Patent EA-001824-B1 (EA)
Title: Internet scratch-off game
Inventor: AUXIER ROBERT
IPC: G06F19/00
Filed: 1998-02-19
Abstract: 1. A method for providing an interactive game via an electronic communications network implementing a hypertext transfer protocol, including the steps of: (1) receiving information identifying a set of gaming symbol images; (2) displaying a set of secondary images on a display screen, each secondary image in said set of secondary images corresponding to one or more gaming symbol images in said set of gaming symbol images; and (3) replacing at least a portion of a secondary image on said display screen that is identified by movement in a cursor position with a corresponding portion of a gaming symbol image. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving information identifying a set of images of randomly generated gaming symbols. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving a set of gaming symbol images. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving a set of gaming symbol images in a GIF format. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying a set of secondary images at assigned positions within an image of a game card. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the replacing step includes the step of replacing only a portion of a secondary image on said display screen that is identified by movement in a cursor position with a corresponding portion of a gaming symbol image. 7. A method for providing an interactive game via an electronic communications network, including the steps of: (1) transmitting information identifying a set of gaming symbol images to a receiving terminal; and (2) transmitting computer program logic to said receiving terminal for storage on a computer usable medium in said receiving terminal, said computer program logic including first means for enabling a processor in said receiving terminal to display a set of secondary images on a display screen, each secondary image in said set of secondary images corresponding to one or more gaming symbol images in said set of gaming symbol images; and second means for enabling said processor in said receiving terminal to replace at least a portion of a secondary image on said display screen that is identified by movement in a cursor position with a corresponding portion of a gaming symbol image. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting information step includes the step of transmitting information identifying a set of images of randomly generated gaming symbols. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting information step includes the step of transmitting a set of gaming symbol images. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting information step includes the step of transmitting a set of gaming symbol images in a GIF format. 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting computer program logic step includes the step of transmitting computer program logic to said receiving terminal, wherein said computer program logic is a Java program. 12. The method of claim 7, wherein said first means enables said processor in said receiving terminal to display a set of secondary images at assigned positions within an image of a game card. 13. The method of claim 7, said second means enables said processor in said receiving terminal to replace only a portion of a secondary image on said display screen that is identified by movement in a cursor position with a corresponding portion of a gaming symbol image. 14. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of initiating the scratch-off game upon the receipt of a request from said receiving terminal using a hyperlink pointer. 15. A method for providing an interactive game via an electronic communications network, including the steps of: (1) generating information identifying a set of gaming symbols; (2) transmitting information identifying a set of gaming symbol images to a receiving terminal; (3) transmitting computer program logic to said receiving terminal for storage on a computer usable medium in said receiving terminal, said computer program logic enabling a processor in said receiving terminal to implement the scratch-off game; (4) displaying a set of secondary images on a display screen, each secondary image in said set of secondary images corresponding to one or more gaming symbol images in said set of gaming symbol images; and (5) replacing at least a portion of a secondary image on said display screen that is identified by movement in a cursor position with a corresponding portion of a gaming symbol image. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the generation step includes the step of generating information identifying a set of randomly generated gaming symbols. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting information step includes the step of transmitting a set of gaming symbol images to said receiving terminal. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmitting information step includes the step of transmitting a set of gaming symbol images to said receiving terminal in a GIF format. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting computer program logic includes the step of transmitting computer program logic to said receiving terminal, wherein said computer program logic is a Java program. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying a set of secondary images at assigned positions within an image of a game card. 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the replacing step includes the step of replacing only a portion of a secondary image on said display screen that is identified by movement in a cursor position with a corresponding portion of a gaming symbol image.