Abstract:
A method for playing a physical pinball machine over a network. Whereby a system having a web server with discrete outputs are activated by a player operating a device running a web browser. The system allows for the listening of sounds and viewing the movement of the pinball, in real time.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Previous to this invention, in order to play a pinball machine. A player would travel to the location of the pinball machine, typical an arcade or fair grounds. Locate the machine intended to be play. Stand and wait in a line. Once at the pinball machine, place money into machine and start the game. Playing the machine requires the pulling of the ball launcher, which pushes the ball into the pinball machine playing field. As the ball moves around the playing field the player can manipulating the ball using flippers, activated by pressing buttons. As the buttons are pressed a solenoid activates the flipper, which if timed precisely contacts the ball and moves the ball around the play field were different scoring targets are hit by the ball, causing flashing lights, target movements and sounds, while a score is tallied. The running score is display to the player. This type of playing limits the player to a long process. Hence playing many different pinball machines is nearly impossible. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0002]    The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0003]      FIG. 1 . shows a top, front and right side perspective view of the invention in its entirely. A pinball machine, a web server with inputs, outputs and network port. A video camera and microphone. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2 . is a flowchart detailing the software programming for operation of the web server. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3 . is a plan view from the player web browser, displaying the video showing the pinball machine, player scores and instructions as to how to play. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0006]    The invention disclosed here solves the problem of being physically located at a pinball machine while still be able to play a real pinball machine. 
         [0007]    The invention  FIG. 1 . is constructed by obtaining a pin ball machine, one skilled in the art of pinball machine construction may prefer to build an entire pinball machine. The invention disclosed here does not claim the manufacture of pinball machine but more so the method to play a pinball machine over a network. Pinball machines in nature are electromechanical especially those built prior to the late 1990&#39;s. The machines operates via electrical signals from switches, relays, mechanical timers and push buttons which trigger solenoids, relays, motors, lights, buzzers etc. The invention disclosed here takes control of the mechanical devices in the pinball machine. A web server  101 , which for those skilled in the art of electronic design could construct, or for those non-skilled can be obtained from the company Rabbit, an ideal web server being the model BL2100 single board computer, which comprise inputs  103 , outputs  102  and a 10Base-T Ethernet port  121 . The web server is mounted to the pinball machine  104 . The mechanical devices in the pinball machine are wired to the inputs and outputs, such that items like the push buttons  118  normally pressed by a player to activate the flippers are disconnected and each wired to the web server outputs. The scoring  119  and ball count  120  displays are wired to multiply outputs. A camera(s)  110  is mounted to the front of the machine to view the entire action of the machine. A microphone  108  is mounted to listen to the pinball machine sounds. An output form the web server provides power to the camera, thus enabling or disabling the camera as needed. To speed production of the invention a camera with built in sound and viewing software can be obtained from the company Vivotek, model number IP7134 is an ideal camera for this invention. The Ethernet ports from the web server and camera connect to a network via standard TCIP protocol. Once the web server is programmed and powered up, those willing to play, can log onto the server with a web browser from anywhere in the world and be able to view  FIG. 3  and play the pinball machine. 
         [0008]    The web server is programmed according to the flow chart outlined by  FIG. 2 . Upon power up  204 , the input and outputs are reset  205  to know states. The web server waits  203  for one  201  or move players  202  to access the web server from the internet  206 . Once a player has accessed the web server, a typical web site homepage is presented to the player. In order for the player to play the pinball machine, the player needs to create an account  208 . The player account information is saved  209 . Players already having an account, simply login  207  to allow their account information  210  to be retrieved and their access granted. Once logged in the player, has access to the play link. When the player is ready to play they click the play link  211 . At this time they are placed into the players queue  212 . The queue can be 0 to X players long (limited only by the web server resources). Once enough preceding games  213  have ended, the player will have advanced to the top of the queue  214  so is about to play. At this time the server resets the I/O  215 , begins a new play by assigning a finite number of balls, retrieves the system high score  216  and generates the intended web page  217 , containing a combination of JAVA, HTML, AJAX, jQuery, XML scripting necessary for the player to play. A web page  FIG. 3  is presented to the player. The web page  301  displays the camera view  302 , high score  303  for the player to try and beat. The player current score  304 , the player past high score  307 , the number of balls  305  that will be played and instructions  306  on how to play. 
         [0009]    After the web page has loaded in the player web browser, the player can then begin. The player presses the S key  218  on their keyboard, this updates the server that the player is ready to play, allowing the game to begin. When the players presses the space bar key  220  on their keyboard the server re-acts by setting the output  221  that controls the ball launcher  105  an electric solenoid which when energized moves a rod and pushes the ball  107  into the playing field  109  of the pinball machine, when the player releases  231  the space bar key the output  245  is reset (the solenoid is de-energized) and the server waits  222  for a key to be pressed. Typically the playing field on a pinball ball machine is on an incline, this allows gravity to act on the ball and causes the ball to always roll towards the gully  111  of the pinball machine. The player controls the flippers,  112  being the right flipper and  113  being the left flipper by pressing either the A key or L key. When the player presses the L key  224  the server re-acts, by setting the output  226  that controls the right flipper, again a solenoid  114  is energized so that the flipper moves. When the player releases  228  the L key the solenoid is de-energized  230  and the flipper returns to its home position. Like wise the server monitors the A key and performs the similar actions for the left flipper  223 ,  225 ,  227 ,  229 . The player monitors the video and presses the keys in timing with the ball to keep the ball in the playing field and out of the gully. 
         [0010]    As the ball moves around the playing field it bumps into and activates scoring devices  116 . The scoring devices are a combination of switches, sensors, motors, springs and other typical scoring devices commonly know the those skilled in the art of pinball machine manufacture and trigger inputs. The server continually monitors the score inputs  219 . Each input is assigned a score value. As the ball hits a scoring device, an input is turned on, the server adds the value  232  to the player score and updates the score  233  to the player. Outputs wired to the lights  115  cause the lights to flash, outputs to the buzzers  117  causes sound and outputs to the score digits increment the digits. The outputs can be programmed to set on  234 , wait for a delay to expire  235 , then reset the output  236 . Multiply scoring devices having the same score value, may be wired to the same input to reduce the overall number of inputs required on the web server. 
         [0011]    Should the ball bypass the flippers and end up in the gully, the ball travels towards the launcher. In the path of the ball is a sensor, as shown here a micro switch  106 , the balls weight over the switch activates the switch. The server monitors the switch  237 , when a ball is detected  238 , the server deducts  239  one ball from the ball count. If the ball count is zero  240 , the game is over  241 . The server no longer reacts to any inputs or outputs. 
         [0012]    When the game is over the player score is saved  242 , if the score is greater than the high score, the high score value is updated  243 . The server turns off the video power and closes the player browser window, releasing  244  the player from the current game and displaying the web site homepage. If there is another player in the play queue they advance, the system resets and allows the next player to enjoy a game of pinball. 
         [0013]    While it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the claims and their equivalents.