CA2044266C - Interactive contest system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

An interactive contest system is provided which permits competition among a plurality of remote participants. The system includes a central controller, storage devices for storing a Contest Roster from which each participant selects a team roster, a plurality of Touch-ToneTM telephones linked to the controller, and a publication such as a newspaper distributed to all participants. Each participant's team roster is evaluated on a periodic basis according to a formula for calculating each member's score employing a database of variable performance statistics which reflect the roster members' actual performances. Team roster totals are compared for discrete periods of competition to determine which participants have accumulated the highest score.

Description

' WO ~1/06354 PCI~VS90/06053 v ,~ 204~266 , INTERACTTVE CONTES~ SYSTE~ A~D METaOD
TEC~INICAL EIELD
This invention relates to contests, and more particularly to an interactilre sports contest system which allows remotely located participants to compete by opt;m;7in~ the performance of their team rosters through the selection and trading of players.
~AC~T~GRt)TJNI~ ART
Professiona~ or college sports support a broad range of secondary competitions ranging from betting on the outcome of particular games to betting on a particular perf ormance of a given player . Contests based upon player performances include the fantasy sports leagues such as fantasy baseball and fantasy football. In the fantasy s~orts leagues, sometimes called "rotisserie leagues~', participants assume the position of an owner of an imaginary team. Prior to the beginning of a professional spor_ season, the owners conduct a draf~ of professional athletes to fill the roster of their team. As the imaginary teams usually employ the actual player positions in the sport, spots on the rosters are filled with players who play the particular position.
*

WO 91i06354 PCI/US90/060~3 ` ~ 2 20~2~6 The draf ting of players may take a variety of forms, including a bidding draf ~ and a rotation draft.
In the bidding draf t, each owner is initially provided with a specif ic bankroll of bidding units which may be used to bid against other owners in an attempt to obtain a specific player. Alternatively, in the rotation draft, the owners determine àn order of selection, and proceed through a number of rounds to fill out the ro3ters . However, under either draf t structure, once a player has been drafted by an owner, that player is no longer available to other owners . Theref ore, each owner must reprioritize the available players throughout the draft process. As in the professional sports leagues, the owners may .rade players during the contest.
Typically, after the draft, and throughout the season, the trades are made between owners, and between the players not selected in the initial draft. The teams in a f antasy sports league typically accumulate a "won-lost" record by competing head to head against each of the other teams in the league. In a "game" between two teams, the team whose players perf ormed better in the previous weeJ; is declared the winner. Typically, each team competes on the cumulative statistics of the draf ted players .
Other contests based upon sporting events have included officiating a given contest, as disclosed in the patent to Tovar (U.S. Patent No. 4,722,526). Tovar discloses a contest based upon the signaling of infractions of the rules during a live sporting event.
The infractions as perceived by the participants are compared to the actual calls made by an official, or referee of the game. The first participant to signal the occurrence of an in~raction, that the official also signals, is awarded multiDle points, while subsec~uent WO ~IJ06354 PCI/US90/06053 3 ?0442~
participants to signal the infraction are awarded a lesser number of points. The individual scores of the participants are accumulated, and the one having the highest score at the end of the sporting event is declared the winner.
Another game which may be played in conjunction with a sporting event is disclosed in Fascenda (U.S.
Patent No. 4,592,546). Fascenda discloses a game of skill playable by several remote p~rticipants in conjunction with a live sporting event, such as a televised football game. The Fascenda disclosure recruires participants to Dredict a future variable of the live sporting event, wherein the oarticipant's prediction is stored over the 1 if e of the live event .
- 15 Subse~uent to the live event, the participant's accumulated predictions are processed and compared to the actual occurrences of the game. The winner is the viewer most accurately predicting the events throughout the live sporting event.
These previous contests are really limited to participants that have an- in-depth understanding of the relevant sport. In addition, the drafting of the fantasy sports leagues~ does not permit interactive competition by a large number of particip~nts. Also, some interactive systems require the remote participants to use specialized equipment such as a transmitter/receiver used to interact while the sporting event is being played. When special equipment is required, the av~ h; l ity o~ the contest is further limited. In addition, the draft in the fantasy sports leagues requires at least one collective meeting of all the participants during the course of the contest. The necessi~y of Ihese mee~ings makes it difficult for remote particiDan~s to comDete.

WO ~1/06354 PCT/US90/06053 20~266 Theref ore, 2 need exists f or a sports contest which provides interactive competition among a plurality of remote participan~s. There is a need for a contest in wllich participation does not require specialized equipment in ordq~ to enter or compete. In addition, a need exists f or an interactive competition which does not hinge upon the simultaneous monitoring of a specific live event . There is also a need f or an interactive competition which does not require a slavish time commitment by the participants to a predet~rni n~r1 professional sports schedule. A further need exists for an interactive sports contest which provides a periodic incentive for the application of skill and foresight.
DISCLOSURE o~ TE~ INVENTIOII
An interactive sports contesl system is disclosed.
The contest provides an interactive competition among a plurality of remote participants. The interactive sports contest employs a central controller; a plurality of data entry tr~inRl ~; a data link; a contest roster;
a statistical data base; a team database; a formula for calculating each contest pIayer~ s score 25 a function of the athlete ~ s statistics, and ~ publication, which i$
communicated to the participants such as a radio or television broadcast, point of sale display, or any printed publications such as a newspaper, which incl~ r~s a system access code.
The contest is based upon a score generated by each participant ' s selected team roster . Each participant ' s team roster is composed of ~ number of athletes as selected by the participant from the "Contest Roster".
The Contest Roster is a list prepared for the contest and advanta~eously cons sts of substantially all of the WO~9l/06354 PCI`~US90/06053 20~266 players from actual contest lineups. However, the Contest Roster does not necessarily include all of the athletes of the sport on which the contest is based.
Each team roster is scored as a function of the actual 5 perf ormances of the individual players on the team during the term of the contest. The score for each athlete on the Contest Roster'is detP~inPd by use of a predetP~min~d formula. The competition resides in the ability of each participant to select and maintain a team roster which will generate the most points according to the player score calculation.
The central controller is employed to provide the necessary data hAnrll inq and participant interface so as to promote competition among the participants.
Preferably, the central controller ;nrl~l~p~ or has access to: the Contest Roster; the team roster of each participant as stored in the team database; and the statistical database including the score for each player in the Contest Roster. Preferably, the controller provides a current evaluation of the team roster of each participant, in addition to all players on= the Contest Roster. A contest player is advantageously evaluated on a daily or weekly basis as a function of that player's statistics so that each player~s performance may take the f orm of a numerical quantity . This quantity is then added to the week-to-date and contest-to-date scores of each participant. The cumulative week-to-date and contest-to-date scores are then made available to each participant at each remote location through the data entry terminals. A participant's team roster perf ormance is determined by summing the individual scores of all the players on that Darticipant ' s team roster. The team roste~ totaJ score is also made available to remote participanls through the data entry WO 91~/06354 PCI`/US90/060~3 2~4~2~
tF~rmini~l c In the preferred ~mhnriimont, the central controller may be accessed by a plurality of remote data entry tPrm; n;~ 1~ . Data exchange between the central controller and the data entry t~rmin~l~ occurs through the data link.
The contest f or a particular sport requires each participant to select a team roster from the Contest Roster of athletes who participate in the particular sport. The athletes listed on the Contest Roster may play, for example, on the college or professional level.
Preferably, a listing of the players inr~ i within the Contest Roster is readily available to each remote participant and includes substantially all of the athletes associated with the sport. Preferably each 7 5 player on the Contest Roster is identified by a code for purposes of communication with - the central controller.
Each player on the Contest Roster is available to be employed on the roster of ~any participant. Since each participant may select any player on the Contest Roster there is no bidding, or . competitive drafting among participants to obtain certain players from the Contest Roster. Therefore, a player on the Contest Roster may appear on a plurality of partici~ant team rosters.
The selected team roster is entered into the central controller from the data entry terminal.
Preferably, the code identifying a selected player is entered into the central controller as the participant creates or ' i f i ~ the team roster .
Preferably, the statistics reflecting the actual performances of each player are available to the participants (for example, through some form of publication, such as a daily newspaper), as well as entered and stored in the statistical database. Each member of the Contest Roster is evaluated or scored WO 91/~6354 PCI`/I)S901060i3 20~4266 according to the player score calculation. The player score calculation provides quantification of those characteristics in the statistical database which are associated with a given player. The scores generated by each member of a participant~s team roster are added together to provide a team roster total. Competition among the participants is based upon a - Ari ~nn of the team roster totals for a given time period. A
participant wins the competition by maintaining the team roster which generates the most points during the time period .
Pref erably, the contest extends throughout the course of the professional sports season. Xowever, the prof essional seasor. may be segmented into a finite number of discrete periods over which the score of each team roster is monitored. In the preferred P~ho~i L
the discrete periods are weekly. Therefore, in addition to a cumulative overall season total, participants may compete for the highest total within each discrete period of the season.
The weekly and cumulative overall season total scores may be publicized in some form of mass media such as a daily newspaper. In addition to pl1hlishin~ scores, the publication media, such as a newspa~er, for example, may include rules for the contes. as well as instructions on how to participate. In this context, the publication is included as a part of the overall contest system.
In order for a participant to maximize, or optimize, the perf ormance of his team roster, the participant may trade players between his team roster and the Contest Roster. As discussed above, the Contest Ros~er contains a listing of all the available players in the contest. Poor performances, in~uries or WO 911/)6354 PCI/US90~06053 ~ ~ 8 anticipated future performances of the players provides the continual need to reevaluate the perf ormance of the players on a participant~ s team roster. ~s each participant knows the player score calculations for 5 evaluating the players, the characteristics of each player as reflected by the accumulated statistics, and the schedule for the actual games to be played, each participant may continuously evaluate the value of each member of their team roster so as to determine whether a trade should be made.
The interactive sports contest thereby provides competition among e plurality OI participants by af f ording common available players, and known statistics which are used to rank a participant ~ s team roster according to a known formula for calculating player s cores .
Although the pref erred embodiment is described in terms of an interactive baseball contest, the interactive sports contest may be based upon other sports such as basketball, football, hockey, soccer, golf, rugby, cricket, tennis or horse racing, where the players ~ perf ormances may be oeriodically presented in the form of selected statistics.
Further, some o the features disclosed may well have applicability in other interactive systems which do not involve sports or contests. For example, the system of the present invention mày be implemented as a stock exchange contest. In such a contest certain stocks are advantageously included as members or Ql' ' C of the data register. Each participant can be given a certain number of imaginary dollars with which to purchase a subset of stocks. The participant with the highest return on their investment f or a given period would be the contest winner . Other f eatures of this embodiment 20~266 such as dai].y seore update, and participant interaetion (for example, trading or buying stocks) throug~l the data entry 5 ~rm;nAl would be implemented in a manner similar to the interactive sports contest.
Aceording to the present invention, then, there is provided an apparatus for providing an interactive game competition among an unlimited number of participants, 10 comprising a central controller, a plurality of data entry terminals remote from the central controller, a data lin]c lin]cing the data entry terminals to the central controller, a data register having stored therein a predef ined database comprising a finite set of data values corresponding to 15 specific elements wherein the data register is accessible to tlle central controller, a statistical database which includes a set of statistics corresponding to elements of the data register, an unlimited number of subset databases, each subset database seleeted by a partieipant and ineluding a non-20 e~elusive subset of elements of the data register, wherein anyof said elements may be simultaneously ineluded in an unlimited number of said subset databases, and means for evaluating said subset databases on the basis of the statistieal database to provide a ranlcing of game ~5 partieipants.
Aeeording to another aspeet of the present invention, there is also provided a method f or interactive competition among an unlimited number of remote participants, comprising storing a roster of athletes seleeted by eaeh of 30 said unlimited number of partieipants from a register of athletes, wherein any athlete of said register may be simultaneously ineluded on an unlimited number of rosters, evaluating eaeh roster to obtain a seore eorresponding to a predetermined relationship between the roster and a 35 statistieal database, wherein the statistical database includes statistics corresponding to the performance of the '.,~
, . . .

2~44266 9a athlete, and ranking each said roster with respect to otllers of said rosters on the basis of said score obtailled by saicl evaluation of each roster.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided in an apparatus including a central controller, a plurality of remote data entry t~rrnin~ls and a data link, a method for providillg interactive lo competition comprising the following steps: storing a predefined database compr-ising a finite set of data values representing a roster of athletes, periodically publishing inf ormation stored in said database, providing selective remote access to said central controller to an unlimited number of participants, selecting a predetermined number of athletes from said roster by each of said participants, wherein any said athlete may be selected by an unlimited number of participants, storing a non-exclusive data subset of said database for each said participant in response to the selection of athletes by said participant, forming a statistical database corresponding to data in said predetermined database, periodically updating said statistical database, periodically evaluating each said non-exclusive data subset on the basis of the statistical database, and ranking each said non-exclusive data subset to obtain an order of participants.
BRIEF l: ES~ TPTIQ~ (2F THE DRAWI~IGS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawingsr in which:
Figure 1 depicts a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 depicts a block diagram of t~le components incorporated into the central controller of Figure l.
.~ ~
_ _ _ . ... . ... .. . ... . . .... .

9b 20442~6 Figures 3-5 are flowcharts which diagram the 6equence of interaction between the participant and the game system to be followed when entering the contest.
Figure 6 ls a f lowchart which diagrams the sequence of interaction between the participant and the game system to be followed when interacting as a participant in the contest.
Figure 7 is a flowchart which diagrams the sequence of interaction between the participant and the game system to be followed during the team roster scores subroutine of Figure 6.
Figure 8 illustrates the specif ics of the sequence of interaction between the participant and the game system to be followed during the trading subroutine of Figure G.
Figure 9 illustrates the specif ics of the sequence of interaction between the participant and the game system to be followed during the Contest Roster evaluatiorl subroutine of Figure 6.
Figure 10 illustrates the specif ics of the sequence of interaction between the participant and the game system to be followed during the team roster verification subroutine of Fi ~ure 6 .

.. ~ .

WO 9~/063~4 PCI/US90/06053 ` 10 2û4~2~6 BE5T MODE FDR CAR~YI~G OUT TH~ INVENTION
The disclosed interactive contest system includes an apparatus f or accommodating ~ the interactive sports contest and a method for conducting the interactive sports contest. Of course it is also possible that the apparatus of .the interactive contest system, and certain elements of the method outlined for conducting an interactive sports contest may also be applied to an interactive stock investment contest or the like.
0 ApDaratUs of the Interactive Contest Svstem As illustrated in Figure 1, the interactive contest system includes a central controller 100; data entry tP~li nA 1 ~q 105; a dat2 link 108; a Contest Roster 110; a statistical database 120; a team roster database 130;
and a player score computer 270 contained within statistical database 120 for calculating a score for each player as a function of the individual player~ s actual performance. Alternatively, for example, the player score computer 270 may be used to update the prices o~ certain stocks on the stock exchange.
Central Controller The central controller 100 includes or has access to a Contest Roster 110 which advantageously includes a list of athletes which can be relied upon in the contest . The centr_l controller 100 also i n~ riPq or has access to the team roster database 130 which includes the team rosters as selected and entered by each of the participants ~ including the identifying inf ormation which associates a team roster to the corresponding participant. The central controller 100 also includes or has access to ~he statistical database WO`9l~Q6354 PCl`JUS90J06D53 11 2a44266 120 which includes the recen' statistics of each player on the Contest Roster 110. The central controller 100 also includes or has access to the player score for each player on the Contest Roster 110 as based upon the associated statistical database 120. Preferably, the central controller 100 is adapted to rp~o~ni 7e and distinguish machine recognizable signals, such as transmitted by a conventional Touch-Tone~ telephone 102 .
Figure 2 depicts a block diagram o~ the central controller 100, as well as some external ~ , Pnts. As illustrated in Figure 2, the central controller 100 incorporates a IJLUUL hle digital computer 200, a memory storage unit 210, a modem 220, a tone discriminator 230, and a voice response system 240. The apparatus for playing back the recorded human voice over the data link 108 to the participant' s terminal ( pref erably a Touch-Tonerl Telephone ~ could be any well known recording and play back system including magnetic tape, magnetic disc, or optical disc. The pro~l hle digital computer 200 may be implemented by any of a plurality of commercially available computer systems.
The processing and storage capacity needed deoends upon the anticipated number of contestants. The memory storage unit 210 may advantageously be any one of a plurality of commercially available devices, such as a ~loppy or hard disk, or any combination thereof. - The modem 220 can likewise be any conventional modem device for use with a digital computer. ~he modem 220 communicates signals from two external sources, the player score computer 270 through modem 225, and the p.~hli qhlar 250 . Information may be exchanged with the publisher 250 via the modem link 222 or the statistical database lZ0. Alternatively cr in addition to modem WO 9li'06354 P';~/US90/060'i3 ~ ~ 12 20~266 -communication the central controlle~ 100 may transmit printed information to the publisher 250 via a facsimile telecopier .
As shown in Figure 10 the statistical database 120 advantageously includes a player score computer 270, a storage unit 275, and a means of statistical input 278.
The player score computer 270 has access to both the storage unit 275, and the statistical input 278. The player score computer 270 also has within its memory the formula that is used to convert the selected player statistics into a numerical perf ormance value f or each olayer. The playe score computer 270 periodically computes the numerical perf ormance value for each individual player.
The statistical database 120 is separate from the central controller 100 so that it can be placed in the most convenient possible location for the collection and processing of the necessary statistics.
While this configuration has been found to be advantageous, the functions provided by the statistical database 120, including the calculation Oc the player score, could easily be cnmhinr~r~ with those performed by the central con~roller 100 so that only one computer system is required.
Ref erring to Figures 1 and 2, the data entry ~r~rmi n~ 1~; 105 are advantageously Touch-Tone~ ~Pll~phnnr~
102, and are connected to a tone discriminator 230 via data link 108. The transmitted signals are preferably machine recognizable, such as can be r~r~ri~hr~red by the tone discriminator 230. The tone discriminator 230 converts the transmitted data Crom audible f requencies to digital signals. These digital signals are easily recognized by ~he programmable digital computer 200.

3~4 PCr/~lS90/060j3 13 20~L4266 Once the transmitted data has been processed, the yl-Jyl hl e ~digital computer 200 sends the appropriate output to the voice response system 240. The output of the yl~,~ ohle digital computer 200 may, for example, prompt one of a number of pre-recorded messages to be played, so that the system may respond in a human voice.
This human voice is then transmitted back to the participant's data entry terminal 105 (e.g., a ~ouch-TonelY telephone 102 ) via the data link 108 .
Voice response systems using Touch-Tonen~ t~ erh~ n~q as the data input and receiving t~rm;nol are well known in the art and need not be described in detail here.
The human voice mav advantageously be produced by any conventional means. One such means of producing a simulated human voice is to incorporate a number of prerecorded tape messages into the interactive game system. Each input by a participant would trigger the central controller 100 to provide an appropriate voice recording which would be relayed over the data link 108 to the participant. Those messages which are likely to occur several times over the course of the interaction between the participant and the game system, may be synthesized by a conventional voice synth~iz~r. such messages may include individual numbers such as ~'one, two, etc., which are likely to be repeated several times over the course of a typical interaction.
Data Entr~ Tf~rm; n~
As shown in Figure 1, the data entry tr~rm; nA l ~ 105 provide an interf ace between each participant and the central controller 100. Preferably, the data entry rr~rm;nol~ 105 are remotely located from the central conlrolle~ 100 at a localion convenient to the individual participant . The data entry tr~rm; n;l l ~ 105 4 PCr~l 'S90/060~3 ~ ~ 14 ~0442~6 advantageously comprise conventional Touch-Tonen' telephone instruments 102 each having a keypad which produces machine-recognizable signals. Although the present sytem is designed for Touch-Tone~ tPl Prhonp 102 input with this response, the same principle could be applied to communication between a personal computer and the central controller 100. Alternatively, the contest system could be set up to ac ~ 'Ate both types of data entry tPrm~n~lq. In the preferred Pmhorli t a conventional Touch-Tonen' telephone 102 in:.LL t is employed as the remote data entr~ and receiving tl~rmi nA 1 for contest Darticipan~s.
Data Link The data link 108, as employed in the interactive sports contest, advantageousl~ includes conventional telephone lines connecting the central controller 100 to the data entry tPrminAl 105. The data link 108 provides data and verbal communication belween two remote locations such as the central controller~ 100 and the data entry ~rmi nA l s 105 . Alternatively, the data link 108 may include microwave o- satellite trAncmi qsi~
systems. The data link 108 thereby provides a communication path f or data to be exchanged between the central controller 100 and the remote data entry t~rminAl 105.
The Contest Roster The Contest Roster 110 includes a list of athletes, or players who participate in the relevant sport ( of course, the Contest Roster 110 may alternatively include a list of stocks or ;commodities). Preferably,~ the Contest Roster 110 lists or includes all of the actual players in the professional league (or alternatively the ~';0 '~I/06354 PCIIUS90/06053 ~ ~ 15 2044~,66 players in a particular cDllege conf erence or division ) of the sport associated with the contest. - Since all of the players from a particular league of the sport associated with the contest are included on the Contest Roster 110 each players from that league on the Contest Roster 110. In addition to personal favorites, the Contest Ro5ter 110 includes those players likely to have an impact on the sport during the Sea50n. It should be noted, however, that the number of players included on the Contest Roster 110 m~y be chosen ac~ r~i n~J to specific considerations of the relevant ~sport and will not necessarily include all the actual athletes who play in the professional OT college leagues of the spor' in cruestion.
For sports such as basketball o_ hockey, wherein each position of the team is highly sir~Jn;fir~ntr each professional team typically has more than one player for each position in real life. In an attempt to faithfully simulate such real life situations within the contest system, the Contest Rosler 110 may include more than one ~layer from each professional team for each position.
Tt should also be noted that in some sports, si~:~ilar ~osilions may be classified within a single category.
For example, in real 'ife baseball, the right fielder, center fielder and left fielder may be treated collectively as outfielders. C-,L~ dingly, the contest system may incorporate a Contest Roster -110 which categorizes all players who play right field, left field, and center field in real life, collectively 3 0 as outf ielders . In the pref erred embodiment of the contest system, a participant may choose three outfielders from the Contest Roste- 110 even if they all, for example, plav center field in real life.

WO 91~06354 PCI~US90/06053 ` 16 20~42~6 Also, some positions in real life within a yiven sport may inherently generate very few of the statistics which are generally used to gauge a typical player' s performance. Such positions need not be inc~ rl as a category within the Contest Roster llO. For example, in real lif e f ootball, the guard and tackle positions generate relatively few distinguishing characteristic statistics such as yards gained or touchdowns.
Therefore, the Contest Roster llO may not include these positions or players. However, even if a position is not included zs a category on the Contest Roster llO, a particular athlete playing that position may still be included on the Contest Roster llO if that particular player is likely to generate statistics accounted for in the player score calculation.
Theref ore, the positions and players listed on the Contest Roster llO may represent an a~ tion of the characteristics of the sport, as typically monitored by the sports industry. In other words, since a player' s performance is typically monitored in relation to the statistics which the player generates, it is pro~able that those players who are likely to generate statistics that are used as indicators throughout the sports industry will be selected to appear in the contest system' s Contest Roster llO . The statistics which are recognized throughout the industry as indicators of a player~s pprforr~n~e~ are advantageously included as factors when calculating the player score.
Preferably, each player on the Contest Roster llO
is associated with a specific code uniquely identifying that specific player with respect to all other players in the Contest Roster llO. In the preferred !~mh~rli t of the interactive baseba~; contes~, each player on the Contest Roster llO is represented by a four-digit ~O`91/06354 PCl`fVS90/060~3 17 2al~4266 numerical coàe. The numerical code is used to identify a specif ic athlete during communications between the participant and the central controller 100.
Preferably, the position to which each athlete is assigned in the contest is encoded within the code number. For example, all first baseman may be assigned code numbers beginning with the number " 1 ", all second basem~n may be assigned code numbers bprJinn;nr3 with the number " 2 ", and so on .
In addition to the identification code associated with each player on the Contest Roster 110, a ¢uantitative indicalor of each players performance ( cumulative over a season, or in weekly increments ) may be advantageously included in the Contest Roster 110.
In a pref erred embodiment, the quantitative i~dicator of a player~s performance is de~prm;npd as a function of that player~s real life statistics. Each player's real lif e statistics are available through the statistical database 120 (the statistical database 120 will be discussed in further detail below). The real life statistics of a particular playe- are converted into a quantitative ( i . e ., numerical ) score by means of the game system formula.
In a preferred embodiment, a list of the players in the Contest Roster 110, along with each player's code number, is distributed in a newspaper 145 or any other form of mass media, or publication, such as a broadcast or point of sale, which is readily available to the participants .
statistical Database The statistical database 120 includes a list of selected statistics ~or each memoe~ o~ the Contest Roster 110. Preferably, the statistical database 120 .

WO gl/~63~4 PCI~US90/06053 18 20~266 int~ rir~c the selected statistics corresponding to the actual performances of each o~ the athletes (or alternatively each of the stocks ) listed in the Contest Roster 110 . These selected statistics are advantageously updated on a daily basis.
Although any of a wide variety of statistics may be employed, it is preferable that the chosen statistics represent the most popular aspects of the sport which are monitored throughout the season.
In a preferred embodimen~ of the present invention, the real lif e statistics of each athlete listed on the Contest Roster are accumulated and input into the player score computer 270, through the statistical input :r~rmini~1 278 at the end of each day. The statistics are stored in the storage unit 275 in connection with each athlete on the Contest Roster 110. In the preferred Pmho,~ i t, the real li~e statistics o~ each player are evaluated by the player score computer 270 according to the player score f ormula so that a quantitative performance indicator score for each player is obtained on a daily basis. The ouantitative performance indicator scores are then input to the Contest Roster 110 early in the mornino of the next day, via communication link 221, at the corresoonding player address, where the value is stored for later reference.
- Advantageously, the performance scores for the players are downloaded to the controller computer 200 in a conventional manner beginning some time early each morning when participants are not li3cely want to interact with the system, for example, at 2AM each morning. The do~nloading and internal processing may continue for several hours until a specified time;
advantageously 6A~' that same morning. During the downlo~-l;n~ and internal processing period~ the system WO ?l/06354 PCI/US90/06053 ' 2044266 will not be avail2ble for interaction with any participants. Of course the downloading of the player scores could be acc~l~rl i sihPd at any time after all games have been completed for the contest period, advantageously each day, and need not be restricted to the early morning hours. Also, the duration that the central controller 100 is processing the data input from the statistical database 130, and is thereby not available to interact with participants, is rlPrPn~lP~t upon the volume of information that must be processed, and the capacity of the controller computer 200. For example, if a large number of participants are involved in the interactive conl:est, or if the controller computer 200 is small, the amount of time that the system is unavailable to in~erac~ with the participants will be greater than if there are few participants, and the controller computer 200 has a high storage and processing capacity. The internal processing may advantageously consist Oc distributing and assigning performance scores to each playe~ in the team roster database, and tabulating all team roster score totals.
The results are then stored in the controller storage unit 210.
In the interactive baseball con~est, the statistical database 120 advantageously includes field player characteristics such as Runs Batted In (RBI);
llits, specifically singles, doubles, triples and home runs; Runs Scored; Stolen Bases; and Errors. The pitcher statistics advantageously includes ~ins, Strikeouts, Losses, and l~arned Runs.
~owever, statistics whic'l are not currently published in a typical sports page of the newspaper 145 may also be included in the s~a~istical database 120.
It is preferable that the selected statistics of the WO 9~l/0~354 PCIIUS90~06053 ~ .
20 204~266 statistical database 120 be reguiarly distributed in the newspaper 145 and/or other forms of publication such as radio or television broadcasts which are readily available to the participants.
.

Team Roster Database The team roster database 130 includes a list or array of team rosters as entered by each participant.
Each participant may be asked to identify himself or herself by some means, such as a home telephone number or a social security number or both. The participant is then asked to choose a team roste~ of members ( for example athletes or stocks ) from the Contest Roster 110 .
The team roster is then converted into digital inf ormation and stored as an individual f ile in the team roster database 130. The Contest Roster and all the team rosters are advantageously stored in the controller storage unit 210. Each file is addressed or accessed in a conventional manner using the information disclosed by the participant, advantageously, the participant's social security number, as an address code.
Also included wlthin each participant~ s team roster file are the cumulative weekly team score (as of the previous day), and the cumulative contest-to-date team score (as of the previous day). In addition to these scores, each team roster- in the team roster database includes the answers to the three tie-breaker c~uestions as entered by each participant.
Once a participant has selected a team roster, a person may only access the selected team roster using the identif ication inf ormation provided by the participant. A participant may want to access his or her selected leam roster in orc~er to evaluate the performance of the entire team, to verify the players on WO`9l/Q6354 PCI/US90/06053 21 2Q4~266_ the current team _Dster, or to trade a player from the team roster.
CalculatLon of Individual Plaver Score and Team Score The contest system provides for the evaluation of the players according to selected real life statistics as represented in the statistical database 120. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the calculation of the individual player scores is done by the player score computer 270 within the statistical datab~se 120. The player score calculation includes a plurality of factors which correspond to the characteristics found in the staristical database 120.
The score calculation allows fo_ the evaluation of each athlete on the Contest Roster llO a~ r~inr to the statistics generated by that player. For instance, an athlete wlth a particular score would be evaluated as doing better than another athlete who had a lower score.
In this way a quantitative comparison can be m~de between athletes on the Contest Roster 110.
The player score calculation may provide for the weighting of certain statistics depending on the importance, difficulty or occurrence rate of each statistic. In addi.ion, the player score calculation may be uniquely tailored to accommodate a particular sport. Preferably, the formula for calculating the player score is available to all participants so that each participant may conduct an independent evaluation of their team roster with respect to the players on the main Contest Roster 110.
In the preferred embodiment of the interactive baseball contest, the player score fQr field players, reserve players and designated hitters provides that the points for each player is calculated as follows: Runs ( R ) Kits ( l, 2, 3, 4 ~ T RBI ~ s ~ runs batted in ) - S33 WO 9~`/06~54 PCT/I IS90106053 ' 22 2o44266 (stolen bases) - E (errors). Therefore, a player hitting 3 hits ( 1 home run, 2 singles, 0 doubles, and 0 triples), stealing ' base, scoring 3 runs, batting in 3 runs and committing no errors during a period of competition, one game for example, earns: 3 runs scored (1 home run and 2 other runs scored) + 6 hits (1 x 4 for home runs + 0 x 3 f or triples + 0 x 2 f or doubles + 2 x f or singles ) + 3 RBI ' s + 1 stolen base - 0 errors 13 .
For pitchers, points are accumulated according to the player score as follows: W (~Tins) x 5 + SO (strike outs ) x 3 - L ( losses ) x 2 - ER ( earned runs ) .
Therefore, a pitcher having 1 win, 9 strikeouts, 0 losses and giving up 2 earned runs in a period of competition, one game for example, earns 5 (1 x 5) wins + 2? ( 9 x 3 ) strikeouts - 0 losses - 2 earned runs = 30 points . In the pref erred embodiment a pitcher earns no points f or a good hitting perf ormance .
Another example of a formula which uniquely weights an athlete ' s statistics so that the player score ref lects the athlete ' s perf ormance, may be outlined in the following manner. For fielc and utility players:
Runs (R) + [Hits (1,2,3,4)/2] - Runs Batted In (RBI) +
Stolen Bases ( SB ) - Errors ( E ) = player score . For pitchers: wins (Wx5) + Strikeou~s (SOxl) - Losses (Lx3) - Earned Runs (ER) = player score. According to this formula, the field player in the previous example would receire 3 runs scored + 3 hits [ (lx4 + Ox3 + Ox2 +
2xl)/2] + 3 RBI~s + 1 Stolen Base - 0 errors = 10 points. The pitcher in the preYious example would accumulate 5 ( lx5 ) wins + 9 ( 9xl ) strikeouts - 0 ( Ox3 ) losses - 2 ( 2xl ) earned runs = 12 points .
In still another formula which advantageously is implemented in a contes= for oasketball participants W~9~p6354 PCIIUS90106053 ` ~ 23 2~266 generaee points as follows: 1~inutes Played (~.P/15) +
Field Goals (FGx2 - failed attempts) + Three Point Goals ( 3PFGx3 - failed attempts ) + Free Throws (FTxl - failed attempts) + Rebounds (R) + Assists (A) + wins (Wx2) -Technical Fouls (Tx5) - Personal Fouls (PFx3) - Losses (Lxl) = Player Score. For example, a player having played 40 minutes, making 8 and missing 6 field goals, making 1 and missing 1 three point goal, making 4 and mLssing 1 free throw, getting 8 rebounds and 4 assists, winning 1 game and losing no games, having 3 personal fouls and no technical fouls would receive: 3 (40/15 rounded to the nearest integer ) minutes played 10 ( 8x2 - 6 ) f ield goals - 2 ( lx3 - 1 ) three point goals + 3 ( 4xl - 1 ) free throws - 8 rebounds + 4 assists + 2 (lx2) wins - 0 (0x5) technical fouls - 9 (3x3) personal fouls - 0 ( 0x~ ) losses = 23 points .
It should be noted that other formulas which uniquely weight an athlete ' s statistics so that the player score reflects the athlete~s performance, may be implemented in accordance with the present invention.
Obiectives ir. the Interac~ive Contest Svstem l'he primary objective of the interactive sports contest is f or each participant to o~timize the total points generated by their team roster.
The contest is advantageously conducted so that competition is based upon team roster scores generated f or the season, thereby encouraging participants to compete throughout the entire duration of the contest.
Competition throughout the duration of the season may advantageously be fostered by basing the competition on the cumulative score for discrete weekly periods.
However, as a single `goal may not maximize participation, each o~ the discrete periods of the WO !~1/06354 PCl`tUS90~06053 24 2~44266 season may be treated as an individual contest, thereby providing a larger number of opportunities for interactive competition.
Competition among remote participants may also be advantageously fostered by providing prizes, both weekly ancl for the overall contest, for those participants whose team rosters generate the highest cumulative score total6. Prizes may also be awarded to participants at random in order to provide f urther incentive to those participants who do not have high team score totals for a given week or f or the overall contest .
Competition among remote participants is advantageously provided by the periodic disclosure of the leading scores in a publication 140 such as the newspaper 145 ~ shown in Figure 1. Preferably, this disclosure occurs soon after the distribution of the relevant statistics. Participants are thereby permitted to evaluate their position in the contest throughout the course of the contest through the publication.
As each participant is desirous of m~lcimi7in~, or optimizing the team roster total for each discrete period, and/or the entire com:est, as measured by the player score, there is an incentive to trade or exchange players between the team roster and the Contest Roster llO. This is because, while a given player may start - off the season very well, that player may become injured or fall into a slump for a while. To maximize or optimize the team roster total, a participant exchanges players between his team roster and the Contest Roster 110. The timing, number and av~ hil;ty of these trades may be dictated pursuant .o the specif ic sport, and/or the selected statistics. For example, in the preferred ~mhoni- I of the baseDall contest, pitchers may be traded only once a week ~hile all other players .

WO 91/U63~4 PCI/US90~06~53 25 2~442~6 may be traded as often as the participant wants. Once a trade is made, it is effective starting the ~ollowing day .
Throughout each discrete contest period, the interactive sports contest permits each participant to optimize the scoring potential of the individual te~m roster through an exchange of players between the participant~s team roster and the Contest Roster 110.
As indicated previously, the same player may be selected by more than one participant and thus a given player could conceivably be included as a member of all of the team rosters.
Publications Preierably, a list of the athletes in the Conte5t Roster, daily statistics for each player in the roster, the rules, the contest system telephone numbers, and the f ormula used in the player~ score calculation are açcessible to partici~ants in some form of publication 140, such as radio broadcast, television broadcast, point of sale display or a printed publication such as a newspaper. In the preferred embodiment a daily newspaper 145 is used, and the newspaper 145 includes an access code which is unique to each publication cycle.
This published access code must be used by the participant when accessing the interactive game system, and a new access code is preferably p~lhl i ~hP~ on a daily basis. Advantageously, the access code is generated within the central controller 100 using a conventional random number generator in the central computer 200 such as is commonly found in most digital computers. Publication of the access code daily encourages participants to read tne pubiication 140 regularly .

WO 9l/06354 PCI/US90/060~3 After a participant enters the contest, the cen~ral controller 100 allows access only upon entry of the most recent or current zccess code. The sports section of the newspaper 145 is often the most appropriate location 5 f or this inf ormation . The established distribution of the newspaper 145 provides for widespread distribution and ready av~ hi 1 i ty to all participants . Of course the access code could be provided through other media including radio, television, or- point of sale, for example.
Advantageous ly, in the pref erred F-mho~ i t of the present invention, the publication 140 also periodically inr~ q lists of the top performers. These lists would advantageously include those participant's whose teams have the highest poi~t totals both for a given week and f or the season cumulative as of the end of the previous week. The names and point totals of each of the top scoring participants may be included in the lists.
When all the scores have been tabulated in each team roster for the past week, and for the season cumulative up to and including the past week, a listing of the top scores may then be printed out. The top team score lists may then be p-lhli ch~d later that week.
Rules and inf ormation about the interactive game system may also be published r~ri~riirAlly in the publication 140 .
The use of conventional Touch-ToneTe t~ rhnnl~ as the remote data entry t~rmin;.l provides a substantial percentage of the public with the necessary equipment to participate in the interactive sports contest. Of course, the equipment could be set u~ to respond to rotary dial telephones as well.
After a participant has obtained 2 copy of a list of the players in the Contest Roste~ 110 ~long with .

WO~91/p6354 PCTIUS90106053 1~ 2, 204~266 their 4 digit codes, the par_icipant selects the players to be on the team roster. The selection may be based upon a number of factors such as: (1) a careful review and analysis of the past performance of each player on the Conte5t Roster 110 with knowledge of how the player score is calculated; (2) a prediction as to the anticipated performance of a player; (3) anticipated effects of game s~hr~ llinr~J, such as may result from home field advantage, or a series of several games in a row which may result in player fatigue; and/or (4) a personal bias in f avor of 2 player .
Because the factors ~-hich are likely to a~ect the perf ormance o~ a given athlete are generally better evaluated by those particiDants who are ~a~; 1 i i.r with the particular sport associated with the contest, those participants who are knowledgeable in the associated sport are more likely to choose rosters which generate high team scores. In this way, a certain skill factor is involved which gives those participants who are knowledgeable in the sport associated with the contest an advantage in the compet_tion.
ODeration of the Inter~cti~.re SDorts Contest In the preferred embodiment, the interactive sDorts contest employs a contest entr~T telephone number and a participant interactlng or playing telephone number.
qlhe pref erred embodiment advantageously is implemented using a combination of a 1-800 and 1-900 numbers, although the system could be implemented as two 1-900 numbers. Further, any teleDhone number providing for a subscription fee and subsc-iber code to limit participation to subscribe-s can be used to implement the present invention. }~lternatively, the entire system could be conducted under a slngie 1-900 telephone number WO 9ItO6354 PCI~US90/06053 2~44266 format which initially presents an option to enter the system, or to play, so that participants pay Corresponding to the total amount of interaction with the game system.

A. ~nterin~ the Contest Advantageously, each participant initially contacts the interactive contest system through the contest entry ~Fhnn~ number . As illustrated in Figure 3, upon dialing the contest entry telephone num.ber, the central controller 100 provides a greeting and introduction to the interactive sports contest. The participant is then prompted to enter his 10-digit home telephone number, including area code, using the data entry tprmin~l or key pad of the Touch-ToneD' tr~ hn~l~ 102. As the participant depresses the keys corresponding to the digits of the telephone number, the machine reco~n; ~Ahl~o signal, as produced by the Touch-Tonen' telephone 102, is transmitted through the data link 108 to the central controller 100. If there has been an error in ~rAn~mi qsion or in the number format (for example, a calle- is not calling from a Touch-Tonen' telephone, or the telephone number is invalid ) an error message will be played and the participant will be asked to try again. The central controller 100 then receives and stores the participant~s telephone~ number. The participant is then prompted to enter his/her 9-digit social security number by means of the telephone key pad. Again, if there is an error, an error message is played and the participant is asked to try again. The computer 100 then recites the social security number to the participant so as to provide a verification of the inf orma~ion en~ered.

WO 91/Q63~4 PCr/US90106053 ~04~26~
Once the computer receives a verification from the participant, the system then enters the tie-breaker subroutine 400 ( further illustrated in Figure 4 ), wherein the participant is asked to answer three tie-brea~cing questions. As illustrated in Figure 4, the participant is asked to answer a first tie-breaker question . The participant ' s answer is then stored in the participant's team roster file. The participant is then asked to answer a second tie-breaker question. The answer is again stored in the individual's team roster file. Finally, the participant is asked a third tie-breaker question. ~his answer is also slored in the team roster file. Preferably, the tie-breaking questions reouire a numerical response which may be entered through the key pad of the telephone. If an error is detected at any point during the transmittal of information by the participant, an error messaye will be played and the participant will be requested to re-enter his selection.
In the preferred l~mhQ~ nt, the participant is asked how many home runs the home town team will hit in the season; how many runs the home town team will score during the season; and how many strike-outs the home town pitching staff will accumulate throughout the season. The tie-breaking questions are n~ceSfi~ry because it is possible, although unlikely, that some participants will coincidentally select identical team rosters and perform identical trades throughout the competition thereby achieving identical scores. Though possible, it is also unlikely that participants who do not make identical trades during the season will accumulate identical scores by chance.
Next, the participant is instructed on how to enter a team roster f or the 1nteractive contest . The system WO 91fO63S~ PCI~US90/060S3 ~ - -204~266 then enters the team roster entry subroutine 500 as lllustrated in detail in Fiyure S. The participant is p~ ed to enter the code of each member of the Contest Roster llO which the participant desires to be included on their team roster. If an error is detected at any point during the transmittal of iniormation by the participant, an error message will be played and the participant will be re~uested to re-enter-his selection.
In the pref erred em~odiment of the interactive baseball contest, fifteen players are selected to comprise the team roster. The team roster ;nrl~ Pq one player from each regula_ position plus f our pitchers, a designated hitter and two reserve players. As depicted in Figure 5, a typical order of entry in the interactive bAqPhAll contest may be first base, second base, third base, shortstop, first outfielder, second outfielder, third outfielder, catcher, first pitcher, second pitcher, third pitcher, fourth pitcher, designated hitter, first reserve player and second reserve player. To avoid unnecessary repetition, Figure~ 5 inrlllrlr~q reference to only the first two and the last entries. - The system then verifies the proper entr~ of the team roster and informs the participant of the acce~tance Oc~, the team roster .
The contest system then prompts the participant to recite his/her name and address orally, which the system receives and stores in a manner well known in the art.
Finally, a closing message, which~ includes a message regarding how to modify a team roster and check team and individual player scores, is then recited to the participant.
J

WO 91/063~4 PCr/US90/06053 31 _ _ B~ Interaction Preferably, the interactive phase of the contest is achieved through use o~ a contest playing telephone number. As illustrated in Figure 6, upon accessinq the central controller lO0 t~leough the contest playing telephone number, a greeting is recited to the participant. The participant is then prompted to enter the current access code, as obtained from the publication 145. Preferably, an exit is presented for l O players who have not entered a team roster, wherein the participant is recited the contest entry tpl~hnn~
number. Registered participants, those having a team ~oster, are requested to enter their social security number. If an erro- is detec~ed, such as an invalid social security n-~mber, the participant is asked to key in his social security number again. A main menu of options is then recited to the participant, wherein each option corresponds to a number on the key pad of the telephone. The main menu options advantageously include: (l) team roster scores; (2) trading; (3) contest roster evaluation; and (4) team roster verification. A menu option is accessed by depressing the corresponding key of the telephone key pad when the main menu is presented to the participant. When main menu options i, 2, or ~, are accessed, the central controller lO0 first accesses the team roster as60ciated with the given social security number. The system then enters the corresponding subroutine as depicted in Figure 6. When main menu option number three is selected, the system enters the Contest Roster evaluation subroutine 900 directly. A participant may exit from the main menu by simply hanging up the Touch-Tone~ phone 102.

. U'O91/~63~4 PCI~US90/060~3 ~ ~
32 ,~044266 1. Team Roster Scores Upon pressing the number " l " on the telephone key pad, the participant enters the team roster scores subroutine 700. The team roster scores subroutine 700 is depicted in Figure 6, and further illustrated in Figure 7. Upon entering the team roster scores subroutine 700, the participant is presented with two options. The first option, selected by pressing "l" on the keypad, is the week-to-date score of the participant and the highest week-to-date score for the week. The second option, selected by pressing the number "2" on the keypad, is the contest-to-date score of the participant and the highest in the contest. If the participan~ selects the first option, the week-to-date score of the participant and the highest week-to-date score for that week are recited by the centr~l controller lO0 through data link 108 to be received on the data entry tP~li n7l 1 105 . The participant may then either press "1" to hear the contest-to-date scores for the team roste- and the highest team roster score, or alternatively may press " 2 " and return to the main menu .
Alternatively, if the` participant had initially selected the contest-to-date scores, the participant is prompted with the option of either returning to the main menu or hearing the week-to-date scores.
2. Tradin~
Upon pressing 2 in the main menu, the participant enters the trading subroutine 800, as depicted in Figure 6. In the trading subroutine 800, as further illustrated in Figure 8, the participant is prompted to enter the code of the player to be dropped from their team roster. If an error is détected (for example, a code may be entered f or a player who is not on the ~'0 ~/06354 PCI/US90/060~3 33 20~4266 participant ' s team roster ) an error message Ls played and the participant is asked to re-enter the code of the athlete to be dropped . Af ter the participant has keyed in the code of the player to be dropped, the S central controller 100 then recites the code back to the participant so that the participant may verify proper entry of the code. Upon verification of the code, the player is selected to be dropped from the team roster.
Note that the player selected to be dropped is not actually dropped until the trade i5 f;nr~l i7ed.
The central controller 100 then prompts the participant to enter the code of a player to be added to the -ceam roster. After the participant has keyed in the code of the player to be added, the central controller 100 verifies the avAi l;~h; 1 ;ty of the player. If the player number is available, the central controller 100 recites the code to the participant so that the participant may verify entry of the desired code. If the player number is not available ( e . g ., is already on the participant ' s team roster or not in the Contest Roster ) then the controller plays an error message and requests the participant to re-enter the code of the player to be added. After verification of the code, the participant may elect to acceot the trade, change the player to be added, or re~ect the trade in its entirety.
Af ter the participant accepts the trade, the player is added to the team roster for the following day~s games.
The participant may then trade another player or return to the main menu by pressing either "1" or "2,"
respectively.
3. Con~est Roster Evaluation Upon pressing "3'~ in the main menu, the participant enters the Contest Roster evaluation subroutine 900, as WO 9l~06354 PCIIUS90~06053 20~426~
depicted in Figure 6. Upon entering the Contest Roster evaluation subroutine 900, as further illustrated in Figure 9, the participant is prompted to enter the code of a player on the Contest Roster llO whose points the participant desires to check. The central controller lO0 then recites the week-to-date points and the contest-to-date points of that player, whereupon the p~rticipant may either select another player or return to the main menu by pressLng "l" or "2," respectively.
4. Team Roster Verification Upon pressing ~4~ in the main menu, the team roster verification subroutine lO00 is entered, as depicted in Figure 6. Upon entering the team roster verification subroutine lO00, further illustrated in Figure 10, the central controller lO0 recites the 4 digit numerical codes for each player, by position, of the current team roster, whereupon the participant may have the recital repeated or return to the main menu by pressing " 1 " or ' 2, !' respectively.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of particular Pmhorl i ItS, it is not limited to these embodiments. Alternative embodiments and modifications which would still be encompassed by the invention may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing t~Prh;nrs.
Alternative ~mhorlim~nts, modifications or~ e~Iuivalents may be inr711r~ within the spirit and scope of the invention a~ defined by th~ claims .

Claims (19)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:-

1. An apparatus for providing an interactive game competition among an unlimited number of participants, comprising:
(a) a central controller;
(b) a plurality of data entry terminals remote from the central controller;
(c) a data link linking the data entry terminals to the central controller;
(d) a data register having stored therein a predefined data base comprising a finite set of data values corresponding to specific elements wherein the data register is accessible to the central controller;
(e) a statistical database which includes a set of statistics corresponding to elements of the data register;
(f) an unlimited number of subset databases, each subset database selected by a participant and including a non-exclusive subset of elements of the data register, wherein any of said elements may be simultaneously included in an unlimited number of said subset databases, and (g) means for evaluating said subset databases on the basis of the statistical data base to provide a ranking of game participants.

2. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein the data entry terminal is a telephone capable of producing machine recognizable signals and the central controller is capable of recognizing the signals produced by the data entry terminal.

3. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein the athletes participate in baseball.

4. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, further comprising a periodic publication which discloses information about the interactive contest system to the remote participants.

5. The apparatus as defined in Claim 4, wherein the data entry terminal is a telephone capable of producing machine recognizable signals.

6. The apparatus as defined in Claim 4, wherein the publication is a printed publication.

7. The apparatus as defined in Claim 4, wherein the publication is a broadcast.

8. The apparatus as defined in Claim 6, wherein the printed publication is a newspaper.

9. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the data points correspond to athletes who participate in a particular sport.

10. The apparatus of Claim 9, wherein the particular sport is baseball.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein said specific elements represent athletes and said subset databases represent team rosters of athletes selected by participants.

12. A method for providing interactive competition among an unlimited number of remote participants, comprising:
(a) accepting an unlimited number of team rosters each selected by a participant, each team roster selected from a register having a predefined plurality of members, wherein any member may be simultaneously included in an unlimited number of team rosters, each team roster being a non-exclusive subset of the register;
(b) evaluating the members of the team roster according to statistics corresponding to the actual performances of each member of the team roster, wherein the statistics are evaluated according to a predetermined relationship;
(c) assigning a score to each member based on the evaluation;
(d) cumulating the scores of each member on each team roster to obtain a total score for each team roster; and (e) ranking each team roster with respect to other team rosters on the basis of the total score.

13. A method for interactive competition among an unlimited number of remote participants, comprising:
(a) storing a roster of athletes selected by each of said unlimited number of participants from a register of athletes, wherein any athlete of said register may be simultaneously included on an unlimited number of rosters;
(b) evaluating each roster to obtain a score corresponding to a predetermined relationship between the roster and a statistical database, wherein the statistical database includes statistics corresponding to the performance of the athlete; and (c) ranking each said roster with respect to others of said rosters on the basis of said score obtained by said evaluation of each roster.

14. The method of Claim 13, further comprising:
(a) optimizing the valuation through an exchange of players between the register and the roster.

15. In an apparatus including a central controller, a plurality of remote data entry terminals and a data link, a method for providing interactive competition comprising the following steps:
storing a predefined database comprising a finite set of data values representing a roster of athletes, periodically publishing information stored in said database, providing selective remote access to said central controller to an unlimited number of participants, selecting a predetermined number of athletes from said roster by each of said participants, wherein any said athlete may be selected by an unlimited number of participants, storing a non-exclusive data subset of said database for each said participant in response to the selection of athletes by said participant, forming a statistical database corresponding to data in said predetermined database, periodically updating said statistical database, periodically evaluating each said non-exclusive data subset on the basis of the statistical database, and ranking each said non-exclusive data subset to obtain an order of participants.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of storing a predefined data base comprises establishing said data base prior to receiving input at the central controller from said participants, and said step of storing a nonexclusive data subset comprises storing participant selection of specific data from said predefined data base that may have been selected previously by a different participant.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing selective remote access comprises:
periodically publishing an access code in a mass media medium, altering said access code at predetermined time intervals, and programming the central controller to accept only a current valid access code after a remote data entry terminal has been connected to the central controller for communication with a participant.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
granting access to a participant to the central controller and replacing data in the corresponding data subset with data from the predefined data base in response to selection by the participant without affecting the content of the data subsets corresponding to the other participants.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the mass media medium is a newspaper.