Solitaire game played over the internet with features to extend play

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for playing a computer-based solitaire game including the steps of retrieving an input from an internet server to a computer, playing and scoring the game according to the input. The internet server and the computer are intermittently connected during the game and the input comprises a scoring method and a game pattern which are controlled and predetermined by the internet. The present invention also provides a computer-based solitaire game comprising a network connection to an internet server for retrieving an input and for comparing scores, and a control system for a player having means for operating on the input and means for displaying the input and the comparison results to the player. The input comprises a scoring method and a game pattern which are controlled and predetermined by the internet server, and the game pattern comprises game features and graphic elements. The present invention further provides a method for operating a tournament game over the internet having the steps of establishing communication between a central server and a player's computer, downloading an input onto the player's computer, re-accessing periodically to the player's computer from the central server, transferring information relating to player's identity, the game, and result to the central server, comparing scoring results from multiple players in the central server according to the tournament structure, displaying the comparison results on the player's computer, and continuing playing the game according to results and the tournament structure.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for playing a computer-based solitaire game comprising 
 retrieving an input regarding said solitaire game from an internet server to a computer,    playing and scoring said solitaire game according to said input by moving cards from a play stack to a column or an ace stack or between said columns in said computer,    wherein said internet server and said computer are intermittently connected during said solitaire game and said input comprises a scoring method and a game pattern which are controlled and predetermined by said internet server, and said game pattern comprises game features, graphic elements, and distribution of cards throughout a play filed for the play of a particular game.    
     
     
         2 . The method for playing a computer-based solitaire game according to  claim 1  further comprising 
 comparing a score of said solitaire game with scores of other players in said internet server to obtain rankings of the players, and  
 displaying said score and said rankings on said computer.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method for playing a computer-based solitaire game according to  claim 1  wherein said graphic elements comprising a play field background and a card back graphics.  
     
     
         4 . The method for playing a computer-based solitaire game according to  claim 1  wherein said scoring method is selected from said group consisting of scoring by a speed of each successful move, scoring by a total number of successful moves and said combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method for playing a computer-based solitaire game according to  claim 4  wherein said scoring by a speed of each successful move is indicated by a elapsed/countdown time indicator.  
     
     
         6 . The method for playing a computer-based solitaire game according to  claim 1  wherein said game pattern comprises multiple play stacks from which cards may be moved to said column or said ace stack.  
     
     
         7 . The method of playing a computer-based solitaire game according to  claim 1  wherein said game pattern comprises a target indicator displayed in front of a column stack, said removal of all cards in said column is awarded a bonus score.  
     
     
         8 . The method for playing a computer-based solitaire game according to  claim 1  wherein said game pattern comprises a wild card feature in which if a player chooses a wild card to place on a desired location, a first card that can be played at said desired location is marked in said play stack or said column, and when said first card is revealed later, said next card in said column is also revealed.  
     
     
         9 . The method for playing a computer-based solitaire game according to  claim 1  wherein said game pattern comprises a play stack for future play in which a player moves a card from a play stack to said future play stack to reserve for future use.  
     
     
         10 . The method for playing a computer-based solitaire game according to  claim 1  wherein said game pattern comprises a method for a player to prematurely end said game.  
     
     
         11 . A computer-based solitaire game comprising 
 a network connection to an internet server for retrieving an input and for comparing scores, and    a control system for a player, said control system comprising means for operating on said input and means for displaying said input and said comparison results to said player,    wherein said input comprises a scoring method and a game pattern which are controlled and predetermined by said internet server, and said game pattern comprises game features, graphic elements, and distribution of cards throughout a play field for the play of a particular game.    
     
     
         12 . A method for operating a tournament game over the internet comprising 
 establishing communication over said internet between a central server and a player's computer,    downloading an input onto said player's computer, said input comprising a scoring method, a game pattern, and a tournament structure, which are controlled and predetermined by said central server,    re-accessing periodically to said player's computer from said central server,    transferring information relating to said player's identity, said game, and result to said central server,    comparing scoring results from multiple players in said central server according to said tournament structure,    displaying said comparison results on said player's computer, and    continuing playing said game according to said results and said tournament structure,    wherein said player's computer and said central server are connected intermittently during said game, and said player's computer optionally display commercial banners from said server, and said game pattern comprises game features, graphic elements, and distribution of cards throughout a play filed for the play of a particular game.    
     
     
         13 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said tournament structure is that scores are collected over a predetermined length of time period, players are provided randomly shuffled decks of cards, and a player with a highest score within said period wins.  
     
     
         14 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said tournament structure is that said game progresses until a first player exceeds a predetermined score.  
     
     
         15 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said tournament structure is that a player has a predetermined length of time period to make a successful play and each successful play is credited with a predetermined non-decreasing point value, and a play with highest point value within said period wins.  
     
     
         16 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said tournament structure is that a player first to bust a deck wins.  
     
     
         17 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said tournament structure is that players who have never previously won before are capable of playing in said game.  
     
     
         18 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said scoring method is selected from said group consisting of scoring by a speed of each successful move, scoring by a total number of successful moves and said combination thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 18  wherein said scoring by a speed of each successful move is indicated by a elapsed/countdown time indicator.  
     
     
         20 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said game pattern comprises multiple play stacks from which cards may be moved to said column or said ace stack.  
     
     
         21 . The method of operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said game pattern comprises a target indicator displayed in front of a column stack, said removal of all cards in said column is awarded a bonus score.  
     
     
         22 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said game pattern comprises a wild card feature in which if a player chooses a wild card to place on a desired location, a first card that can be played at said desired location is marked in said play stack or said column, and when said first card is revealed later, said next card in said column is also revealed.  
     
     
         23 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said game pattern comprises a play stack for future play in which a player moves a card from a play stack to said future play stack to reserve for future use.  
     
     
         24 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said game pattern comprises a seed of a random number generated by said central server to decide a deal card sequence in said player's computer.  
     
     
         25 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  further comprising 
 verifying user name and ID of said player, and  
 deducting money from said player's account if said game is a paid-for game before the step of downloading an input into said player's computer.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said graphic elements comprise a play field background and a card back graphics.  
     
     
         27 . The method for operating a tournament game over the internet according to  claim 12  wherein said game pattern comprises a method for a player to prematurely end said game.