U.S. patent application number 12/377376 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-02 for system and method for integrating skill and chance in a game.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shay Inbar. Invention is credited to Nadav Goshen.
Application Number | 20100222124 12/377376 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39082450 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100222124 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goshen; Nadav |
September 2, 2010 |
System and Method for Integrating Skill and Chance in a Game
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and a method for
determining playing conditions of at least one session of at least
one skills game according to results of a chance game. The system
comprises a software application installed and operated through
computerized means and connected to a player's terminal. The system
may allow players to play at least one chance game, where at least
one player plays said chance game using the terminal's interface to
determine the results of the chance game according to predefined
rules. The results are defined as threshold parameters according to
which the player's playing conditions of the skills game and/or of
at least some sessions of the skills game may be determined and
set.
Inventors: |
Goshen; Nadav; (Tel-Aviv,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
The Law Office of Michael E. Kondoudis
888 16th Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
Inbar; Shay
Tel- Aviv
IL
Goshen; Nadav
Tel-Aviv
IL
|
Family ID: |
39082450 |
Appl. No.: |
12/377376 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
August 14, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IL07/01019 |
371 Date: |
February 12, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60837928 |
Aug 16, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/16 ;
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3295 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/329 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/16 ;
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method for determining threshold parameters of at least one
session of at least one skills game, wherein each session is a
predefined part of the skills game wherein said method enables
using of a software application installed and operated through
computerized means and through a player's terminal, said method
comprising the steps of: playing the at least one chance game,
where at least one player plays said chance game using the
terminal's interface and the terminal's input interface;
determining the results of said chance game according to predefined
rules and conditions; defining the playing conditions of at least
one session of the skills game, wherein said condition are defined
according to the chance game's results.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said playing conditions of each
session are also defined according to specifications of said skills
game.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of playing the
skills game, wherein the players begin to play according to the
players' playing conditions.
4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of bidding,
wherein said application allows the user to place bids along the
skills game.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said terminal communicates with a
server wherein said application is installed in said server to
enable a multiplicity of players to play through a multiplicity of
terminals.
6. The method of claim 1 further enables defining the playing
conditions and analyzing the player's skills by analyzing the
player's results of the skills game.
7. A system for determining playing conditions of at least one
session of at least one skills game, where a session is a
predefined part of said skills game, said system comprising at
least one software application operated through at least one
computerized playing terminal, wherein said application supports
said game, wherein said application enables to set up the threshold
parameters of each player through a chance game wherein said
parameters determine the playing conditions of said players in at
least one session of said skills game according to the results of
each player in the chance game.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said application comprising an
interface and a processor, wherein said interface enables the
players to view and operate the games' actions, and the processor
enables processing the action's input data and calculating said
results and said threshold parameters.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein said interface comprising of: an
instructions module enabling to view and update of the chance and
skill games' instructions; a chance module enabling to execute the
chance game and to support the game's graphics and player's
actions; and a skills module enabling execution of the skills game
and setting up the threshold parameters and consequent playing
conditions of said skills game according to the resulting
parameters of the chance game and supporting the graphics and
actions of the skills game.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein said terminal is connected to at
least one server to enable a multiplicity of players using a
multiplicity of terminals to connect through a communication and
information network and to play against each other.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said server is connected to at
least one database that stores players and games related data.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein said server is a web server and
said application is a web application that is installed on said
server, wherein said terminals enable the players to play the
chance and the skills games by communicating with said server and
playing on the web.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein said database stores chance
games and skills games results associated with each identified
player and wherein the web application enables to use said results
for determining of playing conditions of at least one session of at
least one skill game played through said application.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein said terminal comprises at least
one input interface enabling the player to operate at least some of
the actions included in each game.
15. The system of claim 7 wherein said application enables
analyzing the players' skills of at least some of the available
skills games and adding the analysis results to the calculations of
the threshold parameters.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a National Stage of International
Application no. PCT/IL2007/001019 filed Aug. 14, 2007, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which in turn
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/837,928 filed on Aug. 16, 2006, the content of which is also
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of computerized
games. More particularly, the present invention relates to chance
and skills computerized games.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Chance-based games may be exciting but they may lack the
satisfaction a player may feel when gaining the game's levels
and/or score by performing his/her skills. Skills-based games may
too be interesting and exciting but usually only when the players
are of a similar skills-level. To enjoy both worlds--the two
factors of chance and skills may be combined.
[0004] A patent application number EP1253563 by Nicastro Neil D.,
Sochocki Edward J. and Joshi Shridhar P. discloses a game device
allowing a player to play a skills-based game as an initial game
and a subsequent chance based game, where the chance game allows
the player to win prizes.
[0005] A patent application number WO2006052211 by Bohult Jan,
Haeggqvist Jonas and Steene Johan discloses a game control for
controlling the relation between the skills and chance elements in
a skills and chance game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a system and a method for
determining threshold parameters and therefore playing conditions
of at least one session of at least one skills game according to
results of a chance game. The threshold parameters will be used to
determine the skill games' playing conditions such as the games'
entry level so that a different player skill will be required to
complete the game's challenges. Each threshold parameter, when
implemented into a skill game will provide different gaming
conditions, fitted to each skill game format, that may require
different skills in order to complete the game's challenge.
[0007] The system may comprise a software application installed and
operated through computerized means such as a web server or a
player's computer and connected to a player's terminal (e.g. the
player's computer).
[0008] The system may allow players to play at least one chance
game, where at least one player plays said chance game using the
terminal's interface and the terminal's input interface; to
determine the results of said chance game according to predefined
rules and conditions; and to define the threshold parameters of the
skills game, where said parameters are defined according to the
chance game's results.
[0009] According to some embodiments of the invention, the software
application may be a web application installed in at least one
server connected to at least one database. This embodiment of the
system may allow a multiplicity of user to play through a
multiplicity of terminals.
[0010] Additionally, the server may be connected to at least one
database that may store players' related data such as, for example,
players identifying details and their associated chance and skill
games results. The playing condition of each player may be
calculated and determined according to accumulated past data of
chance and/or skills games results.
[0011] According to some embodiments of the invention, the terminal
may be connected to at least one input interface that may be any
device that enables the user to input playing data such as, for
example, at least one of a joystick, a keypad, a keyboard and a
mouse and the like.
[0012] Additionally, the system may farther enable players to bid
against each other or against the system on the games' results or
on each session of the chance and skills game.
[0013] Additionally or alternatively, the application may further
enable analyzing the players' skills in at least some of the
available skills games and adding the analysis results to the
calculations of the threshold parameters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The subject matter regarded as the invention will become
more clearly understood in light of the ensuing description of
embodiments herein, given by way of example and for purposes of
illustrative discussion of the present invention only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system for using a
chance game to define a skills game's threshold parameters,
according to an embodiment of the invention; and
[0016] FIG. 2 is schematic illustration of a method for using a
chance game to define a skills game's threshold parameters,
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0017] The drawings together with the description make apparent to
those skilled in the art how the invention may be embodied in
practice.
[0018] 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.
[0019] An embodiment is an example or implementation of the
inventions. The various appearances of "one embodiment," "an
embodiment" or "some embodiments" do not necessarily all refer to
the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention
may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the
features may also be provided separately or in any suitable
combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described
herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the
invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention relates to a novel system and method
that enable using results of a computerized game of chance to
determine threshold parameters and set up the player's playing
conditions of at least one session of a skills game, where a
session is a predefined of the skills game such as a game's level,
game's plaything/pawn handicap, games plaything/pawn booster,
screen set, etc. as known in the art of computerized games.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the game sessions
may be modified in various ways to create different playing
conditions.
[0021] According to some embodiments of the invention, both the
game of chance and the skills' game may be displayed through the
same software application 113. The application 113 may first
represent the player or players with a game of chance, where the
results of the game of chance may be represented by graphical
elements or numbers, the application 113 may be used to determine
threshold parameters and set up the corresponding playing
conditions of a game of skills and/or at least some of the skills
game sessions. According to some embodiments, the application 113
may start a sequential game when each predefined session may open
with a game of chance such as, for example, dice throwing or cards
selecting, to determine the threshold conditions of the next
session of the skills game.
[0022] In some embodiments of the invention, the sequential games
(e.g. the chance and the skills) may provide the player(s) with an
option to place a bid, thereby adding a parameter that may increase
the players' excitement while participating in the sequential
games. Additionally, the players may be enabled to bid upon at
least some of the sessions of the skills game through the
application 113.
[0023] The sequential games of a first game of chance exceeded by
at least one game of skills may be defined herein after as "the
Chance-for-Skills Games", where the computerized system through
which the games may be played is defined hereinafter as
"Chance-for-Skills System" 100, and/or simply as the "system"
100.
[0024] In some embodiments of the invention, the system 100 may
simulate a rival player, hereinafter referred to as "virtual
player". One or more players may compete against the virtual
player, according to predefined options that may be selected by the
player(s).
[0025] Although various features of the invention may be described
in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be
provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely,
although the invention may be described herein in the context of
separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be
implemented in a single embodiment.
[0026] An embodiment is an example or implementation of the
inventions. The various appearances of "one embodiment," "an
embodiment" or "some embodiments" do not necessarily all refer to
the same embodiments.
[0027] Reference in the specification to "one embodiment", "an
embodiment", "some embodiments" or "other embodiments" means that a
particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in
connection with the embodiments is included in at least one
embodiment, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the
inventions.
[0028] It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for
descriptive purpose only.
[0029] The principles and uses of the teachings of the present
invention may be better understood with reference to the
accompanying description, figures and examples.
[0030] It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do
not construe a limitation to an application of the invention.
[0031] Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can
be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention
can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in
the description below.
[0032] It is to be understood that the terms "including",
"comprising", "consisting" and grammatical variants thereof do not
preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps,
or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be
construed as specifying components, features, steps or
integers.
[0033] The phrase "consisting essentially of", and grammatical
variants thereof, when used herein are not to be construed as
excluding additional components, steps, features, integers or
groups thereof but rather that the additional features, integers,
steps, components or groups thereof do not materially alter the
basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, device
or method.
[0034] If the specification or claims refer to "an additional"
element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the
additional element.
[0035] It is to be understood that where the claims or
specification refer to "a" or "an" element, such reference is not
be construed that there is only one of that element.
[0036] It is to be understood that where the specification states
that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may",
"might", "can" or "could" be included, that particular component,
feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be
included.
[0037] Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or
both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not
limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For
example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state,
or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.
[0038] Methods of the present invention may be implemented by
performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination
thereof, selected steps or tasks.
[0039] The term "method" refers to manners, means, techniques and
procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not
limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either
known to, or readily developed from known manners, means,
techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the
invention belongs.
[0040] The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented
in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as
limiting but rather as illustrative only.
[0041] Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are
to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to
which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined.
[0042] The present invention can be implemented in the testing or
practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those
described herein.
[0043] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically
illustrates a chance-for-skills system 100, according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0044] In some embodiments of the invention, the system 100 may
include at least one playing terminal 110, which may be any
computerized unit that comprises input, viewing and processing
means to allow graphical display, calculating an processing of data
and a user's interface to allow receiving of input data processing
and displaying of output data. For example, the terminals 110 may
be players' computers and screens, laptops, personal digital
assistance (PDA) devices, mobile phones with access to the web
etc.
[0045] According to some embodiments of the invention, the software
application 113 may be installed and operated through computerized
means such as the terminal 110 and/or as a web application 113
through a web server 190 allowing a multiplicity of players and/or
terminals 110 to play through the same platform against each
other.
[0046] Additionally, the server 190 may be connected to at least
one database 191 that may store players' and games related data
such as, for example, players' identifying details, games scores
and the like. For example, the database 191 may store accumulated
chance games' parameters associated with the ascribed player and
allow players to use the accumulated parameters as credit point in
skills games played by the players through the web.
[0047] Each application 113 may comprise: [0048] a processor 111
enabling to execute data processing and output the chance game
results as the chance parameters which may be used as the threshold
parameters that define the playing conditions of each player in at
least some of the skills game's session, [0049] an interface 115
enabling the player(s) to play the games and view the games' scores
as well as the games instructions; where an instruction module 112
may enable viewing and updating of the games' instructions; a
chance module 114 may execute the chance game enabling to support
the game's graphics and actions; and a skills module 116 enabling
to execute the skills game, retrieve the chance game's results,
update the threshold conditions of the skills game according to the
resulting parameters of the chance game, set up the corresponding
playing conditions and supporting the graphics and actions of the
skills game.
[0050] According to some embodiments of the invention, the system
100 may enable a plurality of players to compete against each other
substantially simultaneously. For example, a single playing
terminal 110 may be adapted to receive one or more inputs from a
plurality of players such as the first or the second player or
both. Furthermore, playing terminal 110 may be adapted such that
both the first and the second player can monitor the stages of the
chance-for-skills games on a plurality of displays.
[0051] Additionally or alternatively, one or more playing terminals
110, may be connected to each other through at least one
communication network 195 via the server 190, thereby enabling a
plurality of players to compete against each other.
[0052] In some embodiments of the invention, server 190 may include
an application that handles the chance-for-skills games in addition
to or instead of application 113 for one or more playing stations
such as terminals 110.
[0053] The network 195 may be any type of information and/or
communication network enabling receiving and transmission of data.
For example, network 195 may include but is not limited to a wide
area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), a global
communication network such as the internet, a wireless
communication network such as a wireless LAN (WLAN) communication
network, a wireless virtual private network (VPN), a Bluetooth
network, a cellular communication network, for example, a 3.sup.rd
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) such as a Global System for
Mobile communications (GSM) network, a Wideband Code Division
Multiple Access (WCDMA) cellular communication network, a Frequency
Domain Duplexing (FDD) network, and the like.
[0054] According to some embodiments of the invention, the
chance-for-skills games may be implemented in various computerized
playing types and platforms such as sports games (e.g. billiard,
pool, baseball, football and the like), action games, adventure
games, board games (e.g. chess, backgammon and the like), and the
like.
[0055] Additionally or alternatively, the playing terminal 110 may
include an input interface 150 such as, for example, a keypad, a
keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a combination of at least some of
the devices, and the like, through which the player may carry out
the game's actions. FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a method
for using a chance game to set up the threshold parameters of the
skills-game. The method may comprise the steps of: [0056] play the
chance game 210, such as a lottery game and the like; [0057]
determine the results of the chance game 220 according to the rules
of the particular chance game and/or according to a set of
weighting parameters enabling to calculate and weigh the results.
[0058] define the threshold parameters of the skills game according
to the results of the chance game 230, where the threshold
parameters may be calculated also according to a specific chosen
skills game. [0059] set up the skills game's playing conditions
according to the threshold parameters resulted in the chance game
240. For example, if the sequential skills game is a car race, the
winner of the chance game may receive a predefined advantage such
as a better car type and the like. If following the same chance
game a different skills game is selected, for example a quest game
such as "DOOM"--each player may acquire strength or weapons
according to the accumulated points gained at the chance game. If
following the same chance game a different skills game is selected,
for example Tetris game, each player may start the game in a
different level, corresponding to the chance game's results. [0060]
play the skills game's session 250 where the player(s) may begin to
play the session of the skills game according to the playing
conditions such as the games' starting level set according to the
chance game's results and the session's specifications. [0061] If
the next session further requires playing of a chance game and/or
another chance game is selected by the players 260 steps 210-250
may be repeated.
[0062] Additionally, the instructions module 112 of the interface
115 may allow the players to view and/or simulate the games' rules,
steps, and explanations such as the correlation between the results
of chance game and the threshold parameters and playing conditions
of each skills game available in the system.
[0063] In some embodiments of the invention, the threshold
parameters, and therefore the playing conditions such as the entry
level, may be determined for each player based on, for example, a
player competition in a demo run. Application 113 may analyze the
skills each player demonstrated in the demo run, determine the
corresponding threshold parameters thereof and set the playing
conditions accordingly. The skills that each of the players
demonstrated in the demo run may be analyzed where the analysis may
be used to determine their relative threshold parameters.
[0064] According to some embodiments of the invention, application
113 may also analyze previous playing results for each player,
determine the corresponding threshold parameters thereof, and set
the playing conditions accordingly. Application 113 may combine and
use one or more of the methods listed above to determine the
corresponding threshold parameters thereof, and set the playing
conditions accordingly.
[0065] Additionally or alternatively, the players may accumulate
threshold parameters through predefined conditions and
specifications of the application 113. For example in cases where
the terminal 110 is connected to a web server 190 allowing a
multiplicity of players and terminals 110 to share a continuing
game--each player may be enabled by the system 100 to hold a
virtual account where at least some of his/her scores (meaning the
resulting parameters) in the chance and/or in the skills game are
stored and can be reused for other skills games.
[0066] In some embodiments of the invention, players participating
in the chance-for-skills games such as, e.g., the first player and
the second player, may not be informed by the system regarding the
threshold parameters/playing conditions of the skills game such as
their entry level, prior to placing the bid.
[0067] Alternatively, the players participating in the
chance-for-skills games may be informed by the system regarding the
determined threshold parameters or their playing conditions prior
to placing the bid.
[0068] Referring again to FIG. 1, the system 100 may be implemented
on different game platforms, e.g., as known in the art, such as an
arcade game, a computer game, a console game, a handheld game and
the like. The chance-for-skills system 100 may be implemented in
conjunction with various hardware devices such as a wireless
telephone, a Personal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a tablet
computer, a server computer, a personal computer, a wireless modem,
a wireless communication device, a mobile computer, a notebook
computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer or a Personal
Digital Assistant (PDA) device-, or any combination thereof.
[0069] Additionally or alternatively, the system 100 may allow the
players to bid throughout the sessions of the skills game,
additionally to the chance game results, where the results of the
bidding may be integrated with the threshold parameters resulting
from the chance game(s). Additionally or alternatively, the bidding
of the players during the sessions of the skills game may enable
the application 113 to use the bidding's results in the skills
game, whereby the playing conditions of the players within the
session correlated to the bidding may be set according to said
bidding's results.
[0070] While the invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as
limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as
exemplifications of some of the embodiments. Those skilled in the
art will envision other possible variations, modifications, and
applications that are within the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by
what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and
their legal equivalents. Therefore, it is to be understood that
alternatives, modifications, and variations of the present
invention are to be construed as being within the scope and spirit
of the appended claims.
* * * * *