System and method of generating revenue through tournament play

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for conducting a tournament by a game provider for users using a gaming system. Games are provided by a game server through a network. The game server provides a tournament scheme of play having a plurality of rounds. To progress to a next round, a player must exceed a threshold score. During each round, the player may play several times in an attempt to exceed the threshold score. Revenue is generated for each game played. The revenue may be shared between the user's network and the game provider.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of generating revenue to a game provider from users each having a communication device within a network provided by a network provider, the method comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a tournament having a plurality of rounds, each round enabling the user to play a game provided by a game server on the user's communication device through the tournament scheme of play;    determining a fee to the user for playing each game in the tournament;    sending the determined fee from the game server to the network provider; and    transferring a portion of the revenue collected by the network provider to the game provider based upon playing each game.    
     
     
         2 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  wherein the step of establishing a tournament includes establishing a threshold score for which a user must exceed in the game played in the present round to advance to a next round.  
     
     
         3 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 2  wherein the step of establishing a threshold score includes determining the threshold score prior to the start of each round.  
     
     
         4 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 2  wherein the step of establishing a threshold score includes determining the threshold score after the completion of the round.  
     
     
         5 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 2  wherein the step of establishing a tournament includes allowing the user to immediately progress to the next round upon exceeding the established threshold score.  
     
     
         6 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 5  wherein the step of allowing the user to immediately progress to the next round includes allowing the user to play another game in the round if the user does not exceed the threshold score.  
     
     
         7 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 2  wherein the step of establishing a tournament includes: 
 establishing a start and stop time for each round;  
 allowing the user to progress to the next round at the start time of the next round upon exceeding the established threshold score.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of generating revenue to a game-provider of  claim 6  wherein the user may continue to play an additional game until the stop time of the round.  
     
     
         9 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining a fee to the user for playing each game includes determining the fee on a per game basis.  
     
     
         10 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining a fee to the user for playing each game includes determining an elapsed time of game play by each user for each game.  
     
     
         11 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  further comprising the step of sending a bill to the user through the network provider from the game provider for downloading the game.  
     
     
         12 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  further comprising the step of sending a bill to the user through the network provider from the game provider on a pay per game basis.  
     
     
         13 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  wherein the game server includes a game monitor component and wherein the step of determining an elapsed time of game play by each user playing each game includes recording a start time, an end time and a user identification for each game play within the game server.  
     
     
         14 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  wherein the network provider is a wireless network provider having a wireless network and the communication devices are mobile devices communicating within the wireless network.  
     
     
         15 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  wherein the network provider is a Internet service provider providing internet services through the Internet and the communication devices are computing devices communicating within the Internet.  
     
     
         16 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of: 
 determining a communications protocol utilized by the communication device; and  
 communicating with the communication device utilizing the determined communications protocol.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of: 
 determining a winner from users playing in the tournament; and  
 awarding a prize for winning the tournament.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of generating revenue to a game provider of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of: 
 presenting an advertisement within the game;  
 acknowledging by the user of the advertisement; and  
 awarding points for acknowledging the advertisement, the points being added to a score for playing the game.  
 
     
     
         19 . A system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices within a network playing a game between a game provider and a network provider, the system comprising: 
 a game server providing a tournament having a plurality of rounds, each round enabling the user to play a plurality of games provided by the game server on the user's communication device through the tournament, the user progressing to a next round upon exceeding a threshold score established for the round;    the game server being in communication with the communication devices within the network, the game server having a database for recording each game played by the user and a user identification identifying the user; and    means for calculating a fee for each game played by a user on the communication device;    wherein the network provider collects revenue from the users for playing each game in the tournament and transfers a percentage of the revenue to the game provider.    
     
     
         20 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19  wherein the means for calculating a fee for each game played includes determining a total elapsed game time derived from the start time and the end time and calculating the fee based on the total elapsed game time for each game played.  
     
     
         21 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19  wherein the means for calculating a fee includes calculating a fee on a per game basis.  
     
     
         22 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19  wherein the game server allows the user to immediately progress to the next round upon exceeding the established threshold score.  
     
     
         23 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 22  wherein the game server allows the user to play another game in the round if the user does not exceed the threshold score.  
     
     
         24 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19  wherein: 
 the game server establishes a start and stop time for each round; and  
 the game server allows the user to progress to the next round at the start time of the next round upon exceeding the established threshold score.  
 
     
     
         25 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 24  wherein the game server allows the user to play an additional game until the stop time of the round.  
     
     
         26 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19  further comprising a billing server in communication with the game server and having a database for recording each game and the user identification sent from the game server for each game played by a user.  
     
     
         27 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 26  wherein the billing server communicates with a billing system of the network provider for billing the user for game play from the game server, the billing server providing information on game play and user identification to the billing system.  
     
     
         28 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19  wherein the network provider is a wireless network provider providing a wireless network and the communication devices are mobile devices communicating within the wireless network.  
     
     
         29 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19  wherein the network provider is an Internet service provider providing Internet services through the Internet and the communication devices are computing devices communicating within the Internet.  
     
     
         30 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19  wherein the game server determines the communications protocol being utilized by the communication device and communicates with the communication device utilizing the determined communications protocol.  
     
     
         31 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19  wherein the game server provides an advertisement within the game being played by the user, whereby when the advertisement is acknowledged by the player, a bonus is awarded to the player.  
     
     
         32 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 31  wherein fees are charged to an advertiser associated with the advertisement for each acknowledgment of the advertisement.  
     
     
         33 . The system for sharing revenue generated from users of communication devices of  claim 19 , wherein the game server determines a winner of the tournament from the users playing the tournament and awarding a prize to the winner.  
     
     
         34 . A method of conducting a tournament by a game provider from users each having a communication device within a network provided by a network provider, the method comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a tournament having a plurality of rounds, each round enabling the user to play a game provided by a game server on the user's communication device through the tournament;    establishing a threshold score for each round, the threshold score setting the score for which a user must exceed in a game to proceed to a next round;    allowing a user to progress to a next round in the tournament upon the user exceeding the established threshold score;    determining a fee to the user for playing each game; and    sending the determined fee from the game server to the network provider.    
     
     
         35 . The method of conducting a tournament by a game provider of  claim 34  wherein the step of allowing a user to progress to a next round includes allowing the user to immediately progress to the next round upon exceeding the established threshold score.  
     
     
         36 . The method of conducting a tournament by a game provider of  claim 35  wherein the step of allowing the user to immediately progress to the next round includes allowing the user to play another game in the round if the user does not exceed the threshold score.  
     
     
         37 . The method of conducting a tournament by a game provider of  claim 34  wherein the step of establishing a tournament includes: 
 establishing a start and stop time for each round; and  
 allowing the user to progress to the next round at the start time of the next round upon exceeding the established threshold score.  
 
     
     
         38 . The method of conducting a tournament by a game provider of  claim 37  wherein the user may continue to play an additional game until the stop time of the round.  
     
     
         39 . The method of conducting a tournament by a game provider of  claim 34  wherein the step of determining a fee to the user for playing each game includes determining the fee on a per game basis.  
     
     
         40 . The method of conducting a tournament by a game provider of  claim 34  further comprising the steps of: 
 determining a communications protocol utilized by the communication device; and  
 communicating with the communication device utilizing the determined communications protocol.  
 
     
     
         41 . The method of conducting a tournament by a game provider of  claim 34  further comprising the steps of: 
 determining a winner from users playing in the tournament; and  
 awarding a prize for winning the tournament.  
 
     
     
         42 . The method of conducting a tournament by a game provider of  claim 34  further comprising the steps of: 
 presenting an advertisement within the game;  
 acknowledging by the user of the advertisement; and  
 awarding a bonus to the user for acknowledging the advertisement.  
 
     
     
         43 . A system for conducting a tournament of users of communication devices within a network playing a game, the system comprising: 
 a game server providing a tournament having a plurality of rounds, each round enabling the user to play a game provided by the game server on the user's communication device through the tournament, the user progressing to a next round upon exceeding a threshold score established for the round;    the game server being in communication with the communication devices within the network having a database for recording each game played by the user and a user identification identifying the user; and    means for calculating a fee for each game played by a user on the communication device.    
     
     
         44 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 43  wherein the means for calculating a fee for each game played includes determining a total elapsed game time derived from the start time and the end time- and calculating the fee based on the total elapsed game time for each game played.  
     
     
         45 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 43  wherein the means for calculating a fee includes calculating a fee on a per game basis.  
     
     
         46 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 43  wherein the game server allows the user to immediately progress to the next round upon exceeding the established threshold score.  
     
     
         47 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 46  wherein the game server allows the user to play another game in the round if the user does not exceed the threshold score.  
     
     
         48 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 43  wherein: 
 the game provider establishes a start and stop time for each round; and  
 the game provider allows the user to progress to the next round at the start time of the next round upon exceeding the established threshold score in the current round.  
 
     
     
         49 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 48  wherein the game provider allows the user to play an additional game until the stop time of the round.  
     
     
         50 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 43  wherein the game server determines the communications protocol being utilized by the communication device and communicates with the communication device utilizing the determined communications protocol.  
     
     
         51 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 43  wherein the game server provides an advertisement within the game being played by the user, whereby when the advertisement is acknowledged by the player, a bonus is awarded to the.  
     
     
         52 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 51  wherein fees are charged to an advertiser associated with the advertisement for each acknowledgment of the advertisement.  
     
     
         53 . The system for conducting a tournament of  claim 43 , wherein the game server determines a winner of the tournament from the users playing the tournament and awarding a prize to the winner.