WO2004110576A1

WO2004110576A1 - Method for conducting a game, mainly questions and answers for distant users

Info

Publication number: WO2004110576A1
Application number: PCT/RU2004/000234
Authority: WO
Inventors: Syren Vladimirovich Vartanyan
Original assignee: Syren Vladimirovich Vartanyan
Priority date: 2003-06-19
Filing date: 2004-06-18
Publication date: 2004-12-23
Also published as: RU2250793C2

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for conducting interactive games. The inventive method consists in registering distant users in the registration unit of a game system, the operators transmitting a signal, to said distant users, containing information which requires, for example an answer, and in transmitting a signal with corresponding information, containing the answer given by the distant users, from the terminals thereof. A prize amount is modifiable by a prize sum control unit during the game the period of which is set within a range of 15 to 180 minutes. The game system is provided with a user support unit which enables the distant users to communicate with each other.

Description

5 The way to conduct the game, mainly in questions and answers, for remote users

Technical field

The invention relates to methods for hosting games, and in particular, to methods for hosting games, primarily to questions and answers, for remote users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a known method of conducting tournaments in an automated

15 mode (application WO95 / 20795, G About F 19/00, 08/03/95), in which the announcement of a game or tournament option displayed on electronic indicators available for many potential participants in the game for a certain period of time. Entering the identity of game participants

20 is carried out until a certain number of participants are reached. Then the data displayed on the electronic means of indication is read and the groups of game participants playing against each other are determined. Spend the game and determine the winner of the game tour. Then distribute the winners into groups of game participants

25 of the next round, right up to the final game. After the game is over, the results of the tournament are summed up.

A system that implements the method described above comprises an indication device, an identification data reader, and a data processing device integrated into one node in the form of a personal computer; while many such nodes 5 are connected by means of a modem to the telephone network and a central computer is provided for controlling the said nodes and for summing up the results of the tournament.

The automated implementation of operations such as presenting a game option to potential participants, registering participants, distributing them into pairs or groups of tournament participants, provides a well-known solution to increase the speed of organizing and conducting entertainment events and increase the objectivity of decisions.

However, the known solution has several disadvantages, in

15 particular due to its narrow functional purpose. So, it is intended for holding competitions on a multi-stage basis, with the elimination of losers, in order to determine one winner as a result. The number of participants is limited both by limiting registration time and the number of participants. it

20 creates inconvenience for potential users.

To determine the winners, many independent paired tournaments are held, which do not allow all participants to compare with each other during each task or at each stage.

There is also known a method of conducting an interactive competition,

25 consisting in registering remote users as participants in the game, conducting competitive tours and determining the winners (RU, Ж2124753, G06F19 / 00, 01/10/1999).

One of the disadvantages of this method is its narrow specialization and, as a result, low attractiveness for potential users. 5

Disclosure of invention

The basis of the invention is the task of creating a method of playing a game, mainly in questions and answers, for remote users, which would provide the opportunity for any user with a personal computer or any means of connecting to a telecommunication network to take part in the game in real time along with many other users. In this case, network computers can serve as a means of connecting to a telecommunication network,

15 televisions, electronic secretaries, pagers, telephones.

The problem is solved by the described method of conducting the game, mainly in questions and answers, for remote users, which consists in the fact that before the start of the game, remote users send from their terminals to the unit

20, the registration of the game system of the game organizers is a signal containing accounting information for identifying users in determining at least one winner. Game organizers form a database in the central block of the game system for storing and managing user account information and their

25 accounts, set the duration of the game and the size of the prize. The game organizers set the duration of the game in advance or during the game in the interval from 15 to 180 minutes, and the size of the prize in accordance with the algorithm established in advance or during the game, the game organizers change the prize amount in the game system of the prize system during 5 least parts of the game. Then, for newly registered or authorized remote users through the authorization block, the game organizers transmit a signal containing information that requires confirmation, refutation or response. Remote users from their terminals transmit a signal, vo containing information with confirmation, refutation or response, respectively, to information received from the organizers of the game. At the same time, the game system of the game organizers has a user support unit to ensure that remote users communicate with each other before the game and / or during the game. By

15 after the expiration of the game, the organizers of the game establish at least one winner.

Carrying out such an interactive game is possible by ensuring the simultaneous participation of any number of telecommunication network users in it and using a number of

20 new systems of ratings and data processing, allowing for a limited number of tasks to objectively determine several winners. Due to the generated and represented in real time dynamic assessment of completed tasks of the game, determined, according to the invention, taking into account the complexity of the task, and

25 also by changing the size of the prize during the game in accordance with the developed algorithm, unflagging interest in the development of events and special dramaturgy in the process of the game are ensured, which will help to attract the participation of an increasing number of participants. At the same time, the cognitive nature of the tasks of the game, formed using information from various 5 areas of knowledge will serve as an incentive to expand the horizons, erudition of the participants in the game and to constantly increase their intellectual level.

Thus, the proposed method allows to increase the efficiency of games for remote users, by expanding the circle of participants, almost unlimitedly within the available resources of telecommunication networks, increasing the speed of these events, as well as by increasing the objectivity, accuracy and reliability of evaluating the results of game participants . In addition, the invention provides

15 for users a new type of entertainment and can be used for advertising and marketing campaigns of a new type.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the following, the invention is illustrated with a specific embodiment 20 and drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a sequence of operations carried out by a gaming system; FIG. 2 algorithm for increasing the prize amount; FIG. 3 prize reduction algorithm.

25 depicted in FIG. 1 functional block diagram has the following notation. Block 1 user registration is used to enter into the database of the gaming system accounting information about the users of the system and open a user account. Block 2 user authorization is designed to check the credentials of an incoming request to participate in the game and to check the credentials for 5 admission to the system of communication between users. Interface 3 of the game publishes and activates games according to a given schedule, receives and verifies users' bets and responses, as well as logs the progress of the game. The prize amount control unit 4 allows dynamic change of the prize amount according to a special algorithm. Interface 5 with the electronic payment system accepts user bets, transfers the winning amount to the winner and monitors the status of accounts involved in the gaming system. Block 6 of the database of the gaming system stores and manages information about users, their accounts and

15 information about the games. Block 7 of the administrator of the gaming system controls. Block 8 maintaining communication between users provides a dialogue between participants in the system in real time.

The game is based on a typical winner selection scheme,

20 who declared the correct solution to the published intellectual problem in the least / greatest time of the game. The winning amount does not depend on the size and amounts of the players' bets, but is determined by a special stochastic algorithm, the number of players is unlimited, the duration of the game is from 15 minutes to 3

25 hours.

The way the game is held is as follows. When visiting the game server of the organizers of the game, which has, for example, the name "Surki.ru", the remote user gets to the main page, where he is invited to go through registration if the user is not registered yet. registration implies filling in the corresponding fields username, password and email address. The user name and password will continue to be used to identify the user, and the email address is necessary for prompt communication with him. In case of victory, the user-winner of the game is sent a “key”, which he must send back along with his identification data. The user can change the key according to a formula known at that time only to the game administrator and the winner user. Also on the first page of the game server displays hours, minutes, day, month, year of the upcoming game. On the main page there is a link to the "Rules" section, which sets out the rules of the game.

After registration, the user is given full access to the game's information databases. The user has the opportunity to view the archive of the latest games, which indicates who became the winner, what the question was and the correct answer, how long the game lasted, at what minute the correct answer was received, what was the maximum prize and the prize amount that the winning user won.

By logging in with his name and entering the appropriate password, the user logs into the system, where information is available on how many times he participated in games, how many times gave correct and incorrect answers, how much money is on his account and his registration data, which he is entitled to change . On the same page he is given the opportunity to part of the funds or all that is available 5 in his account to transfer from his account to the account of another user of the gaming system. Each page, except the first, is automatically reloaded and, as soon as a new game starts, a flashing inscription “Game in progress” appears on all pages of the server. The user goes to the game menu by clicking the "Start Play" button. Then the following information lights up on the display:

• - number of participants

• - start time

• - time of the planned end of the game

• - maximum prize amount, the current prize amount is 15 • - answers of other users

• - how many participants answered the question

During the game, the user has the opportunity to make only one attempt or make several attempts. The total duration of the game can be from 15 to 180 minutes. The prize amount 20 during the game may, as increase, in accordance with the algorithm shown in FIG. 2 and decrease in accordance with the algorithm shown in FIG. 3.

Also, participants in the gaming system have the opportunity to communicate with each other in real time through the unit 8 of communication between 25 users (Fig. 1).

The operation of the gaming system during the game is as follows.

The program in automatic mode by keywords sorts the most correct answers according to the time of their arrival, and the game administrators can choose the only correct one 5 answer and announce the winner.

During the game, the prize amount can either increase or decrease.

Game administrators have the right to announce the winner at any time. If the answers can be in expanded form, the game administrators enter “all” as the keyword, and then all the answers without exception appear on the game's administrator page.

Administrators have the opportunity at any time to ask the game, indicating its characteristics: 15 • - question

• - answer

• - keyword

• - game start time

• - time of the planned end of the game 20 • - maximum possible prize for the game

• - the cost of the game

After the task is set, the administrators activate it, which gives them the opportunity to create several game variants at once and activate them as necessary. When a game is activated, information about it 25 appears on all pages of the game server.

The rules of the game provide an opportunity to charge a fee for participating in the game. The user has several options to pay for his participation in the game: an advance system, in which the player pays for his participation in the game in advance, direct - in the process of the game when trying to answer a question. At the time of the attempt to give an answer, the user passes authorization in the necessary financial systems.

Application area.

The invention can be used to create systems for conducting interactive competitions, entertaining and informative games of a competitive nature for a large number of remote users through telecommunication networks.

Claims

I i

FORMULA

A method of conducting a game for remote users, which is that before starting the game, remote users for registration as game participants transmit from their terminals to the registration unit of the game system of the game organizers a signal containing accounting information for identifying users when determining at least one winner, and the organizers of the game form a database in the central block of the game system for storing and managing accounting information about users and their accounts, and also set The duration of the game and the size of the prize are specified, while the duration of the game is set by the game organizers in advance or during the game from 15 to 180 minutes, and the size of the prize in accordance with the algorithm established in advance or during the game, by the game organizers using the prize control unit in the game system the amount is changed during at least part of the game, then for newly registered or authorized by the authorization block remote users the game organizers transmit a signal to information that requires confirmation, refutation or response, and remote users from their terminals transmit a signal containing information with confirmation, refutation or response, respectively, to information received from game organizers, the game system of which has a user support unit to ensure that remote users communicate with each other Before the game and / or during the game, after the time of the game, the organizers of the game establish at least one winner.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)