MULTIPLAYER GAME PLAY TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to online game systems and methods. More specifically, the present invention concerns method and system of providing interactive multiplayer game play to allow a player to acquire knowledge of any specific topic through playing games with other players in an innovative integrated method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Computing devices with internet connection (e.g. personal computers, laptops, handheld computers, smart phones, etc.) have become an integral part of people's daily lives. No matter adults or children, one of their greatest interests, is to use these devices for playing Internet games. In view of this, it is desirable to use the popularity of internet games to help people gain knowledge whenever and wherever they want.

Although there are many online learning platforms in the market, the vast majority only provide a passive learning method such that the learners can only gain the limited knowledge provided by developers through a unilateral educational method or a spoon-feeding educational method.

According to the research of the inventor, the followings show some of the preferred methods for learning;

(1) learn through playing games that contain knowledge of a specific topic in a specific time period;

(2) learn through asking questions and finding their corresponding answers by the learners themselves;

(3) learn through answering questions rather than learning by rote; and

(4) learn through criticizing the accuracy of questions and their corresponding answers. By using the above methods of learning, the learners will have deeper impression and more long-lasting memory about the knowledge they have learnt. Meanwhile their analytical skills can be trained up and improved as well.

Most important of all, the learners will have a wider scope on the knowledge of a specific topic through answering and asking questions as they are actually exchanging and sharing what they have explored and learnt. This makes the learning process more interesting and interactive.

Besides, the relationship between the learners can be strengthened if they are friends, colleagues or family members who learn and share the knowledge together by using the above methods. This effect will be more obvious if parents and children, especially for those rebellious children of over 10 years old, are learning and sharing together.

However it is extremely difficult to combine the above learning methods together and make it as a new integrated method or platform by using computer and internet. It will be too expensive to hire a lot of teachers to prepare enough questions and answers for the learners, and judge correctness of questions and their corresponding answers found by the learners.

Therefore, there is a need for method and system which allow the learners to acquire knowledge in enjoyable and amusing manner anytime, anywhere via a personal communication device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed to fulfill the need noted above and therefore has a principle object of the provision of method and system of providing interactive multiplayer game play to acquire knowledge by players of personal communication device (for example, smart phones, tablet computers, PDAs, or other electronic devices using wire or wireless networks), which offers a mechanism to review correctness of knowledge of the specific topics and to provide access to challenge the review results.

Another object of the invention is to provide method and system of providing interactive multiplayer game play to acquire knowledge, which delivers, via a personal communication device, an education environment that can be used anytime and anywhere to gain knowledge of a specific topic. The method and system according to the invention allow the players to practice and gain knowledge wherever and whenever the players choose. The method and system according to the invention also allow the players to engage in the contest on specific topics with the others to increase the amusement of knowledge acquisition.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide method and system of providing interactive multiplayer game play to acquire knowledge which are significantly more economical and amusing than the education games known in the prior art.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are satisfied by providing a method of providing interactive multiplayer game play to acquire knowledge by a player having a personal communication device, comprising the steps of:

(a) the player establishing communication with an interactive game system;

(b) the player creating at least one game content associated with knowledge of a specific topic;

(c) the player submitting the game content to a referee for approval and converting the approved game content into at least one game in a specific game format to form at least one approved game, and/or the player converting the game content which is not approved into at least one game in a specific game format and submitting the game to a referee for approval,

(d) the player storing the approved game in the specific game format or in a game format selected from a list of game formats provided by the interactive game system in a library assigned to the player by the interactive game system;

wherein the interactive game system evaluates and records respective scores and/or credits of the player and the referee.

To pursue the proficiency in knowledge of a topic depends on two skills: practicing and exploring. But few people have a personal tutor who can be by their side whenever needed to assist in knowledge education. The above method accompanies the player whenever he or she desires to learn. By creating and submitting any kind of the game content to the referee for approval, the player can acquire the knowledge. The player may keep practicing the same knowledge through playing the game to strengthen his or her memory.

The method of the invention further comprises the step of the player introducing additional game contents into the approved game after step (c) and/or step (d), and submitting the additional game contents to the referee for approval or submitting the approved game with the additional game contents to the referee for approval.

In one preferred embodiment, the method of the invention further comprises the steps of:

(e) after the approved game is formed, the player initiating a contest with an opponent among a list of players by sending a contest signal and the approved game in the game format selected from his library; and

(f) the opponent providing feedback to the player responsive to the contest signal, and if the contest is adopted, engaging in the contest by providing a game solution to the game within a period of time;

wherein the interactive game system evaluates and records respective scores and/or credits of the player and the opponent.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of providing a senior referee to review the game content or the game if the opponent is not in agreement with approval of the game.

In another embodiment of the invention, the interactive game system is capable of identifying and extracting the game content of the approved game in the specific game format, and allowing the player to convert the extracted game content into at least one further game.

In another preferred embodiment, the method of the invention further comprises the step of the opponent sending at least one game selected from his own library to challenge the player, and requesting the player to provide a game solution to said at least one game within a period of time. The method may also comprises the step of automatically providing at least one game by the interactive game system for both the player and the opponent to respond to the provided game within a period of time, wherein the step of providing at least one game includes generation of the game from a list of pre-designed or approved game contents stored in a system database, or selection of the game from a list of pre-designed or approved games stored in a system database.

According to the invention, the referee is awarded a given number of credits from an account of the player for reviewing the game content or the game; and the senior referee is awarded a first given number of credits from the account of the player or the opponent if the senior referee maintains the referee's decision of review result on the game content or the game , and a second given number of credits from an account of the referee if the senior referee overturns the referee's decision on the game content or the game.

Generally, the referee and/or the senior referee will give their respective review result on the review request within a predetermined period of time.

If the referee disapproves the submitted game content or game, the player may modify the game content or the game, and then submit the modified game content or the modified game to the referee for further approval, or the player may appeal the game content or the game to a senior referee for review.

According to the invention, the game format may be presented in various forms, for example the form of the group selected from question-and-answer, fill-in-blank, multiple choice question, sentence restructure, and spelling of word(s). Any other learning format is possible according to the invention.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide a system of providing interactive multiplayer game play to acquire knowledge by a player having a personal communication device, comprising:

a personal communication device, and

an interactive game system in communication with the personal communication device, comprising a server which is operative for reactive exchanges with the player, and which comprises a game reviewer unit comprising a referee subunit for providing a referee to review the game content or the game submitted by the player; the interactive game system further comprising:

a module for permitting the player to create at least one game content associated with knowledge of a specific topic, and to submit the game content to the referee for approval;

a module for converting the approved game content into at least one game in a specific format to form at least one approved game, or converting the game content which is not approved into at least one non-approved game in a specific format and permitting the player to submit the at least one non-approved game to the referee for approval;

a score evaluating and recording unit for evaluating and recording respective scores and/or credits of the player and the referee; and

a library assigned to the player for storing the game content and the game, and sending the approved game in a game format selected from a list of game formats provided by the interactive game system.

Preferably, the interactive game system permits the player to introduce additional game contents into the approved game, and to submit the additional game contents to the referee subunit for approval or submit the approved game with the additional game contents to the referee subunit for approval.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the interactive game system further comprises:

a module for permitting the player to initiate a contest with an opponent among a list of players by sending a contest signal and the approved game in the game format selected from his library, and if the contest is adopted, to engage in the contest with the opponent who is requested to provide a game solution to the game within a period of time;

wherein the score evaluating and recording unit evaluates and records respective scores and/or credits of the player, the opponent, the referee and the senior referee.

In one preferred embodiment, the game reviewer unit further comprises a senior referee subunit for providing a senior referee to review the approved game if the opponent is not in agreement with the approval of the game. The senior referee may review the player's appeal for the game content or the game if the referee disapproves the game content or the game. The interactive game system may further comprise a game provision unit for automatically providing at least one game generated from a list of pre-designed or approved game contents stored in a system database, or providing at least one game selected from a list of pre-designed or approved games stored in a system database.

The score evaluating and recording unit may be configured to award the referee with a given number of credits from an account of the player for reviewing the game content or the game. The score evaluating and recording unit may also be configured to award the senior referee with a first given number of credits from the account of the player or the opponent if the senior maintains the referee's review decision, and a second given number of credits from an account of the referee if the senior referee overturns the referee's review decision.

Unlike the prior art game methods and systems, the method and system of the invention are characterized by providing the mechanism of the referee and the senior referee to review and judge the correctness of knowledge of the specific topics, and to allow the players or opponents to challenge the review results.

The invention provides a learning platform for the players to acquire knowledge of any specific topic through: (1) creating questions and their corresponding answers to challenge other the players; (2) answering questions created by other the players in a game format, and (3) reviewing questions and their corresponding answers created by other the players.

The invention allows the players to acquire the knowledge of any specific topic from various angles through playing different roles. According to the invention, the players can act as a questioner, an answerer, a referee and a senior referee. As a questioner, the players can create questions and their corresponding answers to challenge other players. As an answerer, the players can answer questions created by other players in a game format. As a referee, the players can review correctness of questions and their corresponding answers created by other players. In this way the players will be acting both the roles of students and teachers.

The objects, characteristics, advantages and technical effects of the invention will be further elaborated in the following description of the concepts and structures of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a flow chart for player in contest, illustrating the procedure for the player to create the game content, convert the approved game content into various game format, and engage in a contest of the game format with an opponent.

Figure 2 is a flow chart for opponent in contest, illustrating the procedure for the opponent to create the game content, convert the approved game content into various game format, accept and engage in the contest of the game format with the player.

Figure 3 is an integrated flow chart for player and opponent, which is a combination of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a system interface which includes Player's Account, Player's Library, QnA Entry Form, Appeal Application Form, Referee's Account, Senior Referee's Account, List of Players and Contest Mode.

Figure 5 is QnA Entry Form which contains Title, Question and Answer.

Figure 6 is Player's Library which contains Player's Non-approved QnA, Non-approved Game, Approved QnA and Approved Game.

Figure 7 is Player's Account which includes Player's Information, History, Accumulated Score and Credits.

Figure 8 is the Referee's Account which has the same format and functions as the Player's account.

Figure 9 is the Senior Referee's Account which has the same format and functions as the Player's account.

Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of two players in contest, illustrating the interactions between two players.

Figure 1 1 is a schematic diagram of three players in contest, illustrating how three players can contest with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system according to the invention is a system allowing the players to acquire knowledge of specific topics by creating an engaging environment that permits fast and challenging responses, exchanges and feedback to the players of a personal communication device. The system integrates the knowledge education and innovative content design with the personal communication device (such as smart phones) and server-side technology to create a meaningful, amusing, pedagogical and mobile environment for the players.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the system of providing interactive multiplayer game play to acquire knowledge by the player includes an interactive game system in communication with the personal communication device. The interactive game system comprises a server which is operative for reactive exchanges with the player, and the server comprises a game reviewer unit which will be described hereinbelow.

The interactive game system comprises a module for permitting the player to create at least one game content associated with a specific topic of knowledge, and to submit the game content to a referee for approval, by which module the player can create any game that is challenging and interesting and that can be used in the contest with the opponents. The player may modify the game content and submits the modified game content to the referee for further approval, if the player agrees with the disapproval of the game content.

The interactive game system further comprises a module for converting the approved game content into at least one game in a specific format selected from a list of game formats provided by the system. The module for converting also permits the player to convert the non-approved game content into at least one game in a specific format, and then the player is permitted to submit the game in the specific format to the referee for approval. Once the game content created by the player is approved by the referee, the player can convert the approved game content into a great diversity of game formats, including but not limited to QnA, fill-in-blank, multiple choice question, sentence restructure, spelling of word, and the like, thereby forming the various approved games. Then, the player can select any one of the approved games, and perform a contest with the opponent based on the selected game.

As described above, the player is permitted to convert the non-approved game content into a non-approved game, and submit the non-approved game to the referee for approval. In this case, the referee may review the game content contained in the game, and if the game content is approved, the game will become an approved game. The interactive game system of the invention is capable of identifying and extracting the game content of the approved game in one specific format, and allows the player to convert the extracted approved game content into further approved games in a game format selected from a list of game formats provided by the system.

The interactive game system of the invention also permits the player to introduce additional game contents into the approved game. In this case, the player is requested to submit the additional game contents to the referee for approval, which may be achieved by submitting the additional game contents or submitting the approved game with the additional game contents. One example of the introduction of the additional game contents is the generation of a game in multiple-choice question format. To generate this type of game, the player needs to introduce, for example, three or more additional answers, in addition to the approved answer. These additional answers are required to be approved by the referee before the game becomes approved.

The interactive game system further comprises a module for permitting the player to initiate a contest with an opponent among a list of players by sending a contest signal and the approved game in the game format selected from his library. This module permits the player to find an opponent among a list of players and send the contest signal to invite the opponent. After the contest signal is accepted, the player may engage in the contest with the opponent and request the opponent to provide a game solution to the game within a predetermined period of time. In the meantime, the opponent may send his own game to challenge the player, thereby creating the inter-player contest play.

The game reviewer unit of the server may comprises a referee subunit for reviewing the game content or the game submitted by the player, and a senior referee subunit for reviewing the approved game if the opponent is not in agreement with the approval of the game, for example, if the game solution provided by the opponent is not consistent with the approved game content. The senior referee subunit may also function to review the appeal filed by the player if the player is not in agreement with disproval of the game content or the game made by the referee.

The interactive game system also comprises a score evaluating and recording unit for evaluating and recording respective scores and/or credits of the player, the opponent, the referee and the senior referee. This unit is configured to evaluate, update, and record the scores and/or credits of the players, the opponent, the referee and the senior referee for each game play, respectively.

There is provided in the interactive game system a library for storing the game content and the game which are approved and non-approved. Each player will have a unique corresponding library. If the player enters the contest mode, the player may send the approved game in the selected game format saved in the library and initiate the contest with the opponent.

The interactive game system further comprises a game provision unit for automatically providing at least one game. Preferably, this unit is configured to provide the game by generating the game from a list of pre-designed or approved game contents stored in a system database, or selecting the game from a list of pre-designed or approved games stored in a system database. As to the game provided by the system of the invention, both the player and the opponent are requested to give their respective game solutions within a period of time. The interactive game system of the invention has already pre-designed a series of game contents and/or a series of games which are stored in the system database. In the mean time, the game contents and games that are created by the players and have been approved would also be stored in the system database. The system will provide the game from the system database for the player and the opponent to contest. The provided game may be presented, for example, in the form of QnA, fill-in-blank, multiple choices, sentence restructure, spelling of word or any other learning format. For instance, the game provision unit may generate two, three, four or more questions for both the player and the opponent to answer during the contest. This will enhance the amusement of the game play, in addition to the interaction between the player and the opponent themselves.

According to the invention, the modules and the units of the interactive game system discussed above may be provided either in the server or in the player's side.

The opponent can operate in the same way as the player on the modules and the units of the interactive game system discussed above, since the opponent is also a player.

The advantages of the invention are attained through the following:

• Peer Game Contest

• Asking Questions

• Answering Questions

• Reviewing Questions and their Corresponding Answers

Peer Game Contest

Most the players do not have the interest or the fair feeling of competing against computers. They are more interested in competing with peers of similar knowledge level on a specific topic. In the system, the players can compete with peers of similar knowledge level on a specific topic in a rival game format.

Asking Questions

The players can acquire new knowledge of a specific topic more effectively through asking questions. In the system, the players can ask new questions but they need to find the corresponding answers by themselves. Other the players (or the players of higher knowledge level) will help to review the correctness of these questions and the corresponding answers. This will help the players build up their proactive learning attitude.

Answering Questions

It will be more effective for the players to gain knowledge of a specific topic through answering questions rather than learning by rote. In the system, the players are required to answer questions in a game format.

Reviewing Questions and their Corresponding Answers

In order to solve problems (or find answers to some questions), the management of most organizations will frequently review and approve some decisions and documents provided by other colleagues. This means that they should have the capability and experience to review questions and their corresponding answers provided by others so that fewer mistakes will be made in their approval process. In the system, the players can become the referees to review the questions and their corresponding answers provided by others. This will help the players to train up their analytical skills for career development. Abbreviations, Denotations and Terms

The following abbreviations, denotations and terms used herein refer respectively to the definitions below:

QnA: Question and its Corresponding Answer

QnAs: Questions and their Corresponding Answers

Player: The player can become opponent, the referee or the senior referee depending on the role he takes in a game. The player can be a person or a group of people. The player will have his own library that contains different QnAs and games.

List of Players: It shows all the players.

Opponent: A player from List of Players (except Player). Opponent can be a person or a group of people.

Referee: A player selected from List of Players who (except Player) has attained the same or higher knowledge level compared with Player.

Senior Referee: A player selected from List of Players (except the referee(s) who previously reviewed the QnA) who has attained higher knowledge level compared with Player or from a person selected from list of qualified teachers. The list of qualified teachers is provided by the system developer.

N, M, P, S, F, J: Each denotes a number specified by the system.

T l , T2, T3, T4, T5: Each denotes a period of time specified by the system.

QnA Entry Format

Title: Title of the QnA.

Question: Question about a specific topic.

Answer: Answer to the question.

Player's Library Non-approved QnA: It is the QnA created by Player without approval from the referee, the senior referee or the system.

Non-approved Game: It is the game converted from non- approved QnA.

Approved QnA: It is the QnA with approval from the referee, the senior referee or the system.

Approved Game: It is the game converted from the approved QnA, or the game with approval from the referee, the senior referee or the system developer

Player's Account

Information: Player's account name, country of origin, date of account activation, etc.

History: It is a summary about all the contests joined and the results produced.

Accumulated Score: It is the summation of player's scores acquired in all contests and other means.

Credits: Credits are granted by the system when player performs specific activities based on the requirements of the system.

Credits

Credits may be got from the following ways:

• Player can buy Credits directly from the system;

• Player can pay for a special course that contains some Approved Games from the system. Player can earn Credits through playing these Approved Games but the number of Credits gained will depend on player's score got from playing these Approved Games;

• For every extra G amount of Score that Player gets, Player will be granted an extra H amount of Credits.

• Player can take the role of the referee or the senior referee to earn extra Credits.

· Player can perform some activities or assignments specified by the system to earn extra Credits. Use of Credits

• Redeem for any items provided by the system.

• Pay for services provided by the referee or the senior referee.

· Pay the administration fee for the contest.

• Pay for any other products or services provided by the system.

The following description of the invention refers to Figures 1 to 1 1. For the sake of clarity and convenience, the "QnA" is taken herein as one example of the game content and one example of the game format. It would be appreciated that any other game contents and game formats are possible. In addition, the specific topics of knowledge can be any type of education topics, for example, language education, history, mathematics, chemistry, physics, arts, entertainments, and the like. Creation of Approved Game for Contest

Referring to Figure 1 , there is illustrated an exemplary flow chart for player in contest. This flow chart describes the procedure for the player to create "Non-approved QnA", get it approved by the referee or the senior the referee as "Approved QnA" and convert it to "Approved Game" for challenging opponent in contest mode. It also describes the procedure for the player to invite one or more players as an opponent to the contest and the flow path of the contest.

First of all, the player gets access to the interactive game system discussed above using his/her personal communication device (for example smart phone), and gets an unique account. Afterwards, the player is allowed to access the system interface shown in Figure 4.

As illustrated in Figure 1 , the player is required to create at least one approved game for the contest. The player can create QnA in the format shown in Figure 5, and then save the QnA in a library with non-approved status shown in Figure 7.

The player needs to submit the QnA to the system for approval. To review the QnA, the system will select a qualified referee from a list of players who has attained the same or higher knowledge level compared with the player. Knowledge level attained is based on Accumulated Score in the system. The system will provide the player with the referee's account, set status of the QnA to "pending" and send a review signal to the referee for approving the QnA.

When the referee receives the review signal for approving the QnA, the referee has to decide if the QnA can be approved under the pre-set criteria within a period of time (Tl). If the referee does not approve the QnA, the referee will set status of the QnA to "non-approved" and provide reason of the non-approval for the player. The system will deduct N credits from the player's account and add N credits to the referee's account.

If the referee approves the QnA, the referee will set status of the QnA to

"approved". The system will deduct M credits from the player's account and add M credits to the referee's account.

The system will notify the player if the submitted QnA is approved.

If the QnA is approved, the player can convert the approved QnA to be the approved game and save the approved game in the player's library.

If the QnA is not approved, the player can decide to agree or not to agree to the non-approval. If the player agrees to the non-approval, the player has to modify the QnA, save the QnA in the player's library with "non-approved" status and submit the modified QnA to the system for approval. To review the QnA, the system will select a qualified referee from list of players (except the player) who has attained the same or higher knowledge level compared with the player. Knowledge level attained is based on Accumulated Score in the system. The system will provide the player with the referee's account and send Review Signal to the referee for approving the QnA. This qualified referee may or may not be the same as the referee who previously decided not to approve the QnA.

If the player does not agree to the non-approval, the player has to provide reason for approval of the QnA. To review the QnA, the system will select a qualified senior referee from list of players (except the referee(s) who reviewed the QnA) who has attained higher knowledge level compared with the player or from list of qualified teachers. The list of qualified teachers is provided by the system. The system will provide the player with the senior referee's account and send an appeal signal to the senior referee for approval of the QnA.

When the senior referee receives the appeal signal for approval of the submitted QnA, the senior referee will decide if the appeal is successful under the pre-set criteria within a period of time (T2).

If the appeal is not successful, the senior referee will set status of the QnA to

"non-approved" and provide reason of the unsuccessful appeal for the player. Then the system will deduct P credits from the player's account and add P credits to the senior referee's account.

If the appeal is successful, the senior referee will set status of the QnA to "approved" and provide reason of the successful appeal for the player and the referee who gained credits by deciding not to approve the QnA. Then the system will deduct S credits from the referee's account and add S credits to the senior referee's account. Player in Contest Mode

The player enters contest mode and selects one or more players from list of players as the opponent. The player has to select the approved game from the player's library to challenge the opponent. After that, the player sends the selected game and a contest signal to opponent.

The system will notify the player if the contest is adopted.

If the request for contest is rejected, the system will cancel the contest.

If the contest is accepted, the player will complete the selected game sent from the opponent within a period of time (T4). The player can decide to agree or not to agree with the game solution (i.e. the game content) to the selected game sent from the opponent within a period of time (T5).

If the player agrees, the system will evaluate the player's new score.

If the player does not agree, the player has to provide reason for disapproval of the game. To review the game, the system will select a qualified senior referee from a list of players (except the player, the opponent, and the referee who previously approved the QnA) who has attained higher knowledge level compared with the player or from a list of qualified teachers. Knowledge level attained is based on accumulated score in the system. The list of qualified teachers is provided by the system. Then the system will provide the player with the senior referee's account, set status of the game and its corresponding QnA to "pending", and send an appeal signal to the senior referee for disapproval of the game.

When the senior referee receives the appeal signal for disapproval of the approved game, the senior referee will review the game and decide if the appeal is successful under the pre-set criteria within a period of time (T3).

If the appeal is not successful, the senior referee will set status of the game and its corresponding QnA to "approved", and provide reason of the unsuccessful appeal for the player. Then the system will deduct F credits from the player's account and add F credits to the senior referee's account. The system will evaluate the player's new score.

If the appeal is successful, the senior referee will set status of the game and its corresponding QnA to "non-approved", and provide reason of the successful appeal for the player and the referee who previously approved the QnA. Then the system will deduct J credits from the referee's account and add J credits to the senior referee's account. The system will invalidate the contest so that no score will be updated. Opponent in Contest Mode

Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart for player in contest, which describes the procedure for the opponent to create "Non-approved QnA", get it approved by the referee or the senior referee as "Approved QnA" and convert it to "Approved Game" for the contest. It also describes the procedure for the opponent to accept the contest initiated by the player and the flow path of the contest.

When the opponent receives the contest signal from the player, the opponent will decide to adopt or not to adopt the contest.

If the opponent does not adopt the contest, the system will cancel the contest. If the opponent adopts the contest, the opponent will enter the contest mode. Optionally, the opponent may select an approved game from the opponent's library and send the selected game to challenge the player. Then opponent has to complete the selected game sent from the player within a period of time (T4) by providing his/her game solution to the game. The opponent can decide to agree or not to agree with the game solution (i.e. the game content) of the selected game sent from the player within a period of time (T5).

If the opponent agrees, the system will evaluate the opponent's new score.

If the opponent does not agree, the opponent has to provide reason for disapproval of the game. To review the game, the system will select a qualified senior referee from a list of players (except the opponent, the player, and the referee who previously approved the QnA) who has attained higher knowledge level compared with the opponent or from a list of qualified teachers. Knowledge level attained is based on accumulated score in the system. The list of qualified teachers is provided by the system. Then the system will provide the opponent with the senior referee's account, set status of the game and its corresponding QnA to "pending", and send an appeal signal to the senior referee for disapproval of the game.

When the senior referee receives the appeal signal for disapproval of the approved game, the senior referee will review the game and decide if the appeal is successful under the pre-set criteria within a period of time (T3).

If the appeal is not successful, the senior referee will set status of the game and its corresponding QnA to "approved", and provide reason of the unsuccessful appeal for the opponent. Then the system will deduct F credits from opponent's account and add F credits to the senior referee's account. The system will evaluate opponent's new score.

If the appeal is successful, the senior referee will set status of the game and its corresponding QnA to "non-approved", and provide reason of the successful appeal for the opponent and the referee who previously approved the QnA. Then the system will deduct J credits from the referee's account and add J credits to the senior referee's account. The system will invalidate the contest so that no score will be updated.

Figure 3 is an integrated flow chart for both the player and the opponent. This flow chart is the combined procedure of Figures 1 and 2, as the opponent is actually a player and any player can also become an opponent when being invited to a contest.

As described above, the game content can be various and depended on the player's subjective desire. Figure 5 illustrates an example of QnA entry form, which contains Title, Question and Answer. The player uses the QnA entry form to create QnA and put in the player's library. To complete the QnA entry form, the player is required to provide "Title" for the QnA, "Question" about the knowledge of a specific topic and "Answer" to the corresponding question.

For example:

Title: English Tenses

Question: What is the past tense of "strike"?

Answer: Struck

If the above QnA is approved by the referee, the player may convert it to different game formats. For example, the game format may be presented in the QnA form as above, or presented in the fill-in-blank format, "The past tense of "strike" is

After the game is saved in the given game format is saved in the library, the player may enter into the contest mode and engage in the game contest with the opponent.

In Figure 6, there is illustrated a player's library which contains Player's Non-approved QnA, Non-approved Game, Approved QnA and Approved Game. Each player is given with his/her own library by the system. The player can create QnA and save it in his/her own library as Non-approved QnA. The player can convert Non-approved QnA to Non-approved Game and save it in the library. After getting the approval of the referee or the senior referee for the Non-approved QnA, the corresponding QnA will be saved in the player's own library as Approved QnA and the corresponding Non-approved Game will become "Approved Game". The player can also convert the approved QnA to the desired game format.

Figures 7 to 9 illustrates the respective accounts of the player, the referee and the senior referee. The player's account includes the player's information, history, accumulated score and credits. Since the referee and the senior referee are actually a player who takes the role of referee and senior referee, the formats and functions of the referee and the senior referee will be the same as the player's account.

The system of the invention allows multiple players to engage in a game contest. Figure 10 and 1 1 illustrates the interactions between two players, in which one is called player while another is called opponent. Figure 1 1 illustrates the interaction among three players who are called Player A, Player B and Player C, in which two of them are permitted for interactive exchanges.

With the techniques and implementations of the game discussed above with reference to Figs. 1 -1 1 , it will be apparent to persons with ordinary skills in the art that the approved game may also be formed through converting the non-approved game content into a non-approved game followed by submitting the non-approved game for approval.

Thus, the present invention provides methods and system for the players to acquire knowledge of any specific topic through playing the games anytime and anywhere in amusing and impressive manner. The players gain the knowledge by raising questions, answering questions and reviewing the questions and corresponding answers.

Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention according to some preferred embodiments, the invention, however, should not be limited to the structures and functions of the embodiments and drawings. It is stated that insofar as its basic principle is not altered, changed or modified it may be subjected to variations of detail. Numerous variations and modifications that are easily obtainable by means of the skilled person's common knowledge without departing from the scope of the invention should fall into the scope of this invention.