Methodology for equalizing systemic latencies in television reception in connection with games of skill played in connection with live television programming

• US 10,695,672 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2017
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: WinView Incorporated (GameSquare Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockton, David B., Berner, Mark K., Micheli, Mark J., Lowe, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US15/846,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20180104582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40, 360 65
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• 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 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/27 : Server based end-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 : Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 : Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4508 : Management of client data or end-user data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 : Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56

Abstract

A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.

Claims

1. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance or other entertainment comprising:

determining a geographic location of a device;

separating devices into a plurality of cohorts;

receiving content, wherein the content is presented to the plurality of cohorts based on the geographic location of the device;

synchronizing the game of skill or chance or other entertainment with the content;

equalizing receipt of game-related data and the content by an amount appropriate to minimize competitive advantage to members of a cohort receiving content with the smallest amount of delay; and

presenting the content and synchronized game data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises an online broadcast.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises a real time television broadcast of a contest of skill and/or sports betting related information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises an esports tournament.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises a trivia contest.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises an audio and video track utilized to synchronize the game of skill or chance or other entertainment.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a start time of the content includes using a recognizable signal.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein existing events in the content are used as synchronization points as start points for data files stored on the device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein information is embedded in the content and tracked online in real-time.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of synchronization points are used to continuously check to ensure the game of skill or chance or other entertainment is synchronized with the content.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an amount of delay for participants in separate cohorts participating in the game of skill or chance or other entertainment.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the latency differences comprise a delay.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the content and synchronized game data are presented on a same screen.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the content and synchronized game data are presented on a different screen.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronization of the game of skill or chance or other entertainment is achieved by delaying the game data by an amount to prevent entry of a selection after a result is known.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein a delay is generated manually by a game producer based on observation of a telecast of known latency.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein an appropriate delay is calculated and delayed automatically by a game server.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein a delay is based on input from a person physically present at a venue of a sporting event.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein a first cohort of the plurality of cohorts includes users watching a first contest and a second cohort of the plurality of cohorts includes users watching a second contest.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein information presented to the plurality of cohorts determines an ability to utilize gaming activity based on the location of the device.

21. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance or other entertainment comprising:

determining a geographic location of a device;

receiving a content stream;

grouping participants into a set of cohorts receiving the content stream, wherein the content stream is presented to the set of cohorts based on the geographic location of the device;

synchronizing the game of skill or chance or other entertainment with the content stream, wherein the synchronization of the game of skill or chance or other entertainment is achieved by delaying game data by an amount to prevent entry of a selection after a result is known; and

delivering the content stream and synchronized game data to the set of cohorts.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the content stream comprises an online broadcast.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein synchronizing and delivering are performed by a server device.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the content stream represents one or more separate contest streams.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the one or more separate contest streams each relate to different broadcast athletic events accessible within a single application.

26. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance or other entertainment comprising:

determining a geographic location of a device;

receiving a content stream representing one or more separate contest streams comprising the game of skill or chance or other entertainment;

grouping participants into a set of cohorts receiving the content stream based on the game of skill or chance or other entertainment played by the participant, wherein the content stream is presented to the set of cohorts based on the geographic location of the device;

synchronizing the game of skill or chance or other entertainment with the content stream, wherein the synchronization of the game of skill or chance or other entertainment is achieved by delaying game data by an amount to prevent entry of a selection after a result is known; and

delivering the content stream and synchronized game data to the set of cohorts.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the content stream comprises an online broadcast.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein synchronizing and delivering are performed by a server device.

29. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in a game of skill or chance or other entertainment comprising:

determining a geographic location of a device;

determining a service provider for each participant of the game of skill or chance or other entertainment;

receiving a content stream;

grouping participants into one or more sets of cohorts based on the service providers, wherein the content stream is presented to the one or more sets of cohorts based on the geographic location of the device;

synchronizing the game of skill or chance or other entertainment with the content stream, wherein the synchronization of the game of skill or chance or other entertainment is achieved by delaying game data by an amount to prevent entry of a selection after a result is known; and

delivering the content stream and synchronized game data to the one or more sets of cohorts.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising presenting the content stream and synchronized game data on a screen for a participant to view.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the screen comprises a television screen.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the screen comprises a computing device screen.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the screen comprises a mobile phone display.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein determining the service provider is performed by a server device.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein determining the service provider is performed by a client device.

36. The method of claim 29 wherein the content stream and the synchronized game data of the game of skill or chance or other entertainment are presented on a same screen.

37. A method of equalizing effects of latency differences in one or more games of skill or chance or other entertainment comprising:

determining a geographic location of a device;

receiving a content stream representing one or more separate contest streams comprising a received game of skill or chance or other entertainment;

grouping participants into one or more sets of cohorts based on received game of skill or chance or other entertainment played by the participant, wherein the content stream is presented to the one or more sets of cohorts based on the geographic location of the device;

separately synchronizing each of the one or more games of skill or chance or other entertainment with a related content stream, wherein the synchronization of the one or more games of skill or chance or other entertainment is achieved by delaying game data by an amount to prevent entry of a selection after a result is known; and

delivering the content stream and synchronized game data to the one or more sets of cohorts.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising presenting the related content stream and synchronized game data on a screen for a participant to view.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the screen comprises a television screen.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the screen comprises a computing device screen.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the screen comprises a mobile phone display.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein determining the service provider is performed by a server device.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein determining the service provider is performed by a client device.

44. The method of claim 37 wherein the content stream and the synchronized game data of the game of skill or chance or other entertainment are presented on a same screen.