GB2510442A

GB2510442A - Question and answer game server and terminal

Info

Publication number: GB2510442A
Application number: GB1311731.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oliver Browne-Wilkinson
Original assignee: MODERNISE UK Ltd
Current assignee: MODERNISE UK Ltd
Priority date: 2012-07-02
Filing date: 2013-07-01
Publication date: 2014-08-06
Also published as: GB201211712D0; GB201311731D0

Abstract

A user terminal or server or method of using such for a question & answer game comprising the steps of a user registering, being identified, sending a request for a question set, receiving a question, submitting a response to the question and receiving a response as to whether the question was correct. The user terminal sends information relating to a user details to a server which may include the user's age, gender, interests, occupation. Questions are stored at the server and grouped into question sets. Questions are sent to the user terminal based on the user identity and a selected question set; allowing questions to be targeted to a user ability. Preferably the user terminal comprises a mobile device with means to scan a QR code and the inputs can comprise a keyboard, microphone or digital camera.

Description

Game Apparatus A disadvantage with quiz games is that the questions are pre set and typically tend to be aimed either at a general audience, or at a specific group, such as a narrow age group. It would be advantageous to provide a mechanism whereby the question is created by the owner of the game apparatus and/or other users that the registered owner of the game apparatus allows. Each user is also allowed to provide either single or multiple answers to that question at the same time. One or more of those answers can be identified as correct. Both incorrect and correct answers allow for further information to be added to them using digital links, images, video and audio. Once the question set/s have been compiled they can then be published via the server and invited users play the game using that question set.

Described is a method of creating one or more questions to be used while building a question set as part of playing a game. The game owner creates a question set and registers it by sending it to the server. User identities are created by the game owner and can specify the status of the user as either quiz master, quiz compiler of quiz user.

A user taking part in the game is registered with a server using a user terminal such as a mobile telephone and the new user is sent a secure log in link that when clicked on activates and confirms the user registration.

The quiz master is able to control the following functions: 1. set up new user to the required status.

2. Create Question Set titles 3. Edit Question sets before they are published 4. Correspond with users and compilers using text or email.

5. Change the language of default headings 6. remove users 7. Purchase more question sets from the online store 8. Purchase more users from the online store 9. Purchase existing question sets from the online store Each quiz game product is purchase to include the building of 6 question sets and up to 35 users allowed to access those question sets.

In an embodiment, the user that is logged in has been given a compiler status by the quiz master inputs user specific information into the user terminal and sends the user specific information to the server. This user specific information may include the user's age, gender, interests, occupation, and other information relating to the question set that the user is populating with questions and answers, as well as information about any hardware and software the user is using to play the game and contact the server with. The server stores the user specific information in a database. The user is assigned an identity for each question in the question set the game (either by the server, or the user informs the server of his/her identity). This may be audio, colour, shape, pattern, or any other information that may identify the user. The identity can be related to the user specific information.

A user taking part in the game registers with a server using a user terminal such as a mobile telephone. In an embodiment, the user inputs user specific information into the user terminal and sends the user specific information to the server. This user specific information may include the user's age, gender, interests, occupation, and other information relating to the user, While playing the game, the user sends a request to the server for a question, using the user terminal, towards the node. The request for the question may be achieved by scanning a QR code (or other type of code, such as a bar code, colour code etc) using the user terminal, where the QR code is related to the typeof question the user will receive. Alternatively a user may type a code in and send it towards the server. The QR code, or any other such means of identification may be printed on a playing card. In response, the server selects a question, or generates a challenge, based on the user specific information. The server sends a message to the user's terminal, the message including a question. The user may response to the message, sending a reply including the answer to the question, or challenge. There may be a time limit imposed on how long a user has to answer. When the server receives the reply including the answer, the server may check that the answer is correct, and send a response. The response may include the answer, or it may simple indicate whether the user was correct or incorrect and other digital information such as audio, links, video, In an embodiment, the server for use in selecting one or more question sets to be used while playing a game may comprise the following: a receiver for receiving a request from a user terminal to register one or more of the user's details; a database for storing the one or more user's details including questions and answers and their associated digital information the receiver being further arranged to receive from the user a request for a question, the request identifying the question set; a processor for selecting a question from the database, the question being relevant to the identified user according to the stored user details; a transmitter for sending the question towards the user; the receiver being further arranged to receive a response from the user, the response comprising an answer to the question; the processor further arranged to look up the correct answer from the database; the transmitter being further arranged to send a reply to the user, the reply informing the user whether they were correct or incorrect.

The user terminal for use in selecting one or more questions to be used while playing a game may comprise the following: a first user input for accepting a user's input relating to registering with a server; a transmitter for sending a request to register towards a node, the request comprising one or more user's details; a second user input for accepting an input relating to an identification identifying the user; the transmitter further arranged to send a request towards the server for a question1 the request comprising information relating to the identification identifying the the question set to be used when the user is playing; a receiver for receiving from the server a response, the response comprising a question and answers a third user input for accepting a user's input relating to the question; and, the transmitter further arranged to send a response, the response comprising an answer to the question; and the receiver further arranged to receive a response, the response comprising information relating to whether the user was correct or incorrect with the associated digital information such as audio, weblinks, links, images and video.

The user inputs on the user terminal may be any of a keyboard, microphone, or digital camera.

An advantage to such a method is that it could allow players of different abilities, to take part in the game on a level playing field. For example, players of different ages will have questions posed that are suited to their age group.

Note that an identifier assigned to the user (for example a colour) may also be located at a playing element. For example, a card may have six different colours on it, each colour having a separate QR code. Each colour identifies a question set subject, and the QR code identifies, in addition to other information, the colour. Scanning the OR code for a particular colour will therefore allow the server that receives the code data to identify the subject from the colour, and assign an appropriate question or challenge.

The association of subject to the code can be controlled by the quiz master via the software administration.

Note also that the colour may be used to assist in scoring the game. For example, where the playing element is a card, the card may be placed in a board such that the with the user's associated colour is displayed. By looking at the board, the players can quickly determine which player has the greatest number of cards displaying their associated colour.

The combination of the player's associated colour, the colour associated with a OR code, and a back-end server that can identify a colour to the players profile and allows the server to select appropriate challenges and/or questions for the player.

Below there is described a game using the method described above.

The aim of the game is: To allow any learning age individuals or groups to create questions and answers about a subject of their interest. Then using interactive QR code question cards in conjunction with but not exclusively with a 3D playing board play the game using those question sets over a period time, by example creating a question set for the use of revision in a subject and then sharing that question set with fellow students Methodology: The quiz master chooses a question set for each of the colours that are printed on the Question card as the questions to be used in the game. The quiz master also selects each of the players allowed to play that game. The difficulty of the questions posed by the quiz game, and, that they have to answer, are suited to their age group that has already been sent to the server when setting up a new user to the game.

Different ways of playing the game are invisaged as follows: A timed game where the Quiz master is able to set an amount of time to play a question set, the winner of the game is the game is the players with mosts correct answers A completed Question set game that allows any number of players to take part ma game and the winner is the first player who has got all the answer correct. A variable of this methodology is that the quiz master is able to select how many questions from the question set are to be used in the game.

A game when each player players in turn with the time and quantity of question is controlled by the quiz master.

The question card is a 3D cube in final assembly. The question card currently has 6 different OR codes printed in 6 different colours that are printed on one side of the card material. . Each OR code has a relationship to the server, so that it can be linked to the software on one hand and used as a variable question set filter on the other All the question cards are the same shape but may be of different sizes to allow for more questions. The question cards are supplied flat packed and shaped to allow the player to assemble the question card they are using into a 3D shape, if allowed to do so. By way of example we have used a folding cube shape but other iterations may use other shapes that can easily be created by folding, such as a cheese wedge or pyramid. By example a, board with rebates to accept a cube measuring 50mm x 50mm x 50mm could also accept 4 cubes measuring for 25mm x 25mm x 25mm within the same area.

If the player answers the question posed by the game correctly then the player folds up the question card into the preformed shape and locates the 3D shape into one of the cavities provided for in the 3D playing board. By locating the 3D shape with their designated colour facing upwards into any of the cavities left unfilled this acts as the method calculating / scoring how each players is doing in comparison to each other for completing that set of questions.

The game can be played as a family up to a maximum of 6 players or as teams or individually.

Design of the 3D game board (see figure 1 below for visual understanding)The game board is assembled by the players using multiple flat portions that interlock with each other to produce a final 3D shape open cavity structure. Each cavity is used as the location points for the question card that has been folded up into the required shape for the open cavities that exist as open spaces within the game board structure. By way of example the current version has 25 cube shapes of 45mm x 45mm x 45mm and a number of small cavities of different sizes and shapes.

Within the structure there is an area that will allows the question cards to be stored when flat packed. Within the structure there will be a Jocation point for mounting the 3D game board to be mounted onto another surface, for example wall I door. Within the structure there are positive stop points so that the assembled question cards can easily be removed from the rebate. Within the structure the game board is stable and is free standing in either the vertical or horizontal axis. Within each game board there will be a means of releasable securing other game boards into the correct orientation to one another.

The current version is based on an exhibit piece produced for the "challenge of materials" exhibition in 1997. Designed and produced by Oliver Browne-Wilkinson, who is the owner of the design rights, but other versions can easily be produced using the same concepts of the design Subsequently additional game boards with their own question cards will be produced as additional products over time (see photo below). Once all the boards have been purchased and assembled it will create a life size version of the exhibit piece (see figure 1).

A simplified version of the game board is also attached ( see figure 2 for visual understanding) that will create a two dimensional version of the life size version of the exhibit piece (see figure 1) How to use the QR (quick response) codes to play the game: QR codes are printed on the playing cards and supplied with the game. The QR codes are the interface between the physical piece and digital information served up from the 8Z2012 software.

The QR code scanning software can be easily installed onto a computer or downloaded as an App" from an "App" store any other "smart" enabled hardware technology such as mobile phone or tablet. QR scanners use digital cameras to focus on the printed QR code on the question card and then automatically link the hardware to the information address, for our purposes the hardware will be taken to the BZ2012 website specifically designed to present the correct question for the player whose turn it is.

The software will allow the player to answer the question and can also supply additional information about the answer if required to do so. The software will also allow for multiple users. The software will allow the user to download new questions as and when required. The software will display the number of questions correctly answered and how each player is doing in comparison to the other. The software will have timer that can be variably set as a time limit for each question and be varied for either the degree of difficulty or to allow more time for younger people to think before they have to answer the question. The software will also allow the user to create their own questions and answers if they would like to do that. The software will have a log of each user and the number of games that they have taken part in, and the questions they have been asked and the questions they have answered correctly. The software will serve up the questions randomly or in sequence to each player when it is their turn.

BZ2012 QR codes are linking specific question cards to their relevant information on the BZ2012 software that serves up that information based on a multiple choice methodology, but subsequent iterations may use other answer response methodologies such as written or typed answers. Different design layouts of QR codes can be used to identify different question sets. There are forty different types of QR code design with more being developed. An example of those are shown below. Each question card can have different OR codes on each of the faces. Each style of OR code could be made so that it is relevant to different question types as shown in Figure 3. For example, the style of OR code shown in Figure 3A could relate to history question sets, the style of OR code shown in Figure 3B could relate to physics question sets, the style of OR code shown in Figure 3C could relate to space question sets, and the style of QR code shown in Figure 3D could relate to StoneHenge question sets.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1 A user terminal for use in selecting one or more questions to be used while playing a game, the user terminal comprising: a first user input for accepting a user's first input relating to registering with a server; a transmitter for sending a request to register towards the server, the request comprising one or more users details; a second user input for accepting a second input relating to an identification identifying the user; the transmitter further arranged to send a request towards the server for a question, the request comprising information relating to the identification identifying a question set to be used when the user is playing; a receiver for receiving from the server a response, the response comprising a question; a third user input for accepting a user's third input relating to the question; wherein the transmitter is further arranged to send towards the server a response, the response comprising the user third input relating to the question; and the receiver further arranged to receive a response, the response comprising information relating to whether the user third input was correct.
2. The user terminal according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal comprises a mobile device.

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3. The user terminal according to claim I or 2, further comprising means to scan a * code, the code identifying the question set. * * * *

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4. The user terminal according to claim 3, wherein the means to scan a code * comprises a OR reader. * ** *
5. The user terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, where either of the first or second user inputs comprises any of a keyboard, microphone, or digital camera.
6. A server for use in a communications network, the server for in selecting one or more question sets to be used while playing a game may, the server comprising: a receiver for receiving a request from a user terminal to register a user details; a database for storing the user details, questions and answers and their associated digital information, the questions and answers being grouped into question sets; the receiver being further arranged to receive from the user terminal a request for a question, the request identifying a question set; a processor for selecting from the identified question set a question, the question being selected according the identified user according to the stored user details; a transmitter for sending the question towards the user terminal; the receiver being further arranged to receive a response from the user terminal, the response comprising an answer to the question; the processor further arranged to determine the corresponding answer from the database; the transmitter being further arranged to send a reply to the user terminal, the reply informing the user whether they were correct.
7. The server according to claim 6, wherein the processor is arranged to select the question from the identified question set randomly or in sequence.
8. A method of operating a user terminal, the method comprising: receiving a first user input comprising details relating to a user of the terminal; p...sending a request to register towards a server, the request comprising the user I *S * 1 details; inputting a second user input relating to an identity of the user and at least one * 30 question set; *.* sending towards the server a request for a question, the request comprising information relating to the identification identifying a question set to be used when the user is playing; receiving from the server a response, the response comprising a question; receiving third user input relating to the question; sending towards the server a response, the response comprising the third user input relating to the question; receiving from the server a response, the response comprising information relating to whether the third user input was correct.
9. A method of operating a server, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user terminal to register a user details: storing at a database the user details, questions and answers and their associated digital information, the questions and answers being grouped into question sets: receiving from the user terminal a request for a question, the request identifying a question set: selecting from the identified question set a question, the question being selected according the identified user according to the stored user details: sending the question towards the user terminal: receiving a response from the user terminal, the response comprising an answer to the question: determining the corresponding answer from the database; sending a reply to the user terminal, the reply informing the user whether they were correct.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising selecting from the identified question set a question either randomly or in a sequence. *0** a * . * . 4 I * a.. I * -ItIII