention may be implemented, for
example, using a machine-readable medium or article which may store
an instruction or a set of instructions that, if executed by a
machine, for example, by system 200 of FIG. 2, by server 250 of
FIG. 2, by station 201 of FIG. 2, by station 202 of FIG. 2, by
station 203 of FIG. 2, by processor 281 of FIG. 2, or by other
suitable machines, cause the machine to perform a method and/or
operations in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Such
machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform,
computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing
system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and
may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware
and/or software. The machine-readable medium or article may
include, for example, any suitable type of memory unit (e.g.,
memory unit 282 or storage unit 283), memory device, memory
article, memory medium, storage device, storage article, storage
medium and/or storage unit, for example, memory, removable or
non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writeable or
re-writeable media, digital or analog media, hard disk, floppy
disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk
Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Re-Writeable (CD-RW), optical disk,
magnetic media, various types of Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs), a
tape, a cassette, or the like. The instructions may include any
suitable type of code, for example, source code, compiled code,
interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, or
the like, and may be implemented using any suitable high-level,
low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpreted
programming language, e.g., C, C++, Java, BASIC, Pascal, Fortran,
Cobol, assembly language, machine code, or the like.
[0091] While certain features of the invention have been
illustrated and described herein, many modifications,
substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled
in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended
claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as
fall within the true spirit of the invention.
* * * * *