Multiple player real-time on-line sports competition system

Abstract

A system for providing on-line sport competition in real-time. A server computer executes game playing software which is connected via a network to a plurality of player client computers. Hardware accessories at the player's locating permit the entry of real-time playing data such as driving conditions in a race game, which are used by the game playing software executed on the server. The game playing software determines at predetermined intervals the relative performance of players playing a game, based on competition skill, which forms the basis for determining winners, and participants in future competitions. The performance information is sent to the client computers of players engaged in the game. The overall rank of each player is calculated after each competition to group players having similar skill levels and serves as entry criteria in future competitions.

1 . A method for operating an on-line gaming system, comprising: 
 registering with the on-line gaming system with at least one of a competitor membership, recruiter membership and distributor membership;    agreeing to requirements of at least one type of membership at a predetermined level;    performing the requirements of the at least one type of membership;    ranking the performance of the member against other members with a same type of membership at the predetermined level; and    advancing the member to a next level of membership when the ranked performance exceeds a membership threshold.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein registering with the competitor membership further comprises: 
 agreeing to a predetermined level of competitor membership requirements;    purchasing at least a minimum level of at least one of hardware and software to meet the predetermined level of competitor membership;    training to compete on the at least one of hardware and software;    competing for at least one of purses and prizes;    ranking against other competitors at the predetermined level, wherein the ranking is determined in accordance with an amount of at least one of purses and prizes won by the competitor; and    advancing to a next predetermined level when the ranking of the competitor is above a competitor threshold value.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein registering with the recruiter membership further comprises: 
 agreeing to a predetermined level of recruiter membership requirements;    registering at least a minimum number of new members to meet the predetermined level of recruiter membership;    collecting membership fees from the new members recruited;    contributing a percentage of the membership fees for at least one of purses and prizes;    receiving a percentage of the membership fees as a recruiter commission, wherein the recruiter commission is based on a ranking against other recruiters at the predetermined level, wherein the ranking is determined in accordance with the amount of contributions to at least one of a number of registered recruits in the recruiter's network, revenues, total registrants, purses and prizes by the recruiter; and    advancing to a next predetermined level recruiter membership when the ranking of the recruiter is above a recruiter threshold value.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein registering with the distributor membership further comprises: 
 agreeing to a predetermined level of distributor membership requirements;    purchasing at least a minimum number of at least one of hardware and software packages at the predetermined level of distributor membership;    collecting fees from sales of the at least one of hardware and software packages;    contributing a percentage of the sale fees for at least one of purses and prizes;    receiving a percentage of the sale fees as a distributor commission, wherein the distributor commission is based on a ranking against other distributors at the predetermined level, wherein the ranking is determined in accordance with the amount of contributions to at least one of sales contributions, network sales contributions, number of network distributors in the distributor's network, purses and prizes of the competitors in the distributor's network purses and prizes by the distributor and the distributor's network; and    advancing to a next predetermined level of distributor membership when the ranking of the distributor is above a distributor threshold value.    
   
   
       5 . A method for participating in an on-line sports competition on a computer network, comprising: 
 registering as a member of an on-line sports competition organization;    installing at least one of software and hardware approved by the organization;    registering an entry for the on-line sports competition in accordance with at least one of the software and hardware requirements for at least a first level of competition;    training on the registered entry for an on-line sports competition in order to qualify for the first level of competition;    qualifying the registered entry for the first level of competition by accumulating credits from training with the registered entry;    competing at the first level of competition with the first level qualified and registered entry;    qualifying for a second level of competition by accumulating credits from racing at the first level of competition;    competing at the second level of competition with the second level qualified and registered entry;    qualifying for a third level of competition by accumulating credits from racing at the second level of competition; and    competing at the third level of competition with the third level qualified and registered entry; and    qualifying for grand prizes by accumulating credits from racing at the third level of competition,    wherein the first, second and third levels of competition require progressively higher levels of skill and competitive success, the schedule for the first, second, third and higher levels of competition are pre-established, and the credits for the first, second and third levels of competition progressively increase in value.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein racing at the first, second and third level of competition is by invitation only, wherein the invitation is based on a predetermined formula for selecting invitees.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the credits are at least one of points, prizes and monetary awards.  
   
   
       8 . A method for hosting a plurality of on-line sports competitions on a computer network, comprising; 
 entering a plurality of players that are competing on a same predetermined level with one in the competition according to overall rankings of each of the plurality of players;    starting current on-line sports competitions on at least one of the different levels of the competition rankings among a plurality of similarly ranked players;    predetermining a real-time interval to report the competitive position of each player in current on-line sports competitions for each of the plurality of players;    reporting updates of the competitive position of each player to each of the plurality of players competing with one another in the current on-line sports competitions within the predetermined real-time interval; and    reporting final results of the current on-line sports competitions and updating the overall competition rankings for at least each of the plurality of players competing with one another in the current on-line sports competition at a conclusion of the current on-line sports competitions.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining monetary prizes for each of the plurality of players based on the final results of the current on-line sports competitions.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising revising the overall rankings of each of the plurality of players in the current on-line sports competitions based on the final results of the competition rankings.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising paying an entry fee for each of the plurality of players before the start of the current on-line sports competition.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the overall rankings of each of the plurality of players is based on at least one of current on-line sports competitions and past on-line sports competitions.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the monetary prizes are at least one of cash and credits toward an entry fee in future on-line sports competitions.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprises communicating by voice with each of the plurality of players at a same level of the competition rankings during the current on-line sports competition.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein communicating by voice is provided by at least one of Voice Over Internet Protocol, Instant Messaging and telephonic party-line communication.  
   
   
       16 . A system for conducting on-line sports competitions in real-time comprising: 
 at least one server computer communicating over a computer network, said at least one server configured to host a plurality of players of on-line sports competitions and update competition rankings of the plurality of players in a predetermined substantially real-time interval;    at least one computer subsystem with a memory communicating over the computer network, said at least one computer subsystem with a memory configured to store data and programs for access by an application program conducting on-line sports competitions, store data on the competition performance of a plurality of players, and store data on overall rankings of each of the plurality of players; and    at least one client computer communicating over the computer network, said at least one client computer configured to interface to current on-line sports competitions provided by said server which updates the players competition performance in the predetermined real-time interval, and provides the players+ with their overall ranking with respect to other players.    
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for participating in on-line sports competitions in real-time comprising: 
 a client computer communicating over a computer network to a server computer executing an application program for playing an interactive game, the client computer configured to interface to current on-line sports competitions that update competition performance in a predetermined substantially real-time interval; and    hardware accessories for communicating with the client computer and for playing the on-line sports competition, said hardware accessories configured to provide each of the plurality of players with a realistic interface to current on-line sports competitions.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the hardware accessories are connected to the client computer by at least one of a parallel port, serial bus and USB bus.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the hardware accessories are at least one of a joystick, steering wheel, clutch-brake-gas pedal assembly, gear shifters, racing seat, upgraded video screen, driver racing tub, and race car body.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for conducting on-line sports competitions in real-time comprising: 
 at least one server computer communicating over a computer network, said at least one server computer configured to host a plurality of players connected through a client computer to said computer network, said server computer having a game playing computer program for executing the steps of: 
 starting an on-line sports competition on at least one level representing a competition ranking of said plurality of players;  
   predetermining a substantial real-time interval between updates of the player performance in current on-line sports competitions for each of the plurality of players;    reporting updates of the competition to at least each of the plurality of players competing with one another within the predetermined real-time interval; and    reporting final results of the on-line competition and updating the competition rankings for each of the plurality of players competing with one another in the current on-line sports competition at a conclusion of the current on-line sports competition.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a computer program for determining monetary prizes for each of the plurality of players based on the final results of the current on-line sports competitions.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising computer program means for revising an overall rankings of each of the plurality of players in the current on-line competition based on the final results of the competition.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising means for accepting an entry fee for each of the plurality of players before the start of the current on-line sports competition.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the overall rankings of each of the plurality of players is based on at least one of current on-line sports competitions and past on-line sports competitions.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the monetary prizes are at least one of cash and credits toward an entry fee in future on-line sports competitions.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprises means for communicating by voice with each of the plurality of players of the competition during the current on-line sports competition.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the means for communicating by voice is provided by at least one of Voice Over Internet Protocol, Instant Messaging and telephonic party-line communication.