Character matching game

Abstract

The present invention relates to a game of skill requiring a user to match a predetermined set of characters. In one aspect of the invention, individual characters are displayed for a fixed period of time. An interface enables a user to select the correctly matching character within the fixed timeframe. In another aspect of the invention, each successive character in a series is displayed for a shorter period of time, further decreasing the likelihood the user will match the correct character. Indeed, one embodiment of the invention is implemented to aid children or illiterate individuals to read or spell. In another embodiment of the invention, the amusement game requires a user to match successive numbers within an increasingly smaller time frame.

1 . An electronic implemented character recognition game method comprising: 
 (a) sequentially displaying on a display device a group of characters, wherein each character is displayed for a first time period;    (b) receiving a selection command from a user; and    (c) when a character displayed on the display device matches a predetermined character when the selection command is received, sequentially displaying on the display device the group of characters, wherein each character is displayed for a second time period that is different than the first time period.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time period is longer in duration than the second time period.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 (d) when a character displayed on the display device does not match a predetermined character when the selection command is received, repeating step (a).    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 (d) when a character displayed on the display device does not match a predetermined character when the selection command is received, adjusting the time period each character is displayed during the first time period.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the characters displayed during the second time period further include characters that are not part of the group of characters originally displayed.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sequential display of characters will repeat until a selection command is received from a user.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, absent a selection command, the sequential display of characters will repeat for a predetermined number of repetitions before considering the character improperly matched.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 (d) sequentially displaying on the display device the group of characters, wherein each character is displayed for a third time period;    (e) receiving a selection command from the user that represents the user's selection of the last character of the group; and    (f) when a character displayed on the display device matches the last character of the group when the selection command in (e) is received, determining that the user won the game.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the attributes of the displayed characters are adjusted to increase the difficulty of the game.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the attributes are selected from the group consisting of size, color, shape, arrangement, and font.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further including: 
 (g) determining a time period for receiving a user command representing the user's selection of the last letter of the group.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1   1 , wherein the amount of time elapsed before receiving a user's selection of the last letter of the group will determine the difficulty of the next group of characters to be sequentially displayed.  
   
   
       13 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: 
 (a) selecting a predefined group of characters;    (b) causing a display device to sequentially display the group of characters, wherein each character is displayed for a first time period;    (c) enabling a selection command to be received by the user, wherein upon receiving a selection command, the character presently displayed to the user will be selected;    (d) when a character displayed on the display device matches a predetermined character when the selection command is received, sequentially displaying on the display device the group of characters, wherein each character is displayed for a second time period that is different than the first time period;    (e) absent a selection command, continuing to display in a sequential manner the group of characters until a user input is received;    
   
   
       14 . The instructions of  claim 13 , wherein the characters displayed during the first time period further include characters that are not part of the group.  
   
   
       15 . The instructions of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (f) when a character displayed on the display device matches the last character of the group when the selection command in (e) is received, determining that the user won the game.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the attributes of the displayed characters are adjusted to increase the difficulty of the game.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the attributes are selected from the group consisting of size, color, shape, arrangement and font.  
   
   
       18 . A gaming apparatus comprising: 
 a housing, the housing comprising a control unit, a user control and a display device; wherein the control unit comprises a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions of  claim 8;  wherein the display device is in communication with the control unit and configured to sequentially display the group of characters that form a word, and wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to select the character displayed on the display device through the user control, wherein when a character displayed on the display device matches a predetermined character when the user input is received upon matching the character, the next sequential series of characters are displayed for a predetermined period of time.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein upon the event a character displayed on the display device matches the last character of the group when the selection command for the last letter is received, determining that the user won the game.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the group of characters forms a word.