Cellular phone games based television archives

• US 10,137,369 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: WinView Incorporated (GameSquare Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockton, David B., Berner, Mark K.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US15/332,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20170036110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking

Abstract

Cellular phone games based on television archives allow users to play games on their cellular phones wherein the games are based on archived television programs. The game is able to be played simultaneously between competitors or on demand. Game data and video data are combined into one file and are sent to participating cellular phones so that the required information is received at the same time at each cellular phone. Each cellular phone contains software to manipulate the game and video data so that the user is able to play the game. The game is played by watching video clips from archived television programs and then selecting choices related to the video clips using the inputs on the user'"'"'s cellular phone. User scores are determined based on the answers to the questions related to the video clips and results are distributed to the participants.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game based on streaming content, comprising:

a. receiving streaming content and one or more game data files;

b. operating a program on a web-connected device to display one or more video clips and game data from the streaming content and the one or more game data files, wherein the streaming content and the one or more game data files are simultaneously streamed to all participants at a specific time; and

c. playing the game by selecting one or more choices related to the one or more video clips.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving a game start signal and starting the game.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the streaming content and the one or more game data files are received in combined content.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are displayed simultaneously.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising collecting scores and reporting performance to participants to a mobile device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising prohibiting further input with a lockout signal simultaneously sent to all participants.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the streaming content or the one or more game data files are compressed.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the game data contains graphic information in addition to the one or more video clips.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the graphic information is displayed as a selected one or more of crawling information, closed captioned information, a picture in picture and a graphical overlay.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the streaming content and the one or more game data files are received in advance of a scheduled start and stored for simultaneous display to all participants.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transmitting the streaming content and the one or more game data files on a transmission selected from the group consisting of a single TCP, UDP, 3G, multicast and broadcast transmission.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein transmitting includes digital broadcasting, individual streaming or downloading.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the game is played as a selected one of simultaneously live, on demand and practice.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a set of digital audio is received with the streaming content and the one or more game data files.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a user identifies one or more remote competitors to challenge and compete against in a separate challenge contest.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein after all of the challenged competitors complete the challenge game, separate results are sent to the challenged competitors including final rankings.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the user utilizes the Internet to identify one or more remote competitors to challenge and compete against.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the streaming content and the one or more game data files are pre-produced.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the streaming content includes sporting events, game shows, news programming or entertainment shows.

20. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising digitizing analog video.

21. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the streaming content and the one or more game data files are received over a wireless cellular network.

22. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are synchronously displayed.

23. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a record of episodes of the one or more video clips played by the user is maintained on a server to ensure the user receives a never-before played game by the user.

61. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein streaming content comprises live content.

24. A method of conducting a contest based on a segment of content, comprising:

a. transmitting streaming content from a server over a wireless cellular network, the streaming content comprising;

i. one or more video clips;

ii. one or more game data files, wherein the one or more game data files contain game data, further wherein the game data contains graphic information in addition to the one or more video clips, wherein the streaming content is simultaneously streamed to all participants at a specific time; and

iii. audio data;

b. receiving the streaming content on a mobile device;

c. operating a cellular based program contained on the mobile device to synchronously display the one or more video clips and the game data; and

d. playing the game by selecting one or more choices related to the video clips and the game data.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the streaming content is assembled into combined content.

26. The method as claimed in claim 24 further comprising collecting scores and reporting performance to participants to the mobile device.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26 wherein the graphic information is displayed to a competitor as a selected one or more of crawling information, closed captioned information, a picture in picture and a graphic overlay.

28. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the streaming content contains compressed data.

29. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the streaming content is received by the mobile device in advance of scheduled start.

30. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein transmitting the streaming content is on a transmission selected from the group consisting of a single TCP, UDP, 3G, multicast and broadcast transmission.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein transmitting is selected from the group consisting of digital broadcasting, individual streaming and downloading.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the game is played as a selected one of simultaneously live, on demand and practice.

33. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein a user identifies one or more remote competitors to challenge and compete against in a challenge game.

34. The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein after all of the challenged competitors complete the challenge game, results are sent to the challenged competitors including rankings.

35. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the streaming content is selected from the group consisting of sporting events, game shows, news programming and entertainment shows.

62. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein streaming content comprises live content.

36. A system for producing and distributing a game based on existing content, comprising:

a. a game production device for grouping one or more video clips and game data; and

b. a first server coupled to the game production device, wherein the server receives and transmits the grouped one or more video clips and game data, wherein the grouped one or more video clips and game data is simultaneously streamed to all participants at a specific time, wherein the game is played by selecting one or more choices related to the one or more video clips.

37. The system as claimed in claim 36 wherein the grouped one or more video clips and game data is assembled into combined content.

38. The system as claimed in claim 36 further comprising a second server coupled to the first server for receiving scoring data, determining standings and communicating the standings to participants.

39. The system as claimed in claim 38 wherein the first server and the second server are contained within a single server device.

40. The system as claimed in claim 36 further comprising a cellular service operator coupled to the first server and a wireless network for transmitting the grouped one or more video clips and game data to the wireless network.

41. The system as claimed in claim 36 wherein the grouped one or more video clips and game data contains compressed data.

42. The system as claimed in claim 36 wherein the grouped one or more video clips and game data is transmitted on a transmission selected from the group consisting of a single TCP, UDP, 3G, multicast and broadcast transmission.

43. The system as claimed in claim 42 wherein transmitting the grouped one or more video clips and game data is selected from the group consisting of digital broadcasting, streaming and downloading.

44. The system as claimed in claim 43 wherein the game is played as a selected one of simultaneously live, on demand and practice.

45. The system as claimed in claim 36 wherein a set of digital audio is grouped into the grouped one or more video clips and game data.

46. The system as claimed in claim 36 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are pre-produced.

47. The system as claimed in claim 36 wherein the content includes sporting events, game shows, news programming or entertainment shows.

63. The system as claimed in claim 36 wherein streaming content comprises live content.

48. A device for playing a game based on streaming content, comprising a mobile device, wherein the mobile device receives the streaming content, wherein the streaming content contains one or more video clips and game data and utilizes a program and the set of files to present the one or more video clips and the game data to a user, wherein the streaming content with the one or more video clips and game data is simultaneously streamed to all participants at a specific time, playing the game includes selecting one or more choices related to the one or more video clips.

49. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the streaming content is assembled into combined content.

50. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are displayed simultaneously.

51. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the game data contains graphic information in addition to the one or more video clips.

52. The device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the graphic information is displayed as a selected one or more of crawling information, closed captioned information, a picture in picture and a graphic overlay.

53. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are synchronized.

54. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the game is transmitted to the mobile device using a selected one of digital broadcasting, individual streaming and downloading.

55. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the game is played as a selected one of simultaneously live, on demand and practice.

56. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the user identifies one or more remote competitors to challenge and compete against in a challenge game.

57. The device as claimed in claim 56 wherein after all of the challenged competitors complete the challenge game, results are sent to the challenged competitors including rankings.

58. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein standings information is received from a server.

59. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are pre-produced, wherein the one or more video clips and the game data are stored and released to the participants upon a signal from a server.

60. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the streaming content is selected from the group consisting of sporting events, game shows and entertainment shows.

64. The device as claimed in claim 48 wherein streaming content comprises live content.