JPH10235015A - System making game proceed simultaneously by sending quiz to numerous terminal by satellite data communication and game terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system making games proceed simultaneously by sending a quiz to a number of terminals by satellite data communications and to provide a game terminal. SOLUTION: In a system making games proceed simultaneously by sending a quiz to a number of terminals by satellite data communications 1 and a game terminal 7, a host device 3 transmits quiz-related information involving the quiz, the right answer, and the schedule of quiz proceeding to the game terminals 7 by the satellite data communications 1 at the appropriate time. The game terminal 7 determines whether or not the proceeding of the game needs to be reported to the host device 3 according to the schedule of game proceeding and the occurrence of the right/wrong answer at the terminal, and if it needs to be reported, the proceeding of the game is reported to the host device 3 at the appropriate reporting time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system and a game terminal for simultaneously running a game by giving quizzes to a large number of terminals by satellite data communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a network game in which an unspecified number of people can participate in a public network. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-324509 discloses a technique in which a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices are connected via a communication network so that a plurality of players can participate in a game. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-344084, a quiz program broadcast is received, and a response and a response time are operated by operating operation means such as a keyboard and switches, etc., through an existing communication network such as an ISDN, VAN or facsimile communication line. To allow viewers to participate in the program.

[0003]

By the way, a so-called winning quiz game is known in which a large number of participants are given quizzes at the same time, and successively correct answers to compete for winning. This winning quiz game is held by accommodating all participants in a large venue such as a baseball stadium to enjoy the real pleasure of having many people participate at the same time, but from the venue It is difficult for people living in distant places to visit, and there is a problem that the organizers also have to spend a lot of money for the event.

[0004] At present, various forms of communication networks are being circulated on a nationwide scale, and individuals can use these communication networks relatively easily. Therefore, if the winning quiz game can be implemented on a nationwide scale using these communication networks, there is no need to bother to secure a venue or to have participants go all the way to a long distance.

However, there is a problem to be solved in implementing a winning quiz game on a communication network. In order to enhance the sense of realism, the winning quiz game must grasp the entire game progress in real time and inform the participants of the overall game progress, but each time the game progress is collected, the host device requires a large number of game terminals Must be processed, and the progress of the game is delayed every time the progress of the game is collected, and the important sense of presence is lost.

[0006] Under such circumstances, the present invention provides a system and a game terminal in which a quiz is given to a large number of terminals scattered in a service area from a host device operated by a quiz organizer by satellite data communication to simultaneously progress a game. It is intended to do so.

[0007]

The system of the present invention is a system in which a quiz is given to a large number of terminals by satellite data communication to simultaneously advance a game, and the following requirements (1) to (1) are set forth.
(4) is provided (claim 1).

(1) A host device operated by a quiz game organizer transmits appropriate digital information to a game terminal by satellite data communication, and a number of game terminals scattered in a service area receive the digital information. To process. The host device and each of the game terminals can communicate individually via a public line network.

(2) The host device transmits quiz-related information including a quiz question, its correct answer, and a quiz progress schedule to the game terminal by the satellite data communication in a timely manner. The game terminal that has received the quiz-related information executes a quiz interactive process according to the quiz progress schedule, displays the quiz question on a display, receives an answer input from a player within a prescribed answer period, and receives the input. The correct answer / incorrect answer is determined by comparing the answered answer with the correct answer.

(3) Whether the game terminal must report the progress of the game at the terminal to the host device based on the quiz progress schedule and the occurrence status of the correct / incorrect answer at the terminal. And if it is necessary to report, determine the timing of the report.

(4) The game terminal, which needs to report the progress of the game, reports the progress of the game to the host device through the public network, catching a prescribed reporting timing. The host device collects the game progresses reported from the multiple game terminals and comprehensively recognizes the overall game progress and results of the multiple game terminals participating in the game.

Further, in the system according to claim 1, the host device comprehensively recognizes the progress of the game and the result based on the report from each of the game terminals and appropriately arranges the information through the satellite data communication. Each of the game terminals that have transmitted the information to each of the game terminals and received the information displays the progress and the result of the game on a display (claim 2).

[0013] In the system according to claim 1 or 2, the host device comprehensively recognizes the progress of the game based on a report from each of the game terminals, and transmits a quiz to each of the game terminals based on the overall progress. The progress of the game is reflected in the quiz-related information, for example, by adjusting a degree (claim 3).

Further, in the system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in the process of executing a quiz interactive process in the game terminal and sequentially answering a large number of quiz questions,
Only the game terminal that has scored a correct score exceeding the prescribed score is reported to the host device (Glaim 4).

Further, in the system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a large number of the game terminals are arranged such that the progress of the game is reported from the game terminals to the host device in a time-dispersed manner. The game is divided into a plurality of groups in advance, and a report timing for each group is specified as the game progress schedule.

Preferably, in the system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a remote controller is used as a device for inputting an answer from a player, which additionally outputs a unique ID to each device. The ID received from the device is appropriately reported to the host device along with the progress of the game, and the host device reads the ID from a predetermined database.
The user information corresponding to D is searched, and the progress of the game and the result are counted in association with each user (claim 6).

The game terminal for configuring the system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 includes a receiving unit for the satellite data communication, an information processing unit for processing the game-related information acquired by the receiving unit, Display means of a man-machine interface for displaying a quiz question, a correct answer, a judgment result of a correct answer / incorrect answer, etc .; input means of a man-machine interface for inputting an answer to the quiz question; and the public network Communication control means for reporting the progress of the game or the like to the host device through a PC (Claim 7).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the game terminal, karaoke information distributed from the host device by satellite data communication is received by the receiving means, stored in a storage device, and input from the input means. Means for fetching the karaoke information of the requested song from the storage device and reproducing the karaoke information, outputting the karaoke accompaniment music from a speaker, and synchronizing and displaying lyrics and the like on the display means.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a system according to the present invention. In this system, as a game terminal for executing a quiz game, a satellite data communication 1 for receiving music data and the like, and for billing management and the like. An existing communication karaoke terminal 7 that can be connected to the host device 3 by the public line network 5 is used. The host device 3 operated by the quiz game organizer sends the quiz-related information including the quiz question and its correct answer and the quiz progress schedule to the communication karaoke terminals 7 scattered in the service area as needed by the satellite data communication 1. Send as

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the communication karaoke terminal 7. The central control unit 9, the satellite communication device 11, the modem 13,
It comprises a display control unit 15, an operation control unit 17, and an audiovisual reproduction unit 19. The satellite communication device 11 receives the digital information sent from the host device 3 and transmits it to the central control unit 9.

The central control unit 9 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM,
The timer is configured to provide time information to the CPU, and the hard disk device stores a program for controlling the CPU, music information downloaded from a communication karaoke host device, and the like. The satellite communication device 11 appropriately sends out digital information through the satellite data communication 1 in accordance with an instruction from the central control unit 9. The modem 13 establishes a connection with the public line network 5 for bidirectional communication with the host device 3. In addition, the display control unit 15 controls the display 2
1 and the operation control unit 17 transmits information input from the remote control device 23 and the input panel 25 to the central control unit 9. The audio-visual playback unit 19 has a CD-ROM
A large-capacity storage device such as a device is built in, and can reproduce a moving image in addition to the performance of music recorded on the hard disk device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the host device 3.
Central control unit 27, satellite communication device 29, line control device 31
Composed of Central control unit 27 is CPU / RAM
-It is composed of a ROM and a hard disk device. The hard disk device also stores a database for storing user information in addition to a program for controlling the host device 3 and a quiz game program. The satellite communication device 29 appropriately transmits digital information by satellite data communication in accordance with an instruction from the central control unit 27. Further, the line control device 31 secures a connection with the public line network 5 when performing bidirectional communication with the communication karaoke terminal 7.

Hereinafter, a case in which a quiz game is performed using the above-described system will be sequentially described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the communication karaoke terminal 7 and the host device 3. The communication karaoke terminal 7 is set in a quiz game mode in advance by a player who participates in the quiz game before the quiz game start time, and prepares for the start of the quiz game (101 to 107). When the start time arrives, the host device 3 transmits quiz-related information including a quiz question, its correct answer, and a quiz progress schedule to each communication karaoke terminal 7 in the service area by the satellite data communication 1 (201 to 201). 203).

The communication karaoke terminal 7 receives the quiz-related information distributed by the satellite data communication 1 and records it in its own hard disk device (109). The start time of each quiz question included in the quiz progress schedule,
The communication karaoke terminal 7 progresses the quiz problem according to the answer time. The quiz game is performed interactively, and a quiz question is displayed on the display 21 to urge the player to input an answer, and the answer number, ×, or the like is input from the remote controller 23 or the input panel 25. When the answer time elapses, the communication karaoke terminal 7 checks the result against the correct answer recorded in the hard disk device, and displays the result on the display 21 (111).

The host device 3 sends a report instruction command for reporting to the host device the progress of the game, such as the answer score and the required time, in the quiz progress schedule. The report instruction command includes information specifying whether a call is required from the communication karaoke terminal 7 to the host device 3 and information specifying a calling timing. Each communication karaoke terminal 7 determines whether its own call is required by the report instruction command. Judge. The content of the report instruction command can be freely determined on the host device 3 side, and is reported only when the correct score exceeding the specified value is recorded, or is given by region or for each communication karaoke terminal 7. Equipment I
You can have them report by D. The communication karaoke terminal 7 that has determined that it is necessary to make a call by referring to the information on the necessity of the call further refers to the information about the time of calling to determine the timing, and calls the host device 3.

When the game progress report from the communication karaoke terminal 7 is completed, the host device 3 comprehensively recognizes the overall game progress based on the reported game progress and summarizes the game progress information, for example, the overall ranking. Table and satellite data communication 1
To distribute to each communication karaoke terminal 7. The communication karaoke terminal 7 takes in the distributed game progress information and appropriately displays it on the display 21 (113). When the player's answer is input to the communication karaoke terminal 7, if the remote control device 23 having a function of adding and outputting a unique ID to each device is used, the ID is also reported to the host device 3 at the same time as the game progresses. be able to. In this case, the host device 3 can search the database for user information corresponding to the ID, and classify and compile the game progress by store, district, age, gender, and the like as appropriate to edit the game progress information.

Also, the host device 3 comprehensively recognizes the progress of the game of each communication karaoke terminal 7 reported from the communication karaoke terminal 7 and changes the difficulty level of the question to be set, for example, according to the accuracy rate. Create a change order. The host apparatus 3 includes the created quiz pattern change command in the quiz progress schedule and includes the satellite data communication 1
Is distributed to the communication karaoke terminals 7 as appropriate, and the game progress comprehensively recognized by the host device 3 is reflected in the game progress by changing the difficulty of the quiz to be set for each communication karaoke terminal 7 (205 to 205). 207).

When all the quiz questions distributed from the host device 3 have been completed, the communication karaoke terminal 7 determines whether or not to report the game result by itself according to the quiz progress schedule as in the case of the game progress report described above. Only when it is determined that a report is required, the host device 3 is called to notify the game result (115 to 117). The host device 3 totals and edits the game results reported from the communication karaoke terminal 7 in the same manner as the above-described game progress totalizing process. When editing, the ID and the database are used as in the case of the game progress information. The edited tabulation result is satellite data communication 1
Is transmitted to each communication karaoke terminal 7 to end the quiz game (211 to 213). On the other hand, the communication karaoke terminal 7 receives the game result distributed by the satellite data communication 1, displays it on the display 21, and ends the quiz game (123 to 125).

As described above, the communication karaoke terminal 7 is provided with the audio-visual reproduction unit 19, so that BGM can be played while the game is in progress or a background moving image can be displayed on the display 21. Furthermore, if the BGM and the background moving image are synchronized with the progress of the quiz game, the participants can be more enjoyed.

The game results are recorded on the hard disk device of the host device 3 so that the game results can be referred to not only from the communication karaoke terminal 7 but also from other communication means such as a personal computer communication and the Internet. It is convenient to refer to the result.

Further, using the telephone voting service "Telegong" (product name) provided by NTT, a command to call a specific number registered in "Telegong" from the host device 3 is transmitted by the satellite data communication 1 to each communication karaoke terminal. 7, the number of correct answers can be easily grasped. In addition, if a plurality of numbers are registered in “Telegong” for each region, it is easy to grasp the number of correct answers for each region.

[0033]

According to the first aspect, the necessity of reporting the progress of the game from each communication game terminal to the host device is determined based on the quiz progress schedule and the occurrence status of the correct / incorrect answer at the terminal. If a report is necessary, the terminal will catch the prescribed timing of the report and report it to the host device via the public network, so the workload of the host device can be reduced and the quiz game can be smoothly performed. Let it proceed.

According to the second aspect, the host device comprehensively recognizes the progress and results of the game and transmits appropriately organized information to each game terminal by satellite data communication. Since the result is displayed on the display, the player can grasp the progress of the entire quiz game in real time, enhance the sense of reality of the quiz game, and develop a more heated quiz game.

According to the third aspect, the host device comprehensively recognizes the game progress of each game terminal and adjusts the difficulty of the quiz to be transmitted to each game terminal, thereby displaying the game progress in the quiz-related information. Because it is reflected, more flexible game development is possible according to the personality and ability of the player.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, only the game terminal having a correct score exceeding the prescribed score is reported to the host device, so that the concentration of outgoing calls to the host device can be suppressed. Yes, the quiz game can proceed smoothly.

According to the fifth aspect, a large number of game terminals are divided into a plurality of groups in advance, a report timing is designated for each group in the game progress schedule, and a game progress report to the host device is made in time. Since it is performed in a distributed manner, the concentration of calls to the host device can be suppressed, and the quiz game can proceed smoothly.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a remote control device for adding and outputting a unique ID to each device is used as a device for inputting an answer, and the ID is appropriately reported from the game terminal to the host device as the game progresses. From database I
Since the user information corresponding to D is searched and the game progress and the results are totaled in association with each user, the game progress and the results are appropriately classified and classified into stores, districts, ages, genders and the like. The quiz game can be made more enjoyable. According to the seventh and eighth aspects, an existing communication karaoke terminal can be used as it is as a game terminal of the present invention, and a quiz game using the present system can be easily performed without requiring a special device. It is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication karaoke terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a host device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a communication karaoke terminal and a host device in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Satellite data communication 3 Host device 5 Public line network 7 Communication karaoke terminal 9 Central control unit 11 Satellite communication device 13 Modem 15 Display control unit 17 Operation control unit 19 Audiovisual reproduction unit 21 Display 23 ID remote control 25 Input panel 27 Central control unit 29 Satellite communication equipment 31 Line control equipment

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A system in which a quiz is given to a large number of terminals by satellite data communication to simultaneously advance a game,
The following requirements (1) to (4) are provided. (1) The host device operated by the quiz game organizer transmits appropriate digital information to the game terminal by satellite data communication, and a number of game terminals scattered in the service area receive and process the digital information. The host device and each of the game terminals can communicate individually via a public line network. (2) The host device transmits quiz-related information including a quiz question, its correct answer, and a quiz progress schedule to the game terminal by the satellite data communication in a timely manner. The game terminal that has received the quiz-related information executes a quiz interactive process according to the quiz progress schedule, displays the quiz question on a display, receives an answer input from a player within a prescribed answer period, and receives the input. The correct answer / incorrect answer is determined by comparing the answered answer with the correct answer. (3) The game terminal, based on the quiz progress schedule and the occurrence of correct / incorrect answers at the terminal,
It is determined whether or not it is necessary to report the progress of the game at the terminal to the host device, and if so, the timing of the report is determined. (4) The game terminal that needs to report the game progress reports the game progress to the host device through the public network, catching a prescribed report timing. The host device collects the game progresses reported from the multiple game terminals and comprehensively recognizes the overall game progress and results of the multiple game terminals participating in the game. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the host device comprises:
The game progress and the result are comprehensively recognized by the reports from the respective game terminals, and information obtained by appropriately organizing the information is transmitted to the respective game terminals by the satellite data communication, and the information received is transmitted to the respective game terminals. A system wherein the game terminal displays the game progress and the result on a display. 3. The host device according to claim 1, wherein the host device comprehensively recognizes a progress of the game based on a report from each of the game terminals, and determines a difficulty level of a quiz to be transmitted to each of the game terminals based on the progress of the game. A system for reflecting the progress of the game in the quiz-related information, such as adjusting. 4. The game terminal according to claim 1, wherein a correct answer score exceeding a prescribed score is included in a process of performing a quiz interactive process on the game terminal to sequentially present a large number of quiz questions. A system wherein only the game terminal reports the progress of the game to the host device. 5. The game terminal according to claim 1, wherein a large number of game terminals are provided in advance so that the game progress from each of the game terminals to the host device is distributed in time. Grouped into
A system for designating a report timing for each group as the game progress schedule. 6. An ID unique to each device as a device for inputting a response from a player according to claim 1.
The game terminal appropriately reports the ID received from the remote control device to the host device along with the progress of the game, and the host device searches a predetermined database for user information corresponding to the ID. A game progress and results are counted in association with each user. 7. The game terminal for configuring the system according to claim 1, wherein said satellite data communication receiving means, and information processing means for processing said game related information acquired by said receiving means. Display means for displaying a quiz question, a correct answer, a judgment result of a correct answer / incorrect answer, etc .; input means of a man-machine interface for inputting an answer to the quiz question; A game terminal comprising communication control means for reporting the progress of the game and the like to the host device via a network. 8. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said receiving means receives the karaoke information distributed from said host device by satellite data communication and stores the karaoke information in a storage device, and said request music input from said input means. A game terminal comprising: means for extracting information from the storage device, reproducing the information, outputting karaoke accompaniment music from a speaker, and synchronously displaying lyrics and the like on the display means.