Communications system using bets

Abstract

A computer system that allows people to place, accept and settle bets for the purpose of communicating. The system cuts out the middleman, sometimes referred to as the bookmaker, allowing bettors to bet with each other directly. In addition to allowing people to place, accept and settle bets, the system enables people to settle disputes and change bets. It also allows people to place special types of bets for the purpose of demonstrating probability and quantity estimates. The system also allows people to to link bets to ordinary statements that are also entered into the system.

I claim:  
     
         1 . a communications method for transacting bets over a network, said method comprising in combination, a computer connected to a network of input/output terminals, and a program and central data base; said program enabling users to choose from several actions, including: 
 a user account action,    a search action,    a placing a bet action,    an accepting a bet action,    a settling a bet action;    when a user chooses said place a bet action, said program executing the steps of: 
 creating a bet record for storing data inputted for a bet,  
 identifying said user as the Placer,  
 inputting a bet statement,  
 inputting in the payoff odds that the Placer is offering,  
 inputting the side of the bet (“True” or “False”) that the Placer is choosing,  
 inputting the amount of money the Placer is putting at stake,  
 calculating the cover amount needed by a second user to cover said Placer's stake,  
 outputting the information stored in said bet record;  
   when a second user chooses said accept a bet action, said program executing the steps of: 
 finding a bet, 
 if said bet has not been accepted: 
 identifying said second user as the Acceptor,  
 identifying the side (“True” or “False”) that the Acceptor chooses as opposite the Placer's,  
 setting said Acceptor's stake as said cover amount,  
 storing an acceptance in said bet record,  
 informing said Placer of the acceptance;  
 
 
   when a system authorized judge chooses said settle a bet action, said program executing the steps of:    finding a bet,    inputting a result from said judge, 
 if the result is “Undecided,” declaring neither Placer nor Acceptor the winner,  
 if the result is “True,” identifying the user that has chosen the side of “True” as the winner,  
 if the result is “False,” identifying the user assigned the side of “False” as the winner,  
 crediting the winner's account by the loser's stake and debiting the loser's account by the loser's stake.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in which the program enables a user to copy all or part of a bet.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which the program includes a canceling a bet action in which the Placer may cancel a bet before it is accepted.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  in which the program includes a canceling a bet action in which the Placer can cancel a bet before it is accepted and, if so, is assessed a fee.  
     
     
         2 . a communications method for transacting bets over a network, said method comprising in combination, a computer connected to a network of input/output terminals, and a program and central data base; said program enabling users via terminals to choose from several actions, including: 
 a user account action,    a search action,    a placing a bet action,    an accepting a bet action,    a settling a bet action;    when a user chooses said place a bet action, said user, interacting with said program and central data base via a terminal, performing the steps of: 
 creating a bet record for storing data inputted for a bet,  
 identifying himself as the Placer,  
 inputting a bet statement,  
 inputting in the payoff odds he is offering,  
 inputting the side of the bet (“True” or “False”) he is choosing,  
 inputting the amount of money he is putting at stake,  
 said program then calculating the cover amount needed by a second user to cover said Placer's stake;  
   when a second user chooses said accept a bet action, said user, interacting with said program and central data base via a terminal, performing the steps of: 
 finding a bet,  
 if said bet has not been accepted: 
 identifying herself as the Acceptor,  
 identifying the side (“True” or “False”) that she chooses as opposite the Placer's,  
 setting her stake as said cover amount,  
 said program then storing an acceptance in said bet record,  
 and informing said Placer of the acceptance;  
 
   when a system authorized judge chooses said settle a bet action, said said user, interacting with said program and central data base via a terminal, performing the steps of:    finding a bet, 
 inputting a result, 
 if the result is “Undecided,” said program declaring neither Placer nor Acceptor the winner,  
 if the result is “True,” said program identifying the user that has chosen the side of “True” as the winner,  
 if the result is “False,” said program identifying the user assigned the side of “False” as the winner,  
 said program crediting the winner's account by the loser's stake and debiting the loser's account by the loser's stake.  
 
   
     
     
         3 . the method of claims  1  and  2  in which the program enables a user to copy all or part of a bet.  
     
     
         4 . the method of claims  1  and  2  in which the program includes a canceling a bet action in which the Placer may cancel a bet before it is accepted.  
     
     
         5 . the method of claims  1  and  2  in which the program includes a canceling a bet action in which the Placer can cancel a bet before it is accepted and, if so, is assessed a fee.  
     
     
         6 . the method of claims  1  and  2  in which the program includes a cancel a bet action for enabling either of said users to change said bet, said program executing the steps of: 
 after storing an acceptance, starting a clock with a pre-set time limit,  
 when the time limit expires, checking to see if either Placer or Acceptor has canceled the acceptance, 
 if no, storing a confirmation of said acceptance in said bet record;  
 
 when a user chooses said cancel a bet action, said program directing said computer to execute the steps of: 
 inputting search parameters for a bet and finding a bet,  
 verifying that said user is the Placer or Acceptor of said bet, 
 if said bet has been accepted, checking whether said acceptance is confirmed, 
 if yes, outputting a “No changes allowed now” message, if no,  
  if said user is the Placer, canceling the bet and informing the Acceptor of said cancellation,  
  if said user is the Acceptor, canceling the acceptance and informing the Placer of said cancellation.  
 
 
 
 
     
     
         7 . the method of claims  1  and  2  in which the payoff odds are entered and outputted in X-Y terms.  
     
     
         8 . the method of  claim 1  in which the payoff odds are entered and outputted in percentage terms.  
     
     
         9 . the method of claims  1  and  2  in which the program enables more than one Acceptor to cover all or part of a Placer's stake.