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United States Patent6677858
Faris , ; et al.January 13, 2004
Title
INTERNET-BASED METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING SPACE-TIME COORDINATE INFORMATION AND BIOPHYSIOLOGICAL STATE INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM AN ANIMATE OBJECT ALONG A COURSE THROUGH THE SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM
Abstract
An Internet-based method of and system for monitoring space-time coordinate information and biophysiological state information collected from an animate object moving along a course through the space-time continuum. The Internet-based system comprise a wireless GSU-enabled client network device affixed to the body of an animate object. The wireless device includes a global synchronization unit (GSU) for automatically generating time and space (TS) coordinate information corresponding to the time and space coordinate of the animate object with respect to a globally referenced coordinate system, as the animate object moves along a course through the space time continuum. The device also includes biophysiological state sensor affixed to the body of the animate object, for automatically sensing the biophysiological state of the animate object and generating biophysiological state information indicative of the sensed biophysiological state of the animate object along its course. The wireless device also includes a wireless date transmitter for transmitting the TS coordinate information and the biophysiological state information through free-space. A TS-stamping based tracking server receives the TS coordinate information and the biophysiological state information through in a wireless manner, and stores the same as the animate object moves along its course. An Internet information server serves Internet-based documents containing the collected TS coordinate and biophysiological state information. An Internet-enabled client system enables authorized persons to view the served Internet-based documents and monitor the collected TS coordinate and biophysiological state information, for various purposes.
Inventors:Faris; Sadeg M. (Pleasantville, NY), Hamlin; Gregory  (Presque Island, ME), Flannery; James P.  (New City, NY)
Assignee:Reveo, Inc. (Elmsford, NY)
Appl. No.:583150
Filed:May 30, 2000
Current U.S. Class:340/573.1 701/214 709/203 
Field of Search:340/573.1,539 709/203 701/214
U.S. Patent Documents
6047203April 2000Sackner et al.
6264614July 2001Albert et al.
6344794February 2002Ulrich et al.
6353390March 2002Beri et al.
6510380January 2003Curatolo et al.
Primary Examiner: Lim; Krisna
Attorney, Agent or Firm:Perkowski, Esq. PC; Thomas J. Crispino; Ralph J.
Parent Case Text


RELATED CASES

This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/514,598 entitled "Globally Time-Synchronized Systems, Devices and Methods" filed Feb. 28, 2000, which is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 09/513,601, filed Feb. 25, 2000 entitled "Globally Time-Synchronized Systems, Devices and Methods" by Sadeg M. Faris, Gregory J. Hamlin and James P. Flannery; application Ser. No. 09/258,573 entitled "Internet-Based System and Method for Fairly and Securely Enabling Time-Constrained Competition Using Globally Time-Synchronized Client Subsystems and Information Servers Having Microsecond Client-Event Resolution", filed Feb. 26, 1999, owned by Assignee, Reveo, Inc., of Elmsford, N.Y., and incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Claims

What is claimed is:
1. An Internet-based system for monitoring space-time coordinate information and biophysiological state information collected from an animate object moving along a course through the space-time continuum, said Internet-based system comprising: a wireless GSU-enabled client network device affixed to the body of an animate object, and including a GSU for automatically generating time and space (TS) coordinate information corresponding to the time and space coordinates of said animate object with respect to a globally referenced coordinate system, as said animate object moves along a course through the space-time continuum, and a biophysiological state sensor affixed to the body of said animate object, for automatically sensing the biophysiological state of said animate object and generating biophysiological state information indicative of the sensed biophysiological state of said animate object as said animate object moves along said course; and a wireless data transmitter for transmitting said TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information; a TS-stamping based tracking server, operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, for receiving said TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, and storing said TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information; an Internet information server, operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet and said TS-stamping based tracking receiver, for serving Internet-based documents containing said collected TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, or analyzed variants thereof; and an Internet-enabled client system, operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, for viewing said Internet-based documents and monitoring said collected TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, or analyzed variants thereof.

2. The Internet-based system of claim 1, wherein said animate object is selected from the group consisting of a human being and animal.

3. The Internet-based system of claim 1, wherein said biophysiological state sensor is a device selected from the group consisting of a pulse sensor and a temperature sensor.

4. The Internet-based system of claim 1, wherein said Internet information server is a Web information server for serving Web documents-containing said collected TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, or analyzed variants thereof, over the Internet; and wherein said Internet-enabled client system is a Web-enabled client system for monitoring said collected TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, or analyzed variants thereof, by viewing said Web documents served from said Web information server.

5. An Internet-based method of monitoring space-time coordinate information and biophysiological state information collected from an animate object moving along a course through the space-time continuum, said Internet-based method comprising the steps of: (a) affixing a wireless GSU-enabled client network device to the body of an animate object; (b) generating within said GSU-enabled client network device, time and space (TS) coordinate information corresponding to the time and space coordinates of said animate object with respect to a globally referenced coordinate system, as said animate object moves along said course; (c) sensing the biophysiological state of said animate object and generating within said GSU-enabled client network device, biophysiological state information corresponding to the biophysiological state of said animate object, as said animate object moves along said course; (d) transmitting, said TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information through free-space, to a TS-stamping based tracking server operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet; (e) receiving said TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information in a wireless manner at said TS-stamping based tracking server, and storing said TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, as said animate object moves along said course; (f) serving said collected TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, or analyzed variants thereof, from a Internet information server operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet; and (g) monitoring said collected TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, or analyzed variants thereof, from an Internet-enabled client system operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet.

6. The Internet-based method of claim 5, where in steps (l) through (g) said animate object is an object selected from the group consisting of a human being, a domesticated animal and a wild animal.

7. The Internet-based method of claim 5, where in step (c) said biophysiological state sensor is a device selected from the group consisting of a pulse sensor and a temperature sensor.

8. The Internet-based method of claim 5, wherein said Internet information server is a Web information server for serving Web documents-containing said collected TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, or analyzed variants thereof, over the Internet; and wherein said Internet-enabled client system is a Web-enabled client system for monitoring said collected TS coordinate information and said biophysiological state information, or analyzed variants thereof, by viewing said Web documents served from said Web information server.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the operation and performance of client-server type internetworked computer systems of global extent, such as the Internet, and more particularly to a novel Internet-based information system and method which enables millions of time-constrained competitions, contests or transactions, among the mass population, in a fundamentally fair and secure manner, using globally time-synchronized client subsystems and information servers having extreme accurate client-event resolution independent of variable network latency.

2. Brief Description of the State of the Art

While the role of cooperation has a secure place in the history of mankind, so too does the role of competition. Few will disagree that, over the course of time, human beings have competed in widely diverse ways for both tangible and intangible objects of need and desire. Such objects of need or desire have included: food; shelter; land; rewards; prizes; natural resources; sexual partners; fame; fortune; diversion or recreation, such as sport; and ultimately, survival.

While the nature of man does not appear to have changed fundamentally over the course of time, it is clear that his choice of tools and weapons have changed in step with his increase in technological skill and knowledge.

For example, in the late 1960's, the globally-extensive information infrastructure, now referred to as the Internet, was developed by the United States Government as a tool for national defense and survival in world of intense global competition and military struggle. Ironically, some thirty years later, with the technological development of the HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP), the HyperText Markup Language (HTML), and the Domain Name System (DNS), a globally-extensive hyper-linked database referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW) has quickly evolved upon the infrastructure of the Internet. By virtue of the WWW, billions and even trillions of information resources, located on millions of computing systems at different locations on Earth, have been linked in complex ways serving the needs and desires of millions of information resource users under the domains .net, .edu, .gov, .org, .com, .mil, etc. of the DNS.

The overnight popularity and success of the WWW can be attributed to the development of GUI-based WWW browser programs which enable virtually any human being to access a particular information resource (e.g. HTML-encoded document) on the WWW by simply entering its Uniform Resource Locator (URL) into the WWW browser and allowing the HTTP to access the document from its hosting WWW information server and transport the document to the WWW browser for display and interaction. The development of massive WWW search engines and directory services has simplified finding needed or desired information resources using GUI-enabled WWW browsers.

Without question, a direct consequence of the WWW, the GUI-based WWW browser, and underlying infrastructure of the Internet (e.g. high-speed IP hubs, routers, and switches) has been to provide human beings with a new set of information-related tools that can be used in ever expanding forms of human collaboration, cooperation, and competition alike.

Over the past several years, a number of WWW-enabled applications have been developed, wherein human beings engage in either a cooperative or competitive activity that is constrained or otherwise conditioned on the variable time. Recent examples of on-line or Web-enabled forms of time-constrained competition include: on-line or Internet-enabled purchase or sale of stock, commodities or currency by customers located at geographically different locations, under time-varying market conditions; on-line or Internet-enabled auctioning of property involving competitive price bidding among numerous bidders located at geographically different locations; and on-line or Internet-enabled competitions among multiple competitors who are required to answer a question or solve a puzzle or problem under the time constraints of a clock, for a prize and/or an award.

In each of the above Internet-supported applications or processes, there currently exists an inherent unfairness among the competitors due to at least six important factors, namely: (1) the variable latency of (or delay in) data packet transmission over the Internet, dependent on the type of connection each client subsystem has to the Internet infrastructure; (2) the variable latency of data packet transmission over the Internet, dependent on the volume of congestion encountered by the data packets transmitted from a particular client machine; (3) the vulnerability of these applications to security breaches, tampering, and other forms of manipulation by computer and network hackers; (4) the latency of information display device used in client subsystems connected to the Internet; (5) the latency of information input device used in client subsystems connected to the Internet; and (6) the latency of the central processing unit (CPU) used in the client machine.

Regarding the first unfairness factor, it is important to point out that the network latency over the Internet varies over the course of the day and in response to network usage. Expressed differently, the time for a transmitted data packet to travel between a first client computer to a particular information server on the Internet will be different from the time for a transmitted data packet to travel between a second client computer to the same information server on the Internet. This time variance in the network latency on the Internet, referred to as the "variable network latency", must necessarily be modeled a non-deterministic process subject to the laws and principles of random (e.g. stochastic) processes. This has a number of important consequences for Internet-supported forms of time-constrained competition.

For example, in connection with Internet-supported competitions (e.g. games) involving a plurality of competitors or competitors, U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,463 attempts to compensate for network latency by measuring the average latency between all the client machines and then inserting intentional communication delays to make the average overall latency the same for all communications links. However, while this system equalizes the communication latency on average, it is wholly incapable of compensating for the random components of network latency (i.e. variable network latency) of the Internet. Consequently, even when practicing the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,463, the variable network latency of the Internet nevertheless introduces inherent sources of error into time-constrained competitions, thereby putting certain competitors at an unfair disadvantage, i.e. by virtue of their client computer connection to the Internet in relation to the information server supporting the time-constrained competition.

Regarding the second unfairness factor, it is important to point out that when Internet-supported competition involves a small number of competitors (e.g. 100 or less), the network latency should not be greatly affected by the competitors themselves, but rather will be more dependent on the types of connections the competitor's client machines have with the Internet and on network traffic and congestion as a whole. However, during Internet-supported competition involving massive numbers of competitors, as would exist during Web-based securities and commodities trading, and Web-based auctions, involving thousands or even millions of human beings are all competing simultaneously. Because of the simultaneous start time and the expected distribution of responses, the system will be subject to two intense impulses of traffic, one slightly before the competition start, and the other at the mean response time. It is necessary for the time-constrained competition system to be able to adequately handle this intense bandwidth.

As larger numbers of competitors are becoming involved in a time-constrained competition, it becomes more likely that there will be a tie between two or more competitors. Typically, it is preferable to avoid ties and be able to identify a single competitor as the winner. A time-constrained competition system intended to manage extremely large numbers of competitor must be able to resolve the time of the responses produced by such competitors in order to avoid or reduce the occurrence of ties.

Regarding the third unfairness factor, it is important to point out that each of the above-described time-constrained forms of Internet-supported competition are highly vulnerable to security breaches, tampering, and other forms of intentional network disruption by computer and network hackers. Although the use of a local clock insures fairness, it also raises a potential security problem with the system. Theoretically, an unscrupulous competitor could intercept and modify communications between the client and server, thereby falsifying the time-stamps and gaining an unfair advantage over other competitors. Alternatively, an unscrupulous competitor could modify the local clock, either through software or hardware means, or interfere with the clock synchronization procedure, again gaining an unfair advantage over other competitors. The ordinary encryption/decryption techniques suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,463 are simply inadequate to prevent cheating or violation of underlying rules of fairness associated with such time-constrained forms of Internet-supported or Internet-enabled competition.

Regarding the fourth unfairness factor, it is important to point out that different types of information display devices have faster refresh rates. In the time-constrained competitions described above, the most common information display device used on client subsystems is the cathode ray tube (CRT) display monitor. In a CRT display monitor, the images presented to the user are drawn by an electron beam onto the screen from top to bottom, one scanline at a time. When the electron beam reaches the bottom, it must then travel back to the top of the monitor in order to prepare to output the first scanline again. The period in which the beam returns to the top of the screen is known as the retrace period. The overall frequency of the screen refreshing and retrace cycle is determined by the frequency of the vertical synchronization pulses in the video signal output by the computer. This frequency is often referred to as the vertical sync rate. In most monitors this rate ranges from 60 to
150 Hz. Unless the vertical redraw time is synchronized with the desired competition "start-time" in time-constrained competition at hand, a random error in the start time is created due to the uncertainty of the actual time the query, bid, price or other information element will be displayed on the display screen of a particular client system used to participate in the time-constrained competition at hand. This "information display latency" error can be as much as ten milliseconds or more depending on the vertical sync rate, and is in addition to any other errors in the start-time caused by network latency, computer processing time, and other factors.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,996 addresses the problem of information display latency by providing a method and apparatus for synchronizing the video display refresh cycles on multiple machines connected to an information network. This method involves using methods similar to NTP (network timekeeping protocol) or other clock synchronization algorithms in order to synchronize both the phase and frequency of the vertical refresh cycle on each display. First, the monitors are set to the same frequency using standard video mode setting functions available in the operating system. Next, the phase of the cycle is adjusted by repeatedly switching in and out of "interlaced" mode. Since the interlaced modes have different timings than the standard modes, switching briefly into an interlaced mode will affect the phase of the refresh cycle.

This prior art method has a drawback in that it may be undesirable to modify the refresh rate on a competitor's client machine, since that is in part a personal preference, and typically under the control of the user. All the client machine video-driver cards may not be physically capable of operating at the same refresh rates, particularly if they are not operating at the same resolution. Also, the monitors themselves may not be capable of operating at a particular refresh rate, and it may be necessary to operate at an undesirable "lowest common denominator" frequency, or not at all. This problem is compounded as more users and client machines are involved.

Another problem with this prior art display synchronization method is that interlaced video modes are not possible on all video driver cards. In addition, switching into interlaced modes may temporarily disrupt the display as the monitor adjusts to handle the new input. Many display monitors will produce an annoying clicking noise as the video mode is changed.

Regarding the fifth "unfairness factor", it must be pointed out that different types of information input devices have faster information input rates. In the time-constrained competitions described above, the most common information input device used on today's client subsystems is the manually-actuated keyboard. In response to manual keystrokes by the competitor at his or her client machine, and electronic scanning operations, the keyboard generates a string of ASCII characters that are provided as input to the client system bus and eventually read by the CPU in the client machine. Only when the desired information string is typed into the client machine, and the keyboard return key depressed, will the keyed-in information string be transmitted to the information server associated with the time-constrained competition. Those with physical handicaps, and those using low-speed information input devices, will have their responses, commands and/or instructions transmitted with greater latency, and therefore arriving at the information server at a later time, assuming all other factors maintained constant for all competitors. In short, depending on the type of input device used, a competitor participating in an Internet-supported time-constrained competition can be put at a serious disadvantage in comparison with those using high-speed information input devices and high-speed processors. When competing against androidal competition (e.g. thinking machines), as currently used in electronic-based securities and commodity trading, and electronic-based auctions, human competitors are placed at a great disadvantage in rapidly changing markets and fast-paced auctions.

Regarding the sixth unfairness factor, it must be pointed out that a further source of latency exists within each client machine due to the fact that the central processor unit (CPU) employed therein: services interrupts posted by competing peripheral devices connected to the client system bus; executes program instructions at a rate set by its clock speed; and has limited memory resources available at any instant in time. These factors operate to further add a degree of delay in when the data packets associated with the competitor's response is transmitted to the information server supporting the time-constrained competition. Notably, the longer this "processor latency" is, the latter the competitor's response will arrive at the information server supporting the time-constrained competition.

Consequently, the six "unfairness" factors discussed above compromises the integrity any form of time-constrained competition supported on or otherwise enabled over the Internet. Thus must be satisfactorily resolved in order ensure fundamental principles of fairness and fair play that have come to characterize the systems of government, justice, securities, commodities and currency market trading, sportsmanship, and educational testing, in the United States of America and abroad.

Thus there is a great need in the art for an improved way and means of fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions for high stakes among millions of competitors scattered around the globe, while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art methodologies including.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and method of fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art methodologies.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel system and method of serving and receiving information over the Internet in connection with time-constrained competitive processes so that principles of fairness and fair play which have come to characterize the systems of government, justice, securities, commodities and currency market trading, sportsmanship, and educational testing, in the United States of America and countries abroad, are secured in an economically feasible manner for the betterment of human society.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel system and method of serving and receiving information over the Internet in connection with time-constrained competitive processes, which avoids the problems of network latency, ensures microsecond "start-time" accuracy, and can determine winners in the competition within microsecond "finish-time" accuracy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for enabling time-constrained competition among a massive number of competitors while compensating for the variable network communication latencies experienced by client machines used by the competitors.

Another object of the present invention is to. provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein a simultaneous start-time is produced for each and every competitor involved in a particular competition regulated by the system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions using Internet information servers to synchronize the initial display of an invitation to respond (e.g. stock offer, query or problem) on a client machine by shifting the phase of the display refresh cycle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein the time delay between a displayed invitation to respond (e.g. stock price, bid offer, or query) and the transmitted response is precisely measured using the Pentium.TM. instruction counter in the client machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein client-event timing accuracy is markedly improved by using a globally-synchronized hardware timing device at each client machine to time-stamp each competitor's response to an invitation to respond (ITR) displayed on the display screen of the client machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein each client machine deployed therein is protected against intentional tampering through any means by the competitor using the client machine, or by any third party desiring to gain an unfair advantage over other competitors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, which employs a digital signature method to protect against intentional tampering through any means by a competitor or third party, either intended to disrupt the operation of the competition and otherwise interfere with the enjoyment of other competitors or spectators.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein the digital signature method employs a secret key, stored within a global synchronization unit (GSU) in each client machine, in order to create the signature for both time-space stamping and to a hash value generated from the data.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein the digital signature can be used to prove that the data (i.e. time-space stamp plus a hash of input data) has not been altered, and to prove that it originated from the holder of the secret key (located within the GSU).

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein each client machine employs a GSU, which combines GPS and digital data signature technology to provide a secure and verifiable time-space stamp on each client machine response.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, which is scalable or extensible and capable of simultaneously supporting a multiplicity of competitions, each involving a virtually unlimited number (e.g. millions) of competitors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, which protects against clock device tampering at each client machine by utilizing and comparing multiple clock systems employed in each client machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein each client machine in the system is provided with a client-based hardware extension to improve clock accuracy and precision and therefore improve client-event response characteristics at each such client machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein each client machine in the system is provided with a client-based hardware extension to improve security by means of hardware encryption and decryption.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein varying degrees of simultaneity can be offered, insuring that the start time on all client machines is simultaneous within tens of milliseconds at the least precise level, to on the order of within a few microseconds when all of the measures provided for are used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein one or more a globally-time synchronized Internet-based information servers simultaneously and securely communicate with millions of globally-time synchronized client machines engaged in a predetermined competition supported over the Internet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based method for fairly and securely enabling time-constrained competitions over the Internet, wherein one or more a globally-time synchronized Internet-based information servers simultaneously and securely communicate with millions of globally-time synchronized client machines engaged in a predetermined competition supported over the Internet.

Another object of the present invention to provide an Internet-based system, wherein each client machine is provided with a hardware device which can precisely time and space stamp an event, and thus securely generate an event only when specific time and space criteria are satisfied, and also verify the authenticity of previously generated time and space stamps produced by the hardware device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of time-space stamping which can be used to authenticate electronic-commerce transactions between a vendor, bank and customer with microsecond time accuracy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel system and method for electronically filing legal documents, such as patent applications, property transfer documents and court/litigation documents, with governmental or judicial institutions using the http, file transfer protocols (ftp), electronic data interchange (EDI) techniques, and/or any other file transmission protocols supported over the Internet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel global time-synchronization unit for connection to or embedding within any client machine that is to be used in connection with the Internet-supported system and method of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel global time-synchronization unit for connection to or embedding within any Internet information server that is to be used in connection with the Internet-supported system and method of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and method of receiving information from securities (e.g. stocks and bonds), commodities and/or foreign currency information servers, representing real-time or "live" market conditions, and simultaneously disseminating such information to globally-synchronized client machines located world-wide to enable secure "on-line" electronic-based securities trading operations, commodities trading operations, and foreign currency trading operations in a fundamentally fair manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and method for electronic-based on-line securities trading, commodities trading, and foreign currency trading in a secure and fundamentally fair manner using client machines globally-synchronized with corresponding Internet-based securities trading servers, commodities trading servers, and foreign currency trading servers, respectively, so that each market competitor is informed about incremental changes in market conditions at substantially the same time and therefore is permitted to respond to such market condition changes (e.g. changes in stock, commodity or currency prices) at substantially the same time in accordance with principles of fundamental fairness and fair play.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and method of simultaneously disseminating securities, commodities, and/or foreign currency information (e.g. real-time price quotes) using globally time-synchronized information servers and client machines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system and method which enables competitors to trade securities, commodities and/or foreign currencies using real-time pricing information that is disseminated to all competitors of a given level of service at substantially the same instant in time using a network of globally time-synchronized information servers and client machines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based information network, wherein competition supporting information servers (e.g. market price advertising servers and order execution servers) are time-synchronized with a plurality of globally-distributed time-synchronized client machines that can be preprogrammed so respond to real-time securities prices within micro-second client event accuracy by transmitting time and space stamped orders to purchase and/or sell securities, commodities and/or foreign currencies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based information network comprising server and client computer systems, wherebetween competition-promoting/supporting processes (e.g. bidding processes) are carried out among individuals over the Internet, and accurate time-stamping operations are performed at both the client and server ends of the network so that the response (i.e. bid) of each individual can be reliably accepted based upon its submission-time at the client computer system, and not upon the receipt-time thereof at the server computer system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based method of supporting competitive processes over the Internet using a network of server and client computer systems, wherebetween competition-promoting/supporting processes (e.g. bidding processes) are carried out among individuals over the Internet, wherein accurate time-stamping is performed at both the client and server ends of the competition-supporting process, so that the response (i.e. bid) can be reliably accepted based upon its submission-time at the client computer system, and not upon the receipt-time thereof at the server computer system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of and system for tracking animate and inanimate objects through the space-time continuum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system, wherein objects to be tracked carry or support wireless GSU-enabled client network devices, of various form factors, which transmit digitally-signed data packets to TS-stamping based tracking servers for decryption, and object tracking and monitoring operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-based system and method of reliably tracking the space-time trajectory of mobile objects using globally time-synchronized clocks, global positioning subsystems, and digital signature techniques carried out with hardware chips embedded within miniature wireless network devices carried by the objects being tracked.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such system and method, where time-space (TS) coordinate data is stored aboard the device as it is generated and then periodically downloaded to the TS-stamping based tracking server, eliminating the amount of time that the client network device has to be on-line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless GSU-enabled client network device which has one or more biophysiological sensors, to enable remote monitoring of the vital signs of a living object being tracked.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a GSU-enabled client network device having input sensors and input devices selected from the group consisting of: temperature sensors, humidity sensors, light level sensors, chemical sensors, and other physical property sensors, CCD image capturing devices, sound sensing/pickup and recording devices, fingerprint sensing/detection devices and other biometric sensing devices, vibration sensors, radiation sensors, gas/vapor sensors, speech recognition devices, keypad input devices, graphics input devices, devices for detecting tampering of the GSU-enabled device and/or removal of the GSU from its associated object, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method of and system for securing a region of physical space, wherein a GSU-enabled client network device is provided with a CCD-based digital video camera or scanner for capturing images of a field of view of the camera or scanner, as well as an sound recording device for recording sound within and about the field of view of the camera, wherein each captured image frame is accurately space-time stamped, and recorded on videotape or other digital recording medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method of and system for securing a computers communications network by embodying a GSU chip of the present invention into each network computing device so that its access to a particular communications/computer network (i.e. subnetwork) or WWW site can be securely enabled a TS-stamping tracking server only upon the generation of a unique time-space stamp by GSU-chip, achieved when the GSU-enabled network computing device is physically present at a predetermined location over a particular time interval.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an Internet-based method of and system for securing a computers communications network by embodying a GSU chip, wherein a GSU-enabled network computing device which is used to access a particular communications (sub)network or WWW site, is partially enabled by the enabled the TS-stamping tracking server when the GSU-enabled network computing device is present outside of the predetermined location, or predetermined time interval, so that the TS-stamping tracking server can track to the exact location of the GSU-enabled computing device and authorities apprehend the personal using the same without authorization.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method and system for enabling "location-and time" based decryption of messages by using a GSU-enabled client computing device of the present invention which is enabled by a TS-stamping tracking server to decrypt certain messages stored on a computer network only at certain times/places (i.e. ranges of TS coordinate data), and at no others, for reasons that need only be known to the author of such messages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method and system for enabling the embedding of a message within a transportable GSU-enabled computing device so that the message can only be decrypted in a specific location at a specific time period.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method of and system for enabling the reception of secure radio communications by using a GSU-enabled client computing device of the present invention equipped, with radio communications capabilities, which is enabled by a TS-stamping based tracking receiver to only decrypt an particular incoming radio message or messages at a particular location at a particular period of time, and at no other space-time instant.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method of and system for displaying information clues or instructions at particular instances along the space-time continuum, wherein a wireless GSU-enabled client network device (realized for example in the form of a watch or other portable casing having an integrated display screen and keypad) cooperates with a TS-stamping based tracking server through a global communication network so as to enable the GSU-enabled client network device to display information clues and/or instructions only when the GSU-enabled device is present within specific location over a particular time interval (i.e. intersects a prespecified region along the space-time continuum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method of and system for collecting space-time coordinates of an athlete or animal at particular instances along the space-time continuum, wherein a wireless GSU-enabled client network device affixed (i.e. strapped) to the body of a human athlete (e.g. skier, runner or swimmer) or animal participating in sports competition, cooperates with a TS-stamping based tracking server through a global communication network so as to enable the GSU-enabled client network device to collect TS coordinate data during the competition, TD data is collected from the GSU-enabled device carried by the athlete on a real-time basis as the athlete or animal travels from point to point, along a predetermined course, and where collected TS data can be remotely analyzed to determine the performance of the athlete in the competition and determination of a winner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method of and system for enabling the operation of set-top cable television boxes, and other digital media content delivery devices, in compliance with license agreements, wherein a GSU-enabled network computing device is embedded within each set-top cable television box, and other digital media content delivery device, in a media content delivery system, and one or more TS-stamping based tracking servers are used to track and control such media content delivery devices so that the media content delivery devices are enabled into operation only when such devices are in fact used in accordance with the conditions of use set forth in the license agreement with the customer (i.e. when used within the particular location specified in the license agreement and during the time duration thereof).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method of and system for enabling/controlling the operation any portable host system or device which is restricted to operate within a set of space-time constraints, by embedding a GSU-enabled device within each such portable host system or device, and using one or more TS-stamping based tracking servers to track and enable the operation of each such portable host system or device only when such systems and devices are in fact used in accordance with the conditions of use set forth in the license agreement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel Internet-based method of and system for enabling/controlling the operation any portable host system, by embedding a GSU-enabled device within each such portable host system or device, and using one or more TS-stamping based tracking servers to track and enable or otherwise control particular functions within the host system based on its time-space coordinates.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent hereinafter and in the Claims to Invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more fully appreciate the objects of the present invention, the detailed description of the illustrated embodiments should be read in conjunction with the accompanied figures and drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a generalized embodiment of the Internet-based system of the present invention, showing the major physical components thereof comprising a primary server 100 with an embedded GPS (global positioning system) receiver 170, one or more web servers 110, a login server 120, a competitor database 30, an invitation to respond/response database 40, one or more competition-promoting servers 50 with embedded GPS receivers 170, and one or more client machines 160 with embedded Global Synchronization Units (GSU) 175, all components being interconnected with a globally-extensive network (e.g. the Internet) 190;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a contest-based embodiment of the system of the present invention, showing the major physical components thereof comprising a primary server 100 with embedded GPS (global positioning system) receiver 170, one or more web servers 110, a login server 120, a contestant database 130, an query/answer database 140, one or more game servers 150 with embedded GPS receivers 170, and one or more client machines 160 with embedded Global Synchronization Units (GSU)
175, all components being interconnected with a network 190;

FIG. 2A is a schematic representation of the components directly involved in the query/response portion of the contest supported by the system of FIG. 2, showing the virtual network connections between the primary server 100 and a set of game servers 150, as well as between each game server and an associated set of client machines 160;

FIG. 2B is a schematic representation of the components used to distribute and present the HTML and associated web content to contestants using the system of FIG. 2, showing a plurality of mirrored web servers 110 each connected to a contestant database 130 and each serving a set of client machines 160, and each client machine being equipped with a web browser 320;

FIG. 2C is a schematic representation of the connectivity between the login server 120 and the client machines 160, wherein each client machine is provided with a contest client 340, and the login server is connected to the contestant database
130;

FIG. 2D is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a client machine 160 employed in the system of the present invention, shown comprising a global positioning subsystem 170 and various hardware and software layers, including client software such as a web browser 320, contest client application 340, contest plug-in 330, and contest hooks and drivers 350

FIG. 2D1 is a schematic representation of a client machine 160 equipped with a GSU 175 and connected through the Internet to a server equipped with a GPS clock unit 170;

FIG. 2D2 is a schematic representation of a basic global synchronization unit (GSU) 175 employed in the system of the present invention, shown comprising a GPS antenna 730, GPS receiver 700, central processor 750, host computer interface 720, GPS disciplined high-frequency clock 710, encryption and decryption module 740, and non-volatile memory 760;

FIG. 2D3 is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a client machine 160 employed in the system of the present invention, shown comprising a global synchronization unit 175 and various hardware and software layers, including client software such as a contest client application 340, contest plug-in 330, and contest hooks and drivers 350;

FIG. 2D4 is a schematic representation of a client machine 160 equipped with an enhanced GSU 177 and connected through the Internet to a server equipped with a GPS clock unit 170, where input and output devices are connected to the client machine
160 through the enhanced GSU 177;

FIG. 2D5 is a schematic representation of an enhanced global synchronization unit (GSU) 177 employed in the system of the present invention, shown comprising a GPS antenna 730, GPS receiver 700, central processor 750, host computer interface 720, GPS disciplined high-frequency clock 710, encryption and decryption module 740, non-volatile memory 760, input device monitor and passthrough module 770, and an output passthrough and signal generation module 780;

FIG. 2E is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a game server employed in the system of the present invention, shown comprising various hardware and software layers including a game server daemon 270 and GPS receiver 170;

FIG. 2F is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a web server 110 employed in the system of the present invention, including web server software 360 providing support for HTML, Java, and other standard protocols and web technologies;

FIG. 2G is a schematic representation of some of the major components of the primary server 100 employed in the system of the present invention, including the primary server daemon 250, a contest management interface 260, a high precision clock or timer 200, high performance network interface 210, and a GPS receiver 170;

FIG. 2H is a schematic representation of some of the major components of the login server 120 employed in the system of the present invention, including the login server daemon 370 and a high performance network interface 210;

FIG. 3A is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between a web server 110 and a client machine 160 employed in the system of the present invention, wherein the data flow includes web site content transmitted from the web server to the client machine, encrypted registration information posted to the web server from the client machine, preliminary contestant username and password sent to the client machine, and contest software downloaded from the web server to the client machine;

FIG. 3B is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between the primary server 100 and the login server 120 employed in the system of the present invention, wherein the data flow includes a list of game servers sent from the primary server to the login server;

FIG. 3C is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between a game server 150 and the login server 120 employed in the system of the present invention, wherein the data flow includes a request for game server status by the login server, and the request includes the login server's public key for encryption, and wherein the data flow also includes an encrypted reply by the game server to the login server containing status and loading information about the game server, as well as the game server's public key for encryption use by the login server and client machine, wherein the data flow also includes an encrypted contestant login request from the login server to the game server and a corresponding encrypted reply from the game server to the login server containing a game server access code;

FIG. 3D is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between the login server 120 and a client machine 160, this data includes an encrypted contestant login request from the client machine to the login server, a message containing an encrypted contestant id sent from the login server to the client machine, and an encrypted message from the login server to the client machine containing a game server address and associated game server access code;

FIG. 3E is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between a game server 150 and a client machine 160, wherein the data flow includes a message from the client machine to the game server containing a contestant ID, a game server access code, and a client machine public key, an additional message from the game server to the client machine containing the game server public key, an additional message from the game server to the client machine containing and encrypted query and start-time, a further message from the game server to the client machine containing an encrypted query decryption key, a further message from the client machine to the game server containing a response notification hash, a further message from the client machine to the game server containing the encrypted response data and security verification hash, a further message from the game server to the client machine containing the security log request, a further message from the client machine to the game server containing the encrypted security log, a final message from the game server to the client machine containing the contest results;

FIG. 3F is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between the primary server 100 and a game server 150, wherein the data flow includes a message from the game server to the primary server containing the game server public key, an additional message from the primary server to the game server containing the primary server public key, a further encrypted message from the primary server to the game server containing the encrypted query, encrypted start-time, and encrypted answer, a further message from the game server to the primary server containing the encrypted preliminary results for the contest, a further message from the primary server to the game server containing an encrypted security analysis request, a further message from the game server to the primary server contains the encrypted security analysis results, a final message from the primary server to the game server containing the encrypted contest results;

FIG. 3G is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between the primary server 100 and a web server 110, wherein the data flow includes game announcements delivered via ftp from the primary server to the web (http) server, and additional data delivered via ftp from the primary server to the web server includes contest results and contestant standings;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the high level operations performed by the contest-based system of FIG. 2 so as to enable a contestant to participate in a simultaneous, secure, multi-player time-constrained contest;

FIG. 4A is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for registering and downloading contest software in the system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4B is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for the contestant to log on to the game server of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4C is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for downloading an encrypted query and start-time to the client machine 160;

FIG. 4D1 is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for characterizing the client machine local clock 290 and synchronizing the client machine display update cycle in connection with a system of the present invention incorporating a basic GSU 175 in the client machine 160;

FIG. 4D2 is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for characterizing the client machine local clock 290 and synchronizing the client machine display update cycle in connection with a system incorporating an enhanced GSU 175 in the client machine 160;

FIG. 4D3 is a flowchart describing in greater detail in which a method for characterizing the client machine local clock 290 and synchronizing the client machine display update cycle in connection with a system that does not include a global synchronization unit;

FIG. 4E1 is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for presenting the query to the contestant at the contest start-time in connection with a system incorporating a basic GSU 175 in the client machine 160;

FIG. 4E2 is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for presenting the query to the contestant at the contest start-time in connection with a system incorporating an enhanced GSU 175 in the client machine 160;

FIG. 4E3 is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for presenting the query to the contestant at the contest start-time in connection with a system that does not include a global synchronization unit;

FIG. 4F1 is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for the contestant to submit a time-stamped response to the previously presented query in connection with a system incorporating a basic GSU 175 in the client machine 160;

FIG. 4F2 is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for the contestant to submit a time-stamped response to the previously presented query in connection with a system incorporating an enhanced GSU 175 in the client machine 160;

FIG. 4F3 is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for the contestant to submit a time-stamped response to the previously presented query is outlined for a system that does not include a global synchronization unit;

FIG. 4G is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for fairly judging the contest and determining the winners of that contest is outlined;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a financial trading-based embodiment of the system of the present invention, showing the major physical components thereof comprising a primary server 100 equipped with GPS (global positioning system) receiver 170, one or more web servers 110, a login server 120, a trader database 35, a real-time market state server 45, one or more real-time price-quotation and trading (Q & T) servers 55, as well as between each RTPQ&T server and an associated set of client machines 160;

FIG. 5B is a schematic representation illustrating the connectivity between the login server 120 and the client machines 160, wherein each client machine is provided with trading client software 345, and wherein the login server is also connected to the trader database 35;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an auction-based embodiment of the system of the present invention (i.e. auction-supporting system), showing the major physical components thereof comprising a primary server 100' with embedded GPS (global positioning system) receiver 170, one or more web servers 110, a login server 120', a bidder database 130', an auction database 140', one or more auction servers 150' with embedded GPS receivers 170, and one or more client machines 160 with embedded Global Synchronization Units (GSU) 175, all components being interconnected with a network 190;

FIG. 6A is a schematic representation of the components directly involved in the bid/counter-bid portion of the auction supported by the system of FIG. 6, showing the virtual network connections between the primary server 100' and a set of auction servers 150', as well as between each auction server and an associated set of client machines 160;

FIG. 6B is a schematic representation of the components used to distribute and present the HTML and associated web content to contestants using the system of FIG. 2, showing a plurality of mirrored web servers 110 each connected to a contestant database 130 and each serving a set of client machines 160, and each client machine being equipped with a web browser 320;

FIG. 6C is a schematic representation of the connectivity between the login server 120' and the client machines 160, wherein each client machine is provided with a bidding client 340, and the login server is connected to the bidder database 130';

FIG. 6D is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a client machine 160 employed in the system of the present invention, shown comprising a global synchronization unit 175 and various hardware and software layers, including client software such as an auction client application 340', auction plug-in 330', and auction hooks and drivers 350';

FIG. 6E is a schematic representation of some of the major components of an auction server employed in the system of the present invention, shown comprising various hardware and software layers including an auction server daemon 270' and GPS receiver 170;

FIG. 6F is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a web server 110 employed in the system of the present invention, including web server software 360 providing support for HTML, Java, and other standard protocols and web technologies;

FIG. 6G is a schematic representation of some of the major components of the primary server 100' employed in the system of FIG. 6, including the primary server daemon 250, an auction management interface 260', a high precision clock or timer 200, high performance network interface 210, and a GPS receiver 170;

FIG. 6H is a schematic representation of some of the major components of the login server 120' employed in the system of FIG. 6, including the login server daemon 370 and a high performance network interface 210;

FIG. 7A is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between a web server 110 and a client machine 160 employed in the system of FIG. 6, wherein the data flow includes web site content transmitted from the web server to. the client machine, encrypted registration information posted to the web server from the client machine, preliminary bidder username and password sent to the client machine, and auction software downloaded from the web server to the client machine;

FIG. 7B is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between the primary server 100 and the login server 120' employed in the system of FIG. 6, wherein the data flow includes a list of auction servers sent from the primary server to the login server;

FIG. 7C is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between an auction server 150' and the login server 120' employed in the system of FIG. 6, wherein the data flow includes a request for auction server status by the login server, and the request includes the login server's public key for encryption, and wherein the data flow also includes an encrypted reply by the auction server to the login server containing status and loading information about the auction server, as well as the auction server's public key for encryption use by the login server and client machine, wherein the data flow also includes an encrypted bidder login request from the login server to the auction server and a corresponding encrypted reply from the auction server to the login server containing a auction server access code;

FIG. 7D is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between the login server 120' and a client machine 160, this data includes an encrypted bidder login request from the client machine to the login server, a message containing an encrypted bidder identification sent from the login server to the client machine, and an encrypted message from the login server to the client machine containing an auction server address and associated auction server access code;

FIG. 7E is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between an auction server 150' and a client machine 160, wherein the data flow includes a message from the client machine to the auction server containing a bidder ID, an auction server access code, and a client machine public key, an additional message from the auction server to the client machine containing the auction server public key, an additional message from the auction server to the client machine containing and encrypted minimum and start-time, a further message from the auction server to the client machine containing an encrypted bid decryption key, a further message from the client machine to the auction server containing a response notification hash, a further message from the client machine to the auction server containing the encrypted response data and security verification hash, a further message from the auction server to the client machine containing the security log request, a further message from the client machine to the auction server containing the encrypted security log, a final message from the auction server to the client machine containing the auction results;

FIG. 7F is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between the primary server 100' and an auction server 150', wherein the data flow includes a message from the auction server to the primary server containing the auction server public key, an additional message from the primary server to the auction server containing the primary server public key, a further encrypted message from the primary server to the auction server containing the encrypted auction, encrypted start-time, and encrypted answer, a further message from the auction server to the primary server containing the encrypted preliminary results for the contest, a further message from the primary server to the auction server containing an encrypted security analysis request, a further message from the game server to the primary server contains the encrypted security analysis results, a final message from the primary server to the auction server containing the encrypted auction results;

FIG. 7G is a schematic representation of the flow of data and messages between the primary server 100' and a web server 110, wherein the data flow includes auction announcements delivered via ftp from the primary server to the web (http) server, and additional data delivered via ftp from the primary server to the web server includes auction results and bidder standings;

FIG. 8A is a schematic representation describing the data fields of the Login Information Structure maintained within the log-in server of the system of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8B is a schematic representation describing the data fields of the Auction Information Structure maintained within the auction server of the system of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8C is a schematic representation describing the data fields of the Bid Information Structure maintained within the auction database in the system of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the high level operations performed by the auction-based system of FIG. 6 so as to enable a bidder to participate in a simultaneous, secure, multi-player time-constrained auction;

FIG. 9A is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for registering and downloading auction software in the system of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 9B1 and 9B2, taken together, is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for the bidder to log on to the auction server of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 9C1 and 9C2, taken together, is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for downloading an encrypted auction information and start-time to the client machine 160;

FIG. 9D is a flowchart describing in greater detail in which a method for characterizing the client machine local clock 290 and synchronizing the client machine display update cycle in connection with a system that does not include a global synchronization unit (GSU);

FIGS. 9E1 and 9E2, taken together, is a flowchart describing in greater detail a method for presenting the auction information to the bidder at the auction start-time in connection with a system incorporating an enhanced GSU 175 in the client machine 160, and also a method for the bidder to submit a time-stamped response to the previously presented auction information in connection with a system incorporating an enhanced GSU 175 in the client machine 160;

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a modified embodiment of the Internet-based contest-promoting system of the present invention, wherein one or more remote administration consoles 600, contest database 660, and a remote administration server 610 are provided for remotely creating and administering contests over the Internet;

FIG. 10A is a schematic representation of the components shown in FIG. 10 directly involved in the remote administration of contests, showing the virtual network connections between the primary server 100 and a remote administration server 610, between the remote administration server 610 and a contest database 660, contestant database 130, and query answer database 140, as well as between the remote administration server 610 and one or more remote administration consoles 600;

FIG. 10B is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a remote administration console 600 employed in the system of FIG. 10, showing various hardware and software layers, including the administration software being comprised of a remote administration client application 650 and a remote administration plug-in 640;

FIG. 10C is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a remote administration server 610 employed in the system of FIG. 10, showing various hardware and software layers, including the remote administration web server 620 and the remote administration daemon 630;

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a subsystem for providing the competition-promoting systems of the present invention with a television-based spectator interface, showing comprising a web server 110, a video-enabled client machine 900, a web-to-video processor 910, taped video content playback unit 960, live video source (e.g. camera) 950, a real-time video compositor 920, broadcasting equipment 930, and television viewers 940;

FIG. 11A is a schematic representation showing an exemplary layout for displaying contest live video, contestant images, and live contest queries, results, scores and statistics on a television-based spectator interface;

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation showing the basic components of a television-based client machine according to the present invention, shown comprising a set-top client machine 970 connected to the user's television set 990 using a standard NTSC or PAL cable, and a remote-control input device 980 for controlling the client machine;

FIG. 12A is a schematic representation showing the major components of the set-top client machine 970 of FIG. 12, shown comprising a GPS receiver 170, clock and timer hardware 290, a television tuner with Intercast.TM. decoding capability 977, a modem 976, an infrared input port 975, NTSC or PAL audio/video output 974, embedded device drivers 973 and embedded operating system with Java capability 972 running on a microprocessor, and a firmware contest client 971;

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation showing examples of input devices that can be connected to a global synchronization unit (GSU) of the present invention for performing time and space stamping;

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation showing examples of applications that can benefit from inclusion of an embedded global synchronization unit (GSU) in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic representation showing examples of different configurations of a global synchronization unit, including both internal and external units with a variety of interface options;

FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of the time-space (TS) stamping based system for tracking mobile objects, including human beings and articles of property, relative to a globally-defined coordinate reference system, employing ultra-compact and miniaturized global synchronization unit (GSU) enabled client computing/network devices constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 16A is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a wireless GSU-enabled client network device in the mobile object tracking system of FIG. 16, shown comprising a global synchronization unit (GSU) 175 and various hardware and software layers, including client software such as a tracking client application 340' and tracking hooks and drivers 350';

FIG. 16A1 is a perspective view of a GSU-enabled client network device of the present invention, shown realized in the form of a wireless security-tag/address-label having a spring-biased surface-sensing pin provided on the underside of its casing for establishing contact with a package surface when the tag is affixed to the package for object tracking purposes;

FIG. 16A2 is a perspective view of a shipped package to which the GSU-enabled client network device of FIG. 16A1 is affixed for enabling real-time object tracking operations as the package is routed to its destination;

FIG. 16B is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a time-space (TS) stamping based tracking server employed in the system of FIG. 16, shown comprising various hardware and software layers including a TS-stamping based tracking server daemon 270' and GPS receiver 170;

FIG. 16C is a schematic representation of some of the major components of the Web-Based Owner/Object Registration Information Server 110' employed in the system of FIG. 16, including web server software 360' providing support for HTML, Java, and other standard protocols and web technologies;

FIG. 16D is a schematic representation of some of the major components of the Web-Based Object Trajectory Information Server 110" employed in the system of FIG. 16, including web server software 360" providing support for HTML, Java, and other standard protocols and web technologies;

FIG. 17A is a schematic representation of an exemplary locus of time-space coordinates collected by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server of the system of FIG. 16 during a mobile object tracking process carried out in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 17B is a schematic representation of an exemplary locus of time-space coordinates collected by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server of the system of FIG. 16 during an object movement detection process carried out in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic representation of a database table for storing data relating to the owner of one or more objects, objects owned or controlled by registered owners, and time-space data generated by a mobile GSU-enabled client network device carried by a registered object, and collected by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 19A is a schematic representation of some of the major components of an alternative embodiment of a GSU-enabled client network device carried by a living being (e.g. animal or person) which is being tracked using the time, space and biophysiological stamping (TSB) Based Object Tracking System of FIG. 16, shown comprising a global synchronization unit 175, a biophysiological signal sensor (e.g. pulse sensor, EKG sensor, and/or other biophysiological signal sensor) and various hardware and software layers, including client software such as a tracking client application 340' and tracking hooks and drivers 350';

FIG. 19B is a schematic representation of a wrist-mounted GSU-enabled client network device for use with the TSB-Stamping Based Object Tracking Server shown in FIG. 20, over the network of FIG. 16, wherein a biophysiological signal sensor is incorporated into the GSU-enabled client network device for real-time sensing of biophysiological signals produced from the living being (e.g. animal or person) on which it is carried, and a fractal-based antenna structure is embedded within the housing of the GSU-enabled client network device;

FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of some of the major components of a TSB-Stamping Based Tracking Server employed with the GSU-enabled client network device of FIG. 19B, shown comprising various hardware and software layers including a TSB-Stamping Based Tracking Server daemon 270' and GPS receiver 170;

FIG. 21 is a schematic representation of an exemplary locus of time, space and biophysiological (TSB) coordinates collected by the TSB-Stamping Based Tracking Server shown in FIG. 20 during the process of tracking a living being carrying the GSU-enabled client device of FIGS. 19A and 19B in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a owner/object database table, maintained within the Web-enabled Owner/Object RDBMS, for storing time, space and biophysiological data generated by a GSU-enabled client network device shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B and collected by the TSB-Stamping Based Tracking Server shown in FIG. 20, operating within the system shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23A is a schematic representation of an Internet-based method of and system for securing a region of physical space, wherein a GSU-enabled client network device is provided with a CCD-based digital video camera or scanner for capturing images of a field of view (FOV) of the camera or scanner, as well as a sound recording device for recording sound (tracks) within and about the field of view of the camera, wherein each captured image frame is accurately space-time stamped, and recorded on videotape or other digital recording medium;

FIG. 23B is a data table describing the information fields maintained in the Image RDBMS employed in the system of FIG. 23A, wherein TS-stamped images and associated sound recording tracks are stored for analysis and usage in various security operations;

FIG. 24A is a schematic representation of an Internet-based method of and system for securing a computer communications network by embodying a GSU chip of the present invention into each network computing device so that its access to a particular communications/computer network (i.e. subnetwork) or WWW site can be securely enabled a TS-stamping tracking server only upon the generation of a unique time-space stamp by the GSU-chip, achieved when the GSU-enabled network computing device is physically present at a predetermined location over a particular time interval;

FIG. 24B is a schematic representation of an exemplary locus of time-space coordinates collected by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server of the system of FIG. 24A, and the predetermined TS-region over which the GSU-enabled network computing device is enabled by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server to access a prespecified communication subnetwork or WWW server in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 25A is a schematic representation of an Internet-based method of and system for securing a computers communications network by embodying a GSU chip, wherein a GSU-enabled network computing device which is used to access a particular communications (sub)network or WWW site, is partially enabled by the TS-stamping tracking server when the GSU-enabled network computing device is present outside of the predetermined location, or predetermined time interval, so that the TS-stamping tracking server can track to the exact location of the GSU-enabled computing device and authorities can apprehend the person using the same without authorization;

FIG. 25B is a schematic representation of an exemplary locus of time-space coordinates collected by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server of the system of FIG. 25A, and the predetermined TS-region over which the GSU-enabled network computing device is enabled by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server to decrypt and display encrypted message prestored on the GSU-enabled network computing device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 26A is a schematic representation of an Internet-based method and system for enabling "location-and time" based decryption of messages by using a GSU-enabled client computing device of the present invention which is enabled by a TS-stamping tracking server to decrypt certain messages stored on a computer network only at certain times/places (i.e. ranges of TS coordinate data), and at no others, for reasons that need only be known to the author of such messages;

FIG. 26B is a schematic representation of an exemplary locus of time-space coordinates collected by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server of the system of FIG. 26A, and the predetermined TS-region over which the GSU-enabled network computing device is enabled by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server to decrypt and display encrypted radio messages being received by the GSU-enabled network computing device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 27A is a schematic representation of an Internet-based method of and system for displaying information clues or instructions at particular instances along the space-time continuum, wherein a wireless GSU-enabled client network device (realized for example in the form of a watch or other portable casing having an integrated display screen and keypad) cooperates with a TS-stamping based tracking server through a global communication network so as to enable the GSU-enabled client network device to display information clues and/or instructions only when the GSU-enabled device is present within a specific location over a particular time interval (i.e. intersects a prespecified region along the space-time continuum);

FIG. 27B is a schematic representation of an exemplary locus of time-space coordinates collected by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server of the system of FIG. 27A, and the predetermined TS-region over which the GSU-enabled network computing device is enabled by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server to decrypt and display encrypted messages prestored in memory in the GSU-enabled network computing device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 28A is a schematic representation of an Internet-based method of and system for enabling the operation of set-top cable television boxes, and other digital media content delivery devices, in compliance with license agreements, wherein a GSU-enabled network computing device is embedded within each set-top cable television box, and other digital media content delivery device, in a media content delivery system, and one or more TS-stamping based tracking servers are used to track and control such media content delivery devices so that the media content delivery devices are enabled into operation only when such devices are in fact used in accordance with the conditions of use set forth in the license agreement with the customer (i.e. when used within the particular location specified in the license agreement and during the time duration thereof).

FIG. 28B is a schematic representation of an exemplary locus of time-space coordinates collected by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server of the system of FIG. 28A, and the predetermined TS-region over which the GSU-enabled media content delivery device is enabled operational by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 29A is a schematic representation of an Internet-based method of and system for enabling/controlling the operation any portable host system or device which is restricted to operate within a set of space-time constraints, by embedding a GSU-enabled device within each such portable host system or device, and using one or more TS-stamping based tracking servers to track and enable the operation of each such portable host system or device only when such systems and devices are in fact used in accordance with the conditions of use set forth in the license agreement; and

FIG. 29B is a schematic representation of an exemplary locus of time-space coordinates collected by the TS-Stamping Based Tracking Server of the system of FIG. 29A, and the predetermined TS-region over which the GSU-enabled media content delivery device is rendered operational by the TS-stamping based tracking server, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring to the figures in the accompanying Drawings, the preferred embodiments of competition-enabling (i.e. competition-promoting) system and method of the present invention will now be described in great detail, wherein like elements will be indicated using like reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, a generalized internetworked-based competition-promoting system is shown for fairly and securely enabling one or more time-constrained competitions among a plurality of competitors simultaneously presented with the same set of data (i.e. in a globally time-synchronized manner) which, in general, may be informative or may take the form of a question to be answered, or a problem, puzzle or riddle to be solved. Hereinafter, this data shall be referred to as an Invitation-to-Respond, or ITR, which is transmitted to each of the competitors participating in the competition promoted by the system hereof in a regulated manner. In general, the competitors can be human beings, programmed computers, or sophisticated androidal machines as taught, for example, in WIPO International Publication No. WO 98/49629 published on Nov. 5, 1998 incorporated herein by reference. In response to each ITR presented to the competitors, each competitor is allowed to respond to the ITR by submitting an appropriate response or undertaking a particular action. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the timing of each competitor's response is critical to ensuring fairness in the competitive activity in question, and thus precisely measured, securely recorded and analyzed in a manner which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

In general, the competition-promoting system and method of the present invention can be applied to a variety of different competitive activities with only slight modifications required from embodiment to embodiment of the present invention. Typical applications of the present invention include multi-player timed problem-solving games, puzzles, or contests; on-line realtime auctions, on-line real-time trading of securities (e.g. stocks and bonds), commodities, and foreign currencies; on-line real-time auctions; on-line educational testing; on-line career testing; on-line aptitude testing; on-line intelligence quotient (IQ) testing; and other real-time activities wherein simultaneous presentation of information to a plurality of competitive entities or accurate presentation of IRQs to and collection of responses thereto from one or more human subjects, is critical to the competitive or otherwise time-constrained activity at hand, in order to ensure fundamental principles of fairness and fair play expected by participants, spectators, and sponsors alike. As used hereinafter and in the Claims to Invention, the term "competition" shall be understood to embrace all such network-enabled activities.

Overview of the Generalized Embodiment of the System of the Present Invention

As shown in FIG. 1, the competition-promoting system of the present invention comprises an integration of subcomponents, such as for example: a primary server 100; one or more web servers 110; a login server 120; a competitor database 30; an Invitation-To-Respond/Response (ITR/Response) database 40; one or more competition-promoting servers 50; and a plurality of client machines 160. As shown in FIG. 1, each client machine 160 includes a global synchronization unit 175 (GSU), whereas each competition-promoting server 50 includes a standard GPS receiver 170. As shown in FIG. 1, the global positioning system employed by the competition-enabling system comprises a plurality of GPS receivers 170 operating in conjunction with an array of GPS satellites 180 occupying a geodesic orbit in a manner well known in the satellite art. All of the computer and database components of the competition-enabling system are interconnected through some sort of internetworked computer communications network
190 such as the Internet.

Overall regulation of the competitive activity enabled by the system and method of the present invention is carried out by a computer or set of computers which hereinafter shall be referred to collectively as the "primary server". The primary server provides certain functionality to the system including, for example: acting as a source of Invitations-to-Respond and other competition related data; providing a master clock for the system; and performing functions or operations involving data received from multiple client machines connected to the system.

In the illustrative embodiments, the single primary server 100 communicates indirectly with the client machines 160 through a number of competition-promoting servers 50. These servers relay Invitations-To-Respond and other data to the client machines 160, and receive responses thereto from those client machines. Preliminary processing and sorting of the client machine responses is performed by the competition-promoting servers 50, and these preprocessed results are then passed back to the primary server 100.

Each competitor interacts with the competition-promoting system through a client machine 160. Each competitor uses a single client machine to receive and view the Invitations-To-Respond (ITR), as well as to enter and transmit the responses thereto. The client machine typically consists of a standard personal computer, augmented by the addition of several software and hardware components, including a global synchronization unit (GSU) 175 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The global synchronization unit 175 is installed in the client machine to provide precisely time-stamp client-responses, referred to as client-events, traceable to internationally standardized reference clocks. The GSU within each client machine performs decryption operations, generates digitally-signed time and space stamps of various internal and external events at the client machine, and supports timed decryption and presentation of data to the competitor.

As shown in FIG. 1, the last primary computer-based component of the competition promoting system hereof is the login server 120. The primary function of the login server 120 is to accept login requests from each competitor's client machine and assign an appropriate competition-promoting server to that client machine. The login server 120 also provides a single, well-known address for each client machine to use to contact the assigned competition-promoting server when initializing a session in the competitive activity. The login server also serves to intelligently distribute the processing and communications load among the competition-promoting servers.

As shown in FIG. 1, two database systems are used by the competition-promoting system of the present invention. The first database is the competitor database 30 which records information about each competitor, such as his or her identity, preferences, contact information, and any other data deemed necessary for the proper operation of the competition. The second database is the Invitation-to-Respond/Response database 40 which stores or generates Invitations-To-Respond (ITRs) appropriate to the particular competition being promoted, and transmits those ITR's to the client machine, through the other servers in the system. The ITR/Response database 40 may also contain canonical responses for comparison with the actual responses generated by the competitors, as well as other information necessary for the conducting of the competition.

The final component of system shown in FIG. 1 which deserves mention is the communications network 190. In general, the communications supported by the communications network 190 could be carried out using a variety of different communications methods. In general, each computer or device in the system will establish a connection or connections to one or more of the other computers through the network 190. In practice, these connections will be "virtual" connections through a general network such as the Internet, rather than as a direct point-to-point physical connection. In the illustrative embodiments disclosed herein, the communications network 190 is a packet-switched data communications network running the popular Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Thus each server computer connected to the communications network 190 will have a statically assigned IP address, while each client machine connected thereto will have either a statically or dynamically assigned IP address in a manner well known in the art.

Contest-Enabling System and Method of the Present Invention

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4G, a contest-supporting (i.e. contest-enabling) system and method will now be described in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In this particular embodiment of the present invention, the primary goal of the Internet-based system and method is to enable thousands and even millions of contestants to participate in a multi-player internetworked problem-solving contest that is regulated in a secure and fundamentally fair manner. In general, the contest will involve a mass population of players, or contestants who simultaneously attempt to solve some problem or set of problems in a time-constrained manner. The contestants are evaluated and ranked according to the solution provided as well as the time taken to submit the solution. Each contestant in the contest will interface to the contest process through a client machine capable of displaying images, text, video, play audio streams in a globally time-synchronized manner, or is otherwise provided with some other means for presenting a question or problem to the contestant in a like manner in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The question or problems thus presented to each competitor will be referred to as a query, although, in a more general sense of the present invention, can be understood as an Invitation-To-Respond (ITR), as discussed hereinabove. Each client machine also accepts an answer or solution from the contestant as response to the query previously presented. The contestant's answer or solution will be referred to as the response, as in the general sense of the present invention. Therefore, each client machine in the contest-supporting system hereof is a device that presents (e.g. visually and/or audibly displays) queries and accepts responses from one registered contestant who is participating in the contest.

The contest-promoting system of the present invention also includes a means for controlling and measuring certain time-based elements of the contest (i.e. competition). For example, such elements include the ability to specify the precise instant at which a query is presented to the contestants on all or some subset of the client machines. Hereinafter, this instant of time shall be referred to as the "start-time", analogous to the "start-line" in a race, which is the same for each contestant in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In addition, the contest-promoting system of the present invention also includes means for precisely determining the length of time between the start-time and the instant each contestant submits its response which, hereinafter, shall be referred to as the "finish-time" analogous to the "finish-line" in the race. Hereinafter, this length of time, measured between the start-time and the finish-time, shall be referred to as the "response-time" of the particular contestant or competitor.

The contest-promoting system and method of the present invention enables the simultaneous presentation of queries (i.e. ITRs) to each and every client machine registered to compete in the contest at hand. Unlike the prior art method of using the receipt of a query decryption key to trigger the display process at each client machine, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,400, the present invention teaches the use of a local clock to determine the exact instant to display the query (i.e. ITR) to the contestant. In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the local clock is contained in an embedded or peripheral device known as the global synchronization unit (GSU) 175. The GSU at each client machine incorporates a global positioning system (GPS) receiver to provide a precise timing reference that is accurate to within 1 microsecond of international atomic clock standard time. The GSU can be programmed to decode and present the query (i.e. ITR) in a secure manner at the precise moment desired. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a similar functionality can be provided at each client machine, but at lower precision and security levels by using a standard timer, counter, or clock on the client machine. In this alternative, less accurate timing method, the local clock is characterized, or analyzed to determine the functional relationship between the local clock time and the global time as determined by a single master clock for the entire contest system. Using this function, the global time may be determined from the local clock reading. In addition, the display update cycle on each client machine is skewed so that a display update completes exactly at the desired "start time" which is determined to be the same for each every contestant, regardless of their location on the planet. Characterization of the local clock may be performed using an accurate clock (perhaps GPS-based) connected to the client machine, or it may be done using security enhanced versions of the methods and algorithms used in NTP, the network time protocol.

The contest-promoting system and method of the present invention also provides extensive security measures to detect and discourage cheating by dishonest players. Security is crucial in large contests involving significant rewards for winners. Security for the system is provided through the use of encryption of the majority of messages between the various computers in the system, as well as by monitoring and logging the contest-related activities of participating client machines. Additional details regarding this aspect of the system will be described hereinafter.

Having provided an overview on the contest-promoting system of the present invention, it is appropriate to now describe in greater detail the structure and function of the components of this system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the contest-promoting system of the illustrative embodiment comprises an integration of components, namely: a primary server 100; one or more web servers 110; a login server 120; a contestant database 130; a query/answer database 140; one or more game servers 150; and a plurality of client machines 160. As shown in FIG. 2, each client machine is equipped with a global synchronization unit 175 (GSU), whereas the primary server 100 and each game server 150 is equipped with a standard GPS receiver 170. As shown, the contest-promoting system of the illustrative embodiment employs a global positioning system comprising GPS receivers 170 operating in conjunction with an array of GPS satellites 180 occupying a geodesic orbit in a manner well known in the satellite art. All of the computer and database components of the system are interconnected through some sort of communications network 190 such as the Internet, supporting a networking protocol such as TCP/IP.

Overall regulation of the contest activity enabled by the system and method of the present invention is carried out by a computer or set of computers which hereinafter shall be referred to collectively as the "primary server". The primary server provides certain functionalities to the system including, for example: acting as a source of queries and their correct answers; providing a master clock for the system; determining the overall ranking of contestants; selecting the winner of the contest.; and informing the contestants and possibly the general public of the identity of the wining contestant.

As shown in FIG. 2G, the primary server 100 in the contest-promoting system comprises a number of software and hardware components. As shown in FIG. 2G, the structure of the primary server 100 is described using the layered structure of a standard general purpose computer, wherein the hardware components are shown at the lowest level, with successive layers of software functionality disposed above them. Each layer of components utilizes and builds upon the services and capabilities of the lower layers, most often only directly interfacing with the layer immediately below it. In the primary server 100, the low level hardware includes a GPS receiver 170, and high precision clock and timing hardware 200 synchronized to a global time reference using the GPS receiver. In addition, the high performance network interface hardware 210 is used to connect the primary server 100 to the communications network 190. These hardware components are in addition to the standard I/O and other hardware 220 typically provided on a high-end network server, such as the SUN Enterprise.TM. server running the Solaris.TM. platform, by Sun Microsystems, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. Above the hardware level are standard and customized device drivers
230 that control and communicate directly with the hardware. The device drivers are used by the operating system 240 and higher-level applications so that direct hardware programming is not necessary. At the top level of FIG. 2G are two contest-related applications. The first application is the primary server daemon 250. This piece of software manages the sequence of operations for the contest as a whole, as well as managing the communication of queries, responses, and other information with the game servers. The other top level application running on the primary server 100 is the contest management interface 260. This application provides the user interface to the human operators of the contest. This software allows the operators to enter new questions and answers in to the Query/Answer Database 140, to set up and schedule contests, to set prize levels, to specify qualifications for entering the contests, to collect and view usage statistics, and to monitor ongoing contests. The contest management interface application communicates with the primary server daemon 250 in performing most of its tasks.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the single primary server 100 communicates indirectly with the client machines 160 through a number of game servers 150. These game servers relay queries to the client machines, and receive responses from those client machines. Preliminary judging and sorting of the responses is performed by the game servers 170, and these pre-processed results are then passed back to the primary server 100.

As shown in FIG. 2E, the game server 150 has a layered architecture similar to the primary server 100, comprising: hardware components including a GPS receiver 170; high precision timing hardware 200; a high performance network interface 210; in addition to the standard hardware components 220. These hardware components are controlled through the use of a set of standard and customized device drivers 230. Many of these device drivers are provided by the hardware manufacturers, while some are specifically written or modified to handle the precise timing operations needed by the contest-promoting system of the present invention. The major application running on the game servers is the game server daemon 270. The game server daemon 270
receives, processes and responds to data from the primary server 100, the login server 120, and from its client machines 160.

Each contestant interacts with the contest system through a client machine 160. Each contestant uses a single client machine 160 to receive and view the contest queries as well as to enter and transmit their responses containing their answers to those queries. In the illustrative embodiment, each client machine may be realized as a standard personal computer, augmented by the addition of several software and hardware components. In FIG. 2D3, the basic components of each client machine 160 is shown. As shown in FIG. 2D3, each client machine 160 would initially comprise the standard hardware and software components typically associated with any personal computer. These components would include the operating system 240, standard device drivers 280, clock or timer hardware 290, input hardware, such as the keyboard, mouse, a microphone, etc. 300, output hardware, such as a video display and/or speakers 310. In addition to this hardware, each client machine would also require some sort of "web browser" 320 such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer. This web browser is used to contact the "Contest WWW Site", to register with the contest system, and to download the other software components therefrom. These other components might include a contest plug-in 330 that would enhance the user's experience at the contest web site, in addition to the contest client 340, which is the primary interface between the contestant and the contest system. Each contest client receives and presents queries to the human contestant, as well as accepting the contestant's responses and sending them to the servers. Each contest client communicates through contest hooks and drivers 350 with the underlying input, output, and timing hardware, in order to handle the timing aspects of the game (i.e. contest). The hooks and drivers 350 are responsible for clock and display synchronization, as well as for generating time-stamps associated with various events during the game. The global synchronization unit 175 is installed in the client machine to provide precisely timed events, traceable to internationally standardized reference clocks. The GSU 175 performs decryption operations, time-stamping of client-machine/contestant responses, and supports timed query presentation.

When not actually playing a game, the contestant interacts with the contest web site through a web browser. The contest web site is "served" to that browser from one or more web servers 110. The web servers handle advertising, support, registration, downloading, and other similar tasks. As shown in FIG. 2F, the web server 110 comprises a number of major components comprising a standard I/O 220; a high performance network interface 210; standard device drivers 280; and the operating system 240. These components cooperate to support the operation of the web server software 360. The web server software 360 consists of an HTTP daemon, along with various scripts and utility programs used to handle user/contestant registration and to perform contest web site updates as new contests or results information become available.

As shown in FIG. 2, the last primary computer-based component of the contest-promoting system is the login server 120. The function of the login server 120 is to accept login requests from each contestant's client machine, and assign an appropriate game server to that client. The login server 120 provides a single, well-known address for the client machines to contact when initializing a new game. The login server also serves to intelligently distribute the processing and communications load among the game servers. As shown in FIG. 2H, the login server 120 comprises a number of major components, namely: a standard I/O 220; a high performance network interface 210; standard device drivers 280; and the operating system
240. These components cooperate to support the operation of the login server daemon 370, which handles the login requests and server assignment functionality within the contest-promoting system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the contest-promoting system of the illustrative embodiment employs two database systems. The first database system is the contestant database 130. The contestant database records information about the user, such as their identity, preferences, contact information, and contest results and standing. The second database is the query/answer database 140. The query/answer database stores the problems and solutions for the game contests. These problems and solutions are originally created and stored in the database by the contest operators. They are then accessed and distributed by the primary server 100 to the contestant's client machines 160 during the contest.

As shown in FIG. 2, the final component contest-promoting system that deserves mention is the communications network 190. In general, communications over the network could be carried out using a variety of different communications methods. In general, each computer or device will establish a connection or connections to one or more of the other computers through the network 190. In practice, these connections will be "virtual" connections through a general network such as the Internet, rather than as a direct point-to-point physical connection. The topography of the primary virtual connections between the various contest system components are depicted in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, while the information flows transmitted through those connections are detailed in FIGS. 3A through 3G.

Virtual Communication Links and Hierarchies in the Contest Promoting System of the Present Invention

Typical games implemented using the contest-promoting system of the present invention could involve thousands or even millions of contestants distributed over and possibly above the planet Earth. Because of the huge bandwidth required to handle transmission of the queries and responses from all of the client machines employed in the contest, the system of the present invention utilizes a hierarchy of servers illustrated in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2A, the primary server 100 acts as the root node of a tree-type interconnection of computers. The "leaves" of the tree structure are formed by the client machines 160 connected to the system. Between these devices lies a layer of game servers 150 which act as intermediaries (or "branch structures") between the primary server 100 and the client machines 160. Each game server communicates directly with the primary server 100 and with a set of client machines associated with that particular game server 150. In a large contest involving many thousands of contestants, there might be hundreds or thousands of game servers deployed in the system, each handling hundreds or thousands of client machines. These game servers could be distributed over the country or over the world, with each game server handling client machines in a certain region, thereby greatly reducing the communications loading on central "trunk" network links. As shown in FIG. 2A, there are also communication links between the primary server 100 and the contestant database 130 and the query/answer database 140. In this illustrative embodiment of the contest-promoting system hereof, each game server 150, client machine 160, and primary server 100 is equipped with a GPS receiver that is used to synchronize the local clock and the display of each client machine participating in the contest-promoting system.

Network traffic bandwidth associated with the higher level servers in the hierarchical configuration shown in FIG. 2 is reduced by performing some data processing on the game servers 150 themselves, rather than performing all computations