Method of and system for managing client resources and assets for activities on computing devices

• US 10,165,339 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: WinView Incorporated (GameSquare Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huske, Tim, Micheli, Mark J., Berner, Mark K., Ford, Matt, Lockton, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B
• Application Number:
  US14/997,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 709203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A method of and system for enabling a distributed entertainment system over a computing device is described herein. When implementing a distributed entertainment system wherein the entertainment system is directly correlated to live events or televised programs, there are a number of issues that must be addressed such as differing timing and channels of television programs and separate state laws. Furthermore, there are a plethora of varying computing device models possibly requiring model-specific software. An “Activity Client” is provided to handle such concerns. Furthermore, since time is of the essence for activities based on live or televised events, it is necessary to ensure a computing device is able to receive the necessary updates for the program before the event begins. By providing only the needed components instead of entire data packages, the present invention is able to much more efficiently prepare users'"'"' computing devices in time.

Claims

1. A method of implementing an entertainment service including a game of skill or chance comprising:

downloading an activity client to a mobile web-connected computing device;

selecting and registering with a service provider;

loading a set of event information related to a geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device to the activity client, wherein the geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device determines the set of event information to be loaded, wherein the set of information includes a schedule of multiple available events, and further wherein as the geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device changes, different event information is presented through the activity client;

selecting an event from the activity client to participate in by a user from a list of available events;

downloading a set of activity-specific information related to a chosen activity from a server to the mobile web-connected computing device; and

executing an interactive application synchronized with the event on the mobile web-connected computing device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the activity client is a program for managing activity information and data.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising identifying a user'"'"'s legal status required to participate.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying a current geographic location of the mobile web-connected computing device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the activity client is specifically designed for the mobile web-connected computing device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein executing the application is in real-time, synchronized with the event.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the schedule of available events includes a name of a televised event, identification of the activity or activities to be played based on the televised event, a start time of the television event and information relating to nature of prizes in relation to the television event, and the fees required to participate in the event.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising displaying the set of event information.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the set of event information is continually broadcast from the server and received at the mobile web-connected computing device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the set of activity-specific information includes activity-specific instructions and information related to nature of the activity and event.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein an activity interpreter resident in the activity client is used to execute the application.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the activity interpreter combines the activity, event and device instructions to execute the activity in real-time.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a game of skill or chance, a survey and a poll.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mobile web-connected computing device is a wireless device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mobile web-connected computing device includes:

a set-top box, a personal computer, a gaming console, a laptop computer, a cell phone, a PDA or a combination device.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a. receiving a list of assets from the server;

b. comparing the list of assets with a first set of assets on the mobile web-connected computing device;

c. receiving only a second set of assets within the list of assets that are not already resident on the mobile web-connected computing device.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising improving efficiency by prioritizing the second set of assets.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the second set of assets are grouped into a set of necessary assets and a set of preferred assets.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a list of genres of sports and a schedule of available events within each genre.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the genre is first selected and then the schedule of available events within the genre is revealed allowing a specific event to be selected.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the application comprises an interactive activity.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the service provider comprises a legal chance-based real-time sports prediction service.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the service provider comprises a television-related wagering service.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events comprise multiple athletic contests taking place in a single day.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events comprise a partial athletic contest.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events comprise a weekly event.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events comprise a week-long event.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the week-long event comprises a competitive game show.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events comprise a variety of events.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events comprise a season of events.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events comprise events that occur on multiple days.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events comprise multiple contests.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the multiple contests comprise athletic contests.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events comprise simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein the available events include:

a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, a real-time skill and chance-based sports prediction games, an event based on a video game, a computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show or a commercial contained in a broadcast.

72. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a name of a television event, identification of an activity to be played with the television event, and information relating to nature of a prize related to the television event.

73. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a display showing time remaining until start of the available events.

74. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the first set of assets includes images, graphics, sounds, script information, Internet content, data or real-time data.

86. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying an age of the user.

87. The method as claimed in claim 86 wherein the user is only eligible to participate in the activity if the user'"'"'s location and age meet predetermined criteria.

88. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the event comprises a live event.

89. The method as claimed in claim 88 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

90. The method as claimed in claim 88 wherein information related to the live event and/or the activity is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

91. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein executing the interactive application relates to one or more events taking place in the future.

92. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a list of sports events taking place in the future.

93. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a variety of games of skill or chance in connection with one or more events taking place in the future.

94. The method as claimed in claim 93 wherein the one or more events taking place in the future comprise games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

150. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein identifying the user status includes a determination the user does not qualify to participate in the entertainment service.

151. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the set of event information is organized by sporting event.

152. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the information related to the nature of the activity and event includes betting odds.

153. The method of claim 1 wherein the service provider comprises a legal chance-based real-time sports wagering service.

154. The method of claim 33 wherein multiple wagering options are available for the multiple athletic contests.

158. The method of claim 72 wherein the nature of the prize relates to the odds offered for a proposition based wager.

159. The method of claim 1 wherein the user enters credit card information to be eligible to participate in the activity.

161. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the event comprises a taped event.

162. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the event comprises a televised athletic contest.

163. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the available events comprise an arbitrarily selected segment of an athletic contest.

164. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the available events comprise multiple athletic contests taking place at a same time.

165. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the available events comprise multiple genres of athletic contests.

166. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying a residence or domicile of the user.

36. A method of implementing an entertainment service at a server comprising:

receiving registration information with the entertainment service from one or more mobile Internet-connected computing devices;

transmitting an activity client from the server to the one or more mobile Internet-connected computing devices;

determining a current, geographic location of each of the one or more mobile Internet-connected computing devices;

for each of the one or more mobile Internet-connected computing devices, sending a set of event information related to the current, geographic location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device to the activity client, wherein the current, geographic location determines the set of event information to be loaded, wherein the set of event information includes a schedule of available events, and further wherein as the current, geographic location changes, different event information is presented through the activity client;

transmitting a set of activity-specific information related to an activity from the server to the one or more of the mobile Internet-connected computing devices.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a list of genres of sports and a schedule of available events within each genre.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the genre is first selected and then the schedule of available events within the genre is revealed allowing a specific event to be selected.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the entertainment service comprises a real-time skill or chance sports prediction service.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein the entertainment service comprises a television-related service.

41. The method of claim 36 further comprising executing an application corresponding to a selected event on the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the application is an interactive activity.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a game of skill or chance, a survey and a poll.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the application is synchronized with television programming.

45. The method of claim 36 wherein downloading the set of activity-specific information comprises:

receiving a list of assets from the server;

comparing the list of assets with a first set of assets on the mobile Internet-connected computing device; and

receiving only a second set of assets within the list of assets that are not already resident on the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

75. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a display showing time remaining until start of the available events.

95. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the activity corresponds to a live event.

96. The method as claimed in claim 95 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

97. The method as claimed in claim 95 wherein information related to the live event and/or the activity is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

98. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a list of sports events taking place in the future.

99. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a variety of games of skill or chance in connection with one or more events taking place in the future.

100. The method as claimed in claim 99 wherein the one or more events taking place in the future comprise games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

101. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the entertainment service comprises games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

102. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the entertainment service comprises a sports event prediction service.

103. The method as claimed in claim 36 further comprising identifying a user status.

104. The method as claimed in claim 103 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying an age of the user.

105. The method as claimed in claim 104 wherein the user is only eligible to participate in the activity if the user'"'"'s location and age meet predetermined criteria.

155. The method of claim 37 wherein the schedule of available events includes fixed odds proposition-based wagering options.

156. The method of claim 37 wherein the real time sports prediction service offers fixed odds propositions related to the selected event.

160. The method of claim 103 wherein identifying the user status includes verifying the existence of an account with the entertainment service.

167. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the activity comprises a taped event.

168. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the activity comprises a televised athletic contest.

169. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the available events comprise an arbitrarily selected segment of an athletic contest.

170. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the available events comprise multiple athletic contests taking place at a same time.

171. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the available events comprise multiple genres of athletic contests.

172. The method as claimed in claim 103 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying a residence or domicile of the user.

46. A method of implementing an entertainment service comprising:

downloading an application to a mobile web-connected computing device;

registering with an entertainment service;

loading a set of event information related to a location of the mobile web-connected computing device to the application, wherein the location determines the set of event information to be loaded, wherein the set of information includes a list of available events, and further wherein as the location of the mobile web-connected computing device changes, different event information is presented within the application;

selecting an event from the application to participate in by a user from the list of available events;

downloading a set of event-specific information related to an activity from a server to the mobile web-connected computing device; and

executing the application corresponding to the event selected on the mobile web-connected computing device.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the schedule of available events comprises a list of genres of sports and a schedule of available events within each genre.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the genre is first selected and then the schedule of available events within the genre is revealed allowing a specific event to be selected.

49. The method of claim 46 wherein the entertainment service comprises a real-time sports prediction service.

50. The method of claim 46 wherein the entertainment service comprises a television-related service.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a game of skill or chance, a survey and a poll.

52. The method of claim 46 wherein the application is synchronized with Internet delivered or broadcast television programming.

76. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the list of available events comprises a display showing time remaining until start of the available events.

106. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the event comprises a live event.

107. The method as claimed in claim 106 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

108. The method as claimed in claim 106 wherein information related to the live event and/or the activity is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

109. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein executing the application relates to one or more events taking place in the future.

110. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the list of available events comprises a list of sports events taking place in the future.

111. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the list of available events comprises a variety of games of skill or chance in connection with one or more events taking place in the future.

112. The method as claimed in claim 111 wherein the one or more events taking place in the future comprise games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

113. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the entertainment service comprises games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

114. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the entertainment service comprises a sports event prediction service.

115. The method as claimed in claim 46 further comprising identifying a user status.

116. The method as claimed in claim 115 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying an age of the user.

117. The method as claimed in claim 116 wherein the user is only eligible to participate in the activity if the user'"'"'s location and age meet predetermined criteria.

173. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the event comprises a taped event.

174. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the event comprises a televised athletic contest.

175. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the available events comprise an arbitrarily selected segment of an athletic contest.

176. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the available events comprise multiple athletic contests taking place at a same time.

177. The method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the available events comprise multiple genres of athletic contests.

178. The method as claimed in claim 115 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying a residence or domicile of the user.

53. A method of implementing an entertainment service on a server comprising:

receiving registration information for the entertainment service;

transmitting a set of game information related to a location of a mobile Internet-connected computing device to an application, wherein the location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device determines the set of game information to be transmitted, wherein the set of event information includes a list of available events;

receiving a selection related to the list of available events, and further wherein as the location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device changes, different game information is presented within the application;

transmitting a set of activity-specific information related to the selection from the server to the mobile Internet-connected computing device; and

receiving additional information based on the user executing the application on the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the list of available events comprises a list of genres of sports and a schedule of available events within each genre.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the genre is first selected and then the schedule of available events within the genre is revealed allowing a specific event to be selected.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein the entertainment service comprises a real-time sports prediction service.

57. The method of claim 53 wherein the entertainment service comprises a television-related service.

58. The method of claim 53 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of a game of skill or chance, a survey and a poll.

59. The method of claim 53 wherein the application is synchronized with Internet delivered or broadcast television programming.

60. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events comprise multiple athletic contests taking place in a single day.

61. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events comprise a partial athletic contest.

62. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events comprise a weekly event.

63. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events comprise a week-long event.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the week-long event comprises a competitive game show.

65. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events comprise a variety of events.

66. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events comprise a season of events.

67. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events comprise events that occur on multiple days.

68. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events comprise multiple contests.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the multiple contests comprise athletic contests.

70. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events comprise simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

71. The method of claim 53 wherein the available events include:

a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, a real-time skill and chance-based sports prediction game, an event based on a video game, a computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show or a commercial contained in a broadcast.

77. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the list of available events comprises a display showing time remaining until start of the available events.

118. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the selection corresponds to a live event.

119. The method as claimed in claim 118 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

120. The method as claimed in claim 118 wherein information related to the live event and/or the selection is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

121. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the list of available events comprises a list of sports events taking place in the future.

122. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the list of available events comprises a variety of games of skill or chance in connection with one or more events taking place in the future.

123. The method as claimed in claim 122 wherein the one or more events taking place in the future comprise games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

124. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the entertainment service comprises games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

125. The method as claimed in claim 53 further comprising identifying a user status.

126. The method as claimed in claim 125 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying an age of the user.

127. The method as claimed in claim 126 wherein the user is only eligible to participate in the selection if the user'"'"'s location and age meet predetermined criteria.

157. The method of claim 53 wherein the entertainment service comprises a fixed odds, proposition based, wagering service.

179. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the available events comprise a taped event.

180. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the available events comprise a televised athletic contest.

181. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the available events comprise an arbitrarily selected segment of an athletic contest.

182. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the available events comprise multiple athletic contests taking place at a same time.

183. The method as claimed in claim 53 wherein the available events comprise multiple genres of athletic contests.

184. The method as claimed in claim 125 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying a residence or domicile of the user.

78. A method comprising:

downloading an activity client to a mobile Internet-connected computing device;

loading a set of event information related to a location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device to the activity client, wherein the location determines the set of event information to be loaded;

selecting an event from the activity client to participate in by a user from a list of available events;

downloading a set of activity-specific information related to an activity from a server to the mobile Internet-connected computing device including;

receiving a list of assets from the server;

comparing the list of assets with a first set of assets on the mobile Internet-connected computing device;

receiving only a second set of assets within the list of assets that are not already resident on the mobile Internet-connected computing device,

wherein the second set of assets are grouped into a set of necessary assets and a set of preferred assets; and

executing an interactive application corresponding to the event on the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

79. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the first set of assets includes images, graphics, sounds or data.

80. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the first set of assets includes script information, Internet content or real-time data.

81. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the list of available events comprises a display showing time remaining until start of the available events.

85. The method as claimed in claim 81 wherein the list of available events comprises a display showing time remaining until start of the available events.

128. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the event comprises a live event.

129. The method as claimed in claim 128 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

130. The method as claimed in claim 128 wherein information related to the live event and/or the activity is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

131. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein executing the interactive application relates to one or more events taking place in the future.

132. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the list of available events comprises a list of sports events taking place in the future.

133. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the list of available events comprises a variety of games of skill or chance in connection with one or more events taking place in the future.

134. The method as claimed in claim 133 wherein the one or more events taking place in the future comprise games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

135. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the set of event information comprises games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

136. The method as claimed in claim 78 further comprising identifying a user status.

137. The method as claimed in claim 136 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying an age of the user.

138. The method as claimed in claim 137 wherein the user is only eligible to participate in the activity if the user'"'"'s location and age meet predetermined criteria.

185. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein grouping of the second set of assets is related to a model of the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

186. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein grouping of the second set of assets is dependent on a size of memory available within the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

187. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the event comprises a taped event.

188. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the event comprises a televised athletic contest.

189. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the available events comprise an arbitrarily selected segment of an athletic contest.

190. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the available events comprise multiple athletic contests taking place at a same time.

191. The method as claimed in claim 78 wherein the available events comprise multiple genres of athletic contests.

192. The method as claimed in claim 136 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying a residence or domicile of the user.

82. A method implemented on a server device comprising:

providing an activity client to a mobile Internet-connected computing device;

sending a set of event information related to a location of the mobile Internet-connected computing device to the activity client, wherein the location determines the set of event information to be loaded;

receiving a selection of an event from the activity client to participate in by a user from a list of available events;

sending a set of activity-specific information related to an activity to the mobile Internet-connected computing device including;

sending a list of assets to the mobile Internet-connected computing device;

comparing the list of assets with a first set of assets;

sending only a second set of assets within the list of assets that are not already resident on the mobile Internet-connected computing device,

wherein the second set of assets are grouped into a set of necessary assets and a set of preferred assets; and

executing an interactive application corresponding to the event.

83. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the first set of assets includes images, graphics, sounds or data.

84. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the first set of assets includes script information, Internet content or real-time data.

139. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the event corresponds to a live event.

140. The method as claimed in claim 139 wherein the live event is viewed in person by the user physically attending a location corresponding to the event.

141. The method as claimed in claim 139 wherein information related to the live event and/or the activity is received from a physical location corresponding to the live event.

142. The method as claimed in claim 82 further comprising identifying a user status.

143. The method as claimed in claim 142 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying an age of the user.

144. The method as claimed in claim 143 wherein the user is only eligible to participate in the activity if the user'"'"'s location and age meet predetermined criteria.

145. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein executing the interactive application relates to one or more events taking place in the future.

146. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the list of available events comprises a list of sports events taking place in the future.

147. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the list of available events comprises a variety of games of skill or chance in connection with one or more events taking place in the future.

148. The method as claimed in claim 147 wherein the one or more events taking place in the future comprise games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

149. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the entertainment service comprises games of skill including simultaneously played card, dice, trivia, word, math and puzzle games.

193. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein grouping of the second set of assets is related to a model of the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

194. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein grouping of the second set of assets is dependent on a size of memory available within the mobile Internet-connected computing device.

195. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the event comprises a taped event.

196. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the event comprises a televised athletic contest.

197. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the available events comprise an arbitrarily selected segment of an athletic contest.

198. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the available events comprise multiple athletic contests taking place at a same time.

199. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the available events comprise multiple genres of athletic contests.

200. The method as claimed in claim 142 wherein identifying the user status includes identifying a residence or domicile of the user.