Source: http://www.google.nl/patents/US5921864?hl=nl
Timestamp: 2013-06-19 19:48:13
Document Index: 352411719

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1996', 'art 1996', 'art 1984', 'art 200219', 'art 2009', 'art 2011', 'art 20075', 'art 2013']

Patent US5921864 - Electronic word puzzle game - Google PatentenZoeken Afbeeldingen Maps Play YouTube Nieuws Gmail Drive Meer » Geavanceerd zoeken naar patenten | Webgeschiedenis | Inloggen Geavanceerd zoeken naar patenten PatentenAn electronic word puzzle game, the game playable on a game computer having a processor for executing at least one program from associated memory, a display and an I/O interface, comprising: at least one puzzle phrase in the associated memory; a game program in the associated memory executable by the...http://www.google.nl/patents/US5921864?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5921864 - Electronic word puzzle game PublicatienummerUS5921864 APublicatietypeVerlening Aanvraagnummer08/618,947 Publicatiedatum13 juli 1999 Aanvraagdatum20 maart 1996 Prioriteitsdatum20 maart 1996 Publicatienummer08618947, 618947, US 5921864 A, US 5921864A, US-A-5921864, US5921864 A, US5921864A UitvindersJames Jorasch, Jay S. Walker Oorspronkelijke patenteigenaarWalker Asset Management Limited PartnershipPatentcitaties (6), Verwijzingen naar dit patent (38), Classificaties (6) Externe links: USPTO, USPTO-toewijzing, EspacenetElectronic word puzzle gameUS 5921864 A Samenvatting An electronic word puzzle game, the game playable on a game computer having a processor for executing at least one program from associated memory, a display and an I/O interface, comprising: at least one puzzle phrase in the associated memory; a game program in the associated memory executable by the processor for randomly or determininistically choosing a solution phrase from the associated memory, the solution phrase comprising at least one of letters, spaces and punctuation marks; the I/O interface adapted for enabling the player to select at least one of letters, spaces and punctuation marks from a selection of entry keys associated with the I/O interface; the game computer generating and displaying a plurality of solution phrase constituent display areas, wherein each of said solution phrase constituent display areas corresponds to each letter, blank space, and punctuation mark of the solution phrase, on the display screen; the game program executable by the processor for comparing the at least one selected letter to the letters in the solution phrase and displaying on the display screen the selected letter in each grid box corresponding to a letter of the solution phrase for each player selected letter found in the solution phrase; and the game computer displaying in the corresponding grid box at least one of blank spaces and punctuation marks of the solution phrase adjacent to a selected letter found in the solution phrase. In an alternative embodiment, the electronic word puzzle game capable of being played at a user terminal over a data network in accordance with the invention.
We claim: 1. A method for conducting a word puzzle game, comprising the steps of:initializing score data representing a score; determining a puzzle phrase, the puzzle phrase comprising a plurality of characters, each of the plurality of characters being selected from the group consisting of letters, spaces and punctuation marks; displaying a plurality of display areas, each display area corresponding to one of the plurality of characters of the puzzle phrase; receiving a player selection, the player selection being selected from a plurality of player selectable characters consisting of letters, spaces and punctuation marks; updating the score data, thereby decreasing the score based on an elapsed time; comparing the player selection to at least one character of the puzzle phrase to determine whether the player selection matches any of the at least one character of the puzzle phrase; and displaying each character of the puzzle phrase determined to match the player selection. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a puzzle phrase includes the step of receiving a transmitted puzzle phrase.
26. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:means for determining, for each character of the puzzle phrase selected from the group consisting of spaces and punctuation marks, whether the character is adjacent to a character of the puzzle phrase that has been determined to match the player selection; and means for displaying each character of the puzzle phrase selected from the group consisting of spaces and punctuation marks that has been determined to be adjacent to a character of the puzzle phrase that has been determined to match the player selection. 27. An apparatus for conducting a word puzzle game, the apparatus comprising:means for receiving initialized score data representing a score; means for displaying the score based on the initialized score data; means for receiving display area data representing a plurality of display areas, each display area corresponding to a character of a puzzle phrase, each character being selected from the group consisting of letters, spaces and punctuation marks; means for displaying the plurality of display areas; means for receiving a player selection, the player selection being selected from a plurality of player selectable characters consisting of letters, spaces and punctuation marks; means for transmitting the player selection to a central server; means for receiving updated score data representing the score; means for displaying the score based on the updated score data; means for receiving a solution character corresponding to at least one display area; and means for displaying the solution character. 28. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for conducting a word puzzle game, said processing instructions for directing a computer to perform the steps of:initializing score data representing a score; determining a puzzle phrase, the puzzle phrase comprising a plurality of characters, each of the plurality of characters being selected from the group consisting of letters, spaces and punctuation marks; displaying a plurality of display areas, each display area corresponding to one of the plurality of characters of the puzzle phrase; receiving a player selection, the player selection being selected from a plurality of player selectable characters consisting of letters, spaces and punctuation marks; updating the score data, thereby decreasing the score based on an elapsed time; comparing the player selection to at least one character of the puzzle phrase to determine whether the player selection matches any of the at least one character of the puzzle phrase; and displaying each character of the puzzle phrase determined to match the player selection. 29. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for conducting a word puzzle game, said processing instructions for directing a computer to perform the steps of:receiving initialized score data representing a score; displaying the score based on the initialized score data; receiving display area data representing a plurality of display areas, each display area corresponding to a character of a puzzle phrase, each character being selected from the group consisting of letters, spaces and punctuation marks; displaying the plurality of display areas; receiving a player selection, the player selection being selected from a plurality of player selectable characters consisting of letters, spaces and punctuation marks; transmitting the player selection to a central server; receiving updated score data representing the score; displaying the score based on the updated score data; receiving a solution character corresponding to at least one display area; and displaying the solution character. Beschrijving
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to electronic games of skill, and more particularly, to a word puzzle game where a player attempts to solve a hidden phrase, quote, name or other word group. In the preferred embodiment, the word puzzle game is rendered on a game computer, but may be generated on any display within the scope of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic word puzzle game for players in which all the letters, spaces between words, and punctuation marks contained in a phrase, quote or name associated therewith remain hidden until the player selects the specific letters that cause the structure of the phrase or quotation to be revealed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a plan view of an exemplary hand held game computer in accordance with the present invention;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the several views of the drawings, there are depicted several embodiments of the present invention, principally comprised of a game computer 10 having a processor 12 for executing at least one program from associated memory 14, a display 16 and an I/O interface 18. As the operation of game computers is well-known in the art, it need not be described here in detail.
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