United States Patent (19
`Bezick et al.
`
`III
`
`US005746656A
`Patent Number:
`11
`45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,746,656
`May 5, 1998
`
`54) VIDEO GAME COMPETITION METHOD
`AND APPARATUS
`
`76 Inventors: William Bezick, 41.38 S. Cook,
`Spokane, Wash. 99223; Allen E.
`Fiedler, P.O. Box 12660, Oldtown, Id.
`83822; Jody Kerlee, 20017 Williams
`Lake Rd., Cheney, Wash. 99004; Shan
`Hemphill, E. 17505 Cataldo,
`Greenacres, Wash. 99016
`
`21 Appl. No.: 636,249
`22 Filed:
`Apr. 23, 1996
`(51
`int. Cl. ............. A63F 9/22
`52 U.S.C. ...................... 463/42
`58) Field of Search .................................. 463f40, 41, 42,
`463/43: 348/13, 461,553,571, 725; 38646,
`52; 380/10, 20; 455/3.1, 4.1, 4.2
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`8/1991 Kaneko et al. .
`5,042,061
`1/1992 Thacher et al. .
`5,083.27
`5,324,035 6/1994 Morris et al.,
`5,481.296
`1/1996 Cragun et al. ............................ 348/13
`5,561,457 10/1996 Cragun et al. ............................ 348/13
`
`Primary Examiner-George Manuel
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wells, St. John, Roberts, Gregory
`& Matkin, P.S.
`
`ABSTRACT
`57
`An apparatus for video game tournament competition
`receives as its input the RGB signal to the video game screen
`which contains the final score obtained by the contestant.
`The RGB signal is directed to a composite converter where
`the signal is converted to a format which may be captured to
`a file, which file can then be processed by a computer. The
`composite converter sends its output signal to a video
`capture circuit which will capture the instantaneous image
`displayed on the video game screen which will contain the
`final game score. The capture circuit produces a captured
`video file which may then be processed by character recog
`nition software in a local computer located at the site of the
`video game to extract the final game score in alphanumeric
`form from the captured video file. The score may then be
`sent to a remote computer which will collect a plurality of
`scores and at the end of the tournament determine the high
`score. The apparatus also provides a data input station for
`potential tournament players to enter personal information
`and payment to engage in the tournament. Player informa
`tion is also transmitted to the remote computer. When the
`high score from a tournament is determined the associated
`player information is correlated with the score and the score
`is transmitted to all locales at which video game terminals
`are present which engaged in the tournament. A local player
`display is connected to the local computer for prompting
`players and potential contestants and for providing other
`useful information to contestants. The character recognition
`program compares a template unique to the video game
`against the captured video file to identify characters in the
`captured video file which represent the final game score.
`27 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
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`GREEN
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`COMPOSITE
`COWWERTER
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`CONTROL PROGRAM
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`SCORE
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`SAVE FINAL SCORE
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`1
`VIDEO GAME COMPETITION METHOD
`AND APPARATUS
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`TECHNICAL FIELD
`This invention relates to video games and in particular to
`a method and apparatus for playing a video game in a
`tournament competition.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`It has been recognized that players of video games may
`desire to engage in tournament competition whereby one
`player may pit their skills against those of other players to
`determine who is the best player of any particular video
`game. Further, operators of video games have recognized
`that tournament competition of this type can increase the
`number of players of video games and the number of games
`played by any given player, thus increasing revenue gener
`ated by the video games.
`In U.S. Pat. No. 5,083.271, Thatcher et al. teaches a
`method of connecting multiple video games at remote sites
`to a central computer. Scores from each video game are
`transmitted to the central computer which tracks player
`handicaps, player scores, and other information. In the
`system described by Thatcher, a player's final score after
`playing a video game is taken directly from the video game
`microprocessor output and transmitted to the central com
`puter. Such a system requires access to the internal workings
`of the video game itself to extract a digital score capable of
`being processed directly by a computer. Obtaining access to
`the internal workings of the video game on the level required
`by Thatcher requires detailed intimate technical knowledge
`of the design of the video game itself, and may also require
`the permission of the owner or licensor of the video game.
`It would therefore be useful to have a video game tour
`nament system whereby players' final scores could be
`obtained and sent to a central computer of the type described
`by Thatcher without requiring access to the video game
`inner workings or permission of the video game owner or
`licensor.
`It would be possible for a video tournament system which
`meets the above criteria to be implemented by allowing the
`players to enter their final score into a keypad which would
`then transmit the score to the remote location. However,
`such a system would not allow for verification that the score
`obtained on the video game is in fact the score entered by the
`player, without unreasonable supervision.
`It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an
`automatic video game tournament system which does not
`require intimate technical knowledge of the video game
`circuitry or permission from an owner or licensor of the
`video game, but which still allows a player's final score to
`be automatically obtained and transmitted to a central com
`puter which may then keep track of scores in the tournament.
`55
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWTNGS
`Preferred embodiments of the invention are described
`below with reference to the following accompanying draw
`1ngS.
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the system of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the computer program
`schema for the computer programs located on the local
`computer,
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a series of systems
`of the present invention linked together into a local network.
`
`45
`
`2
`FIG. 4 is a normal size template used in the character
`recognition program.
`FIG. 4a is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "1" from
`a captured video file.
`FIG. 4b is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "2" from
`a captured video 11 file.
`FIG. 4c is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "3" from
`a captured video file.
`FIG. 4d is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "4" from
`a captured video file.
`FIG. 4e is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "5" from
`a captured video file.
`FIG. 4f is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "6" from
`a captured video file.
`FIG. 4g is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "7" from
`a captured video file.
`FIG. 4h is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "8" from
`a captured video file.
`FIG, 4i is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "9" from
`a captured video file.
`FIG. 4j is an enlarged diagram of the template used to
`identify the digital representation of the character "0" from
`a captured video file.
`DETALED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`This disclosure of the invention is submitted in further
`ance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws
`“to promote the progress of science and useful arts" (Article
`1, Section 8).
`Our invention comprises a method and apparatus for
`conducting video game competition tournaments wherein
`the final score of a video game is captured from the video
`screen as it displays the final score of the game. In this
`manner, it is not necessary to access the digital circuits on
`the video game board itself as described in the background
`to the invention, but instead allows for any given video game
`to be easily modified so as to be capable of being played in
`a video game tournament. That is, one does not need a
`specially manufactured video game in order to be able to use
`the system of the present invention. Our invention further
`consists of a method for conducting such video game
`competitions using the concept of capturing the final video
`game score from the screen display. The invention further
`includes a method for recognizing the characters as dis
`played on the screen.
`As used herein, the following terms will have the follow
`ing meanings:
`By "video game terminal” we mean the complete system
`which allows an individual to play a video game, especially
`a video game in an arcade, which typically comprises input
`devices to allow the players to control the actions and
`choices of characters or objects in the game (e.g. joysticks,
`buttons, etc.), a video screen for displaying action within the
`game and the final score obtained by the player of the game,
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`and processing equipment for processing inputs from the
`players and generating random variables to interact with the
`player as well as video output signals which are directed to
`the video screen. The output to the video screen is typically
`an RGB composite signal. RGB is an acronym for "red
`green blue", the primary colors used in video circuitry to
`simulate all other colors.
`By "video game" we mean aparticular episode of a game
`played at a video game terminal, which is usually initiated
`by a player inserting money into the video game terminal,
`interacting with the video game terminal through the input
`devices provided at the video game terminal, and terminat
`ing with a final score which is displayed on the video screen.
`By "alphanumeric information” we mean particularly that
`information comprised of letters and numbers which repre
`sents a player's final score after having played a video game.
`By "video game competition" or "video competition" or
`"video game tournament" or "video game competitive
`tournament", we mean a tournament where multiple players
`of a particular video game will compete against one another
`to determine which player has the highest score after a finite
`number of games are played.
`In the system of the present invention a potential player of
`a video game will elect to play in a competitive video game
`tournament. He or she will pay the tournament competition
`fee, typically by entering payment in the form of paper
`money into a bill feeder or coin into a coin slot at a data input
`station associated with the video game terminal. Alternately,
`payment can be paid directly to an individual and the
`individual can enable the video game to accept player
`information to allow the player to enter the competition.
`After payment has been made by any means, a local player
`display, which is a visual output device, will prompt the
`player to enter the player's name and other player informa
`tion which will be helpful in identifying the player Examples
`of player information include the name, address, phone
`number, and other relevant personal information pertaining
`to the player. The local player display is typically a video
`screen, preferably amonochrome video screen, which works
`in conjunction with the data input station. Once the player
`information has been entered, the player may select a player
`identification name. Preferably a unique player identification
`name will be automatically generated by a remote computer
`which acts in conjunction with the local computer which
`controls the apparatus for conducting video game tourna
`ment play at the computer game terminal. The remote
`computer may also generate a unique player password, or
`preferably the player may select their own password. There
`after for the duration of the tournament the player need only
`enter their player identification name and password and
`make payment for the playing of the video game itself to
`participate in the video game tournament.
`After a player has played a video game and the final score
`is displayed on the video screen, the player will prompt the
`local computer to capture the score by pressing a button or
`the like on the data input station or a button specially
`mounted on the video game terminal. At this point, computer
`programs within the local computer will cause the image
`currently displayed on the video screen to be captured. By
`capture we mean that the video image is saved in a digital
`format. The process of capturing the video image is dis
`cussed below. Once the video image has been captured and
`saved to a video capture file, a character recognition pro
`gram will be applied to the file to extract the alphanumeric
`information therefrom, which will include the player's final
`score. The final score as identified by the character recog
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`nition program will then be displayed on the local player
`display along with a prompt for the player to either verify
`that the score is correct or is incorrect, Scores which are
`identified as being incorrect will be saved with a special
`format so that they may be later analyzed should a dispute
`arise. The local computer will then transmit the verified or
`unverified score to a central remote computer. Although
`many modes of communication between local computers
`and remote computers exist, in the preferred embodiment we
`prefer to use the Internet as the communication link between
`the two computers.
`The remote computer has memory storage for storing
`received final scores as well as player information, which is
`also communicated to the central computer from the local
`computer. The central computer further has a database
`program which allows it to sort the final scores received in
`order to determine the highest or winning score, and corre
`late that score to the player who obtained the score, as well
`as identify the location at which the player obtained the
`score. The database program further keeps track of the
`number of players which have registered to play in the
`tournament and the total number of games played in any
`given tournament. A tournament may be defined by a
`predetermined number of games or, preferably, by a prede
`termined number of registered players. Once the defined end
`of the tournament has been reached, the remote computer
`will terminate the tournament by identifying the winner
`thereof and disable future play of the tournament (described
`in more detail below). Thereafter a new tournament may be
`initiated with either the same or a new video game and
`competitors may register to compete as described above.
`With respect to FIG. 1, apparatus of the present invention
`is shown. A video game player will play a video game 12 at
`video game terminal 10. It should be noted that the video
`game terminal is not a part of the apparatus of the present
`invention, but merely interfaces with the apparatus of the
`present invention. A player of a video game will enter
`payment in the form of coins, tokens, or other into slot 52
`which will then enable the player to play the video game.
`The player will interface with the video game through player
`interface 50. The video game terminal comprises hardware,
`firmware, and perhaps software, which generates images on
`a screen in a semi-random pattern and allows for inputs by
`the player from the player interface 50. The video game
`terminal generates a video signal which is displayed on the
`video screen 14. The video game terminal transmits the
`video signals to the video screen in the form of video output
`signals which comprise an RGB composite signal. "RGB” is
`the acronym which stands for "red green blue” which are the
`three primary colors used to make up a video image. The
`RGB composite signal further comprises a synchronization
`signal, a power connection and a ground. The RGB com
`posite signal, also known as the video output signals, are
`communicated to the video screen by way of a hard wire
`connection, thus allowing for the video output signals to be
`intercepted by splicing into the output connection 54. All of
`the details described thus far pertain to the video game
`terminal, which is well known in the art and does not
`comprise a component of the present invention, but is
`connected to the present invention.
`The apparatus of the present invention begins at the
`composite converter 30 which is known in the art, and which
`is connected to the video output connections at the video
`input connection 32 so as to receive video output signals
`from the video game terminal via leads 24 and 26. The
`composite converter 30 comprises a video signal processing
`circuit (not shown) for converting video output signals
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`received from the video game terminal into a capturable
`video signal. By a capturable video signal we mean a video
`signal which may be captured by a video capture circuit,
`described below. In the typical implementation of the
`present invention, the capturable video signal will be an
`analog or radio frequency image signal. The composite
`converter further comprises a composite converter output 33
`which sends the capturable video signal to the video capture
`circuit 34. In one example the composite converter was an
`RGB-to-composite converter manufactured by J.C.
`Research, Inc.
`It should be pointed out here that some video game
`terminals may produce a video output signal which is
`compatible directly with a video capture circuit, obviating
`the need for the composite converter. Further, it is conceiv
`able that a video game terminal may produce a digital video
`output signal, thus obviating the need for the analog-to
`digital signal conversion which is currently provided by the
`video capture circuit.
`The video capture circuit 34 comprises a video capture
`input 36 for receiving the capturable video signal from the
`composite converter 30. The video capture circuit further
`comprises a circuit for actually capturing the capturable
`video signal into a captured video file, By "capture" we
`mean that the image comprising the display shown on the
`25
`video screen at a particular instant has been stored to a
`memory device in a digital format. An analogy is taking a
`still picture of a moving scene. The video capture circuit
`further comprises a video capture output 38 to allow the
`captured video file to be sent to a processor or stored in a
`memory device. In one example the video capture circuit
`was a Hauppauge WinTV video capture circuit. The video
`capture circuit should have sufficient capacity in the form of
`memory and processing capabilities to capture a sufficient
`portion of the video screen display to insure that the final
`game score is captured in the captured video file. A typical
`video game screen is 400 pixels wide by 300 pixels high.
`Video capture circuits having capacity to capture an 400x
`300 pixel image are commercially available. However, since
`the final game score appears only in one consistent portion
`of the game video screen for each video game system, there
`is no need to capture the whole image, but only that portion
`containing the final score. Thus, by manipulation of the
`video capture circuit, it is possible to capture only that
`portion of the screen display containing the final score. This
`will have the beneficial effect of reducing the size of the
`captured video file and therefore subsequent processing of
`the captured video file. Although in FIG. 1 the video capture
`circuit 34 is shown inside of the local computer 16, there is
`no requirement that the video capture circuit be inside the
`computer and may in fact comprise an external circuit.
`Further, while the composite converter 30 is shown as being
`external to local computer 16, it may in fact be placed within
`the local computer or integrated into the video capture board
`itself.
`The video capture circuit video capture output 38 will
`send the captured video file to the central processing unit
`(CPU) 40 where it will then be either stored in semi
`permanent memory or random access memory (RAM)
`where further processing of the captured video file may be
`performed. The local computer further preferably comprises
`a semi-permanent memory storage device 42 which will
`typically be in the form of a hard drive, but may be any form
`of semi-permanent data storage such as a diskette or an
`external memory device. Local computer 16 further com
`prises a communication device 44 shown here as a modem
`which is shown as internal to the computer. The communi
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`cation device may in fact be external to the local computer
`and may comprise communication devices other than a
`modem, for example, an Ethernet card. The communication
`device 44 communicates with remote computer 46 via
`communication system 56 which will be obvious to those
`skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment the commu
`nication system comprises an Internet link through an Inter
`net service provider. Local computer 16 will be programmed
`with a control program, a score capture program, a final
`score verification program, and a character recognition
`program, all described further below.
`In the preferred embodiment, with reference to FIG. 3, a
`plurality of video game terminals 10 are individually con
`nected to local network computer 207 by network interface
`cards 201 and 205 through network hub 203. Such local
`networking is well known as is described in many texts on
`'Local Area Networks' or "LAN's'. In this instance each
`local computer does not have its own dedicated modem, but
`they all share modem 44 which is associated with the local
`network computer 207. The local network computer com
`municates with the remote computer 46 in the manner
`described above and more fully described below. In the
`preferred embodiment each local computer 10 does not have
`its own dedicated semi-permanent memory storage device
`42, but instead the memory storage device 42 is located in
`the local network computer. This configuration will reduce
`cost and complexity of the overall system where a plurality
`of video game terminals at a local site are to be connected
`for tournament play through the apparatus of the present
`invention. In the remaining detailed description it is under
`stood at all times that relationships between the local com
`puter 16 and the remote computer 46 may be accomplished
`through a local network computer 207 in the manner
`described above, and that certain functions described as
`occurring within the local computer 16 may in fact be
`performed within the local network computer.
`Referring again to FIG. 1, operating in conjunction with
`the local computer is a data input station 18 Date input
`station 18 further comprises an apparatus for receiving
`payment 48 for allowing a player to engage in tournament
`video play, which may be a bill feeder, a coin slot. or a credit
`card reader, or any combination thereof. Data input station
`18 further comprises a keypad 58 or other data entry device
`for allowing a player to enter player information at the data
`input station. The data input station further comprises a
`capture button or switch 20 which may be one of the buttons
`on keypad 58 for causing the video game competition
`apparatus to capture the final score from the video game
`terminal, as well as for performing other functions such as
`accepting a final score following score verification. Capture
`button 20 may alternately be located on the video game
`terminal 10, but will still workin conjunction with the local
`computer 16 as described further below.
`Local computer 16 is in communication with a local
`player display 22. Local player display 22 serves multiple
`functions such as prompting players to enter the tournament
`by entering tournament payment and player information,
`prompting players already entered in the tournament to enter
`their name and password, prompting the player to capture
`the final game score, and prompting the player to verify or
`reject the final score extracted from the video image as being
`the same shown on the video screen.
`The apparatus may also comprise a local public display 60
`which will be driven by the central processing unit 40 of the
`local computer. In the preferred embodiment wherein a
`plurality of video game terminals are to be linked as shown
`in FIG. 3 as described above, the local public display 60 is
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`driven by the local network computer 207 and not the
`individual local computers 16. Local public display will be
`configured to display the names and other information
`including the high score relating to previously played or
`ongoing tournaments, information regarding upcoming
`tournaments, advertising information, and other information
`which may be useful or beneficial. Local public display may
`be a television monitor, an electronic sign board, or may
`alternately be the video screen 14 itself. Preferably the local
`public display is a computer monitor which offers high
`resolution. Where the local public display is the video game
`screen, the CPU sends an output signal to a video card not
`shown which then sends a video output to RGB connections
`24. Remote computer 46 is configured to accept signals
`communicated from local computer 16 via communication
`system 56.
`Information sent from the local computer (or the local
`network computer when used) to the remote computer
`includes player information as well as extracted final scores
`and captured video image files. By extracted final scores we
`mean those scores which have been captured from the video
`screen, processed by the video capture circuit, processed
`with the character recognition program to extract any alpha
`numeric information contained within the video screen
`display, and saved as a textfile which includes the extracted
`final score. Remote computer further comprises a database
`program for saving player information, extracted scores
`associated with players, information regarding the locations
`of video games which are configured to engage in tourna
`ment play for any given tournament, and information
`regarding the number of games to be played for any given
`tournament and the number of games played at any given
`time. The data base program further allows the remote
`computer to sort all of the data saved relative to any given
`video game competition to determine the highest final score
`and the associated player. Information from a plurality of
`local computers which is sent to remote computer 46 is
`stored in a central memory device (not shown) which is in
`communication with the data base program. The remote
`computer 46 is controlled by a master program which
`coordinates the receiving of information from remote
`computers, the storing of received data and processed data
`into the central memory device, the operation of the data
`base program, and the sending of signals or messages from
`the remote computer 46 to local computers.
`45
`We will now describe in detail the method of operation of
`the invention.
`As described above, a video game player will elect to
`compete in a video game tournament or video game com
`petition wherein a plurality of contestants will compete
`50
`against one another to determine which player has the high
`score. The tournament is defined by a predetermined number
`of video games or preferably by a predetermined number of
`registered players. For example, a tournament may be
`defined as 6,000 contestants, That is, once the 6,000th
`contestant has registered to compete in the tournament, the
`tournament will be allowed to continue only for a predeter
`mined number of remaining games or days to allow the last
`registrant to compete. Following that defined endpoint, the
`tournament will end. At that time a winner will be declared,
`the winner typically being the player having the highest
`score. It is envisioned that the tournament will link multiple
`video games at several geographically remote locations so
`that players from different locations within a city, state, or
`worldwide may compete in the same tournament.
`The tournament contestant will typically pay a fee to enter
`the tournament, although a fee is not necessary to the
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`55
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`5,746,656
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`15
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`20
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`8
`invention. Thereafter, the contestant only pays the fee
`required to play a video game as if the contestant were not
`in the tournament. Although it is envisioned that the tour
`naments will be played from fee-for-play video game
`terminals, this is not a requirement, and in fact remote home
`video game systems may be used equally well in the present
`invention. At the time that the one time fee for the tourna
`ment is paid or, if no fee is to be paid, at any time, the player
`enters player information into a keyboard 58 at a local site
`where a video game terminal 10 which is preselected to be
`the game for the tournament is located. The player infor
`mation is then communicated to a remote computer 46
`which keeps track of all player information. Information is
`communicated to the potential contestant by the local player
`display 22 which is in communication with the data input
`station by way of the local computer 16. The local player
`display will prompt the contestant to either enter the tour
`nament by making the payment to become a tournament
`contestant or to enter the user identification and password if
`the contestant is already entered for the tournament. Upon
`making the initial payment for the tournament, which can be
`made to a bill feeder or coin slot connected to the data input
`station, the data input station will prompt the contestant for
`the contestant's name, address, phone number and the like
`and will assign or allow the player to select a player
`identification and a player password. In the preferred
`embodiment, the system will automatically assign the con
`testant a player identification so that there will be no chance
`for two different contestants to select the same player
`identification and password. However, player will be free to
`select their own player password. Communication between
`the data input station and the local computer is managed by
`a local control program contained within the local computer.
`The local control program can be modified to request
`various information from the contestant, to communicate
`information to the contestant, and to perform a variety of
`other tasks in interfacing between the local computer and the
`contestant. For example, the local control program may
`prompt the contestant to verify that the player information
`entered is correct
`Once the player information has been entered, the local
`computer will transfer the player information to the remote
`computer 46 via communication device 44. Thereafter, the
`player merely needs to enter the player identification and
`password and pay