Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/507,789, filed Mar. 15, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,645,193, which application was filed as the U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/KR03/00477, filed Mar. 12, 2003, which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-13650, filed Mar. 13, 2002. The entireties of these prior applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an Internet game service technique, and more particularly to a method and a system for providing a GO-STOP game service through an Internet, in which a bonus point is given to players when the players complete predetermined missions, which are assigned a GO-STOP game whenever the GO-STOP game is restarted, thereby arousing user&#39;s interest. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Recently, as communication and network techniques make great strides, various kinds of content services including chatting, Internet society groups, games and shopping malls are provided through the Internet. Among those content services, a demand for game services is greatly increased so  that various kinds of game services are rapidly developed and widely spread. In addition, as users enjoying the game service are remarkably increased, free game services are gradually changing into payment game services. With an increase of users enjoying the game services through the Internet, the game services are rapidly commercialized, so portal sites and on-line game service providers develop and provide various kinds of on-line game services. 
     Among various kinds of web-based games provided through the Internet, GO-STOP games have many users as compared with other web-based games. A GO-STOP game is played with flower cards called “Hwa-too”, wherein players get points by collecting certain sets of cards. If a player gets a predetermined number of points, the player can call for “GO” (continuously playing the game) or “STOP” (ending the game). Many people enjoy the GO-STOP game as an off-line amusement. 
     The GO-STOP game provided through the Internet is substantially identical to a traditional GO-STOP game played off-line except for several rules added to the rules of the conventional GO-STOP game. By providing a GO-STOP game service substantially identical to the traditional GO-STOP  game, users can easily use the GO-STOP game service. However, this kind of GO-STOP game does not arouse user&#39;s interest, but makes the users playing the GO-STOP game easily feel bored. For this reason, a new GO-STOP game service, which corrects several rules of the conventional GO-STOP game while adding new rules to the rules of the traditional GO-STOP game, is provided to arouse users&#39; interest. However, it takes a long time for users to become adapted for the new GO-STOP game, so the new GO-STOP game forms an entry barrier against the users. 
     Therefore, it is required to develop new functions for the GO-STOP game capable of arousing user&#39;s interest while maintaining the rules of the conventional GO-STOP game played off-line. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system for providing a GO-STOP game service  through an Internet, in which a bonus point is given to players when the players complete predetermined missions, which are assigned whenever a GO-STOP game is restarted, thereby arousing user&#39;s interest. 
     In order to accomplish the object, there is provided a GO-STOP game service system for providing a GO-STOP game to a plurality of users through an Internet, the GO-STOP game service system comprising a plurality of computers including a web browser for allowing the users to use the GO-STOP game services, a channel server storing channel lists of the GO-STOP game and game room lists belong to each channel to provide the channel lists and the game room lists to the computers connected to the channel server through the Internet, a GO-STOP game server managing user&#39;s information, receiving data transmitted from the computers, which are connected to the GO-STOP server through the Internet, to operate the GO-STOP game, and selectively providing a plurality of missions having a weight as a rule of the GO-STOP game, and a GO-STOP database section for storing personal information of the users, GO-STOP game information, and the missions and the weight assigned to the GO-STOP game.  
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a GO-STOP game service through an Internet on-line environment including a computer connected to an Internet, a channel server storing channel lists and game room lists, a GO-STOP game server for managing a GO-STOP game, and a GO-STOP database section for storing various data related to the GO-STOP game. The method comprises the steps of providing a channel screen to users, who access to the channel server by using the computer, allowing the users to enter into a GO-STOP game room through the channel screen, starting the GO-STOP game by means of the GO-STOP game server and distributing cards to the users, randomly extracting a mission from the GO-STOP database section by using the GO-STOP game server, proceeding with the GO-STOP game while checking whether or not a certain user completes the mission by using the GO-STOP game server whenever the GO-STOP game server treats the cards selected by the users, and calculating a result of the GO-STOP game by using the GO-STOP game server when the GO-STOP game is finished and providing a screen representing a game result to the users. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the  following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block view schematically showing a GO-STOP game service system by using an Internet according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block view schematically showing an internal structure of a channel control according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block view schematically showing an internal structure of a GO-STOP database part according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a procedure for receiving a channel screen for a GO-STOP game according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a procedure for installing a channel control and a game control according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing a method for playing a GO-STOP game after a channel screen is provided in a user&#39;s computer; 
         FIG. 7  is a start screen of a GO-STOP game according to  one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a mission screen of a GO-STOP game according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an image representing a completion of a mission of a GO-STOP game according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is an ending screen of a GO-STOP game according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and so repetition of the description on the same or similar components will be omitted. 
       FIG. 1  is a block view schematically showing a GO-STOP game service system by using an Internet according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The GO-STOP game service system of the present  invention includes a client section  110 , an Internet  120 , a say-club server  130 , a channel server  140 , a game logic server  150 , a game server section  160  and a game database section  170 . 
     The client section  110  includes a plurality of computers  112 . A web browser program is installed in each computer  112  to display a web page on a screen of a monitor (not shown) by connecting to the Internet  120 . A user, who wants to play a GO-STOP game of the present invention, can select the GO-STOP game in an initial screen of a say-club site by executing the web browser and inputting an address (www.sayclub.com) of a uniform resource locator (hereinafter, simply referred to URL) of the say-club server  130 . A channel control  114  and a game control  116 , which are transmitted from the say-club server  130  and installed in each computer  112 , will be described later in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The say-club server  130  manages a portal site providing various services, such as games including the GO-STOP game of the present invention, chatting, Internet society groups, messages, and say-malls. The say-club server  130  receives  input signals from each computer  112  and transmits corresponding web pages to each computer  112 . 
     In addition, the user is required to register membership to the say-club server  130  in order to play the GO-STOP game. Thus, the user inputs personal information including a name, a resident registration number, identification (ID), a nickname, a secret code, a telephone number, a residential area, and a job into a member registration form of the say-club site. At this time, the user can open or hide the user&#39;s personal information. The user can selectively open the user&#39;s personal information to user&#39;s friends. 
     In addition, when the user selects the GO-STOP game from a web page provided by the say-club server  130  after connecting to the say-club server  130  by using the computer  112 , the channel control  114  and the game control  116  are automatically transmitted into the computer  112  from the say-club server  130  and installed in the computer  112 . 
     The channel server  140  stores various game channel lists including the GO-STOP game, a Tetris game, an Alkagi game (flipping a chess piece using fingers) and a poker game  and various game room lists belonging to each game channel. The channel consists of game room lists provided in each game and user lists placed in the game rooms. 
     The game logic server  150  manages a predetermined part commonly applicable to the plurality of games provided from the say-club server  130 . That is, the game logic server  150  manages connection and disconnection of game players, chatting in the game room, and game players. In addition, the game logic server  150  processes data transmitted between the channel control  114  and the game control  116  of each computer  112  and each game server of the game server section  160 . 
     The game server section  160  includes a plurality of servers  162  to  168  for providing various game services from the say-club server  130 . That is, the game server section  160  includes a GO-STOP game server  162 , a Tetris game server  164 , an Alkagi game server  166  and a poker game server  168 . The game servers  162  to  168  of the game server section  160  manage games according to game rules, which are variously set depending on sorts of the games, calculate a game result, and sends the game result to the game logic server  150 .  Accordingly, a rule of the GO-STOP game of the present invention is coded in the GO-STOP game server  162 . 
     The game database Section  170  includes a plurality of database parts  172  to  178  for providing various game services from the say-club server  130 . That is, the game database section  170  includes a GO-STOP database part  172 , a Tetris database part  174 , an Alkagi database part  176  and a poker database part  178 . Since the present invention relates to the GO-STOP game, the GO-STOP database part  172  will be described later in detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block view schematically showing an internal structure of TJE channel control  140  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The channel control  114  of the present invention includes a data processing section  210 , a game resource inspecting section  220  and a channel screen providing section  230 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the data processing section  210  receives data when the user invites other users to a certain game or a certain game room in the web page of the say-club server  130  or transmits data inputted by the user  using the game control  116  into the game logic server  150 . In addition, the channel control  114  carries out a work corresponding to data received in the data processing section  210 . 
     Data transmitted from the say-club server  130  is sent to the data processing section  210  through a data transmitting/receiving program called “session”. The session receives data from the say-club server  130  and transmits data to the channel control by formatting data in such a way that data are processed in the channel control  114 . At this time, if the channel control  114  installed in the computer  112  is not executed, the session executes the channel control  114  before transmitting data to the channel control  114 . 
     The game resource inspecting section  220  compares versions of the channel control  114  and the game control  116  installed in the computer  112  with versions of channel control  114  and the game control  116  of corresponding games provided from the say-club server  130 . If the versions are different from each other, renewed channel control  114  and game control  116  are transmitted into the computer  112  from  the say-club server  130  and installed in the computer  112 . 
     A channel screen providing section  230  provides present channels of a corresponding game and a list of game rooms on a screen of a monitor of the computer  112 . After the channel control  114  and the game control  116  are initially installed or renewed in the computer  112 , the channel control  114  is connected to the channel server  140  so as to receive a list of the channels and game rooms. Then, the channel control  114  creates a channel screen by using the list of channels and the game rooms received in the channel screen providing section  230 . 
     On the other hand, if the user establishes a new room in the channel screen or enters into a present game room while the channel control  114  are providing the channel screen to the user by connecting to the channel server  140 , the channel control  114  releases a connection with respect to the channel server  140  and makes the connection to the game logic server  150 . Although it has been described that the channel control  114  is connected to the game logic server  150  and disconnected from the channel server  140 , the truth is that the computer  112  of the user is connected to  the game logic server  150  and disconnected from the channel server  140 . 
     The channel control  114  connected to the game logic server  140  executes the game control  116  in match with the game selected by the user. The game control  116  executed by the channel control  114  provides a game screen to the computer  112  of the user, transfers data regarding the game inputted by the user to the channel control  114  and sends data, which is transmitted from the game control  116 , to the corresponding game server through the game logic server  150 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block view schematically showing an internal structure of the GO-STOP database part  172  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The GO-STOP database part  172  of the present invention includes a membership database part  310  and a mission database part  320 . 
     The membership database part  310  stores personal information and game information regarding members accessed to the GO-STOP game server  162 . That is, game information regarding the GO-STOP game, such as GO-STOP money, level, percentage of victories, and disconnection during the game  is stored in the membership database part  310  together with personal information of the members, who access to the GO-STOP game server  162 . 
     The mission database part  320  stores sorts of missions according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and a probability of weight assigned to each mission. Thus, when the GO-STOP game server  162  assigns a mission to each GO-STOP game, the mission is randomly extracted from the various missions stored in the mission database part  320  through the game logic server  150 . A point of the mission is extracted based on a predetermined probability value. That is, the game logic server  150  newly stores data in the GO-STOP database part  172  and reads out data stored in the GO-STOP database part  172 . Generally, the data storing work and the data reading work are carried out by means of a database management system (DBMS). 
     According to the present invention, various missions are newly provided to the GO-STOP game. The missions are randomly provided to the GO-STOP game whenever the GO-STOP game is restarted. For example, if the player gets a certain set of cards, bonus money is given to the player. The bonus  money is calculated through multiplying weight of the mission by a point value. 
     Table 1 shows sorts of the missions according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Description of 
                   
               
               
                 Sort of mission 
                 Mission 
                 Display of mission 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Blank 
                 None 
                 Bomb being exploded 
               
               
                 Chung-dan 
                 Collect chung-dan 
                 Three cards of 
               
               
                   
                 cards 
                 chung-dan 
               
               
                 Hong-dan 
                 Collect hong-dan 
                 Three cards of 
               
               
                   
                 cards 
                 hong-dan 
               
               
                 Cho-dan 
                 Collect cho-dan 
                 Three cards of cho- 
               
               
                   
                 cards 
                 dan 
               
               
                 Godori 
                 Collect Godori 
                 Three cards of 
               
               
                   
                 cards 
                 Godori 
               
               
                 January 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four 
               
               
                   
                 four January cards 
                 January cards 
               
               
                 February 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four 
               
               
                   
                 four February cards 
                 February cards 
               
               
                 March 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four March 
               
               
                   
                 four March cards 
                 cards 
               
               
                 April 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four April 
               
               
                   
                 four April cards 
                 cards 
               
               
                 May 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four May 
               
               
                   
                 four May cards 
                 cards 
               
               
                 June 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four July 
               
               
                   
                 four June cards 
                 cards 
               
               
                 July 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four July 
               
               
                   
                 four July cards 
                 cards 
               
               
                 August 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four 
               
               
                   
                 four August cards 
                 August cards 
               
               
                 September 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four 
               
               
                   
                 four September 
                 September cards 
               
               
                   
                 cards 
               
               
                 October 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four 
               
               
                   
                 four October cards 
                 October cards 
               
               
                 November 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four 
               
               
                   
                 four November cards 
                 November cards 
               
               
                 December 
                 Collect a set of 
                 A set of four 
               
               
                   
                 four December cards 
                 December cards 
               
               
                 Yul 
                 Collect yuls of 
                 Three cards 
               
               
                   
                 March, June and 
                 corresponding to 
               
               
                   
                 July cards 
                 the mission 
               
               
                 Mixing 
                 Collect yuls of 
                 Three cards 
               
               
                   
                 October and 
                 corresponding to 
               
               
                   
                 December cards and 
                 the mission 
               
               
                   
                 a tti of June card 
               
               
                 Two-pi 
                 Collect yul of 
                 Three cards 
               
               
                   
                 September card and 
                 corresponding to 
               
               
                   
                 two-pi of November 
                 the mission 
               
               
                   
                 and December cards 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The terms used in Table 1 are identical to the terms used when playing the GO-STOP game in off-line. The sorts of the missions will not be further described below. 
     According to the GO-STOP game of the present invention, the mission is randomly assigned to each session of the GO-STOP game after all players have done the play, one time. That is, after three players have drawn one of cards from  their hand to match with mate cards placed on a table, the mission is randomly assigned. In other words, the GO-STOP game server  162  randomly provides the mission after three players have drawn one of their cards on the table at their turn. 
     Although it is described that the mission is assigned after three players draw one of cards on the table one time, the mission can be assigned when the GO-STOP game is started or after three players have drawn cards on the table two or three times. 
     If a player, who has completed the mission, wins the GO-STOP game, bonus money is given to the player through multiplying predetermined weight by scores (points×point value) obtained by the player. Bonus money is a kind of cyber money, which is only used in the GO-STOP game of the present invention. 
     Table 2 shows a probability of weight corresponding to a level of the game room according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 1 st   
                 2 nd   
                 3 rd   
                 4 th   
                 5 th   
                 6 th   
                 7 th   
                 8 th   
               
               
                   
                 level 
                 level 
                 level 
                 level 
                 level 
                 level 
                 level 
                 level 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 X 2 
                 40% 
                 30% 
                 20% 
                 10% 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 X 3 
                 30% 
                 30% 
                 30% 
                 25% 
                 30% 
               
               
                 X 4 
                 30% 
                 30% 
                 20% 
                 20% 
                 25% 
                 30% 
               
               
                 X 5 
                   
                 10% 
                 20% 
                 20% 
                 20% 
                 25% 
                 30% 
               
               
                 X 6 
                   
                   
                 10% 
                 10% 
                 10% 
                 20% 
                 25% 
                 30% 
               
               
                 X 7 
                   
                   
                   
                 10% 
                 10% 
                 10% 
                 20% 
                 25% 
               
               
                 X 8 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                  5% 
                 10% 
                 14% 
                 20% 
               
               
                 X 9 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                  5% 
                 10% 
                 15% 
               
               
                 X 10 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                  1% 
                 10% 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Referring to Table 2, the probability of weight is predetermined corresponding to the level of the game room. As is understood from Table 2, a weight value assigned to the mission is lowered as the level of the game room is degraded and the weight value is increased as the level of the game room is upgraded. In addition, a probability value in each level is decreased as the weight value is increased. Of course, a weight value corresponding to the levels of the game rooms can be set different from the weight value shown in Table 2. 
     The level is a term representing a game skill of the  players. The level of the player can be upgraded if the player obtains predetermined GO-STOP money. According to the present invention, eight levels (from 1 st  level to 8 th  level) are provided. As the level is higher, money assigned to one point is increased. For example, the 1 st  level (beginner) gets money of 500 won per one point, the 2 nd  level (unskilled person) gets money of 1000 won per one point, the 5 th  level (knight) gets money of 4000 won per one point and the 8 th  level (king) gets money of 50000 won per one point. The beginner, unskilled person, knight and king represent names of the levels. 
     In order to upgrade the player&#39;s level, the player has to purchase an entry ticket by paying predetermined amount of GO-STOP money assigned to each level. In addition, the player cannot enter into the game room established in channels above players&#39; level. The player only can enter into the game room established in channels below player&#39;s level. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a procedure for receiving a channel screen for the GO-STOP game according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
     The user makes a connection to the say-club server  130  through the Internet  120  by using the computer  112  (S 400 ). Then, the user inputs an ID and a secret code in a membership authentication screen provided by the say-club server  130  (S 402 ). The say-club server  130  carries out a membership authenticating work based on the ID and the secrete code inputted by the user (S 404 ). When the membership authenticating work is normally carried through the say-club server  130 , an initial web page of the say-club site is displayed on the user&#39;s computer  112  (S 406 ). If the membership authentication is failed, the user again inputs the ID and the secret code. In case the user misses the ID or the secret code, the say-club server  130  notifies the ID and the secret code to the user through requesting the user to answer several questions in a separate screen. 
     The user selects a game category from the initial web page provided by the say-club server  130  in order to play the GO-STOP game according to the present invention (S 408 ). When the user selects the game category, a game web page is provided to the user&#39;s computer  112  from the say-club server  130  (S 410 ). Then, the user selects the GO-STOP game among  various games including the GO-STOP game, the Tetris game, the Alkagi game and the poker game displayed on the game web page (S 412 ). The user can select the GO-STOP game by clicking a “GO STOP” menu, or a “game direct access” menu, which is linked through a hypertext. 
     If the user selects the GO-STOP game, the say-club server  130  checks whether or not the channel control  114  and the game control  116 , which are basic programs for executing the GO-STOP game, are installed in the user&#39;s computer  112  (S 414 ). The channel control  114  and the game control  116  are not installed in the user&#39;s computer  112 , the channel control  114  and the game control  116  are automatically installed in the user&#39;s computer  112 , which will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     If the channel control  114  and the game control  116  are installed in the user&#39;s computer  112 , the channel control  114  is executed (S 416 ). In step  416 , the executed channel control  114  connects the user&#39;s computer  112  to the channel server  140  (S 418 ). The channel server  140  provides channel lists and game room lists included in each channel to the channel control  114  of the computer  112  connected to the  channel server  140 , so that the channel control  114  creates a channel screen by using the channel lists and the game room lists and displays the channel screen on a monitor of the user&#39;s computer  112  (S 420 ). Then, the GO-STOP game is played, which will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a procedure for installing the channel control and the game control  116  in the user&#39;s computer  112  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     If the say-club server  130  determines that the channel control  114  and the game control  116  are not installed in the user&#39;s computer  112  in step  414 , the say-club server  130  automatically transmits the channel control  114  and the game control  116  into the user&#39;s computer  112  so that the channel control  114  and the game control  116  are automatically installed in the user&#39;s computer  112  (S 500 ). Then, the say-club server  130  checks whether or not the channel control  114  and the game control  116  are normally installed in the user&#39;s computer  112  (S 502 ). In case the channel control  114  and the game control  116  cannot be normally installed in the  user&#39;s computer  112 , that is, if an error is generated while transmitting the channel control  114  and the game control  116  into the user&#39;s computer  112  or while installing the GO-STOP game program in the user&#39;s computer  112 , the say-club server  130   d  sends a message notifying the fail of the installation and provides a message window in the users&#39; computer  112 , notifying the user of a manual installation of the channel control  114  and the game control  116  (S 504 ). Thus, the user downloads the channel control  114  and the game control  116  from the say game web page and installs the channel control  114  and the game control  116  in the user&#39;s computer  112  (S 506 ). Then, the user selects the “GO-STOP” menu or the “game direct access” menu, which is linked through a hypertext, from the say game web page (S 508 ). If the user selects the “GO-STOP” menu or the “game direct access” menu, the channel control  114  is executed (S 510 ). 
     On the other hand, if the channel control  114  and the game control  116  are normally installed in the user&#39;s computer  112  in step  502 , the channel control  114  installed in the user&#39;s computer  112  is instantly executed (S 510 ). After executing the channel control  114  in the user&#39;s  computer  112 , the GO-STOP game according to the present invention is played through steps  418  and  420 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing a method for playing the GO-STOP game after the channel screen is provided in the user&#39;s computer  112 . 
     The user, who receives the channel screen of the GO-STOP game by connecting to the channel server  140 , establishes a new game room (S 600 ). When the user enters into the game room, the user&#39;s computer  112  is disconnected from the channel server  140  and connected to the game logic server  150 . The user can select the maximum number of users sharing the game room and a title of the game room from a menu. Instead of selecting the title of the game room from the menu, the user can directly input the title of the game room. In addition, the user can set a secret code for the game room so as to limit users entering into the game room. Of course, the user can directly enter into a certain game room, which has been already established, without establishing the game room. 
     If the user establishes the game room in the game room establishing screen, the GO-STOP game server  162  initializes  the probability value of weight of the game room by using the game logic server  150  based on a probability table of weight (referred to Table 1) stored in a mission database part  320  (S 602 ). If the user enters into a newly established game room or into a presented game room, that has been already established, the game control  116  is executed so that the initial screen of the game room is displayed on the user&#39;s computer (referred to  FIG. 7 ). 
     If at least two users enter into the game room, that is, if three players including the user, who makes the game room, are presented in the game room, the GO-STOP game is started so that the cards are automatically distributed to the players (S 604 ). Three players sequentially select cards to draw according to the game rule by using the game control  116  (S 606 ). The GO-STOP game server  162  detects the card drawn by the player and treats the card according to the game rule by using a game control module (S 608 ). Then, the GO-STOP game server  162  determines whether or not the card is treated for the third time (S 610 ). If the card treated by the GO-STOP game server  162  is not the card selected for the third time, the GO-STOP game is continued. If the card  treated by the GO-STOP game server  162  is the card selected for the third time, the GO-STOP game server  162  randomly extracts a mission from the mission database part  320  through the game logic server  150  and selects a predetermined weight value according to the probability value, which is initialized in step  602  (S 612 ). When the GO-STOP game server  162  selects the mission and the weight value, an image representing the mission and the weight value is displayed on the monitor of the user&#39;s computer  112  (referred to  FIG. 8 ) (S 614 ). 
     After the mission and the weight value are displayed on the monitor of the user&#39;s computer  112 , the GO-STOP game server  162  continuously manages the GO-STOP game according to the game rule (S 612 ). Then, the GO-STOP game server  162  checks whether or not the mission is completed whenever treating the cards selected by the players (S 618 ). If the mission is completed, an image representing the completion of the mission is provided to all players and the player, who completes the mission, receives bonus money, which is calculated through multiplying the weight value by the point value assigned to the game room (referred to  FIG. 9 ) (S 620 ).  In case the GO-STOP game server  162  determines that the mission is not completed in step  618 , or step  620  has been carried out, the GO-STOP game server  162  checks whether or not the GO-STOP game is finished while treating the cards (S 622 ). 
     If the GO-STOP game server  162  determines that the GO-STOP game is not yet finished in step  622 , the GO-STOP game server  162  continuously manages the GO-STOP game according to the game rule by returning to step  616 . If the GO-STOP game server  162  determines that the GO-STOP game is finished in step  622 , the GO-STOP game server  162  calculates the game result and provides a game finish screen to all players (referred to  FIG. 10 ) (S 624 ). 
     The finish of the game means that a final card is treated by means of the GO-STOP game server  162  or a certain player calls for “STOP” according to the game rule by obtaining predetermined points. 
     The players can come out of the game room or select a restart of the GO-STOP game whenever each session of the GO-STOP game is finished (S 626 ). If the player selects the restart of the GO-STOP game, a session of the GO-STOP game  is started by returning to step  604  (step  628 ). If the player selects an “exit”, the player comes out of the game room, so the GO-STOP game is finished. 
       FIG. 7  is a start screen of the GO-STOP game according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The GO-STOP game of the present invention can be played only when at least three players are participated in the GO-STOP game. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, money per one point is displayed in the start screen according to the level of the game room, but the mission is not displayed in the start screen. 
       FIG. 8  is a mission screen of the GO-STOP game according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mission is assigned when three players sequentially draw a card at their turn, one time. The mission screen shows sorts of cards corresponding to the mission as an image and displays the weight value as a numerical image. In addition, a description of the mission, such as “collect three cards of Godori (×2), is displayed in the mission screen. The mission screen is continuously  shown in the user&#39;s monitor until the GO-STOP game is finished. 
       FIG. 9  is an image representing a completion of the mission of the GO-STOP game according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     When a certain player completes the mission, an image for congratulating the completion of the mission with representing bonus money thereof is displayed and the player, who completes the mission, receives bonus money. 
       FIG. 10  is an ending screen of the GO-STOP game according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The ending screen displays an amount of money obtained by a winner, a detailed description of points, and an amount of money to be paid by losers. If the winner completes the mission during the GO-STOP game, the winner gets money corresponding to following rule: “money per one point×obtained points×weight value”. 
     As described above, the conventional GO-STOP game available from the Internet makes users feel bored because it adopts game rules identical to the game rules of a traditional GO-STOP game played in off-line. On the contrary,  in case the game rules are too much modified from the game rules of the traditional GO-STOP game, or many new rules are added to the rules of the traditional GO-STOP game, the users cannot easily use the GO-STOP game. However, the GO-STOP game according to the present invention provides new functions called “mission” based on the game rules of the traditional GO-STOP game, in such a manner that bonus money, which is calculated through multiplying a weight value assigned to the GO-STOP game by the point value, is given to a player, who has completed the mission, thereby arousing user&#39;s interest. 
     In addition, since the weight value is differently set depending on the level of the game rooms where a higher weight value is assigned to a higher level game, players desire to play in the higher level game room, so the GO-STOP game of the present invention can continuously arouse user&#39;s interest. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible,  without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Especially, though the present invention is described with respect to the GO-STOP game, the inventive idea can be applied to various card games, e.g., poker.

Technology Category: 3