WO2012169703A1

WO2012169703A1 - System and method for providing screen golf network game for points

Info

Publication number: WO2012169703A1
Application number: PCT/KR2011/007601
Authority: WO
Inventors: Myung Jin Park
Original assignee: Myung Jin Park
Priority date: 2011-06-10
Filing date: 2011-10-13
Publication date: 2012-12-13

Abstract

Provided is a screen golf network game for points providing system, and the system may include a log-in processing unit to process log-ins by transmitting, to a server, authentication information received from a first player of a screen golf game room, a joining determination unit to determine whether the first player logged on to the server is to join a game for points, and a golf game providing unit to provide a golf game with a second player of another screen golf game room when the first player is to join the game for points, and the golf game providing unit may transfer a predetermined number of points of a player who loses the golf game, based on a result of the golf game, and may provide the first player with the golf game irrespective of a progress of the game of the second player.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SCREEN GOLF NETWORK GAME FOR POINTS

The present invention relates to a screen golf network game for points providing method and system, and more particularly, a screen golf network game for points providing method and system that may provide an individual game or a golf game for points between clients transmitting invitation requests.

A screen golf game in a screen golf game room is a system to enable users to play a golf game indoors, which is referred to as a golf simulator. Generally, the screen golf game is configured to include a white screen to show an image from a projector, the projector to show a magnified screen golf image, a computer to execute a golf simulator program, and a swing plate that automatically generates a slant along a fairway or a line of a rough. Generally, a user referred to as a golfer stands on a foothold or a slant foothold simulating a slant of a course, views a course image projected on a front screen and hits a golf ball. In this instance, a location of the golf ball hit by the golfer is sensed by sensors installed at sides or the front, and a landing spot of the golf ball is calculated based on pre-programmed equations. Accordingly, the golfer views the screen showing a course image at the landing spot of the golf ball, hits the golf ball again, and thus, may be able to play golf indoors.

The screen golf game room may provide an online game service among players in various locations, over a network.

The screen golf game room may run in a waiting room for an online game on a server. A player generates a waiting room and waits for another player to join the game, which is based on a conventional online game scheme.

In the screen golf game room based on the conventional online game scheme, a client inputs a golf course and information for environmental settings and gets permission for opening a game room from the server or the client enters a game room generated by another client and thus, the client may play the online golf game with the other client.

Accordingly, the client has to wait until the other client enters the game room after opening the game room.

Here, a plurality of clients entering the game room takes turns to play a shot, and image information associated with the client who plays the shot is provided to remaining clients located in different screen golf game rooms. The remaining clients receive and output the shot image information transmitted from the client so that the golf game may progress.

The conventional screen golf game room has drawbacks of waiting for another player after opening a waiting room, and of waiting until an opponent completes a shot during the match.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a system for providing a screen golf network game for points, the system including a log-in processing unit to process log-ins by transmitting, to a server, authentication information received from a first player of a screen golf game room, a joining determination unit to determine whether the first player logged on to the server is to join a game for points, and a golf game providing unit to provide a golf game with a second player of another screen golf game room when the first player is to join the game for points, and the golf game providing unit may include transferring a predetermined number of points of a player who loses the golf game to a player who wins the golf game, based on a result of the golf game, and providing the first player with the golf game irrespective of progress of the second player in the game.

According to another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a system for providing a screen golf network game for points, the system including a log-in determining unit to determine, based on authentication information, whether a first player of a screen golf game room is allowed to log in when log-in is requested by receiving authentication information associated with the first player, an available player list processing unit to update an available player list by adding the first player to the available player list when the first player is allowed to log in, an available player list providing unit to transmit the updated available player list to a terminal of the screen golf game room of the first player when a game for points is requested by a second player in another screen golf game room, and a golf game providing unit to provide a golf game for points to the terminal of the screen golf game room of the first player and a terminal of the other screen golf game room of the second player.

According to still another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of providing a screen golf network game for points, the method including processing, by a log-in processing unit, log-in by transmitting authentication information received from a first player of a screen golf game room, determining, by a joining determination unit, whether the first player is to join a game for points, and providing, by a golf game providing unit, a golf game with a second player of another screen golf game room when the joining determination unit determines that the first player is to join the game for points, and the providing of the golf game may include transferring a predetermined number of points of a player who loses the golf game to a player who wins the golf game, based on a result of the golf game, and providing the golf game to the first player irrespective of a progress of the second player in the game.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a screen golf network game for points providing system that immediately provides a user desiring a game with the game since the user may not need approval for opening a game room or may not wait for another player entering the game room.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a screen golf network game for points providing system that enables a user to play a shot at a desired time irrespective of another player and thus, the user may not wait until the other player completes a shot.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a screen golf network game for points providing system that effectively uses a network resource since the system may not need to receive playing image information of opponents in a game.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a screen golf network game for points providing system that receives only game records information of opponents in a game and location information associated with a golf ball hit during a previous shot, and that reflects the information to a current game and thus, may promptly provide a game at a low cost.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a screen golf network game for points providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are block diagrams illustrating a screen golf network game for points providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of displaying available player list information in a screen golf game room according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 through 7 are diagrams illustrating embodiments that request invitation in a screen golf game room according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating a generated game for points according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10 through 20 are diagrams illustrating embodiments of playing a game for points according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating available player list information obtained by sorting based on handicap information;

FIGS. 22 through 24 are diagrams illustrating embodiments of providing a golf game in conjunction with a social network service;

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a webpage of a social network service that displays a score card.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 illustrates a screen golf network game for points providing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The screen golf network game for points providing system 100 may include a screen golf network game for points providing system 110 on a client side, that is, in a screen golf game room, and a screen golf network game for points providing system 120 on a server side.

The screen golf network game for points providing system 110 in the screen golf game room may include a log-in processing unit 111, a joining determination unit 112, a golf game providing unit 113, and an invitation processing unit 114.

The log-in processing unit 111 may process log-in by transmitting authentication information received from a first player of the screen golf game room.

For example, the first player may input, as the authentication information, an identification (ID) and a password used when signing up for a membership and may request a log-in.

The server may verify the first player based on the inputted authentication information.

That is, the server may register the first player as an available player when the first player is verified based on the inputted authentication information.

The joining determination unit 112 may determine whether the first player logged on to the server is to join a game for points.

As an example, when the first player is logged on to the server, the first player may request a golf game for points, and the joining determination unit 112 may determine that the first player is to join the game for points based on the request from the first player.

As another example, the logged-in first player may request information associated with available players from the server. In this example, the joining determination device 112 may determine that the first player is to join a game for points.

The joining determination unit 112 may receive, from the server, available player list information including information associated with logged-in players, and may display the available player list information. In this example, the first player may select a second player from the available player list information.

The available player list information may be obtained by sorting the players logged on to the server based on at least one piece of location information, level information, point information, and handicap information.

When the joining determination unit 112 determines that the first player is to join the game for points, the golf game providing unit 113 may provide a golf game with the second player in another screen golf game room.

The golf game providing unit 113 may transfer a predetermined number of points from a player who loses the golf game to a player who wins the golf game, based on a result of the golf game, and may provide the golf game to the first player irrespective of a progress of the second player in the game.

For example, the golf game providing unit 113 may be applicable to a golf game that provides points per stroke, birdie points, and the like as set by one of the first player and the second player.

Here, options, such as wind, weather, temperature, wind velocity, and the like, may be changed by one of the first player and the second player, and the golf game providing unit 113 may provide a golf game reflecting the changed options.

When the joining determination unit 112 determines that the first player is not to join the game for points, the golf game providing unit 113 may provide a regular golf game.

For example, the golf game providing unit 113 may receive player information, course information and the like from the server associated with the regular golf game or an individual game, and may provide the first player with the regular golf game or the individual game.

The first player may be registered on the server as an available player while the first player is playing the regular golf game.

Since the first player is registered on the server as the available player while playing the regular golf game, a third player may send an invitation request to the first player.

The screen golf network game for points providing system 110 in the screen golf game room may query whether the first player is to respond to the invitation request transmitted from the third player, and may further include an invitation processing unit 114 that receives a response corresponding to the query from the first player.

The joining determination unit 112 may check the response corresponding to the query, and may determine whether the first player is to join a game for points.

The golf game providing unit 113 may provide a golf game with the third player when the first player is determined to join the game for points.

The screen golf network game for points providing system 100 may not share high-capacity information, such as a video clip or an image associated with a shot, between a client used by the first player and a client used by the second player, and may only share information used for synchronization of the golf game.

The golf game providing unit 113 may receive, from the server, game record information associated with the second player and location information associated with a golf ball hit by a previous shot, and may reflect the information to the golf game provided to the first player.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a player may not need to receive image information associated with progress of play of an opponent joining the game, and may effectively use network resources.

The screen golf network game for points providing system 120 may include a database 121 to store available player list information, a log-in determining unit 122, an available player list processing unit 123, an available player list providing unit 124, and a golf game providing unit 125.

The log-in determining unit 122 may determine, based on the authentication information, whether the first player is allowed to log in when a log-in is requested through authentication information associated with the first player.

The log-in determining unit 122 may operate in conjunction with an external server to verify authentication information associated with a player.

When the first player is allowed to log in, the available player list processing unit 123 may update the available player list by adding the first player to the available player list.

The available player list processing unit 123 may update the available player list based on information associated with whether the first player is to join the game for points.

When the second player in the other screen golf game room requests the game for points, the available player list providing unit 124 may transmit the updated available player list to a terminal in the screen golf game room of the second player.

Subsequently, the second player may check the received available player list and may request invitation of a desired player

Then, the golf game providing unit 125 may provide a golf game for points to a terminal in the screen golf game room of the first player and the terminal in the screen golf game room of the second player.

In this example, the golf game providing unit 125 may provide the golf game to the first player irrespective of progress of the second player in the game.

In the same manner, the golf game providing unit 125 may provide the golf game to the second player irrespective of a progress of the game of the first player in the game.

The golf game providing unit 125 may transmit game record information associated with the second player and location information associated with a golf ball hit by a previous shot, to the terminal in the screen golf game room of the first player, and may transmit game record information associated with the first player and location information associated with a golf ball hit by a previous shot, to the terminal in the screen golf game room of the second player.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the golf game providing unit 125 may provide the first player and the second player with an independent golf game, based on a relatively small amount of network resources.

The golf game providing unit 125 may provide the game for points and may provide a regular game without using points.

For example, the golf game providing unit 125 may proceed with a golf game by continuously recording only victories and defeats of a player based on results of games.

The golf game providing unit 125 may store history information associated with players with whom the first player played in the past, and may provide the history information to the first player.

The golf game providing unit 125 included on the server side may transmit the history information to the screen golf game room side.

The first player may check the history information, and may select an available player from among the players with whom the first player played in the past so as to invite the selected player to a golf game.

The golf game providing unit 125 may identify, among logged-in available players, players who are members of a social network that the first player is a member of. The server may receive information associated with social network services that player joins when the player signs up for a membership.

The golf game providing unit 125 may provide, to the first player, information associated with at least one player who is a member of the social network that the first player joins among available players.

The first player may communicate with other players using the social network that the first player joins.

The screen golf network game for points providing system 100 for the screen golf game may further include a game image managing unit (not illustrated) to record game images of players joining the golf game.

The game image managing unit may output at least one game image among the recorded game images through the social network, and may draw interest of the players.

The golf game providing unit 125 may select a hole out time in a game option when opening a game, so as to smoothly proceed with the game.

A game time between holes may be selected based on a type of a player by selecting an option associated with a hole out.

For example, a standard time limit of two to five minutes may be set for each player, and when N players play in a single client, the hole out time may be calculated as shown in Equation 1 below.

[Equation 1]

Hole out time standard = N x (standard time limit)

Here a rule of applying a secondary extension of time may be used when a play time exceeds a primary extension of time. When an extension of time is applied a total of three times during the game, a penalty such as deduction of an amount of points, such as 5 manner points, one penalty stroke, and the like, may be applied and thus, engagement and interest in the golf game may be improved.

The golf game providing unit 125 may check etiquette of an opponent based on manner points of players obtained during a network game, and may deduct points based on the checked manner points when a penalty is applied since a play time exceeds a hole out time.

For example, when a penalty is applied to a player, an amount such as, 5 points may be deducted from an initial total of 100 basic points, and when three games are played without a penalty, a total of 5 points may be added.

When a player uses the screen golf network game for points providing system 100, the player may not need an approval for opening a game room or may not need to wait until another player enters the game room and thus, the player may begin to play a game immediately.

When a player uses the screen golf network game for points providing system 100, the player may not need to wait until another player completes a shot while playing an online game and thus, the player may independently play a shot at a desired time.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a game may be provided at a low cost by receiving game record information associated with another player in the game and location information associated with a golf ball hit by a previous shot over a network, and by reflecting the information to the current game.

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate a screen golf network game for points providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to the screen golf network game for points providing method, a log-in processing unit on a client side may transmit, to a server, authentication information received from a first player in a screen golf game room, and may request log-in in operation 201.

In operation 202, the log-in processing unit may wait for a predetermined time for server authentication.

In operation 203, the screen golf network game for points providing method may determine, using a joining determination unit on the client side, whether the first player logged on to the server is to join a network game for points.

When the first player is not to join the game for points, the screen golf network game for points providing method may provide a regular golf game in operation 204. In this example, the first player may select a desired course and a course environment.

The screen golf network game for points providing method may request log-in and may register, on the server, an authenticated player and a player playing a regular golf game, as available players. An available player list may be updated by adding the available players to the available player list and the updated available player list may be managed in operation 205.

The screen golf network game for points providing method may store the updated available player list in a predetermined storage space as a database in operation 206.

The screen golf network game for points providing method may relay, using the server, an invitation and a response to the invitation in operation 207. For example, when a player requests information associated with an available player from the server, the server may relay an invitation request and an acceptance to the invitation request by asking the available player whether the available player is to join.

When it is determined that the first player is to join in operation 203, the screen golf network game for points providing method may request, from the server, the available player list corresponding to available player information in operation 208.

The available player list information may be obtained by sorting players logged on to the server based on at least one piece of local information, level information, point information, and handicap information.

The screen golf network game for points providing method may display the available player list received from the server, so that the first player selects a second player who desires to receive an invitation in operation 209.

The screen golf network game for points providing method may receive invitation request information inputted by the first player in operation 210, and may transmit, to the server, an invitation request for a network game for points in operation 211.

The screen golf network game for points providing method may receive a notice, from the server, whether the second player accepts the invitation request for the network game for points in operation 212.

When the second player rejects the invitation request for the network game for points, the screen golf network game for points providing method may proceed with operation 209 to search for another player to send an invitation to.

When the second player accepts the invitation request for the network game for points, the screen golf network game for points providing method may determine that the first player and the second player are to join the network game for points using a golf game providing unit, and may provide a golf game to the first player in a screen golf game room and the second player in another screen golf game room.

In this example, the screen golf network game for points providing method may receive game record information associated with the second player and location information of a golf ball hit by a previous shot, may provide the information to the first player, and may receive game record information associated with the first player and location information of a golf ball hit by a previous shot, may provide the information to the second player and thus, may provide the golf game to the first player irrespective of progress of the second player in the game.

The screen golf network game for points providing method may load data associated with a hole selected, in advance, by the first player or the second player, and may output the data in operation 213. When the first player takes a first turn, the first player plays a shot in the screen golf game room in operation 214. The screen golf network game for points providing method may display a graphic image on a screen based on the shot of the first player in operation 215.

When a golf ball stops in operation 216, the screen golf network game for points providing method may organize scores in operation 217, and may check whether there is a hole out in operation 218.

When there is not a hole out, the screen golf network game for points providing method may proceed with operation 213 to load data associated with a next hole.

When there is a hole out, the screen golf network game for points providing method may ask the first player or the second player whether the golf game is finished in operation 219.

For example, a player who wins a previous game or a player who arranges the current golf game may be in charge of determining whether to finish the golf game.

When the golf game is determined to be finished, the screen golf network game for points providing method may display calculation of points of every hole in operation 220.

When the golf game is determined to be continued, the screen golf network game for points providing method may display calculation of points based on whether there is a hole out in operation 221.

When the scores are calculated in operation 217, the server may relay the network game for points to users in operation 222

When the first player completes a shot, the server may transmit, to a terminal on the second player side, only location information associated with a golf ball hit by the shot of the first player and current scores.

The screen golf network game for points providing method may determine whether there is a hole out, and may calculate points based on the hole out in operation 223.

Generally, a predetermined number of points of a loser may be transferred to a winner, based on points per stroke and birdies.

Subsequently, the server may update a database based on the points calculated based on a result of the golf game in operation 224, and may update a ranking of the winner obtaining points so as to update ranking information in operation 225.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of displaying available player list information 300 in a screen golf game room according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A screen golf network game for points providing system may display the available player list information 300 using a display in the screen golf game room.

The available player list information 300 may include available players and information associated with the available players.

For example, the available player list information 300 may show that a group 301 including three players is currently available. A first player has an ID of 'osing12', a nickname of 'Opro', a level of 'diamond', and a number of points '203,200'.

Here, remaining players included in the group 301 have an ID of 'ss2135', a nickname of 'test man', a level of 'gold', a number of points '2,250', and an ID of 'ss505', a nickname of 'Mr. hong', a level of 'silver', and a number of points '1,000', respectively.

A player may check the available player list information 300, and may select an icon 302 so as to send invitation requests to players included in the group 301.

On a side of the player who checks the available player list information 300, an appropriate number of players for playing the golf game with the three players who are invited using the icon 302 may be needed.

FIGS. 4 through 7 illustrate embodiments that send invitation requests in a screen golf game room according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a pop-up window 303 providing information may be outputted on a display of a screen golf game room when the invitation is requested through the icon 302.

Here, information associated with course information, points per stroke, birdie points, and handicap information that are set by a player who sends the invitation requests may be displayed on a screen, as illustrated in the popup window 303.

The player may check the popup window 303, and may recognize that a course is a virtual golf course of 'GRAPHIC RAMID UISEONG BIO A', points per stroke is 100, an albatross gets six times the number of basic points, an eagle gets five times the number of basic points, and a birdie gets three times the number of basic points.

Referring to FIG. 5, a pop-up window 304 providing information that the server is waiting for a response from an opponent may be displayed. Here, the response is associated with whether the opponent player accepts the invitation.

That is, the popup window 304 displays brief information associated with whether the opponent accepts the invitation, and a waiting time indicating how much time has passed after sending the invitation request.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the opponent accepts the invitation request, a pop-up window 305 may be displayed.

Here, the pop-up window 305 may display course information, points per stroke, birdie points, and handicap information set by the player who requests the invitation, information associated with opponent players, and information associated with screen golf game rooms where the opponent players are currently located for a game.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the opponent player rejects the invitation request, a popup window 306 that displays a response to the invitation request may pop up.

Accordingly, the player who sends the invitation request may check the pop-up window 306, and may send an invitation request to another player.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a generated game for points according to an embodiment of the present invention

Referring to FIG. 8, when opponents accept an invitation request, a player who sends the invitation requests may share information associated with a game while a course for the golf game is loaded to a screen golf game room of the player who sends the invitation requests, and to screen golf game rooms of the opponents.

That is, the screen golf game rooms display the course information, points per stroke, birdie points, and handicap information associated with the golf game currently being loaded, as shown in an area 307.

Here, information associated with players of the invited Daejeon R&D team may be displayed, such as IDs, nicknames, level information, and point information associated with the players, as illustrated in an area 308. Also, information associated with players of THEON screen golf at Uijeongbu who sent the invitation requests may be displayed, such as IDs, nicknames, level information, and point information associated with the players, as illustrated in an area 309.

Referring to FIG. 9, information for environmental settings associated with a course may be displayed when loading is completed.

For fair play, the players sending the invitation requests and invited players may check information associated with a current course environment through a popup window 310.

FIGS. 10 through 20 illustrate embodiments of playing a game for points according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When a golf game starts, a course 1004 loaded as shown in FIG. 10 may be displayed.

Here, on one side of the loaded course 1004, course name information 1001 providing information about a current course, a team record interface 1002 for managing scores, and an opponent record interface 1003 for providing information about opponents may be displayed.

Players may check the course name information 1001, the team record interface 1002, and the opponent record interface 1003 before the golf game begins.

Referring to FIG. 11, players who are invited may request multiplying of the points for the golf game, such as doubling the points, tripling the points, and quadrupling the points as illustrated in a popup window 1005. When the golf game is finished, points to be transferred from a loser to a winner may be determined based on information associated with the multiplied points, in addition to points per stroke and birdie points that are predetermined.

Referring to FIG. 12, information associated with the request from the invited player side for multiplying of the points may be displayed as illustrated in a pop-up window 1006.

Referring to FIG. 13, when players who sent the invitation requests agree with the request for multiplying of the points, the players may select 'accept' as illustrated in a pop-up window 1007, so as to start the golf game.

Referring to FIG. 14, when the players who request the invitation do not agree with the request for multiplying of the points, the players may select 'reject' as illustrated in a popup window 1008, so as to postpone the golf game.

The invited players may not agree with information associated with environment settings set by the players who request the invitation.

Referring to FIG. 15, the invited players may request changing of information associated with environmental settings set by the players who request the invitation, as illustrated in a pop-up window 1009. For example, the invited players may request doubling the points per stroke so as to change the points per stroke to 200 points.

Referring to FIG. 16, the players who sent the invitation requests may determine whether to accept the request shown in the popup window 1009, as illustrated in a popup window 1010.

Referring to FIG. 17, when the players who sent the invitation requests accept the request shown in the popup window 1009, a message informing the opponent that the request is accepted may be displayed as illustrated in a pop-up window 1011.

Referring to FIG. 18, when the players who sent the invitation requests rejects the request shown in the popup window 1009, a message informing the opponent that the request is rejected may be displayed as illustrated in a pop-up window 1013.

Referring to FIG. 19, when the golf game is finished, a screen golf network game for points providing system may display a message informing players that the game for points is finished, as illustrated in a popup window 1014. In this instance, the screen golf network game for points providing system may ask the players whether the players will continue the golf game, through the popup window 1014, and may determine whether to continue the golf game.

Referring to FIG. 20, when the players request the screen golf network game for points providing system to finish the golf game, the screen golf network game for points providing system may provide a menu for checking information associated with the golf game.

The menu includes an item 2001 indicating an option to view a score card associated with the golf game, an item 2002 indicating an option to view a team score card associated with team scores, and an item 2003 indicating an option to view an opponent team score card associated with an opponent team scores.

FIG. 21 illustrates available player list information obtained by sorting based on handicap information.

A screen golf network game for points providing system may sort available player list information based on various conditions.

A player who is to send an invitation request may read an available player list displayed on a screen 2100, and may select a desired player for a golf game.

A control interface 2110 may be displayed on the screen 2100.

The screen golf network game for points providing system may sort the available player list information, that is, players logged on to a server, based on handicap information associated with a first player.

The first player may manipulate the control interface 2110 to sort the available player list information based on at least one piece of local information, level information, point information, and handicap information associated with users logged on to the server.

The screen golf network game for points providing system may display, using the control interface 2110, players having handicap points of +6 among the available player list, as illustrated in an area 2120.

The handicap may denote handicap points determined based on an arithmetic mean of results of five recent golf games.

The screen golf network game for points providing system may display, on the area 2120, ID information, nickname information, handicap points, level information, point information, and the like associated with the players having handicap points of +6.

The screen golf network game for points providing system may display, on an area 2130, information associated with a screen golf game room where the first player is currently located, and information associated with progress in the game.

The screen golf network game for points providing system may display, on an area 2140 of the screen 2100, information associated with a predetermined player among the players listed on the area 2120.

For example, old game records, and picture information associated with the predetermined player may be displayed on the area 2140.

FIGS. 22 through 24 are diagrams illustrating embodiments of providing a golf game in conjunction with a social network service

A screen golf network game for points providing system may provide a game image recorded for each player, to a social network that a corresponding player uses, as the golf game progresses.

The provided game image may be displayed through the social network service, based on a request of a player, and the player may view a game image associated with another player.

A waiting display of the golf game may include an icon 2210 and an icon 2220.

Before the golf game starts, a first player may manipulate a control interface of the icon 2210 and a control interface of the icon 2220 and thus, may view game images of old golf games using the social network service.

Referring to FIG. 23, when the golf game is finished, a game image recorded in a view of the first player or a second player among game images recorded during the golf game may be displayed by manipulating a control interface of an icon 2310 and a control interface of an icon 2320.

The first player may manipulate the control interface of the icon 2310 so as to view the game image of the first player, and may manipulate the control interface of the icon 2320 so as to view the game image of the second player.

The players may check score cards associated with old golf games played in the past, or may check game images provided through the social network service.

A list of the recorded game images may be displayed through the social network used the players, as illustrated in FIG. 24.

Referring to FIG. 24, an information display area 2410 that provides information associated with the first player may be displayed on a web browser providing access to a social network, and a game image list area 2420 that provides information associated with recorded game image lists and information associated with a link requesting display of the game images may be provided through the web browser.

The first player and other users accessing the social network service of the first player may view the game image of the first player through the game image list area 2420.

As an example, the game images may include images associated with the golf game, swing images during the game, and the like.

FIG. 25 illustrates a web page of a social network service that displays a score card.

A screen golf network game for points providing system may provide a web page using a social network service.

The provided web page may include a title area 2510. For example, the title area provides information about a score card associated with a play of a player ‘squash man’ on April 29, 2011.

The web page may further include a golf game room information display area 2520 and a score card displaying area 2530. Here, the golf game room information display area 2520 may display golf course information, a number of shots hit out of bounds (OB) information, maximum driving distance information, average driving distance information, and the like,

Here, social network users who view the web page may check a result of the golf game of ‘squash man’, for each hole in a golf course in Heaven Land Country Club (CC).

The web page may further include a my records area 2540 that is linked to a place providing records of a desired day in real time, a video clip area 2550 that is linked to a place providing swing motion images of the first player and other players, and a THEON ranking zone area 2560 that is linked to a place providing information associated with a match, a level, a point ranking, and the like.

The screen golf network game for points providing system may share game images using the social network service and thus, may add enthusiasm to the golf game.

The screen golf network game for points providing method according to the above-described embodiments of the present invention may be recorded in non-transitory computer readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM discs and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as floptical discs; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, or vice versa.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

A system for providing a screen golf network game for points, the system comprising:

a log-in processing unit to process log-ins by transmitting, to a server, authentication information received from a first player of a screen golf game room;

a joining determination unit to determine whether the first player logged on to the server is to join a game for points; and

a golf game providing unit to provide a golf game with a second player of another screen golf game room when the first player is to join the game for points,

wherein the golf game providing unit comprises:

transferring a predetermined number of points of a player who loses the golf game to a player who wins the golf game, based on a result of the golf game; and

providing the first player with the golf game irrespective of a progress of the game of the second player.
The system of claim 1, wherein the joining determination unit receives, from the server, available player list information including information associated with logged-in players to display the available player list information, and determines whether the first player is to join the game for points by receiving a selection input from the first player.
The system of claim 2, wherein the available player list information is obtained by sorting the players logged on to the server based on at least one of location information, level information, point information, and handicap information.
The system of claim 1, wherein the golf game providing unit provides a regular golf game to the first player when the first player is not to join the game for points.
The system of claim 4, further comprising:

an invitation processing unit to query whether the first player playing the regular golf game responds to an invitation request from a third player, and to receive, from the first player, a response corresponding to the query,

wherein:

the joining determination unit checks the response, received from the first player, with respect to the query and determines whether the first player is to join the game for points; and

the golf game providing unit provides a golf game with the third player when the first player is to join the game for points.
The system of claim 1, wherein the golf game providing unit receives game record information associated with the second player and location information associated with a golf ball hit by a previous shot, and reflects the information to the golf game provided to the first player.
A system for providing a screen golf network game for points, the system comprising:

a log-in determining unit to determine, based on authentication information, whether a first player of a screen golf game room is allowed to log in when log-in is requested by receiving authentication information associated with the first player;

an available player list processing unit to update an available player list by adding the first player to the available player list when the first player is allowed to log in;

an available player list providing unit to transmit the updated available player list to a terminal of the screen golf game room of the first player when a game for points is requested by a second player in another screen golf game room; and

a golf game providing unit to provide a golf game for points to the terminal of the screen golf game room of the first player and a terminal of the other screen golf game room of the second player.
The system of claim 7, wherein the golf game providing unit provides the golf game to the first player irrespective of a progress of the game of the second player, and provides the golf game to the second player irrespective of a progress of the game of the first player.
The system of claim 8, wherein the golf game providing unit transmits game record information associated with the second player and location information associated with a golf ball hit by a previous shot to the terminal of the screen golf game room of the first player, and transmits game record information associated with the first player and location information associated with a golf ball hit by a previous shot to the terminal of the other screen golf game room of the second player.
The system of claim 7, wherein the golf game providing unit stores history information associated with players, with whom the first player matched in the past, and provides the history information to the first player.
The system of claim 7, wherein the golf game providing unit provides, to the first player, information associated with at least one player who is a member of a social network that the first player joins as a member from among available players.
The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a game image managing unit to record game images of the players joining the golf game.
The system of claim 7, wherein the game image managing unit outputs at least one of the recorded game images using the social network.
A method of providing a screen golf network game for points, the method comprising:

processing, by a log-in processing unit, log-in by transmitting authentication information received from a first player of a screen golf game room;

determining, by a joining determination unit, whether the first player is to join a game for points; and

providing, by a golf game providing unit, a golf game with a second player of another screen golf game room when the joining determination unit determines that the first player is to join the game for points,

wherein the providing of the golf game comprises:

transferring a predetermined number of points of a player who loses the golf game to a player who wins the golf game, based on a result of the golf game; and

providing the golf game to the first player irrespective of a progress of the game of the second player.
The method of claim 14, wherein the determining comprises:

receiving, from a server, available player list information including information associated with logged-in players, and displaying the available player list information; and

determining whether the first player is to join the game for points by receiving a selection input from the first player,

wherein the available player list information is obtained by sorting players logged on to the server based on at least one piece of location information, level information, point information, and handicap information.
The method of claim 14, wherein the providing of the golf game to the first player irrespective of the progress of the game of the second player comprises

receiving game record information associated with the second player and location information associated with a golf ball hit by a previous shot and providing the information to the first player, and receiving game record information associated with the first player and location information associated with a golf ball hit by a previous shot and providing the information to the second player.
A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a program to implement the method of claims 14 through 16.