WO2001015786A2

WO2001015786A2 - Method and system for using encoded interactive games

Info

Publication number: WO2001015786A2
Application number: PCT/SG2000/000128
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Tung Shuen Ho; Lian Teck Yap; Siong Chai Tan; Wee Meng Jeremiah Woon
Original assignee: Stegami.Com Pte. Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-08-31
Filing date: 2000-08-31
Publication date: 2001-03-08
Also published as: WO2001015786A3

Abstract

Method and system for utilizing loss-less encryption in connection with interactive games on electronically accessible graphical media. Game data is encoded on the media. To perform the games, the encoded game data must be retrieved from the media and then decoded using downloadable decoder software.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING ENCODED INTERACTIVE GAMES

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/151,658, filed August 31, 1999, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/187,373, filed March 6, 2000, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to encoded data, and more particularly, loss-less encrypting or encoding of multimedia data for performing interactive games based on electronically accessible digital media.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronically accessible commerce sources interconnected through communication links, computers and computer networks, such as Internet e-commerce web-sites accessible over the World Wide Web, have made and continue to make a multitude of products and services available for purchase electronically by individuals throughout the world. The number of Internet web-sites operating as e- commerce businesses is constantly growing in number. Each e-commerce business seeks to attract customers and potential customers to its web-site and, typically, uses conventional advertising, such as print, radio and television advertising, and passive Internet advertising, such as static banner web-site advertising, to generate more visits, known as hits, to its web-site by Internet users. The belief is that the larger the number of hits on a web-site, the greater the potential that a purchase will be made from the web-site. It has been noted, however, that Internet advertising or marketing by use of static web-site banners often does not capture the attention of, or become memorable to, an Internet user to cause the user to click on the hyperlink associated with the banner and, therefore, have the user's Internet browser become linked to the web-site to which the banner corresponds .

In addition, e-commerce businesses design their web- page displays using text, image, audio, video and multimedia formats, as suitable, to attract an Internet user back to the web-site based on the web-site's user friendliness, ease of use and eye-catching and memorable presentation.

Some e-commerce businesses utilize award or prize incentives to attract Internet users to their web-sites. The sought-after Internet users may include individuals who are on the Internet for reasons other than to purchase products, such as, for example, to obtain information, for entertainment, or for no reason in particular, i . e . , web surfing. These incentives often include rewards of credits applicable to a purchase made at a web-site based on the number of times that an individual has visited the web-site or randomly based on the individual merely visiting the web-site. These incentives, however, do not necessarily provide sufficient allure to an Internet user to visit the web-site repeatedly, frequently and continually, for example, each time that, or more times than not when, the user is on the World Wide Web.

In addition, e-commerce businesses seek to increase potential and actual sales by attracting to their web-site Internet users having personal interests corresponding to the products and services offered for sale at their websites. Although databases of Internet users having particular interests or purchasing tendencies have been generated and are available for purchase by e-commerce businesses, there is no guarantee that the users identified in the databases, and who may be solicited by e-mail by an e-commerce business, will visit the e- commerce business' web-site. It is also known that some Internet users will avoid visiting web-sites which have solicited them by e-mail.

Therefore, there exists a need for a method and system for encouraging Internet users to visit selected Internet e-commerce web-sites initially; for providing an incentive to the users to visit the selected web-sites repeatedly, frequently and continually; and for generating and maintaining databases of such Internet users .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a method and system is provided for utilizing hidden game data, preferably steganographically hidden multimedia data, in connection with interactive games on electronically accessible digital media. The digital media may reside preferably on an Internet web-site, but may reside on any digital source comprising media, such WAP, interactive television, CD or DVD, and the like.

The basic aspect of the game includes hiding encoded game data, which may be multimedia data, for performing interactive games within multimedia data contained within selected digital media, e . g. , Internet web-sites.

While steganographic methods for hiding data are the basis of the preferred method, it should be seen that any loss-less encryption or encoding methods may be used. The goal of the encryption means should be, however, that the sponsors need not design their site around participation in the game; rather the game should incorporate standard sites, and the encryption means should be able to encode and hide data within a standard site without interfering with the normal functioning of the site.

The games may consist of any activity which can be reduced to digital form. While puzzles (including jigsaw- type puzzles) are one option, it is also possible to incorporate cross-word puzzles or other word-based games, jack-pot or lottery type games, trivia or number games, card-based games, and so on. In the preferred embodiment based on the Internet, it is advantageous to put forth a game which involves collecting various 'game pieces' from hidden places among various different sites, thus encouraging the player to visit and carefully review the site content of several sponsors. The invention further comprises structuring the interactive games to require game players, e . g. , Internet users, to access at least one of the selected media for retrieving the steganographically encoded, i.e., hidden, game data which is needed for performing the games; providing to the players means for revealing the hidden game data; providing to the players an award based upon performance of the games; and monitoring accesses made to the selected media by the players. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the game players constitute Internet users who must access at least one selected Internet web-site to perform the games which, in turn, provides marketing and advertising benefits directly and indirectly to the selected Internet web-sites accessed during performance of the games .

In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a host web-site operated by a server engine which is interconnected with a user identification database, a communications plug-in module, a web-site tracking database and a games database module . The user identification database stores user identification data for Internet users who register to perform games operated by the system. The communications plug-in module includes decoder software which can be readily downloaded to an Internet browser of a registered user. The decoder software includes web-site compatibility data for facilitating exchange of data between the registered user and at least one selected sponsor web-site containing hidden game data which the registered user must retrieve for performing a game. The web-site tracking database stores data representative of the accesses that each registered user has made to the selected sponsor websites. The games database module includes (i) a games processor and game data to provide that registered users can perform interactive games operated by the host website by accessing the host web-site and selected sponsor web-sites; (ii) means for steganographically encoding game data at the selected sponsor web-sites which includes, preferably, downloadable software for effectuating transfer of game instructions and data from the host website to the sponsor web-sites and for steganographically encoding the transferred game data in accordance with the game instructions; and (iii) an award unit for monitoring performance of games and providing awards to registered users based on performance of, and preferably completion of games .

In a preferred embodiment, an Internet user, after having registered with the host web-site, downloaded a software decoder from the plug-in module and logged on to the host web-site, selects a game from categories of available interactive games displayed by the system on the user's browser. Once a game has been selected, the system displays on the user's browser a plurality of links, preferably identified by a graphically represented icon, each of which corresponds to a sponsor web-site. Game data is encoded in a portion of the sponsor web-site. Data representing a portion of the sponsor site (and which the user believes may contain the hidden game data) may then be downloaded to the user's browser upon the user clicking on or otherwise selecting a corresponding, and preferably identical, digital reference (preferably in the form of a clickable key icon) . The key icon is visibly or audibly displayed on the sponsor web-site and the hidden game data is coupled for downloading therewith. To play and complete the game, the user must access each of the selected sponsor web-sites corresponding to the links (graphical icons) displayed on the user's browser and containing hidden game data, locate the corresponding digital references (clickable key icons) on the sponsor web-sites, and then click on the located key icons to retrieve the hidden game data contained in the sponsor web-sites. The decoder at the user's browser provides that the retrieved hidden game data, which, for example, can include pieces of a puzzle constituting the game to be performed, can be revealed to the user so that the user can play and complete the game, i . e . , assemble the puzzle from the revealed puzzle pieces which were retrieved. Upon completion of the game, the host web-site preferably provides an award to the user, preferably associated with the selected sponsor web-sites accessed during performance of the game .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.s 2 and 3 show a flow chart for performing an interactive game according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a jigsaw puzzle game according to one embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5 illustrates a crossword puzzle game according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows in block diagram form an embodiment of a server system 10, in accordance with the present invention, for steganographically encoding game data on selected sponsor Internet web-sites for performing over the Internet interactive multimedia games operated by a host web-site where performance of the games requires that at least one of the selected sponsor web-sites containing the hidden game data is accessed and that the hidden game data is retrieved therefrom, thereby achieving direct marketing for the sponsor web-sites and providing for collection of marketing data from the Internet users' game performance activities.

Referring to FIG. 1, the server system 10 operates as a host web-site and includes a server engine 12 interconnected with a user identification database 14, a communications plug-in module 16, a web-site tracking database 18 and a games database module 30. The server engine 12 receives requests (e.g., a hypertext transfer protocol ("HTTP") request), such as requests to access selected sponsor web-sites which are linkable to the system 10 over data communications lines 11 and which must be accessed for performance of the interactive games operated by the system 10, from an Internet user's system 20, including a browser 22, that interacts with the system 10 over the data telecommunications lines 11.

It is to be understood that each of the components in the system 10 which is described below as performing data processing operations is a software module or, alternatively, a hardware module or a combined hardware/software module. In addition, each of the server engine 12, the plug-in module 16, the databases 14 and 18 and the games database module 30 suitably contains a memory storage area, such as RAM, for storage of data and instructions for performing processing operations in accordance with the present invention. Alternatively, instructions for performing processing operations can be stored in hardware in one or more of the databases or modules in the system 10.

The user identification database 14 contains in its memory user identifiers each of which uniquely identifies an Internet user who has registered with the system 10 to perform the interactive games operated by the system 10. The user identifier for each registered user contains personal information such as the name, residence address, telephone number, e-mail address, personal interests, hobbies, etc., of the user.

The communications plug-in module 16 contains compatibility information to provide for ease of download of decoder software to the user system 20, such as a personal computer using WINDOWS or a similar operating system. The decoder software provides for (i) real-time or substantially real-time data exchange with the selected sponsor web-sites containing hidden game data which must be retrieved in connection with performing the games operated by the system 10; and (ii) data processing in connection with performing the game, including decoding of the retrieved hidden game data.

The web-site tracking database 18 includes in its memory data representative of the registered user's Internet activities during performance of games, such as, for example, the sponsor web-sites accessed, the number of times each sponsor web-site was accessed within predetermined time intervals, e . g. , weeks, months, etc., at what time of day each sponsor web-site was accessed and which users accessed which sponsor web-sites.

The games database module 30 includes in its memory 32 data representative of (i) graphical icon links (or, clickable category icons) to be displayed on the user's browser 22 to provide for selection of a game category by a registered user; (ii) digital references (such as clickable key icons) to be displayed on the user's browser 22 and which may correspond to sponsor web-sites containing hidden game data necessary for performing a game; and (iii) the game data to be steganographically encoded on sponsor web-sites.

The module 30 further includes a steganographic encoder processing means 34 for steganographically encoding game data onto the sponsor web-sites. In a preferred embodiment, the encoder means 34 includes a games processor which can permute game data using steganographic encoding to provide for the display of different types of data, such as digital images, audio and video segments, in the various multimedia data formats commonly found at a web-site.

The steganographic encoding may include data permutation methods suited to digital encoding of audio, still image and video data on the Internet and as well as on other graphical media. The games module 30 also includes an award unit 36 which monitors performance of games by the registered users, determines whether an award should be made to the user based on the user's performance of the games and dispenses awards to the users, as suitable .

In accordance with the present invention, the system 10 utilizes the combination of encoding of data on sponsor web-sites and the decoder software to be downloaded from the plug-in 16 to the user system 20 to facilitate the performance of interactive games over the Internet which require a game player, i . e . , an Internet user, to visit selected sponsor web-sites to perform the game. The respective owners of the host web-site and the selected sponsor web-sites would be parties to agreements that provide that the encoded game data necessary for game performance is provided on the sponsor web-sites and would be readily visible and accessible for download by the users registered with the system 10.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive system 10, game data 80 is steganographically encoded at the sponsor web-site 82 in the form of a container file 84 which can be retrieved upon proper exchange of data between the user's downloaded decoder and the sponsor web-site. When the retrieved container file, which can be of any multimedia format, is combined with a proper hash file stored in the decoder, the hidden game data will be revealed. Thus, sponsor web-sites associating themselves with the host web-site to facilitate performance of the interactive games operated by the host web-site can substantially increase the likelihood that Internet users initially will be directed to, and repeatedly, frequently and continually will revisit, their web-sites.

FIG.s 2 and 3 show a flow diagram of a process 50 illustrating performance of an interactive game which the system 10 operates at the host web-site and which requires Internet users registered with the host web-site to visit selected sponsor web-sites for performing the game, thereby initially and, preferably, repeatedly, frequently and continually exposing the Internet users to the selected sponsor web-sites and providing that data can be compiled as to hits made on the selected sponsor web-sites by the registered users.

For purposes of illustration of the process 50, it is assumed that the Internet user suitably has caused the browser 22 to jump or link to the host web-site and that the categories of the game which is available for performance by the registered user is a puzzle whose pieces constitute steganographically encoded game data on sponsor web-sites.

Referring to FIG. 2, in step 52, the server engine 12 displays a webpage on the Internet user's browser 22 which includes prompts requesting the user to indicate whether or not the user has registered with the host web-site. If the user is registered, the engine 12 proceeds to step 56. If the user has not previously registered, in step 52 the server engine 12 prompts the user to enter his or her name, residence address, telephone number, e-mail address, personal interests, hobbies, etc. The server engine 12 then suitably stores such user identification data in memory in the user database 14.

Then in step 54, the server engine 12 displays on the user's browser 22 instructions for download of the decoder software from the plug-in module 16 to the user's system 20. The decoder software, when suitably downloaded and installed on the user system 20, provides that the user can exchange data with the host web-site and interactively perform a selected game operated by the system 10 by accessing the sponsor web-sites. In a preferred embodiment, the decoder provides that the server engine 12 can interact with the user system 20 to have a login password assigned to the user, which permits the user to log onto the host web-site for performing a game. The decoder also can provide for update of personal information of the user in the database 14 upon subsequent logins . In a preferred embodiment, the decoder software comprises a universal plug-in including a set of scrambled or hash files which provide that steganographically encoded game data on the sponsor web-sites can be revealed. In a preferred embodiment, the decoder only needs to be downloaded once by each of the user systems 20 performing the games operated by the system 10.

In step 56, the server engine 12 prompts the user to enter a login password. Only registered users who have downloaded the decoder into their system 20 can log into the host web-site and perform the games on the sponsor web-sites. In a preferred embodiment, upon login, the registered user is advised whether the decoder software has been updated and suitably prompted to download the updated software from the latest version of the plug-in module 16.

In step 58, the server engine 12 displays on the user's browser graphical indicators representative of categories, such as text, music, images, video and other multimedia data, available for selection by the registered user as the variation of the game, i . e . , puzzle, to be performed interactively on the Internet. The indicators are preferably actively linked to allow the user to move directly to the desired category. The active link may take the form of a clickable icon. Other functions may also be utilized for category selection, including keyboard or mouse functions.

In one preferred embodiment, the game is a simple, easy to play, yet at the same time, intellectually challenging and exciting scrambled puzzle game whose performance requires users to visit sponsor web-sites to locate the hidden pieces required for assembling the puzzle. The hidden pieces of the puzzle are contained as hidden game data in the sponsor web-sites as text; images of various shapes and sizes; natural, pseudo-color or negatives of picture; audio in the form of forward- or reverse-partitioned musical puzzle pieces; video, etc. The puzzle pieces correspond to the different game categories, such as, for example, the arts, books, finance, film, transportation, music, science, sports, technology, wine and dine, travel, beauty, and health and fashion, available for selection. Thus, depending on their individual interests and hobbies, the registered users would be challenged intellectually by the different puzzles corresponding to the respective categories. The downloaded decoder provides that the user can retrieve and reveal the hidden pieces from the sponsor web-sites to perform the game, i . e . , assemble the puzzle. Upon successful collection and arrangement of all the puzzle pieces, i.e., completion of the puzzle, the registered user will preferably be provided an award.

Referring again to FIG. 2, in step 60, the server engine 12 displays (or plays) on the user's browser a plurality of 'bites' which are live links in the form of, for example, thumbnails, images, text (or even active bites comprising audio or video clips) corresponding to the sponsor web-sites which may contain hidden game data for the selected category, and requests the user to select one of the bites. Thus, each bite may or may not correspond to a sponsor web-site containing hidden game data, i . e . , a piece of the puzzle to be unscrambled. The bites may be selected by any known means, but are advantageously subject to selection by clicking, drag-and- drop, or other mouse or keyboard function, or even voice- activated instruction means. The preferred method described herein employs a bite or link in the form of a clickable icon which corresponds to a 'key' (described below) located on a sponsor web-site.

In step 64, after the user has clicked on a link, or key icon, the server engine 12 determines if that key icon corresponds to a selected sponsor web-site having hidden game data. If yes, in step 66, the engine 12 directs, or preferably automatically links, the user's browser 22 to the web-site 80 containing the hidden game data 82, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In step 68, the user attempts to locate the selected key icon 84 (or 'digital reference' which may broadly include audible 'icons') on the sponsor web-site. The key icon is visible (or audible in the case of a sound 'bite') on the sponsor web-site with game data steganographically encoded in the key icon itself or with game data encoded in an associated container file. In a preferred embodiment, once the user locates the corresponding key icon, the user downloads to the system 20 a portion of the sponsor's web-site that may contain hidden game data. The download step may be initiated, for example, by a simple drag-and-drop operation on the suspected key icon. Other functions may also be utilized to initiate the download step, for example, keyboard functions, mouse functions, or other selection means.

In step 70, the user utilizes the decoder software on the system 20 to check if the downloaded portion contains hidden game data. If so, the container file is opened to reveal the hidden game data. Thus, the user can reveal the hidden pieces of the puzzle by locating the key icon and performing the retrieval operation of step 68 and the decoding operation of step 70.

Once the user selects a category, the system may be configured to take the user directly to a site containing the hidden data; following the decoding of the hidden data, the user would then be taken directly to the next site containing further hidden data. This embodiment differs from that in which the user may choose from among several sites within a category, and wherein said several sites may or may not contain hidden data, thus providing a more challenging aspect. The user returns to a central location to choose a new link, after having success in finding a game piece, or having failed to find a piece in a particular site. This latter embodiment is preferred from a sponsor's point of view, since it involves the intermediate display of key icons (which may preferably be based on sponsor-specific indications such as logos) each time the user returns to the central location.

As an added feature, the system may employ an animated icon 86 or figure, perhaps based on a sponsor's logo, mascot or the like, which can act as a key icon, or as a responsive guide or assistant to the user (e.g. providing clues, hints or help) as shown in FIG.s 4 and 5. Such an icon may be generated by means of Microsoft^® MsAgent^® .

Referring to FIG. 4 , as a further added feature, the system may provide for a graphical representation on the screen, preferably occupying only a portion of the screen, displaying the game data collected, e.g. in the form of puzzle pieces. This graphical representation is preferably in the form of a 'board' or 'pad' , which allows the user to rearrange the puzzle pieces within the confines of the pad. The pad 88 may be configured to remain in a fixed location on a portion of the screen, or may be movable about the screen. In this latter case, the movable pad may be configured to interact with encoded hidden game pieces, so as to reveal clues about the location thereof when brought into proximity with respect to a hidden game piece. This feature may be provided based on known software, such as MsAgent^® or the like. The animated figure is preferably so linked to the pad so that the pad is responsive to input from animated figure, which in turn is responsive to player input. For example, the pad may only be visible when the animated figure senses that the player has located a piece of hidden game data. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment where the pad 88 is used for displaying a crossword puzzle. Referring to FIG. 3, in step 72, the engine 12 determines whether the user has collected all hidden game data, i.e., puzzle pieces, to complete the game, i . e . , unscramble the puzzle. If no, the server engine 12 directs the user to step 60 for selection of additional key icons. Hence, the same process continues until all hidden game data have been retrieved and revealed.

In step 74, the user uses the decoder software to concatenate the revealed pieces to complete the puzzle. In a preferred embodiment, the hidden game data are musical clips which must be arranged in the correct sequence to complete the puzzle.

In step 76, the user, using the decoder software, transmits a representation of the completed game to the host web-site for verification.

In step 78, the engine 12 provides for award of a prize to the registered user if the completed game submitted was correct. The prize can be, for example, credits applicable to purchases made only at the selected sponsor web-sites associated with the host web-site for performance of interactive games operated by the host website and, most preferably, sponsor web-sites having products and services corresponding to the selected category (ies) of the games performed by the user. Consequently, in connection with performing the selected games and winning prizes, the users have the opportunity to learn more about new products and services offered by sponsor web-sites. The present invention, therefore, can provide an innovative, dynamic and interactive "pull-push" marketing service in the form of an interactive challenging, multimedia game on the Internet. The use of loss-less encryption or encoding technology provides that multimedia data can be hidden in various sponsor web-sites in connection with interactive games operated by a host web-site and which require the collection of the multimedia data from these web-sites. The games operated by the host web-site "pull" an online audience initially. The registered Internet users are subtly "pushed" into the sponsor web-sites to locate hidden game data to perform a game, which game is analogous to a digital treasure hunt . The sponsor websites facilitating performance of the game, thus, can subtly and effectively directly market a targeted online audience .

The registered users are awarded sponsored prizes, cash or points for performing, and preferably completing, the game and optionally answering a trivia question that is related to the game. Thus, the games themselves and the awards for performing and completing the games initially attract Internet users to the host web-site, and consequently the selected sponsor web-sites, and are likely to cause repeated, frequent and continual visits to such web-sites.

In a preferred embodiment, the system 10 operates games that can be played by individuals, or groups of individuals who are able to communicate with each other through "chat-room" or ICQ type of on-line, near-real-time communication programs. In a preferred embodiment, the games are divided into levels having graded degrees of difficulty.

In another preferred embodiment, multiple registered users can play the same game operated by the host web-site and share revealed hidden game data by way of the respectively downloaded decoders.

In another preferred embodiment, the user must complete the game within a certain time limit, and the key icons are displayed randomly, for example, everyday or at specific times of day, to provide that users would access different selected sponsor web-sites depending on when the users perform the game .

In a preferred embodiment, the registered users can accumulate points to win attractive prizes, cash or discount vouchers for performing different online activities at the host web-site, such as, for example, registering or logging in, in addition to performing a game. Also, a monthly grand prize can be awarded to the top "Hall of Fame" winners for a particular game. The point system and prize incentives, consequently, provide the motivation for registered users to return frequently, regularly and continually to the host web-site and the sponsor web-sites.

In a preferred embodiment, after the user completes the game, the engine 12 submits to the user a trivia question related to the selected category in which the game was performed and requests the user to answer the question. The trivia question would relate to the selected game category and the users would submit their answer to the host web-site. In a further embodiment, a trivia question can be encrypted or encoded into each of the hidden game data to be retrieved as part of a game, and would be revealed in part when each of the hidden game data is found and revealed. In another preferred embodiment, prizes or points can be awarded to users with each correct answer and the completion of the puzzle.

In another preferred embodiment, the game can be a multi-level game, including a treasure hunt, jigsaw puzzle, answering a trivia question on the puzzle and an on-line knock-out competition.

In a preferred embodiment, the engine 12 indexes registered users in the user identification database 14 by interest, hobbies, etc. In a further preferred embodiment, the host web-site performs all user registration and data collection operations. With this arrangement, the host web-site can generate revenues from the sponsor web-sites and secure and add users, suitably indexed by personal characteristics, to the user database 16. The database 16 alone, or in combination with the data contained in the tracking database 18, therefore represents a saleable asset.

For example, if the database 16 has at least one million registered users, this undoubtedly may attract substantial advertising funds to the host web-site or sponsor web-sites. Also, major companies are likely to have an interest in acquiring the Internet user profiles stored in the database 16. In addition, the generation of databases of the Internet users and their likely to be repeated Internet activities, in accordance with the present inventive technique, increases the probability of successfully completing a buy-out of the host web-site business by a major online company, advertising agency or other company, and the likelihood of a successful early IPO for the host web-site. Further, once the user database 16 reaches a certain size, the host web-site can achieve additional revenues through Internet advertising thereon.

In accordance with the present invention, loss-less encrypting or encoding could be extended to other games, such as interactive Bingo, checkers, etc., to provide a more complete and enjoyable experience to the online community and to target and capture a wide spectrum of Internet users, as desired by the sponsor web-site. In preferred embodiments, the games can range from simple "Scratch & Win" or e-coupon games to customized or combined marketing games. In one preferred embodiment, new registered users who download the decoder software from the host web-site would have to download an electronic "Scratch & Win" card from an e-commerce sponsor web-site associated with the system 10. To determine whether they have won anything, the users would drag from the e-commerce web-site into the previously downloaded decoder software an image to which is coupled steganographically encoded data.

In one preferred embodiment, the game may involve multimedia game data, for example, in the form of audio or video clips. The game may involve arranging audio, video or multimedia files into a correct or predetermined order. In such a case, the pad may serve as a graphical representation of the collected game data, each of which is associated with an audio, video or multimedia file. The pad is preferably configured to allow the player to play each of the collected audio, video or multimedia files and to rearrange them in various order.

In other preferred embodiments, the host web-site includes a variety of games, such as searching for missing company logos in the company's web-sites.

The system 10, thus, can provide very product and service specific marketing and advertising services by including new and exciting interactive games on the host web-site based on the marketing campaigns and advertising needs of the selected web-site sponsors. For example, the host web-site can provide customized services for companies with a huge web presence, such as ISPs, larger e-commerce sites, etc., to provide a fond and memorable online experience to their users. Also, new categories can be added to entice old and new sponsor web-sites to become associated with the host web-site, as the need arises . In a further preferred embodiment, other benefits for registered users can include chat room and purchasing of products at a discount .

In another preferred embodiment, the decoder software provides that the registered user can access any other games being performed on, or operated by, other selected sponsors web-sites using multiple database connectivity (MDBC) technology. In addition, a user would need to register and login with a web-site only once and can participate in other games operated by selected other websites without providing any personal information to those other web-sites. Consequently, different web-site sponsors can have access to many different registered Internet users who can be directed to their web-sites through different games. Thus, the database of registered users for the host web-site can increase linearly through direct registration of users or exponentially through remotely hosted contests.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

Claims

Claims :

1. A method for providing an interactive game on an electronically accessible game host, comprising: providing encoded game data for performing the interactive game in at least one selected electronically accessible digital medium; providing means for structuring performance of the game to require a game player to electronically access said digital medium for retrieving a piece of game data; providing to the player means for decoding the retrieved game data and providing means for performing the game using the decoded game data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing means for rewarding the player based upon performance of the game .

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the game host acts by way of a global computer network, and the digital medium is a web-site accessible via said network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one digital medium is a plurality of web-sites.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the web-sites is hosted by a sponsor entity, independently of the game host .

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: monitoring accesses made to the web-sites by the game player in connection with performance of the game; and storing data representative of the accesses made by the game player.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising linking said stored data with identifying characteristics of the game player.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the decoded data corresponds to a game piece to be used in playing the game .

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising means for registering a user with a host web-site.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing categories of the games for selection by the registered user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing means for storing game category selection information in connection with identifying characteristics of the game player.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a plurality of selectable links in connection with each of the categories, wherein at least one of the links corresponds to encoded game data located at at least one of the web-sites.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing means for requiring the registered user to visit the web-site corresponding to the link, which web-site contains the game data for performing the game .

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing means for generating an animated character which functions as an adjunct to performance of the game.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the game data is encoded in the web-site coupled to a digital reference visibly displayed or audibly generated on the web-site, wherein the requiring step further comprises : providing means for requiring the user to locate and retrieve the digital reference on the web-site containing the game data for performing the game, wherein the encoded game data is coupled for download with the digital reference.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing means for graphically displaying or audibly generating a game board, in which decoded game data collected by the player is graphically displayed or audibly playable.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein individual decoded game data may be moved with respect to each other by the player within the game board.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the game board is itself movable about the web-site.

19. A system for providing an interactive game on an electronically accessible game host, comprising: means for encoding game data for performing the interactive game in at least one selected electronically accessible digital medium; means for structuring performance of the game to require a game player to electronically access said digital medium for retrieving a piece of game data; means for decoding the retrieved game data and means for performing the game using the decoded game data.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for rewarding the player based upon performance of the game.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the game host is accessible via a global computer network and the digital medium is an Internet web-site.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one digital medium is a plurality of Internet web-sites.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the web-sites is hosted by a sponsor entity, independently of the game host .

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising: means for monitoring accesses made to the web-sites by the game player in connection with performance of the game; and means for storing data representative of the accesses made by the game player.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for linking said stored data with identifying characteristics of the game player.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the decoded data corresponds to a game piece to be used in playing the game.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for registering an Internet user with a host web-site.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising categories of the games for selection by the registered user.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising means for storing game category selection information in connection with identifying characteristics of the game player.

30. The system of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of links in connection with each of the categories, wherein at least one of the links corresponds to encoded game data located at at least one of the websites .

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising means for requiring the registered user to visit the web-site corresponding to the link, which web-site contains the game data for performing the game .

32. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for generating an animated character which functions as an adjunct to performance of the game.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the game data is encoded in the web-site coupled to a digital reference visibly displayed or audibly generated on the web-site, further comprising: means for requiring the user to locate and retrieve the digital reference on the web-site containing the game data for performing the game, wherein the encoded game data is coupled for download with the digital reference.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising means for graphically displaying or audibly generating a game board, in which decoded game data collected by the player is graphically displayed or audibly playable.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for generating an animated character which functions as an adjunct to performance of the game, the animated character providing an intelligent interface with the player, wherein the means for graphically displaying or audibly generating a game board is configured to display or generate the game board in response to input from the animated character.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein individual decoded game data may be moved with respect to each other by the player within the game board.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the game board is itself movable about the web-site.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the decoded game data is one of a group comprising an audio file, a video file and a multimedia file; and wherein the game board allows the player to select and play the decoded game data.