NL1009210C2 - Quiz game played by competitors from remote electronic terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

Each player operates from an electronic terminal, e.g. a Personal Computer with special software. The clocks of all terminals are synchronized, so that the maximum difference between the time registered by simultaneous responses is less than 400 microseconds. The games are controlled from a central station, which carries all administrative data and variable data in a series of databases.

Description

GAME SYSTEM

The invention relates to a device for supporting a time-critical game for at least two players, which device comprises a computer with a main plane for guiding the game and at least two terminals connected to the computer, each terminal - a clock, - means for synchronizing the clock with the main clock, 10 - means for entering an answer by the user, and - means for recording the answer and the time at the time of the entry, and 15 wherein the computer further comprising means for reading the recorded data from each terminal.

At the heart of the game system are two components: an individual terminal for each user, a standard computer with processing software

The computers have to fulfill a number of tasks. In practice, these tasks will be divided over several physical computers, which are interconnected by means of a network. The various software functions are described in the following sections.

The individual terminals take care of the interaction between players and the game computer or the game management. The main functions of the terminals are listed here - Maintaining communication between player and game console.

1009210 2 - Display score and other information between player and game console.

- Registration of pressed selection buttons as well as elapsed time between pressing and the last 5 time reference pulse. This reference is sent over and over again from the game console as general information, i.e. to all terminals simultaneously. This allows the local time base of the terminals to be low cost. The reference pulse is sent just before players are allowed to make a choice. As a result, the mutual deviation in crystal frequencies will be virtually canceled out. Time is measured with a resolution of 10 microseconds. Accuracy decreases the later the player responds (more time has passed since the reference signal has passed).

Since the winners are generally those who give the correct answer first, in practice they will have made their choice within 1 to 2 seconds. At this time, the mutual deviation between two 20 terminals is a maximum of 400 microseconds (worst case). Given the high resolution with which it is measured, it is very unlikely that two players "press" exactly the same time.

- Ability to have the terminal send a command with which the game console knows who made the first choice. In that case, the game in question is stopped immediately (especially for situations where an individual player must be able to influence the game, for example wheel of adventure, etc.) 30 - Possibility of inserting a chip card.

By means of this card the user can be identified and player-related data can be stored. This information can be stored on the chip card or in the central computer. The issue date is also stored on the 35 chip card.

- Acoustic signaling for the user (eg forgotten warning card) 1009210 3 - LED indication red / green; freely programmable, for example for right / wrong signaling or for indicating reserved places.

5 - Each terminal has a unique identification code, so that each terminal can be addressed individually. Possibility to quickly change a terminal if it turns out to be defective.

- Self-test during the start of the game (after inserting a chip card). This information can also be displayed on the large screen.

- A place is also allocated by means of the reservation. The terminal checks whether a chip card is being used in the right place, otherwise a message will follow on the screen and the player will have to find another place. In connection with this, it should be possible to make a group reservation, so that a particular chip card can be used on a series of terminals.

20 - Possibility for "autonomous" right / wrong signaling, with or without gradations.

- Coupling of terminal with PC via simple connector, this also provides the power supply for the terminal. It must be possible to integrate a large number of terminals into a system. A non-functioning terminal must not hinder communication with the other terminals.

The display must be easy to read. Both the small amount of ambient light, the size of the characters and a clear presentation of the user information must be taken into account. In this capacity, the cyclic display of information is preferable to a display on which a lot of information can be simultaneously displayed.

The terminals are preferably connected to a multi-drop serial bus. Due to this design, buffers for communication can be placed in the same places 0 0 0 9 1 Π 4. Due to the buffering, the number of bus segments and thus the number of terminals can be expanded indefinitely.

When addressing the terminals, there must be sufficient space for the number of terminals to be connected; two bytes are preferably reserved for this, so that a maximum of 65535 individual terminals can be addressed (address zero is used for broadcast purposes). A second advantage of this structure is that the processor can already address a next terminal while the previous one is still responding. This allows response times to be shortened.

The software can be divided into different modules based on functionality 15 (see figure). These modules have various links, so that administrative data can be linked to player information, for example to indicate reserved places and to indicate how much 20 prize money is available per round, or who is entitled to prize money. The structure can also be used to record a shadow administration 12 so that data is not lost in the event of an emergency.

25 A database is required to record administrative data 1 (reservations, missing cards, etc., but also turnover data). There is also a database with player data 2. This keeps track of the status of each player and records which terminal uses which chip card (recognition of prize winner, check on card fraud attempts). There is also a database in which questions 3 for various game modules are recorded. This database is always provided with additional information, while information once used is provided with a date stamp. On this basis it can be determined that this question cannot be reused for a certain period of time. The maintenance of the databases can: 1 00 921 0 5 be carried out remotely, via a network connection or via a dial-up connection. By precluding the operation of the databases by a user code and an access code, it must be possible to trace who has entered certain information and use different access levels (for example, only read information, only change etc.)

The software also takes care of sending to-10 and receiving messages from the terminals. The game programs can communicate directly with this layer, for example to send the time synchronization or to allow direct interaction of the players.

15 The multimedia links are provided by standard drivers that are available for the various peripherals. This could include controlling audio equipment (for making sound effects or playing 20 sound fragments) and video equipment (for example playing image fragments from CD-ROM), also the link with a video projector.

The game is controlled by a basic software layer. Various "bottom layers" are activated in this base layer. The bottom layers have various functions, such as, for example, maintaining communication 5 with the terminals 4, keeping results in a player database 2, retrieving information from the reservations 6 c.g. administration 7 database, 30 maintaining communication with the other peripherals 8 (video, audio, lighting).

In addition, the base layer must activate the various game modules. The base layer is called "round scheduler" 9. Using templates, game rounds can be quickly composed in operator 35 program consisting of x-game modules. Based on the activated template, scheduler 9 invokes the "worker" 10 1 on 92 1 0 6 with different parameters. For example, in the order of the template you can determine: - explanation of the game - display of prize money: what is in the pot? 5 - text question (category), (difficulty), (time), (score) - image question (category), (difficulty), (time) - intermediate score / score display, (time) 10 - sound question, (category), (difficulty level) ), (time) - skill game 1, (difficulty), (time) - display winners (time) 15 Option: work with multiple bets (higher rating on chip card, where the player not only plays against fellow players but also against the bank ).

The worker 10 performs one of the above tasks each time and returns control to the round scheduler 9 once the task has been completed. The parameters are not always all necessary. The optional time can for instance be used to indicate the maximum available time for the game leader, in addition, a clock will have to run for the game leader, which indicates the total playing time of this round. The number of parameters for the worker 10 can be expanded, so that for example sound effects can be activated. It is also possible to define a separate game module for this.

Different game modules can be called from worker 10. For example, a game module for asking multiple choice questions will retrieve information from the question database 3 and on that basis display the question on a screen, along with the 35 possible answers. The same database indicates which answer is correct. The game module will then give users the opportunity to respond via the communication layer (time synchronization and selection j: 1009210 7 release). A user can only choose once; after that it must be released again ... However, it is possible to set via the PC whether restoration of the choice is possible (think of using wild cards).

5 Subsequently, the answers of the users are retrieved via the same communication layer 5 and, depending on the game type, the new total score per user is determined. At the moment it can also be displayed on the screen how many people have made a certain choice.

The software maintains communication with all terminals 4 and with all other 8 (peripherals). The software receives commands from parent layers and sends and receives information. The layer is independent of the game to be played, etc., but provides basic communication facilities.

By means of a user-friendly interface, database 1 can be reserved for certain game rounds in the administration. The software provides information about available places at a specific time, furthermore block reservation and group reservation must be possible. Preferred places can be indicated.

Chip cards are issued based on the purchase of tickets. The PC 25 then determines for which round (s) the chip card is valid; the issue date is recorded in a database 11 (in connection with missing / fraud detection). Each card contains a unique ID code. The game console is informed of who has paid for a certain round, 30 so that the player concerned can be blocked if he incorrectly occupies a place. It can also be used to show how much prize money is available for that round.

With the financial software module 7, 35 tickets can be sold, the cash drawer is controlled, turnover data is kept, as well as prizes paid.

1009210 8

After the end of a round, the scores for software scores can be used to check which scores have been achieved and overviews can be made.

The software must include the necessary provisions 5 to prevent fraud. On the one hand, attention should be paid to malicious transactions with credits found on chip cards. (This can be checked by recording credits both on the chip card and in the database 1 administration).

10 On the other hand, measures must be taken to prevent manipulation of the game and the administration. For example, questions can be stored in encrypted form. The date stamp prevents the quick reuse of previously used questions.

15 Recording of turnover and statistical information about the course of the game may reveal other disturbances. Because of legislation, certain registrations will also be necessary for that reason. The software must be able to block a card number (in the event of a loss of 20) and also find where the card may be (still in a terminal or based on historical terminals usage data).

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Claims (1)

1. Device for supporting a time-critical game for at least two players, which device comprises a computer with a main surface for guiding the game and at least two terminals connected to the computer, each terminal - a clock, - means for synchronizing the clock with the main clock, - means for entering an answer 10 by the user, and - means for recording the answer and the time at the time of the entry, and the computer further comprising means for reading the recorded data from each terminal. i o n 9? 1 o