WO2005057451A1

WO2005057451A1 - System and method for word study service by on-line game using letter procession

Info

Publication number: WO2005057451A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/003164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kwang Soo Kim
Original assignee: Buruxo Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-12-12
Filing date: 2004-12-03
Publication date: 2005-06-23
Also published as: KR20050058728A; KR100615013B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for a word study service and a method of the same, and in particular to a system and method for a word study service by an on-line game using a letter procession capable of achieving a word study during a game in such a manner that a user opens a letter hidden at a part of a joint of a letter of an opponent game character and recognizes a word while a user plays an online game in which a snake-shaped letter procession game character formed of series letter joints is used. The game missions of performing a certain action by operating a study mission for recognizing each letter of a word and a game character are combined into one method. Therefore, the users are interested in the game.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WORD STUDY SERVICE BY ON-LINE GAME USING LETTER PROCESSION

Technical Field The present invention relates to a system for a word study service

and a method of the same, and in particular to a system and method for a

word study service by an on-line game using a letter procession capable of

achieving a word study during a game in such a manner that a user opens a

letter hidden at a part of a joint of a letter of an opponent game character and

recognizes a word while a user plays an online game in which a snake-

shaped letter procession game character formed of series letter joints is used.

Background Art

Recently, many users are so interested in an online game that uses

various communication terminals a computer, cellular phone, PDA (Personal

Digital Adaptor), a game unit, a set-top box, etc. connected with a network

communication network such as wired or wireless internet, etc.

The online game is classified into a battle type online game in which

a winner and a loser are determined, and a non-battle type online game in

which a winner and a loser are not determined. Here, the battle-type online

game is classified into an action online game in which a certain game character can attack another character in a game field, and a non-action

online game in which a certain character cannot attack another character.

Recently, it is a new trend that online games are not simply provided

at multiple sites but connected with other services. Among the above online

games, as one representative game, there is a word study service performed

using the online game.

The conventional method of performing word studies through the

online game has been performed using a quiz game having no actions.

In the word study service using a quiz game, a certain quiz

concerning a word to be studied is extracted from a database, and the

extracted word is displayed on a user's terminal, so that a game user inputs a

proper answer of the quiz displayed on the user's terminal within a limited

time period or selects the answer for thereby providing a certain point to the

game user who got a correct answer. However, in the word study service method using the quiz game, a

user's victory or defeat motive attending the game is forced to change to a

word study motive for thereby enhancing a study effect. However, since the

user may get too much interested just in an action of the game, it is

impossible to continuously maintain a user's attention on the study of words.

The victory and defeat of the quiz game is simply determined by a user's

knowledge, namely, other game techniques are not important for determining the victory and defeat of the game. Therefore, the victory and defeat of the

game are easily determined between users who have a lower level of

knowledge. In the conventional art, it is impossible to achieve a desired game

devotion. In order to overcome the problems encountered in the conventional

word study service method using a quiz game, the game is designed in such

a manner that an answer letter to be inputted as a correct answer is obtained

by killing a certain monster appearing or disappearing in a game field. This

game method has been introduced in the Korean patent application No.

2002-17343.

In the above method, when a certain character belonged to a certain

user playing the game kills a monster using a certain tool or weapon wherein

the monster appears or disappears in the game field, the monster is changed

to a certain item corresponding to the letter. The user moves the item having

a certain letter to a certain point of the game field using the character for

inputting the answer of the quiz. Thereafter, the user judges whether the

letter indicated on the moved item is included in the quiz word and a valid

letter that is not inputted yet. In the case of the valid letter, the letter is

displayed at a corresponding letter position of the quiz word displayed on an

additional information window of the screen.

Namely, in the above method, there is provided a certain action in such a manner that the letter to be inputted as an answer letter of the quiz is

obtained by killing the monster of the game for thereby achieving a certain

strong and dynamic interesting as compared to the conventional art that does

not have the above strong and dynamic interesting. However, the action problem in which a desired letter is obtained by

killing a monster in order to provide the above method or game with a certain

strong and dynamic property is not directly related with a word study. Since

the letters obtained by killing the monster are randomly generated, an over

action problem should be performed by a user in order to obtain a desired

letter. In addition, the user should have a big attention only on an action of

avoiding a monster's attack and striking the monster using a certain tool or

weapon. In the above conventional method, it is successful to make the user

have a continuous attention in the game, but it the continuous attention is

directed to the performance of the action, not the study of words. Therefore, it

is impossible to achieve a desired word study effect.

Therefore, it is urgently needed to develop a certain new online game

in order to achieve an effective word study service through an online game

that includes a certain action directly related with the word study effect.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for a word study service by an on-line game using a

letter procession capable of overcoming the problems encountered in the

conventional art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and

method for a word study service by an on-line game using a letter procession

capable of enhancing a word study effect during an online game in such a

manner that a snake-shaped letter procession game character formed of

series letter joints that perform a certain battle using a game field based on

the words to be studied by a user is generated, and at least two users shoot

letter bombs using letter procession game characters for thereby opening a

letter hidden at a part of a letter joint of the opponent's game character and

recognizing a corresponding word during the online game.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided a system for a word

study service by an on-line game using a letter procession comprising a

network communication network that connects a plurality of communication

lines and is designed to achieve a data communication concerning a word

study service using an online game between the communication lines; a

plurality of user terminals in which a client program is installed for a letter

procession online game, and a communication is connected with a server

computer through the network communication network as the letter

procession online game is executed by a user, so that a member log-in or a new member registration is performed, and after the member long-in or new

member registration is performed, the user can enter into a game room

formed by other users or can form a new game room based on the control of

the user who entered into a game lobby provided by the server computer,

and when a certain member of the users is joined and fixed, the users open

the letters hidden at each letter joint of the opponent's letter procession game

character using a snake-shaped letter procession game character formed

one word as the letter is allocated to each letter joint in a hexagonal or

rectangular lattice shaped game field in accordance with a control of the

server computer, and when a winner is determined, a result of the game

provided from the server computer and a description of the formed word are

displayed on a screen, and then the game is finished; and a server computer

in which a client program for performing a letter procession online game

installed at the user terminal, an operation program for proceeding the letter

procession online game and various snake-shaped letter procession game

characters formed of series letter joints that are used for performing a battle

in the game field based on the words to be studied by the users are stored,

and the member log-in or new member registration of the user terminal who

executed the letter procession online game are performed, and a game lobby

entrance of a corresponding user is controlled, and when a certain number of

users is joined and fixed for performing the letter procession online game as the users inputted from the user terminals enter into a certain game room or

form a new game room, each user plays the game by opening the letter

hidden at each letter joint of the opponent's letter procession game character

using his letter procession game character and recognizing the word, and

when a victory or defeat of the letter procession online game is determined, a

result of the game and a description of the word forming the letter procession

are provided to a corresponding user terminal, and a result of the game is

stored in the database, and the information of the users who played the

game are updated. To achieve the above objects, there is provided a method for a word

study service by an on-line game using a letter procession comprising a first

step in which a client program for a letter procession online game installed at

a plurality of user terminals, respectively, an operation program for

proceeding a letter procession online game, and various snake shaped letter

procession game characters formed of series letter joints used for performing

a battle in a game field based on the words to be studied by the users are

stored in a database of a server computer; a second step in which as the

letter procession online game of the user terminal having the client program

is executed, a member long-in is performed in the server computer, and a

user having a corresponding user terminal enters into a game lobby, and the

user of a corresponding user terminal entered into the game lobby enters into a previously formed game room or forms a new game room; a third step in

which when a certain number of the users enters into the game room and is

joined and fixed, the user of the user terminal who formed the game room

sets a game condition in accordance with a control of the server computer

and suggests a game start to the opponent users with the set game condition,

and as the opponent users agree with the game condition, a screen having

snake-shaped letter procession game character that forms one word in such

a manner that letters are allocated to each letter joint in the game field of

each user terminal who attends in the game of the server computer is

displayed for thereby starting a letter procession online game; a fourth step in

which when the game is started, the users of each user terminal _, open the

letters hidden at each letter joint of the opponent's letter procession game

characters using his letter procession game, character in the game field in

accordance with a control of the server computer wherein the users have the

attack turns that are alternately changed for thereby proceeding the game;

and a fifth step in which as the game is finished, when a victory or defeat is

determined, a result of the game and a description of the word that forms the

letter procession used in the game are displayed on all user terminals who

attended in the online game in the server computer, and then the game is

finished, and the database is updated based on a result of the game by each user.

Brief Description of Drawings

The present invention will become better understood with reference to

the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and

thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the construction of a

word study service system using a letter procession online game according

to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a server

computer of Figure 1 according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a flow chart of an operation of a word study service method

using a letter procession online game according to an embodiment of the

present invention; Figure 4 is a flow chart of an operation process of a letter procession

online game of Figure 3 according to the present invention; and

Figures 5A through 5F are views for describing an application of a

letter procession online game according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The preferred embodiments of the word study service system and method using a letter procession online game according to the present

invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the construction of a

word study service system using a letter procession online game according

to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown therein, a network communication network 100 is a

communication network that is designed to adapt a wired internet connection

method using a modem, telephone line, high speed line, etc., and a wireless

internet connection method using a PCS, a cellular phone, a satellite

communication, etc. and connects a communication line between a user

terminal 200 and a server computer 300 for using a word study service using

an online game for thereby achieving a data communication therebetween.

The user terminal 200 is informed of a communication apparatus, a

web browser, a display apparatus, a memory apparatus, a computation

apparatus, an input and output apparatus, etc. that are connectable with the

network communication network 100. A client program for executing a letter

procession online game downloaded from a server computer 300 is installed

in the user terminal 200. A member log-in connection is performed by

inputting an ID and password in a communication connection with the server

computer 300 through the network communication network 100 as the user's

client program (for example, an icon is clicked for executing the letter procession online game displayed on the screen) is executed. In addition, a

certain data such as the ID, password, personal information, etc. inputted by

the user based on a certain form from the server computer 300 is transmitted

to the server computer 300 for thereby performing a new member registration. In addition, after a member log-in or new member registration is

performed, a user enters into a game lobby for playing a letter procession

online game in accordance with a control of the server computer 300, and a

key signal is outputted based on an operation of a user who entered into the

game lobby, so that the user may enter into a room made by other user and

may make a new room. When a needed number of players is joined and set,

a letter is allocated to each joint at a hexagonal or rectangular lattice shaped

game field in accordance with a control of the server computer 300. The

players perform the game in such a manner that a certain letter hidden at

each letter joint of the opponent's letter procession game character is opened

using a snake-shaped letter procession game character forming one word.

When the winner is determined as the game is completed, a result of the

game and a word formed of the letter procession are outputted from the

server computer 300 and are displayed on the screen for thereby completing

the game. Here, the server computer 300 includes a client program for

performing a letter procession online game installed in the user terminal 200, an operation program for performing the letter procession online game, and a

database of various snake-shaped letter procession game characters formed

of series letter joints for performing a batter in a game field based on the

words to be studied by the users. The server computer 300 requests a

member log-in procedure or a new member registration to the user terminal

200 that is communication-connected through the network communication

network 100 by performing the letter procession online game and verifies the

members based on the ID and password transmitted from the user terminal

200 for thereby permitting the member log-in procedure or transmitting a

certain form needed for a new member registration to the user terminal 200

that selected the new member registration. Thereafter, the server computer

300 stores the database such as the ID, password, personal information, etc.

transmitted from the user terminal 200 and performs the new member

registration. The user terminal 200 that performed the member log-in or new

member registration is permitted to enter into the game lobby for performing

the letter procession online game.

In addition, when a certain number of the game players is joined and

fixed in order to perform the letter procession online game based on the

game room entrance of the user or the formation of a new game room of

which information is inputted from the user terminal 200 in accordance with

the operation of a user who entered into the game lobby, each user opens a letter hidden at each letter joint of the opponent's letter procession game

character using his letter procession game character and then recognizes the

word for thereby controlling the procedure of the online game. When the

winner of the letter procession online game is determined, a result of the

game and a description of the word formed of the letter procession are

provided to the user terminal 200, and a result of the game is stored in the

database. Thereafter, the information of the user who played the game is

updated, and the game is finished.

At this time, the server computer 300 is designed to hide a part or the

whole part of each letter joint of the snake-shaped letter procession game

character forming one word wherein the letter is allocated to each letter.

In addition, in the server computer 300, a service pack including

various snake-shaped letter procession game characters including the words

to be studied by the user based on the field, difficulties, etc. may be

fabricated and sold on the electronic commercial transaction.

In the letters hidden at each letter joint of the letter procession game

characters displayed in the game field, if the letter contained in the letter

bomb shot from the user's letter procession game character having an attack

turn during the operation of the online game includes the letter hidden at the

letter joint of the opponent's game character, the letter is opened.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of the server computer 300 of Figure 1.

As shown therein, in a data communication unit 310, the data are

inputted and outputted from the member log-in or new member registration of

a plurality of the user terminals 200 connected through the network

communication network 100 in accordance with a control of a control unit 320.

I n addition, a selection data concerning the game room entrance or game

room formation of the user who entered into the game lobby of the letter

procession online game is inputted. The data based on the online game

procedure in which the letter hidden at each letter joint of the opponent's

letter procession game character is opened and recognized using the letter

procession game character of a certain user, are inputted and outputted. A

result of the letter procession online game and the description data of the

words formed of the letter procession are outputted.

In the control unit 320, the member log-in or new member registration

of a corresponding user terminal 200 are controlled based on the log-in data

or new member registration data inputted from the user terminal 200 through

the data communication unit 310. The game lobby entrance of the letter

procession online game of the user terminal 200 that performed in the

member log-in procedure is controlled. When a certain number of game

players is joined and fixed in accordance with the game room entrance or

game room formation selection of the user who entered into the game lobby, the letter procession online game is controlled through a game proceeding

unit 330. When the game is finished, a result of the game and the description

of the words formed of the letter procession are controlled and outputted to a

corresponding user terminal 200, and the information of the user who entered

into the game is controlled and updated.

In the game proceeding unit 330, the game room entrance or game

room formation is performed based on the selection of the user who entered

into the game lobby in accordance with a control of the control unit 320.

When a certain number of game players is joined and fixed in order to

perform the letter procession online game, each user opens and recognizes

character using his letter procession game character in accordance with a

control of the control unit 320. When the victory or defeat of the letter

procession online game is determined, a result of the game and the

description of the word formed of the letter procession are outputted to a

corresponding user terminal 200 in accordance with the control unit 320, and

the information of the users who played the game are updated based on a

result of the games.

A member database 340 stores personal information, ID, password,

and battle records, etc. of the user who registered as a member.

A material database 350 stores the information concerning the characters, descriptions, related field, difficulties, etc. of the study words used

in the letter procession online game.

A game database 360 stores an operation program concerning the

game field, game rule and game itself for the letter procession online game. Next, the preferred embodiments of the word study service method

using a letter procession online game according to the present invention will

be described with reference to Figures 3 through 5.

Figure 3 is a flow chart of an operation of a word study service method

using a letter procession online game according to an embodiment of the

present invention, Figure 4 is a flow chart of an operation process of a letter

procession online game of Figure 3 according to the present invention, and

Figure 5 is a view for describing an application of a letter procession online

game according to the present invention.

The rules of the letter procession online game adapted to the present

invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

- Outline of game

Two or four users (the number of user is not limited, and the game

may be set based on person, team, etc.) each have one through 4 snake

shaped letter procession game characters that form one word wherein a

certain word is allocated to each joint of word and play the game, switching the attack turn wherein the number of characters may be changed based on

the setting of game). When a certain user has an attack turn, the user shoots

a letter bomb against the hidden letter of the opponent's letter procession

game character in the hexagonal or rectangular lattice-shaped game field for

thereby opening the hidden letters. The letter procession game character of

which all words are opened is deemed to be dead and is disappeared from

the game field. The user of the finally left letter procession game character is

determined as a winner.

- Game field

The game field is formed in a hexagonal lattice shape or rectangular

lattice shape with a certain pattern, and one letter joint of the letter

procession game character is formed at each lattice. A certain obstacle may

be formed at a portion of the game field wherein the letter bomb and the

letter procession game character does not pass through the obstacle.

In the case of the movement, there is a moving limit in the sections

that the letter procession game character can move. The user moves the

letter procession game character to a certain place before the attack starts

when the user has an attack turn. The above method may be achieved using

a direction key. In another method, the lattice of the game field may be

clocked using a mouse, so that the head of the letter procession game character is linearly moved to the position.

- Letter procession game character

There are a head indicating the kind of the letter procession game

character, and a letter joint placed behind the head. A basic attack power,

and attack power up limit are differently provided when starting the game in

accordance with the kind of the letter procession game character. The letter

procession game character is designed to shoot the letter bomb from the

head or body within a certain distance range of the attack power while the

letter procession game character has the attack turn.

- Letter bomb

The letter bomb is formed of a certain number of letter groups. The

letter bomb has a straight attack letter bomb, and a curve attack letter bomb.

Here, the straight attack letter bomb is designed not to pass through the letter

procession game character or the obstacle. The straight attack letter bomb is

designed to damage one joint of the opponent's letter procession game

character. In addition, the curve attack letter bomb is designed to pass

through the obstacle. The curve attack letter bomb is designed to damage all

joints of the opponent's letter procession game character within a certain

region near the destination point. As the letter bombs are used, the attack power gets decreased.

- Attack judgment

The letter hidden at each letter joint of the letter procession game

character is displayed by a user who adjusts the letter procession game

character and by a user of the same team. The user having the attack turn

shoots a letter bomb from the letter joint of his letter procession game

character against the destination of the letter joint of the opponent's letter

procession game character. When the letter included in the shot letter bomb

includes the letter hidden at the letter joint of the opponent's letter procession

game character, the letter of a corresponding letter joint of the opponent's

letter procession game character that is the target is opened, and a

corresponding joint is paralyzed. The paralyzed joint dos not shoot the letter

bomb. In addition, when all joints are paralyzed, a corresponding letter

procession game character disappears. When all letter procession game

characters of a corresponding user are disappeared from the game field, the

user gets lost.

- Attack power The basic attack powers provided when starting the game are different

from letter procession game characters. The basic attack power of the letter procession game character is increased when the opponent's attack is

successful, and the letter bomb is hit. When the letter bomb is shot, the

attack power disappears. The attack power is increased in proportion to the

number of the letters hit by the letter bombs when the user is under attack.

However, since each letter procession game character has an up limit in the

attack power, the attack power is not charged above the up limit. When

attacking, the decreasing attack power is different based on the kinds of the

attack between the straight attack or curve attack and the number of the

letters contained. The letter procession game character having a certain

attack power decreased below the basic attack power due to the shooting

during the attack turn recovers and has the basic attack power during the

defense turn.

Next, the operation of the word study service using the online game

according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figure

4 based on the above-described letter procession online game.

In a step S10, in the server computer 300, a client program for the

letter procession online game installed each user terminal 200, an operation

program for performing the letter procession online game and various snake

shaped letter procession game characters formed of series letter joints are

stored in the database, and the service is started.

The user terminal 200 downloads the client program from the server computer 300 and installs the same. When the user installs the client

program and executes the letter procession online game, the server

computer 300 performs a member log-in or new member registration of a

corresponding user terminal 200 in a step S20. After the member log-in or new member registration is performed, the

user who entered into the game lobby for performing the letter procession

online game selects the game server, seeing the game lobby screen

displayed on the user terminal 200 in a step S30, the user may enter into the

previously formed game room in a step S40 or may form a new game room

in a step S50.

In the case that the user determines the number of users and forms a

new game room, the user waits until the other users enter into the newly

formed game room in a step S60.

When the set number of the users enters into the game room, and the

set number of the same is formed, the user who formed the game room sets

the condition of the game in accordance with a control of the server computer

300 and suggests to start the game to the opponent's users in a step S70.

The opponent users who received the suggestions of the game start

from the user who formed the game room select to agree or disagree the

game condition of a corresponding user in a step S80.

The users who do not agree with the game condition as a result of the agreement concerning the game condition may enter into another game

room or may form a new game room in a step S90.

As a result of the judgment of the step S80, if all users agree with the

game condition, the letter procession game character is displayed in the

game field of the user terminal 200 in accordance with a control of the server

computer 300, and the game is started in a step S100.

When the game is started, the users have the alternating attack turns

for attacking the other letter procession game characters in the game field

displayed on the user terminal 200 and search the letters hidden at each

letter joint of the opponent's letter procession game characters in a step S110. As the game is proceeded, when the winner is determined, the game

is finished in the server computer 300 in a step S120, and a result of the

game and the descriptions of the word formed of the letter procession are

displayed on all user terminals 200 who attended the game in a step S130. Thereafter, the server computer 300 judges whether the users who

played the game want to play again or do not want. In the case that the users

want to play again, the routines after the step S70 are repeatedly performed

in a step S140. If the users do not want to play again, the database is

updated based on a result of the game by each user, and the letter

procession online game is finished in a step S150.

The letter procession game online game of the step S110 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 5.

When the online game is started, the server computer 300 sums the

number of letter joints of the letter procession game character of each user

and alternately provides the users with attacking turns in the sequence that

the user has the lowest number of attacks in a step S110-1. The users who

do not have the attack turns wait until their attack turns come.

The users who have the attack turns attack the opponent user using a

certain letter procession game character among the letter procession game

characters allocated to himself in a step S110-2. In this step, the method for

selecting the letter procession game character to be attacked by the user is

preferably performed in such a manner that the user clicks the head of the

letter procession game character displayed on the screen using a mouse and

activates the command window.

When the letter procession game character is selected to attack the

opponent user, the user having the attack turn determines whether a

corresponding letter procession game character is moved or not moved in a

step S110-3. When it is determined, the letter procession game character is

moved to a determined position in a step S110-4. In this step, the method for

moving the letter procession game character by the user is preferably

performed in such a manner that the moving button is pressed in the

activated command window, and the lattice in the game field is clicked using the mouse within the movement permitted range, so that the head of the

letter procession game character is lineally moved to a corresponding

position. Each letter joint of the letter procession game character follows the

letter procession game character. When the user continuously clicks another

lattice on the game field, the head of the letter procession game character is

lineally moved again to a corresponding position, and each letter joint of the

letter procession game character flows the letter procession game character. When the letter procession game character is moved to attack the

opponent character, the user having the attack turn determines whether to

attack or not in a step S110-5. When the attack execution is clicked, a certain

joint is selected for shooting a letter bomb from a plurality of letter joints of

the letter procession game character that is intended to attack the opponent

character in a step S110-6.

When the selection of a certain joint intended to shoot the letter bomb

is finished, the user having the attack turn selects the letter bomb to be shot

from the selected letter joint in a step S110-7 and selects an attack target to

be shot by the letter bomb in a step S110-8.

When the selection of the attack target of the letter bomb is finished,

the user having the attack turn determines whether the user directly selects

the letter to be included in the letter bomb or the user selects the previously

designated letter in a step S110-9. In the case that the user directly designates the letter included in the letter bomb to be shot, the user having the attack turn directly selects the letter to be included in the letter bomb in a step S110-10.

After the user having the attack turn directly selects the previously designated letter in the step S110-9 and directly selects the letter to be included in the letter bomb in the step S110-10, the server computer executes the attack selected by the user in a step S110-11 and judges a result of the attack execution in a step S110-12.

When the attack execution is completed one time, the user having the attack turn determines whether the letter bomb is shot again from another letter joint of the letter procession game character that executed the attack or

• the user turns over the attack turn to another user in a step S110-13.

When the user having the attack turn selects the letter bomb is shot again from another letter joint of the letter procession game character that executed the attack, the routines after the step S110-6 are repeatedly performed. When the user turns over the attack turn to another user, the user wails until the next attack turn comes in a step S110-14.

Thereafter, the victory and defeat of the game is judged during the operations of the games (namely, a certain user or the letter procession game character of one team is left, and other users or the letter procession game characters of the other teams are disappeared, so that the victory and defeat are judged) in a step S110-15. If the victory or defeat is not

determined, the routines after the step S110-2 are repeatedly performed until

the victory or defeat is determined.

Figures 5A and 5B are views for describing the actual implementations

of the letter procession online game according to the present invention

wherein Figures 5A and 5B show the rectangular and hexagonal lattice

shaped game fields for performing the letter procession online game.

Figures 5C through 5F are views illustrating that the users A and B

actually play the game using the letter procession game characters in the

game field according to the present invention. As shown therein, the letter

procession game character of the user A is "happy" formed of five letters. The

letter "h" is opened at the first letter joint, and the remaining letter joints are

hidden. In addition, the letter procession game character of the user B is

"dog" formed of three letters. The letter "d" is opened at the first letter joint,

and the remaining letter joints are hidden as shown in Figure 5C. At this time,

the users A and B can confirm the hidden letter joints of their letter

procession game characters but can not confirm the hidden letter joints of the

opponent's letter procession game characters.

The occasion that the user A has the attack turn will be described. As

shown in Figure 5C, the user A in the game field can shoot the letter bomb to

the second letter joint of the letter procession game character of the user B from the third letter joint of his letter procession game character. In addition,

the user A can shoot the letter bomb against the third letter joint of the letter

procession game character of the user B from the fourth letter joint.

In a more effective attack by the user A in the above situation, since

the middle letter in the word formed of at least three letters is almost a vowel

sound, it is preferred to shoot the letter bomb including all letters or part of

the letters among the vowel sounds A, E, I, O and U against the second letter

joint of the letter procession game character of the user B using the

command window of Figure 5F from the third letter joint of his letter

procession game character.

As the user A attacks in the above method, as shown in Figure 5D, the

letter "O" is opened at the second letter joint of the letter procession game

character of the user B.

Thereafter, the user A recognizes that there may be the words of "dog"

or "dot" among the three letter words starting with the letter of "d" and "o", so

that the user A decides to shoot the letter bomb having both letters T and G

or part of the letters T and G against the third letter joint of the letter

procession game character of the user B from the fourth letter joint of his

letter procession game character. As shown in Figure 5E, the letter "g" is opened at the third letter joint

of the letter procession game character of the user B. As all letter joints are opened, the letter procession game character of the user B disappears from

the game field, so that the user A becomes a winner.

As described above, according to the word study service system and

method using a letter procession online game according to the present

invention, the game missions of performing a certain action by operating a

study mission for recognizing each letter of a word and a game character are

combined into one method. Therefore, the users are interested in the game.

In addition, the memorizing abilities of the users can be largely increased.

The word memorizing abilities of the users who use the online game can be

significantly enhanced. It is advantageous that the word studies can be

naturally achieved during the operation of the game.

In addition, enjoying the game, the users can naturally study the

clearly stated or typical phonics rules concerning the method in which the

letters are combined with each other in almost languages like English. When

memorizing the words, the users of the present invention can save much

word memorizing time and can intensively concentrate on studying words

and their relationships.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without

departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be

understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the

details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the

appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within

the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and

bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A system for a word study service by an on-line game using a letter

procession, comprising: a network communication network that connects a plurality of

communication lines and is designed to achieve a data communication

concerning a word study service using an online game between the

communication lines; a plurality of user terminals in which a client program is installed for a

letter procession online game, and a communication is connected with a

server computer through the network communication network as the letter

procession online game is executed by a user, so that a member log-in or a

new member registration is performed, and after the member long-in or new

member registration is performed, the user can enter into a game room

formed by other users or can form a new game room based on the control of

the user who entered into a game lobby provided by the server computer,

and when a certain member of the users is joined and fixed, the users open

character using a snake-shaped letter procession game character formed

one word as the letter is allocated to each letter joint in a hexagonal or

rectangular lattice shaped game field in accordance with a control of the

server computer, and when a winner is determined, a result of the game provided from the server computer and a description of the formed word are

displayed on a screen, and then the game is finished; and a server computer in which a client program for performing a letter

procession online game installed at the user terminal, an operation program

for proceeding the letter procession online game and various snake-shaped

letter procession game characters formed of series letter joints that are used

for performing a battle in the game field based on the words to be studied by

the users are stored, and the member log-in or new member registration of

the user terminal who executed the letter procession online game are

performed, and a game lobby entrance of a corresponding user is controlled,

and when a certain number of users is joined and fixed for performing the

letter procession online game as the users inputted from the user terminals

enter into a certain game room or form a new game room, each user plays

the game by opening the letter hidden at each letter joint of the opponent's

letter procession game character using his letter procession game character

and recognizing the word, and when a victory or defeat of the letter

procession online game is determined, a result of the game and a description

of the word forming the letter procession are provided to a corresponding

user terminal, and a result of the game is stored in the database, and the

information of the users who played the game are updated.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said server computer includes: a data communication means in which the data are inputted and

outputted from the member log-in or new member registration of a plurality of

the user terminals connected through the network communication network in

accordance with a control of a control unit, and a selection data concerning

the game room entrance or game room formation of the user who entered

into the game lobby of the letter procession online game is inputted, and the

data based on the online game procedure in which the letter hidden at each

letter joint of the opponent's letter procession game character is opened and

recognized using the letter procession game character of a certain user, are

inputted and outputted, and a result of the letter procession online game and

the description data of the words formed of the letter procession are

outputted; a control unit in which the member log-in or new member registration

of a corresponding user terminal are controlled based on the log-in data or

new member registration data inputted from the user terminal through the

data communication unit, and the game lobby entrance of the letter

procession online game of the user terminal that performed in the member

log-in procedure is controlled, and when a certain number of game players is

joined and fixed in accordance with the game room entrance or game room

formation selection of the user who entered into the game lobby, the letter procession online game is controlled through a game proceeding unit, and

when the game is finished, a result of the game and the description of the

words formed of the letter procession are controlled and outputted to a

corresponding user terminal, and the information of the user who entered into

the game is controlled and updated; a game proceeding unit in which the game room entrance or game

room formation is performed based on the selection of the user who entered

into the game lobby in accordance with a control of the control unit, and when

a certain number of game players is joined and fixed in order to perform the

letter procession online game, each user opens and recognizes the letters

hidden at each letter joint of the opponent's letter procession game character

using his letter procession game character in accordance with a control of the

control unit, and when the victory or defeat of the letter procession online

game is determined, a result of the game and the description of the word

formed of the letter procession are outputted to a corresponding user

terminal in accordance with the control unit, and the information of the users

who played the game are updated based on a result of the games; a member database that stores personal information, ID, password,

and battle records, etc. of the user who registered as a member. a material database that stores the information concerning the

characters, descriptions, related field, difficulties, etc. of the study words used in the letter procession online game; and a game database that stores an operation program concerning the

game field, game rule and game itself for the letter procession online game.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein in said server computer, a part or

whole part of each letter joint of a snake shaped letter procession game

character that forms one word is hidden wherein a letter is allocated to each

letter joint.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said letter hidden at each letter joint

of the letter procession game character is opened when the letter included in

a letter bomb shot from the letter procession game character of a user having

an attack turn during a game includes the letter hidden at a letter joint of the

opponent's game character that a target.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein in said server computer, a service

pack having various snake shaped letter procession characters including

words to be studied by the user are fabricated based on fields and difficulties

and are sold online based on an electronic commercial method.

6. A method for a word study service by an on-line game using a letter procession, comprising: a first step in which a client program for a letter procession online

game installed at a plurality of user terminals, respectively, an operation

program for proceeding a letter procession online game, and various snake

shaped letter procession game characters formed of series letter joints used

for performing a battle in a game field based on the words to be studied by

the users are stored in a database of a server computer; a second step in which as the letter procession online game of the

user terminal having the client program is executed, a member long-in is

performed in the server computer, and a user having a corresponding user

terminal enters into a game lobby, and the user of a corresponding user

terminal entered into the game lobby enters into a previously formed game

room or forms a new game room; a third step in which when a certain number of the users enters into

the game room and is joined and fixed, the user of the user terminal who

formed the game room sets a game condition in accordance with a control of

the server computer and suggests a game start to the opponent users with

the set game condition, and as the opponent users agree with the game

condition, a screen having snake-shaped letter procession game character

that forms one word in such a manner that letters are allocated to each letter

joint in the game field of each user terminal who attends in the game of the server computer is displayed for thereby starting a letter procession online

game; a fourth step in which when the game is started, the users of each

user terminal open the letters hidden at each letter joint of the opponent's

letter procession game characters using his letter procession game character

in the game field in accordance with a control of the server computer wherein

the users have the attack turns that are alternately changed for thereby

proceeding the game; and a fifth step in which as the game is finished, when a victory or defeat

is determined, a result of the game and a description of the word that forms

the letter procession used in the game are displayed on all user terminals

who attended in the online game in the server computer, and then the game

is finished, and the database is updated based on a result of the game by

each user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said fourth step includes: a step 4-1 in which when the game is started, the number of letter

joints of the letter procession game character of each user is summed in the

server computer, and the attack turn is provided to the users in a sequence of

the users who have the smallest number of the joints, and the user having

the attack turn determines to attack an opponent user using a certain game character among the letter procession game characters allocated to himself; a step 4-2 in which when the selection of the letter procession game

character to attack the opponent user is finished, the user having the attack

turn moves a corresponding letter procession game character and

determined whether to execute the attack or not to execute; a step 4-3 in which as the user executes the attack, the user

sequentially selects a certain joint for shooting a letter bomb among a

plurality of letter joints of the letter procession game character for attacking

the opponent user, a letter bomb that will be shot from the selected joint, and

an attack target that will be shot by the letter bomb; a step 4-4 in which as a certain joint from which the letter bomb is

shot, a letter bomb that will be shot from the selected joint, and the attack

target that will be shot by a letter bomb are selected, the user having the

attack turn directly designates the letter to be included in the letter bomb or

selects a previously designated letter for thereby performing an attack, and a

result of the attack execution performed by the user having a corresponding

attack turn is judged in the server computer; a step 4-5 in which when the attack execution is finished one time, it

is determined whether the letter bomb is shot again from another letter joint

of the letter procession character performed by the user having the attack

turn or the attack turn is turned over to other users; a step 4-6 in which when it is selected that the letter bomb is shot

again from another letter joint of the letter procession game character that

executed the attack by the user having the attack turn, the steps after the

step 4-3 are performed, and when the attack turn is turned over to other

users, the user waits until the next attack turn comes; and a step 4-7 in which it is judged whether a victory or defeat is

determined by the users who attended the game during the game, and when

the victory or defeat is not determined, the steps after the step 4-1 are

repeatedly performed until the victory and defeat are determined.