Game of skill playable by remote participants in conjunction with a common game event where participants are grouped as to skill level

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG.
1 illustrates the overall communications and control network used with the present invention and includes a central computer system (CCS) 11 which regulates or controls the overall system both as to the common game event, for example, football, baseball, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy or an offline specialized game specifically directed to the player or customer.
CCS 11 also controls things of a supervisory nature such as giving a customer and their associated control unit 12 a particular skill level for the game in which they are playing in order to provide for effective competition.
Specifically, and in more detail, central computer system 11 will broadcast data as shown on link 13 to a satellite dish or other link which is connected to radio and/or TV stations 14.
Then these provide a mass communications link 16 to the remote control unit 12 located in the customer's home.
Of course, the customer or participant-player would also have their television receiver 17.
Referring to the link 16 "designated game data and results", this includes either a vertical blanking interval (VBI) of a TV signal on which perhaps the game itself is being transmitted to the user or on a separate radio FM-SCA channel.
Game data includes lockout signals involving player predictions as described in the '546 patent.
The present invention contemplates both the use of football or baseball games broadcast live by television or TV game shows or a particular common game event such as a trivia quiz which is initially generated or broadcast by the central computer system 11.
The trivia quiz would be received on the display screen of the control unit 12 (not shown) which also includes game inputs (not shown) where the customer may respond; for example, as briefly discussed above, in a football or baseball game, predicting the next play, or in the case of a TV game, giving a proper answer.
Control unit 12 as described in the '546 patent may internally score the player and then at the end of the game, by an internal modem in control unit 12 (not shown but described in the '546 patent), game scores may be uploaded to the central computer system 11, by the links 18 and 19 which extend through the telephone packet switching network 21