Livestock Judging game and method

Abstract

A method of conducting livestock judging games is provided which utilizes visual images of animals, such as livestock, and can be presented to, and played by, players in multiple geographies by utilizing a plurality of communication media, including the Internet, electronic mail, printed material, and other means. The method of conducting said livestock judging games consists of 5 primary elements: (1) displaying images of animal(s) to players, and providing to players the specific criteria which players are to utilize when judging one or more animals on a game-specific basis, (2) providing multiple means for players to judge said animals and, after doing so, enter their ranking designations into a central database, (3) providing means for player scores to be calculated in correspondence with each of multiple livestock judging and evaluation activities provided, and storing said scores in a centralized database, (4) providing means to communicate game results to players, and (5) providing means to award prizes to players. Various individual games are provided that are played by utilizing the method elements described above.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of conducting competitive livestock judging games for a plurality of players comprising: 
 (a) Enabling each player to judge (i.e. evaluate) one or a plurality of animals by viewing images or other visual representations of said animals in electronic or print format;    (b) Enabling each player to place (i.e. rank), select or categorize said animals based on described ranking or selection protocol and providing means for each player to enter his or her placement (i.e. ranking), selection or categorization choices into centralized database;    (c) Automatically calculating a score for each player in conjunction with each game in which player participates, with each score being generated based upon specific scoring rules;    (d) Storing player placement (i.e. ranking) and selection choices data, and player score data, in a centralized database;    (e) Enabling each player to view his or her respective score and other scoring information regarding each game in which player has participated; and allowing players to compare their score(s) with other player score(s);    (f) Providing one or multiple means of determining winners and awarding prizes to one or a plurality of players based on player scores or other criteria.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animal specie is bovine.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animal specie is equine.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animal specie is ovine.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animal specie is porcine.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said method is conducted via one or a plurality of communication media including the Internet, electronic mail, print media, telephone, facsimile, interactive television, or other means of display and communication.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 Enabling each player to view and assess said animals by viewing images of said animals and comparing their respective individual physical characteristics in conjunction with any ancillary information provided about each animal.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 Presenting player with animal judging instructions which are based on commonly accepted specie-specific evaluation and ranking protocols or other evaluation and ranking criteria.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 Enabling player to judge said animals based on said animal ranking and evaluation instructions and include descriptive comments about said animals.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 Enabling player to convey said player-designated ranking and categorization data and any related descriptive comments player may add about said animals to the game operator by one or a plurality of communication means, including the Internet, electronic mail, and other means of communication.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 A method of storing player information in a centralized electronic database and managing said information correspondent to each player and their participation in said animal judging game(s), by providing a database whereby player information, including player-designated animal ranking and categorization information, player contact information, and other data can be entered, stored, and analyzed.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 The provision of a rule-based player scoring system whereby one or a plurality of methods can be used to determine the correct score for each player correspondent to each animal judging game in which each player participates, by comparing how closely the ranking selections and categorizations of each player match an official judge's rankings, or other suitable comparative scoring method.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 Enabling the communication of individual score results to players by providing one or a plurality of means of enabling players to access and view their scores corresponding with one or multiple said competitive animal judging games by utilizing one or a plurality of communication media including the Internet, electronic mail or other suitable communication means.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 Enabling the communication of the official judge's comments concerning the explanation and justification which he or she used to rank, place, or categorize the animal(s) displayed, depending upon the specific game, by communicating said comments via a plurality of means, including text, audio clip(s), video clip(s), some combination thereof, or other suitable means of communication.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 Awarding prizes to one or a plurality of players based on scores earned in playing said livestock judging games, or upon some randomized selection means dependent upon other criteria, such as a player's participation in said games during a specified period of time.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 Enabling player to pay a fee in exchange for the opportunity to participate in one or a plurality of said animal judging games.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  whereby said animal judging game may be called “Keep or Cull” or some other term descriptive of the game's primary activity, comprising: 
 (a) Enabling one or a plurality of players to view an image or other visual representation of three (3) or more similar animals, and providing an explanation of how the game is played and how points are awarded and, thus, how scores are calculated,  
 (b) Enabling each player to select two (2) or more animals from among the said three or more animals displayed, which player determines or believes, based upon visual appraisal, are higher in quality, more useful or productive for a specific purpose, or more valuable than the other animals displayed, such that upon completion of their selection, the classification of “Keep” or “Retain” will be assigned to the said two (2) or more animals chosen as the highest quality animals, according to specific game rules, and a “Cull” or “Discard” is applied to all remaining, non-selected animals,  
 (c) Enabling each player to communicate said assignments to game operator such that the assignments are entered and stored in centralized database,  
 (d) Enabling each player to view a comparison of his or her assignments with the assignments made by the official judge, and also view any comments included by the official judge regarding why said assignments were made,  
 (e) Calculating a score for each player based upon how closely the assignments of each said player match the assignments made by the official judge, whereby ten (10) points are awarded for each correct player assignment, and ten (10) points are subtracted for each incorrect assignment, and displaying or communicating resulting score to respective player,  
 (g) Awarding prizes to one or a plurality of players based on said player scores, or upon some randomized selection means, dependent only on player participation during a certain period of time.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  whereby said animal judging game may be called “Pick Traits” or some other term descriptive of the game's primary activity, comprising: 
 (a) Enabling one or a plurality of players to view an image or other visual representation of one animal,  
 (b) Providing to each said player a list of two (2) or more phenotypic or implicit genetic characteristics which have some degree of descriptive relevance to said animal, and provide an explanation of how the game is played and how points are awarded and, thus, how scores are calculated,  
 (c) Enabling each player to select one (1) or more of the two (2) or more said listed genetic characteristics that appear to most or least closely match the animal shown, and communicate said selections such that the selections are entered and stored in a centralized database,  
 (d) Enabling each player to view a comparison of his or her selections with the selections chosen by said official judge, as well as enabling players to read, watch or listen to comments, if any, included by the official judge regarding why said selections were made,  
 (e) Calculating a score for each player based upon how closely said selections made by said player match with the selections chosen by the official judge, and communicating said player scores to each respective player.  
 (f) Awarding prizes to one or a plurality of players based on said player scores, or upon some randomized selection means dependent only on their participation in said game during a certain period of time.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  whereby said animal judging game may be called “Match Attributes” or some other term descriptive of the game's primary activity, comprising: 
 (a) Enabling one or a plurality of players to view images or other visual representations of two (2) similar animals, and provide an explanation of how the game is played and how points are awarded and, thus, how scores are calculated,  
 (b) Providing to each player a list of two (2) or more phenotypic or genotypic attributes which have some degree of descriptive relevance to the said two animals displayed,  
 (c) Enabling each player to select and assign each said attribute to whichever animal, of the two animals shown, that the attribute most closely describes or fits, whereby, upon completion, each attribute have been assigned to an animal,  
 (d) Enabling each player to communicate said attribute assignments such that said attribute assignments are entered and stored in centralized database,  
 (e) Enabling each player to view a comparison of his or her attribute assignments with the assignments made by the official judge, as well as read, watch or listen to any comments included by the official judge regarding why said assignments were made,  
 (f) Calculating a score for each player based upon how closely said player assignments match with the selections chosen by the official judge, with a specific number of points being awarded for each correct match, and displaying said player respective score,  
 (g) Awarding prizes to one or a plurality of players based on said scores, or upon some randomized selection means dependent only on their participation in said game during a certain period of time.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  whereby said animal judging game may be called “Scale Characteristics” or some other term descriptive of the game's primary activity, comprising: 
 (a) Enabling one or a plurality of players to view an image or other visual representation of one (1) animal and provide an explanation of how the game is played and how points are awarded and, thus, how scores are calculated,  
 (b) Providing to each said player a list of two (2) or more characteristics, each of which has some degree of descriptive relevance to said animal displayed,  
 (c) Enabling each said player to rank, from one through five, a characteristic based on how much or how little of each said characteristic is exhibited by said displayed animal, such that upon completion of characteristic ranking, a numeric rank of one, two, three, four or five has been assigned to each specific characteristic,  
 (d) Enabling each said player to communicate said ranking assignments such that the assignments are entered and stored in centralized database,  
 (e) Enabling each said player to view a comparison of his or her characteristic ranking assignments with the ranking assignments made by the official judge, as well as enabling players to read, watch, or listen to any comments included by the official judge regarding why said ranking assignments were made,  
 (f) Calculating a score for each said player based upon how closely each player's said ranking assignments match with the ranking assignments made by the official judge, whereby a specific number of points are awarded for each correct player match, and displaying said score to each respective player,  
 (g) Awarding prizes to one or a plurality of players based on said scores, or upon some randomized selection means dependent only on their participation in said game during a specified period of time.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  whereby said animal judging game may be called “Fix-it Shop” or some other term descriptive of the game's primary activity, comprising: 
 (a) Enabling one or a plurality of players to view an image or other visual representation of an animal or animals, and provide an explanation of how the game is played, how points are awarded, and how scores are calculated,  
 (b) Presenting each player with a list of at least four (4) physical or genetic characteristics associated with each animal shown that may be considered deficiencies or weaknesses,  
 (c) Enabling each said player to select two (2) or more characteristics, per animal, that player believes are the most obvious weaknesses or deficiencies possessed by each animal(s) displayed, such that upon completion of player selections, the player has identified and selected the two (2) or more characteristics that most need to be “fixed” or improved about each animal displayed to make said animal more desirable based on implicit or explicit criteria,  
 (d) Enabling each player to communicate said selections such that they are entered and stored in centralized database,  
 (e) Enabling each said player to view a comparison of his or her selections with the selections made by the official judge, as well as read, watch, or listen to any comments included by the official judge regarding why said selections were made,  
 (f) Generating a score for each said player based upon how closely each player's said characteristic selections match the selections made by the official judge,  
 (g) Awarding prizes to one or a plurality of players based on the highest scores, or upon some randomized selection means dependent only on their participation in said game during a specified period of time.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  whereby one or more of said animal judging games may be simplified and offered under the label of “Just For Kids” or some other term descriptive of the game's intended primary audience.