Online game with matching of different data types

Abstract

An online game mechanic matches requests and responses of different data types that include text, image and audio. Request values corresponding to a first data type are sent to users in a distribution list, and those users send response values corresponding to a second data type. Winning response values are selected and announced.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 sending a request message from a client device to a host computer system, the request message including a request value corresponding to a first data type that includes one of text, image or audio;   receiving at the client device a plurality of response messages from the host computer system in response to the request message, the plurality of response messages including a corresponding plurality of response values, each of the plurality of response values corresponding to a second data type that includes one of text, image or audio, and the second data type being different from the first data type;   in an automated operation performed by one or more hardware processors, generating a user interface at the client device, the user interface including a plurality of user-selectable menu items, each of the plurality of user-selectable menu items being for a corresponding one of the plurality of response values, the user interface being configured to receive a selection of a winning response value from the plurality of user-selectable menu items, and the winning response value being characterized as a best match from a comparison of the request value to the plurality of response values; and   in response to a reception of the selection of the winning response value, automatically sending a winning response message to the host computer system from the client device, the winning response message including an identification of the winning response value.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first data type includes text data, the second data type includes image data, the request value includes a description comprising one or more words, the request message includes a request for a photo that corresponds to the description, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an image file or a reference to an image file. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first data type includes text data, the second data type includes image data, the request value includes a description comprising one or more words, the request message includes a request for a recorded message that corresponds to the description, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first data type includes image data, the second data type includes text data, the request value includes an image file or a reference to an image file, the request message includes a request for a description comprising one or more words that correspond to an image produced by the image file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes text values or a reference to text values. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first data type includes image data, the second data type includes audio data, the request value includes an image file or a reference to an image file, the request message includes a request for a recorded message that corresponds to an image produced by the image file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first data type includes audio data, the second data type includes text data, the request value includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file, the request message includes a request for a description comprising one or more words that correspond to sounds produced by the audio file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes text values or a reference to text values. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first data type includes audio data, the second data type includes image data, the request value includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file, the request message includes a request for an image that corresponds to sounds produced by the audio file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an image file or a reference to an image file. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising one or more hardware processors configured to perform operations for hardware-implemented modules including:
 a request-sending module configured to send a request message from a client device to a host computer system, the request message including a request value corresponding to a first data type that includes one of text, image or audio;   a response-receiving module configured to receive at the client device a plurality of response messages from the host computer system in response to the request message, the plurality of response messages including a corresponding plurality of response values, each of the plurality of response values corresponding to a second data type that includes one of text, image or audio, and the second data type being different from the first data type;   an interface module configured to generate, in an automated operation, a user interface at the client device, the user interface including a plurality of user-selectable menu items, each of the plurality of user-selectable menu items being for a corresponding one of the plurality of response values, the user interface being configured to receive a selection of a winning response value from the plurality of user-selectable menu items, and the winning response value being characterized as a best match from a comparison of the request value to the plurality of response values; and   a response-sending module configured to automatically send a winning response message to the host computer system from the client device in response to a reception of the selection of the winning response value, the winning response message including an identification of the winning response value.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first data type includes text data, the second data type includes image data, the request value includes a description comprising one or more words, the request message includes a request for a photo that corresponds to the description, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an image file or a reference to an image file. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first data type includes text data, the second data type includes image data, the request value includes a description comprising one or more words, the request message includes a request for a recorded message that corresponds to the description, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first data type includes image data, the second data type includes text data, the request value includes an image file or a reference to an image file, the request message includes a request for a description comprising one or more words that correspond to an image produced by the image file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes text values or a reference to text values. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first data type includes image data, the second data type includes audio data, the request value includes an image file or a reference to an image file, the request message includes a request for a recorded message that corresponds to an image produced by the image file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first data type includes audio data, the second data type includes text data, the request value includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file, the request message includes a request for a description comprising one or more words that correspond to sounds produced by the audio file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes text values or a reference to text values. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first data type includes audio data, the second data type includes image data, the request value includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file, the request message includes a request for an image that corresponds to sounds produced by the audio file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an image file or a reference to an image file. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable hardware storage device that stores a computer program including instructions that, when executed by at least one computer, cause the at least one computer to perform operations comprising:
 sending a request message from a client device to a host computer system, the request message including a request value corresponding to a first data type that includes one of text, image or audio;   receiving at the client device a plurality of response messages from the host computer system in response to the request message, the plurality of response messages including a corresponding plurality of response values, each of the plurality of response values corresponding to a second data type that includes one of text, image or audio, and the second data type being different from the first data type;   generating, in an automated operation, a user interface at the client device, the user interface including a plurality of user-selectable menu items, each of the plurality of user-selectable menu items being for a corresponding one of the plurality of response values, the user interface being configured to receive a selection of a winning response value from the plurality of user-selectable menu items, and the winning response value being characterized as a best match from a comparison of the request value to the plurality of response values; and   in response to a reception of the selection of the winning response value, automatically sending a winning response message to the host computer system from the client device, the winning response message including an identification of the winning response value.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable hardware storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the first data type includes text data, the second data type includes image data, the request value includes a description comprising one or more words, the request message includes a request for a photo that corresponds to the description, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an image file or a reference to an image file. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable hardware storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the first data type includes text data, the second data type includes image data, the request value includes a description comprising one or more words, the request message includes a request for a recorded message that corresponds to the description, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable hardware storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the first data type includes image data, the second data type includes text data, the request value includes an image file or a reference to an image file, the request message includes a request for a description comprising one or more words that correspond to an image produced by the image file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes text values or a reference to text values. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable hardware storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the first data type includes image data, the second data type includes audio data, the request value includes an image file or a reference to an image file, the request message includes a request for a recorded message that corresponds to an image produced by the image file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable hardware storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the first data type includes audio data, the second data type includes text data, the request value includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file, the request message includes a request for a description comprising one or more words that correspond to sounds produced by the audio file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes text values or a reference to text values. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable hardware storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the first data type includes audio data, the second data type includes image data, the request value includes an audio file or a reference to an audio file, the request message includes a request for an image that corresponds to sounds produced by the audio file, and each response value of the plurality of response values includes an image file or a reference to an image file.