System, method and article of manufacture for providing a progressive-type prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network game environment

Abstract

The present invention provides a system, method, and article of manufacture for providing a progressive prize awarding and redeeming scheme in an intermittently accessed network gaming system. A host server of a network system transmits a beginning prize credit value and an increment rate which are received by a game apparatus connected to the network system. Periodically, a current progressive prize credit value is calculated based on the beginning prize credit value and the increment rate and is displayed to the user. At the end of the game, the current progressive prize credit value is transmitted from the game apparatus of the user to the host server for redemption purposes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for providing a progressive prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network environment, comprising: 
 receiving information from a host server prior to beginning a game for allowing the determination of a progressive prize credit;    displaying a current progressive prize credit value during the game based on the received information; and    sending information to the host server after the game for allowing the determination of the current progressive prize credit value.    
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the received information includes a beginning prize credit value, and an increment rate.  
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 2  and further comprising: periodically determining the current progressive prize credit value based on the beginning prize credit value and the increment rate.  
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 3  wherein the beginning prize credit value and the increment rate are received upon connection with the host server.  
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 3  wherein the network is the Internet.  
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 3  wherein the increment rate is determined based on a number of users playing the game in the network environment.  
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 3  and further comprising awarding the progressive prize credit value to a user based an outcome of the game.  
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the received information further includes a maximum value of the progressive prize credit value for preventing the determination of the progressive prize credit value to be greater than the maximum value.  
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the information that is sent includes a time that a goal associated with the game is accomplished.  
     
     
         10 . A method for providing a progressive prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network environment, comprising: 
 transmitting information to a client computer prior to beginning a game for allowing the determination of a progressive prize credit; and    receiving information from the client computer after the game for allowing the determination of a current progressive prize credit value.    
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the transmitted information includes a beginning prize credit value or score, and an increment rate.  
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 11  wherein the beginning prize credit value and the increment rate are transmitted upon connection with the client computer.  
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 11  wherein the network is the Internet.  
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 11  wherein the increment rate is determined based on a number of users playing the game in the network environment.  
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 10  and further comprising awarding the progressive prize credit value to a user based an outcome of the game.  
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the transmitted information further includes a maximum value of the progressive prize credit value for preventing the determination of the progressive prize credit value to be greater than the maximum value.  
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the information that is sent includes a time that a goal associated with the game is accomplished, and the current progressive prize credit value is determined based on the time.  
     
     
         18 . A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing a progressive prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network environment, comprising: 
 a code segment for receiving information from a host server prior to beginning a game for allowing the determination of a progressive prize credit;    a code segment for displaying a current progressive prize credit value during the game based on the received information; and    a code segment for sending information to the host server after the game for allowing the determination of the current progressive prize credit value.    
     
     
         19 . A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing a progressive prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network environment, comprising: 
 a code segment for transmitting information to a client computer prior to beginning a game for allowing the determination of a progressive prize credit; and    a code segment for receiving information from the client computer after the game for allowing the determination of a current progressive prize credit value.