U.S. patent application number 12/753601 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-06 for method for players from off-site locations to play games with prizes being redeemable at on-site locations.
Invention is credited to John Stephenson.
Application Number | 20110244947 12/753601 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44710259 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110244947 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stephenson; John |
October 6, 2011 |
METHOD FOR PLAYERS FROM OFF-SITE LOCATIONS TO PLAY GAMES WITH
PRIZES BEING REDEEMABLE AT ON-SITE LOCATIONS
Abstract
A method for a game with prizes that is challenging and provides
the player a tangible prize upon completion of a level of
achievement. The game is played from an off-site location, such
from over a computer system. If the player, upon completion of the
game, has obtained a level of achievement, the player will be
awarded prize redemption documents, such as a voucher, certificate
or other form of prize identification. The player redeems the prize
redemption document by visiting a physical location of the sponsor
of the game and/or prize.
Inventors: |
Stephenson; John; (Tulsa,
OK) |
Family ID: |
44710259 |
Appl. No.: |
12/753601 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 ; 463/42;
463/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/558 20130101;
G07F 17/3255 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 ; 463/42;
463/43 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a game with prizes comprising the following
steps: a. playing a game over an computer system; b. evaluating the
results of said game to determine if the player obtained a specific
level of performance; c. if the player obtained a specific level of
performance; distributing to said player a prize redemption
document, said prize provided by a sponsor; d. redeeming the
voucher for said prize by visiting the physical location of said
sponsor.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer system is selected
from the group consisting of local area network (LAN), wide area
network (WAN), campus-wide network, fixed based unit network,
Intranet, Internet, satellite communication network and a wireless
communication network being interactive with multiple handheld
wireless devices.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is selected from the
group consisting of rummy, gin rummy, poker, bridge, pinochle,
bezique, piquet, klaberjass, julepe, boure, cribbage, casino,
euchre, napoleon, two hand five hundred, spoil five, ecarte,
hearts, cans, seven-up, draw seven, auction pitch, blackjack,
pontoon, fifteen, van john, seven and a half, ten and a half, pong,
maco, chemin de fer, baccarat, skin game, horse race, eights,
sharnery, sharney gin, doctor videtti, tableanette, and
solitaire.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is played between said
player and a computer.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is played by a single
player where the computer is passive and records the game play
data.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is played between said
player and one or more other people in communication with said
computer system.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is played between said
player, the computer system and one or more other people in
communication with said computer system.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said player plays said game free
of charge.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said prize is provided by sponsor
of said game.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said prize redemption document is
a voucher for the redemption of a prize.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said prize redemption document is
a certificate for the redemption of a prize.
Description
REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application does not claim the benefit of any pending
patent application.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0002] This application is not referenced in any microfiche
appendix.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is directed to a method to play a game
with prizes. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a
method for playing a game where prizes are awarded from an off-site
location with the prizes being redeemable at an on-site location.
Even more specifically, the present invention is directed to a
method for playing a game at a remote location over a computer,
communication or similar network where prizes are awarded but are
redeemable only at an on-site location.
[0004] For many years a number of player competitive games
including but not limited to games such as chess, bridge, poker and
blackjack, have attracted players due to the lure of the challenge,
risk and prizes. Prior art games include many varieties of games
played and winning players awarded at, or within, the prize
sponsor's physical location.
[0005] With the creation of computer and communication networks,
such as the world wide web and cellular telephone networks, all
types of competitive games, including games of chance and games of
skill, are played over these networks. The prizes that players win
are in the form of redeemable online credits, monetary units,
mailed checks, credit card credits, services or physical goods that
can be transferable to winning players. The redemption of these
prizes does not require the player to physically enter a business's
location. This has had a negative effect on businesses offering the
same or similar games from physical locations in that the volume of
players visiting the physical location of those businesses has been
reduced due to the lack of convenience and accessibility compared
to the access over these networks within a geographic marketing
area.
[0006] The prior art online games have not incorporated the
combination of the provisions of free play and prize redemption at
a designated physical business location as a motivation for players
to visit the physical location of the prize sponsor. Thus, there is
a need for an online game that provides motivation to the player of
the online game to visit the prize sponsor's physical location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the present invention a method to play a
game with prizes is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention
is directed to a method for playing a game for prizes at an
off-site location with the prizes being redeemable at a designated
on-site location.
[0008] For purposes of the present invention, a game is defined as
any game of skill, chance or combination thereof. Examples of such
games include but are not limited rummy, gin rummy, poker, bridge,
pinochle, bezique, piquet, klaberjass, julepe, boure, cribbage,
casino, euchre, napoleon, two hand five hundred, spoil five,
ecarte, hearts, cans, seven-up, draw seven, auction pitch,
blackjack, pontoon, fifteen, van john, seven and a half, ten and a
half, pong, maco, chemin de fer, baccarat, skin game, horse race,
eights, sharnery, sharney gin, doctor videtti, tableanette,
solitaire, chess, poker, bridge, hearts, blackjack and
question/answer trivia games. Further, as used herein, the term
computer system is defined as an local area network (LAN), wide
area network (WAN), campus-wide network, fixed based unit network,
Intranet or Internet, a wireless communication network having
multiple handheld wireless devices, satellite communication network
or other similar electronics.
[0009] One aspect of the present invention includes a method of
playing a game with prizes having the steps of playing the game
over a computer system or hand-held devices. Access to the game can
either be restricted to fee paying players or free to all players
with no fee charged. Once the player finishes the game, that
player's performance level is evaluated. If the player obtains a
specific level of performance, the game distributes to the player a
prize identification number, voucher or other means of
identifications which can be redeemed for a prize located at the
physical location of the game's or prize's sponsor.
[0010] The Invention will assist business operations by serving
customers who are located outside of the business's physical
faculties along with those customers that are located on-site.
[0011] The game can be played by a player over the computer system,
between the player and the computer system, or between two or more
players and/or between the computer system.
[0012] The primary object of the present invention is to create a
game with prizes which improves upon the prior art games.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to create a game
with prizes which challenges the participants and reward those
participants who obtain a certain level of performance.
[0014] Other objects and a further scope of the applicability of
the present invention will become apparent from the detailed
description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference
numerals.
[0015] Upon reading the included description, various alternative
embodiments will become obvious to those skilled in the art. These
embodiments are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the
subject invention, which is only limited by the claims which follow
and their equivalents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention as shown in FIG. 1, a method for playing a game for
prizes from an off-site location with the prizes being redeemable
at an on-site location.
[0018] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a method
of playing a game with prizes 10 having the steps of playing the
game over an computer system 20. The game that can be played can
include any game that can be played over a computer system
regardless of whether the game is free to play or if a fee is
charged for game play. Once the player finishes the game, that
player's performance level is evaluated 30. If the player obtains a
specific level of performance, the game distributes to the player a
voucher having a redemption code 40. The voucher can be redeemed
for a prize located at the physical location of the prize sponsor
50.
[0019] In this embodiment, the computer system is shown to be
through the Internet. However, one skilled in the art will
recognize that this is merely illustrative and other capable
computer systems can be utilized, including local area network
(LAN), wide area network (WAN), campus-wide network, fixed based
unit network, Intranet or Internet, a satellite communication
network, or a wireless communication network interacting with
multiple handheld wireless devices or other similar electronics.
Further, in this embodiment, the player receives a voucher having a
redemption code upon obtaining a specific level of performance.
However, one skilled in the art will recognize that this is merely
illustrative and other capable forms of prize identification and
redemption can be used.
[0020] In this embodiment, the game is shown to be played between a
player and the computer system. However, one skilled in the art
will recognize that this is merely illustrative and other player
configurations can be utilized, including game play by a single
player where the computer is passive and records the game play
data, between the player and the computer system, or between the
player and one or more other players and/or between the computer
system.
EXAMPLE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] An example of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention is set forth below. The parameters of the example are for
illustrative purposes only. They are not intended to limit the
scope of the invention. The game to be played will be blackjack.
The player is playing against a computer opponent over the
Internet. Points are based on the number of wins by the player.
[0022] After the player has played ten hands of blackjack, the
player has accumulated sufficient points to be awarded a prize. The
prize is in the form a voucher, otherwise referred to as a
certificate, for a gift card from an electronics store having many
locations across the Nation. The player would need to physically
enter one of these locations in order to claim the prize.
[0023] While embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described, such disclosures should not be regarded
as any limitation of the scope of our invention. The true scope of
our invention is defined in the appended claims. Therefore, it is
intended that the appended claims shall be construed to include
both the preferred embodiment and all such variations and
modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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