Computer network implemented casino marketing system

A method inviting members of the public to participate in various free, computer network implemented gaming events awards prizes to those participants that have obtained some predetermined ranking in the event. The method divides eligibility criteria in each gaming even in accordance with a plurality of intersecting and non-intersecting subsets of demographically significant indicia. The process of collecting the prize includes comparison of the recipient's personal data against the particular subset, thus insuring a highly reliable data base in each of the subsets. In this manner accurate data is collected that may be useful in marketing endeavors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 - 4 a computer assisted communication system, generally designated by the numeral 10 , comprises a communication network 11 to which a plurality of user devices 20 - 1 , 20 - 2 through 20 -n are connected. In conventional practice each one of the using devices 20 - 1 - 20 -n may take the form of a data processing system including a temporary memory or RAM 21 , a processor 22 , a permanent storage 23 illustrated as a disc under current practice, a bus 24 connecting all the foregoing to each other and to an interface 25 communicating with the network. Also included with each of the user facilities 20 - 1 through 20 -n is an external monitor 26 and a manual entry device like a keyboard 27 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although each of the user facilities obtains an identical description in these teachings, in actual practice such may be variously effected. At the core is the basic architecture of all data processing systems in which some permanent storage is required, shown herein as a disc file but which may be variously implemented with devices like a read-only-memory ROM or even discrete logic combinations, a logical processor executing command sequences either from the permanent storage or developed by logical combinations that require temporary storage that may be implemented by known combinations of shift registers, latches and the like, and the temporary storage which again is illustrated by way of a RAM but which is variously devised in the art. Consistent further with the prevailing practice, in each of the various forms the video and manual interface, illustrated herein as monitor 26 and keyboard 27 , are devices implemented by the known techniques utilizing a cathode ray tube and at least some limited keypad through which the user can communicate choices and commands. Accordingly, the user's interface may take the form of other well-known and familiar structures, including the various configurations of a television set that may be remotely controlled by one or another wireless device. The control of the various gaming contests and the associated data storage is equally effected by way of well-known systems and devices. Thus a dedicated main processing system, generally designated at 50 , includes its own processor 52 , a temporary working memory or RAM 51 , a bus 54 and a permanent storage that may be implemented as a multiple disc array 53 . In this form the main processing system duplicates in many respects the functions of what is commonly referred to as a server, including the necessary interface 55 with network 11 which, of course, will be selected to accommodate the anticipated communication volume from the various contestants. By particular reference to FIG. 2 , the main processing system may include resident on its disc storage 53 a sequence of operations, shown generally as the process 200 , which effects the several contests hereinabove summarized, sorts and manages the resulting demographic data collected and provides the necessary linking to such of the advertisers' sites as may be selected by any one user. Within the foregoing functions the contest process obtains the primary focus of this disclosure, as the linking and data sorting processes are known. More precisely, the process 200 includes in a portion thereof designated as portion 200 A the sequence of steps entailed in communicating the images of a web site by way of the network 11 . Those in the art will appreciate that the instruction set associated with displaying a web site is well understood, usually implemented in one of the well-known languages like the Hyper-Text Markup Language HTML that interfaces with the several forms of browsers typically imbedded in the network access systems used by the using devices 20 - 1 through 20 -n. Accordingly, this well-known process is only generally illustrated by step 201 in which the web site contents are communicated to the network 11 in a known manner, including such selection options as may allow the user to select participation in the several gaming contests shown by way of parallel branching steps 202 - 1 through 202 -n. Once the selection is made, by any conventional manner like clicking a mouse, the remaining game process is then invoked in accordance with the sequence illustrated in portion 200 B. More precisely, in step 211 the sequence interrogates the prospective player if he or she have been earlier assigned a Player Identification Number PIN and, if so, the next step 212 then brings up from memory the players prior contest history including any prior participation in the particular game rubric selected. If not, the player is asked to provide personal identification data in step 214 in sufficient detail to meet the various qualifying indices of the selected game rubric. Thereafter in step 215 a PIN number is assigned to this player along with the initial ‘stake’ ST- 1 in the particular game rubric selected by the branching step 202 - 1 . At this point the player is eligible to participate in a card game contest carried on the network in the manner similar to that earlier described in the concurrently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/797,767 entitled COMPUTER ASSISTED POKER TOURNAMENT, filed on Mar. 1, 2001 by the instant co-inventor Barry Shulman, which is incorporated herein by reference. While such reference is invited a brief summary of a relevant portion of this earlier application is nonetheless repeated herein, in the interest of a complete description, it being understood that this summary and synthesis are solely in the interest of the completeness of the instant disclosure and is not intended to imply or suggest any limitation of whatever nature relating to said earlier application. Similar to the process earlier described, once the player is provided with a player identification number and then elects to enter the selected game the demands of the subsequent information exchanges will of necessity entail security measures such as encryption and/or entry code assignment. These, of course, are under the direction of the main processing facility 50 which in step 221 effects the generally well-known process of debiting and crediting transactions associated with the player's ‘stake.’ Once this step is satisfied in step 222 an encryption algorithms and other assigned identification parameters are transferred to the requesting user station 20 - 1 . The user is thus qualified to select any virtual card ‘table’ that has a vacancy and thereby enters the game. Having made the selection the user's next betting instruction is tested in step 223 for the necessary encryption and identification details. When these are matched the bet or raise is determined in step 224 and in step 225 the bet amount is tested against the purse still held by the user and if the remainder is sufficient the last bet LB is effected along with the decrementing of the stake amount stored in step 226 . This amount may be adjusted in step 227 by any winnings and the resulting amount is compared on a continuing basis with the winnings held by others. As this process is occurring the face down card data is also transferred to the player's facility 20 - 1 to be displayed as and overlay FD on the video monitor 26 . More precisely, this signal from the central station, shown as signal SFD, is encrypted with the same algorithms as those transferred in step 222 to the user's facility 20 - 1 . Accordingly, the general signal flow GSF from the central station 50 also includes this signal SFD which is passed by the locally resident encryption filters like those effected in step 223 . Thus the screen image Si in the user's facility will include the generally available data GA comprising the players PL, their remaining purses PU, the face up cards FU, if any, but in this instance also including the face down card data FD. All other observers 20 - 2 through 20 -n lack the specifics of the encryption to capture this data. In this manner the player can make whatever discard elections are needed along with the betting elections necessary for the particular game and at any desired time may simply log off the network. During the course of the foregoing process, or on an intermittent basis, the player's purse PU, or remaining stake, is sorted in a rank ordered stack 241 in order to obtain a ranking RA. This ranking may then be combined with the player's PIN in step 242 and communicated to the subscribing casino selected by the player by way of the banner selection branchings 205 - 1 through 205 -n. Thus the player, in steps 205 - 1 through 205 -n exhibits to the selected casinos all of his or her rankings and in the course thereof discloses all such personal data that may be associated therewith. Based on the casino's customer preference, these rankings may be weighted in step 207 to favor those customers that are more likely to find the casino to their taste. For example, a casino that is well equipped to serve guests in family groups may elect to favor the rankings earned in the subgroup ‘stud poker—head of household—29 to 49’ by doubling or tripling in step 207 the ranking levels in this category that will receive bonus rewards. Thus a two-way process effecting an intersection of the common tastes and preferences is provided, insuring an optimized selection by both sides. Accordingly, a method is devised which avoids all the offensive aspects of information gathering set in an entertaining format which then extends to the entertainment elections in the casino. Clearly, those obtaining high rankings in ‘stud poker’ or ‘black jack’ will want to test these rankings in a live setting. It will be appreciated that the foregoing process is further assured commercial viability by the revenues that can be realized from those that are not casinos but who still would want access to the very detailed potential customer data obtained herein. Thus those that may want to direct their advertising efforts to particular demographic groupings will find the data detail obtained by this process particularly useful and economically worthwhile. Moreover, the instant process provides a common interest platform for other, similarly directed enterprises both within the US and abroad assuring commercial viability. Further commercial viability is assured by advertising revenues obtained from those that may simply want to utilize the inventive method as a vehicle for drawing public attention to their advertisements, and may include hosting of various special interest publications. In this manner all the advantages of the compelling and interest evoking attributes of card games are utilized without the attendant detriments associated therewith. Obviously, many modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention instantly disclosed. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be determined solely by the claims appended hereto.